The Murder of Angela Nelson-Carroll

source:wlky.com

Angela Nelson-Carroll was found brutally murdered in Louisville, Kentucky on May 31st, 2004. 

That morning, road crews were picking up garbage off of Gene Snyder Freeway when they spotted upon something unexpected: the body of a young girl. Police were called, and the area was subsequently closed off as a crime scene. A short time later, the body was identified as that of Angela Nelson-Carroll. She was only 17 years old.

Angela's death was labeled a homicide. She suffered head injuries due to blunt force trauma and she also had been strangled. It is believed that Angela was attacked before her body was discarded on the freeway. One of the road crew workers who spotted Angela's body said that it looked like her body had been purposely pushed/rolled down an embankment. 

No suspects have ever been publicly identified in Angela's case. Reports from 2004 state that Angela was married to a man named Robert Carroll. Robert, then 25, was incarcerated at the time of Angela's murder and was quickly ruled out as a suspect. A report on Angela's case from 2014 also references a boyfriend. Specifically, the report states, "at the time of her murder, Angela's boyfriend was questioned but was never named a suspect." 

It was also reported in 2014 that investigators initially had "several persons of interest but each one has been cleared." The same report said that DNA from the crime scene has been entered into the database, but so far, there has not been a match. Since then, it appears that there have not been any updates in Angela's case.

Angela's murder remains unsolved today. If you have any information that could lead to the arrest of her killer(s), please submit a tip. 

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Sources:
Vigil for Angela Nelson aka Angie
WAVE 3, (2)
WLKY

The Disappearance of Nicole Silvers

Source: Greeley Tribune

Nicole Evelyn Silvers was only 16 years-old when she vanished during the early morning hours of April 9th, 2014. The teenage girl disappeared from Longmont, Colorado. Reports state that Nicole was last seen sitting in a dark colored 1980s-model sedan near the 1000 block of Sunset Street. She has never been seen or heard from again. 

Nicole was reportedly staying with a friend's family in Longmont before she vanished, but her own family lived nearby. Certain reports state that Nicole's "familial relationships may have been strained" at the time of her disappearance. However, Nicole spent time with her older sister on April 8th - the day before she vanished.

According to reports, Nicole's older sister dropped Nicole off at her friend's house on the evening on April 8th, 2014, and then never saw or heard from her again. It appears that the last documented sighting of Nicole occurred hours later when she was spotted sitting in the sedan near Sunset Street. Her whereabouts since then remain unknown to this day.

Nicole was initially classified as a runaway, but eventually, investigators changed their tune. In fact, Weld County Cold Case Detective Byron Kastilhan told reporters that he does not believe Nicole had motive to run away. She was a high school student, she had a job at a local pizza parlor, and a lot of loving people in her life. There is also no evidence that Nicole planned to leave on her own accord.

Over the years, there has been a lot of online speculation about what might have happened to Nicole. Some commented about Nicole having a boyfriend who was in his 20s - but it's unclear if this boyfriend was ever identified. It is also unclear who owned the car that Nicole was last seen sitting in. 

There are a lot of unanswered questions about Nicole's disappearance. She remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Weld County Sheriff's Office at 970-356-4015.

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Sources:
9 News
Charley Project
Greeley Tribune
Longmont Leader, (2)
Websleuths

The Disappearance of Aliyah Boomer

Aliyah Boomer has been missing since August 15th, 2015. That day, the 27-year-old woman and her friend attended a barbecue at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York City. Afterwards, Aliyah went to her friend’s home at the Red Hook housing projects in the 400 block of Columbia Street. 

Around 11:00 PM that evening, Aliyah and her friend got invited to another barbecue. Her friend declined the invitation, but Aliyah herself accepted and left her friend’s home shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, Aliyah never arrived at the barbecue and has never been seen by her loved ones again.

Aliyah's last outgoing phone call was at 3:00 AM on August 16th. Aliyah had called one of her sisters, but her sister was asleep and did not answer the phone. Aliyah did not leave a message and has not made contact with her family since that morning. 

Aliyah’s family finally reported her missing 3 days later, after she failed to show up to her sister’s birthday party. Her absence immediately raised red flags, as it is out of character for Aliyah to be out of touch with her family and friends. Before she disappeared, she was working towards completing her nursing degree. Due to all of these circumstances, it seems unlikely that Aliyah is voluntarily missing.

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A cold case. 

Aliyah's case seemingly went cold fast. Very few details about the investigation have been revealed. Aliyah's family members worked to spread awareness about her disappearance, but no credible leads were found. 

Years ticked by without any updates in the case. Then, in 2022, it was reported that Aliyah's sister Victoria Boomer-Harris received a mysterious letter with potential information about Aliyah's case. 

The letter.

Victoria told reporters that she received the letter in 2021. It had a Bronx return address. The identity of the letter writer remains unknown, but PIX 11 refers to the writer as female. 

The letter references a building that Aliyah was seen at before her disappearance. The letter writer wrote that her late uncle lived in the building. Before he passed, the writer said that her uncle spoke to her about his friend who spent time in 'Apartment 2-C'. The message said, in part, "Everybody in that building no [know] what happen to her."

According to the letter, Aliyah had been spending time with a man and a woman on the third floor on the building - and those people know what happened to her. The letter states, "The people….sent her out on a drug run. She never came back. My uncle said they no [know] what happen to your family member."

Is the letter credible?

The information provided in this letter has not been confirmed by investigators or substantiated in any other way - but it appears that it has not been ruled out, either. When asked if she felt a drug run was what led to her daughter's disappearance, Aliyah's mother replied, "It might have". 

 

Investigators are also not 100% sold on this theory. In the same report, indicated that it's possible that the letter was written in efforts to "throw off the family and investigators". At this time, the motive for the letter remains unclear.

The family's efforts.

Aliyah's family members have not given up on trying to find Aliyah. They continue to spread awareness about her disappearance. One of Aliyah's sisters has placed a monetary reward for anyone with information that could lead to her whereabouts. 

Since then, it appears that there have not been any other updates in Aliyah's case. She remains missing today. The New York Police Department is in charge of the investigation. If you have any information that could lead to Aliyah’s whereabouts, please call 212-694-7781.

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Sources:
The Bronx Daily
Charley Project
PIX 11
Uncovered

The Murder of Gandy Shad Kaydea

Source: ABC 6

 

On the evening of March 20th, 2013, authorities in Cranston, Rhode Island were called about a suspected brush fire at the entrance of Pocasset Cemetery. As the fire department arrived to extinguish the fire, they discovered something unexpected amongst the flames: the body of a young man. 

Fingerprints later helped identify the young man as 22-year-old Gandy ‘Shad’ Kaydea. It was immediately clear he had been a victim of homicide. An autopsy revealed that Shad had been killed by ligature strangulation. 

Detectives believe that Shad was killed in a different place before his body was brought to the cemetery and set on fire. Years have passed since this tragic event, and many questions remain unanswered - such as who did this? and why?

While this information is still unknown to this day, there are a quite a few circumstances surrounding Shad's murder that may hold some significance.  

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More about Shad.

Source: wpri.com

According to reports, Shad was living a busy life shortly prior to passing away. He was an aspiring rapper and had uploaded several music videos to YouTube under the name “Young Shad”. 

Shad also had been taking GED classes at the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence in Providence. Staff members from the school described Shad was a leader amongst the other students. Shortly after Shad's death, an instructor from the school told reporters that "Shad was turning his life around and had one more test to take to get his GED."

Shad was also praised by the school's staff members for his dedication to the program during difficult times. The school's executive director said that Shad was dealing with "the stress of not having a place to stay recently," but was still showing up for classes. 

Shad was also a father - his daughter was only 8 months old at the time of his death. Shad’s daughter and other family members are now left without him in their lives. His relatives still hope to find justice for his brutal murder. 

Possible gang affiliation. 

Initial reports about Shad's murder indicated that detectives believed his killing was gang related. According to The Criminal Journal, detectives believed Shad was affiliated with Providence’s C-Block gang. 

The way in which Shad was found may also contribute to the gang theory. The fact that Shad’s body was found burning in a public place leads to speculation that whoever placed him there wanted to send a message. 

However, Shad's family members stated that Shad was not associated with any gangs in the area. In 2021, Shad’s sister Julie Kaydea told reporters that she had another theory about what might have led to her brother’s murder.

The insurance policy. 

According to a 2021 report on Shad's case, Shad took out a $250,000 life insurance policy about four months before his death. Shad’s sister Julie said she believes the money could be a motivating factor in Shad’s murder. 

Cranston Police Maj. Todd Patalano told reporters that they looked into the insurance policy motive, but it did not lead them to any suspects. According to court documents, a woman named Massiel Ortiz - Shad's former girlfriend - is listed as the primary beneficiary on that life insurance policy. His mother, Julia Klah, is listed as the secondary beneficiary. 

The court documents also reference conflicting claims between the two women. The documents note, in part, "Ms. Ortiz and Ms. Klah have conflicting claims, in that Ms. Ortiz remains a 'person of interest' in the unsolved murder and therefore potentially ineligible for the death benefit under Rhode Island's Slayer Statute."

In 2014, New York Life Insurance Company filed a motion to seek interpleader relief on the insurance policy amid the dispute between Ortiz and Klah. Court documents stated that the insurance company "seeks to deposit the death benefit with the Court and to be dismissed from the suit." Ortiz fought the motions, claiming that the company was not entitled to the money. 

There have been no other public reports that reference Massiel Ortiz as a person of interest in Shad's murder. In fact, during 2021 Maj. Todd Patalano told reporters that they have “interviewed several people, persons of interest. But at this time there are no suspects.” 

Unknowns.

As it stands, it appears that nothing has been publicly ruled out - from the possible gang affiliation, the insurance policy motive, or something else altogether. Investigators have seemingly not given any updates in the case since 2021. 

It's worth noting that there are some details from initial reports about Shad's death that raise a few questions. As previously stated, a staff member from Shad's GED school said that Shad was struggling with not having a place to stay. However, another report from ABC 6 stated that Shad's last known address was on Progress Avenue in Providence.

If Shad truly did not have a place to stay prior to his murder, it's possible that he may have been having issues in his home life. Again, if true, this raises even more questions about the life insurance policy and other possible motives in Shad's death. 

While this has not been confirmed, it appears this theory has at the very least been investigated. The 2021 report indicates that the insurance policy theory did not turn up any suspects, so it's possible that police are no longer even looking into this motive. Again, though, it appears nothing has been ruled out.

The fight for justice.

Shad's family members have pleaded for the public's help with solving his murder. The police department has added Shad's case to deck of playing cards distributed to inmates in hopes that somebody with information may come forward. 

Those who wish to help anonymously can do so as well. If you have any information that could help the investigation into the murder of Gandy Shad Kaydea, please call 1-877-RI-SOLVE.

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Sources:
10 WJAR
12 News
ABC 6
Boston.com
The Criminal Journal
Court document PDF
Providence Journal

Resolved in 2023 - Part Two.

Below is a list of another set of cases that were resolved in 2023. Links to full case write-ups are provided. Part one of the 'Resolved in 2023' series can be found here.

The Disappearance and Presumed Murder of Jepsy Amaga Kallungi (2019)

Jepsy Amaga Kallungi went missing on March 21st, 2019. The-then-26-year-old woman was last seen in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she lived with her husband Dane Kallungi. Jepsy moved to Colorado from the Philippines in 2017, after meeting Dane online that same year. 

Jepsy kept in regular contact with her family members, who began to worry when Jepsy fell out-of-touch. Jepsy's mother subsequently reached out to Dane on social media, who claimed he had no idea about Jepsy's whereabouts. He deleted all of his social media shortly thereafter. With no help from Dane, Jepsy's loved ones contacted Colorado Springs PD to conduct a welfare check on April 4th, 2019. After police were unable to locate Jepsy themselves, they filed a missing person's report.

Dane was questioned by police, and he told them that he believed Jepsy had run off with another man. However, Jepsy's family members had their doubts about this story, as did police. It took two years of investigating, but police finally arrested Dane in June 2021 and charged him with Jepsy's murder. At that point, it was announced that police found evidence that a "domestic disturbance occurred where Dane Kallungi strangled Jepsy Kallungi and buried her body in an unknown location."

Dane's trial began in March 2023. The jury ultimately found him guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Jepsy's body has still not been found.

[more details about this case]

The Disappearance and Presumed Murder of Iyana Sawyer (2018)

Iyana Sawyer vanished in Jacksonville, Florida on December 19th, 2018. The 16-year-old girl was 5 months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. A man named Johnathan Quiles, then 33, was the father of Iyana's unborn child. Quiles is Iyana's uncle through marriage, and he had a history of sexually assaulting several underage girls. According to reports, Iyana believed she was in love with Quiles.

After Iyana was reported missing, Quiles became an immediate person of interest. At the time, he was already facing charges of sexually assaulting another teenage girl. It took a few months of investigating, but in 2019, Quiles was finally charged with the murder of Iyana Sawyer. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Quiles' trial began in September 2023, during which many people testified to knowing about the inappropriate relationship between Iyana and Quiles. Quiles' brother Joseph testified that Quiles confessed to killing Iyana. According to Joseph's testimony, Quiles lured Iyana to meet up with him at a local Ace Pick-a-Part - where he worked - on the day of her disappearance. Iyana believed the two were going to run away together. Instead, while sitting in a car behind the building, Quiles attempted to strangle Iyana before ultimately shooting her to death. He later disposed of her body in a dumpster.

A jury deliberated for about an hour before finding Quiles guilty of murdering both Iyana and their unborn child. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. 

Iyana's body has still not been found.

[more details on this case]

The Disappearance and Murder of Desiree Thompson (2012)

Desiree Thompson (30) vanished in California City, California on January 7th, 2012. After she was reported missing, her ex-husband Edward 'Face' Gibson III became an immediate suspect in the case. There had been several instances of domestic abuse throughout Desiree's relationship with Gibson. According to reports, Gibson pointed a shotgun in Desiree's face just hours before she vanished. 

With all of this in mind, it was obvious why Gibson was a suspect in Desiree's disappearance. Even more suspicious, Gibson seemingly vanished himself after Desiree was reported missing. Investigators believed that he went on the run - especially because he had several active warrants for his arrest as well. 

Meanwhile, Desiree remained missing, and the case went cold. Then, over a decade later, police received information that a man named Jose William Lara may be involved in Desiree's disappearance. In March 2022, investigators dug up the backyard of a California City home where Lara used to live. During their search, they found Desiree's remains. Lara was subsequently arrested and charged with Desiree's murder.

Court documents revealed that Lara reportedly randomly targeted Desiree after being angry at an unrelated party on the evening of January 7th, 2012. He encountered Desiree outside that night and invited her over to his house for a drink. Once there, Lara smashed Desiree's head into a mini fridge before stabbing her to death. Later, he buried her in his backyard. 

In May 2023, a jury found Lara guilty of Desiree's murder. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. 

[more details on this case]

The Disappearance and Murder of Kara Nichols (2012)

Kara Nichols was only 19 years-old when she vanished on October 9th, 2012. She lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the time of her disappearance. Kara worked in the area as a waitress, but she was also involved in modeling and escorting. On the evening she vanished, Kaara told her roommates that her friend was going to pick her up to drive her to a modeling job. She never returned home and was never heard from again.

Investigators quickly began to suspect that Kara's work as an escort played a role in her disappearance. It was eventually announced that police wanted to speak with two women who had been seen with Kara before she vanished. Said women were believed to be escorts as well. Other than that, though, very little information about the investigation was provided to the public. Kara's case then seemingly went cold.

In early 2022, detectives got a break that end up being vital to the case. A woman named Kristina Hollendorfer spoke to investigators and implicated her husband, Joel Hollendorfer, as the man responsible for Kara's disappearance. Kristina explained that Joel had confessed to accidentally killing an escort and burying her on his parent's property. Said property was searched on February 3rd, 2022 - during which Kara's remains were found. Joel was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence shortly thereafter.

Joel went to trial in June 2023. He was ultimately found guilty of manslaughter instead of murder. However, since Joel is a habitual offender who had violated his parole several times, he was given an enhanced sentence of 24 years in prison. 

[more details on this case]

The Disappearance and Presumed Murder of Unique Harris (2010)

Unique Harris vanished at the age of 24 on October 9th, 2010. The young woman lived in Washington, DC at the time of her disappearance. The evening before she vanished, Unique spent time with her two young sons and her cousin's daughter. When the children awoke the following morning, Unique was gone. She was never seen or heard from again.

Unique's loved ones immediately believed that she did not vanish on her own accord. Not only would she not leave the children unattended, but she also left behind several of her personal items. Police questioned/interviewed several people in the case, but no prime suspects were ever announced.

Over 10 years passed without any publicly announced updates in the case. Then, in December 2020, that all changed. On December 21st, it was announced that a man named Isaac Moye was arrested and charged with Unique's murder. Unique had met Moye after moving to DC in 2010. Moye had romantic feelings for Unique, but Unique did not return those feelings - as she had a boyfriend in Richmond. 

Through the court proceedings, it was revealed that Moye was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time Unique vanished - which confirmed that he was at Unique's house shortly before she vanished. Cell phone records also showed that Unique was in contact via text with her boyfriend several times throughout the night. Prosecutors allege that Moye felt jealous of this, which motivated his actions. It was also revealed that Moye's semen was found on Unique's couch, which led investigators to believe that he sexually assaulted Unique before killing her and disposing of her body. 

In June 2023, Moye was convicted of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Unique's body has never been found.

[more details on this case]

Never Reported Missing: The Murder of Jeana Burrus

source: The Sun

February 6th, 2007 began as a typical day in Sarasota, Florida. The southern coastal area experiences warm temperatures year-round, which allows for children and adults alike to spend their time outdoors during the winter months. On this fateful day, a 14-year-old boy was doing just that: spending time outside in the woods behind Ashton Court.

 At some point, the boy stumbled upon a bone. His mother, who worked as a nurse, immediately recognized that the bone belonged to a human. The boy's mother subsequently called police, who then went to the wooded area where the bone was found. While sifting through dirt, investigators found a partially decomposed body in a shallow grave. 

The body was fully excavated the following day, during which it was discovered that the deceased person was an adult female. The female was fully clothed but did not have shoes on - which led detectives to believe that she had been carried to the location where she was found. A medical examiner determined that the woman had been dead for about 5-6 months at the time her body was found. She had been killed by blunt force trauma. Her manner of death was labeled a homicide.

Great lengths were taken to identify the woman - who was determined to be between her 30s and 40s at the time of her death.  DNA samples were taken, but there were no matches in the investigative database. The FBI processed the woman's clothing for fibers and trace hairs. Renderings were created with images of the woman's estimated appearance. Unfortunately, none of these efforts turned up any leads.

Fifteen years later, advances in DNA technology finally led to a positive identification. A woman in Bowie, Maryland used AncestryDNA - and her DNA matched the Sarasota victim's DNA. It was eventually confirmed in November 2022 that the victim was 39-year-old Jeana Burrus - the niece of the Maryland woman in the ancestry database.

Investigators soon learned that Jeana lived in Sarasota with her husband, James, and her son, James Jr., prior to her death. Her body was found in a wooded area near the local auto body shop where her husband James used to work. This detail alone would have likely been suspicious to investigators had they known Jeana's identity back in 2007. However, Jeana had never even been reported missing.

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Who was Jeana?

source: pelhamplus.com

Jeana's uncle described Jeana as a loving woman who went out of her way to make others happy. Prior to moving to Florida, Jeana lived in Maryland - closer to her relatives. Her uncle said that she would routinely visit and regularly call her relatives after she moved to Florida. However, at some point in 2006, Jeana's relatives stopped receiving calls. 

Jeana's family. 

Jeana with her husband, James Burrus, and their son. (Sarasota County Sheriff's Office)

Jeana was a stay-at-home mother in Sarasota. Her son was in elementary school at the time of her death. As previously noted, her husband James Burrus worked at a local auto body shop - located close to where Jeana's body was found. 

There is very little publicly known information about Jeana's relationship with James. It is inevitably suspicious that he did not report his wife missing on top of the fact that she was found deceased near his workplace, but he has not been charged with anything related to Jeana's death. James and their son eventually moved out of Sarasota. 

It also seems odd that nobody else in the family reported Jeana missing. Jeana's uncle told reporters that he inquired about Jeana's whereabouts over the years, and he was always "given a story" that he currently cannot comment on due to the ongoing investigation. The same story was also reportedly given to Jeana's brother and stepfather. Jeana's extended family members did not know she was dead until her remains were identified in 2022. 

It is unknown if any friends or acquaintances asked about Jeana's whereabouts over the years. If they did, it's likely that they were also told a similar story. 

The investigation.

As previously noted, Jeana was killed by blunt force trauma. She did not end up deceased in that wooded area on her own - somebody had to have placed her there. Before her body was identified, it was reported that whoever had carried the then-unidentified victim to the spot where she was found had to have already known that the isolated spot existed. A detective told reporters, "This is an area that someone has obviously taken great care to obfuscate the fact that there is a body here."

In August 2023, it was reported that investigators wanted to track down Jeana's family members and/or anyone who knew Jeana and James. As of right now, it appears that investigators are keeping information close to the vest due to the fact that the case is ongoing. Though it has not been confirmed, it appears that James Burrus is the main person-of-interest. 

Anyone with any relevant information is asked to contact detective Brian Ng at 941-861-4900.

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Sources:
Citrus County Chronicle
People
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, (2)
The Sun

Resolved in 2023 - Part One.

2023 is coming to an end!

Many cases featured on this page were finally resolved during this year. I've created a two-part list of these cases - below is part one. Links to the full case write-ups are provided. Stay tuned for part 2!

The Murder of Tristyn Bailey (2021)

Tristyn Bailey was only 13 years old when she was brutally stabbed to death on May 9th, 2021. The teen girl lived in St. Augustine, Florida, and she was killed by another fellow teen from the area: 14-year-old Aiden Fucci. Before the murder, Fucci told several people that he had homicidal thoughts and planned to kill someone. However, it appears that Tristyn was unaware of this – as she voluntarily snuck out of her house to meet up with Fucci and another teenage boy just hours before she was killed.

Tristyn and Fucci left the other teenage boy’s house around 1:45 AM. Surveillance cameras captured them walking alongside each other on Saddlestone Drive. Later, around 3:30 AM, the same cameras captured Fucci walking by himself in the opposite direction. Tristyn never reappeared, nor did she ever return home. Around 6:00 PM the following evening, Tristyn’s body was found in a wooded area near a retention pond. It was clear that she had been stabbed to death.

It did not take long for investigators to identify Aiden Fucci as their prime suspect. He was subsequently arrested and charged as an adult with Tristyn’s murder. After initially proclaiming innocence, Fucci ultimately pleaded guilty in February 2023. He was later sentenced to life in prison.

[more details on this case]

The Disappearance and Murder of Audreona Barnes (2021)

Audreona Barnes vanished in Cleveland, Ohio on July 30th, 2021. The then-18-year-old was last seen after Army recruiters dropped her off at the apartment of her boyfriend, Bennie Washington. Audreona's family expected her home that evening, but she never returned. Her loved ones later reported her missing.

Washington is 20 years older than Audreona, and she was reportedly pregnant with his child at the time of her disappearance. After Audreona was reported missing, police questioned Washington, but he denied any knowledge of her whereabouts. Meanwhile, he feigned concern and grief over Audreona's disappearance to her family members. 

Months later, in March 2022, Washington was evicted from his apartment. An employee from a cleaning crew was sent to the residence after Washington vacated.  While clearing out the apartment’s balcony, the employee found the body of a female hidden under a pile of clothes. Police were called, and the body was eventually identified as that of Audreona Barnes. She died from a gunshot wound to the head.

On March 21st, 2022, Washington was arrested and charged with Audreona's murder. He pleaded not guilty and went to trial in May 2023 - and he was ultimately convicted. Washington was later sentenced to 38 years in prison.

[more details on this case]

The Disappearance and Murder of Breasia Terrell (2020)

Breasia Terrell was only 10 years-old when her life was tragically cut short in July 2020. She was last seen alive at the home of Henry Dinkins in Davenport, Iowa. Dinkins is the father of Breasia's half-brother. Breasia reportedly tagged along with said brother during a visit to Dinkins' home on the day before her disappearance. She never returned home and was never seen alive by her loved ones again.

Dinkins was immediately a person of interest in Breasia's disappearance. Not only is he the last known adult to have seen Breasia alive, he also is a registered sex offender. Police searched Dinkins' apartment shortly after Breasia was reported missing. During the search, he was arrested for violating sex offender requirements. Meanwhile, he continued to deny any knowledge of Breasia's whereabouts. 

Months later, in March 2022, fishermen at a pond in DeWitt found the body of a young girl. The body was soon identified as that of Breasia Terrell, and her death was labeled a homicide. About a month later, Henry Dinkins was arrested and charged with the first-degree kidnapping and murder in Breasia's case. It was later revealed that the State had evidence that Dinkins sexually assaulted Breasia before shooting her in the head. 

In September 2023, a judge declared that Dinkins was guilty on both counts. He was later sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

[more details on this case]

The Disappearance and Murder of Emmishae Kirby (2020)

Emmishae Kirby (28) vanished in Houston, Texas on September 18th, 2020. Weeks later, on October 3rd, 2020, her body was found near Bear Creek Pioneers Park in Harris County. An autopsy later confirmed that she had been strangled and shot to death. 

Emmishae's ex-boyfriend Javon Gilbert, then 29, was an immediate person of interest in the case. Emmishae had broken up with him shortly before her disappearance after he reportedly sexually assaulted her. He also had a history of violent behaviors and prior domestic violence charges. Additionally, Gilbert was the last known person to have seen Emmishae before her disappearance.

In fact, surveillance footage from Emmishae's apartment shows Emmishae and Gilbert entering the building together on the day of her disappearance. She was never seen alive again. Hours later, Gilbert is captured leaving the building carrying a "heavy object". Despite all of this, police initially did not charge Gilbert with anything related to Emmishae's case.

Months later, in January 2021, Gilbert was finally arrested and charged with Emmishae's murder and tampering with evidence. In April 2023, a judge declared Gilbert guilty of the charges and sentenced him to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 30 years.

[more details on this case]