In July 2021, a peaceful family camping trip in Ohio’s vast Appalachian Hills Wilderness Area turned into a chilling crime scene. Two lives were lost, and a community was shaken. In this gripping episode, we sit down with ODNR Investigator Kirk Kiefer to uncover the layers of a complex and haunting double homicide.

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Here’s what we discuss:

·        Investigator Keifer appeared in a previous episode

·        International Game Warden Association Officer of the Year

·        ODNR’s nomination submission

·        The ‘ginseng detective’

·        Nomination was kept secret!

·        A missing persons / suspicious activity report on State land

·        The couple’s phones - and daughter - were left behind

·        Suspect claimed the couple had gone to CA and were expected back

·        A concerned camper contacted ODNR

·        The couple’s license plate had recently been checked on the Interstate

·        Suspect had a ‘tell.’

·        “He was convinced I was a human lie detector.”

·        The sudden confession: “I killed ‘em.”

·        Killings had happened 13 days prior

·        Suspect led investigators to the bodies

·        Defense attorney admitted there was no defense to be mounted

·        Claimed he was ‘rescuing’ the child

·        Body cameras were used in case the suspect did not testify

·        Appeared to feel badly about killing the female.

 ·       “Sometimes there is no ‘why’.”

·        Never expected to be investigating homicide

·        Attended the couple’s memorial services

·        Inter-agency cooperation was key to this case

·        Killer received two automatic life terms with no parole

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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