Cold Case Chronicles

On December 7th, 1996 Tawnya Knight was supposed to be spending the night with a friend. After attempting to walk home around midnight, she disappeared. Her remains were found 6 months later near a cemetery. 23 years, no arrests, and no suspects.

Scheduled in April, then postponed (Thanks COVID!), using social distancing, masks, and limiting audience size, the Cold Case Chronicles were LIVE from the Vogue Theatre in Indianapolis. Here's the show!

There are facts and there are theories. Without police help, we are limited in facts but. there are no shortage of theories. Not many of them come to a conclusion of suicide. We give a special, "Thank You," to those who have helped share Joseph's story.

Between truth and mystery are the fringe theories. Some theories are plausible while others are far fetched. This week Joseph's father shares some theories while the crew pieces them together. Andrew Sadek comes to mind. Are there secret reasons the police don't want to share the information with the family?

This week we dive deeper into the seemingly odd differences between Joseph's case and other cases at Indiana University. Was it racial? Was is circumstantial? We hear from Andrea Stirling on the reaction of his disappearance and death, and the campus handling of racial issues. His neighbor has something to say and Vivianne is far from giving up.

Vivianne joins the crew to talk about her brother as they take a look at Greek life and student safety on campus. If fraternities are a brotherhood, why do they distance themselves from tragedy? Are the schools held accountable? Do they hold others accountable?

The crew works with Forensic Toxicologist Andrea Tully to cover Josephs labs after death. Science doesn't lie. Exactly what evidence suggests suicide?

Somewhere in the grey hours of September 28th, 2015 Joseph Smedley disappeared from society. Leaving random and odd clues, his body would be recovered from a nearby lake some 5 days later. His death was quickly ruled a suicide. Uncooperative police, and piles of circumstantial evidence leads many to believe it wasn't suicide at all.

In this final chapter in the Search for Molly Dattilo, Amy has an interview with Derek VanLuchene. Derek is the CEO of Ryan United, a non-profit organization specializing in family and victim advocacy for those effected by horrible crimes like these. Derek also provides training to law enforcement agencies on the actions they should take when investigating these crimes. He was involved with Molly's case and even worked with Indianapolis Police Department. She may be gone, but she is never forgotten.

Molly's family fought so hard to invigorate a police investigation and find answers. Years later, legislation for Molly's Law. Molly's cousin Keri has been in the driver's seat since she first heard Molly was missing.