Crime Valley Podcast

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On a warm summer's night in January 1970, two lovers were brutally killed as they parked at a beach in Newcastle, Australia. At the time police came up with two motives for the murders. Was this crime committed by a sexual deviant, prowling the beach that night for a likely victim? Or was it personal, and a crime born of jealousy and resentment? The case remains unsolved and in the years that followed, there were no similar crimes that pointed to a serial killer. The murders of Alex Rees and Raymond Hill are however reminiscent of an American murderer who had been wreaking havoc in California, in the 2 years prior to 1970. Could Australia have potentially had its own copycat Zodiac killer? 

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On November 10th, 1993, two 20-year-old West coast video employees, named Bryan Benson and Seann Campbell, were brutally murdered in Warminster Pennsylvania. The motive for the crime is unclear and no persons of interest have ever been named. However One of the killers left something behind, in the form of a DNA sample. 

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In the spring of 1975, a 21 year old model and playboy promotional bunny was viciously murdered in her London flat. Six months later a 16-year-old school girl was raped and murdered after a night out with friends. Four years would go by before another young woman was brutally attacked and murdered in her own home, in 1979. In 2006 DNA would definitively link two of these murders. Was a serial killer responsible for all three? 

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In 1982, 18-year-old Johnny Frank Garrett is given the death sentence for the rape and murder of Sister Tadea Benz. With little hope for an appeal, and with declining mental health, Johnny Garrett awaits his execution.  However, the truth has a way of outing and in time many facts surrounding this case will be brought to light. Potential coverups, shoddy investigative techniques, inadequate defence, and questionable expert testimonies are all called into question. The most important question though is what value is given to a life that may have been wrongfully taken by the State? 

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On Halloween morning in 1981, a Roman Catholic nun was brutally raped and murdered in her  Northern Amarillo convent. The investigation that was to follow would lead to the highly questionable arrest of an intellectually disabled 17-year-old boy. His trial would raise more questions than answers and would shine a spotlight on a flawed judicial system. This case not only poses the question of guilt or innocence but also asks the question of whether mentally ill prisoners should receive the death penalty. 

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In 1977 a 19-year-old SFSU student, named Jenny Low Chang, was murdered in the university library. Law enforcement believes that they know who killed her, but lack the evidence to convict. Her case remains unsolved. 

https://crimevalleypodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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In 1972 a young woman was murdered in her Miami apartment. Her killer was apprehended and given a life sentence. Almost two decades later, college aged women began to vanish in the town of Gainesville, Florida. Did police have a serial killer on their hands? 

Law Enforcement Contacts 

Tiffany Louise Sessions 

• Alachua County Sheriff's Office 352-367-4161

Tracey Marie Kroh 

Pennsylvania State Police

• 717-362-8700
• 717-705-0340

 Elizabeth (Beth) Ann Miller

• Colorado Bureau of Investigation 303-239-4222

Jennifer Odom 

• Detective George Loydgren at 352-754-6830.

Case Sources

https://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/06/justice/florida-missing-woman/

https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/28/us/death-row-stories-criminal-police-confessions/index.html

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article1963500.html

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20140205/paul-rowles-timeline/1

https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/30-years-later-tiffany-sessions-remains-missing

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2008-09-11-found11-story.html

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1994-05-08-9405070320-story.html

https://justiceinmiami.org/the-search-for-missing-uf-student-tiffany-sessions/

https://www.wuft.org/news/2012/09/25/twenty-year-old-cold-case-cleared/

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article1963500.html

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45625117/tampa-bay-times/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45625320/the-miami-herald/

https://mycbs4.com/archive/paul-rowles-a-look-into-the-life-of-a-serial-killer

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article225472130.html

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2014-02-07-sns-rt-us-usa-crime-coed-20140207-story.html

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On the 28th of April 1984, 24-year-old Denice Haraway was abducted from a convenience store in Ada, Oklahoma. Within six months, Two local men, Karl Fontenot and Tommy Ward would confess to her murder. There was no physical evidence, confusing witness identifications and the two men's confessions did not align. Both Karl and Tommy were sentenced to death. Decades later exculpatory evidence that was kept from the men's defence teams,  was finally handed over. One man is now free, and the other Man's fight for freedom continues.

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As Police begin to interview Tommy Ward, he tells them about a recent dream. This abstract dream would lead to an untapped police interrogation which ended with Tommy Ward’s confession and the implication of two other men in the abduction, rape, and murder of Denice Haraway.  One man would ultimately be cleared of any involvement, while Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot would soon be on trial for their very lives. As the years rolled on details of the two men’s confessions would be shown to be inaccurate and the validity of their confessions would be called into question. 

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On the 28th of April 1984, 24-year-old Denice Haraway was abducted from a convenience store in Ada, Oklahoma. Within six months, Two local men, Karl Fontenot and Tommy Ward would confess to her murder. There was no physical evidence, confusing witness identifications and the two men's confessions did not align. Both Karl and Tommy were sentenced to death. Decades later exculpatory evidence that was kept from the men's defence teams,  was finally handed over. One man is now free, and the other Man's fight for freedom continues.