Crimes & Closets

Bernita White was enjoying a local zoo in Lansing, Michigan on a summer day in June 2001. While entering the zoo with her daughter an unknown shooter fired 1 bullet and killed Bernita instantly with a high powered rifle. The identity of the shooter is still unknown 23 years later and Bernita’s family is left with so many questions and no justice. Who killed Bernita White? Join us in the closet as we discuss this case. 

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/cold-case-team-to-probe-2001-lansing-zoo-killing/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78860413/bernita-kay-white

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lsj/name/bernita-white-obituary?id=37232767

https://medium.com/crimebeat/from-the-shadows-a4dee9fae7a8

https://www.lansingcitypulse.com/stories/cold-but-not-forgotten,10213

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqnUusEF-v0

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064836876756&fref=nf&pnref=story.unseen-section

https://tncpnews.com/mi-state-trooper-accused-of-murdering-his-wife-shoots-film/

https://potterparkzoo.org/

Christopher Gray's story highlights the terrible darkness that can sometimes hide beneath small-town familiarity and the ease with which manipulation can turn fatal. Christopher’s death was a tragedy of trust betrayed and kindness exploited, leaving a haunting memory for those who knew and loved him.

Sources:

See No Evil – S10 E4

https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/groton-man-found-dead-2-men-charged/article_16cda307-c990-505e-838f-9fa3e27014f1.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30617435/christopher-gray

https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/2009/09/29/3-plead-guilty-nh-murder-plot/16125796007/

https://www.fosters.com/story/news/local/2008/11/24/killing-disabled-man-troubles-small/52187105007/

https://www.fosters.com/story/news/local/2008/11/24/killing-disabled-man-troubles-small/52187105007/

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/portsmouth-herald/2009/12/22/three-friends-sentenced-in-slaying/51762532007/

https://www.foxnews.com/story/new-hampshire-teen-sentenced-to-prison-for-murder-of-disabled-wal-mart-cashier

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/id-shows/see-no-evil/walmart-surveillance-captured-the-moments-a-man-stepped-into-dangers-path

https://www.sentinelsource.com/n-h-teen-gets-20-to-40-years-in-slaying-of-cashier/article_f3be1f5b-3bbe-5bb5-8f0e-15742a31f5ec.html

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2016/01/11/man-who-facilitated-killing-from/32767308007/

Five teenage friends went out to Gitchie Manitou State Preserve one night in November of 1973 for a fun night of music around a campfire. Sadly, only 1 of them returned home. After being approached by 3 men claiming to be police officers, 4 of them were gunned down for no reason. The sole survivor fought bravely and was able to obtain justice for her 4 friends. Join us in the closet this week for the case of The Gitchie Manitou Murders.  

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Gitchie_Manitou_murders

https://thecinemaholic.com/where-are-allen-david-and-james-fryer-now/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75479720/stewart-w-baade

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75479796/dana_e_aade

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44867920/roger-norman-essem

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75716666/michael-robert-hadrath

https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-survivor-sandra-cheskey-now/

Investigation Discovery’s No One Can Hear You Scream: The Gitchie Manitou Massacre (2024)

Book: Gitchie Girl: The Survivor’s Inside Story of the Mass Murders That Shocked The Heartland by Phil Hamman and Sandy Hammann (2016)

Hey Closet Sisters and WHITW fans! We are back with our annual Halloween episode. We are so excited to bring you the 5th installment. Join us as Jess and Cristy tell crazy stories about some satanic cult madness. There are lots of twists and turns in these cases, so hold onto you pants and snuggle in for some crazy campfire stories!

Sources for Jess:

https://www.murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gecht-robin.htm

https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/The_Ripper_Crew

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/ripper-crew-victims-thomas-kokoraleis/

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/the-ripper-crew-satanic-murderers-thomas-kokoraleis

https://archive.org/details/serialkillerlett0000unse/page/174/mode/1up?view=theater

Sources for Cristy:

newspaper.com

https://murderpedia.org/male.D/d/drew-carl.htm

https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/lifestyle/2013/10/06/looking-back-murder-in-satan/42739663007/

https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/courts/2022/03/04/fall-river-cult-murders-robin-murphy-up-parole/9347774002/

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/fall-river-satanic-cult-murders-epix-1174716/

Docusries on Prime : Fall River

Sierra was a 16-year-old sophomore in high school. She had just moved and changed schools at the beginning of the year. She quickly became popular and well loved. On March 16, 2012 she never made it to school. Who would want to harm Sierra? Join us as we discuss this sad case.

https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/santaclara/default/documents/gt_statement_of_facts.pdf

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/kron4-exclusive-sierra-lamars-killer-breaks-silence-in-rare-prison-letter/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/sierra-lamar#:~:text=A%20popular%2015%2Dyear%2Dold,way%20to%20school%20in%202012.

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/id-shows/see-no-evil/man-convicted-of-murdering-missing-high-schooler-after-his-dna-found-on-her-discarded-pants

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/south-bay/sierra-lamars-family-remains-hopeful-10-years-after-morgan-hill-teen-vanished/2841612/

https://abc7news.com/timeline-in-sierra-lamar-kidnapping-case-closing-arguments-begin-murder-trial-antolin-garcia-torres/1949478/

https://abc7news.com/sierra-lamar-murder-trial-antolin-garcia-torres/1730889/

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/sierra-lamar-killer-sentenced-to-life-without-parole/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226064762/sierra_mae-lamar

https://www.ktvu.com/news/sierra-lamar-friends-testify-in-murder-trial-of-antolin-garcia-torres

Stacey Hanna was an 18 year old woman who was searching for her place as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She believed that she had finally found her people in some friends who lived in Richmond, Virginia. Shortly after moving in, however, Stacey became an outcast within the group. It wasn’t long before 4 of her so-called “friends” plotted to teach her a lesson and brutally murdered her. This is a very sad and scary case of how a “gang” mentality can end up costing someone their life. 

Sources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203434515/stacey-l-hanna

https://thecinemaholic.com/stacey-hanna-murder/

https://morbidology.com/the-lesbian-love-triangle-murder-of-stacy-hanna/

https://www.dailycrime.com/murder-among-friends-spotlights-brutal-murder-of-stacy-hanna-that-shocked-gay-community/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3177594/Mother-s-anger-discovering-woman-killed-daughter-lesbian-slaying-released-early-anniversary-death.html

Investigation Discovery’s Murder Among Friends: Girls on Belmont Avenue, Season 2 Episode 2

Book: A Fatal Lie by Sally Chew 

Join us as we discuss the murder of Stacey Mitchell. Stacey was a 16-year-old girl who was struggling with getting along with her parents. One day in December she got into an argument with her mother and she ran away. She would never be seen by her family again.

Sources:

Deadly Women: Fatal Attraction S2 E2

https://www.smh.com.au/national/memorial-service-for-murdered-perth-teen-20061228-gdp4p5.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-12-24/memorial-planned-for-murdered-schoolgirl/2160782

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Stacey_Mitchell

https://7news.com.au/original-fyi/crime-story-investigator/australias-grisliest-murders-stacey-mitchell-and-the-faux-friends-who-killed-her-c-469462

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25133138/stacey_lee-mitchell

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/full-horror-of-stacey-mitchells-murder-revealed-ng-2588aaa3829baad017f1bfbffd9d9401

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/07/internationalcrime.australia

https://medium.com

https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/daughters-murder-still-haunts-family-ng-ya-322815

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/prison-officers-injured-in-lesbian-killer-fight-20121113-29a0q.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-03-07/women-jailed-for-24-years-for-murdering-teenage/1065590

https://www.bpclaw.com.au/wheelie-bin-killer-valerie-parashumti-wants-337000-accident-compensation/

Timothy Ferguson was a sweet, 15 year old boy, with special needs, living with his mom and 2 brothers. Timothy was found dead in his bed in July of 2022. The findings that came out after his death were horrific and showed months, if not years, of abuse, neglect, and cruelty. Join us in the closet this week as we discuss the terrible case of Timothy Ferguson. 

Sources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248980161/timothy-richard-ferguson

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shanda-vander-ark-guilty-murder-starvation-death-disabled-15-year-old-son-michigan/

https://nypost.com/2024/01/23/news/shanda-vander-ark-gets-life-in-prison-for-torturing-disabled-son-to-death/

https://lawandcrime.com/crime/we-know-who-you-are-judge-and-victims-siblings-call-out-mom-who-starved-and-tortured-special-needs-son-to-death/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/siblings-of-15-year-old-who-was-murdered-say-their-mother-doesnt-deserve-freedom/ar-BB1h9zor

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2023/07/a-year-after-a-teen-was-found-tortured-to-death-mom-and-brother-await-trial.html?outputType=amp

https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/grandrapids/name/adam-vander-ark-obituary?id=44541133&_gl=1*1xui70*_ga*YW1wLThDX3hXdmxrZkl4X1BQaEY0Njh6Qnc.&_bc=1*1bgqsnu*amp_cid*YW1wLUVCanowM3pXcmRNZUxCMVkyUzA0NWc.

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2024/02/man-asks-judge-for-mercy-when-sentenced-to-prison-for-torturing-brother-to-death.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuoisyLZAR4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqGvhZ6-xo0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFGBBG8nUc4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXGjDXshowg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXEfzE8BViw

https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/muskegon/i-feel-like-a-complete-failure-norton-shores-mom-accused-of-killing-her-teen-testifies-at-murder-trial

Darren was an unassuming man walking among us. He had some troubles, including being other than honorably discharged from the military. He had a wife, who would be shocked at the heinous crimes he committed. Join us as we discuss this LAST serial killer.

Sources:

⁠https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137541637/afrikka-hardy⁠

⁠https://www.nwitimes.com/police-discover-the-body-of-anith-jones/article_b7f1ba13-8930-59e6-adec-a3ae6872b359.html⁠

⁠https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/father-says-victim-told-family-if-i-ever-go-missing-look-for-me-in-an-abandoned-house/121753/⁠

⁠https://www.abc57.com/news/friends-of-the-family-remember-kristine-williams⁠

⁠https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/post-tribune/name/sonya-billingsley-obituary?id=18955622⁠

⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Deon_Vann⁠

⁠https://www.ranker.com/list/darren-deon-vann/amandasedlakhevener⁠

⁠https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/taped-interviews-with-indiana-serial-killer-darren-vann-reveal-more-potential-victims/2598499/⁠

⁠https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/us/indiana-serial-killer-suspect/index.html⁠

⁠https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2014/10/22/marine-corps-booted-suspected-indiana-serial-killer-in-1993/⁠

⁠https://abcnews.go.com/US/indiana-serial-killer-suspect-spree-dates-back-decades/story?id=26323371⁠

⁠https://abc7chicago.com/darren-deon-vann-serial-killer-afrikka-hardy-gary-body/358131/⁠

Phillip Ingle had a troubled past and struggled with substance abuse disorder and mental health issues. But then in 1991, he terrorized a small North Carolina town by brutally murdering 4 of its elderly residents for seemingly no reason. Sadly, the ripple effect of Phillip’s actions lead to the deaths of 3 additional people. This is a tragic case of a system failing a very inherently disturbed individual. 

*If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues please text HOME to 741741

Sources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111742252/phillip-lee-ingle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Ingle

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18759459/william-fred-davis

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18759499/margaret_davis

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29032842/sarah-emma-willis

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29032993/e_z_willis

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33335424/joey-james-melton

https://greensboro.com/death-row-inmates-case-renews-debate/article_ea73e76a-f5d7-596d-89f2-2df173944514.html

https://greensboro.com/textile-worker-arrested-in-beating-deaths-of-two-couples/article_4cf9b9c0-491c-5df1-86ac-b77df2d32802.html

https://law.justia.com/cases/north-carolina/supreme-court/1994/98a93-0.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/23/us/north-carolina-executes-man-who-killed-4.html?auth=link-dismiss-google1tap

https://www.celebsagewiki.com/phillip-ingle

https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/1995/09/21/ingle-memory-crimes-won39t-killings-scar-rural-community-ingle-faces-execution-town-can39t-forget/29578037007/

https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/120-the-cherryville-murders