20 years ago, police in Charlotte, North Carolina finally apprehended a suspect who had been committing a series of brutal rapes and murders across the city. But once they caught him, they realized he was responsible for more violence in the Carolinas than they first suspected. Why did Henry Louis Wallace, who many considered a friend, target the women he did? And how did his crimes affect the children of these victims?

In November 2014, 17-year-old Alec Lansing left a group he was hiking with as part of the wilderness therapy program Trails Carolina. He was later found deceased in the woods after a tragic accident, leaving many to wonder what he was hoping to escape. On Feb. 3 of this year, a 12-year-old boy who had arrived at the program only 24 hours before was found dead early in the morning. His cause of death is still being investigated, and the school has been ordered to temporarily shut down. What is a wilderness therapy program and why have there been so many cases of teens dying while participating in them across the country?

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This episode features the cold cases of Mike O'Boyle and Jack Robinson, as well as the missing persons case of Paula Merchant. We also discuss the story of Shelton Sanders, who is presumed dead although his body has never been found, and two sisters named Candy and Darcel Sanders who disappeared late one rainy night in 2022.

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Renee's Course on Podcasting: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/classroom/ReneeRoberson_Podcasting.php

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Renee Roberson reviews three true crime programs currently streaming on Hulu, Netflix, and Max.

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Renee's True Crime Writing Webinar:

https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/classroom/ReneeRoberson_TrueCrimeWriting.php

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High school student Denise Durham was murdered in Hendersonville in 1981 and the man accused of the crime was her vocal instructor. What would lead an older former Broadway actor to commit such a crime? Shelby Wilkie vanished from her Hendersonville home in January 2012, leaving a 3-month-old daughter behind. Her family suspected the worst, and they were right. Twenty-five-year-old Marissa Carmichael remains missing from Greensboro after a night out with acquaintances, and the stories of what happened keep changing.

Co-Writer for Denise Durham segment: Erin Settlemier

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Sponsors:

WOW! Women on Writing

Renee's True Crime Writing Webinar-https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/classroom/ReneeRoberson_TrueCrimeWriting.php

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What is a body broker and why is the industry so unregulated? Is it really legal to arrange the sale of human tissue and body parts to be used for medical research? Renee takes a look at four different business owners, including one in North Carolina, who discovered this lucrative industry and took advantage of grieving families in their darkest hours.

For a full list of articles related to this episode, visit www.missinginthecarolinas.com

Show Sponsor:

WOW! Women on Writing

Renee Roberson takes a look at three unique cases from North Carolina. While a man confessed to the murder of James Chambers in 2018, his body has never been found. Investigators believe they know what happened to Cole Thomas when he went missing while traveling with co-workers through North Carolina, but a confession has yet to happen. And Chapel Hill resident Sydney West disappeared from a park near the Golden Gate Bridge Bridge after she moved there to attend college, and her parents are still searching for answers.

Renee discusses the cases of children who died as a result of controversial parenting techniques, tragic accidents, and provides an update on two South Carolina parents accused of murdering their son in 1989.

Learn about true crime writing with Renee Roberson:

https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/classroom/ReneeRoberson_TrueCrimeWriting.php

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January is National Stalking Awareness Month. In January 2003, Debbie Riddle learned her sister Peggy had been murdered by her ex-boyfriend after years of controlling behavior and incidents of stalking. She shares the story of how her sister's death changed her life and motivated her to begin advocating for change in the way law enforcement and communities handle the crime of stalking.

www.stalkingmuststop.org

https://www.stalkingawareness.org

Renee's Story on the "Strictly Stalking" Podcast-Episode 169

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-stalking/id1494237083?i=1000608351182

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On January 13, 2021, 51-year-old Michelle Marlow was murdered by a female co-worker at TCS Designs in Hickory, N.C. After the shooting, the suspect and her husband fled the area until their capture six months later, but what happened upon their return divided the community. Should the company have done more to protect their employee? We take a look at this incident and provide tips for keeping yourself safe from workplace violence.

Show Sponsor:

WOW! Women on Writing

https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/classroom/ReneeRoberson_TrueCrimeWriting.php

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