What happened to Harold Enzler and Nancy Bellamy? They were alive and well one minute and gone without a trace the next. Did they pack their things and flee the state? Were they hiding from authorities? Or did someone murder Harold and Nancy and dispose of their bodies in a way so the troopers would never find them?

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Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

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The scattered residents of the McCarthy area were not prepared for the horrors of mail day on February 29, 1983, when one of their neighbors attempted to murder them all.

Beginning this month, I plan to release two episodes of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier every month. One episode will be new, and I will bring you the other from the archives. I covered many of Alaska’s most famous crimes and infamous criminals in my first podcasts when my audience numbers were low, so I plan to dust them off, re-edit or re-record them if necessary and release them again. I hope you enjoy these episodes. Thank you so much for listening.

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Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

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Working as a crew person on a fishing boat on the high seas or as part of a Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter crew rank as two of the most challenging and dangerous jobs in the world. When the fishing vessel La Conte began to sink in eighty-mile-per-hour (128.7 km/h) winds, the terrified crew had to jump into sixty-foot (18.3 m) seas in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, a Coast Guard chopper crew in Sitka was deployed to search for the source of a distress call from a satellite beacon. The driving hail and fierce winds battered and bounced the helicopter around the sky while its occupants searched the dark ocean for the source of the EPIRB signal. The pilot dropped down as close to the sea as he dared, and he knew that a rogue wave could bury the chopper at any moment. What the crew of the helicopter saw stunned them. Four men fought to stay afloat in massive seas. Rescuing them seemed like an impossible task.

Lewan, Todd. “Helicopter crew braves vicious storm.” “Storm Gods and Heroes.” 12-28-1998. Anchorage Daily News.

Lewan, Todd. “Rescue in a raging sea.” “Storm Gods and Heroes.” 12-27-1998. Anchorage Daily News.

Lewan, Todd. “Rescue in sight, just out of reach.” “Storm Gods and Heroes.” 12-29-1998. Anchorage Daily News.

Lewan, Todd. “’Survivor in the basket.’” “Storm Gods and Heroes.” 12-30-1998. Anchorage Daily News.

Lewan, Todd. “Wrenching rescue; puzzle solved.” “Storm Gods and Heroes.” 12-31-1998. Anchorage Daily News.

Walker, Spike. Coming Back Alive. 2001. New York: St. Martins Griffin.

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Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

Linda Skeek had three beautiful children and an excellent job, but she did not have a good marriage. However, Linda’s relationship with her husband, Thomas, seemed somewhat improved on New Year’s Eve, 2015. They loaded their kids in their new Navigator SUV and drove to downtown Anchorage to see the fireworks. They watched the movie Minions on the Navigator’s DVD player until the New Year’s festivities began. Linda texted with her sisters and posted photos of her family on Facebook. However, not long after midnight and at the beginning of 2016, Linda’s texts and Facebook posts stopped, and no one saw or heard from her again.

Boots, Michelle T. “Domestic violence, personal disputes behind many deaths.” January 1,2017. Alaska Dispatch News.

Boots, Michelle T. “The murder suspect says his wife is merely missing. Prosecutors say he bought supplies to clean up the scene.” February 26, 2019. Anchorage Daily News. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2019/02/27/in-anchorage-a-rare-murder-trial-without-a-body/

McGee, Madeline. “Jury finds Anchorage man not guilty of murder connection with wife’s disappearance.” March 28, 2019. Anchorage Daily News. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2019/03/28/jury-finds-anchorage-man-not-guilty-of-murder-in-connection-to-wifes-disappearance/

The Charley Project. “Linda Louise Skeek.” n.d. https://charleyproject.org/case/linda-louise-skeek.

Basic Trendy. “Linda Skeek: Went missing, investigation and more. n.d. https://www.basictrendy.com/linda-skeek-went-missing-investigation-and-more/

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Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

Andrew Dolchok had glaring psychological issues, and he was often violent. Still, judges repeatedly released him from jail until one night when Andrew Dolchok’s demons convinced him to murder his cab driver.

1-22-1982. Dolchok v. State. Justia U.S. Law. https://law.justia.com/cases/alaska/supreme-court/1982/3920-0.html

Brennan, Tom. 2005. The Search For Yellow 39. Cold Crime. Epicenter Press.

7-14-1971. Anchorage AP. Daily Sitka Sentinel.

7-15-1971. Search expands for murder suspect. Anchorage Daily Times.

7-21-1971. Andrew Dolchok charged in death of taxi driver. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

7-21-1971. Suspect charged in cab driver’s death. Anchorage Daily News.

7-22-1971. Dolchok is given 10 days for plea. Anchorage Daily Times.

7-28-1971. Bail holds, says judge. Anchorage Daily Times.

Weaver, Howard. 10-6-1972. Dolchok is found guilty of murder. Anchorage Daily News.

10-6-1972. Judge rejects insanity plea, finds man guilty of murder. Anchorage Daily Times.

10-7-1972. Not so crazy. Anchorage Daily Times

11-29-1972. Judge gives life term. Anchorage Daily Times.

1-23-1982. Supreme Court turns down murderer’s second appeal. Anchorage Daily Times.

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Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

With the nickname “Blueberry Tommy,” Thomas Johnson sounds like a harmless and even friendly historical figure, but nothing could be further from the truth. Historians don’t know much about Johnson except that he was a serial killer.

Hunt, William R. 1987. Distant Justice. University of Oklahoma Press. Norman, OK.

Heaton, John W. 2010. Outlaw Tales of Alaska. Morris Book Publishing, LLC. Guilford, CT.

The Blueberry Kid. Alaska Genealogy Trails. https://www.genealogytrails.com/alaska/blueberry_kid.htm

6-22-1914. Many “Blueberry Kids” confuse officers. Man wanted is “Blueberry Tom” Johnson. Fairbanks Alaska Citizen.

6-29-1914. Clew found to Alaska crime. Fairbanks Alaska Citizen.

7-20-1914. Launch Seal Pup found. Fairbanks Alaska Citizen.

8-8-1914. Mute reminders of the Koyukuk tragedy. Iditarod Pioneer.

10-12-1914. Will recover body. Fairbanks Alaska Citizen.

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Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

Tom Faccio heard the knock at the kitchen door. He arose from his seat at the dinner table and peered out a window to see a plump teenager with a cute face looking back at him. He probably wondered what the young girl wanted and opened the door to see if she needed help. It was the worst and last mistake Tom Faccio ever made.

Brennan, Tom. 2001. The Murderous Cherub, Murder at 40 Below. Epicenter Press. Fairbanks, AK.

Grove, Casey. 4-15-2011. Imprisoned killer wants her case reconsidered. Anchorage Daily News.

Sullivan, Sidney. 4-5-2018. Triple murder culprit of 1985 denied parole. KTUU. Alaska’s News Source. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/content/news/Verdict-revealed-for-parole-hearing-in-1985-triple-murder-478933853.html

9-13-1987. We Alaskans. Anchorage Daily News.

Weiford, Linda. 12-12-1993. Winona and the Justice Sisters. Anchorage Daily News.

6-10-2011. Winona Fletcher v. State of Alaska. Court of Appeals of Alaska Decision. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ak-court-of-appeals/1570490.htm

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Robin Barefield is the author of five Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. She has also written two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. Sign up to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

I don’t usually do an episode about a case until the case either works through the legal system or it seems unsolvable. I could not ignore this sickening crime, though. There is nothing worse than children killing children, except perhaps when a teenager murders her best friend for thepromise of money.

Brehmer, Schilmiller, McIntosh, and Leyland all pleaded not guilty. I’ll keep you updated.

Sources:

Farzan, Noori. Chilling Tale of killing, catfishing. The Washington Post. https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=019ceeaf-d496-43d1-95e6-70dea767eba9

Burke, Jill. 6-17-2019. Who is accused killer Darin Schilmiller? Former classmates of catfishing ‘millionaire’ – turned – murder suspect talk about disturbing past. Alaska’s News Source. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/content/news/Who-is-accused-killer-Darin-Schilmiller-Cynthia-Hoffman-murder-suspect-511444111.html

Ortega, Michael. 6-18-2019. Interactive timeline: The murder of Cynthia Hoffman. 650kenai.iheart.com. https://650keni.iheart.com/content/2019-06-18-interactive-timeline-the-murder-of-cynthia-hoffman/

Downing, Suzanne. 6-18-2019. Accused of thrill killing, Schilmiller, Brehmer now indicted for child porn. https://mustreadalaska.com/accused-thrill-killing-schilmiller-brehmer-indicted-child-porn/

Derysh, Igor. 6-19-2019. Denali Brehmer: 5 Fast facts you need to know. Heavy.com. https://heavy.com/news/2019/06/denali-brehmer/

McGee, Madeline. 8-9-2019. Indiana man accused of plotting Cynthia Hoffman killing pleads not guilty to murder charges. Anchorage Daily News.  https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2019/08/09/indiana-man-accused-of-plotting-cynthia-hoffman-killing-pleads-not-guilty-to-murder-charges/#:~:text=In%20his%20second%20court%20appearance,the%20murder%20charges%20against%20him.

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Robin Barefield is the author of four Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. Sign up to subscribe to her free, monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

Perhaps you heard about the NXIVM (pronounced Nexium) scandal when the police tracked down and arrested the cult leader, Keith Raniere, in Mexico. Soon, tales of sex trafficking, branding, and child pornography painted Raniere as an evil man. Like me, you probably shook your head and wondered how anyone could get drawn into a cult. From the outside looking in, cults always seem crazy.

I didn’t pay much attention to the news about NXIVM. I didn’t want to read about more evil in our world. Then, a friend sent me a news story about an Alaska woman who disappeared after attending a NXIVM Executive Success Program class in Anchorage. When Kristin Snyder repeatedly blurted out that she was pregnant with Keith Raniere’s child, NXIVM officials dragged her out of the class, and she was never seen again. I suddenly wanted to know what happened to Kristin, more about NXIVM, and why successful, intelligent women flocked to Raniere to be close to him. Raniere is an average-looking man who denigrates women and believes their purpose is to serve him.

This is the story about NXIVM and the disappearance of Kristin Snyder.

Sources

Parlato, Frank. 2021. The Lost Women of NXIVM. Discovery+

McLaughlin, Kelly and Nichole Einbinder. 9-8-2021. How NXIVM, a so-called self-help company, crumbled after former members exposed it as a cult that abused sex slaves. Insider. https://www.insider.com/what-is-nxivm-keith-raniere-explainer-2019-4

Parlato, Frank. 8-9-2017. Was Kristin Snyder murdered? Sources claim Snyder said she was pregnant with Raniere’s child right before disappearing. Frank Report. https://frankreport.com/2017/08/09/was-kristin-snyder-murdered-sources-claim-snyder-said-she-was-pregnant-with-ranieres-child-right-before-disappearing/

Helmar, Leo. 12-28-2020. The curious case of Kristin Snyder: An outsider delves into the rabbit hole of a woman’s disappearance. Frank Report. https://frankreport.com/2020/12/28/the-curious-case-of-kristin-snyder-an-outsider-delves-into-the-rabbit-hole-of-a-womans-disappearance/

Parlato, Frank. 5-14-2020. Following leads of a possible living Kristin Snyder. Frank Report. https://frankreport.com/2020/05/14/following-leads-of-a-possible-living-kristin-snyder/

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Robin Barefield is the author of four Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. Sign up to subscribe to her free, monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

As the 40-ft. waves crashed down upon him and threatened to wash him and his charge, Captain Singh, off the deck of the sinking ship, Petty Officer Aaron Bean knew the helicopter would not return to rescue them for several hours. Would the freighter remain afloat? Could he survive the relentless pounding by the freezing North Pacific waves? Would Captain Singh, who wore only street clothes, survive? Bean shook off his doubts and concentrated. As long as he could, he would do his job to the best of his ability, and he would give his life if necessary to save Captain Singh.

Sources:

Walker, Spike. 2010. On the Edge of Survival. St. Martin’s Press. New York, NY.

12-10-2012. MV Selendang Ayu grounding – Investigation Report. Officer of the Watch. https://officerofthewatch.com/2012/12/10/mv-selendang-ayu-grounding/

Protecting the Last Frontier. Pacific Area. United States Coast Guard. https://www.pacificarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-17/17th-District-Units/Air-Station-Kodiak/

12-10-2012. MV Selendang Ayu grounding – Investigation Report. Officer of the Watch. https://officerofthewatch.com/2012/12/10/mv-selendang-ayu-grounding/

Selendang Ayu. Shipwreck Log. https://shipwrecklog.com/log/history/selendang-ayu/

Ropeik, Annie. 12- 12, 2014. 10 years on, Selendang Ayu spill’s legacy still evolving. Alaska Public Media. https://www.alaskapublic.org/20

14/12/12/10-years-on-selendang-ayu-spills-legacy-still-evolving/

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Robin Barefield is the author of four Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, and Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. Sign up to subscribe to her free, monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska.

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If you would like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club.

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