Murder In The Rain

In 1978, a rapist began a string of attacks that would last nearly 3 years and involve dozens of victims. In today’s episode, Josh will be telling the horrific details of the assaults and the lack of investigation that followed. With a city of potential victims in the dark about the monster lurking among them, what would it take for authorities to finally take the victim’s cases seriously? This is part one of This Little Piece of the Devil, the case of Kevin Coe who gained notoriety as the South Hill Rapist.

For additional information, photos, and sources for this episode please visit the Murder in the Rain episode blog.

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Episode Host: Josh McCullough

In recent episodes, we’ve had Josh talk about the killing of Cassie Jo Stoddart in his Scream inspired Patreon mini and Emily’s stories of catfishing gone wrong in our episode, “Plenty of Catfish”. I wasn’t searching for a similar story, but I stumbled upon one that eerily resembles a mash-up of both of those cases. This is the story of the murder of Cynthia “CeeCee” Hoffman and the alleged catfish that orchestrated her killing. 

This week’s episode is brought to you by Sinister Coffee. Check out the women-owned, small-batch, single-origin, and spooky coffee and creamery by going to www.sinistercoffeeandcreamery.com. Use code MIR10 for 10% off of your order!

For additional information, images, and sources for this episode, please visit the Murder in the Rain Fallen Angel episode blog.

Episode Host: Alisha Holland

Many deaths are shrouded in mystery with loved ones going entire lifetimes without ever knowing the truth. A woman in Alabama is working diligently with her family to ensure that her sister’s mysterious death doesn’t remain uninvestigated. When Breana Noojin Nix, a 32-year-old nurse, was found unresponsive in her bathroom by her husband of 9 years, a secret life that no one expected was uncovered. After paramedics couldn’t revive her, her death was quickly ruled accidental, but many people believe that is not the case and that a murder was being covered up. What really happened in the last 4 hours of Breana’s life? 

Justice for Breana Noojin Nix GoFundMe

Justice for Breana Noojin Nix Facebook

Justice4BreanaNoojin Instagram

Facebook - Justice for Breana Noojin Nix | Change.org - Make Breana Nix’s Autopsy Report Public | GoFundMe - Justice for Breana Noojin Nix | Reddit - True Crime Discussion | Gardendale Heritage Funeral Home - Breana Leigh Noojin Nix | Left Undone - Justice for Breana Noojin Nix (Interview with Brittany)

Episode Host: Emily Rowney

When a New Year’s Eve party near Seattle, Washington transformed into a shootout, one of the gunmen fled the area after retrieving multiple firearms from his home. The man started driving, ending up high in the Cascade Mountain Range, where he then fled into the wilds after shooting a park ranger. A massive, unrelenting manhunt unfolded over the next 24 hours, with hundreds of searchers tracking snowy foot impressions and following the shooter’s trail through chest-deep snow, icy creeks, and the looming danger of an unstable man with his back against a mountain. Today, I’ll be talking about Benjamin Barnes and his day in Paradise.

For additional information, photos, and sources, please visit the Murder in the Rain A Good and Brave Ranger episode blog.

Episode Host: Josh McCullough

When a young trans woman went missing in Vancouver, Washington, her mother and friends knew something terrible had happened. Eventually, investigators narrowed in on a suspect, but he claimed to have simply left her standing at the side of the road. That was until he was taken to court and his story changed, from one of dismissal to self-defense and trans panic. Today, I’ll be telling the story of the inspiration for the newly signed Nikki’s Law: Nikki Kuhnhausen. 

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Check out the episode blog for photos and sources for today's case.

Episode Host: Alisha Holland

This is a special episode of Murder in the Rain. Shane Sprenger went missing in November of last year. Alisha spoke with Jodi and Stacy, two of Shane’s sisters, in hopes that someone who knows something will come forward, and give their family the answers they so desperately seek.

If you know anything about the location of Shane Sprenger in Vida, Oregon, you are asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541.682.4150, and reference case number 21-6268.

Sources

Interview with Jodi and Stacy Sprenger 02.07.2022 | Family of missing man offering $50,000 reward for locating him | Local | kezi.com

Technology facilitated sexual violence or TFSV, is a term that was created to describe digitally-focused harassment that can include sexual harassment, gender and sexuality-based harassment, cyberstalking, image-based sexual exploitation, revenge porn, and sexual abuse and violence. And unfortunately, the violence doesn't always stop there. More and more we are seeing cases of murder facilitated through dating apps. Today, Emily will share two cases, both tragedies that occurred when two people made a connection on the popular dating site Plenty Of Fish. These are the murders of Ingrid Lyne and Christine Wood.

Ingrid’s Lynes family has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser in the hopes of raising money for her three daughters.

For photos and sources for this case, visit the Murder in the Rain episode blog.

Episode Host: Emily Rowney

Carl Cletus Bowles was serving concurrent state and federal sentences at Oregon State Penitentiary, one of which was for murder. In Part 1 of Catching Cletus we learn that he and another ex-convict had gone on a four-day multi-state crime spree in 1965, robbing a motel and raping the desk clerk, committing a brazen mid-day bank robbery in Portland, Oregon, killing a Sheriff’s Deputy in Eugene, kidnapping multiple families, and fleeing from authorities through Oregon, California, and Nevada. Both men were sentenced to life in prison and were never to be considered for parole. In Part 2, the conclusion of this case, we learn that in 1974, Bowles somehow acquired a conjugal visit pass, which he used as cover to escape custody and act out a sequel, of sorts, to his earlier crimes.

See episode blog for images and full list of sources.

When two men cross paths in jail, they become fast friends, but their plans for release don’t include rehabilitation. What their plans do include are repeating the type of crimes that got them imprisoned in the first place; robbery and assault. That was only the start of the men's spree. After four days, they left in their path of destruction a rape victim, a club shootout, multiple abducted families and a dead cop. This is the first part of the story of Carl Cletus Bowles and Wilfred Gray and the terror they inflicted across three states in 1965.

See episode blog for full list of sources.

When a body is discovered on a remote road in Hope, Alaska,  names on the documents found in the dead man’s pockets lead investigators to the deceased’s girlfriend. Or was she his fiance? Or was she just a cover for his sexuality? The trail of circumstantial evidence took officers down a wild path of exotic dancers, multiple finances, and living arrangements that seemed odd to even the most open-minded. Today, on Murder in the Rain, listen to the story of the murder of Kent Leppink and his relationship with Mechele Hughes. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by…

Sundance Now, an ad-free streaming service created by AMC Networks. For as low as $4.99 per month you can stream riveting shows from any device. Try it free for 30 days by going to SundanceNow.com and enter promo code murderintherain when you sign up.

Snapped - S7 E4 Mechele Linehan | NBC News - The stripper and the steelworker | 48 Hours - 09.13.08 Love and Death in Alaska  | Fatal Beauty - 15 most notorious women | ID People Magazine Investigates -  S2E11 Alaskan Temptress |  The Seattle Times - Woman charged in old murder was living as mother, housewife in Olympia | The Daily news - Leppinks Recognized as Michigan Grocers Outstanding Retailer | Web Archive - Linehan Out on Bail |  Blogspot Free Mechele - Free Mechele: Reply to post from "anonymous" | The Philadelphia Inquirer - 10.13.06 The Exotic Dancer, The Steel Worker, and the Body | ​​ADN - Troopers say they mishandled case of killing in prison