Murder, She Told

1984. Providence, Rhode Island.

Just before Thanksgiving in 1984, a popular Providence nightclub owner, 58-year-old John “Tillie King” Gomes, went missing. He would never be seen alive again.

A witness came forward saying she saw him being forced into a car at gunpoint by two men, and rumors of mob involvement quickly swirled.

Tillie was a community icon and a smart businessman who had built a successful nightclub and knew how to navigate the streets around him. But somebody wanted him dead. The question was why.

Sifting through rumors to find the truth, in a world where loyalties run deep and people are afraid to talk, left more questions than answers.

What happened during those final months of Tillie King’s life? And why, after more than four decades, has no one been held accountable for his murder?

Episode sources and photos: https://murdershetold.com/episodes/john-tillie-king-gomes

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Happy Halloween! This week I wanted to bring you a fun and fascinating Halloween season bonus from my friend, Laurah Norton of The Fall Line. 

This is One Strange Thing: a podcast that brings you witty true stories of ghost sightings, strange disappearances, supernatural events and famous cryptids, creatures, UFOs and lore from small town America. 

This episode is The Cure: "Mercy Brown, Rhode Island vampire—or, allegedly so—is considered to be the last of the state’s unfortunate focal points in its 19th century vampire panics; but like so many other supernatural superstitions we dig into, there’s much more beneath the surface. The Exeter Vampire panic is more complex, and perhaps distorted, than we’ve been led to believe. . . all through the haze and horror of the plague of tuberculosis."

Hosted and written by Laurah Norton

Researched Anna Luria and Laurah Norton

Produced by Maura Currie

Engineered by Brandon Schexnayder

Sources for OST: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

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2003. Wilton, Maine.

For Raymond “Butch” Weed, the days leading up to Christmas in 2003 were supposed to be an ordinary time spent with friends and family. But on December 23, the holiday season took a devastating turn when friends stopped by his home to deliver gifts and discovered that Butch had been murdered.

Butch was a fixture in the Wilton, Maine, community. That evening, he had made the short trip home from one of his favorite local spots. Sometime in the 90 minutes that followed, his life was taken inside his own home.

More than two decades later, rumors and speculation still surround Butch’s murder, but what actually happened that night remains unknown. His family is still waiting for the truth, and while theories have circulated over the years, the answers can only come from facts—and from someone who knows more than they’ve shared.

Episode sources and photos: ⁠⁠⁠https://murdershetold.com/episodes/raymond-butch-weed

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1952. Burlington, Vermont.

In November 1952, 19-year-old Rosamond Burrington was simply making her way home after running errands in Brattleboro, Vermont, expecting nothing more than an ordinary walk on a November evening. But somewhere along that route, she encountered a man she didn't know, and her life was brutally cut short.

With few answers, no clear suspect, and little to go on, police struggled to make sense of the horrific crime. The investigation appeared to have reached a standstill until a nurse came forward with an unexpected tip about a young man whose strange story caught the attention of investigators, cracking the case wide open.

Episode sources and photos: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/rosamond-burrington

Support the show: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠⁠

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1991. Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

On a bitter February night in 1991, the quiet of a Portsmouth neighborhood was shattered when flames erupted from a neighbor’s home. By the time the fire was under control, two beloved members of the community were dead.

Stella Bolton, 68, and James "JJ" Moore, 73, were familiar and well-loved faces around the Seacoast area. They were longtime friends who shared a simple, quiet life.

But investigators soon discovered that the fire was only part of the story.

Stella and JJ had been killed before the flames consumed their home. What initially appeared to be a devastating house fire was now a double homicide—and someone had gone to extraordinary lengths to hide what they had done.

As investigators began piecing together those final hours, questions piled up. Who would want Stella and JJ dead? Why were they targeted? And could the person responsible have been someone they knew?

But Portsmouth detectives have never given up hope. They believe the answers may still be out there, held by someone who remembers what happened-and they remain determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to Stella and JJ.

Episode sources and photos: https://murdershetold.com/episodes/stella-bolton-james-moore

Support the show: ⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠

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At just nine months old, in April 1987, Jacob Landin was murdered. His future, his laughter, and the love he deserved were taken from him in an instant.

But Jacob’s story is far from forgotten. His case remains unsolved, yet his name has become a symbol of resilience, justice, and the unwavering determination of those who refuse to let his memory fade.

AdvocacyCon was created in part because of Jacob’s story—to fight for families like his, demand answers, and help ensure that no victim is forgotten.

Jacob’s brother, Eric Carter Landin, and Whitney St. Andre, two of the creators of AdvocacyCon, join Murder, She Told to talk about the importance of creating a community where those impacted by crime and unresolved cases can find resources, connection, and support.

AdvocacyCon 2026 takes place September 11–13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and tickets are still available. Murder, She Told has made a donation to help one family attend AdvocacyCon at no cost to them. Those who would like to help another family attend can make a donation through Impact Advocacy, linked below.

Support the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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1961 - Lincoln, Massachusetts.

What happened inside Joan Risch’s Lincoln home on October 24, 1961 may never be fully known.

Blood stained the kitchen floor. Someone appeared to have tried to wipe it away. Her two young children were left behind, but Joan herself was nowhere to be found.

As investigators worked to reconstruct Joan’s final known hours, unsettling witness accounts and conflicting clues began to emerge. Was Joan attacked inside her own home? Did she leave willingly? And if she did, why would she leave her children behind?

The theories surrounding her disappearance only seemed to create more questions. Every clue offered a possible explanation, but none could account for everything that happened that afternoon.

More than six decades later, Joan Risch remains missing—and the mystery of what happened to her continues to haunt the quiet Massachusetts neighborhood where she was last seen.

Read ⁠A Kitchen Painted in Blood⁠ by Stephen Ahern

Support the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠

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1961 - Lincoln, Massachusetts.

On the afternoon of October 24, 1961, a quiet suburban neighborhood in Lincoln, Massachusetts became the setting for one of New England's most haunting mysteries.

When neighbors realized something was wrong at the home of 31-year-old Joan Risch, they stumbled on a scene that has puzzled investigators for more than six decades.

Bloodstains marked the kitchen floor, with smears suggesting someone had tried to wipe them away. Joan's 2-year-old son was found crying upstairs, while her young daughter wandered outside looking for help. But Joan herself was gone.

For investigators, the evidence painted an unsettling picture—but not a clear one. As witness accounts emerged and detectives began piecing together the day's events, each new clue seemed to raise more questions than answers. More than six decades later, one question still remains: What happened to Joan Risch?

Read A Kitchen Painted in Blood by Stephen Ahern

Support the show: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠⁠

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1993 - Kittery, Maine.

On a cold night in January 1993, an intruder broke into the home of 73-year-old Maxine Bitomski, killing the beloved widow in the quiet coastal town of Kittery, Maine. The following day, Maxine's grandson stopped by for a visit and made the heartbreaking discovery: she had been murdered.

For decades, investigators revealed very little about the case, leaving the community to wonder why anyone would target the elderly woman.

But behind the scenes, police say they had a suspect from the very beginning.

In June 2026, Maine State Police arrested 59-year-old Daniel Jolly of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Jolly was 25 years old at the time of the killing and supplied oxygen equipment to Maxine through his job.

Now, after more than three decades of unanswered questions, the case has entered a new chapter. For the first time, investigators have revealed key details about the evidence—and why they believe Daniel Jolly is responsible for Maxine Bitomski's murder.

Episode sources and photos: ⁠⁠https://murdershetold.com/episodes/maxine-bitomski

Support the show: ⁠⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠⁠

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1989 - Worcester, Massachusetts.

June 5, 1989, was supposed to be a day of celebration for 17-year-old Nereida “Nettie” Melendez. The responsible and ambitious teenager was set to graduate from high school and begin the next chapter of her life. But when Nettie failed to appear at her graduation ceremony, her family immediately knew something was wrong. Their worst fears were realized the following day when Nettie’s body was found during a family-led search.

Decades later, the mystery surrounding her death remains unsolved. Nettie's brother, Peter Vasquez, and cousin, Doris, join us to talk about the young woman behind the headlines, the lingering questions that continue to haunt their family, and the determination that keeps them searching for justice.

17-year-old Nereida Melendez, who went by Nettie, had a big day ahead of her, and plans for her bright future. June 5th, 1989, was just the beginning: her high school graduation. But when her name was called onstage to get her diploma, Nettie was nowhere to be found. Her family started to panic. Nettie was responsible, and it was highly unlike her to miss such an important event.

Their panic ended in tragedy when her body was recovered after a family search the next day. To this day, her case still remains unsolved.

Nettie’s brother, Peter Vasquez, and her cousin Doris, reflect on Nettie’s life, their frustrations with the slow moving investigation, and what they would say if they were face to face with her killer.

This episode was originally published on 01/03/23.

Episode sources and photos: ⁠https://murdershetold.com/episodes/nettie-melendez⁠

Support the show: ⁠https://www.murdershetold.com/support⁠

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