1849 - Saco, Maine.

In April of 1850, as the sun shone on Woodbury Brook in Saco, Maine, a boy made a grisly discovery: the body of a young woman tied to a board. It was soon determined that the woman, known as Mary Bean, was killed during a botched abortion from the local botanic doctor, James Smith.

During the course of the trial, it was revealed that Mary Bean was actually Berengera Caswell, a 21-year-old Canadian factory worker who was trying to make a life for herself in New England.

The murder of Mary Bean was written into a fictional, salacious true crime novella, warning young women against the dangers of promiscuity and the inevitable demise of working mill girls. For years, the death of Berengera Caswell remained buried under the moral parable of her infamous pseudonym... until 2007, when the true identity of Mary Bean was unearthed for the modern era.

This episode discusses and describes abortion in the historical context of the 1850's. Please listen with care.

Read The Murder of Mary Bean Book

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2011 - Waterville, Maine.

Ayla Reynolds' mother just wanted answers for her little girl. In December of 2011, her disappearance sparked a national media storm, catapulting Trista Reynolds and her missing wispy blonde-haired toddler into the white hot spotlight.

The police declared that they believed 20-month-old Ayla was a victim of foul play, adding that the people who were with her that night—including her father, Justin DiPietro—were not being truthful.

In January of 2013, police showed Trista the evidence they'd found all throughout the home... Ayla's blood. Trista believed more than ever her daughter had been murdered, so she took matters in her own hands to put the pressure on, letting the world know what happened to little Ayla in the DiPietro home that cold December night: she revealed the blood evidence to the public.

The disappearance of little Ayla Bell Reynolds is the largest criminal investigation in Maine State History, and as of 2021, the case remains without justice. This is the latest information on the Ayla Reynolds case.

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If you have any information on Ayla's disappearance, please contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Central and call (207) 624-7143 or toll free 1-800-452-4664. You can also leave a tip online.

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2011 - Waterville, Maine.

Ayla Reynolds was just shy of 2-years-old when her father, Justin DiPietro, called 911 on the morning of December 17th, 2011 in Waterville, Maine to report her missing. His story was that she'd been abducted from her crib in the middle of the night by an unknown intruder while the three adults in the house were sleeping. Ayla Reynolds never came back home.

Ayla's disappearance sparked a national media storm, catapulting a grieving mother into the spotlight. Trista Reynolds, who wasn't there the night her daughter went missing, believed she wasn't getting the full story from Ayla's father. Eventually police believed it too, and announced this was no longer the search for a missing child... but rather, foul play.

What is Justin DiPietro, Elisha DiPietro, and Courtney Roberts hiding?

The search for Ayla Reynolds is the largest criminal investigation in Maine state history and to this day, her case remains unsolved. This past week marked a tragic anniversary for the little girl's disappearance.

This is the latest information on the Ayla Reynolds case.

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If you have any information on Ayla's disappearance, please contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Central and call (207) 624-7143 or toll free 1-800-452-4664. You can also leave a tip online.

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1966 -Andover, New Hampshire.

In September of 1966, 45-year-old Everett Delano was shot in cold blood at the gas station in Andover, New Hampshire where he worked as an attendant. Everett was a husband, a father, and a veteran with so much life left to live, senselessly murdered in a random act of violence.

As 1966 came to a close without an arrest, the family wondered if their case would be solved: There was no DNA, no suspects, and for decades, no prospects of being solved.

But almost 5 decades later, one call set this case on the fast track for justice.... and investigators realize the killer had been sitting, waiting to be "matched" the entire time.

Hear Everett's story with help from his son, Daryl, the strange circumstances of this case, and how this solved New England cold case beat the odds and now stands as a beacon of hope.

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1983 - Kittery, Maine.

Reeves Johnson has been missing since February 1983. 

In the days following his disappearance, 31-year-old Reeves quit his job, drained his bank account past the last dollar, tried to sell his car, and cleaned out his cabin, leaving behind some curious items.

But was it Reeves? His parents thought so… until they showed up at the post office, hoping to catch their son picking up his last paycheck and discovered a man—an unknown man—opening Reeves' mailbox and taking his mail... and his mother captured a mysterious photo that might just be the key to finding out what happened to her son.

For this special edition episode, we are bringing you into the fold of an active Maine cold case investigation, and working with the Kittery Police Department and the family to try to find answers to a decades old mystery. This is everything we know about the disappearance of Reeves K. Johnson III.

WE NEED YOUR HELP: We’re shaking the dust off this case file and trying to dig up any bit of information that can fill in the puzzle. Share this episode. Share the blog. Get Reeves name circulating.

Key info: https://murdershetold.com/reevesjohnson

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If you have any information to share, please contact Det. Brian Cummer at the Kittery Police Dept. at (207) 439-1638.

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2018 - Rome, Maine.

In August of 2018 in Rome, Maine, Shane Cheetham confronted his wife about poisoning his dog, and in the heat of an argument (according to her), put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Later that evening, Shane passed away at a hospital in Portland, Maine.

According to the people at the scene, this is an open and shut case of suicide. According to police reports, this case should be closed. But when you look at the details, and when you dig into the events of the evening, not everything adds up... and the family has questions.

This is the story of Shane Cheetham, told through his sister, mother, and daughter.

*This episode heavily discusses and describes topics of suicide. Please listen with care. If you're currently struggling, help is available. Please call the national suicide prevention hotline at 800-273-8255.*

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Happy Halloween! Here's a listener submitted treat for your final weekend of spooky season that includes stories about a grim reaper in Belgium, a retro ghostly hallucination, a man haunted by his ex, a woman who survived almost being murdered, ghosts at the UMO campus, and a creepy discovery in a University of Maine document from 1966 that might have a connection to a missing man from my hometown of Newport, Maine.

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1977 - Biddeford, Maine.

By the time Nancy Fredette was able to get to the bedroom where shots rang out on the morning of May 26th, 1977, it was too late. The armed intruder had left through the back door, and her husband, Fred Fredette, lay dying on the bed in their Biddeford, Maine home. He passed away at the hospital later that night, and an investigation for his murder ensued.

Weeks later, Nancy got a surprise when she herself was arrested for the murder of her husband.

The state of Maine vs. Nancy Fredette is one of the most unique cases in Maine criminal history. There was not one, not two, but three trials before the jury found the final verdict largely based on wild circumstantial evidence.

So is Nancy Fredette guilty of murder? What do you think?

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1987 - Westbrook, Maine.

"We were doomed from the very start."

In October 1987, 23-year-old Alice Ann Hawkes was brutally murdered in the safety of her own apartment in Westbrook, Maine. Alice's killer locked the door behind them, leaving her to die alone on the bathroom floor... and to this day, her case remains unsolved.

Alice was bright and full of life. She had a special way of touching the lives of everyone around her. This shouldn't have happened.

Join me along with Alice's sister and college friend, and hear what happened that day in October 1987, why this case is still unsolved 34 years later, and who might hold the key to solving Alice's murder.

This is part two of the life and death of Alice Hawkes.

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If you know anything about the murder of Alice Hawkes, I urge you to leave a tip to the Maine State Police Unsolved Homicide Unit or call (207) 624-7076.

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1987 - Westbrook, Maine.

In October 1987, 23-year-old Alice Ann Hawkes was brutally murdered in the safety of her own apartment in Westbrook, Maine. Alice's killer locked the door behind them, leaving her to die alone on the bathroom floor... and to this day, her case remains unsolved.

But Alice Hawkes is so much more than a name on an unsolved homicide case list. Alice was a friend, and a sister, and had a way of leaving a lasting impact on everyone she met.

Get to know Alice through her own voice, and through the memories of her sister and best friend from college in this two-part special. This is part one of the life and death of Alice Hawkes.

All sources for this episode can be found on murdershetold.com.

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If you know anything about the murder of Alice Hawkes, I urge you to leave a tip to the Maine State Police Unsolved Homicide Unit or call (207) 624-7076.

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