Mystery Murders

Originally produced as an audio book on my YouTube channel, this is the story of the murder of Harry Agee. Agee's throat was cut while he laid in bed with his wife, Ann, in their modest home in the Portsmouth neighborhood of Portland, Oregon back in 1921. Officially, the murder remains unsolved to this day. But back then the focus was put on his wife who, by her own account, slept through her husband's slaying and only awoke in the aftermath to chase the assailant from her home. This is a story of mystery, intrigue, infidelity, corruption and, of course, murder.

This is a case that truly astonishes me, not so much for it's mystery as much as for the fact that it seemed nobody cared to resolve the matter. Back in 1977 Pringle was only 17-years old living in Medford in southern Oregon. He went on a road trip down into California with a companion, oddly enough during the school year (I don't know the circumstances of Pringle's schooling... just an interesting note). A while later Pringle's companion returned to town without him, claiming they had a falling out while down in Los Angeles. He said the last time he saw Pringle was when he walked away. However, this companion, that is definitely the prime suspect in the case, had all of Pringle's money on him, which he proceeded to spend. Lots of oddities and mystery regarding what happened to this young man, but again, more than anything I am troubled by the fact that a young man, not even a legal adult yet, vanished from sight and nobody cared to seriously investigate the matter.

This episode takes us back to 1912 and the town of Eugene, Oregon. As you'll hear at the start, I produced this piece right at the start of the pandemic (and was making a store-run while keeping sure to wear a mask)... establishing a time and place for when I put this out. 

In our tragic story here I tell the story of Mildren Green, a little girl living with her father in the heart of Eugene. Her father, a local Reverend, discovered her dead in her bed, with her throat cut. This brutal killing sent shock waves through the whole community both in the fact that such a young girl had been killed in such a way and that it happened to the daughter of a local religious man. Many suspects came and went with no resolution. But I have personal theory, a theory that the newspapers of the time did their best to avoid considering...

Another of my early installments in my Mystery Murders series on YouTube and a case that I know is still attracting attention today, which is the mystery behind the circumstances and the identity of the woman regarded as the Finley Creek Jane Doe. This was a young woman who was found in a fairly rural location in rural Union County, Oregon on August 27, 1978. It was believed, upon her discovery, that she had been there for quite some time; a matter of years. I produced this piece during the early summer of 2020 and I delve fairly deep into the known details, but even so, there have been further developments since then. In October 2021 it was reported that a woman believed the Jane Doe is her mother, and she makes a fairly compelling case (that I may cover in a future YouTube video).

In the early 1970s Vicki Hollar, who'd recently relocated to Eugene, Oregon after graduating from college vanished and has never been seen since. It was August 20, 1973. Vicki was last seen leaving her job, reportedly on her way to her home, which was less than a mile away, to prepare for a party later on. The car she drove also vanished and has not been seen since. Some people, myself included, think that the infamous Ted Bundy may have been involved. In this episode I discuss the details of the case and some of the reasons why Bundy makes a viable suspect.

This episode was originally recorded during the summer of 2020.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://stevetheamateurhistorian.wordpress.com/2021/04/09/the-murder-victim-who-never-was/

The mysterious death of a young woman near Rose Park Cemetery in Portland, Oregon back in 1911 has captured and kept my attention ever since I first discovered it as a small piece posted in a local paper posted on a newspaper database. But as I gained more and more information I discovered what was deemed, at least, to be the official name of the victim. However, I have a lot of issues with how that victim died and how this Rose City Park victim died in terms of being the same person. It's a truly obscure case with lots of oddities and... problems. Join me here as I delve into the case and provide my personal take on the matter.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://stevetheamateurhistorian.wordpress.com/2021/04/08/51/

In one of Portland's first murders of the 20th Century, Riley and Naomi Moss had a tumultuous marriage as they lived in the state of Washington together in the year 1900. Naomi would ultimately flee and return home to Portland, Oregon where she was born and raised. However, Riley ultimately tracked her down back to the big city and he so also arrived in Portland... with plans.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://stevetheamateurhistorian.wordpress.com/2021/04/08/murder-of-a-hotel-clerk/

I am truly surprised that this is such an obscure murder case considering the insanity of the whole thing! It's got everything from insanity to drugs to obsession to hostage-taking to murder and so on. It all took place in a little hotel that still stands today on Portland's west side. This is the sad story of a hotel clerk named Lawrence Goodell.