Ope, it's Murder

In December 1984, 18-year-old Traci Hammerberg disappeared after a night out in Wisconsin. Hours later, her body was discovered beneath the snow near a driveway in Ozaukee County.

For more than three decades, Traci’s murder remained unsolved.

Investigators never gave up. And 35 years later, advances in forensic science and genetic genealogy finally gave them the break they had been waiting for.

This week on Ope, It’s Murder, Lindsey and Libbie walk through Traci’s final hours, the investigation that followed, the evidence that remained preserved for decades, and the technology that ultimately helped investigators identify her killer.

This episode is sponsored by Fiddleheads Coffee Roasters. A Wisconsin favorite keeping us caffeinated while we dig into another Midwest case.

This episode is also sponsored by Dakota Spotlight: Call Me Shelly. The documentary follows the decades-long search for answers in the 1994 disappearance of Michele “Shelly” Julson from Bismarck, North Dakota. Lindsey and Libbie will also be attending a screening of the film!

Primary reporting and supporting sources used for this episode include:

• Ozaukee Press reporting on the identification of Philip Cross and the decades-long investigation
• Ozaukee Press retrospective reporting on the investigation
• FOX6 Milwaukee reporting on the 2019 genetic-genealogy breakthrough
• Wisconsin Public Radio reporting on the forensic-genealogy investigation
• ABC News coverage of the identification of Philip Cross
• NBC News coverage of the case
• Additional background material and archival reporting supplied during episode research
• Video sources supplied during episode research

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In 1987, 14-year-old Kenny Joe Johnson disappeared from Dubuque, Iowa. His body was later discovered along the Mississippi River, beginning a murder investigation that would generate hundreds of leads but leave one devastating question unanswered: Who killed Kenny Joe Johnson?

In Episode 7, Lindsey and Libbie walk through Kenny’s disappearance, the investigation that followed, and a case that remains unsolved nearly four decades later.

This episode is sponsored by Verena Street Coffee Co. And coffee lovers, mark your calendars: their steepest web sale of the year is coming for Black Friday! The sale kicks off 11/11 and runs through Cyber Monday, so it’s the perfect time to stock up on your favorites.

Primary Sources

• Dubuque Police Department — current cold-case listing for Kenny Joe Johnson.
• Dubuque Police Department — August 5, 2021 public request for information concerning Eugene Franklin Lewis.
• Iowa Cold Cases — Kenny Joe Johnson case summary, incorporating information from the Dubuque Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and historical reporting.

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A quiet Shorewood neighborhood. A mother whose life was taken. And a violent manhunt that ended in a high-speed chase and shootout with police.

In Episode 6, Lindsey and Libbie tell the story of Victoria “Vikki” Truss, a 34-year-old mother whose murder in July 2025 shook the Milwaukee-area community—and raised difficult conversations about domestic violence and the warning signs that came before her death.

This episode is sponsored by Stone Creek Coffee out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Use code OPE10 for 10% off your next order.

Primary and supporting sources used for this episode:

• FOX6 Milwaukee — July 2025 Shorewood shooting coverage and January 2026 release of police dashcam/bodycam footage
• WISN 12 — Victoria Truss family interview and vigil coverage
• CBS 58 — initial Shorewood shooting coverage, vigil coverage, and January 2026 Glendale Police bodycam/dashcam release
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — reporting on Vikki's May 11 police call, search-warrant records, Griffin's prior arrest/referral history, and family/community remembrance
• TMJ4 — Shorewood officer bodycam footage and identification/background reporting
• Search-warrant information reported by local Milwaukee news organizations
• GoFundMe organized by Antonio Truss — family-provided information about Vikki and support for her son
• Stone Creek Coffee — company history and information
• Additional video and social-media materials supplied during research

PRODUCTION NOTE: Because Michael Griffin died on July 3, 2025 and was never tried for Victoria Truss's murder, retain attribution such as “according to investigators,” “according to court filings,” and “Vikki's family said” wherever the underlying fact depends on those sources rather than a criminal conviction.

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A date arranged through Tinder. A young woman who never made it home. And a case that would uncover a disturbing web of lies, manipulation, and murder.

In Episode 5 of Ope, It’s Murder, we tell the story of 24-year-old Sydney Loofe and the investigation that led authorities to Bailey Boswell and Aubrey Trail. As their stories began to unravel, investigators uncovered disturbing allegations and evidence surrounding Sydney’s final days.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Chet Hardin, author of The Vampire’s Cult, an in-depth look at the twisted case surrounding Sydney’s murder.

Primary and supporting sources used for this episode:

• Sydney Irene Loofe obituary — Snider Memorial Funeral Home
• State v. Trail — Nebraska Supreme Court
• State v. Boswell — Nebraska Supreme Court
• Nebraska Public Media — coverage of Aubrey Trail's sentencing
• CBS News / Associated Press — coverage of Trail's appeal
• WOWT — coverage of the Nebraska Supreme Court decision affirming Boswell's conviction
• Courthouse News Service — coverage of Boswell's sentencing
• The Vampire's Cult — Chet Hardin
• Additional background/timeline research supplied for this episode

Host note: When discussing the alleged cult, witchcraft, torture, sexual practices, or plans to kill, continue using language such as "according to testimony," "prosecutors argued," "the State alleged," or "Trail claimed." Trail gave multiple contradictory accounts of Sydney's death, so his statements should not be presented as independently established facts unless corroborated by the court record.

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One day in 1987, the small lakeside community of Washburn, Wisconsin was rocked by an act of violence that would leave a lasting mark on the people who called it home. What should have been an ordinary night at a local bowling alley turned deadly when jealousy, anger, and a fractured relationship erupted into gunfire.

In episode four of Ope, It's Murder, we travel to Bayfield County to uncover the story behind the Washburn bowling alley shooting, the events that led up to that terrifying night, and the lives forever changed by what happened. We look beyond the headlines to understand how a deeply personal conflict became a tragedy that unfolded in the middle of a close-knit Wisconsin community.

This week's episode is proudly brought to you by Full Keel Coffee, a small Wisconsin coffee company rooted right in Washburn, the very community where this story takes place. Use code MURDER10 at checkout to save 10% off your order and support a Wisconsin small business while you listen.

Sources: 

https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/state-v-lowe-no-888805826

https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/I81240351918111d993e6d35cc61aab4a/View/FullText.html?originationContext=docHeader&contextData=(sc.DocLink)&transitionType=Document&needToInjectTerms=False

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-washburn-wisconsin-ci/135206638/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-death-of-our-cla/7747074/

https://www.bratleyfamilyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/elizabeth-peterson

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On a freezing winter day in 1997, 14-year-old Amber Creek ran away from a Chicago shelter, hoping someone would notice she was missing. Instead, a horrific discovery by hunters in a Burlington, Wisconsin marsh left the local community completely shattered by a crime so brutal it haunted investigators for nearly two decades. For months, no one even knew her name, she was simply known as Jane Doe until breakthrough DNA and fingerprint technology breathed new life into an agonizing cold case.

In episode three of Ope, It's Murder, we honor Amber's memory, dive deep into the heartbreaking twists of her childhood trauma, and explore the relentless, multi-decade search to identify both her and the man responsible.

This week's episode is proudly brought to you by Burlington Coffee Company, a local small-batch Wisconsin roaster deeply rooted in the very community where this story takes place. Use code, OPE10, at checkout to save 10% on your entire purchase and support small businesses while you listen!

Sources:

https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/Slaying-victim-Amber-Creeks-family-speaks-out-a-490524

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Amber_Creek#cite_note-plead-40

https://appsdoc.wi.gov/lop/welcome

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/discarded-cigarette-breaks-open-cold-case-runaway-murdered-1997-n74846

https://abc7news.com/archive/9495536/

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On Valentine’s Day in 1985, 24-year-old UW-La Crosse student Terry Dolowy vanished from her mobile home in Barre Mills, Wisconsin. Days later, a horrific discovery left the Coulee Region completely shattered. For nearly four decades, Terry's loved ones and her community held onto hope as her case grew agonizingly cold, until recent major developments shifted everything. 

In episode two of Ope, It's Murder, we honor Terry’s memory, dive deep into the twists of this devastating local mystery, and explore the long, tireless search for answers.

This week's episode is proudly brought to you by Wonderstate Coffee, a local Wisconsin roaster deeply rooted in the very region where this story takes place. Use code, OPE15, at checkout to support small businesses while you listen!

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"Ope, it’s Murder" is a true crime podcast deeply rooted in the Midwest, and for our pilot release, we are starting right here in our own backyard. Episode One covers a case that has heavily impacted our hometown for decades: The Disappearance of Laurie Depies.

Because this is our community, this case is incredibly close to our hearts. Our primary focus will always be to honor Laurie, respect her family, and keep her memory alive. We want to share her story with the utmost care, ensuring she is never forgotten.

As this is our pilot episode, we are still actively working on fine-tuning our edits and audio quality to give you the best listening experience possible. We are so excited to introduce our podcast to the community, and we are completely open to your feedback as we grow.

HELP SOLVE THIS CASE:

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/laurie-jean-depies

https://www.wimissing.org/post/laurie-jean-depies

Sources: 

WBAY

Dr. Phil: Season 17 Episode 89

Cold Case: Frozen Tundra | A Podcast: Season 2

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Lindsey is one half of Ope, It’s Murder. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Forensic Science and completed an internship as an evidence technician with a local police department, gaining firsthand experience working with crime scene evidence. She also studied abroad during college and is certified in counterterrorism, bringing a unique perspective to the cases she covers.

When she’s not obsessing over true crime, Lindsey is spending time with her nerdy husband and their adorable two-year-old daughter, Sloane. She loves discovering new restaurants, watching sports, and is almost always fueled by an iced caramel macchiato or an Americano with almond or pistachio. She brings a blend of forensic knowledge, Midwest humor, and a healthy dose of caffeine to every episode of Ope, It’s Murder.

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Her go-to coffee order is either an Iced Caramel Latte or an Iced Americano. As a former correctional officer and probation agent who studied criminal justice, she is a lifelong true crime junkie for whom coffee is basically a personality trait. 

She is married to her best friend, raising two incredible girls, and embracing life on their little homestead with chickens, gardens, and plenty of caffeine. When she is not researching cases, she is exploring local coffee shops, trying new restaurants, and chasing her dream of one day opening her own café.

If there is coffee brewing and a mystery to solve, she is exactly where she wants to be. 

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