This week we discuss the disappearance of Jennifer Wilbanks, the infamous runaway bride, and how stories like hers can take the focus off critical missing person’s cases. 

Research by Haley Gray with Haley Gray Research. 

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Runaway Bride: Jennifer Wilbanks

Moms and Mysteries is a true crime podcast hosted by Mandy and Melissa, two friends who deep dive into a new case each week. Conversational in tone and heavy on the levity, you’ll enjoy their original takes on both the well-known, and those lesser heard of true crime stories.

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In July 2022, Strongsville, Ohio police responded to a car crash where three occupants, including Mackenzie Shirilla, Dominic Russo, and Davion Flanagan, were found. Tragically, Dominic and Davion were pronounced dead at the scene, while Mackenzie survived with critical injuries. Investigators soon shifted their focus from the accident being unintentional to the belief that Mackenzie purposefully crashed the car with the intention of killing both passengers.

Go Fund Me for Davion Flanagan's Scholarship Fund

Go Fund Me in Loving Memory of Dominic Russo

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Sources:

https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/W111780

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1kKlRJl57N4igmJfQ0GWt6YKaGXRFiLjG

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QP_WTQMrAcjKf4bW5VVrSQNsnBSzeFUj/view?usp=sharing


https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/dominic-russo-obituary?id=36124708 

https://www.jardinefh.com/obituaries/Davion-Flanagan/#!/Obituary

https://www.gofundme.com/f/davion-flanagan

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hell-wheels-teen-killed-boyfriend-friend-crash-sentenced-15-years-life-rcna100928

https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-dominic-russo?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

https://lawandcrime.com/crime/teenager-could-walk-free-in-15-years-after-intentionally-driving-into-brick-wall-to-murder-her-boyfriend-and-another-man/

https://lawandcrime.com/crime/judge-convicts-teen-of-driving-into-brick-wall-on-purpose-in-order-to-murder-her-boyfriend-and-another-young-man/


Additional sources can be found at momsandmysteries.com. 


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The Murders of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan

Donna O’Steen was found stabbed to death in her home after failing to pick up her daughter from piano lessons. Many believe the investigation into her murder was overshadowed by the assassination of Thomas Wales, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, leading many to believe that authorities prioritized solving his murder over Donna’s, leaving both cases unsolved.

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Sources:

https://www.westsideseattle.com/ballard-news-tribune/2011/11/19/ten-years-later-donna-osteens-family-continues-look-answers

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Next-move-in-O-Steen-case-A-reward-1099931.php

https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20041106&slug=sketches06m

https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Mother-found-slain-at-home-1071204.php

https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Friend-s-slaying-seems-impossible-1072507.php

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/A-year-after-woman-s-murder-Sunset-Hill-still-1104748.php

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Can-anyone-help-connect-the-dots-in-Ballard-1158593.php

https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/murder-in-ballard/

https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/a-killing-in-the-neighborhood/

https://www.genealogybuff.com/wa/king/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/96

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/thomas-crane-wales

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1031184016/?terms=donna%20o%27steen&match=1

https://www.king5.com/article/news/crime/unsolved/murder-donna-osteen-inside-ballard-home-unsolved/281-f3cc2ca2-d86a-4dfe-a4ff-0c9d85eacdf8

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/broken-hearts-and-an-empty-home-1086708.php

https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011110&slug=ballard10m_

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/20-years-after-unsolved-killing-of-federal-prosecutor-thomas-wales-in-seattle-details-emerge-about-the-fbis-theory/

https://www.milton.edu/milton-graduate-federal-prosecutor-victim-of-seattle-gun-man/

https://seattlemag.com/who-killed-tom-wales/

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/thomas-crane-wales


https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/20-years-after-unsolved-killing-of-federal-prosecutor-thomas-wales-in-seattle-details-emerge-about-the-fbis-theory/ 


https://projects.seattletimes.com/2016/wales-timeline/ 


https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/seattle-federal-prosecutor-thomas-wales-was-possibly-killed-by-hired-gunman-fbi-official-says/ 



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The Murder of Donna O'steen

Albert Johnson Walker, dubbed "The Rolex Killer," is a Canadian convict serving time for embezzlement and the murder of Ronald Platt. He notably did this by assuming aliases,  and even deceiving others into believing his daughter was his spouse.


Thank you to Anna Luria with your help in researching this episode!

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Sources:

https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/1998/1998canlii14906/1998canlii14906.html?resultIndex=1&resultId=f1166d704fdb41f181a2faf6029ba65e&searchId=2024-03-10T15:39:21:852/af7095a1abc64780a9e24625766e3ce5&searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAVQWxiZXJ0IEpvaG5zb24gV2Fsa2VyAAAAAAE

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1012290821/?terms=%22Albert%20Johnson%20Walker%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1012599590/?terms=%22Albert%20Johnson%20Walker%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/979328251/?terms=%22Albert%20Johnson%20Walker%22

https://www.newspapers.com/image/802775469/?terms=%22Albert%20Johnson%20Walker%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1012805886/?terms=%22Ronald%20Joseph%20Platt%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/465855387/?terms=%22Albert%20Johnson%20Walker%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/727340200/?terms=%22Ronald%20Joseph%20Platt%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/732064418/?terms=%22Ronald%20Joseph%20Platt%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/995096470/?terms=%22Ronald%20Joseph%20Platt%22&match=1


The remaining sources can be found at momsandmysteries.com. 
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The Murder of Ronald Platt

In 2017, Sara Starr, a beloved teacher in Coffee County, Alabama, was tragically found shot dead in her driveway. Despite years of investigation due to sparse evidence, authorities ultimately uncovered a complex murder-for-hire scheme. 

Thank you to Sydney Pacha for your help researching this story. 

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Check-out Moms and Mysteries to find links to our tiktok, youtube, twitter, instagram and more!

Make sure you subscribe and rate our show to help others find us!


Sources:
**Indicates sources with photos 

Kurtis, Ken. "Sara Starr's husband terrified her before her murder: Witness." News4. Last modified September 12, 2023.**

U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District Alabama. "Coffee County Man and His Brother Found Guilty of Carrying Out a Murder-for-Hire Plot." United States Department of Justice. Last modified September 20, 2023.

Lord, Debbie. "'I hope you rot': Daughter confronts dad who hired brother to kill ex-wife." KIRO 7. Last modified January 8, 2024.**

Quinn, Allison. "Slain Teacher's Brother-in-Law Wanted in Murder-for-Hire Plot." Daily Beast. Last modified February 3, 2022.**

Sabes, Adam. "Alabama man allegedly paid hitman with his motorcycle to kill ex-wife." New York Post. Last modified February 6, 2022.**

Dixon, Aaron. "'He's going to kill me.' Inside the relationship of Jason and Sara Starr." WDHN. Last modified September 12, 2023.

Galvan, Jamie E. "'Someone finally listened to us' | Grand jury convicts brothers in murder-for-hire plot to kill mother of 4." KHOU 11. Last modified September 23, 2023.

Robinson, Carol. "Alabama man, brother convicted of murder-for-hire for ex-wife's 2017 shooting death." AL.Com. Last modified September 20, 2023.**

Naham, Matt. "'You are useless' and 'I hope you rot': Brothers locked up for life in murder-for-hire shooting of elementary school teacher and mother of 4 just months after 'bitter divorce.'" Law & Crime. Last modified January 6, 2024.

Sorto, Marlon. "Two brothers convicted in murder-for-hire plot in killing of elementary school teacher over child support and alimony." CNN. Last modified September 22, 2023.**

﻿
Remaining sources can be found at momsandmysteries.com. 
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The Murder of Sara Starr

In 1987, college student Cathy Sposito was brutally murdered while hiking in Yavapai County, Arizona. Decades later, through the efforts of volunteers and advances in genetic genealogy, her case and others were solved, providing closure to victims' families.
Thank you to Elizabeth Atwood for your help in researching the episode! 
If you’re interested in becoming a cold case volunteer with Yavapai County, visit Cold Case Volunteers YCSOAZ.gov. 
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Check-out Moms and Mysteries to find links to our tiktok, youtube, twitter, instagram and more!

Make sure you subscribe and rate our show to help others find us!

Sources


AZ Family Digital News Staff, Pulled from the grave: Man tied to decades-old Prescott college student's murder, AZ Family, 2023

N/A, Cathy Sposito's killer ID'd 36 years after college student murdered on Arizona trail, CBS News, 2023

Corrado, Brent, Garcia, Nicole, Cathy Sposito: Man who killed Arizona woman linked to other crimes, sheriff says, FOX 10, 2023

N/A, Bryan Bennett - Genealogy Explained, Genealogy Explained, 2023

N/A, Police say killer in nearly 36-year-old Arizona cold case died by suicide in Kentucky | News, Wdrb.com, 2023

N/A, Police ID killer in 1987 cold case on hiking trail that has haunted Yavapai County, Associated Press, 2023

Winters, Debra, Sheriff's Office links 1987 Sposito murder, other assaults to man who killed himself in 1994, The Daily Courier, 2023

Smith, Fred, 3 Are Sought to Help Find Hiker's Killer, Arizona Republic, 1987

N/A, Rocks Studied in Hiker's Slaying, Arizona Republic, 1987

Smith, Fred, 2 Rocks Examined in the Dath of Arizona Hiker on Prescott Butte, Arizona Republic, 1987


Remaining sources can be found at momsandmysteries.com. 
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Runaway Bride: Jennifer Wilbanks

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