Small Town Mysteries

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Marlene Warren answered the door to her home and was fatally shot by a mysterious clown, who then calmly walked away to their getaway car. Although there were eyewitnesses, circumstantial evidence, and a prime suspect, it would take over three decades for her killer to face any kind of justice.

Sources: 
1) https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/killer-clown-marlene-warren-sheila-keen-warren-florida-murder/
2) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sheila-keen-warren-marlene-warren-murder-florida-killer-clown-case/ 
3) https://abcnews.go.com/US/killer-clown-victims-son-reflects-33-year-fight/story?id=98941520

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On December 7, 2017, the body of Telma Boinville was discovered inside a North Shore vacation home in Pupukea, Hawaii by a pair of Australian tourists. In addition to the discovery of Telma’s remains, Makana, Telma’s 8-year-old daughter, was also found inside the home, with both her hands and feet bound. 
Throughout this episode, Rachael covers Telma's case and the prosecution of the two individuals responsible for her senseless murder.

Sources:
1) https://vocal.media/criminal/how-two-burglars-brutally-murdered-telma-boinville
2) https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/stephen-brown-guilty-in-2017-murder-of-telma-boinville
3) https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/02/separately-trials-likely-in-north-shore-murder-as-defendant-claims-abuse/
4) https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2023/12/07/both-defendants-grisly-north-shore-murder-sentenced-life-prison-with-possibility-parole/
5) https://www.facebook.com/groups/811488909034020/
6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C5%ABp%C5%ABkea,_Hawaii

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This week, we take a brief break from covering cases and reflect on our favorite moments from the podcast over the last 100 episodes. We also hear from listeners and play a fun game at the end! 

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During a first date, 24-year-old Erin Marie Gilbert vanishes without a trace. Almost 20 years later, and there are still no answers. Could her date have anything to do with her disappearance? Or was another ill-intentioned player involved?

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Erin_Marie_Gilbert
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girdwood,_Anchorage,_Alaska
3) https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/07/09/cold-case-forest-fair-28th-anniversary-erin-marie-gilberts-disappearance/ 
4) https://dps.alaska.gov/getmedia/6dc56c2a-03e1-46c8-8953-7568ad92974d/Gilbert 
5) https://uncovered.com/cases/erin-gilbert
6) https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/sister-seeks-answers-24-years-after-erin-marie-gilbert-vanished-n1106786

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In this week's episode, Rachael talks about the decades-long mystery of the Lyon sisters, who disappeared  from a local mall in Wheaton, Maryland in March of 1975. The case went cold for a whopping 38 years. Eventually, a man who was only 18-years-old at the time of the crime and who had involved himself in the investigation was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering the Lyon sisters.

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Tune in to learn about the heartbreaking and harrowing murder of Warren Barnes by 19-year-old Brian Cohee, and about the treasured life of Warren Barnes--victimized for being homeless, because his life "didn't matter." The way the community has honored Barnes is truly moving.

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Junction,_Colorado
2) https://www.unilad.com/news/brian-cohee-jr-documentary-police-bodycam-footage-548532-20240327
3) https://www.mesacounty.us/news/district-attorney/cohee-found-guilty
4) https://www.kkco11news.com/2023/01/30/brian-cohee-events-leading-murder/
5) https://www.westernslopenow.com/news/the-people-v-brian-cohee-sentencing-hearing/
6) https://www.gjsentinel.com/a-look-back-cohee-trial-top-crime-story-of-2023/article_0874ef32-9937-11ee-8995-a3539ebe6dc3.html

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This week we dive into the bizarre disappearance of Ashley Loring Heavyrunner from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Just 20 years old, investigators looked into some questionable relationships she may have had, substance abuse issues, and one particularly odd interaction with her father just before she disappeared. 
An overworked and under-funded police force leads to some devastating missteps within this case, and several untrustworthy characters make it difficult to know who is really telling the truth.

Sources:
1) https://uncovered.com/cases/ashley-loring-heavy-runner 
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning,_Montana 
3) https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/ashley-loring-heavyrunner
4) https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/ashley-loring
5) https://www.krtv.com/news/crime-and-courts/suspect-arrested-by-fbi-in-great-falls-has-been-identified

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This week, Rachael covers the shocking murder of Tracy Mondabough, which occurred as a result of a love-triangle gone wrong. Because the murder happened right around the start of Covid, the defense had some pretty interesting arguments for why the perpetrator might have committed the crime...

Sources:
1) https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/tracy-mondabough
2) https://www.rfh-ia.com/obituaries/Tracy-ThrogmartinMondabough?obId=14125426
3) https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/appeal-denied-for-iowa-woman-convicted-of stabbing-ottumwa-woman
4) https://www.thedailybeast.com/michelle-boat-testifies-she-snapped-and-killed-tracy-mondabough-after-she-hit-her
5) https://doc-search.iowa.gov/offender/detail?offenderNumber=6267652
6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pella,_Iowa
7) https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/men-ipvsvandstalking.html
8) https://www.thehotline.org/stakeholders/domestic-violence-statistics/

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This is one of those cases that is solved, but justice was unfortunately never served. Today on Small Town Mysteries, hear about the murder of Cathy Sposito, which was solved 36 years (!!!) after it occurred. 

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Despite there being a good amount of circumstantial evidence in the murder of Jan Kruse, a mom of two who is known in town for being extremely kind and friendly, this is sadly a case that is not solved. Though many people believe they know who committed the crime - is it really that simple?

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster,_Minnesota 
2) https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/nbcs-dateline-features-southwestern-minnesota-murder-case/89-135ae613-2a94-496d-baec-579ceac5fdec 
3) Far From Spider Lake, Dateline NBC
4) https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/nbcs-dateline-features-southwestern-minnesota-murder-case/89-135ae613-2a94-496d-baec-579ceac5fdec
5) https://www.bensonfh.com/obituaries/Jan-Krista-Pigman-Kruse?obId=882872

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