This week, Kate dives into an unsolved mystery, and a rather perplexing one, at that. This one is a great example/reminder of why colonialism is bad. When Michael Rockefeller (yes, of THE Rockefeller Family) disappeared during an expedition in the Asmat region of southwestern Dutch New Guinea (now South Papua), no one knew what had happened to him. 
There's a few theories. Some are simple, and some are sinister. 

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This week, Rachael covers the murder of Gregory "Sky" Erickson, who was just 15 years old. And buckle up, because the cast of characters involved in this case is EXTENSIVE--there were TEN people charged in connection with his murder!

Sources:
1) https://law.justia.com/cases/minnesota/court-of-appeals/2012/a11-1379.html
2) https://www.facebook.com/p/In-memory-of-Sky-Erickson-100069079830324/
https://www.dglobe.com/news/man-serving-life-sentence-testifies-about-murder
3) https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/man-now-eligible-for-parole-for-1997-sky-erickson-killing/
4) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147884681/gregory-sky-erickson
5) https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/40/1073/2380789/
6) https://casetext.com/case/us-v-lua
7) https://www.change.org/p/joe-biden-my-brother-has-been-in-prison-for-over-23-years-and-deserves-a-second-chance
8) https://doc-search.iowa.gov/Offender/Search
9) https://www.change.org/p/clemency-for-luis-lua
10) https://law.justia.com/cases/iowa/supreme-court/1999/98-1417.html

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Around 4:00 AM on August 23, 1987 in the tiny city of Alexander, Arkansas, a locomotive engineer noticed that there were people laying down on the train tracks. The engineer engaged the train’s brakes and sounded the horn, but the train was unable to stop in time.
When 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives were hit by this freight train, their death was initially and unsurprisingly ruled an accident. However, after researching this case, I think it’s safe to say that the deaths of these teenagers were anything but accidental. 

Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Don_Henry_and_Kevin_Ives
2) https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jun/05/mom-of-cold-case-victim-dies/
3) https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/kevin-ives-and-don-henry-12289/
4) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120221988/lionel_keith-mckaskle#view-photo=190741804 
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Seal 
6) https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jun/05/mom-of-cold-case-victim-dies/ 

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Despite there being security camera footage of Missy Bever's killer, there have been frustratingly few major leads over the last 9 years. 

Sources: 
1) https://people.com/crime/missy-bevers-murder-mother-in-law-asks-will-we-feel-like-celebrating-arrest/
2) https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/internet-sleuths-muddy-waters-and-wreck-lives-in-missy-bevers-murder-investigation-9129736
3) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/docs-church-murder-victim-terri-missy-bevers-received-creepy-linkedin-message/
4) https://people.com/crime/missy-bevers-texas-fitness-instructor-dead-one-year-later/
5) https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/missy-bevers-died-from-multiple-puncture-wounds-to-head-and-chest-police/132143/
6) https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/who-murdered-missy-bevers-six-years-after-killing-the-question-remains-unanswered/2943550/
7) https://www.audacy.com/krld/news/local/reward-increases-to-usd150-000-dollars-in-missy-bevers-murder
8) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Missy_Bevers

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Katarzyna Zowada was murdered in a truly horrific way. After police didn't file a police report for Katarzyna initially when she went missing, it took almost 20 years for investigators to find out who her killer was, with the help of DNA technology.

Sources: 
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Katarzyna_Zowada
2) The Most Bizarre True Crime Stories Ever Told by Jack Rosewood 
3) https://www.krakow.sa.gov.pl/komunikat-dotyczacy-wyroku-sadu-apelacyjnego-w-krakowie-z-dnia-31-pazdziernika-2024-r-wydanego-w-sprawie-roberta-j-sygn-akt-ii-aka-39223,new,mg,281.html,1181
4) https://the-line-up.com/katarzyna-zowada-the-skin-case
5) https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Katarzyna_Zowada

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Michele Anne Harris, born on September 29th, 1965, left the restaurant she was working at at the end of her shift, and had a couple drinks with coworkers in the parking lot. She went to see a boyfriend in Smithsboro, New York, leaving shortly after 11pm. This is the last time she was seen. 
The day that Michele disappeared was unique. It was not a day that would soon be forgotten…because Michele Anne Harris disappeared on September 11th, 2001. 

Sources: 
1) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Michele_Anne_Harris
2) https://charleyproject.org/case/michele-anne-harris
3) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-mystery-a-time-to-kill-26-06-2010/
4) https://abcnews.go.com/US/cal-harris-acquittal-4th-murder-trial-total-relief/story?id=39564152 

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Journalist, radio personality, and socialite Dorothy Kilgallen was found dead in her apartment in New York City on November 8, 1965. She was found sitting up in bed, fully dressed and made up. Her official cause of death was an overdose of barbiturates combined with alcohol. But alcohol and barbiturates cannot explain why Dorothy’s notes on the single most famous case she had ever investigated were missing–and why, two days later, a friend to whom she had given a draft of a chapter exploring theories of this case was also found dead under mysterious circumstances. Alcohol and barbiturates cannot explain why every trace of her research and theories were never seen again. 

Sources: 
1) https://historyandimagination.com/2020/09/22/the-strange-death-of-dorothy-kilgallen-part-one/
2)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_assassination_conspiracy_theories
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_John_F._Kennedy
4) https://spartacus-educational.com/JFKkilgallen.htm
5) https://oceanwriterreads.com/2024/03/25/book-review-the-incredible-life-and-mysterious-death-of-dorothy-kilgallen-by-sara-jordan-heintz/
6) https://arapahoenews.com/12462/uncategorized/dorothy-kilgallen-reporter-cloaked-in-controversy/
7) https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1283&context=fac_pm
8) https://www.tigertimesonline.com/entertainment/2018/04/the-scandals-of-jfk/

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This episode has so many twists and turns that if it was a novel, someone on Goodreads would complain about it being "unrealistic". 
A whole family was murdered one night in the 1870s. The motive was clear, but the perpetrator was (and still is) a mystery. Though a trial ensues, the town decides to take matters into their own hands. 

Otherwise known as The Horsey Episode. 

Sources: 
1) https://johnbrassardjr.com/2020/01/11/the-spencer-family-massacre-part-1/ 
2) https://johnbrassardjr.com/2020/01/25/the-spencer-family-massacre-part-2/
3) https://khqa.com/news/local/family-of-five-brutally-murdered-in-clark-county-in-1877
4) https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/group-takes-another-look-at-125-year-old-murder-case/article_b57f4759-a9c7-5ef7-89f9-0be4783df114.html

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Today, Christine covers the heartbreaking murders of Jack and Paul, two young boys who were killed by their father. Despite evidence and testimony from the boys' mother that their father was a dangerous man capable of killing his own sons, the judge awarded him 5 hours of unsupervised contact each week. This decision would sadly prove to be fatal for the 9 and 12-year old brothers.

Sources:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pD1Yt34vqw
2) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/01/paul-and-jack-were-murdered-by-their-abusive-father-why-had-the-family-courts-granted-him-contact 
3) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/07/he-saw-our-children-as-possessions-my-husband-killed-our-sons 

*Consider signing this petition!*
Child First Campaign Petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/child-first-safe-child-contact-saves-lives 

• In the UK, the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid.
• In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. 
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732
• Other international helplines can be found via befrienders.org or at Child Helplines International.

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This case if not covered enough. Have you heard of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride? Probably. But there is a horrific detail of that midnight ride that most do not know about. Learn about it here on Small Town Mysteries, then tell all your friends to listen...because this one is important.

Sources:
1) https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials
2) https://www.loc.gov/resource/llst.023/?sp=1&st=image
3) https://www.paulreverehouse.org/mark-hung-in-chains-slavery-paul-reveres-midnight-ride/

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