⚠️ Trigger Warning:

This episode contains sensitive content involving crimes against children, including sexual assault and murder. Listener discretion is advised.

In this chilling and emotional episode, Amanda delves into the unsolved series of crimes known as the Alphabet Murders or Double Initial Murders that occurred in Rochester, NY, in the early 1970s. This episode focuses on the Carmen Colon, a 10-year-old girl whose abduction and murder shook the community and remains unresolved to this day. Our focus turns to Wanda Walkowicz, an 11-year-old girl who tragically became the second known victim in the terrifying Alphabet Murders. Like Carmen before her, Wanda’s life was marked by hardship — and her death would send shockwaves through the community. To close out this emotional episode, we examine the heartbreaking case of Michelle Maenza, the third known victim of the infamous Alphabet Murders. Michelle was abducted in broad daylight — and this time, someone saw it happen. Despite witness accounts and physical evidence, the case remains unsolved more than 50 years later.

Amanda walks listeners through:

• The early life and complex family background of each victim

• Disturbing witness accounts from the days the girls went missing

• The heartbreaking discovery of their bodies and the initial investigation

• Suspicions surrounding Carmen’s uncle, Miguel Colon, and his eventual polygraph clearance

• Societal reflections on crowd apathy and the impact of unreported sightings

• Community response and tips that flooded in, including potential suspects

• The severe bullying Michelle endured at school and the events leading up to her disappearance

• Crime scene details, forensic evidence, and similarities to the earlier murders

• How investigators began linking the Alphabet Murders together

• A chilling witness interaction with the suspected killer

• Victim Name: Carmen Colon

• Age: 10

• Date Missing: November 16, 1971

• Body Found: November 18, 1971, near Churchville, NY

• Cause of Death: Strangulation; signs of sexual assault

• Status: Unsolved

• Name: Wanda Walkowicz

• Age: 11

• Date of Disappearance: April 2, 1973

• Location Last Seen: Hillside Delicatessen on Conkey Avenue, Rochester, NY

• Date Found: April 3, 1973

• Cause of Death: Strangulation

• Notable Evidence: White cat hairs (not from her home), semen, pubic hairs, custard in stomach

• Vehicle of Interest: Light-colored Dodge Dart seen near both her last known location and the dump site

• Name: Michelle Maenza

• Age: 10

• Date of Disappearance: November 26, 1973

• Date Found: November 28, 1973

• Location Found: Ditch off Eddy Road, Macedon, NY

• Cause of Death: Strangulation

• Notable Evidence:

• White cat hairs (also found on Carmen and Wanda)

• Semen sample

• Cheeseburger remains in stomach

• Partial fingerprints

• Missing coat found ½ mile away

• Witness sketch of the suspect

• Light-colored 1966 Chevy seen near the crime scene

• Police remained cautious about linking the murders but did interview known sex offenders, welfare workers, and school employees

• Despite efforts and public attention, the case remains unsolved

If you have any information about the Alphabet Murders or the cases of Carmen Colon, Wanda Walkowicz, or Michelle Maenza, please call: New York State Police Troop E Headquarters: 585-398-4100

Episode Transcript⁠⁠

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The intro theme for this podcast is a section of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons