When a loved one passes away, they typically end up at a mortuary. A place designated to care for the after life process. Whether it be a burial or cremation, the family entrusts the funeral directors to be responsible, to properly complete the final wishes. But time and time again there are cases where morticians failed to, not only give the respect everyone deserves, but in some cases are so horrific, it becomes criminal.

Sources: 

Colorado funeral home: Inspectors find numerous decomposing bodies behind hidden door | CNN

What the discovery of improperly stored bodies in a Pueblo funeral home says about the state's death care industry

Owners of US funeral home that hid 190 bodies face families in court | Colorado | The Guardian

What To Know About Colorado’s (Scandalous) Funeral Industry - 5280

Cremation Scandals - Cremation With Confidence

6 of 24 Bodies Identified in Mortuary Scandal Involving County Coroner

US funeral home ordered to pay families $190m in decaying bodies case

Judge rejects plea deal for funeral home owner accused of stashing nearly 190 decaying bodies | PBS News

Cremation Scandals - Cremation With Confidence

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/96/1451/503533/

The Mortician

Robert Eugene Brashers was arrested and convicted of multiple crimes. The first convictions should have landed him in prison for twelve years, but he served just three before getting released for good behavior. The result was multiple murdered women. It wouldn't be until Robert was buried did the truth begin to come to light. The result-a posthumous serial killer label. In 2025, he was verified to have been the offender of the yogurt shop murder. Killing four teenagers in Austin, Texas in 1991. 

Sources: 

https://www.statesman.com/news/article/robert-eugene-brashers-austin-yogurt-shop-murders-21069898.php

https://notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov/si01/si01p001.nsf/035631d21d12b3ca8625729800536894/719609083dcd88e18625831d0050ad6f?OpenDocument

https://6abc.com/post/what-know-robert-eugene-brashers-new-suspect-identified-texas-infamous-yogurt-shop-killings/17894500/

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/29/us/robert-eugene-brashers-yogurt-shop-murders

https://www.kctv5.com/2025/09/29/30-years-later-serial-killer-with-missouri-victims-linked-texas-yogurt-shop-cold-case/

https://www.facebook.com/wachfox/videos/deceased-serial-killer-robert-eugene-brashers-has-been-identified-through-dna-as/1394065839101534/

https://abc7.com/post/dna-evidence-links-late-robert-eugene-brashers-1991-killings-4-girls-austin-texas-yogurt-shop/17889732/

https://www.newsweek.com/who-was-robert-e-brashers-what-to-know-about-yogurt-shop-murders-suspect-10792708

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l41AnSungFE

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/29/us/robert-eugene-brashers-yogurt-shop-murders

https://www.newsweek.com/who-was-robert-e-brashers-what-to-know-about-yogurt-shop-murders-suspect-10792708

In 1991 in Austin, Texas four teenagers are murdered. Two girls are closing up the yogurt shop that they work at while younger sister and a friend wait for a ride home. Sometime during their final clean up, they are attacked. All of them are bound, shot in the head, and the shop is lit on fire. Investigators do everything they can think of to solve the crime. Eight years later four men are charged, two confess and are convicted. Later winning appeals. In order to bolster their case, DA goes back to collected DNA. It is then, that science proved they convicted the wrong men. Still the case goes cold until 2025, when it is finally solved. The murderer with a long history of such crimes, but he will never see the inside of a courtroom for these murders. Having committed suicide in 1999 during a police stand off. Still families now know, who truly was to blame. 

Sources: 

The Yogurt Shop Murders: HBO Max

https://www.austintexas.gov/news/significant-breakthrough-made-1991-i-cant-believe-its-yogurt-murders

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/suspect-identified-in-infamous-texas-yogurt-shop-murder-case-48-hours/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZW5gHXj0

https://people.com/yogurt-shop-murders-victim-helped-identify-suspected-killer-11823320

https://abcnews.go.com/US/haunting-yogurt-shop-quadruple-killings-solved-3-decades/story?id=126035260

Angeline Pete

Anne Peters

Annie Pootoogook

Annie Yassie

Ashley Machiskinic

Audrey Desjarlais

All of these women are missing or died under suspicious circumstances. There are no cases of closure this month. The families often left without the knowledge of where their loved ones are or what happened in their final moments. Again this is another group of cases of missing and murdered indigenous women.

Sources:

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angeline-eileen-pete

https://someonesawsomething.ca/2025/04/13/angeline-eileen-pete/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/disappeared-reconstructing-a-life-to-find-a-missing-mother/article31388904/

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4703dfbc.html

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/family-pleas-for-info-on-missing-north-vancouver-woman-2979187

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/special-reports/fn_womenandgirlsreport_july19.pdf

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/anne-rose-peters

https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Audrey_Desjarlais

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/annie-pootoogook

https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/family-friends-say-inuit-artist-annie-pootoogook-lived-in-fear-before-death/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/annie-yassie

https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Annie_Yassie

https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2021/02/06/the-disappearance-of-annie-yassie/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/ashley-machisknic

https://www.bwss.org/day-of-action-for-ashley-machisknic/

https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/this-was-a-murder-2/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/audrey-desjarlais

Fredericka Mandelbaum immigrated from Prussia to the US with her husband and small child. Peddlers in Prussia, the Jewish couple began feeling the effects of the growing anti-semitism movement. In the US they moved to "Little Germany". Marm learned to peddle quickly both legitimate and illegitimate wares.  Opening her own haberdashery to front her fence. She lived and worked in the area until the 1880's when reform finally caught up with her by the hands of the Pinkerton Agency. Even after she was caught, she paid bail and then absconded to Canada. There she, oldest son Julius, and Herman stayed until Marms death.  

Sources:

https://www.mcny.org/story/extraordinary-mother-mandelbaum

https://www.wnyc.org/story/the-story-of-a-gilded-age-jewish-crime-boss-women-behaving-badly/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-jewish-german-woman-in-ny-became-americas-first-major-crime-boss-in-1859/

https://www.vegaspbs.org/blogs/community-events/march-11-the-queen-of-thieves-the-jewish-mother-who-built-americas-first-criminal-empire/

https://providenceathenaeum.org/media-archives/the-talented-mrs-mandelbaum/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-life-and-crimes-of-old-mother-mandelbaum-71693582/

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/marm-mandelbaum-queen-fences

It seems as though almost every historic hotel has a haunting or two attached to it. They are hot beds for paranormal activity, scaring and exciting the living guests who come for their own experiences. 

Since it’s October, a time touted as spooky season, I thought it would be fun to take a break from murder and mayhem and talk about the spooky. Especially after the heavy case I spoke about last week.

Sources: 

https://portlandghosts.com/the-heathman-hotel/

https://frightfind.com/the-heathman-hotel/

https://fhspost.com/7010/feature/our-paranormal-investigation-portlands-hotels/

http://hauntedrooms.com/oregon/portland/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/the-heathman

https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-places/heathman-hotel/

https://ghostcitytours.com/san-antonio/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/menger-hotel/

https://www.hauntedrooms.com/texas/san-antonio/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/menger-hotel

https://ghosttexas.com/menger-hotel-hauntings-paranormal-ghosts/

https://www.concordscolonialinn.com/haunted-hotel/

https://www.hauntedrooms.com/massachusetts/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/the-colonial-inn-concord

http://usghostadventures.com/haunted-places/concords-colonial-inn/

https://www.hauntedrooms.com/maryland/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/maryland-inn-annapolis

Shawn Yamate was born and raised in California. Falling in love with the 60's era lifestyle, he tattoo'd his moniker above his eyebrows. Sick Boy. In and out of juvi, mental health facilities, and then prison from his late teens. His most recent sentence puts him on the inside for life. 

Sources:

https://kpic.com/news/local/yamate-sentenced-in-court-monday

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/yamate-trial-day-5-defendant-takes-the-stand-in-own-defense/article_e5e25066-4178-5b1a-9fdd-37108deb8a7a.html

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/gonzales-accepts-plea-deal-to-testify-in-murder-trial-of-shawn-yamate/article_fc96201c-5755-5187-86e4-7e72626349bc.html

https://kcby.com/news/local/yamate-denies-murder-charge-while-on-stand-during-trial

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/drinking-unsubstantiated-accusations-may-have-led-to-coos-bay-murder/article_72b04dc3-40d5-5e7d-a5be-f6b1b35e487f.html

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/yamate-murder-trial-day-2-3-lifestyles-and-gruesome-forensic-photos-unveiled/article_03beaa4b-374c-5e0a-ac8e-7e65d7587d0f.html

https://mugshots.com/US-States/Oregon/Coos-County-OR/Shawn-Kristofer-Yamate.68320286.html

https://www.localcrimenews.com/welcome/detail/66776068/shawn-yamate-arrest.html

https://rain-street.org/Shawn-Yamate-7l3521

Another set of women in Canada, missing or murdered. While the bulk of them remain unsolved, we did end on a known case. That doesn't make it any less tragic. Killed for $20.00, the perpetrator given a four year sentence. As always we try and shed light on the epidemic that is the MMIW. 

Sources:

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angel-edna-carlick

https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/yukon-rcmp-putting-out-another-call-for-information-in-death-of-angel-carlick/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angela-carmen-pitseolak-meyer

https://canadiancrimeopedia.com/missing_women/meyer-angela/

https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Angela_Meyer

https://medium.com/@DaniBujold/woman-went-out-for-a-cigarette-and-vanishes-angela-carmen-pitseolak-meyer-2010-98ae97843ed9

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angela-hazel-williams

https://oublieesoudisparues.ca/en/cultural-mediation-kit/tools/factual-data/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angela-poorman

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/crime/no-sentencing-can-ever-bring-my-mom-back-says-daughter-of-sask-woman-killed-in-winnipeg

https://globalnews.ca/news/3095163/arrest-made-in-2014-homicide-winnipeg-police-set-to-release-more-details/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/it-felt-like-the-whole-world-collapsed-arrest-brings-closure-for-angela-poorman-s-daughter-1.3873729

Blaine Milam and Geoffrey West never knew each other. They were born years apart. The only thing in common is that both men were murderers. They carried the common theme of being tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Both men died the same day by their respective states. 

At 18, Blaine murdered a 13 month old girl after torturing her for over 30 hours. She was the daughter of his girlfriend who received a lesser sentence of life.

Geoffrey was 21 and strapped for cash. He and his girlfriend robbed a gas station then executed the clerk. A 33 Patty Berry who left behind two young boys. 

They both claimed to have found God before their execution date and implored others to do the same.

Sources:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/death-row-inmate-s-haunting-final-words-before-execution-for-baby-s-exorcism-death-revealed/ar-AA1NmEw7?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=68d6cb14f77844b0b270e9bbda6e80c5&ei=74

https://kfmx.com/blaine-milam-execution/

https://www.kltv.com/2025/09/24/rusk-county-man-convicted-toddlers-exorcism-death-set-be-executed/

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/14/texas-court-criminal-appeals-stays-execution-blaine-milam/

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/texas-prisoner-seeks-stay-of-execution-on-claims-of-junk-science-arbitrary-sentencing

https://thearc.org/resource/ex-parte-blaine-milam/

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/18/18-5494/58378/20180803112031347_milamcertpet.pdf

https://www.kltv.com/2025/09/25/man-facing-execution-fatally-beating-13-month-old-girl-during-exorcism/

https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Milam-has-big-heart-sister-testifies-9260873.php

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/20/20-6518/164393/20201221163729092_Milam%20-%20SHC%20BIO%20Edited%20-%20with%20tables.pdf

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/double-execution-texas-alabama-execute-inmates-within-minutes-of-each-other/ar-AA1NjNVT?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=68d6cb14f77844b0b270e9bbda6e80c5&ei=74

https://www.murderauction.com/auction/listing/geoffrey-todd-west-scheduled-for-execution-by-nitrogen-hypoxia-in-alabama-on-september-25-2025-for-the-1997-execution-style-killing-of-margaret-parrish-berry-during-a-250-robbery-after-23-years-on-death-row-als/870280

https://apnews.com/article/alabama-execution-nitrogen-abbee4a788ad61f5b8d7cfe0d7afe992

This episode is for the understanding of why it is that I do what I do. Why I write to those incarcerated and hear their stories. What brought me to this point? It includes a couple stories from my time working as a prison nurse. As well as insight as to what special accommodations are made.