True Crime All The Time Unsolved

On May 30th, 1988, Cook County Sheriff’s Police Captain Michael O’Mara left his Illinois home to run an errand, promising his family he would bring back frozen yogurt. Hours later, the 48-year-old law enforcement veteran was found dead in a field near the Markham Courthouse with a gunshot wound to the head and his service weapon beside him. Authorities initially concluded that O’Mara had taken his own life, but his family and several colleagues were convinced something far more sinister had happened.

Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the mysterious death of Captain Michael O’Mara and the lingering question of whether he died by suicide or was the victim of murder. Questions surrounding the physical evidence, missed investigative leads, possible enemies from O’Mara’s long career, and allegations that investigators rushed to judgment eventually led the medical examiner to change the manner of death to undetermined.

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On September 25th, 1981, 58-year-old Polly Melton went hiking with two friends along the Deep Creek Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As the women headed back toward their campsite, Polly suddenly picked up her pace, rounded a bend, and disappeared from sight. Her friends were only moments behind her, but when they reached the bend, Polly was gone. An extensive search involving park rangers, volunteers, and tracking dogs found no trace of her.

Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Polly Melton's mysterious disappearance. Polly knew the area well, carried no purse, money, cigarettes, or identification, and had left dinner preparations waiting back at her campsite. Over the years, theories have ranged from a medical emergency or abduction to the possibility that Polly deliberately vanished to begin a new life. More than four decades later, no remains have been found, and her disappearance remains unsolved.

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In May 2000, 29-year-old travel writer Claudia Kirschhoch traveled to Jamaica after a planned work trip to Cuba was unexpectedly canceled. Claudia decided to remain at a resort in Negril, but on May 27th, she vanished after being seen walking along the beach. Her passport, credit cards, cash, cell phone, and other belongings were left behind, and her family immediately believed something terrible had happened.

Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Claudia Kirschhoch. The investigation was complicated by missing or destroyed potential evidence, conflicting accounts, and numerous unconfirmed sightings. Investigators eventually focused attention on a resort employee Claudia had spent time with shortly before she disappeared, but no one has ever been charged. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the mysterious disappearance of Claudia Kirschhoch, a case that remains unsolved more than twenty-five years later.

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In November 2000, 44-year-old Terry “Dale” Fetner was living in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, after a suspicious fire damaged his home just months earlier. On the evening of November 26, Dale returned from working on a mountain home he was building and was attacked near the entrance to his apartment. A neighbor later found him face down outside the complex, stabbed 15 times. Nothing was stolen, and investigators believed Dale had been specifically targeted and had fought fiercely with his attacker.

Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the murder of Terry Fetner. Despite extensive interviews, large rewards, DNA testing, and renewed attention from Greenville’s cold case unit, police have never publicly named a suspect. Investigators have also questioned whether the suspicious fire at Dale’s home could be connected to his murder. Nearly 26 years later, Dale’s family is still waiting for answers, and authorities hope advances in DNA testing or the right tip may finally reveal who killed him and why.

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On November 17th, 2011, 33-year-old Michelle Parker disappeared in Orlando, Florida, shortly after dropping her twins off at her ex-fiancé’s home. Her Hummer was found abandoned the following day, and weeks later her cell phone was recovered from a lake, but Michelle has never been found.

Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Michelle Parker. Police named her ex-fiancé, Dale Smith, their primary suspect, but he has denied involvement and has never been charged. Nearly fifteen years later, Michelle’s family and investigators continue searching for answers in a case that remains unsolved.

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In part two of the Mitrice Richardson case, her remains are discovered in a remote section of Malibu Canyon nearly a year after her disappearance. The handling of the scene and evidence raised troubling questions, while Mitrice’s family challenged the official explanations surrounding her death and pushed for further investigation.

Join Mike and Gibby for the 2nd and final episode on the case of Mitrice Richardson. Despite additional searches, an exhumation, and multiple reviews of the case, many questions remain unanswered. Mitrice’s cause of death is still classified as undetermined, and her case remains open.

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In September 2009, 24-year-old Mitrice Richardson was arrested at a Malibu restaurant after she couldn’t pay an $89 bill and was acting strangely. Despite her unusual behavior and concerns expressed by her family, Mitrice was released from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station around 12:15 a.m. without her car, phone, money, or transportation. She was 40 miles from home in an unfamiliar area. Her mother reported her missing the following morning, but authorities delayed issuing a BOLO and waited two days to conduct their first search.

Join Mike and Gibby for part 1 of their episodes on Mitrice Richardson. A witness later reported seeing a woman matching Mitrice’s description near Monte Nido, where investigators found sneaker tracks. Her disappearance generated controversy over the sheriff’s handling of her arrest and release, while authorities later concluded she may have suffered a severe mental health crisis after going days without sleep. Nearly a year later, Mitrice’s body was discovered in Malibu Canyon, several miles from where she was last seen. Her cause of death was classified as undetermined, leaving her family convinced that unanswered questions remain about what happened to her.

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In 1967, 54-year-old Alfred Swinscoe disappeared after leaving the Miners Arms pub in Pinxton, England. For 56 years, his family had no idea what happened to him until human remains were discovered in a nearby farmer’s field in 2023 and DNA confirmed they were Alfred. Investigators determined he had been murdered, suffering stab wounds, blunt-force trauma, and a broken hand believed to have occurred while fighting his attackers.

Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the disappearance and discovery of Alfred Swinscoe. In 2024, police identified two deceased suspects, including a family friend with a history of violence who may have followed Alfred from the pub. A coroner ruled Alfred was unlawfully killed, but authorities have never established exactly who killed him or why. With both suspects dead and many original records and witnesses gone, the mystery of Alfred Swinscoe’s murder remains unsolved.

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Today we’re sharing something a little different: it’s the first episode of a new podcast from our friends at ABC Audio and 20/20 called “What Happened to the McStays?” You may remember we covered this case last year. The gist: In 2010, in a quiet suburb of San Diego, a family of four seemingly vanished into thin air. When investigators searched their home, they found the family’s two beloved dogs unattended outside, rotting food left around the house and clothes strewn across the floor. The nation was left to wonder: Did the McStays leave of their own accord, or did something more sinister happen? 

To hear the whole story, follow “What Happened to the McStays?” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen – or listen ad-free and get the whole series before anyone else by subscribing to 20/20 True Crime+ on Apple Podcasts. 

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On February 3, 1976, Michigan attorney Peter Kensler left his office in Manchester and headed home to his rural property in Sharon Township. The 36-year-old lawyer was shot twice with a 20-gauge shotgun outside his home, including a fatal point-blank shot to the face. His briefcase was missing, and investigators quickly discovered several possible motives, including Kensler’s bitter split from prominent attorney James Hendley and a controversial takeover of Union Savings Bank. Kensler had also been living a private second life in Detroit.

Join Mike and Gibby as they talk about the murder of Peter Kensler. The investigation was plagued by problems from the beginning, with the crime scene compromised and investigators unable to gather enough evidence to charge anyone. A longtime friend became a prime suspect, and detectives later theorized that he may have brought another man to Kensler’s home to carry out the shooting. In 1982, an anonymous caller directed police to a river where they recovered a 20-gauge shotgun, but ballistic testing could neither confirm nor eliminate it as the murder weapon. Decades later, investigators still believe the killing may have been connected to Kensler’s personal life. In 2026, authorities confirmed that the case remains under active investigation after receiving “very viable” new information, including several names not publicly released. Fifty years after Peter Kensler’s murder, his family is still waiting for answers.

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