Two Can Keep A Secret

It's a freestyle, Baby!

Pam:  When 18 year old Ebby Steppach turns up missing in Little Rock, Arkansas after telling friends and family she had been raped at a party, her family is filled with worry. Days turn to months and months turn to years before this case is taken seriously and at that point, is it too late?  This is the heartbreaking murder of Ebby Jane Steppach.

Ronda: The girl next door is kidnapped and police are not even remotely close to finding her when she miraculously is found running down the side of the highway pleading for help. The entire town of Redding, CA is delighted to have her back, but her story is so bizarre that they're having a hard time believing it. Are they onto something or was her return a Thanksgiving miracle? 

Sources:
Pam:
Crime Watch Daily - UNSOLVED: Little Rock's Ebby Steppach Case
True Crime Daily - Crime Watch Daily Joins Hunt For Missing Little Rock Teen Ebby Steppach
Arkansas Democrat Gazette - The Search For Ebby: Parents, Friends Hold Out Home For Missing Little Rock Teen
NY Daily News - Remains Of Teen Ebby Steppach, Who Went Missing In 2015, Found In Drainage Pipe In Arkansas Park
THV11 - Friends Of Ebby Steppach Question How Little Rock Police Handled Case
KARK - Lead LRPD Detective in Ebby Steppach Case Who Found Teen's Body Resigns
Ebby Steppach Obituary
NBC New - Mother Hopeful New Detective Will Solve 2015 Murder Of Daughter Ebby Steppach

Ronda:
Keith Files for Divorce
Dateline S30 E22: The Curious Case of Sherri Papini
Sherri Papini Faked Kidnapping


Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

With the academic year coming to an end, what better way to celebrate than telling you some stories about a couple of college students? Heed our warnings with this one, remember, you can't trust everyone.

Ronda:  Lauren Giddings had just graduated law school, bringing her one step closer to her dream of becoming a lawyer. She was kind to everyone she met, always flashing her beautiful smile and speaking kind words. Ordinarily, I would applaud this behavior, but in Lauren’s case it led to another becoming obsessed with her.

Pam: Lauren Spierer suddenly disappeared after a night out with friends in June of 2011. 11 years later, this case is still unsolved and the theories just get wilder as time goes on. Listen along and let us know what you think could have happened to Lauren. 
Lauren was last seen on June 3, 2011. She would be 31 now. At the time she went missing she was 4'11, weighed 90 lbs with blonde hair and blue eyes. If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact one of the below:

• [email protected]
• Bloomington PD - 812-339-4477
• Beau Dietl & Associates - 212-557-3334

Sources:
Stats:
data.tcpalm.com - College Crime Rankings: Criminal Offenses on Campuses
Which college universities have the most crime? - valuepenguin.com

Ronda:
Case: 

• Lauren Giddings - Chilling Crimes
• Lauren Giddings Wiki
• Stephen McDaniel Wiki
• The Heartbreaking Case of Lauren Giddings - What really happened? 

Pam:
Case: 

• Wikipedia - Disappearance of Lauren Spierer
• All That's Interesting - The Chilling Story of Lauren Spierer, The College Student Who Vanished Into Thin Air
• Inside Edition - Lauren Spierer Disappearance: Private Investigator and Podcast Host Search for Answers Into Decade-Old Mystery
• Precinct TV - The Sudden Disappearance of Lauren Spierer
• Facebook - Official Lauren Spierer Updates from Her Family
• TikTok - Tythecrazyguy

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

**Trigger Warning**
Rape of a minor

Things that go bump in the night... when you're in the one place that you are supposed to be the most safe, sleeping in your home, you are more vulnerable than you think. This week we tell you two stories of break-ins gone wrong. Don't forget to double check your locks when you go to bed tonight!

Pam:  When 5 men break into Albert Ballard's home, things take a turn for the worse. Ballard, a happily retired man who had embraced his love of music was taken far too soon. Listen along as I tell you about the life of Albert Ballard and the trial and appeals that resulted from his tragic and unnecessary murder.

Ronda:  The Petit family had it made. They were affluent, very successful and lived the American dream. The man of the house, William, was a doctor who married a nurse, Jennifer. Together they had Hayley and Michaela who were both very intelligent and bound for greatness. But then, such as many of our cases on this podcast, things went very very wrong. The Petit home was broken into and many atrocities occurred, after which the home was set ablaze leaving only one member alive to watch as their family was ripped away from them. 

Sources:
Pam:
MLive.com - "The Wounds Reopen", Daughter Says After Man Convicted In Home Invasion Turned Murder Of Her Father Gets Resentenced
MLive.com - Flint Home Invasion homicide Victim Had Determined Spirit
MLive.com - Man Found Guilty Of Murder In 2017 Shooting Of Flint Homeowner
MLive.com - 4 Men Sentenced In Killing Of Flint Grandfather Who Fought Back
Justia US Law - People of MI v Jordan William Alexander
US News - Men Sentenced In Fatal Shooting During Michigan Break-In


Ronda:
Wikipedia - Cheshire, Connecticut, Home Invasion Murders
USA Today - Cheshire, Connecticut, Home Invasion Murders, 10 Years Later
Ranker.com - Things You'll Wish You Didn't Know About The Cheshire Murders And Their Aftermath
Youtube - True Crime Real Stories - In The Middle Of The Night: Every Family's Nightmare by Brian McDonald
The Lineup - The Vile Murders of Cheshire's Petit Family
Tv Show: The Cheshire Murders 

Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Every now and then detectives use "unconventional" methods to aid in solving a crime. One of those methods is seeking out information from a psychic. While most detectives are not willing to admit that they asked a psychic to help them solve a case, when they are desperate enough, they will do just that.

Ronda: For almost 30 years John Serra would post an annual ad in the local paper with a photo of his daughter, Penney, with hopes to draw attention to this cold case that was her murder. Detectives turned to a psychic for any possible clues as to who murdered Penney, but it wasn't until 24 years later that a connection was made... with eerie similarities to what the psychic had seen. 

Pam: When Andre Daigle didn't show up for work after giving a woman a ride home from the bar the night before, his friends and family became concerned. After nearly a week of not hearing from him, and minimal help from the police, his sister reached out to a psychic for help. To everyone's surprise, the psychic led them directly to what they were looking for.

Sources:
 
Ronda:
Case: 

• Psychic Investigators - S1:E6 - Penney Serra
• New Haven Register - Top 50: Serra slaying haunted city; cops never gave up
• Hartford Courant - Sentencing Ends 1973 Serra Case
• Forensiccrow.wordpress.com - Forensic Evidence Solves 29-Year Old Case Murder: A Case Study of State of Connecticut v Edward Grant
• Hartford Courant - Psychic Sleuths Invoke Spirited Debate
• Hartford Courant - Slaying Suspect Fits Psychic Profile

Pam:
Case: 

• Psychic Investigators - S2:E3 - Decoy Dolly
• Reader's Digest - 20 Mysteries Actually Solved by Psychics
• Journal Online - A Mysterious Murder and a Psychic Detective
• AP News -  Police: Two Men Say They Killed Just To See If They Could Kill

Music:
Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Hello Listeners! We have decided that on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, instead of doing a themed episode, we would give you guys a freestyle! This will allow us to hit some cases that don't necessarily fit in a theme we are doing, or fit a theme we have already done. It also gives us an opportunity to cover some of the case suggestions we receive! (You can make a suggestion by messaging us on Facebook or Instagram!) So, sit back and enjoy this month’s freestyle episode!

Pam:  Cindy and Ed George were the perfect couple. Ed was a night club/ restaurant owner, multimillionaire in Ohio and Cindy was a beauty queen! When the couple befriend Jeff and Bonnie Zack in 1991, they thought that they had made life long friends. But, when Jeff was shot point blank in a gas station parking lot, Cindy and Ed's lives would be flipped upside down and all their secrets would come spilling out.

Ronda: What do 73yo William Compton and 4yo Jessica Martinez have in common? Christopher Lightsey- a narcissistic, mastermind who takes advantage of easy targets for his own personal gain  

Sources:
Pam:
Killer Couples S12, E10
Oxygen.com - Millionaire Beauty Queen's Conviction Overturned In Love-Triangle Murder
Murderpedia.com
Wiki.ng - Where Is Ed George Akron Ohio Now? Cynthia George Husband

Ronda:
caselaw.findlaw.com - People vs. Lightsey
bakersfield.com - Criminal History of Martinez Slaying Suspect Long and Frightening
mysteriesrunsolved.com - The Unsolved Murder of Jessica Martinez: What did the miss?
bakersfield.com- Paranoid, Disruptive Defendant to be Again Dealt With in Kern
bakersfieldnow.com- Unsolved Murder of 25 Years Frustrates Family, police


Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

What happens when a jury of your peers really screws up your trial? Sometimes it can be for your benefit, other times it just makes your life that much harder... today we want to tell you about a couple of cases that may have gone differently had different jurors been selected.

Pam: Dr Robert Neulander of Syracuse, New York was surprised when he was arrested for the murder of his wife, Leslie. After all, she had fallen in the shower and all he wanted to do was save her life! But when he was found guilty, his battle wasn't over yet... one juror made some mistakes... mistakes that might just get Dr Neulander out of prison. 

Ronda: Carlton Nebergall shot his soon to be ex son-in-law. He, of course, claimed self-defense. The prosecution said otherwise. The case had come to a resolution until one juror jeopardized the entire process.  

Sources:
Background:
Wikipedia - Juror Misconduct

Pam:
CBS News - Accident or Murder? Investigating the Death of Leslie Neulander
Syracuse.com - Robert Neulander Verdict in: Former Doctor Guilty of Murdering His Wife
The New York Times - After Juror Exchanged 7,000 Texts, Murder Verdict is Overturned
LawandCrime.com - N.Y. Ex-Doctor Who Claimed His Wife Died by Slipping in the Shower at              Their Palatial Mansion Gets Convicted of Murder After Second Trial

Ronda:
Murder trial to begin for retired deputy in son-in-law's killing - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/picture-gallery/news/2020/03/16/after-deadlock-jury-finds-former-deputy-guilty-of-manslaughter/41844953/
https://www.skierlawfirm.com/retrial-of-carlton-nebergall-begins/
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2020/09/29/former-psbo-deputy-sentenced-13-years-fatal-shooting/3573383001/
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-ne-carlton-nebergall-murder-trial-closes-
20191217-iiyay56f2rf2dhmquwrirfv5ea-story.html
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/former-deputy-carlton-nebergall-denied-request-for-new-trial
Retired PBSO deputy takes the stand in murder trial (wptv.com)
Juror Qualifications | United States Courts (uscourts.gov)


Big Foot by Gvidon on Pix

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Was it suicide? Was it an accident? Or was it murder? Sometimes the lines between these scenarios can cross and it takes a very keen eye, or a stupid criminal... for detectives to determine what exactly happened.

Pam: When a woman was struck by a train in Crestview, FL, detectives had their work cut out for them. Who was this woman, why was she on the tracks, was she trying to die by suicide... was this a horrible accident... or did somebody put here there? Years after the case is closed, they get a little hint into what actually happened that night.

Ronda: Dawn and Nick Hacheney were a beautiful couple who were strong in their faith. They went to a very spiritual church where it was not uncommon for one to hear of prophecies being foretold. So when it turns out one of the church members has foretold of the accidental death of another, who are we to question things? 

Sources:
Pam:
Case:
Oxygen - Florida Man Strangled Wife, Then Put Her On Train Tracks To Cover Up His Crime
Oxygen - Accident, Suicide, or Murder: Blood on the Tracks: S3-E17
Google News - Husband Convicted In Wife's Murder
Tampa Bay Times - Verdict: Spouse, not train, was killer
Florida Department of Correction - Inmate Population Information Detail
Justia - John D Morrow v. State of Florida
CaseText - Morrow v. State

Ronda: 
Case: 
Oxygen- Accident, Suicide, or Murder: Deadly Prophecy: S1-E7 

• https://www.oxygen.com/accident-suicide-or-murder/crime-time/accident-or-murder-pastors-wife-found-dead-in-bed-after-fire
• https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36429227
• https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Former-minister-s-murder-trial-proves-salacious-1100581.php
• https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/life/the-written-word-olalla-author-tells-of-murder-deceit-and-a-ministers-fall-from-grace/

Music:
Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Boats, Boats, Boats! This week we tell you about some mysteries that happened out on the open water.

Ronda: Every Disney story is supposed to have a happy ending, right? That wasn’t the case for Rebecca Coriam, who disappeared from a Disney cruise ship that was headed for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Did Disney try to cover up the possible murder of one of their cruise employees or is Rebecca’s disappearance related to a freak accident aboard the ship? 

Pam: Natalie Wood had a rough upbringing in Hollywood followed by an untimely death while out on a weekend boating trip with husband Robert Wagner and friend Christopher Walken. What exactly happened on that November night? We may never know... but with new details coming out in recent years, this is a cold case that we can only hope will start to warm up.

Sources: 
Ronda:
Case: 

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Rebecca_Coriam#:~:text=Disappearance%20of%20Rebecca%20Coriam.%20Rebecca%20Coriam%20%28born%2011,Mexico%20on%20the%20morning%20of%2022%20March%202011.
• https://www.grunge.com/614962/inside-the-mysterious-disappearance-of-rebecca-coriam/
• https://allthatsinteresting.com/rebecca-coriam
• http://www.f-cca.com/downloads/2017-Cruise-Industry-Overview-Cruise-Line-Statistics.pdf#:~:text=•%20The%20cruise%20industry%20is%20the%20fastest-growing%20category,the%20fastest-growing%20category%20in%20the%20leisure%20travel%20market.

Pam:
Case: 

• Wikipedia - Natalie Wood
• All Things Interesting -  The Chilling Mystery of Natalie Wood's Death: 'I Don't Think She Got In The Water By Herself'
• The Hollywood Reporter - How Natalie Wood Seduced Her Way Into "Rebel Without a Cause"
• Vanity Fair - Natalie Wood Was Rapes by Kirk Douglas, Her Sister Alleges in a New Book
• Heavy - Natalie Wood Attempted Suicide After Warren Beatty Split
• The Hollywood Reporter - Natalie Wood's Yacht Captain Claims Robert Wagner Held Him "Hostage"
• Vanity Fair - "Natalie Wood's Drowning Was Not an Accident": A New Book's Shocking Findings
• HBO Documentary - Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind

Music:
Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

National Parks... we've all been to one. Camping, hiking, fishing... all things that we love, right? But have you ever thought about the dark side of National Parks? What happens when someone goes missing in a National Park? Or, what happens if someone is murdered in a National Park...  listen to find out.

Ronda: 1978 was a dark year for Robert Spangler. He came home from a fight with his wife to find that she had shot her own children and then herself after a harrowing bought with her husband... or did she? Then he remarries, hoping for a happily ever after until she falls off a cliffside. He just can't catch a break. Is Robert experiencing an unlucky streak or is it all a show?   

Pam: Trenny Gibson was beyond excited for her field trip with her horticulture class... even if she didn't know where she was going. When they arrived at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smokie Mountains National Park, she was ready to hike up the trails and soak in the mountain views. When she doesn't show up to the bus when it's time to leave, everything changed. Where was she, who saw her last? These are questions that remain to be answered...

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Trenny Lynn Gibson, please contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 615-744-4000.

Sources: 

Ronda: 
Case: 

• The Widower | Park Predators
• Robert Spangler | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
• Robert Spangler - Wikipedia

Pam:
Case: 

• nps.gov - Great Smokie Mountains
• wbir.com - Appalachian Unsolved: Trenny Gibson, Lost in the Smokies
• investigationsforthemissing.org - Gone in the Smokie Mountains: Trenny Gibson's Disappearance 
• strangeoutdoors.com - The mysterious disappearance of Trenny Lynn Gibson from Clingmans Dome in the Smokies
• Canadiangurl77.com 
• Park Predators Podcast - The Student

Music:
Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

*TRIGGER WARNING*
Sexual assault of a minor, sexual assault

To continue celebrating this Women's History Month, Pam and Ronda want to tell you about two amazing women who fought for their lives and did whatever they could to help put their attackers behind bars.

Ronda: Jennifer Schuett was a bright and tenacious 8 year old when she was kidnapped in the middle of the night and left for dead in the middle of a field with a slit throat. Miraculously, she lived through the ordeal and was able to provide police with an incredibly accurate description of her assailant. It took almost 20 years for Jennifer to receive justice- listen along to find out how. 

Pam: 20 year old University of Kentucky student, Holly K Dunn and her boyfriend, Christopher Maier went for an evening stroll after leaving a frat party their first week back to college for junior year. This was the last time that Holly would see Chris alive, and a night that would change her life forever. This is a heartbreaking case of young love lost and a woman's incredible fight for survival against a man that no one else is known to have survived... you don't want to miss it. 

Sources: 

• Survivor's Guilt: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment (verywellmind.com)

Ronda: 
Case: 

• Jennifer Schuett's Victim Impact Statement | PDF | Violence (scribd.com)
• Justice at last. The Jennifer Schuett Case resolved. - YouTube
• Dateline 2021 Full Episodes 48 Hours Mystery Episode 519 Jennifer Schuett - YouTube
• Jennifer Schuett case: Texas girl scribbled notes to help police find her attacker (cbsnews.com)
• The Guilty Project, Dennis Earl Bradford: A Jury Understood Why He Had To Slash That Woman’s Throat – TinaTrent.com
• Justice at Last. The Jennifer Schuett Case Resolved. - ISHI News

Pam:
Case: 

• CBSNews.com - 48 Hours to Live: The Railroad Killer
• CBSNews.com - Holly Dunn's Paramedic Recalls Tragic Night
• Holly's House
• Holly K Dunn
• Sole Survivor: The Inspiring True Story of Coming Face to Face with the Infamous Railroad Killer

Music:
Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)

Music: Big Foot by Gvidon on Pixabay (Go check it out!)