VA Nurse Kristen Gilbert Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Four Veterans: Stanley Jagodowski, Henry Hudon, Kenneth Cutting & Edward Skwira (March 26, 2001)

On March 26, 2001November 15, 2018 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Scandals, USAF, VeteransLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2018-05-17 at 4.39.38 PM — Kristen Gilbert

Dates: March 1989-February 1996
Date of Arrest: July 11, 1996
Offender: Kristen Gilbert, 32, Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse
Location: Department of Veterans Affairs, Northampton, Massachusetts
Homicide Victims: Stanley Jagodowski, 66, Army veteran (August 21, 1995); Henry Hudon, 35, Air Force veteran (December 8, 1995); Kenneth Cutting, 41, Army veteran (February 2, 1996); Edward Skwira, 69, WWII Army veteran (February 15, 1996)
Circumstances: The number of deaths increased dramatically at the Northampton VA Medical Center in 1995, a co-worker was surprised by all the codes at the hospital, when a patient codes, it means the heart stopped, some can survive codes but the patients at the VA died, the deaths didn’t make sense, February 29, 1996, the police received a call from the VA Center, they reported that the deaths doubled at the medical center, nurses came forward with concerns that one of their co-workers was killing patients and they thought they were dealing with a serial killer, one common denominator was the presence of Kristen Gilbert, KG came from ordinary family, she was intelligent, a great student, she had a bubbly personality, was sophisticated and had a lot of friends, she was addicted to getting attention, she needed more and more, she had a constant need to be the center of things, she had narcissistic personality disorder, she manipulated others to get her way, she threatened to kill herself if she didn’t get the attention she wanted from boyfriends, she also had Borderline Personality Disorder, her obsession was thrill and attention, she graduated from nursing school in 1988 and was hired at the VA Medical Center in Northampton the following year, she got great reviews from her bosses, she went undetected because she volunteered for extra work, she wore a mask of normality but underneath she was an evil person, Kristen met her future husband in New Hampshire, they were married and had two children, she had a volatile relationship with her husband, chased him around with a knife, but her husband wanted to hold the marriage together for the children, then Kristen had an affair with a security guard at the VA and as a result Kristen’s marriage ended, then patients started coding and the doctors were not able to save them, one of them was Stanley Jagodowski, the codes and death continued, a second suspicious death occurred, a young veteran was admitted for the flu, he coded three times and his heart gave out the third time, Kenneth Cutting was admitted for sepsis, later that night Kenneth coded and died of cardiac arrest, it appeared he died for no apparent reason, authorities learned KG injected patients with epinephrine to initiate cardiac arrest, they would code and then she was one of the people who rushed to the scene to deal with the crisis, as a result she got a lot of attention from her security guard boyfriend, they worked together to save the patients lives, she put patients into crisis to get attention from the security guard, she developed a callous attitude about the patients, authorities learned her boyfriend wasn’t involved, he was an innocent bystander, the nurses thought she had bad luck because patients died when she was around, she was known as the Angel of Death, Edward Skwira was the fourth suspicious death, he was admitted for alcoholism, that night he died from cardiac arrest and this should not have happened, her fellow nurses became suspicious, the nurses started looking for evidence and they found used bottles of epinephrine, record keeping allowed her to dip into the epinephrine supply with no detection, February 29, 1996, the cops got a call from the VA Medical Center, the nurses believed Kristen was killing patients, death followed Kristen from shift to shift to shift, the security guard ended the relationship when he began to suspect Kristen too, she took the break up badly and began panicking, when backed in a corner, her type turns to the extreme, authorities put her under surveillance, in September 1996, the VA received a bomb threat and the patients were evacuated, it turned out to be a bogus bomb threat, the police were watching Kristen and the same phone she used was traced to the VA bomb threat, after the bomb threat, she went home and the police got a warrant, the police found the jacket she had on when she placed the phone calls, she had operating directions on how to change your voice in her pocket, they also found a talk boy which changes the sound of your voice, this was the instrument most likely used to change her voice on the bomb threat call, they found medical books, computer records, journals, a page dog eared at epinephrine, but the police needed something more concrete to make their case, meanwhile she was held accountable for the bomb threat and received a 15 month sentence, when serving the sentence, there was a suicide attempt, she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, they use whatever they need to keep drawing attention to themselves, they are always the victim to keep the focus on themselves, while she was in jail, the police continued the investigation, they needed to prove what she did so they could win at trial, authorities exhumed some of the patients who died under Kristen’s care to find evidence of epinephrine in their system, the families were cooperative and thankful the police were investigating, the autopsies found much higher amounts of epinephrine than should be there, the patient’s hearts were good, and the police finally had their proof, the prosecution moved forward with homicide charges, some claimed she did it for love, her desire to get the attention of her boyfriend, she was tried in a federal capital felony case and was eligible for the death penalty, Kristen was cold during the entire trial, Kristen is a classic female serial killer, she has what they call intrinsic locus, it’s all about her, she is the number one priority in her own life and she’s self absorbed, she played the hero so she could save the day all in an effort to garner attention, if people have to die, its okay with her, she is a master of deceit, she is one of the most dangerous and evil
Disposition: In 2001, Kristen Gilbert was found guilty of four counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder; the jury sentenced KG to life in prison as opposed to the death penalty; law enforcement officials believe she could be responsible for killing up to 60 patients; Gilbert appealed the decision but dropped it once she realized prosecutors could pursue the death penalty in a new trial

Notable Quotes: “Healthcare serial killers are the most unlikely villains. They prey on vulnerable victims and use medicine as their murder weapons.” -Oxygen

Source: Kristen Gilbert, Snapped Notorious, Oxygen

Deadly Women:

Full Episode: Poison is an ancient weapon, convenient, non-confrontational and secretive. Women are five times more likely to use it than men. The poisoner is a particularly sinister killer able to sit back and watch someone die. -Poisonous Women, Deadly Women

Oxygen:

Police believe nurse Kristen Gilbert may have committed up to 60 murders at a hospital in Massachusetts. Some say an affair drove Gilbert to murder while others think her narcissism caused the death of these innocent patients. -Prescription for Death, Snapped Notorious, Oxygen (S23, E17)

Related Links:
Kristen Gilbert – Wikipedia
Kristen Gilbert | Murderpedia
Former nurse charged in 3 veterans’s deaths
Former Nurse on Trial in Patients’ Deaths
Kristen Heather Gilbert | Medical Bag
6 Facts about Female Serial Killer Kristen Gilbert
10 Nurses That Are Serial Killers
Kristen Gilbert – The Angel of Death
Kristen Gilbert – The Angel of Death – Serial Killing Nurse
Worst Female Serial Killers | Documentary | Female Killers
Caregiver or killer? | Boston Globe
She liked to play the star | Boston Globe
Death The Common Denominator
Ex-va Nurse Indicted In 3 Suspected Murders
Trial Begins Today for Nurse Accused of Killing Veterans
Nurse Killed 4 Patients for Thrill, Prosecutor Says
Former Nurse on Trial in Patients’ Deaths
Nurse sentenced to life in VA deaths
Murderous Nurse Escapes Death Penalty
Serial Killer Nurse Kristen Gilbert
When Serial Killers Strike: The Angel of Death on Ward C
Serial Killer Nurse Who Liked ‘Thrill’ of Emergencies Murdered Patients to Impress Boyfriend
Oxygen Media Pulls Curtain Back On Two Famous Serial Killers On Snapped Notorious: Prescription for Death
Judge’s fictional account gives inside view of death penalty trial
Doctors and Nurses Who Kill: Genene Jones, Charles Cullen and More Who Preyed on Their Patients and Others
17 Serial Killer Nurses Who Murdered Their Patients
10 of the Most Notorious Female Serial Killers
United States, Appellant, v. Kristen Gilbert, Defendant, Appellee (2000)
Snapped Notorious Premiered ‘Prescription for Death’ on Oxygen: Kristen Gilbert Serving Life in Prison for Murdering Four VA Patients in Massachusetts (May 13, 2018)
Kristen Gilbert | Poisonous Women | Deadly Women
Kristen Gilbert | Prescription for Death | Snapped Notorious: Kristen Gilbert (S23, E17)
Watch Notorious: Kristen Gilbert | Snapped on the Web

Die for Me: The Terrifying True Story of the Charles Ng & Leonard Lake Torture Murders by Don Lasseter | Book Review (May 1, 2000)

On May 1, 2000September 17, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Sexual Assault, True Crime, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

“Die for Me” by Don Lasseter is for sale on Amazon.

Read “Die for Me” by Don Lasseter while camping this past weekend.

Description: “They killed for thrills… It began with a shoplifting arrest. it led to a search of a remote California hamlet called Wilseyville that yielded six bodies, 45 pounds of burned bone fragments, and a child’s liver. Then, horror-struck investigators made the most chilling discovery of all: the videotape that showed what Charles Ng and Leonard Lake did to their handcuffed female victims before snuffing them out. Here is the the terrifying story of one of the most notorious serial killer teams in American history – a pair of maniacs whose orgy of sex crimes, torture, and murder took the lives of at least sixteen victims. From Charles Ng’s strange Hong Kong childhood to his twisted friendship with co-conspirator Leonard Lake, DIE FOR ME is the graphic portrait of two monsters who walked among us – Lake, who took his own life, and Ng, who will die by lethal injection.”

Here’s my thoughts:

This book was a tough read because both of these guys were manipulative. They lured their victims after gaining their trust. It was nauseating but an educational read. California spent millions of taxpayer dollars prosecuting one of them because the military made a fatal mistake.

Get your copy here…

Die for Me: The Terrifying True Story of the Charles Ng & Leonard Lake Torture Murders https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786011076/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ka6vFbV8QWWJ9

Marine Corps Veteran Charles Ng Sentenced to Death for Role in Murdering 11 Californians with Fellow Veteran Leonard Lake; Lake Died By Suicide at Arrest (June 30, 1999): https://wp.me/p3XTUi-63f

These serial killers were featured on Pandora’s Box: Unleashing Evil “Dungeon of Dread” (S1,E1) on Investigation Discovery: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/pandoras-box-unleashing-evil/full-episodes/dungeon-of-dread

Related Links:
On This Day in History: A Killing Spree by Dual Killers Leonard Lake & Charles Ng is Put to an End in California (June 2, 1985)
Marine Corps Veteran Charles Ng Sentenced to Death for Role in Murdering 11 Californians with Fellow Veteran Leonard Lake; Lake Died By Suicide at Arrest (June 30, 1999)
Dungeon of Dread | Pandora’s Box: Unleashing Evil | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)
Dungeon of Dread | Pandora’s Box: Unleashing Evil | Investigation Discovery (website)
Dungeon of Dread | Pandora’s Box: Unleashing Evil | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Die For Me: The Terrifying Story of Charles Ng/Leonard Lake Torture Murders by Don Lasseter

Disabled Army Veteran Jack Irwin Murdered for Disability Benefits, Bank Account & Assets; Marcia Johnson Sentenced to Life, No Parole (September 13, 1999)

On September 13, 1999August 16, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Veterans1 Comment

image1-4 — Jack Irwin, U.S. Army Veteran

Disabled Army veteran Jack Irwin, 71, went missing from Upland, California on September 13, 1999. About nine months earlier, Jack sold his cabin at Mt. Baldy to Judy Gellert and Marcia Johnson who also befriended him. Apparently he let them make payments on the mortgage at the cabin because they were low on cash and he wanted to move to a warmer climate. At one point he had confided in some close family friends that the couple were no longer making payments and the whole situation was making him feel uncomfortable. Then Marcia reported Jack missing. She told police he went on a trip to Seattle, Washington to visit the Space Needle.

Jack’s other friends informed police they suspected Judy and Marcia because of their large purchases since moving to Mt. Baldy, including a corvette. At the time of Jack’s disappearance in 1999, he had about $230,000 in the bank. By January 2000, his bank account was down to $14. Police learned the couple sold Jack’s home in Upland and bought a luxury home in San Diego. And the cabin at Mt. Baldy burned to the ground in August 2000 resulting in an insurance pay out of $170,000. The pair had access to half a million dollars and spent almost all of it. Detectives also discovered Marcia sued a therapist for emotional distress and was awarded a $30,000 settlement.

Marcia became involved in a sexual relationship with another therapist after claiming she broke up with her girlfriend. Her partner Judy found out about the affair and convinced Marcia to file yet another lawsuit against a therapist. In the course of the depositions for the lawsuit the therapist claimed Marcia was delusional because she admitted to killing her brother and sister and an old man who lived on Mt. Baldy. As a result of this information, detectives put a wire tap on Marcia and Judy’s phones and started turning up the heat. As a result, Judy Gellert was arrested for accessory to murder because she admitted to knowing about what happened.

Marcia Johnson was arrested for murder after acknowledging she murdered Jack Irwin. Marcia told detectives Jack Irwin showed up to the Mt. Baldy cabin, mostly likely to confront Marcia about the money she owed him. Marcia admitted that she got angry and just wanted him to shut up. So she went into the house, grabbed a gun, and shot him in the back of his head. She then grabbed a chainsaw and cut off his head, hands, and feet. Afterwards, Marcia sealed the body parts in plastic bags and dumped them in a remote location on Mt. Baldy. On November 2, 2004, Marcia Johnson was found guilty on twenty-six counts including first degree murder, arson, grand theft, elder abuse, and insurance fraud.

On December 15, 2004, Marcia Johnson was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Judy Gellert accepted a plea bargain in exchange for her testimony against Marcia Johnson and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, five years probation, and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution. The detectives considered this one of the most cold blooded crimes they had ever heard of. Marcia Johnson was a con. She was greedy and didn’t care about anyone but herself. She is the type who does not accept responsibility for their actions and everything is always someone else’s fault. Jack Irwin was an unsuspecting victim who didn’t realize that he had been targeted for his disability benefits, bank account, and assets from the get go.

Source: ‘Come Back Jack’ Murder Book, Investigation Discovery

Investigation Discovery:

Four years after a 71 year-old Korean War hero goes missing near Upland, California, a DA’s investigator picks up a trail of clues that seem to lead to the victim’s closest friends. -Come Back Jack, Murder Book (S2, E13)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

Related Links:
Find a Grave: Jack Irwin
Missing Veterans: Jack Irwin
Doe Network: Jack Irwin
The Charley Project: Jack Irwin
Woman Charged with 40 Counts of Ins. Fraud, Theft, Arson
Money Was Motive in Death of Mt. Baldy Veteran, Jury Is Told
‘Headless’ Murder Case Goes to Jury
‘Guilty,’ Says Mt. Baldy Murder Jury
Woman convicted in dismemberment of elderly man
Woman Gets Life in Grisly Murder
Beheading on Mount Baldy
Beheading on Mount Baldy Part 2
Come Back Jack | Murder Book | Investigation Discovery (S2,E13)
Come Back Jack | Murder Book | Investigation Discovery (website)
Come Back Jack | Murder Book | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Murder Book Premiered ‘Come Back Jack’ on Investigation Discovery: Disabled Veteran Jack Irwin Disappears in Upland, California (February 25, 2016)
Deadly Women: 30 Military and Veteran Homicide Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery

Army Veteran Peter Theriault Last Seen in Irvine, California; Judy Valot Convicted of Homicide But Body Has Never Been Located (December 2, 1998)

On December 2, 1998September 2, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Missing, VeteransLeave a comment

Army veteran Peter Theriault went missing on December 2, 1998 from Irvine, California. Live-in girlfriend Judy Valot, 54, was charged and convicted of second degree murder in January 2000 despite a body, weapon, or any physical evidence. She was found guilty of murdering Peter Theriault and disposing of his body in a California desert because she was convinced he was cheating on her. There was no evidence that Peter was in fact cheating on her. Valot appealed her conviction and was granted a new trial. And again in 2005, Judy Valot was found guilty of second degree murder. She was sentenced to fifteen years to life in prison. Judy Valot was denied parole in February 2013 as she maintains her innocence and refuses to reveal the location of Peter’s body who is still missing to this day.

Investigation Discovery:

In December 1998, Peter Theriault, 51, fails to arrive for his shift at a car plant in Commerce City, California. Pete hasn’t missed a day of work in almost three decades. Friends and family immediately suspect something is very wrong. -The Green Eyed Monster, The Perfect Murder (S5,E7)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $3.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict. Download the ID Go app or purchase ID True Crime Files & binge away.

Related Links:
Peter Lewis Theriault | The Charley Project
Peter Lewis Theriault | The Doe Network
Peter Lewis Theriault, Male, White / Caucasian | NamUs
Peter Theriault | Case Warriors for the Missing
Jury Convicts Woman of Killing Boyfriend
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Judy Diane VALOT, Defendant and Appellant (2002)
Woman Guilty of Murdering Her Boyfriend
Woman Gets Life for 1998 Murder
Parole Denied for Inmate Convicted of 1998 Murder of Boyfriend Weeks Before Christmas | Orange County District Attorney
Board denies parole to Irvine killer
Is Judy Valot Still In Jail? She Was Convicted Of Murder, But The Victim’s Body Was Never Found
The Perfect Murder Season 5 Ep. 7 “The Green Eyed Monster”
The Green Eyed Monster | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (S5, E7)
The Green Eyed Monster | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (website)
The Green Eyed Monster | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
The Perfect Murder Premiered ‘The Green Eyed Monster’ on ID: Judy Valot Convicted of Murder But Peter Theriault’s Body Still Missing (September 6, 2018)
Judy Valot | Murderpedia, the encylopedia of murderers

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Beaten By A Hair’: Laura Houghteling Reported Missing, Confessed Killer Led Police to Body (November 26, 1998)

On November 26, 1998August 6, 2020 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, True Crime, VeteransLeave a comment

Full Episode: In 1992, Laura Houghteling disappeared from her Bethesda home and was never seen again. Five days later, police discovered a bloody pillow and pillowcase lying in the woods near Laura’s house. Laura’s bedroom was then searched and forensic science was used to direct them a to prime suspect. -Beaten By a Hair, Forensic Files (S3,E9)

Editor’s Note: Full episodes of Forensic Files are available on a variety of media platforms. Forensic Files Channel features full episodes of Forensic Files on YouTube. You can also find full episodes of Forensic Files on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. On Netflix, the seasons are grouped as collection 1-9. On Amazon Prime Video, you can find Season 1-10 here; Season 11; Season 12; Season 13; Season 14; Season 15; Season 16; Season 17; Season 18; Season 19; Season 20; and Season 21. Start bingeing and see for yourself why Forensic Files is such a hit!

Related Links:
Laura Bettis Houghteling (1969-1992)
Hadden Clark – Wikipedia
Hadden Clark | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
Beaten By a Hair | Forensic Files | IMDb
Beaten By a Hair | Forensic Files | Full Episodes (S3,E9)
Beaten By a Hair | Forensic Files | Netflix (Collection 3,E3)
Beaten By a Hair | Forensic Files | Amazon Prime Video (S3,E8)
Hadden Clark | Forensic Files Wiki | FANDOM
Forensic Files: 13 Active Duty Military and Veteran Homicide Cases [Full Episodes]
Cape search for girl’s body closes
Murder Suspect’s ‘Lifestyle is Getting Even’
Hadden Clark returned to Cape to search for graves
Remains Found After 14 Years?
Houghteling’s Body Found
Maryland Police Unearth Body of Girl, Ending Mystery of Her 1986 Disappearance
A Hole in the Ground | The New Yorker
A Hole In The Ground – Longform
Greater Good – Baltimore Sun
Hadden Irving CLARK, v. STATE of Maryland (September 26, 2001)
Appeals Court Rejects Clark Appeal in Michele Dorr’s Murder
Brothers in barbarity | Toronto Sun
Jailed ‘Cross Dressing Cannibal Serial Killer’ tops brother’s violent history, claims he slayed at least 12 women
Gruesome catalogue of cannibal killer and his sick brother who killed girl, 6, and drank her blood
Sibling rivalry taken to a disturbing level: How cannibalistic killer’s brother became a deranged multi-murderer who confessed to drinking six-year-old girl’s blood
Serial Killer and Cannibal Hadden Clark – ThoughtCo
Hadden Irving Clark: The Cross-Dressing Cannibal | 1987: Year of the Serial Killer
Born Evil: A True Story of Cannibalism and Serial Murder (Book)
Ep 14: Cannibal Clarks pt 2 — Part Time Podcasts
15. Hadden Clark – True Crime Basement
The Cross-Dressing Cannibal – Convicted Killer Hadden Clark
10 Gruesome Cases Of Cannibalism In Modern-Day America

Kelly Eckart Found Murdered in Indiana; Michael Overstreet Sentenced to Death But Court Ruled Not Competent for Execution (September 27, 1997)

On September 27, 1997October 6, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Sexual Assault, VeteransLeave a comment

Kelly Eckart, Indiana

Michael Dean Overstreet

Offender: Michael Dean Overstreet
Occupation: US Navy veteran (discharged for psychological problems after one month), construction, frequently unemployed
Pathology: Stranger abduction, rape, and murder by strangulation, shot victim in forehead
Dates: September 27, 1997
Location: Franklin, Indiana, moved body to Atterbury Wildlife Preserve (Brown County)
Motive: Hunted prey, lured victim, stranger abduction, rape & murder
Victim: Kelly Eckart (18), Franklin College student
M.O.: Stalked at work, followed home after work shift, bumped her car while both driving on road, abducted after she pulled over
Conviction: Sentenced to death (July 31, 2000), Indiana court ruled not competent to be executed in 2014, still on death row
Status: Incarcerated, death row
Appearance: Blanket of Evidence (Forensic Files); All-American Sweethearts (Murder Comes to Town); Death Row (Real Stories); First Love, Forever Evil (Evil Lives Here)
Red Flags: Deprived and abusive childhood, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, mother failed to seek mental health for him, got in fights, bully in high school, went to jail for having a gun at school, isolated & controlled significant other, stalking, threatening, long history of domestic abuse, obsession with weaponry especially knives, always carried a knife, owned firearms, threatened wife with knife, grabbed wife by throat & pointed gun at her head (shot it next to her head), threatened wife with rifle, unexplained absences, secret life/two lives, hallucinations, volatile temper, unpredictable, paranoid, admitted to wife he killed people (delusional thoughts), psychological deterioration, liked killing animals, spent a lot of time alone in the woods, obsessed with media after crimes committed, wife afraid to call the police with suspicions, one misdemeanor in criminal history, loves his family & two children, model prisoner

In the News:

A northern Indiana judge is nearing a decision on whether a man convicted of abducting and killing a Franklin College student in 1997 should be put to death. -RTV6 The Indy Channel (November 13, 2014)

Overstreet ruled not competent to face death penalty. -WTHR (November 20, 2014)

Full Episode: Housing 1900 inmates, 12 of whom are on death row, Trevor spends two weeks in the dark and forbidding world of Indiana State Maximum Security Prison. He hears from men who know what it is like to live under the shadow of the death penalty and even the date and time they will die. -Indiana Death Row, Part 1, Real Stories (August 28, 2017)

Full Episode: Indiana Death Row | Part 2 | Real Stories (August 30, 2017)

Forensic Files:

Full Episode: A young woman disappeared after working the late shift in a department store. Days later, her body was found in an isolated ravine. Tiny clues told police a great deal about the killer. He would own olive-colored carpeting, a white blanket, and distinctive bullets made from wax, not lead. -Blanket of Evidence, Forensic Files (S11, E38)

Investigation Discovery:

Eighteen-year-old Kelly Eckart disappears one night after finishing up her shift at a local hardware store. Hours later her car is discovered abandoned by the side of the road, still running, but Kelly is nowhere to be found. -All-American Sweethearts, Murder Comes to Town (S1, E3)

Melissa Holland was certain that her high school boyfriend, Michael Overstreet, was the man she’d always dreamed of. But only after they were married did she begin to realize that her determination to live happily ever after had put her in mortal danger. -First Love, Forever Evil, Evil Lives Here (S3, E6)

Related Links:
Indiana Death Row: Michael Dean Overstreet
Just The Facts: Michael Overstreet | Indiana Infamy
Suspect arrested in coed’s death
Killer Sentenced To Death
Accused killer’s kids must keep name
Michael Dean OVERSTREET, Appellant v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (2003)
Murder victim’s legacy lives on
Michael Dean Overstreet v. Superintendent (2011)
Condemned killer claims incompetence in death sentence appeal
Where`s The Justice? Victim`s Family Outraged By Killer`s Sentence
Murder victim’s family upset over killer’s death sentence hearing
Indiana To Use New Drug In Lethal Injections
Indiana use of new execution drug draws opposition
Indiana officials say death penalty protocol is sound
What do recent botched executions mean for death penalty?
Judge to decide if Michael Overstreet is competent to be executed
Indiana Won’t Appeal Overstreet Execution Ruling
Man who killed Franklin College student not competent for execution, judge rules
Indiana won’t appeal Overstreet execution ruling
Indiana Not Appealing Case Of Mentally Ill Death Row Inmate
State Won’t Appeal Delay of Overstreet Death Sentence
Prosecutor: Ruling an injustice to those “who worked to convict this animal”
Reliving a mother’s worst heartache
Executing the Insane Is Against the Law of the Land. So Why Do We Keep Doing It?
Overstreet ruling likely to be guide
Overstreet: State’s request for recusal ‘legally insufficient’
State appeals ruling that suspended death penalty
Meyer testifies on proposed state senate death penalty bill
Court officer recommends reprimand for Johnson County prosecutor
Michael Overstreet ‘had knife obsession’ before murder of Kelly Eckart says ex-wife
Michael Overstreet ‘had knife obsession’ before murder of Kelly Eckart says ex-wife
Webb: Why Indiana should abolish the death penalty
States Struggle with Determinations of Competency to Be Executed
Michael Dean Overstreet | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
Judge weighs fate of student’s convicted killer
Overstreet ruled not competent to face death penalty
Death Row: Inside Indiana State Prison Part One (Prison Documentary) – Real Stories
Death Row: Inside Indiana State Prison Part 2 (Prison Documentary) – Real Stories
Blanket of Evidence | Forensic Files | FilmRise (S11,E38)
Blanket of Evidence | Forensic Files | Full Episode (YouTube)
Blanket of Evidence | Forensic Files | Netflix (Collection 1, E8)
Blanket of Evidence | Forensic Files | Amazon Prime Video (S11,E19)
All-American Sweethearts | Murder Comes to Town | Investigation Discovery (S1,E3)
All-American Sweethearts | Murder Comes to Town | Investigation Discovery (website)
All-American Sweethearts | Murder Comes to Town | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
First Love, Forever Evil | Evil Lives Here | Investigation Discovery (S3,E6)
First Love, Forever Evil | Evil Lives Here | Investigation Discovery (website)
First Love, Forever Evil | Evil Lives Here | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Forensic Files Premiered ‘Blanket of Evidence’: Michael Dean Overstreet Raped & Murdered Franklin College Student Kelly Eckart (April 4, 2007)
Murder Comes to Town Premiered ‘All-American Sweethearts’ on ID: Kelly Eckart Found Raped & Murdered in Indiana State Park (January 27, 2014)
Evil Lives Here Premiered ‘First Love, Forever Evil’ on ID: Michael Dean Overstreet Abused Wife, Raped & Murdered Kelly Eckart (February 11, 2018)
Forensic Files: 6 Active Duty Military and Veteran Homicide Cases

On This Day in History: Army Veteran Timothy McVeigh Convicted for Oklahoma City Bombing (June 2, 1997)

On June 2, 1997June 3, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Scandals, VeteransLeave a comment

Timothy McVeigh Army — Timothy McVeigh, U.S. Army Veteran

“Timothy McVeigh, a former U.S. Army soldier, is convicted on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy for his role in the 1995 terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. On April 19, 1995, just after 9 a.m., a massive truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The blast collapsed the north face of the nine-story building, instantly killing more than 100 people and trapping dozens more in the rubble. Emergency crews raced to Oklahoma City from across the country, and when the rescue effort finally ended two weeks later, the death toll stood at 168 people, including 19 young children who were in the building’s day-care center at the time of the blast.” Read more from This Day in History here.

Related Links:
Oklahoma City Bombing: 168 People Died in an Act of Domestic Terrorism at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building (April 19, 1995)
Timothy McVeigh convicted for Oklahoma City bombing (June 2, 1997)
American Experience PBS Premiered ‘Oklahoma City’: Timothy McVeigh & Terry Nichols Conspired to Bomb the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building (February 7, 2017)
Oxygen Premiered ‘In Defense Of Timothy McVeigh’: Convicted Oklahoma City Bomber Executed by Feds in 2001 for Terrorism (June 25, 2018)
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
Oklahoma City National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)

Air Force Retiree Dennis Dawley & Mistress Brandita Taliano Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole for the 1991 Murder of Joan Dawley (April 15, 1997)

On April 15, 1997November 15, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, USAF, VeteransLeave a comment

Preview: Seeking freedom from his controlling wife, Dennis Hawley begins seeing drug-addicted prostitute Brandita Taliano and supporting her financially. In 1993, when Joan receives an inheritance and makes plans to divorce, Dennis, fearing financial ruin, enlists his lover to help murder his wife. -Second Best, Deadly Women (S8, E10)

Air Force retiree Dennis Dawley, 61, with the help of prostitute and mistress, Brandita Taliano, bludgeoned to death his wife Joan Dawley of 35 years for financial gain in Van Nuys, California. Joan wanted a divorce and Dennis and Brandita wanted her inheritance money. The 1991 case went cold for years until DNA technology under Joan’s fingernails yielded a match to Brandita Taliano. Both Dennis and Brandita were charged with murder, conspiracy & solicitation and faced the death penalty. On April 15, 1997, a California jury sentenced Dawley and Taliano to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The pair were spared the death penalty because they didn’t have any prior violent felony records and the jury heard the emotional pleas from Dawley’s daughters.

Investigation Discovery:

Being the other woman’ is a lonely life. Some turn rejection into rage. A call girl craved the high life, a teen mom eradicated her rival, and a lesbian love affair ripped a family apart. These Deadly Women refused to play Second Best’. -Second Best, Deadly Women (S8, E10)

In suburban California, an intruder brutally attacks and kills Joan Dawley. As the Dawley family grieves, it’s up to LAPD detectives to crack the case. Secret home movies uncover a shocking tale of deceit, and a monster lurking behind the scenes. -Stages of Grief, American Monster (S3, E1)

Army Veteran Doug Gissendaner Murdered for Marital Home & Life Insurance; Wife Kelly Sentenced to Death, Executed in Georgia (February 7, 1997)

On February 7, 1997August 15, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, VeteransLeave a comment

screen-shot-2016-11-13-at-8-26-20-pm — Doug Gissendaner, U.S. Army Veteran

Army veteran Doug Gissendaner was murdered by his wife Kelly and her lover Gregory Owen in Auburn, Georgia on February 7, 1997. Doug met his wife Kelly in 1989 in Georgia. Kelly was a party girl and had already been married for six months and divorced when she met Doug. She had a child from her previous marriage and Doug welcomed the child with open arms. Within two months, they were married and then Kelly got pregnant. Doug loved being a father, husband, and family man. Then Doug joined the Army and got stationed overseas in Germany. While Doug was away, Kelly resorted to her old ways and started partying at the clubs on base. Kelly loved being on base with soldiers since the military base was a ready supply of men. It was reported that Kelly was so promiscuous on base that eventually she was asked to leave and her and the children were sent back to the United States.

In 1991, Doug returned home from his enlistment in the Army. He decided to forgive his wife and they reunited. Shortly after the reunification, Doug learned that Kelly was pregnant with someone else’s child. He was disappointed to say the least as he wanted to keep his family together. Divorce was inevitable. But after three years of being alone, Doug was desperate to be with his family again. The couple remarried and moved in together. Doug put up with Kelly so he could be a family man and provider to the children. Kelly wanted a house so Doug bought her one. What Doug didn’t realize is that Kelly was having an affair with 25 year old Gregory Owen. Kelly approached Owen about three months prior to the murder and asked him to get rid of Doug. Owen didn’t take her seriously initially and suggested she simply divorce him.

On the day of the murder, Kelly drove Owen to her residence in Auburn where he would wait for Doug with a knife and a nightstick that she provided to him. Kelly went out drinking with her friends to establish an alibi. Owen ambushed Doug when he got home and forced him into his own vehicle. He then took him to a remote wooded area where he forced him on his knees, hit him on the head from behind with the nightstick, and stabbed him in the neck ten times. Owen paged Kelly after he was done. Kelly showed up to the crime scene, demanded to see the body, and used gasoline, an accelerant, to set Doug’s car on fire. Kelly Gissendaner reported Doug missing to the police the following day. Investigators suspected Kelly immediately because they believed she was not being truthful. They found Doug’s body eleven days later.

Kelly eventually admitted to police that she was having an affair with Gregory Owen and this tip led investigators to the man who would eventually confess to the murder of Doug Gissendaner. Owen was tormented with guilt and felt manipulated and used. As a result, Owen testified at Kelly’s trial that she wanted to cash in on an insurance policy and become the outright owner of the marital home. In exchange for his testimony, Gregory Owen was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in twenty-five years. Kelly Gissendaner maintained her innocence but was found guilty of malice murder and sentenced to death in 1998. She lived her prison life in solitary confinement and was executed by the State of Georgia on September 30th, 2015. Kelly Gissendaner wanted things her way no matter the cost and conveniently had her husband killed after he bought her a house.

Investigation Discovery:

For these women, one good man wasn’t enough. A middle-aged woman used looks to prey on elderly gentleman; an army wife didn’t want a soldier but a squad; and a serial wife cooks up meals to die for. These Deadly Women married for the money, honey. -Deadly Women (S8, E11)

Related Links:
Find-A-Grave: Douglas Morgan Gissendaner
Family: Kelly Gissendaner’s murdered husband ‘is the true victim’
Gissendaner v State of Georgia 2000
Kelly Gissendaner execution postponed indefinitely
Sentence upheld against only woman on Georgia’s death row
Georgia’s only female death row inmate to be executed
Only woman on Ga. death row denied clemency, set for execution
Georgia woman’s execution postponed because drugs appeared ‘cloudy’
Kelly Gissendaner: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Former Ga. chief justice regrets vote in Gissendaner case
WATCH: Kelly Gissendaner’s 1997 Interview on the Search for Her Husband
Kelly Gissendaner Death Unfair? Boyfriend Gregory Owen Did the Murders, Gets Parole in Eight Years
Georgia Executes Kelly Gissendaner, Renewing Questions About Death Penalty
Kelly Renee Gissendaner got her lover, Gregory Bruce Owen, to kill her husband Doug for the insurance money; She is now on death row
Execution Date Set for Kelly Renee Gissendaner, Convicted of Husband’s Murder
Georgia to execute its first female prisoner in 70 years
Kelly Gissendaner First Woman Executed in Georgia in 70 Years
Children of woman on Ga. death row plead for her life to be spared
Family split over whether Kelly Gissendaner should die tonight
Kelly Gissendaner Left Message for Kids Before Execution Was Postponed
Ga.’s female death row inmate’s last meal request
Georgia death row inmate requests 2 whoppers and more for last meal
Georgia Woman Kelly Gissendaner Sings ‘Amazing Grace’ During Execution
Georgia inmate Kelly Gissendaner executed after failed appeals
Georgia executes Kelly Gissendaner after Supreme Court denies stay requests
Kelly Gissendaner Executed in Georgia After Courts Deny Stay Requests
Kelly Gissendaner executed for planning husband’s murder as man who killed him escapes death sentence
She sang Amazing Grace then the drugs took hold and she stuttered into silence: As the state of Georgia executes its first woman for 70 years, a chilling dispatch from inside the chamber
Georgia executes Kelly Gissendaner, despite plea from Pope Francis
Detective recounts how he put Kelly Gissendaner on death row
The Premeditated Murder of Kelly Gissendaner
Justice has different meanings for Kelly Gissendaner’s family
Profile of Husband Killer Kelly Gissendaner
First We’ll Kill My Husband by Lyn Riddle (Amazon)
Review of First We’ll Kill My Husband
For the Money Honey | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (S8, E11)
For the Money Honey | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (website)
For the Money Honey | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
For the Money Honey | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (Hulu)
Deadly Women Premiered ‘For the Money Honey’ on Investigation Discovery: Kelly Gissendaner & Lover Murdered Army Veteran Doug Gissendaner (September 26, 2014)
Deadly Women: 30 Military and Veteran Homicide Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery

Army Veteran James Neal Broke Into Estranged Wife’s Colorado Springs Home & Fatally Shot Danny Richmond; Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison (July 9, 1996)

On July 9, 1996September 14, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, Military Policy, VeteransLeave a comment

On July 9th, 1996, 911 received a phone call from a distressed man who reported a burglar was in his apartment. And then the operator hears a bang and the line goes dead. Homicide detective, Lt. Joe Kenda, of the Colorado Springs Police Department was informed shots were fired after what appeared to be a burglary gone wrong. He was informed Danny Richmond, 34, was dead and his roommate Savannah Neal, 50, was present at the time of the shooting. The pair had met at work. Danny was the 911 caller; he reported someone broke into the apartment before he was shot. Kenda has learned from experience that burglars usually pick locks but in this case, whoever this person was, shot at the front door multiple times. This person had a motive to kill the person behind the door. Danny was shot in the central chest and he was shot in excess of 48 inches away. They didn’t find any casings in the room.Kenda observed that Danny was laying in his bed and eating when he was shot.

Kenda noticed Danny’s wedding ring and assumed he was married so he thought maybe Savannah was letting him stay at her apartment because he was having troubles. Did Danny’s estrange wife have something to do with this? Kenda wondered why Savannah was not dead? Why was she not harmed? Kenda deduced the shooter was after one person: Danny Richmond. The police eventually found a 357 Magnum casing at the threshold of the door. It appeared this person reloaded the gun quickly and Kenda thought it very likely could be someone military because Fort Carson is in Colorado Springs. Kenda set out to learn more about Danny. Danny was described by his co-workers as great. One co-worker shared that Danny met Savannah Neal at work; she acted as his mentor. Kenda also learned that Danny was not really married but he wore a wedding ring to show his commitment to Savannah. Kenda learned they were in a personal relationship and were romantically involved.

Kenda was looking for a third person now that he learned about the relationship between Danny and Savannah. A co-worker shared that Savannah was married for 25 years to James Neal but they were having problems so she moved out. The co-worker confirmed that James was in the Army but now worked as a security guard. Kenda then went to the hospital to question Savannah. She admitted things were bad with James and when he found out about her seeing Danny, he was angry. She alleged that he stalked her and Danny; he made threats; and he followed her all over the city. She said the night of the shooting she fixed Danny something to eat and served him in bed. They both heard loud pounding at the door so she went towards the door as it exploded open. She observed that James had a gun in his hand and went straight to the bedroom and shot Danny then he just left. The whole thing happened in the course of 30 seconds.

Kenda needed to find James Neal. He put out an all points bulletin (APB) asking officers to be on the look out and aware that he was armed and dangerous. Minutes later a police officer spotted the gray Camry and pulled him over. James didn’t move so the police officer approached him unsure of what he may do. The officer went up to the driver side of the car and observed that James had blood on him near his shoulder and stomach; next to him was a 357 Magnum revolver. James was telling the officer that he wanted to die and was speaking coherently. He admitted to shooting himself as the officer pulled him over. One officer explained that he shot himself in those locations most likely because he lost his courage to commit suicide. James Neal admitted to Kenda that he wanted to die and he shot his wife’s boyfriend. James Neal was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to forty-five years in prison. Some relationships can turn to nightmare scenarios and this is one of them.

Investigation Discovery:

When the severed head of a wife and mother is found, Lt. Joe Kenda uses forensics and interrogation to find both her body and her killer. Then… a young man’s murder looks like a robbery gone wrong until Kenda learns the odd reason he’s living there. -The Line Goes Dead, Homicide Hunter (S6,E13)

Related Links:
The Line Goes Dead | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (S6,E13)
The Line Goes Dead | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (website)
The Line Goes Dead | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
The Line Goes Dead | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (Hulu)
Homicide Hunter Premiered ‘The Line Goes Dead’ on ID: Army Veteran Murdered Estranged Wife’s Boyfriend Danny Richmond (November 30, 2016)
Violent Crime, Suicide & Non Combat Death at Fort Carson, Colorado (US Army)

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Category: Veterans

VA Nurse Kristen Gilbert Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Four Veterans: Stanley Jagodowski, Henry Hudon, Kenneth Cutting & Edward Skwira (March 26, 2001)

Die for Me: The Terrifying True Story of the Charles Ng & Leonard Lake Torture Murders by Don Lasseter | Book Review (May 1, 2000)

Disabled Army Veteran Jack Irwin Murdered for Disability Benefits, Bank Account & Assets; Marcia Johnson Sentenced to Life, No Parole (September 13, 1999)

Army Veteran Peter Theriault Last Seen in Irvine, California; Judy Valot Convicted of Homicide But Body Has Never Been Located (December 2, 1998)

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Beaten By A Hair’: Laura Houghteling Reported Missing, Confessed Killer Led Police to Body (November 26, 1998)

Kelly Eckart Found Murdered in Indiana; Michael Overstreet Sentenced to Death But Court Ruled Not Competent for Execution (September 27, 1997)

On This Day in History: Army Veteran Timothy McVeigh Convicted for Oklahoma City Bombing (June 2, 1997)

Air Force Retiree Dennis Dawley & Mistress Brandita Taliano Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole for the 1991 Murder of Joan Dawley (April 15, 1997)

Army Veteran Doug Gissendaner Murdered for Marital Home & Life Insurance; Wife Kelly Sentenced to Death, Executed in Georgia (February 7, 1997)

Army Veteran James Neal Broke Into Estranged Wife’s Colorado Springs Home & Fatally Shot Danny Richmond; Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison (July 9, 1996)

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