Fort Carson Soldier Christopher Walton Fatally Shot Outside Night Club; Leroy Davis Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison by Military Court (November 21, 1991)

All Hell Breaks Loose In Club Brawl Leaving A Young Solider Dead -Victim Zero, Homicide Hunter (Preview)

Lt. Joe Kenda of the Homicide Hunter series on Investigation Discovery discussed the murder of Fort Carson Army soldier Christopher Walton, 21, outside a night club in Colorado Springs, Colorado on November 21, 1991. What started out as a good night out on the town turned deadly after two rival units started a brawl at a local bar in Colorado Springs. The fight spilled outside of the bar and that’s when Christopher Walton was shot with a gun in the neck. Christopher Walton was getting ready to get out of the Army and move back to North Carolina. He was a described by his friends as a really good guy who took care of people.

As Kenda investigates the case, which is in his jurisdiction, he learns that a few months earlier a couple of soldiers got in a fight over a girl and that’s when everyone chose sides and the rival began. The rival was between the artillery unit and the maintenance unit at Fort Carson. An informant told Kenda that she thought Chris Smith may have committed the murder. Kenda pays Chris Smith a visit and in deed finds a gun similar to the gun they were looking for in his possession. It was later determined by ballistics that this gun matched the bullet recovered from Christopher Walton’s body.

Chris Smith was arrested for the murder of Christopher Walton. He never admitted to the murder and told Kenda that he had given the gun to someone else that night but would not give up the name. While Smith was in custody, the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) called Lt Joe Kenda to tell them they had a witness to the event and they thought he might have the wrong guy. The witness, Eric Walker, identified Leroy Davis as the actual shooter. Leroy was a member of the artillery unit at Fort Carson which was the rival unit to Christopher Walton’s maintenance unit.

As it turns out, Chris Smith was telling the truth. He did give the gun to someone that night outside the bar after shooting it in the air because he didn’t want it on his person. Eric Walker told Kenda that Chris Smith gave the gun to Leroy Davis who eventually returned the gun back to Smith. Chris Smith refused to implicate his Army brother, even after he was arrested and jailed. According to Walker, Christopher Walton pushed one of the artillery unit members and Leroy Davis acted on emotional impulse, pulled the gun out of his jacket, and shot Walton in the neck causing his fatal injuries.

For some unknown reason, Leroy Davis faced a court martial as opposed to a being tried by the civilian courts in Colorado Springs. Lt Joe Kenda described military discipline as a whole different game, sharing that they are “draconian and ruthless.” The military has its own internal justice system and has been at the center of a controversial debate in Congress for the past few years over the way it handles violent crimes. In this case, Davis was sentenced to twenty years at Fort Leavenworth where he will be expected to do hard, physical labor the entire time. We learned from one of the soldiers present at the scene that fifteen military members from Fort Carson got discharged as a result of their involvement in this incident.

Investigation Discovery:

A massive brawl erupts at a local bar ends with the shooting death of a young army soldier. To unravel the murder, Lt. Joe Kenda must infiltrate a revered military institution, and expose a dangerous vendetta. -Victim Zero, Homicide Hunter (S5,E9)

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:
Victim Zero | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (preview)
Victim Zero | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (S5,E9)
Victim Zero | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (website)
Victim Zero | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Victim Zero | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (Hulu)
Lt Joe Kenda of Homicide Hunter Outlines Murder of Army Soldier Christopher Walton
Homicide Hunter Premiered ‘Victim Zero’ on ID: Fort Carson Soldier Christopher Walton Fatally Shot Outside Colorado Springs Night Club (October 20, 2015)
Violent Crime, Suicide & Non Combat Death at Fort Carson, Colorado (US Army)

Fort Carson Army Spc. Layne Schmidtke Died From Blunt Force Trauma in Unprovoked Street Fight; Six Teenagers Convicted for Roles in Murder (September 22, 1991)

Soldier and young father Layne Schmidtke is brutally beaten to death by a mob of teenagers. Kenda must reconstruct the chaotic scene through forensic evidence and witness testimonies, which reveals an unlikely suspect as the murderous ringleader. -Slaughterhouse Six, Homicide Hunter (S2, E5)

On September 21, 1991, Layne Schmidtke was found near death on the streets of Colorado Springs, Colorado just before midnight. Layne was transported to the hospital where he later died of blunt force trauma. The death was a result of what was believed to be a street fight gone bad. Lt. Joe Kenda needed to find out why this happened. What were the dynamics that lead to the fight? Investigators wanted to speak with witnesses and found Joseph Reeves at the scene of the crime who admitted he was with Layne when the fight began. Joseph and Layne were great friends and he described Layne as a nice guy and married father of twin daughters. There appeared to be no reason for the brutal attack. Kenda and fellow officers found some individuals with blood on their clothing but until they had more information, it wasn’t enough to arrest them.

Joseph Reeves helped Lt. Joe Kenda understand what happened on the night they were randomly attacked. He said they went out and grabbed some dinner and were on their way home when they were confronted by a group of teens. The trash talk lead to a fight and Layne was punched in the face which resulted in him falling to the ground. Joseph Reeves was able to extricate himself from the fight but in the chaos realized Layne was still under attack. The group of teens were beating and kicking him while he was on the ground. An ambulance arrived on the scene and this ended the fight and the participants scattered. Kenda said it appeared Layne was attacked without any provocation whatsoever. Kenda wanted to know why these kids were motivated to harm Layne? Reeves didn’t know who attacked them during the fight. It all happened so fast.

Kenda learned that Layne Schmidtke and Joseph Reeves were in the Army and served together with the 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colorado. Kenda wondered if Layne was attacked because he was a soldier. Kenda found another eye witness at the scene of the crime: Dan Davis. Davis told him that the group of teens who attacked Layne were from the local high school. Kenda learned these were good kids who came from good homes so it was surprising to learn of their involvement in this crime. Davis admitted yelling “COPS!” hoping to break up the fight and the group of teens did indeed scatter. Davis said he didn’t know the names of the individuals in the fight. The police collected evidence from the scene and Kenda went back to the station to speak with the individuals found with blood on their clothing.

The first teen they spoke to didn’t fit the modus operandi of someone who would beat a soldier to death. This teen’s dad was an Army soldier himself and this kid was more likely to join the Army, then beat someone serving in the Army. This teen was not able to identify suspects involved in the fight. But nonetheless, Joe Kenda wanted to test the blood on his clothing to determine who it belonged to. Next Kenda spoke with Anthony Phenix and Kevin Moore. When Kenda questioned Anthony, Anthony admitted the blood on his clothing came from the chaos of the fight. He said he was accidentally dragged into the fight and was hit and hit others but he didn’t know who he was fighting. Kenda needed more information and interviewed Anthony Moore next.

Kevin Moore said he was drunk and passed out in the backseat of a car when someone awoke him to inform him of the fight. Kevin went to the scene and admitted dragging Anthony Phenix from the brawl. So far all the individuals involved in the fight made it appear they were accidentally involved in the fight. Kenda collected the bloody clothing from all three suspects and sent it to the lab to be analyzed. Then Kenda got a call from a witness who claimed she was being threatened if she said anything to the cops. Kenda questioned this high school student to learn more. She said she didn’t see anything but she heard a friend admit that they ‘killed the dude’ while they were on their way home after the fight. She gave Kenda the individual’s name. His name was Dominic Peres.

Kenda had probable cause now because Dominic threatened a witness, a felony crime. They went to Dominic’s home to confront him about the incident. Dominic denied any involvement in the fight. He claimed he was down town but he never saw an assault. Kenda wanted to collect his clothing as evidence but Dominic’s mother admitted she washed the bloody clothing the day before. Before leaving their home, Kenda observed the shoes Dominic was wearing had blood on them. As a result, Dominic was arrested and taken to the County lock-up. Kenda now had to determine who did what that fatal night and had to sift through all the lies. Kenda wasn’t about to let anyone get away with this level of extreme violence. There were now four suspects in custody while they waited for the results from the lab.

Meanwhile, Kenda went to the high school and the principal provided Kenda with a group of female students who witnessed the fight. They were able to provide Kenda with the circumstances that lead to the deadly fight. Apparently these same teens fought with two other Army soldiers in a car, not Layne and Joseph. The GIs were hitting on the girls and the teens were trying to run them off. They drove away. When the teens noticed two other individuals who looked like GIs, they decided to take out their anger on these two unsuspecting individuals. The teens told them to get off their turf and then struck Layne first. They wanted revenge on a pair of soldiers and any two soldiers would do. Kenda finally understood what happened that night; these teens were looking for trouble. But Kenda still needed to find out who was responsible for the attack.

The teen high school students were able to tell Kenda exactly who was involved. A new name was dropped that he hadn’t heard yet. Kenda asked who threw the first punch and it wasn’t Dominic as suspected; it was Anthony Phenix, a star quarterback high school football player. Kevin Moore, Dominic Peres and Shawn Stancil all jumped in the fight and started punching and kicking Layne while he was on the ground. They also identified two more teens involved: Robert Dean and Daniel Davis. Kenda remembered Davis was the helpful teen at the crime scene and at the time they had no idea he was involved in the fight too. Kenda went to Davis’ home and confronted him with the new information. Davis continued to lie to them but cracked and finally offered a confession, claiming he only kicked him once in the feet area. Davis was arrested and in placed in custody.

Kenda searched for the sixth suspect: Robert Dean. Kenda confronted Dean and he denied everything but Kenda observed blood on his shoes as well. Dean was arrested and placed in custody too. The blood analysis from the lab came back and the results were mixed. Nonetheless, all six suspects were charged with murder because of the eye witness testimony. Three were juveniles and three were adults but they were all charged as adults. Daniel Davis and Robert Dean were each sentenced to several years of probation; Robert Dean had violated the terms of his probation and was sentenced to three years. Kevin Moore was sentenced to 12 years of hard time in prison. Shawn Stancil and Dominic Peres receive sixteen years in prison. And Anthony Phenix, the guy who started the fight, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 24 years in prison. The police believe no one intended to kill anyone that night but their collective actions resulted in the untimely death of Army Pfc. Layne Schmidtke.

Source: Slaughterhouse Six, Homicide Hunter, Investigation Discovery

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:
SPC Layne Thomas Schmidtke (1966-1991) – Find A Grave
Soldier Pummeled as Group of Teen-Agers Looks On
Faribault mother can’t understand Colorado killing of her soldier son
Murder of soldier Layne Schmidtke by teens who stomped on his head investigated by Joe Kenda
Slaughterhouse Six | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (S2,E5)
Slaughterhouse Six | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (website)
Slaughterhouse Six | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Slaughterhouse Six | Homicide Hunter | Investigation Discovery (Hulu)
Violent Crime, Suicide & Non Combat Death at Fort Carson, Colorado
Homicide Hunter Premiered ‘Slaughterhouse Six’ on ID: Army Spc. Layne Schmidtke Beat to Death in Unprovoked, Random Attack (November 6, 2012)

History: Cannibal and Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer is Caught (July 22, 1991)

Jeffrey Dahmer TCM
Jeffrey Dahmer, U.S. Army

“Milwaukee, Wisconsin, police officers spot Tracy Edwards running down the street in handcuffs, and upon investigation, they find one of the grisliest scenes in modern history: Jeffrey Dahmer’s apartment.

A forensic examination of the apartment turned up 11 victims–the first of whom disappeared in March 1989, just two months before Dahmer successfully escaped a prison sentence for child molestation by telling the judge that he was desperately seeking to change his conduct. Dahmer later confessed to 17 murders in all, dating back to his first victim in 1978.”

Read more from HISTORY here: Cannibal and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is caught

Investigators Probing Whether Accused Killer Had German Victims With AM-Body Parts, Bjt (AP, July 26, 1991):

“BONN, Germany (AP) – Police across Germany on Friday reopened files of unsolved murders and disappearances, seeking possible links to an accused mass killer in Milwaukee who served with the U.S. Army here. Dahmer was stationed from July 1979 to March 1981 with the 68th Armored Regiment in Baumholder in central Germany’s Rhineland-Palatinate state, where officials say five unsolved murder cases were being re-examined to seek any connection to Dahmer.

But four of the five murder victims were women, and no links to Dahmer have been made, said Christiana Kleinschmidt, a federal police spokeswoman in Wiesbaden. In addition, federal authorities said they were reviewing all cases of unidentified male murder victims or missing men during the time Dahmer was in Germany. Dahmer joined the Army in 1978 after dropping out of Ohio State University. He was discharged from service early because of alcohol problems.” Read more from AP here.

Little-Known Fact #5 about Dahmer from The Lineup:

#5 He served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army

“In January 1979, Dahmer enlisted in the U.S. Army. He trained as a medical specialist in San Antonio, Texas, and was deployed to Baumholder, West Germany. From 1979 to 1981, Dahmer served as a combat medic, during which time he reportedly raped two soldiers; the first victim claimed Dahmer raped him once after drugging him. The second, who was Dahmer’ roommate, stated that he was raped repeatedly while they shared a living space. Dahmer’s alcoholism followed him to West Germany as well. In 1981, after being declared unsuitable for military service, Dahmer was honorably discharged and sent back to the United States.” Read more from The Lineup here.

Creepy Fact #6 about Dahmer from Listverse:

#6 He Allegedly Raped Soldiers In The Military 

Six weeks after the murder of Steven Hicks, Dahmer enrolled at Ohio State University with hopes of majoring in business. However, his alcoholism meant that he only achieved low grades and he dropped out after just three months. In 1979, his father then encouraged him to join the U.S. Army where he trained as a medical specialist.

During his time in the army, two soldiers came forward with claims they had been drugged and raped by Dahmer. In 1981, he was deemed unfit for military service and received an honourable discharge.

Preston Davis, who was in the military service at the same time as Dahmer, recalled, “Jeffrey had killed his first victim a year before joining the military, and he would get drunk in the barracks and say, ‘I killed the guy in Ohio,’ and we’d say, ‘You didn’t kill nobody!’ He became a monster once he started drinking. Alcohol is what turned him into a monster.”[5] Read more from Listverse here.

Related Links:
The Horrifying Story Of Jeffrey Dahmer, The Milwaukee Cannibal
Investigators Probing Whether Accused Killer Had German Victims With AM-Body Parts, Bjt (AP, July 26, 1991)
Dahmer’s Inferno | Vanity Fair (1991)
Jeffrey Dahmer’s Life (and Death) in Prison | History
10 Little-Known Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer | The Lineup
Top 10 Creepy Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer | Listverse
20 Serial Killers Who Served in the Military | Ranker
35 Horrific Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer, The Milwaukee Cannibal Who Kept Body Parts In His Fridge | Thought Catalog
Jeffrey Dahmer, Confessed Cannibal & Necrophiliac: 5 Fast Facts You Need To Know
Monsters among us: veteran serial killers
Did Jeffrey Dahmer Rape Two Fellow Soldiers in the US Army?
‘I thought about killing him, I thought about killing myself’: Male rape victims of Jeffrey Dahmer – one of America’s most notorious serial killers – reveal why he stopped short of murdering them
Jeffrey Dahmer’s Surviving Victims Speak: ‘I Thought About Killing Him, I Thought About Killing Myself’
Jeffrey Dahmer’s surviving victims recall killer’s abuse: ‘I thought about killing him, I thought about killing myself’
Breaking the silence: Six men tell their stories of sexual assault in the military
Serial killers tend to gravitate to similar jobs — and some of them might surprise you
Notorious serial killer profiled on ID in Jeffrey Dahmer: Mind of a Monster
Why I killed Jeffrey Dahmer

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Army Spc. Anthony Riggs Fatally Shot Outside Michigan Home; Wife Toni Cato Riggs Guilty of Murder, Sentenced to Life, No Parole (March 18, 1991)

Anthony Riggs Army
Spc. Anthony Riggs, U.S. Army (photo: Investigation Discovery)

‘Love, Blood, and War’ (S3,E4) features the military murder case of Army Spc. Anthony Riggs who was gunned down in front of his Detroit, Michigan home on March 18, 1991. Spc. Riggs was packing up his family to move to Fort Bliss, Texas when he was murdered therefore his death on active duty status included a hefty life insurance policy. Since the name of the show is in and of itself a “spoiler alert,” it should be no surprise that wife Toni Cato Riggs conspired to have her husband murdered. Although she would pretend to be the grieving widow initially, her greed and evil caught up with her in the end. Check out the show and learn more about the modus operandi of female killers. Given the make up of the military (85% male & 15% female) and the fact they are targets because of their guaranteed salary and benefits, we tend to see higher rates of female crime in this population. Research has revealed the Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance is a common motive for murder. [Happily Never After, Investigation Discovery]

SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA
Toni Cato Riggs (photo: My Life of Crime)

Investigation Discovery:

Sparks fly when Toni Cato meets Army soldier, Anthony Riggs. But soon after wedding bells chime a – shadowy gunman shatters their future with five bullets to the head. Police are left with a twisted tale of family betrayal, greed, and deception. -Love, Blood and War, Happily Never After (S3,E4)

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:
Friends remember murdered soldier
Returned soldier killed in Detroit
Wife, insurance plot, lined to gulf soldier’s death
Widow Held in Murder of Gulf Veteran
Gulf veteran was killed by relative, police say
Money plot seen in soldier’s slaying
Slaying of a soldier
Charge Dropped Against Soldier’s Wife 
Murder trial begins in slaying of Gulf soldier
Brother-in-law sentenced to life for soldier’s death
Soldier killer sentenced
Slain soldier’s wife expected to be recharged
Gulf War Veteran’s Widow Is Charged in Murder
Woman Links Herself To Slaying
Wife convicted in war vet’s murder
Wife Convicted Of Killing Gulf Veteran
Detroit wife sentenced for killing soldier husband 
Life sentence for husband’s murder
People of the State of Michigan v Toni Cato Riggs 1997
Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance is a Common Motive for Murder
Love, Blood and War | Happily Never After | Investigation Discovery (S3,E4)
Love, Blood and War | Happily Never After | Investigation Discovery (website)
Love, Blood and War | Happily Never After | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Deadly Duo: Toni Cato Riggs had her husband, Army Spc. Anthony Riggs, killed by her brother, Michael Cato; sentenced to LWOP

Air Force Retiree Philip Inhofer Murdered by Escort for Money & Mercedes Convertible; Michelle Cummiskey Sentenced to 25 Years to Life (March 7, 1991)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Philip Inhofer, U.S. Air Force Retiree

Philip Inhofer was an Air Force retiree hired as a civil servant at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California after retirement from the military. He was recently divorced from his second wife and enjoying retirement as a single man. Philip moved back to North Natomas in Sacramento to be closer to his family. He adored his grandkids and enjoyed being a grandfather. On March 7, 1991, Philip’s boss at McClellan AFB called Philip’s son Henry because he hadn’t shown up to work which was not like him and they were worried. Henry went to Philip’s home and found that his car was gone and his lights were off. He went inside the house, saw blood, and thought maybe he was hurt. Henry was frantic and as a result, he checked the entire house; he eventually found his dad in a closet. Philip was face down and naked with a plastic bag over his head. Henry called his wife who came right over and initially they thought maybe Philip killed himself; they called the police together. Henry took his father’s death hard. He admitted to feeling bummed and having no passion about anything after this tragedy. Henry was in the process of rebuilding his relationship with his dad because when he was young, he was a rebellious teen and Philip was gone a lot while he was in the military.

Henry shared that Philip had been to Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand in his military travels. Henry was using this chance as an opportunity to get to know his father and was looking forward to many more years with him. In retirement, Philip Inhofer loved square dancing and enjoyed his social life but he was getting bored so he bought a two-door 1975 Mercedes convertible. Henry found a list of escort services in his dad’s home and was shocked. He didn’t know anything about his father’s lifestyle. Henry assumed since Philip was recently divorced, he was looking for love in all the wrong places. Henry was embarrassed that his father was purchasing escorts. Apparently Philip did not like being alone so one night he called an escort service and asked for two women. One of those women was an escort by the name of Jade. Jade did not look like a prostitute and was very pretty although she was a prostitute at a Nevada brothel. After meeting Jade that first time, Philip was struck by her and asked for her by name after that because he only had eyes for Jade. In addition to paying Jade for her services, Philip helped her financially; he gave her money to pay her debts, bought her designer clothes, took her shopping, and paid all her expenses. He began spending more and more time with Jade and spending more and more money.

Meanwhile, Henry noticed that Philip would stop by briefly to visit with them but would not sit down and would not stay. He appeared fidgety. Philip was not depressed but looking back in retrospect, he was in love. Philip got rid of his dog for Jade after she complained about it. Then out of the blue he talked about selling his beloved car. We would later learn that Jade wanted his car and he needed another one to replace it. Investigators determined that Jade wanting Philip’s Mercedes became a problem in the relationship because Philip wanted to keep his beloved car. Jade also wanted to continue to shop endlessly but Philip had to put his foot down because he didn’t have the money. Despite Jade’s persistence about the car, Philip could not part with it. Regardless, Philip and Jade started making serious plans together. Philip wanted Jade to move in with him and on March 6, 1991, Jade left the Mustang Ranch in Nevada to move in with her new man in California. Jade and a friend drove through a snow storm to get to California and Philip was very happy to see her. One day later, Philip Inhofer was found dead in his home. First responders at the scene knew right away that Philip Inhofer’s death was no suicide.

A homicide detective was called to the scene to investigate what appeared to be a brutal murder. Detectives discovered a large blood stain on the carpet and found Philip lying on his stomach with a plastic bag on his head. They observed that Philip had suffered from numerous stab wounds and his throat had been slashed. Whoever killed Philip did so in a rage. Philip’s skull was fractured and his teeth were smashed in which was evidence tremendous amounts of blunt force were used. Philip’s shower curtain was shredded and there was blood everywhere including in the tub, on the walls, and on the shower curtains. Detectives found two pieces of paper in the home with Jade’s name on it, one of them was located on the bed stand. They learned Jade was an escort but Philip never told his family that piece of information. Using Philip’s phone records, detectives were able to track down persons of interest in an effort to find Jade. Detectives learned from a friend that Jade was going to Sacramento, California to pick up a Mercedes. The friend who gave Jade a ride to Sacramento informed police that Jade asked her to stop at a store so she could pick up some rat poisoning. She claimed she was going to use it to kill someone but her friend thought she was just kidding.

Investigators also learned that Jade or Michelle Cummisky was accused of electrocuting a previous husband; she threw a radio in his tub. But there was not enough evidence to charge her. Some of her friends said she worshipped Satan and Black Magic, and had tried to kill every man she was ever involved with. A previous husband thought she used rat poison on him because he got very ill when he was with her. Police were concerned that a beautiful, lethal woman was on the run so they called in the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist. And the media was contacted; they called Michelle Cummisky ‘Batgirl’ in reports. In Biloxi, Mississippi, a police officer pulled over two girls in a Ryder rental truck with a freshly painted Mercedes in the back. The police ran the vehicle identification number and it came back as a hit to the murder victim, Philip Inhofer. Sacramento detectives went to Mississippi. Michelle’s friend Crystal Woodruff was clueless about Michelle’s crimes so she was released but Michelle on the other hand admitted to the crime. She told investigators that she hurt the man she loved because she was high on a lot of LSD and didn’t know what she was doing. Michelle loved her LSD. She claimed she went to get in the shower with Philip but instead saw monsters and beasts. She described Philip as a dark force that she needed to get rid of.

As Michelle committed the murder, she was reminded that Satan would protect her. She started stabbing Philip through the shower curtain as he was taking a shower. He was completely vulnerable, defenseless, and taken off guard. He attempted to fight off the attack as evidenced by the numerous defense wounds on his body but would succumb to the multiple stab wounds. An autopsy revealed that Philip had been stabbed thirty-two times. After he collapsed, Michelle hit him in the head with a bat a few times to make sure he was dead then dragged his body to a closet. Michelle ate dinner and went to bed. She described to investigators that Satan guided her through everything. The next day, Michelle left North Natomas with the bloody rugs and stole Philip’s Mercedes. Michelle Cummisky was charged with murder. At her trial a couple years later, she used the fact that she had a horrible upbringing and difficult childhood as her defense. The prosecutors reminded the jury that the murder was a cold calculated crime and Michelle would go to any lengths to get what she wanted. On April 14, 1994, Michelle Cummisky was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in prison. In April 2011, Michelle Cummisky was denied her first chance at parole. Michelle Cummisky is a greedy, sociopath and her selfish actions altered the destiny of several people forever.

Source: Shades of Jade, Stranger in My Home, Investigation Discovery

Investigation Discovery:

A lonely ex-military man meets up with a much younger beautiful woman, and together they fall in love. Or so they think. Until a deadly combination of greed, worry, and secrets leaves one dead and the other on the run… wanted for murder. -Shades of Jade, A Stranger in My Home (S3, E8)

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:
Michelle Cummiskey v. California Superior Court (1992)
‘Batgirl’ killer of Sacramento man denied parole
Ask Sacto 911 crime Q&A: What happened to woman investigators dubbed ‘Batgirl’?
Philip Inhofer, Michelle Cummiskey: ‘Bat Girl’ Killer Known as Jade was Sexy Escort, Story on ID’s ‘A Stranger in My Home’
Shades of Jade | A Stranger in My Home | Investigation Discovery (S3,E8)
Shades of Jade | A Stranger in My Home | Investigation Discovery (website)
Shades of Jade | A Stranger in My Home | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
A Stranger in My Home Premiered ‘Shades of Jade’ on ID: Nevada Escort Murders Air Force Retiree Philip Inhofer Because Greed (April 8, 2016)

Military Spouse Julie Snodgrass Found Stabbed to Death in the Philippines; Air Force Sgt. Joseph Snodgrass Sentenced to Life in Prison (February 26, 1991)

Julie & Joseph Snodgrass
Julie Snodgrass and MSgt Joseph Snodgrass, U.S. Air Force (Photo: Forensic Files)

Military spouse Julie Snodgrass, 33, was found stabbed to death near Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines on February 26, 1991. Julie was discovered in the cab of her pickup truck on an isolated road off base and an autopsy revealed that she was stabbed more than 42 times. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) had jurisdiction of the case. During the investigation, they found evidence on Air Force Sgt. Joseph Snodgrass’ work computer that linked him to the crime. AFOSI found a letter addressed to his mistress asking for help with the murder of his wife. He also talked about the life insurance policy he had purchased in the event his wife died. The letter disclosed that Snodgrass elicited the help of his housekeeper (and lover), a Philippine native, to hire three hitmen to carry out the crime. The pair could then be together and live off the $400,000 life insurance pay out. During an interview with AFOSI, Sgt. Snodgrass grabbed the floppy disks and cut them to pieces with some shears.

Computer forensic scientists were able to find a way to put the disks back together so the data was readable again. This was the evidence the Air Force needed to make their murder-for-hire case. In the meantime in June 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted resulting in layers of volcanic ash falling on Clark Air Force Base and Naval Base Subic Bay. Amidst the chaos, Snodgrass attempted a jail break in August 1991 while awaiting trial but lost his bearings in the ashy mess and eventually surrendered. The eruption’s aftermath triggered the decision to withdraw all American Forces from the Philippines. Joseph Snodgrass pleaded guilty to the solicitation of his wife’s murder and was sentenced to life with no parole in a military prison. As a result of the forensic history made by piecing the floppy disk back together making it usable again, the military changed the policies pertaining to the destruction of classified data on floppy disks. The AFOSI’s “catastrophic blunder” was made right and secure communications destruction policy was changed as a result of the lessons learned when forensic scientists made history.

Forensic Files:

Medical Detectives (Forensic Files) – Season 10, Ep 9: Shear Luck

When the wife of a serviceman was brutally murdered in the Philippines, the Air Force Office of Special Investigators swung into action. Clues led to the victim’s husband, but he insisted he was innocent. Investigators would have to do something unprecedented: Reassemble a 5 1/4 inch computer disk which had been cut to pieces with pinking shears. -Shear Luck, Forensic Files (S10,E9)

Editor’s Note: Full episodes of Forensic Files are available on a variety of media platforms. Medical Detectives 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!

Update (April 11, 2021:

Today, we were informed that Forensic Files got the narrative wrong and Air Force OSI did not commit a “catastrophic blunder.” MJFA reminded said person that if they weren’t hiding all the crime and death from the public, we’d know more about the case details. We simply are repeating what the crew at Forensic Files said. First this person reminded us, the floppy disk was destroyed in their presence because according to Forensic Files, they were “momentarily distracted.” Then they failed to address the fact an accused killer had a pair of scissors on his person, both a danger to OSI and other Air Force personnel. And finally, Joe Snodgrass worked with AFOSI and knew prior to his interview he was going to be questioned about the floppy disks, so he came prepared to destroy them.

Related Links:
Shear Luck | Forensic Files | IMDb
Shear Luck | Forensic Files | Medical Detectives
Shear Luck | Forensic Files | Netflix (Collection 9,E13)
Shear Luck | Forensic Files | Amazon Prime Video (S19,E7)
American woman found dead in Philippines
The Cataclysmic 1991 Eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines
In the Matter of the Guardianship of Jaime Mary-Jean Snodgrass, a Minor (1997)
AF Computer Forensics Lab nabs criminals, byte by byte
Computer Forensics Investigations: Body of Evidence
Recounting US military’s last days in the Philippines
Information Risk & Security: Preventing & Investigating Workplace Computer Crime
Forensic Files Premiered ‘Shear Luck’: Military Spouse Found Stabbed to Death Near Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines (August 3, 2005)
30 Domestic Abuse Cases in the Military That Ended in the Murder of Female Partners

Navy Veteran Susan Peterson Found Murdered in Dallas, Texas; Suspect Charles Albright Found Guilty of Similar Murder, Sentenced to Life in Prison (February 10, 1991)

Susan Peterson Navy
Susan Peterson, U.S. Navy Veteran (Photo: NY Daily News)

‘The second victim was found on a Sunday morning, on the same south Dallas road where Mary Pratt was dumped. Like Pratt, she was mostly naked. Like Pratt, she was a prostitute. Her name was Susan Peterson, age 27. She had been shot in the head, chest, and stomach. Her eyelids were closed.” Read more from Texas Monthly here.

Forensic Files:

Full Episode: A serial killer is prowling the streets of Dallas, targeting prostitutes. All the police know is that the killer has a bizarre signature. See No Evil, Forensic Files

Oxygen:

Rookie police officers Regina Smith and John Matthews gained intelligence from the sex workers on their beat. -Oxygen (February 7, 2019)

A prostitute in the Dallas spoke to police about a man who attempted to attack her, and his possible link to the string of other murders in the Dallas area. -Oxygen (February 11, 2019)

Elizabeth Peacock discovered Charles Albright’s victim had had her eyeballs cut out. -Oxygen (February 11, 2019)

Dallas Police find one of Charles Albright’s victims lying nude in the street, with a gunshot to the head. -Oxygen (February 11, 2019)

Dallas police discover three women murdered with their eyes surgically removed. Police believe they have a deranged doctor on the loose until two rookie cops find themselves on the trail of a man with a Psycho-esque mother, a talent for taxidermy, and a hatred for women. -Oxgen (February 12, 2019)

Serial killer, Charles Albright, removed the eyeballs of sex workers in Dallas,Texas. -Oxygen (February 14, 2019)

Dr. Michael Stone explains Charles Albright’s narcissistic behavior. -Oxygen (February 14, 2019)

Officer Regina Smith recounts the night she drove Charles Albright to the Dallas Homicide Division after he had murdered several sex workers in the Dallas area. -Oxygen (February 15, 2019)

Psychologist Dr. Michael Stone makes note that there are passages in the New Testament that talk about eyes in a special way. -Oxygen (February 15, 2019)

Serial Killer Charles Albright Documentaries:

Full Episode: Charles Albright is a convicted American serial killer, he is a diagnosed psychopath who was found guilty of killing a woman in 1991 by means of shooting her in the head and removing her eyeballs. -Serial Killer – Charles Albright | Documentary Galore

Full Episode: Charles Frederick Albright is an American serial killer and diagnosed psychopath from Dallas, Texas, who was convicted of killing one woman. -Serial Killer – Charles Albright – HD Documentary | Aristotle Documentary

Investigation Discovery:

Dallas has its dark side, but nothing compares the horror of a series of women found murdered with their eyeballs surgically removed. A pair beat cops use their street savvy to lead detectives to a sadistic killer and his bizarre motive. -The Eyeball Killer, Murder by Numbers (S2, E5)

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:
Susan Beth Peterson | Find a Grave
Carpenter Charged in Fourth Prostitute Death
Charles Fredrick Albright | Texas Prison Inmates | The Texas Tribune
See No Evil | Texas Monthly
Flashback: ‘The Eyeball Killer’ stalked, murdered four Oak Cliff women in 1991
Crime History: Charles Albright, “The Eyeball Killer,” Terrorizes Texas Sex Workers
Dallas ‘Eyeball Killer’ murdered three women, removed their eyes in early ’90s
‘Eyeball Killer’ Charles Albright Plucked Out The Eyes Of Dallas Sex Workers
Messed Up Things About The Texas Eyeball Killer’s Relationship With His Mother
See No Evil | Forensic Files
Mark Of A Killer: Bonus – Cops Befriend Sex Workers During Charles Albright Murder
Mark Of A Killer: Preview – Charles Albright Possibly Linked To Prostitute Assault
Mark Of A Killer: Preview – An Eye For Murder (Season 1, Episode 3) | Oxygen
Mark Of A Killer: Preview – Dallas Police Find A Nude Body In The Street
Mark Of A Killer: Preview – Gunshot Victim Discovered To Be Lacking Eyeballs
Mark Of A Killer: Bonus Clip – Charles Albright, The Eyeball Killer
Mark Of A Killer: Bonus – Forensic Psychologist Examines Charles Albright Psyche
Mark Of A Killer: Hostile Charles Albright On Ride To Dallas Homicide Division
Mark Of A Killer: Bonus – Were Charles Albright’s Murders Inspired By The Bible?
Serial Killer – Charles Albright in HD | Documentary Galore
Serial Killer – Charles Albright – HD Documentary | Aristotle Documentary
The Eyeball Killer | Murder by Numbers | Investigation Discovery (S2, E5)
The Eyeball Killer | Murder by Numbers | Investigation Discovery (website)
The Eyeball Killer | Murder by Numbers | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Murder by Numbers Premiered ‘The Eyeball Killer’ on ID: Serial Killer Charles Albright Suspect in Murder of Navy Veteran Susan Peterson (September 11, 2018)
Mark of a Killer Premiered ‘Charles Albright’ on Oxygen: The Eyeball Killer Suspected of Four Murders in Texas (February 10, 2019)