Deadly Women: 30 Military and Veteran Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery (July 20, 2018)

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

More Than A Pretty Face (1952):

Preview: Anjette Lyles felt the best way to deal with her problematic home life was to poison the people around her. -Secrets and Lies, Deadly Women (S4, E11)

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Secrets and Sins’ on Investigation Discovery: Everything You Need to Know About Serial Killer Anjette Lyles (October 28, 2010) #DeadlyWomen

A Gold-Digger Buries Secrets in Her Basement (1961):

ID Go: Selfish women will sometimes sell their souls to the devil to get what they want. A scorned lover weaves a web of lies, a teenage Goth orders a reign of terror, and a gold-digger buries secrets in her basement. -Souls of Stone, Deadly Women (S7, E18)

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Souls of Stone’ on Investigation Discovery: Gold Digger Iva Kroeger Strangled a Married Couple Because She Wanted What They Had (November 15, 2013) #DeadlyWomen

Dark Secrets are the Stock-in-Trade of Deadly Women (1971):

Full Episode: Dark Secrets are the stock-in-trade of Deadly Women -Dark Secrets, Deadly Women (S2, E4)

‘Black Widow’ Judy Buenoano Executed by the State of Florida for Three Homicides; First Woman to Die by Death Penalty in Florida Since 1848 (March 30, 1998) #DeadlyWomen #MyFavMurder

Mommy’s Little Helpers (1981):

Full Episode: The mother-son relationship is a dynamic one. Mothers are role models, teaching self-worth, respect, and the value of healthy relationships. But these women teach their sons to hate and kill when they enlist the support of “Mommy’s Little Helpers.” -Mommy’s Little Helpers, DeadlyWomen (S6, E15)

Eric Witte Manipulated by Mother Hilma to Murder Abusive Father at Age Fifteen; Joined Navy to Prevent Grandmother Elaine Witte from Dying (September 1, 1981) #DeadlyWomen #EvilLivesHere

When a Deranged Mind of Deadly Woman Snaps (1985):

ID Go: When a deranged mind of deadly woman snaps, there’s no telling when the killing will stop. In a rage driven by years of untreated schizophrenia, a 25-year-old opened fire on innocent shoppers in a Philadelphia Mall in 1985. -Twisted Minds, Deadly Women (S2, E3)

Army Veteran Sylvia Seegrist Went on Shooting Spree at Shopping Mall Killing Recife Cosmen, Ernest Trout & Augusto Ferrara; Sentenced to Life in Prison (October 30, 1985) #DeadlyWomen #TwistedPhillyPodcast

A Middle-Aged Woman Sacrifices Lives for Money (1987):

Full Episode: A beautiful, vibrant young woman fell to her death from a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Initially, investigators thought it was just a terrible accident. But after a closer forensic examination of photographs taken at the scene, police had a very different story of what had happened. -The Financial Downfall, Forensic Files (S9, E12)

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Vicious Vixens’ on Investigation Discovery; Virginia Reardon & Billie Joe McGinnis Killed Their Navy Son’s Wife (S7, E5) #ForensicFiles #DeadlyWomen

She Uses Her Children as Money (1988):

ID Go: A mother’s role is to love & protect her children, but for some, that doesn’t ring true. When a Missouri mom uses her children for money, it’s clear they lack motherly love. -Evil Guardians, Deadly Women (S7, E6)

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Evil Guardians’ on Investigation Discovery: Single Mother Ellen Boehm Killed Two Sons for the Life Insurance (August 23, 2013) #DeadlyWomen

Killing For Her Lover (1990):

Full Episode: Jennifer Reali was having a wild affair with Brian Hood, he made her shoot his wife to death in a parking lot. She did, and now she is serving life in prison. Former FBI profiler Candice DeLong talks face to face with Jennifer to find out the truth -Love Before Life, Facing Evil (S1, E3)

Army Spouse Jennifer Reali Shot & Killed Lover’s Wife; Sentenced to Life in Prison, Paroled in December 2017 & Died From Pancreatic Cancer Three Months Later (September 12, 1990) #DeadlyWomen #HomicideHunter #FacingEvil

Mistress Kills Her Lover’s Wife to Escape (1991):

Full Episode: 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 & Mistress Brandita Taliano Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole for the 1991 Bludgeoning Death of Joan Dawley in California (April 15, 1997) #DeadlyWomen #AmericanMonster

If She Couldn’t Have Them, Nobody Could (1993):

ID Go: A grandmother caring for her grandchildren, a young girl in love with a boy, a mother protecting her son – are all consumed with intense love. But when that love is threatened, they find it too much to bear and take measures into their own hands. -Deadly Possession, Deadly Women (S5, E10)

Caroline Young Killed Her 2 Grandchildren After Losing Custody of One to Father & Marine Recruiter Barrington Bruce; Sentenced to Death, Died in 2005 of Kidney Failure (June 18, 1993) #DeadlyWomen

Perfect Wife Plots To Have Husband Killed For Money (1994):

Preview: Susan Russo was a Navy wife who ran a tight ship. But she had a secret life, and devised a way to profit off her husband’s substantial military life insurance. -Cash In, Deadly Women (S10, E6)

Navy Spouse Susan Russo Hired Drug Addicted Hitmen for $100 to Murder Husband David Russo for the Life Insurance; Sentenced to Life in Prison (July 14, 1994) #DeadlyWomen

One Good Man Wasn’t Enough (1997):

Full Episode: For these women, one good man wasn’t enough. An army wife didn’t want a soldier but a squad. -For the Money Honey, Deadly Women (S8, E11)

Army Veteran Doug Gissendaner Murdered for Marital Home & Life Insurance; Wife Kelly Sentenced to Death & in 2015 Executed in Georgia (February 7, 1997) #DeadlyWomen

When Kevin Goes Away, Gina Plays (1997):

ID Go: Kevin and Gina Spann know that life in the military is anything but easy. But when Kevin goes away, Gina plays. -Special Delivery, Deadly Affairs (S2, E9)

Army Soldier Kevin Spann Fatally Shot by Two Teenagers at Front Door of Georgia Home; Wife Gina Spann Pleaded Guilty to Avoid the Death Penalty, Sentenced to Life in Prison (May 11, 1997) #DeadlyAffairs #DeadlyWomen

She Made a Mockery of Marital Commitment (1998):

Full Episode: When some brides vowed to love and honor their husbands, they lied. These Deadly Women made a mockery of marital commitment. They only promised “To Have and To Kill”. -To Have and To Kill, Deadly Women (S8, E14)

Fort Hood Army Soldier Gary Prokop Murdered by Wife & Friends for Military Death Benefits & Life Insurance; Tyshee Prokop Sentenced to Life in Prison (June 25, 1998) #DeadlyWomen

Disabled Veteran Targeted for Disability Benefits & Assets (1999):

ID Go: 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)

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

A Scorned Lover Weaves a Web of Lies (1999):

Full Episode: Gail Fulton, a librarian living in a Detroit suburb, was gunned down in a parking lot by a trio of Florida killers. Donna Trapani, a nurse from Pensacola, hired the three because she had been jilted by Gail’s husband. This documentary goes on the road, re-riding the death trip from the deep south. It’s a crime of passion that leaves behind a ruined family. -Red Neck Revenge, Mugshots (TruTV)

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Souls of Stone’ on Investigation Discovery: Donna Trapani Hired 3 Hitmen to Kill Lover’s Wife; Sentenced to Life, No Parole (S7, E18) #DeadlyWomen #Mugshots

When Love Leaves Town (2001):

ID Go: With hearts of stone, these Deadly Women give their men special send-offs when “Love Leaves Town.” -Love Leaves Town, Deadly Women (S10, E12)

Navy Veteran Christopher Ingraham, Jr. Fatally Shot in Maine Home While Sleeping; Live-in Girlfriend Katrina Bridges Found Guilty & Sentenced to 47 Years in Prison (January 4, 2001) #DeadlyWomen

Together They Form a Team with the Cold Power to Kill (2002):

Full Episode: The couple spent Memorial Day weekend at the beach, and then they simply vanished. Their clothes and personal items were still in the rented condo, their car was parked outside, and there were no signs of forced entry or foul play. A week later, police would get an unexpected lead from a robbery in progress, and the evidence they found helped them to solve a crime of unparalleled violence and brutality. -Dirty Little Seacret, Forensic Files (S13, E46)

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Dirty Little Seacret’: Thrill Killers Erika and Benjamin Sifrit Murdered Two Tourists in Ocean City, Maryland (May 28, 2010) #ForensicFiles #Snapped #DeadlyWomen #SinsAndSecrets #DeadlySins

Life Insurance is a Common Motive for Murder (2002):

Full Episode: An Army Major lay lifeless in his bed, shot twice at close range while sleeping next to his wife. Investigators would soon uncover an intricately planned murder plot involving sex parties, adultery and coercion. -Behind the Picket Fence, Scorned: Love Kills (S1, E1)

Army Major David Shannon Fatally Shot by Step Daughter Elizabeth While Sleeping in N.C. Home; Wife Joan Shannon Guilty of Conspiracy, Sentenced to Life, No Parole (July 23, 2002) #ScornedLoveKills #MarriedWithSecrets

Julian Falls Hard for a Much Younger Woman (2002):

Full Episode: Marriage is a lifelong commitment of love, and wedding vows. ‘To have and to hold; for better, for worse; until death do us part’. But for these monstrous wives, it was only the vow of ‘death do us part’ they upheld. -To Love and To Murder, Deadly Women (S5, E5)

Army National Guardsman Charles ‘CJ’ Lewis Fatally Shot Before Deployment to Iraq; Step-Mother Teresa Lewis Executed by the State of Virginia for Two Homicides (October 30, 2002) #DeadlyWomen #FatalVows

She Tormented Her Neighbor (2003):

Full Episode: Neighbors can be a source of friendship and community comfort. But what happens when a neighbor stops watching out for you, and starts watching you. The sinister minds of these women begin to turn sour and they begin to torment their neighbors. -Loathe Thy Neighbor, Deadly Women (S5, E2)

Shonda Walter Used a Hatchet to Kill Neighbor & WWII Vet James Sementelli; Sentenced to Death But Commuted to Life in Prison, No Parole Due to Ineffective Counsel (March 25, 2003) #DeadlyWomen

A Crazed Mother Took a Custody Battle Too Far (2004):

Full Episode: When these women were betrayed, they demanded payback. They settled their scores by wreaking “Lover’s Revenge”. -Lover’s Revenge, Deadly Women (S8, E8)

Army Veteran Gregg Whitmore and Girlfriend Karen Cummings Stabbed to Death in Home; Ex-Wife Shana Parkinson Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison (February 1, 2004) #DeadlyWomen

A Drama Queen Brings her Love Triangle to a Permanent End (2005):

ID Go: Some women like others to do their dirty work. A drama queen brings her love triangle to a permanent end; an intimate betrayal turns friends into deadly foes; and a loose woman will do anything to protect her freedom. -Murder for Me, Deadly Women (S9, E11)

Navy Reservist Paul Berkley Murdered by Wife Monique & Friends in North Carolina while Home on Leave from Middle East, SGLI was the Motive (December 18, 2005) #DeadlyWomen #Snapped #ScornedLoveKills

Cougar Seduces, Tortures and Kills Men (2006):

Preview: This cougar uses her feminine wiles to get the attention of young men, breaks them down and leaves their remains. -Master Manipulators, Deadly Women (S4, E6)

Serial Killer Sheila LaBarre Murdered Army Veteran Kenneth Countie at Epping, New Hampshire Horse Farm; LaBarre Sentenced to Life in Prison for Two Homicides (March 21, 2006) #DeadlyWomen

Two Can Keep a Secret if One of Them is Dead (2006):

Preview: Robert McClancy was found dead in his home, but was it suicide triggered from his PTSD, did his best friend who found him turn out to be the one who killed him, or was it his seemingly loving wife behind it all? -Snapped, Oxygen Media

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Hit and Run’ on Investigation Discovery: Martha Ann McClancy and Charles Kaczmarczyk Killed a Marine Vet for Cash (S11, E6) #DeadlyWomen #Dateline #Snapped

A Former Prom Queen Refuses the Feeling of Rejection (2010):

Full Episode: Kim Coleman had a lot going for her – except control of her own emotions. Her idea of loving Brian was completely possessing him. Love would never survive her suspicious mind. -Suspicious Minds, Deadly Women (S10, E8)

Air Force SSgt. Brian Spinks Stabbed to Death by Jealous Girlfriend; Kimethia Coleman Sentenced to Life, No Parole (January 17, 2010) #DeadlyWomen

Hearts of Stone (2011):

ID Go: With hearts of stone, these Deadly Women give their men special send-offs when “Love Leaves Town.” -Love Leaves Town, Deadly Women (S10, E12)

Army Veteran Samuel Wiggins Jr. Stabbed to Death by Live-In Girlfriend; Carmen Montelongo Found Guilty & Sentenced to 26 Years to Life in Prison (May 29, 2011) #Snapped #DeadlyWomen

Dumped and Dangerous (2012):

ID Go: When their love life goes sour these Deadly Women take lethal revenge. They are “Dumped and Dangerous.” -Dumped and Dangerous, Deadly Women (S11, S13)

Shannon O’Roark Murdered Estranged Husband’s Mistress Veterans Affairs Psychiatrist Dr. Irina Puscariu; Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison (2012) #DeadlyWomen

Ex-Lover Jealousy Turns Lethal (2012):

Preview: A young Navy recruit falls for a fellow officer, but becomes overwhelmed by jealousy when she learns he is friendly with the mother of his child. -Cling ‘Til Death, Deadly Women (S10, E4)

Navy Veteran Victor Saucedo Shot and Killed in Home by Ex-Girlfriend; Navy Veteran Vegas Bray Sentenced to 50 Years to Life in Prison (October 16, 2012) #DeadlyWomen

A Secret Addiction Drives a Young Woman to Kill (2014):

ID Go: A secret addiction drives a young woman to sacrifice her wheelchair bound employer; a scheming caregiver betrays the man who trusts her; and a single mother’s desire for a better life leads to a brutal dismemberment. -The Vulnerable, Deadly Women (S9, E13)

Disabled Army Veteran Richard Englander Murdered by Live-In Caregiver in New York 5 Days After Move In Date; Sara Moore Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison (February 6, 2014) #DeadlyWomen

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.

Dateline Premiered Harry Smith’s ‘Father’s Day’ on NBC: Vietnam Veteran Jim Heintz, DNA, and Amerasions Without Borders (June 17, 2018)

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

Please sign the PETITION FOR (400) AMERASIANS STILL LEFT BEHIND IN VIETNAM.

This was indeed a very touching Dateline. Vietnam veteran Jim Heintz learned inadvertently that he had a fathered a child in Vietnam. Jim’s daughter submitted a DNA sample to an ancestry registry and a few weeks later she learned she had a half-sister in Vietnam. As it would turn out, Jim did in fact have a brief affair with a Vietnamese woman who worked as a “house girl” for him. They were mostly friends and made a connection right before Jim left Vietnam, a place he vowed never to visit again. Jim didn’t hesitate to connect with his new found daughter. He had fond feelings for her mother and it was obvious that he had great respect for her. He still had pictures of her in his collection of photographs taken in Vietnam. She never told him that she fathered his child; the first time he learned of it was from his daughter. He went to Vietnam with his second wife to meet his Vietnamese daughter and her family. She had done well for herself despite facing criticism from fellow Vietnamese that she was a ‘half breed’ in her own country.

Jim’s daughter Lynn wanted to join him in the United States. It was important to her to be with the only living parent she had. Lynn’s mom passed away a few years after meeting Jim and having their daughter. Jim’s daughter was orphaned when she was seven years old. It took them a while to work out the immigration issues but eventually Jim’s daughter, her husband, and his granddaughter moved to the USA. They all are appreciating the precious time they have together. Jim’s love for his daughter and her love for him is genuine and was one of the happiest ‘Father’s Day’ endings a dad could have. Amerasians Without Borders (AWB) is a non-profit in Washington state and they assist with the reunification of US service members and children in Vietnam. They also submit DNA samples to various DNA ancestry sites to assist with the reunification process. In the course of this programming, we learned that Congress passed a law ‘American Homecoming Act’ allowing Vietnamese children fathered by American GIs to come to America legally so they can reunite with their family.

The American Homecoming Act or Amerasian Homecoming Act, was an Act of Congress giving preferential immigration status to children in Vietnam born of U.S. fathers. The American Homecoming Act was written in 1987, passed in 1988, and implemented in 1989.[1] The act increased Vietnamese Amerasian immigration to the U.S. because it allowed applicants to establish mixed race identity by appearance alone. –Wikipedia

If you or someone you know wants to find a child that may have been fathered in Vietnam, you are encouraged to contact AWB and submit a DNA sample with ancestry sites.

Editor’s Note: You can watch the full episode of Dateline for a limited time on the NBC app. Download the app and binge on the last couple years of programming.

Dateline Premiered ‘The Other Side of Paradise’ on NBC: Solving the Cold Case Homicide of Sandra Galas (June 15, 2018)

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

Keith Morrison follows a cold case for nearly 10 years, as a father in Hawaii fights to bring his daughter’s killer to justice despite one setback after another. -Dateline NBC

Sandra Galas

On June 15, 2018, Dateline premiered ‘The Other Side of Paradise’ on NBC. It’s the true crime story of Sandra Galas and her father’s quest for cold case justice. Air Force retiree Larry Mendonca’s daughter Sandra was found strangled to death in her car in the garage of her home on January 25, 2006 in ‘Ele’ele, Hawaii. The case went unsolved for years and if not for the efforts of her father Larry, the case may never have been solved. For years, Sandra’s estranged husband Darren Galas was the prime suspect. Darren had a history of domestic violence and it was rumored that he was angry Sandra was dating someone new. It wasn’t until 2012, investigators were able to pin Darren to the crime with the use of new forensic techniques, specifically touch DNA from evidence at the scene of the crime was a match to Darren Galas. In January 2018, twelve years after the murder, Darren Galas entered a no contest plea in court for a charge of first degree assault, a class B felony. The judge accepted his plea and he was found guilty. In March 2018, Galas was sentenced to a ten year open prison term for his connection to the crime, the maximum that could be imposed. Unfortunately, due to parental alienation, Sandra’s father Larry has no relationship with her two children. He claims Darren has brainwashed them to hate both their mother and her family.

Editor’s Note: You can watch the full episode of Dateline for a limited time on the NBC app. Download the app and binge on the last couple years of programming.

Darren Galas, 40 of Kalaheo was arrested for the 2006 murder of his estranged wife, Sandra Galas. -KHON2 News (2012)

A 2006 Kauai case has new witnesses and interviews. -KITV (2012)

The body of Sandra Galas was found in her garage in Eleele on Jan. 25, 2006. -KHON2 News (2018)

Kauai man Darren Galas has been sentenced in connection with his wife’s 2006 murder. -KHON2 News (2018)

Galas sentenced. -KHON2 News (2018)

48 Hours NCIS Premiered ‘The Marine’s Wife’ on CBS: Christopher Lee Strangled Erin Corwin & Disposed of Body in a Mine Shaft (June 12, 2018)

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

Tonight’s episode of “48 Hours: NCIS” takes you inside the real-life investigation of a 19-year-old Marine wife who vanished in the desert. “The Marine’s Wife” uncovers the story of Erin Corwin and her disappearance. – CBS News (June 12, 2018)

Marine Corps spouse Erin Corwin, 19, was reported missing on June 29, 2014 by her husband who was stationed at Camp Pendleton near Twentynine Palms in California. After an extensive investigation and search, Erin’s body was found in an abandoned mine shaft on August 16th, 2014. During the investigation, authorities learned that Erin was having an affair with another Marine. This Marine was identified as Christopher Lee, 29, who was arrested in Alaska after Erin’s body was recovered from the mine shaft. Christopher admitted that he killed Erin but said it was because he became angry after she confessed to molesting his daughter.

The prosecution theorized he killed her to silence her and hide the pregnancy from his wife. He tricked her into believing that he was going to propose to her and instead he approached Erin from behind and strangled her for at least five minutes with a garrote made up of two pieces of rebar and a cord. After Lee was satisfied Erin was dead, he dragged her body to a mine shaft in the desert and pushed her in head first. Christopher Lee was found guilty of first-degree murder by civilian authorities and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Editor’s Note: If you would like to watch the full episode of ‘The Marine’s Wife,’ please visit the CBS All Access website, visit the 48 Hours website, or download the 48 Hours app on your iPad. The most recent episodes are unlocked on the 48 Hours website and app. If you would like to watch past episodes on the 48 Hours app, it cost’s $4.99 a year. There’s programming dating back to 2005 on the 48 Hours app, including some classics, to feed your true crime addiction.

Investigators are searching for the beautiful, pregnant wife of a U.S. marine corporal who was last seen over a week ago. 19-year-old Erin Corwin was reportedly last seen leaving her Twentynine Palms, CA home around 7 a.m. on June 28 to go to nearby Joshua Tree National Park. Her husband of a year and a half Jonathan reported her missing the next day. Days after she disappeared, Erin’s mother Lore Heavilin found out that her daughter was about 3 months pregnant. -HLN (July 7, 2014)

An eyewitness spoke out Wednesday, describing the last time he saw the pregnant Marine wife who’s been missing for more than two weeks.Michael Beasley said he saw Erin Corwin get into a red car with another man and drive away. He added that it didn’t appear she was being forced into the car in any way.Corwin was last seen on June 28 leaving a home she shares with her husband, headed to Joshua Tree National Park. Her husband, Lance Cpl. Jonathan Corwin, reported her missing a day later when she never returned. -HLN (July 16, 2014)

According to a new search warrant affidavit released this week, homicide detectives now believe that — on the day she vanished — missing Marine wife Erin Corwin went on a day trip with a neighbor and ex-Marine whom she was romantically involved with. -HLN (July 22, 2014)

New police documents reveal Erin Corwin was having an affair with her married neighbor and told her friend the two were spending the day together when she went missing. -HLN (July 22, 2014)

Erin Corwin was last seen leaving her home on June 28, and was reportedly heading to Joshua Tree National Park. -HLN (July 22, 2014)

Following the discovery of Erin Corwin’s remains, friends and family father to honor her memory and begin healing. -WATE 6 On Your Side (September 19, 2014)

When the 19-year old wife of a Marine vanishes without a trace in the California desert, investigators launch a massive search. They soon uncover a secret love triangle and a mystery with multiple suspects. Andrea Canning reports. -Dateline NBC (December 1, 2016)

Part 1: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)

Part 2: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)

Part 3: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)

A Month in Review: In the News on Military Justice for All (March 2018)

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

Missing:
Bernard Hudalla, US Army Veteran, Minnesota (1983)
Shirley Gibbs Russell, US Marine Corps, Virginia (1989)
Richard Hudson, USMC Veteran, New Jersey (1991)
Marina M. Kissinger, US Navy, California (1995)
Disappeared: US Army Veteran Margaret Haddican-McEnroe Missing Since October 9, 2006; Husband Tim McEnroe Named as Person of Interest by the FBI
Lackland Air Force Base Nurse Nonnie Dotson Mysteriously Disappeared, Last Seen November 19th, 2006 in Littleton, Colorado While on Leave
Randy Lewis McKenzie, USMC Veteran, Arkansas (2009)
Disappeared: Army National Guard Spouse Bethany Decker Went Missing from Ashburn, Virginia in January 2011
Fort Bragg soldier reported AWOL
Police are searching for a missing Fort Bragg paratrooper
Fort Bragg Soldier Reported Missing; Truck and Cell Phone Found
Police searching for missing Fort Bragg soldier whose car, phone was found in Wal-Mart lot
The Army marked this soldier as a deserter. But he had actually died in a car crash on post.
Prosecutor: Marine recruiter is ‘person of interest’ in disappearance of recruit

Cold Cases:
Cold Case: Army Spc. Darlene Krashoc Sexually Assaulted, Murdered, and Dumped in Parking Lot in Colorado Springs; CID Offers $10,000 Reward (1987)
Cold Case: Amy Gellert Fatally Stabbed Outside Florida Home; AWOL Marine Dominic Kanuika an Alleged Suspect in the Case, $5000 Reward (1994)
Cold Case: Air Force Reservist SrA Blanca Luna Discovered Stabbed to Death in Base Lodging at Sheppard AFB in Texas (March 7, 2008)
Cold Case: Army Veteran Kanika Powell Shot Several Times at Doorway of Maryland Home, No Known Suspects At This Time (August 28, 2008)
SSG Anton Phillips, US Army, Found Stabbed to Death at FOB Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan; CID Offering $25,000 Reward for Information (December 31, 2009)
Prosecutors Reopen Investigation into Cause of Death of Disabled Army Veteran Felicia Reeves Found Hanging in a New Jersey Motel Room (August 19, 2015)

Fugitives:
Reward Offered for Armed & Dangerous Fugitive: Army Recruiter John Blauvelt Wanted for Allegedly Murdering Estranged Wife in South Carolina (2017)

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Unusual Suspects, Deadly Intent Premiered ‘Final Curtain’ on Investigation Discovery: Sam Herr & Julie Kibuishi (November 1, 2017)

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Jennifer Norris

Costa Mesa, California is beautiful place to live, but it comes at a cost. The murder of a young girl and the disappearance of a former Army solider leads investigators down a dark path into the mind of an unassuming killer. -Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent, Investigation Discovery

MJFA Links:
Daniel Wozniak Murdered Army Veteran Sam Herr and Stole $50,000 to Pay for Upcoming Wedding, Sentenced to Death in California for Two Murders (2010)

Sam Herr’s father Steve Herr found Julie Kibuishi’s lifeless body sprawled across his son’s bed. -ABC News

The Herr family believes Sam Herr, who had $62,000 saved from combat pay, may have been a victim himself. -ABC News

Daniel Wozniak, 31, stands accused of killing his neighbor and another woman while performing in a play in 2010. -ABC News

Daniel Patrick Wozniak was formally sentenced to death on Friday for using a firearm to murder his neighbor for financial gain and also murdering the victim’s friend in an effort to derail the investigation by framing the first victim. Michele Gile reports. -CBS Los Angeles

Mystery in Apartment 410 | 20/20 ABC

After several hours of interrogation, Daniel Wozniak reveals the motive and details behind Sam Herr and Julie Kibuishi’s murders. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

At trial, Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy urges jurors to impose death for Daniel Wozniak. Here are the reasons why he feels no other punishment is just. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

48 Hours” correspondent Tracy Smith on meeting Steve Herr, whose Army veteran son, Sam, disappeared in May 2010. As the search unravels a murder scene in Sam’s bedroom, his father hunts for answers — and the truth. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

Julie Kibuishi’s mother, June, and close friend, Katie Bitonio, share what they loved about the young dancer. Julie’s personality is captured as she performs and in a video she made with friends. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

Kara Kessener and Deborah Kennedy met Daniel Wozniak in a local theater production of “Nine.” They talk about his behavior the weekend of the murders. -48 Hours, Killer Performance

Daniel Wozniak was sentenced to death after this documentary was filmed on January 12th 2016.

Video Links:
College Girl Found Dead in Veteran’s Apartment [Part 1] | ABC News
College Girl Found Dead in Veteran’s Apartment [Part 2] | ABC News
Community Theater Actor on Trial for Killing Two People | ABC News
Death penalty sought against actor | Orange County Register
Costa Mesa Actor Sentenced To Death For Double Murder | CBS Los Angeles
Daniel Wozniak: “I’m crazy and I did it” | 48 Hours
Prosecutor: Wozniak deserves death | 48 Hours
Reporter’s Notebook: How a father copes | 48 Hours
Remembering Julie Kibuishi | 48 Hours
What’s it like performing with a killer? | 48 Hours
Mystery in Apartment 410 | 20/20 ABC
Facing the Death Penalty
‘Curtain Call’ | The Perfect Murder | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)
‘Final Curtain’ | Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Hit and Run’ on Investigation Discovery: Martha Ann McClancy & Charles Kaczmarczyk Killed Marine Vet Bob McClancy for Cash (October 6, 2017)

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Jennifer Norris

ID Go: Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead. These Deadly Women think they’ve committed the perfect murders when they “Hit and Run.” -Hit and Run, Deadly Women (S11, E6)

Robert ‘Bob’ McClancy, 47, and Martha Ann McClancy worked in the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department in Florida. Martha was a secretary and Bob was a detective. They fell in love later in life and Bob decided to take an early retirement from his job. The two decided to move away from the fast paced life in Florida and settled in Tellico Plains, Tennessee which is nestled in the Smoky Mountains. Bob suffered with severe stress after years of working as a detective and his time in the Marines. Bob was a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient who was also diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Bob went through some very traumatic combat experiences and was on strong medications. Bob would often take the wrong dose so Martha Ann decided it was time for her to take control.

In the meantime, Bob was grateful for his friend and fellow veteran Charles Kaczmarczyk because he understood what Bob was going through. Chuck said he had seen combat as well and was also awarded the Purple Heart. The pair had a lot in common. Over the course of time, Martha Ann quickly warmed up to Chuck, the “military hero.” Their relationship blossomed beyond a friendship over time and Bob was never aware of their ongoing affair. Martha Ann and Chuck frequently got together in Bob’s home. They fell in love and soon Bob was looking increasingly like a troubled third wheel. Martha often told Chuck things would be better if Bob went away. One night, Martha claimed to find Bob barely conscious after he had taken an accidental overdose of his medications for PTSD. When she got to the hospital, she claimed Bob was always messing up his medications.

Robert McClancy, US Marine Corps Veteran

On May 15, 2006, Chuck said he discovered Bob dead after another accidental overdose on his medications. Chuck found his friend dead in his chair with an empty pill bottle in one hand and a 38 revolver in the other hand. Chuck appeared distraught after finding his friend as did the sobbing Martha Ann after she found out. Everything pointed to a tragic suicide and Martha Ann leaned harder on her friend Chuck. Five months later, Martha and Chuck got married and embarked on a new life with a whole new look. They didn’t even look like the same people when they started their new careers as fraudsters. Martha Ann took on the role of a veteran pretending to be a Purple Heart recipient and claimed she earned it after the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. And Chuck doesn’t have PTSD, he was faking it for the veteran benefits. Chuck had been in the military but he never saw a day of combat.

Martha Ann and Chuck both faked permanent injuries and had this whole scam going at the Department of Veterans Affairs. They used a wheelchair or a cane to make it appear they had physical injuries as well. Over six years, the two defrauded the federal government of nearly $800,000 dollars until Chuck told one war story too many. Other veterans came forward and said he was lying because what he was describing was not what happened as they were there. Martha Ann and Charles both ended up behind bars and their criminal history was over. And then one day, Martha Ann’s son made a surprise discovery on her computer. Martha Ann’s son found pictures of his step-father, Bob, dead in a chair. In each picture, Bob was in a different position. There were pictures of Bob with the gun in his hand, then there were pictures of Bob without the gun in his hand.

Martha Ann’s son knew the photos would implicate his mother in the murder of his step-father Bob but he loved Bob and didn’t hesitate to contact authorities. Martha Ann’s son cooperated with the police fully in a sting operation to nail his mother. Martha Ann asked him to get rid of all the photos. The police knew where to find the person who took the pictures because Chuck was spending 30 months in jail for his part in the disability fraud. Chuck immediately wanted to know what was in it for him so the police agreed to tell the district attorney that Chuck cooperated with them in the investigation. Chuck confessed that Martha Ann had crushed up Bob’s pills and put them in his drink and then confessed to the entire twisted tail. Martha called the crushed pills her “magic dust.”

The police would learn that Martha Ann crushed up the medication and put it in Bob’s drinks in an effort to slowly kill him. And on May 15, 2006, Martha gave Bob a lethal dose of “magic dust” and then went to work to create her alibi. Chuck was supposed to check in on Bob later that afternoon and it was his job to pretend to find him dead. Martha Ann was sure Bob would be dead by then. But when Chuck arrived to check in on Bob, he was laying on the floor and wasn’t dead yet. So Chuck lifted him up, placed him in the chair, and fed him more of the crushed pills. Then Chuck sat there and waited until he died. Martha Ann told Chuck to keep it simple and make it look like a suicide. But Chuck went overboard, placed a gun in his hand, and took pictures of Bob in various positions. Martha wanted to see the pictures.

Despite Chuck’s confession, Martha Ann claimed Bob took the wrong medication and she had nothing to do with it. She never admitted to any involvement whatsoever. The detectives said she was one of the coldest people they had ever interviewed. In 2013, Charles Kaczmarczyk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree murder and was sentenced to twenty-five (25) years in federal prison. Nine years after her husband’s death, Martha Ann McClancy was convicted of attempted first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. She was sentenced to the maximum of fifty years in prison and is eligible for parole in 2028. Those involved with the investigation claimed Martha Ann never showed an ounce of regret or remorse or guilt for what she did to her husband.

Source: ‘Hit and Run’ Deadly Women

Dateline:

The death of a beloved Tennessee man is believed to be a suicide. But when a son questions his mother, he uncovers a dark family conspiracy. Keith Morrison reports. -Secrets in the Smoky Mountains, Dateline NBC

Oxygen:

Robert McClancy was found dead in his home, but was it suicide triggered from his PTSD, did his best friend who found him turn out to be the one who killed him, or was it his seemingly loving wife behind it all? -Martha Ann McClancy, Snapped (S21, E2)

Dateline Premiered ‘The Intruder’ on NBC: Army Veteran Gregory Owens Convicted of the Attempted Murder of Wife Rachel in Maine (June 2, 2017)

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Jennifer Norris

Preview: When shots ring out at a home in Saco, Maine, Rachel Owens is found shot in the head. Police launch a complex investigation that involves three states, all holding pieces to the puzzle. -The Intruder, Dateline NBC

On December 18, 2014, an intruder wearing a ski mask broke into a Saco, Maine home, went straight upstairs and shot Rachel Owens three times, once in the head. Rachel was still alive when paramedics arrived and she was quickly transported to the hospital. Initially, police suspected this was a home invasion and a shooter was still at large. They needed to inform Rachel’s husband Gregg Owens, who was a decorated veteran from the first Iraq war and a military contractor. The police contacted Gregg Owens in New Hampshire to inform him of what had occurred. Gregg didn’t appear to take the news well and was eager to get to his wife, but first the police wanted to question him. According to Gregg, Rachel was visiting their friends in Maine. He said she had been struggling with her health and needed a getaway. Gregg admitted to police that he worked in counter terrorism and was involved with sensitive security issues. He wondered if his job lead to his wife’s shooting. When the police asked Gregg where he was during the time of the shooting, he said he was at his house all night working on the computer. He also left his home a couple times to go to the store.

Rachel Owens was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a few days before she stabilized. She had a long road to recovery but she made it despite a bullet that remains in her head. Rachel said she was sleeping when the shooting started and doesn’t remember anything except a “Jamaican hat.” Police had few clues but they did have a footprint outside a window, a hair caught in between two glasses of a window pane, and some bullet casings. After combing the home for forensic evidence, the police theorized this was a targeted shooting and Rachel Owens was the intended victim. They weren’t sure what had happened and then they got a tip from a woman named Betsy in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin. This woman claimed she met Gregg Owens on a flight. They stayed in touch as friends for three years and then when Betsy got divorced, Gregg and Betsy started an intense love affair. Gregg told Betsy he was married and stayed in the marriage because his wife’s health was failing. Meanwhile, Gregg and Betsy dated for five years and Gregg even helped Betsy start her own business called Warrior Princess. Then Betsy discovered that her boyfriend Gregg lied to her when he told her he was going to Afghanistan. Gregg butt dialed her and she learned he wasn’t in Afghanistan, he was with his wife Rachel. Betsy called Gregg and confronted him but he denied it.

Betsy didn’t believe Gregg and told him she was done unless he got a divorce. She said Gregg didn’t take the news well and kept calling her insisting he was going to leave his wife. Once Betsy learned that Gregg’s wife was shot, she called him because she was concerned about him. He told Betsy that he believed someone was targeting people he loved. Greg asked Betsy to “go dark” meaning don’t talk to anyone because they were both “in danger.” Betsy was skeptical but wanted to be safe so she contacted her local police. The investigators in Wisconsin called investigators in Maine because they thought it was important they know that Gregg Owens had been living a double life. And after this revelation, it became clear to federal investigators that Betsy was the motive for the attempted murder. When Rachel and Gregg were due to leave the hospital together and go home, the police arrested Gregg because they were fearful he would finish her off. Gregg Owens was charged in federal court for crossing state lines to commit domestic violence. While imprisoned for his wife’s attempted murder, Gregg reached out to Betsy in the hopes they could continue their relationship after he got out of jail. Gregg professed his undying love for her and told her she was the one. Betsy didn’t believe him and knew that he was playing on her emotions, again.

About a year after the shooting, the court proceedings for Gregg Owens began. In a search of Gregg’s house, the police found a ski mask and bullets that matched the casings at the scene. The DNA recovered from the crime scene was also a match to Gregg. Prosecutors theorized that after Betsy learned the truth about Gregg’s marriage and gave him an ultimatum, Gregg decided he needed out of his marriage to Rachel. The defense illustrated to the courts that there was no identification of Gregg, Gregg’s e-mails appeared to be sent during the time in question, investigators never recovered the gun, and police also couldn’t put Gregg on the highway from New Hampshire to Maine. The defense said Gregg couldn’t have committed the crime and arrived back to Dunkin Donuts in New Hampshire when he did. The DNA was also explained away because Gregg had been to the home before. As it turns out, investigators discovered Gregg tampered with his computer time stamp so he could use it as part of his alibi. The jury wasn’t buying any of it and Gregg Owens was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Today, Betsy admits she feels embarrassed that she was connected to Gregg in any way considering her business was created to empower women. Rachel lives with her son and his family. And Gregg is sitting in federal prison appealing his conviction.

Source: ‘The Intruder’ Dateline NBC

In the News:

Police from New Hampshire and Maine are investigating a violent home invasion in a quiet Saco, Maine, neighborhood. -WMUR TV (December 18, 2014)

Police responded early Thursday morning to a home invasion on Hillview Avenue. -WMTW TV (December 18, 2014)

Rachel Owens and Steven Chabot were shot multiple times during a home invasion as Chabot’s Saco home. -WMTW TV (December 19, 2014)

Police have secured the home of a Londonderry woman who was shot and injured in Maine on Thursday. -WMUR TV (December 19, 2014)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says it has made an arrest in connection with a home invasion and shooting in Saco last month. -WMTW TV (January 12, 2015)

A Londonderry man accused of shooting his wife in Maine feigned a heart attack when he was told his wife had been shot, according to court documents. -WMUR TV (January 15, 2015)

A Londonderry man was found guilty on charges connected to a home-invasion shooting in Saco, Maine, on Dec. 18, 2014. -WMUR TV (February 16, 2016)

Owens was found guilty of interstate domestic violence for a violent home invasion in Saco back in 2014. -WMTW TV (February 16, 2016)

An Army veteran convicted of trying to kill his wife and another person in Maine will spend the rest of his life in prison. -WMUR TV (July 12, 2016)

WMTW’s Katie Thompson reports live from Portland with reaction from Owens’ former wife and son about the judge’s ruling on a life sentence. -WMTW TV (July 12, 2016)

At Second Trial, Former Army National Guard JAG Officer & State Prosecutor Curtis Lovelace Found Not Guilty of First Degree Murder of First Wife Cory (March 10, 2017)

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Jennifer Norris

Curtis Lovelace, Illinois Army National Guard

Crime Watch Daily [Video]:
Former Prosecutor Accused Of Wife’s Murder – Crime Watch Daily (Pt 1)
Former Prosecutor Accused Of Wife’s Murder – Crime Watch Daily (Pt 2)
Former Prosecutor Accused Of Wife’s Murder – Crime Watch Daily (Pt 3)
Former Prosecutor Accused Of Wife’s Murder – Crime Watch Daily (Pt 4)
Former Prosecutor Accused of Killing Wife: Mistrial Leads to Retrial – Pt. 1
Former Prosecutor Accused of Killing Wife: Mistrial Leads to Retrial – Pt. 2
Former Prosecutor Accused of Killing Wife: Mistrial Leads to Retrial – Pt. 3
Could Curtis Lovelace Finally Be Set Free? – Crime Watch Daily

48 Hours [Video]:
“48 Hours” preview: Death on Valentine’s Day
“48 Hours” probes young mom’s Valentine’s Day death
What did the children see? 48 Hours Preview of Curtis Lovelace murder trial
Journalist tipped on arrest of former Quincy prosecutor Curtis Lovelace
Community reacts to arrest of small town’s “golden boy”
Curtis Lovelace on the shock of being arrested for his wife’s murder
Christine Lovelace on coping while husband is in jail
Lyndsay Lovelace on life before her mother’s death
Jurors discuss differences in Lovelace investigations
Pathology testimony an issue for some Lovelace jurors
Maher to jurors: Would Curtis Lovelace have been convicted in 2006?
Christine Lovelace on hearing the jury’s decision
Curtis and Christine Lovelace: “We’re starting over”
“48 Hours” investigates fmr. prosecutor charged in wife’s 2006 death
Former Illinois prosecutor tried twice for wife’s murder speaks out on “48 Hours”

Dateline [Video]:
Dateline Episode Trailer: Mystery on the Mississippi | Dateline NBC

Curtis Lovelace was a college football star and later a prominent attorney, and then one Valentine’s Day morning his wife, Cory, died mysteriously. The case was closed, but now 11 years later, Lovelace is on trial for her murder — again. “48 Hours” correspondent Maureen Maher joins “CBS This Morning” with a preview of her report.

Marine Vet Michael Peterson Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter of Wife Kathleen to Avoid 2nd Trial; Agreed to Alford Plea, Released with Time Served (Feb. 24, 2017)

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Jennifer Norris

Michael Peterson, USMC Veteran

Elizabeth Ratliff (November 25, 1985)

Kathleen Hunt Peterson (December 9, 2001)

Michael Iver Peterson (born October 23, 1943) is an American novelist who was convicted in 2003 of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. On December 15, 2011, Peterson was granted a new trial [1] which was scheduled to begin on May 8, 2017. [2] On February 7, 2017, a newspaper reported an imminent plea bargain. [3] On February 24, 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to time already served and freed, although he is now a felon. [4]

Learn more from wikipedia here.

With the knowledge of the criminal evidence against him, Aphrodite Jones speaks with convicted murderer, Michael Peterson, about the murder of his wife and his bisexual affair. -True Crime with Aphrodite Jones

Michael Peterson accepts plea deal, walks free. -CBS 17

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

No affiliation with the Department of Defense or any of the Armed Forces.

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