Netflix Premiered ‘The Staircase’: A Docuseries Examining Marine Veteran Michael Peterson’s Durham, North Carolina Murder Trial (June 8, 2018)

On December 9th, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. Did he do it? -The Staircase | Netflix

Season 1:

1. Crime or Accident? Following his wife’s suspicious death, Michael Peterson speaks about his version of the events while lawyers and expert witnesses prepare for trial.
2. Secrets and Lies: As Michael’s hidden life comes out into the open, defense experts debate if it will have a significant impact on the coming trial.
3. A Striking Coincidence: The defense team is shaken when a suspicious event from the past comes to light. Later, the team visits Michael’s first wife in Germany.
4. A Proseuction Trickery: As the trial looms and media attention heats up, an autopsy report’s wording ruffles the feathers of the defense team.
5. A Weak Case: The prosecution presents its case while the defense strives to cast a reasonable doubt within the minds of the jury.
6. The Prosecution’s Revenge: A witness brings surprising levity to the stand, the judge rules on an important matter, and Michael’s alleged temper comes under scrutiny.
7. The Blow Poke Returns: Kathleen’s sisters pore over Michael’s writings. Jurors visit the staircase at Michael’s home. A vital piece of evidence reappears.
8. The Verdict: Is Michael Peterson guilty or not guilty? The jury delivers its verdict regarding the mysterious death of his wife, Kathleen.
9. Reopening the Case: Eight years later, the possibility that a key witness for the prosecution may have misled the jury could prompt the need for a new trial.
10. The Last Chance: After more experts testify about the questionable conclusions and claims of Duane Deaver, the judge rules on whether a new trial is necessary.
11. Looking for Closure: Following two and a half years of house arrest, Michael must decide whether to push for a plea or risk his freedom with a new trial.
12. Between Anger and Despair: Their faith in the justice system forever shaken, Michael and his family discuss what they can hope to achieve by continuing the fight.
13. Flawed Justice: Michael speaks to a reporter about the reasons behind his plea. Later, Kathleen’s sister delivers a statement of defiance in court.

Source: The Staircase, Netflix

Continue reading “Netflix Premiered ‘The Staircase’: A Docuseries Examining Marine Veteran Michael Peterson’s Durham, North Carolina Murder Trial (June 8, 2018)”

48 Hours NCIS Premiered ‘A Date With Evil’ on CBS: Everything You Need to Know About the Brittney Killgore Rape & Murder Case (June 5, 2018)

The search for a young missing military wife takes NCIS agents into the dark world of master and slave role playing where they uncover the dual life of a Marine sergeant. -A Date with Evil, 48 Hours NCIS

Tonight’s episode of “48 Hours: NCIS” takes you inside the real-life investigation into a missing Marine wife. “A Date with Evil” follows an agent as he pursues the truth behind her disappearance. -48 Hours NCIS

Image: Brittany Dawn Killgore
Brittany Kilgore

Brittany Killgore, a civilian married to a man serving in the US Marine Corps, was initially reported missing on April 14, 2012 but was later found dead near Lake Skinner in California in 2012. Her husband was deployed at the time she went missing. They were stationed at Camp Pendleton and Brittany was in the process of getting a divorce and moving out of her home. On her last night at Camp Pendleton, another Marine named Sgt Louis Perez, offered to not only help her move but asked her to go out one last time before she left. Brittany was acquaintances with Perez, his live in girlfriend Dorothy Maraglino, and another woman named Jessica Lopez, who also lived at the residence of Maraglino.

After a lengthy investigation by civilian police in San Diego, it was determined that Louis Perez lured Brittany and eventually took her to his home where he and his girlfriend (Maraglino) lived. Perez, Maraglino, and Jessica Lopez all engaged in what is referred to as BDSM and they decided that Brittany would join them whether she wanted to or not. In the course of sexually abusing and torturing Brittany, Louis Perez strangled her to death. Maraglino and Perez decided that Jessica Lopez needed to take the fall for her death and they coerced Jessica into not only admitting to the murder but also to take her own life. She was found near death in a hotel room after a failed suicide attempt. In 2015, Perez, Maraglino, and Lopez were all sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

MJFA Link: Marine Corps Spouse Brittany Killgore Held Captive, Tortured, Raped, and Murdered After Refusing Sex; 3 BDSM Cult Members Sentenced to Life (April 14, 2012)

Editor’s Note: If you would like to watch the full episode of ‘A Date with Evil,’ please visit the CBS All Access website, visit the 48 Hours website, or download the 48 Hours app for 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.  

Sheriff’s detectives determining if body found near Lake Skinner east of Temecula is that of missing Brittany Dawn Killgore. -The Press-Enterprise (August 17, 2012)

A friend of a military wife whose body was found near Lake Skinner in southwest Riverside County last year testified Monday that the victim texted the word “help” soon after leaving on a dinner cruise with a Marine sergeant, who is charged with murdering the 22-year-old woman. -ABC 10 News (March 11, 2013)

Testimony detailing bondage, abduction and comments about “getting rid of people” was heard during a hearing for three people accused of killing a Marine wife. -ABC 10 News (March 12, 2013)

A Camp Pendleton Marine and two women were ordered Monday to stand trial on murder, torture and other charges stemming from in the death of a military wife from Fallbrook, who authorities say was killed after being kidnapped and forced to participate in a bondage and sadomasochistic sex ring. -ABC 10 News (March 18, 2013)

Dorothy Maraglino requested that charges be dropped in the death of Brittany Killgore. -ABC 10 News (May 4, 2015)

Her three accused killers are scheduled to stand trial for Brittany Killgore’s murder next month. -ABC 10 News (August 13, 2015)

Opening statements are scheduled Monday in the trial of three people accused in the torture-murder of a 22-year-old Fallbrook woman — the estranged wife of a U.S. Marine — who investigators said was the victim of a sex and bondage game that turned deadly. -ABC 10 News (September 14, 2015)

A jury convicted a trio in the murder of military wife, Brittany Killgore. -ABC 10 News (October 21, 2015)

Three people who were part of a so-called “master-slave sex cult” were convicted of torturing and murdering Brittany Killgore, according to reports. -Inside Edition (October 22, 2015)

Two of three people convicted of murdering a 22-year-old military wife from Fallbrook were sentenced on November 19, 2015. The third will be sentenced at a later date. The jury found Louis Ray Perez, Dorothy Maraglino and Jessica Lynn Lopez guilty of 1st degree murder in the April 13, 2012, death of Brittany Killgore. The defendants were also found guilty of the special circumstance of kidnapping Killgore. -Law and Crime Network (November 19, 2015)

Sentencing for Jessica Lopez in Killgore murder trial. -Law and Crime Network (January 8, 2016)

When the battered corpse of a young woman turns up on the outskirts of Fallbrook, California, detectives unravel a secret world where dominance, sadomasochism, and manipulation reign. -Murder Among Friends, Investigation Discovery (June 8, 2016)

Brittany Killgore’s mother’s first thought is always, “Brittany should have been here. Watch episodes of In Ice Cold Blood, only on Oxygen. -Oxygen Media (April 12, 2018)

Related Links:
Timeline: Brittany Killgore Case
NBC Details about Marine Wife
Detectives: Marine wife Brittany Killgore died during sexual attack
Did fantasy become reality in S&M murder case?
3 conspired to commit thrill killing, DA says
Marine Convicted of Sex Dungeon Murder
Final defendant in murder of Marine wife is sentenced to two life terms
Life Sentences in 2012 Torture, Slaying of Marine Wife
Woman in sadomasochist sex ring sentenced for death of Marine wife Brittany Killgore
California man and woman get life in torture murder of Marine’s wife
Dorothy Maraglino: Sex Dungeon, Masters, Slaves Topic in ID’s ‘Murder Among Friends’ in Case of Louis Perez and Jessica Lopez

Video Links:
TEMECULA: Body Found Near Lake Skinner
Friend testifies Marine wife Brittany Killgore texted ‘help’ after dinner cruise with Louis Perez
Abduction fantasy revealed during Killgore murder hearing
Suspects accused in death of Brittany Killgore ordered to stand trial
Dismissal of charges denied for suspect in sex-torture murder case
Graphic autopsy reveals Brittany Killgore strangled, dismembered
Killgore murder-torture trial underway Monday
Parents of murder victim share grief
3 Sex Cult Members Convicted of Murdering Marine’s Wife for ‘Sadistic Pleasure’
Sex Cult Sentencing: Marine Wife Murder
Jessica Lynn Lopez Sentencing 01/08/16
Dungeons and Dying | Murder Among Friends | Investigation Discovery
In Ice Cold Blood: Bonus Clip – Michelle Wrest (Season 1, Episode 3) | Oxygen
“48 Hours: NCIS”: Inside the investigation into a missing Marine wife
“48 Hours: NCIS” sneak peek: A Date with Evil
The search for a missing military wife takes NCIS agents into a dark world | by Military Times
Sex cult murder: sadomasochists convicted for killing Marine wife who refused rough sex

Scene of the Crime w/ Tony Harris Premiered ‘Down by the River’ on ID: Retired Army Pilot Robert Lee Yates is the Monster in Spokane (June 3, 2018)

Tony Harris pieces together the 1990 case of three prostitutes killed in Spokane, Washington, and discovers a pattern of murders connected by twenty-two caliber bullets, a killing spree that shocked a city and a suspect with a stunning new identity. -Down by the River, Scene of the Crime with Tony Harris (S2,E1)

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:
The Spokane Murders | TIME
Death Sentence Upheld for Spokane Serial Killer
Social worker who served Yates’ victims supports end of death penalty
Robert Lee Yates | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
Retired Army National Guard Pilot & Serial Killer Robert Lee Yates, Jr. Convicted of 2 More Murders of Women in Washington (September 19, 2002)
Unusual Suspects Premiered ‘Monster in Spokane’ on ID: Serial Killer in Washington is Retired National Guard Pilot Robert Lee Yates, Jr. (July 19, 2010)
American Monster Premiered ‘Family Snapshot’ on ID: Bob Yates’ Family Shocked Military Hero Father & Spouse is a Serial Killer (July 16, 2017)
Washington State Supreme Court Outlawed Death Penalty; Serial Killer Robert Yates’ Death Sentence Converted To Life in Prison (October 11, 2018)
Down by the River | Scene of the Crime w/ Tony Harris | Investigation Discovery (S2,E1)
Down by the River | Scene of the Crime w/ Tony Harris | Investigation Discovery (website)
Down by the River | Scene of the Crime w/ Tony Harris | Investigation Discovery (Prime Video)
Spokane serial killer Robert Lee Yates murdered at least 13 people – Tony Harris recounts the investigation

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

May 2018

Missing:
Family pleads for missing soldier battling PTSD to come home
Vets group calls for ‘CAMO Alert’
What really happened to Middlebrook’s Sgt. Gene Shultz?
Missing: Michael VanZandt (Hermosa Beach Police Department – 310-318-0308)
Missing in Hermosa Beach: What happened to Mike VanZandt?
He Left to Go to the Bathroom and Never Came Back: Where is Michael Vanzandt?
Missing: Trevor Nichols (US Army), New York
Soldier receives orders to Fort Riley, goes AWOL
Disappeared: Air Force Veteran Michael Vanzandt Vanishes During a Night Out with Friends in Hermosa Beach, California (March 5, 2016)
Jean-Marc Faubert has been missing since the early morning of Friday, May 25th

Cold Cases:
Georgia Marine’s murder in Belize remains unsolved one year later
No arrests made 3 years after soldier’s murder
New Hampshire unsolved case file: David and Deborah Carreau
Warwick murder case still unsolved, reward offered 5 years later
Cold Case: Army Spc. Darlene Krashoc Sexually Assaulted, Murdered, and Dumped in Parking Lot in Colorado Springs; CID Offers $10,000 Reward (1987)

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

Petitions:
Presidential Pardon Petition | Free Lt. Clint Lorance
Fire Iron River, Michigan City Manager David Thayer For Firing Police Chief Laura Frizzo!

Continue reading “A Month in Review: In the News on Military Justice for All (May 2018)”

Investigation Discovery Premiered ‘Dead North’: The True Crime Story of Christopher Regan and Kelly & Jason Cochran (May 28, 2018)

When Christopher Regan goes missing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, police chief Laura Frizzo is in a race against time to find him. -Winter is Coming – Part 1, Dead North, Investigation Discovery

In the case of missing man Christopher Regan, Chief Laura Frizzo is hot in pursuit of two suspects. Chris’ lover Kelly Cochran and her husband Jason. -Winter is Coming – Part 2, Dead North, Investigation Discovery

After their house is searched, Kelly and Jason Cochran, the top suspects in Chris Regan’s disappearance, skip town. A few months later, one of them is murdered. -Spring Thaw – Part 1, Dead North, Investigation Discovery

Jason Cochran one of the top suspects in the Chris Regan disappearance is dead. Police Chief Laura Frizzo is on a mission to arrest his wife Kelly Cochran for the murder of Chris Regan. -Spring Thaw – Part 2, Dead North, Investigation Discovery

Related Links:
Winter is Coming – Part 1 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (website)
Winter is Coming – Part 1 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)
Winter is Coming – Part 2 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (website)
Winter is Coming – Part 2 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)
Spring Thaw – Part 1 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (website)
Spring Thaw – Part 1 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)
Spring Thaw – Part 2 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (website)
Spring Thaw – Part 2 | Dead North | Investigation Discovery (YouTube)
Suspected Female Serial Killer Pursued In Investigation Discovery Special, Dead North
Meet Kelly Cochran: Convicted Serial Killer Who May Have Served Boyfriend As BBQ
Did an Alleged Serial Killer Cook Her Lover’s Remains and Serve Them for Dinner?
Woman Murders Husband After He Forces Her To Kill Her Lover As Part Of Bizarre Marriage Pact

Snapped Notorious Premiered ‘Prescription for Death’ on Oxygen: Kristen Gilbert Serving Life in Prison for Murdering Four VA Patients in Massachusetts (May 13, 2018)

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)

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

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

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

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

Web of Lies Premiered ‘Control Alt Delete’ on ID: Kwang Chol Joy Serving Life Sentence for the Murder of Army Veteran Maribel Ramos (April 24, 2018)

ID Go: Maribel Ramos is a US army veteran with a complicated love life. When she arranges to meet an online date, she disappears, leaving family and friends desperate for news. Detectives are left to uncover a twisted tale of jealousy and rage. -Control Alt Delete, Web of Lies (S5, E6)

Date: May 2, 2013
Victim: Maribel Ramos, 33, Army veteran, college student
Offender: Kwang Chol “K.C.” Joy, 53, software engineer, unemployed
Location: Santa Ana, California
Circumstances: Maribel was close with her family, she was positive, caring, loving, supportive and encouraging, Maribel was a Sergeant in the Army, she was in supply and logistics, she wanted to be the female that set the example, she did approximately 160 missions overseas, Maribel had PTSD, one of her fellow comrades lost his life on a mission, she had survivor’s guilt, after 8 years, Maribel left the Army and moved in with her boyfriend, being around people bothered her but she was set on a career in law enforcement, Maribel & her boyfriend broke up, she didn’t feel he was supportive, he was heartbroken, she pursued a degree in criminal justice because she wanted to be a police officer, she took her studies seriously, one month into her studies, her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, Maribel stepped up to help her mom, 3 months after her diagnosis, Maribel’s mom died in hospice, Maribel was destroyed, it was a huge loss for the family, Maribel regrouped and bounced back, she continued her schooling so she could get her degree, she joined the student veterans association on campus at California State University Fullerton, she addressed her issues and became a veteran advocate, a student in her veterans group started stalking her, he was obsessed with her, she was not interested and he scared her, 3 years after her mom passed, Maribel grew tired of living alone and went on-line looking for a roommate, KC Joy moved in, they were very comfortable together and became great friends and roommates, Maribel was not interested in KC romantically, Maribel wanted to find love and started dating again, she went on Plenty of Fish, meanwhile Maribel’s roommate was a big hit with Maribel’s family, Maribel met Paul, after dating for a month, he started hanging out with the family, he made Maribel laugh but she had doubts about the relationship, he wasn’t that serious about making a commitment, Maribel went back on line looking for love, she met a new guy, a photographer, but Maribel’s ex-boyfriend Chris never gave up, Maribel and KC shared their apartment for 18 months when KC reported to her family that she was missing, he then called the authorities, no one had heard from Maribel, her phone was going straight to voicemail, police receive multiple phone calls from Maribel’s family and friends, she was missing, she didn’t just get up and go, the police went to her apartment to investigate, there were no signs of struggle, or a break in, but her cellphone, keys and ID were missing, KC appeared to be very worried about Maribel, the police asked KC to go back to the police department, he was cooperative, very concerned for Maribel, and he said she must have gone out on a date and didn’t return, that was his concern, the family began an active campaign to look for Maribel, the police started investigating the last people she was with, she was supposed to speak at an event and she missed it, now the police were concerned that she ran into some foul play, the first 48 hours are crucial in any investigation, they needed to act quickly but they found no trace of Maribel’s movements, there was no activity in Maribel’s life, they checked in with her ex-boyfriend Paul, he was on their radar immediately because he was the last person to speak with Maribel, he cooperated with the police and his alibi checked out, the family had an awareness walk looking for more information because they knew Maribel was in trouble, the police looked at video surveillance from the apartment complex, they saw Maribel paying her rent and then was never heard from again, someone from the student vets association called police to tell them about Raymond (the guy stalking her) but they learned he moved back to Japan and wasn’t in the US at the time of her disappearance, analysis of Maribel’s computer lead them to the photographer but he too had an alibi, they went back to roommate KC Joy, he came off as a very concerned friend, they noticed some scratches on his arms, he said he got them in a park after stumbling, the police didn’t believe him, they put him under 24 hour surveillance, they followed him to the public library where he used a public computer, detectives set up a sting across the street from the library, when he went on line, the police used special software to secretly monitor his computer activity, KC Joy was a suspect after this sting, they realized he killed her and dumped her body, he googled ‘how long does it take for a human body to decay,’ he observed Maribel’s facebook page and pulled up the location of where the awareness walk was, he then zoomed in on a remote canyon and the authorities believed KC showed them where the body was (Modjeska Canyon, California), police searched the area and within an hour reported that they found Maribel, she was buried under some small rocks, her body was badly decomposed, forensic testing confirmed it was Maribel, police were never able to determine the cause of death, but circumstantial evidence pointed to KC Joy, the detectives gave KC one last chance to come clean but they don’t let him know they found the body, he pointed to Maribel’s ex-boyfriends again and continued to deny knowing where Maribel was, he got up, walked out, and the police arrested him, but no one knows how KC killed Maribel, authorities theorized by August 2012, KC Joy had grown intense feelings for Maribel, he was obsessed, he even spent $12,000 on cosmetic surgery to make himself look younger, he was wildly jealous of Maribel’s boyfriends, by April 2013, his life was falling apart, KC Joy lost his job and told Maribel he couldn’t pay the rent, she told him if you can’t pay your rent, you have to move out, on the day Maribel disappeared, tensions were thick and they were arguing about the rent, KC Joy didn’t want to move out, Maribel wanted him to move out, she locked herself in her room and called Paul, that same night KC Joy sneaked in her room and killed her, he most likely suffocated her and then dumped her body in a remote location, if I can’t have her, no one can have her
Disposition: KC Joy was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison

Source: Control Alt Delete, Web of Lies

Maribel Ramos
Maribel Ramos, U.S. Army veteran

Investigation Discovery:

ID Go: In California, a woman disappears without a trace. Police suspect her roommate knows more than he claims, but without any hard evidence they become locked in a vicious game of cat and mouse. Aphrodite Jones uncovers a tale of fatal obsession and murder. -Virtual Drive-By, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (S5, E9)

Podcasts:

On this week’s episode, a soldier goes missing but is it a kidnapping or murder? -Maribel Ramos, Queens of Crime

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:
Control Alt Delete | Web of Lies | Investigation Discovery (S5, E6)
Control Alt Delete | Web of Lies | Investigation Discovery (website)
Control Alt Delete | Web of Lies | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Virtual Drive-By | True Crime with Aphrodite Jones | Investigation Discovery (S5, E9)
Virtual Drive-By | True Crime with Aphrodite Jone | Investigation Discovery (website)
Virtual Drive-By | True Crime with Aphrodite Jone | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Queens of Crime podcast 041: Maribel Ramos
Maribel Ramos Missing
Friends and family hold vigil for missing Maribel Ramos
Maribel Ramos’ death declared homicide
Autopsy confirms body found is that of missing California veteran
Funeral held for slain army veteran Maribel Ramos
Roommate arrested for murder of Orange County student
Roommate Arrested In Mysterious Death Of OC Woman He Called ‘The Only Family I Had’
Arrest Made In Killing Of Southern California Army Veteran (Video)
Crimetracker: Suspect in murder of LA woman has ties to Knoxville
Ex-roommate suspected in death of missing Army veteran in Calif.
Accused killer posted on Yelp about victim’s disappearance
Roommate of Maribel Ramos remains jailed, scheduled for Tuesday court appearance
Man Accused Of Murdering Roommate Speaks Out From Jail
Maribel Ramos Murder Suspect Makes First Court Appearance
Roommate charged with murder raised suspicions online after writing posts about missing woman in the past tense before her body was found hidden in bushes
Maribel Ramos murder: Prosecutors shed light on case in suspect’s 1st court appearance
Maribel Ramos murder: Prosecutors shed light on case in suspect’s 1st court appearance
Prosecutors: New Evidence Against Suspect In Murder Of Roommate, An Iraq War Vet
Prosecutor: Suspect Researching Body Decomposition at Library Led Detectives to Body
Online search cracked missing woman case, prosecutors said
Accused Killer Was in Love With Slain Roommate: Prosecutors
Suspicious Behavior Doesn’t Mean Someone’s a Killer, Murder Suspect’s Lawyer Says
Kwang Chol “K.C.” Joy Dumped Maribel Manriquez Ramos’ Body, Agree DA and Defense
Man found guilty of murdering Army veteran, burying her body in canyon
Orange County man convicted of killing roommate
SoCal Army Vet’s Roommate Convicted of Her Murder
Southern California man convicted of killing ex-roommate Army veteran Maribel Ramos
Roommate Found Guilty of 2nd-Degree Murder in Death of Maribel Ramos
Man convicted of killing Army veteran roommate faces 15-year sentence
KC Joy gets 15 years to life in prison for Maribel Ramos murder
OC man gets 15 to life for killing Iraq War vet
SoCal Man Gets 15 Years to Life in Murder of Army Vet Roommate
Maribel Ramos’ Killer Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison, Says He Cared for Victim ‘More Than Anyone’
Did a Murderer Just Give Himself Away on Yelp?
True Crime with Aphrodite Jones: Did Unrequited Love Lead to Maribel Ramos’ Disappearance | Crime Feed
Maribel Ramos was murdered by roommate K.C. Joy – Web of Lies
In Lovely Memory of Maribel Ramos

Military Judge Sentenced Air Force A1C Timothy Wilsey to Life in Prison, Possibility of Parole for the Strangulation Death of Colleague A1C Rhianda Dillard (April 11, 2018)

Air Force A1C Rhianda Dillard, 20, was found dead in her dorm room at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska on August 1, 2016. A1C Timothy Wilsey, 21, disappeared after the murder and was arrested eleven days later in Emporia, Virginia on desertion and murder charges. Timothy Wilsey was charged with pre-meditated murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). A1C Dillard was from Biloxi, Mississippi and had only been in the Air Force for five months before she was murdered. She was a cyber systems operation specialist assigned to the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron. On August 4, 2018, AP reported that Wilsey’s court martial was scheduled for trial at Omaha’s federal courthouse. If found guilty of the federal charges, Wilsey risked a life sentence without parole. “Court-martial proceedings were moved off the base to a federal courthouse to make room for the public.” Wilsey pleaded guilty to a single count of premeditated murder and one count of deserting his unit. On April 11, 2018, a military judge sentenced Timothy Wilsey to life in prison with no possibility of parole but because of a pretrial agreement with his command (26th Air Force) Wilsey will be eligible for parole in the future. “Wilsey also received a reprimand and reduction to the lowest enlisted rank, forfeits all future pay and allowances, and is to be dishonorably discharged.”

“I killed Airman Dillard by putting my arm around her neck. Then I switched arms,” he said as he entered his guilty plea. “I sat on top of her and strangled her with both my hands.” -Timothy Wilsey (Clarion Ledger, April 6, 2018)

Airman 1st Class Timothy M. Wilsey of the 55th Intelligence Support Squadron has been charged with premeditated murder and desertion in connection with the death of Airman 1st Class Rhianda N. Dillard at Offutt Air Force Base, a news release from the 55th Wing said. -KETV (December 13, 2016)

Related Links:
Offutt airman charged with murder in connection with fellow airman’s death
Offutt airman charged in murder case
Air Force airman charged in death of fellow airman
Air Force airman charged in August death of fellow airman
She died, he disappeared. Now he’s charged with murder.
Airman faces premeditated murder, desertion charges in death at Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt airman charged with murder, desertion in death of fellow airman
Airman accused of murdering fellow airman at Offutt AFB officially charged
Airman from Valdosta charged with murder
‘He’s not talking’: Offutt airman charged with murder in connection with fellow airman’s death
Airman at Offutt Charged With Murder Appears in Court
Journal details Offutt airman’s slaying
Prosecutors: Journal details Offutt airman’s slaying
Airman at Offutt detailed killing of fellow service member in journal, agent testifies at hearing
‘My bad’: Chilling diary entries and texts of ‘murder-obsessed’ soldier ‘who strangled female classmate for fun and to steal a pack of Oreos’
Court martial for airman charged with murder moved downtown
Court martial for airman charged with murder moved downtown
Court martial for airman charged with murder moved downtown
Airman pleads guilty to murder
Airman pleads guilty to murder at Air Force base near Omaha
Mississippi airman’s killer pleads guilty to her Nebraska murder
While on the run, Offutt airman wrote that he had thoughts of killing again
‘I just enjoy killing. Simple as that.’ Quotes from airman’s journal shared at sentencing in Offutt slaying
‘I just enjoy killing’: Nebraska airman’s journal reveals ‘a thirst’ for murder
‘What went wrong?’ Friends, family are baffled as to how Offutt airman became killer
Airman from Valdosta gets life in prison
Former airman sentenced to life in prison
Airman who described himself as ‘homicidal’ is sentenced to life with possibility of parole for Offutt slaying
Airman who killed colleague at Offutt gets life with chance at parole
Airman Who Killed Colleague Gets Life with Chance at Parole
‘I Just Enjoy Killing’: Airman Gets Life in Prison for Strangling Another Air Force Member
Airman Gets Life In Prison For Murdering Colleague, Wrote In Journal ‘I Just Like Killing’
Air Force A1C Rhianda Dillard Found Murdered in Offutt AFB Dorm Room; Military Judge Sentenced A1C Timothy Wilsey to Life in Prison, Possibility of Parole (August 1, 2016)

Investigation Discovery Premiered ‘An American Murder Mystery: The Staircase’ (April 8, 2018)


‘Reversal of Fortune’ | An American Murder Mystery: The Staircase

Michael Peterson appears to have it all – a doting wife, a loving family and a successful literary career – but, that all changes on December 9, 2001, when Michael’s wife, Kathleen, is found dead in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in their home in Durham, North Carolina. Michael claims it was a tragic accident. Investigators, however, fear something far more sinister is at play and direct their attention to him. Did Michael Peterson murder his wife? Investigation Discovery (ID) delves into one of the most fascinating cases in criminal history in AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY: THE STAIRCASE. Premiering Sunday, April 8 at 10/9c, the three-part special event provides a unique and comprehensive look at the death of Kathleen Peterson, exploring the shocking theories, critical evidence and surprising secrets that thrust this case into the national spotlight.

Read more here.

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.


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

Related Links:

MJFA Links:
Military Widow Elizabeth Ratliff Found Deceased at the Bottom of Stairs in Germany; Michael Peterson Last Person to See Alive, Adopted Ratliff’s 2 Daughters (Nov. 25, 1985)
Kathleen Hunt Found Deceased at Bottom of Stairs in NC Home; Spouse Michael Peterson Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter to Avoid Second Trial (Dec. 9, 2001)
Marine Corps Veteran Michael Peterson Convicted of the Murder of Wife Kathleen; Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole (October 10, 2003)
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)
Netflix Premiered ‘The Staircase’: A Docuseries Examining Marine Veteran Michael Peterson’s Durham, North Carolina Murder Trial (2018)