Navy Dependent Meghan Landowski Found Stabbed to Death in Virginia Home; Schoolmate Robert Lee Barnes Pleaded Guilty, Sentenced to 42 Years in Prison (April 10, 2008)

On April 10, 2008July 22, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, Scandals, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

On April 10, 2008, Navy sailor Chris Shortt discovered his step-daughter Meghan Landowski stabbed to death in their Portsmouth, Virginia home. Meghan was 16 years old and from the looks of the crime scene, there was a struggle; Meghan fought back. Investigators learned the killer used a knife from the family’s kitchen. They found it in a gutter down the street. The police didn’t know who committed the murder but they believed it was personal and Meghan knew her attacker. Chris and Angie Shortt believed Robert Hickey killed Meghan and they called NCIS at Naval Station Norfolk to let them know what happened. NCIS questioned Hickey. Robert Hickey was a military officer who was on his way to the rank of Captain when he was accused of sexual assault by Meghan. Robert was a close friend of the family and NCIS believe he groomed Meghan for a sexual relationship. Meghan said Rob began touching her when she was 14 and by age 15, Meghan was having a sexual relationship with a 30-year-old man.

The family supported Meghan as she pressed charges against Robert but they learned from civilian investigators that Hickey’s crimes amounted to a misdemeanor in Virginia; he would spend 12 months maximum in prison. But Robert Hickey was a Navy sailor and subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Navy was investigating and planning to prosecute the case. When NCIS questioned Robert Hickey about Meghan’s murder, he invoked his right to silence. NCIS considered Hickey a person of interest because he had a lot to gain if Meghan died. Meghan feared Hickey because he had a lot to lose. But Hickey’s DNA didn’t match the DNA collected at the crime scene and NCIS had no proof that Hickey committed the crime. Nonetheless, Hickey was given an other than honorable discharge from Navy. The police also suspected Meghan’s high school friend Donald because they dated in the past but the DNA didn’t match him either. At least 80 people volunteered DNA. Investigators sent the DNA for further testing to determine the geographic ancestry identity and learned the DNA belonged to an African American.

This changed the direction of the investigation and detectives began looking for African Americans in Meghan’s life. One person who became a person of interest was a counselor at Norfolk Naval Station but this individual wouldn’t cooperate with the investigation. Five months after Meghan’s murder, every lead dried up and fear was building in the community. Then a community member planned a memorial walk to help generate new leads. It was at this point someone came forward with Robert Barnes’ name. Investigators learned Meghan and Barnes were on the same bus and both participated in an exclusive arts program at school. Robert played the violin and was on his way to becoming a success story. Robert was described as a nice guy who blended in; he was fully committed to his violin music. A friend suspected Robert liked Meghan and when she asked him, he admitted it. Detectives went to the school to speak to Robert Lee Barnes and asked for a DNA sample. Eventually he acquiesced and gave investigators a used piece of gum.

The DNA was tested and the crime scene investigators reported the DNA submitted by Robert Barnes actually belonged to a girl; the police needed to talk to Robert again. In this interview, Robert Barnes admitted he was in Meghan’s house on the day of the murder. He said he went to Meghan’s house and climbed through the window after no one answered the door. He said he walked into a crime in progress; the perpetrator was wearing a mask and holding Meghan at gun point. Robert said the masked man asked him to have sex with Meghan, asked him to stab Meghan, and cut him to leave his DNA at the scene. The police believed that Robert Barnes was making this all up and arrested him. Robert’s DNA matched the DNA at the crime scene. Given the mountain of evidence against him, Robert’s defense attorney asked for a plea deal. Robert Lee Barnes pleaded guilty to first degree murder, attempted rape, aggravated sexual battery, abduction, and statutory burglary. In return, Barnes will be eligible for early release from prison in 42 years. Meghan’s parents were relieved there would be no trial.

Source: ‘The Call’ Dateline NBC

Navy Ensign Cory Voss Found Murdered in Bank Parking Lot in Newport News, Virginia; Wife Catarina Voss, Michael Draven, and David Runyon Conspired to Kill for the Life Insurance (April 29, 2007)

On April 29, 2007June 15, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, NavyLeave a comment

On April 29, 2007, Navy Ensign Cory Voss was discovered dead in his pick-up truck in a bank parking lot in Newport News, Virginia. Initially, investigators thought maybe this was a robbery gone wrong but Cory had been shot five times. Typically, in the course of a robbery, a suspect may shoot at the victim a couple of times in their attempt to flee the scene so this particular crime was suspect right away. Detectives left the scene to notify Cory’s wife Catarina Rose that he was deceased, and had been murdered. Catarina was very, very upset to learn the news although she was able to provide some details about Cory’s movements the night before. Catarina admitted that she was on the phone with Cory while he was at the ATM and warned him to be careful. This was immediately suspicious to detectives because it seemed like too much information. You typically wouldn’t be concerned if your spouse drove 3 miles away from the house.

The next day news spread quick in the Newport News and Naval community. People were in shock that someone they knew was murdered in this way in what normally is a relatively safe community. Detectives were able to get the surveillance video at the bank. It appeared someone jumped in the driver’s side of the vehicle and demanded that he drive away. They stopped in a nearby parking lot and Cory was shot. Unfortunately the quality of the video was not good enough for an identification. One interesting thing police learned was that no money had been withdrawn from the ATM and Cory was not robbed. Meanwhile, Catarina was very distraught and was being supported by Cory’s family and the Naval community. Then one day, police received a phone call from a witness that changed everything. When questioned, Ashley Doyle revealed her identity and was persuaded to meet with the investigators.

When Ashley met with the investigators, they showed her pictures of Cory and the unknown assailant from the bank surveillance video. Immediately, Ashley felt that it was Michael Draven that had killed Cory so she provided police with his name and suggested they look into him. She also told investigators about Michael and Catarina’s ongoing affair while Cory was deployed with the Navy. Investigators started looking at both Michael and Catarina’s social media pages and they were shocked by what they discovered. Michael Draven was seen pictured with Catarina and Cory’s children and he referred to them as his wife and family. Police enlisted the help of Ashley and asked her to meet with Catarina in an attempt to elicit a confession or get any other information that would be helpful to the investigation. When Ashley contacted Catarina she learned she was still very upset and was in the process of planning Cory’s funeral.

Ashley went to visit Catarina with hidden recording devices in tow. She learned that less than three days after Cory died, Catarina received $250,000 in life insurance money and she couldn’t get the full amount until an investigation was conducted. Catarina’s main concern while they visited was why she couldn’t get the second half of the life insurance pay out. Investigators were responsible for the hold on the second payment because it’s standard practice in situations like these, but Catarina was angry and impatient. As a result, she filed complaints that police weren’t doing their jobs and demanded that Cory’s case be solved (so she could get the rest of her money). Three weeks later, Catarina and Michael traveled to the Outer Banks in North Carolina for a vacation. Unbeknownst to them, their every move was being watched by police. And Cory’s family were starting to become uncomfortable with her behavior after she received the insurance money.

As a result of Catarina’s behavior, detectives subpoenaed her bank records. They learned the account Cory used on the night in question had only been opened for six days and never had more than $5 in it. Cory made three attempts to make a withdrawal. The first time was $60, then $40, then $20, all of which were insufficient funds. Police theorized that Catarina didn’t just want Cory to get the money but she wanted him to stay there and struggle. Interestingly enough, the account was co-signed by Michael Draven. A deeper dive into Catarina’s life turned up even more shocking revelations. Catarina wasn’t from the Ukraine like she told people but instead she was a local girl by the name of Cathlene Wiggins. She was also married once before to a man named Steven Larson. Steve joined the Army to support them and soon his testimony started to sound like a familiar pattern: long deployments, manic shopping, and infidelity.

Steve Larson alleged Catarina stood him up at the airport when he returned home from a deployment to Korea and when she did finally show up she told him she was three months pregnant with Cory’s baby. Catarina wanted Steve out of the picture and started fights with him every chance she got. She escalated and became aggressive to the point that Steve wanted to leave the relationship to stop her from hurting him. All this new information about Catarina was helpful circumstantial evidence but she wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger. Investigators believed Catarina and Michael Draven conspired to murder Cory for financial gain but they still needed hard evidence to put the pieces of this conspiracy together. They also believed that someone helped Michael Draven commit the murder so they dug into Draven’s past. A month before the murder, he spent some time in the city jail on a domestic abuse warrant.

Police found a number of recorded calls at the jail, the majority to Catarina, and the pair discussed their future together. In addition, they appeared to be discussing the plan to kill Cory and Catarina mentioned a 2 hour conversation she had with “David” who police suspected was the third party involved in the crime. Investigators combed through Catarina’s cell phone records and determined his name was David Runyon. He lived in West Virginia and was a marksman in the military; he met Michael Draven at a medical research facility. In December 2007, investigators initiated a search warrant for David Runyon’s property in an effort to find evidence tying him to the murder. In the search of his vehicle, they found a map of Newport News, Virginia and there were handwritten notes with the name of the credit union and address and a physical description of Cory’s vehicle. This was enough to arrest all three players.

Michael Draven was reinterviewed by detectives and ultimately he confessed this was a planned murder that he and Catarina had devised. They hired David Runyon to do it. Michael threw both Catarina and David under the bus and sold them out. Apparently, Catarina told Michael that Cory was abusing or mistreating the children and Michael believed her. Investigators believed this is how Catarina coerced and manipulated Michael into finding someone to kill Cory. Police asked Draven to call Catarina and tell her he was outside the police station and about to confess. Catarina asked him not to confess and drove to the police station where detectives were waiting to arrest her. On December 14, 2007, 8 months later, Catarina was charged with the crime. Seven months later, Catarina went to court. In an effort to avoid the death penalty, Catarina agreed to a plea of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

Catarina Voss admitted to investigators that she set the murder-for-hire up by asking Cory to go to the ATM to get some money. She admitted she knew David Runyon was lying in wait. As a result, Catarina was sentenced to four life terms in prison plus twenty additional years. On July 17, 2009, a federal jury convicted Michael Draven and David Runyon of murder, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and carjacking. Michael Draven received two life sentences and David Runyon received the death penalty. For the family, the pain of the loss of Cory Voss endures. Cory had turned his life around, joined the Navy, and went from enlisted to an officer. He was doing all the right things and the only thing he did wrong was love the wrong woman. Catarina Voss never showed any remorse towards Cory, but police say she was remorseful because she got caught.

Source: Blinding Fantasy, Cold Hearted, Investigation Discovery

NCIS, The Cases They Can’t Forget:

“NCIS: The Cases They Can’t Forget” returns for its third season. -CBS News (May 29, 2019)

An American hero was shot to death while withdrawing lunch money for his kids. Who killed the young naval officer? It turned out to be a murder-for-hire case, plotted by Cory Voss’ wife, Catherine, who sent a hitman to kill him in what prosecutors said was supposed to look like a botched robbery. -Inside Edition (May 29, 2019)

Investigation Discovery:

Navy man Cory Voss and his wife Catherina “Cat” Voss are a young couple raising two children in Newport News, Virginia. Despite Cory’s love and devotion, Cat secretly falls for another man. But betraying her marriage vows is just one angle in Cat’s complicated web of lies, and eventually she seeks a more permanent solution to finally end her marriage. -The Liars Club, Deadly Wives (S2,E5)

They say opposites attract, that’s how Navy man Cory Voss meets his wife Cat. When money runs dry she seeks the attention of a seemingly wealthier man. But when Cat finds out he isn’t who he says the Voss family falls apart. -Blinding Fantasy, Cold Hearted (S1,E4)

Marine Veteran Joseph Kerekes & Navy Veteran Harlow Cuadra Murdered Bryan Kocis in Pennsylvania Home; Sentenced to Life in Prison (2007)

On January 24, 2007January 6, 2018 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Navy, Scandals, USMCLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2018-01-06 at 8.23.44 PM — Bryan Kocis, Pennsylvania

Marine veteran Joseph Kerekes and Navy veteran Harlow Cuadra murdered Porn Producer Bryan Kocis and set his home on fire in Pennsylvania on January 23, 2007. They drove from their Virginia Beach, Virginia home to Pennsylvania to commit the homicide of Kocis which automatically made the crime an across state line matter that involved law enforcement agencies from three states and the federal authorities. Eventually investigators gathered enough evidence to arrest Kerekes and Cuadra and charge them with first degree murder and other charges. Joseph Kerekes pleaded guilty to second degree murder and is serving a life sentence without parole; he cannot appeal his sentencing. Harlow Cuadra was convicted of first degree murder in 2008 and was sentenced to life in prison; he’s appealing his case. The case garnered some attention from Hollywood and was the inspiration for a film called King Cobra featuring Christian Slater.

“Law enforcement officials from three states and at least three federal agencies aggressively investigated the crimes, and in May police arrested Harlow Cuadra, 26, a former Navy enlisted man, and Joseph Kerekes, 33, a one-time youth pastor who was briefly in the Marines. From their home in Virginia Beach, Va., the couple who, like Lockhart and Kocis, also met on the Internetran a gay escort service, which they say employed active-duty servicemen from military bases in the area, and they produced and starred in bareback porn on their military-themed Web site, Boybatter.com.” –Out Magazine

Harlow Cuadra & Joe Kerekes: A Virginia couple’s desperation leaves their gay porn empire in ashes. -Snapped: Killer Couples

September: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2006)

On September 30, 2006September 1, 2017 By AdministratorIn Accidents, Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Non Combat Death, Suicide, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

09/30/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Blaney, 19, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/29/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Edward Reynolds Jr, 27, and Henry Paul, 24, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/29/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Chamroeun, 20, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/28/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jose Lanzarin, 28, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/28/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Lyons, 28, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/28/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Casey Mellen, 21, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/27/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jared Raymond, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/27/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Riviere, 21, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/26/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Velton Locklear III, 29, and Kenneth Kincaid IV, 25, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

09/26/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Carlos Dominguez, 57, Iraq, Army Special Operations Command, New York

09/26/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Windell Simmons, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Howard March Jr, 20, and Rene Martinez, 20, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Eric Kavanagh, 20, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Jones, 29, NCD, Iraq, Kentucky Army National Guard

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Bobby Callahan, 22, NCD, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ashley (Henderson) Huff, 23, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Allan Bevington, 22, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/25/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Cesar Granados, 21, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robb Needham, 51, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Yull Estrada Rodriguez, 21, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/22/2006: First Identification of U.S. Soldier Missing in Action from World War I

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Aaron Smith, 31, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/22/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jennifer Hartman, 21, and Marcus Cain, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/21/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Zimmerman, 28, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/21/2006: Navy Aviator Missing In Action From Vietnam War is Identified

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Russell Makowski, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Worster, 24, NCD, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeffrey Shaffer, 21, Iraq, Bamberg, Germany

09/19/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Adam Knox, 21, Iraq, Ohio Army Reserve

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Davis, 32, Iraq, Fort Wainwright, Alaska

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Clint Williams, 24, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Bernard Deghand, 42, Afghanistan, Kansas Army National Guard

09/18/2006: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: David Roddy, 32, Iraq, Norfolk, Virginia (Multi-National Corps – Iraq)

09/16/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Emily Perez, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/16/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ryan Miller, 19, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

09/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Ramsey, 27, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Harley Andrews, 22, Iraq, Bamberg, Germany

09/15/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Weir, 23, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

09/14/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Mattingly, 30, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/14/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy DePottey, 26, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Drum, New York

09/13/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Fuga, 47, Afghanistan, Missouri Army National Guard

09/12/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Alexander Jordan, 31, Iraq, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Anthony Seig, 19, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: John Carroll, 26, Iraq, Baumholder, Germany

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Merideth Howard, 52, and Robert Paul, 43, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nathaniel Lindsey, 38, Afghanistan, Oregon Army National Guard

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Johnathan Benson, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

09/11/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Luis Montes, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/09/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Gordon, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

09/08/2006: Airman Missing in Action From the Vietnam War is Identified

09/08/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jason Merrill, 22, and Edwin Andino II, 23, Iraq, Wurzburg, Germany

09/08/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Vincent Frassetto, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy Shank, 18, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

09/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Marshall Gutierrez, 41, NCD, Camp Virginia, Area Support Group, Arijan, Kuwait

09/07/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Germaine Debro, 33, Iraq, Nebraska Army National Guard

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Richard Henkes II, 32, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Angel Mercado-Velazquez, 24, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Ralph Porras, 36, and Justin Dreese, 21, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Christopher Walsh, 30, Iraq, Missouri Navy Reserve (Multi National Corps – Iraq)

09/06/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Hannah Gunterman, 20, NCD, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Shannon Squires, 25, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Vosbein, 30, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ryan Miller, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Jared Shoemaker, 29, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Oklahoma

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Eric Valdepenas, 21, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Massachusetts

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Shane Harris, 23, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Cliff Golla, 21, and Philip Johnson, 19, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Eugene Alex, 32, Iraq, Fort Wainwright, Alaska

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Deason, 28, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

09/05/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nicholas Madaras, 19, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

09/01/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Hanson, 27, Iraq, Minnesota Army National Guard

09/01/2006: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Colin Wolfe, 19, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

09/01/2006: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Moises Jazmin, 25, Qixing Lee, 20, Shaun Novak, 21, and Tristan Smith, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

Eddie Makdessi Convicted of Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder in Virginia; Given Two Life Sentences for the Homicides of Navy Sailors Elise Makdessi & Quincy Brown (March 16, 2006)

On March 16, 2006July 7, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, ScandalsLeave a comment

Eddie Makdessi.jpg — Eddie Makdessi, U.S. Navy Spouse (photo courtesy of 48 Hours NCIS)

Navy Petty Officer Elise Makdessi worked as an Air Traffic Controller at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. Elise was married to Eddie Makdessi for five years and they lived off base in Virginia Beach. Elise unknowingly helped plan, organize, and carry out her own murder and it is unclear if she was a willing participant in the original plot with Eddie to scam the government out of money or if she was controlled by Eddie. Eddie Makdessi murdered Elise Makdessi and Navy Petty Officer Quincy Brown on May 14, 1996 as part of an elaborate scam. The whole thing was a set up. Elise thought she was part of an arrangement where she would invite Quincy Brown to the house, have sex with him, then accuse him of rape. She also manufactured evidence to make it look like she was documenting sexual abuse in an effort to sue the Navy and make millions. She had journals and created what looked like a rehearsed video outlining what four Navy men, including Quincy Brown, did to her on the job.

Five years earlier in 1991 the Navy Tailhook scandal in Nevada made national headlines. Navy Lieutenant Paula Coughlin was one of the alleged victims who went public with her story. Two years before Elise and Quincy were murdered, Paula Coughlin won 1.7 millionafter suing the Las Vegas Hilton hotel where the Tailhook Association convention was held. Eddie must have convinced Elise that they too could make millions if they alleged that Elise was sexually assaulted on the job. What they didn’t realize is that you can’t sue the Navy; Coughlin won a lawsuit against the Hilton hotel. The Feres Doctrine prevents any soldier or their family from suing the Department of Defense for compensatory damages. Investigators believe that knowledge of this information gave Eddie and Elise Makdessi the motive to come up with the false accusation scheme to sue the Navy. Eddie was a scammer and always looking for new ways to make quick money. Elise didn’t know she was double crossed until Eddie was plunging the knife. A month before the murders, Eddie purchased $700,000 worth of life insurance on Elise.

Eddie and Elise Makdessi invited Petty Officer Quincy Brown over to the house under the guise of having a threesome. DNA evidence revealed that Elise and Quincy Brown had sex. Investigators would learn that Eddie shot Quincy first, then stabbed Elise. He hurt himself to make it appear that Quincy invaded the house, knocked him out, raped and killed Elise, and then he awoke from unconsciousness and shot the intruder. Eddie staged the crime scene and he almost got away with it. But investigators figured out this was a ‘set up’ based on the crime scene evidence, interviews with Elise’s co-workers, the video tape, and the large insurance policy. They were also savvy enough to recognize that this was a copycat case. Elise’s sexual harassment and sexual assault claims were in fact fabricated. All the men she accused of sex crimes in the video passed a polygraph examination and her supervisors testified that Elise never reported sexual harassment or sexual assault like she claimed in her video testimony. Unfortunately Quincy Brown was the pawn they used in their game and he never got the chance to see that the allegations were proven false.

Eddie was indicted in 2001. But by the time investigators were ready to arrest Eddie Makdessi for the murder of Elise Makdessi and Quincy Brown, Eddie had fled the country. They eventually caught up with him in Russia. Unfortunately, Russia did not have an extradition treaty with the United States so police could not force Eddie to come back to the states. Mike Mather, an investigative reporter, went to Russia to interview Makdessi and learned that he was remarried with a child yet things weren’t going so well for Eddie financially in Russia. After that interview, Eddie decided to leave his wife and child in Russia and go back to America to face the charges. He was going to prove his innocence and clear his name. He was sure he would beat the charges. It would be ten years after he committed the first degree murders of Elise and Quincy Brown before he went to trial. On March 16, 2006, Eddie Makdessi was convicted of two counts of murder, sentenced to life in prison, and ordered to pay a $202,500 fine. The motive was the life insurance money. He used the $700,000 payout to travel the world before settling in Russia. Eddie continues to deny committing the crimes.

Elise Makdessi’s sister, Dawn Crosby, asked the jury to “show Eddie Makdessi that my sister’s life was worth more than $700,000.” –The Virginia-Pilot (March 17, 2006)

Victims:

P.O. Elise Makdessi, U.S. Navy

P.O. Quincy Brown, U.S. Navy

Forensic Files:

Full Episode: Virginia Beach police arrive at the Makdessi apartment to find Elise Makdessi and her lover, Quincy Brown, dead. Elise’s husband Eddie had reported that he killed Quincy Brown in self-defense after Brown had murdered Elise. Eddie gave the police a videotape Elise had made a week before, alleging that she had been the victim of sexual harassment. -Double Cross, Forensic Files (S13,E5)

Investigation Discovery:

Paramedics respond to a horrific crime scene – a woman is found tied to a bed with slashes across her body. Next to her on the floor, a man with three gunshot wounds. Detectives spend the next several years unraveling this bizarre mystery. -Last Man Standing, Solved (S2,E10)

When a Naval Officer is apparently raped and stabbed by a coworker, a mysterious VHS tape suggests the victim may have been silenced to prevent a scandal. Dogged investigation and cutting edge forensic science reveals a shocking murder plot. -Deadly Accusations, Unusual Suspects (S7,E4)

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.

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2005)

On August 31, 2005August 19, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, In Their NameLeave a comment

08/31/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Rubado, 23, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/31/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Dennis Hay, 32, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/30/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Martinez, 21, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/30/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Obediah Kolath, 32, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/29/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Damion Campbell, 23, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/27/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Trevor Diesing, 30, and Ivica Jerak, 42, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/27/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Timothy Shea, 22, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/26/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Hatim Kathiria, 23, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/26/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Chris Chapin, 39, Iraq, Vermont Army National Guard

08/24/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victoir Lieurance, 34, and Joseph Hunt, 27, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/24/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Carlos Diaz, 27, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Nurre, 22, Iraq, West Virginia Army Reserve

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ramon Romero, 19, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Elden Arcand, 22, and Brian Morris, 38, NCDs, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Cathey, 24, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Phillip George, 22, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Willard Partridge, 35, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Blake Hall, 20, Joshua Hyland, 31, Michael Lehmiller, 23, and Christopher Palmer, 22, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/22/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Nathan Bouchard, 24, Jeremy Doyle, 24, Ray Fuhrmann II, 28, and Timothy Seamans, 20, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/19/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Laura Walker, 24, and Robert Davis, 23, Afghanistan, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/19/2005: Air Force Officer MIA From Vietnam War is Identified: Gregg Hartness

08/17/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Stokely, 23, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/16/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jose Ruiz, 28, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/16/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Thomas Strickland, 27, Joshua Dingler, 19, and Paul Saylor, 21, NCDs, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Asbury Hawn II, 35, Gary Reese Jr, 22, and Shannon Taylor, 30, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Toccara Green, 23, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Rusty Bell, 21, NCD, Iraq, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brian Derks, 21, Iraq, Fort Irwin, California

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Giaimo, 24, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy Chandler, 30, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Anthony Kalladeen, 26, and Hernando Rios, 29, Iraq, New York Army National Guard

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edward Heselton, 23, Afghanistan, South Carolina Army Reserve

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ryan Ostrom, 25, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Miguel Carrasquillo, 25, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Evenor Herrera, 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Nathaniel Detample, 19, John Kulick, 35, Gennaro Pellegrini Jr, 31, and Francis Straub Jr, 24, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Katzenberger, 25, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Benson, 40, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/10/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Falkel, 22, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/10/2005: Twelve MIAS from Vietnam War are Identified

08/10/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ramon Gonzales Cordova, 30, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jonathon Haggin, 26, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Brahim Jeffcoat, 25, and Kurt Krout, 43, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Chase Comley, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Seferino Reyna, 20, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Derenda, 42, NCD, Iraq, New York Army Reserve

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brett Walden, 40, NCD, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Terry Ball Jr, 36, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/07/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Damian Garza, 19, and John Henderson Jr, 21, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/07/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nils Thompson, 19, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/06/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Theodore Clark Jr, 31, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victor Anderson, 39, David Jones Sr, 45, and Ronnie Shelley, 34, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victor Anderson, 39, Mathew Gibbs, 21, and Charles Warren, 36, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Chad Simon, 32, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Wisconsin

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Dyer, 19, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Adam Strain, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Nicholas Bloem, 20, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Montana

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Bradley Harper, 25, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Virginia

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: David Stewart, 24, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Mississippi

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Timothy Bell Jr, 22, Eric Bernholtz, 23, Justin Hoffman, 27, and David Kreuter, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Thomas Hull, 41, NCD, Arabian Gulf, USS Princeton, San Diego, California

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Grant Fraser, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Alaska

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kevin Waruinge, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Mississippi

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Michael Cifuentes, 25, Aaron Reed, 21, Edward Schroeder II, 23, and William Wightman, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James McNaughton, 27, Iraq, New York Army Reserve

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Roger Castleberry Jr, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Texas

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Jeffrey Boskovitch, 25, David Coullard, 32, Daniel Deyarmin Jr, 22, Brian Montgomery, 26, and Nathaniel Rock, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/02/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Graham III, 25, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Oklahoma

08/02/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Adrian Butler, 28, and John Tollefson, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jason Montefering, 27, Ernest Dallas Jr, 21, Milton Monzon, 21, and Ramon Villatoro Jr, 19, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jason Scheuerman, 20, NCD, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Swaney, 21, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Carroll, 23, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2004)

On August 31, 2004August 17, 2017 By AdministratorIn Accidents, Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Non Combat Death, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

08/31/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Aaron Holleyman, 26, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/31/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Nicholas Skinner, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/31/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualtiy: Nickalous Aldrich, 21, NCD, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/31/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Edgar Lopez, 27, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/31/2004: DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Carl Anderson Jr., 21, Iraq, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

08/30/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Omead Razani, 19, NCD, Iraq, Camp Greaves, Korea

08/30/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Luis Perez, 19, NCD, Iraq, Pennyslvania Army Reserve

08/27/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Marco Ross, 20, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/27/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Barton Humlhanz, 23, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/26/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Neeley, 19, Iraq, Ohio Army Reserve

08/26/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Alexander Arredondo, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/26/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jacob Lugo, 21, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/25/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Donald Davis, 42, NCD, Iraq, Ohio Army Reserve

08/25/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Thornton Jr, 35, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/24/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Richard Lord, 24, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/24/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Edward Reeder, 32, NCD, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/23/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Belchik, 30, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/23/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Nicanor Alvarez, 22, Jason Cook, 25, Seth Huston, 19, and Nachez Washalanta, 21, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/23/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Kevin Cuming, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/23/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Matthew Stovall, 25, Iraq, Mississippi Army National Guard

08/23/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Charles Wilkins III, 38, and Ryan Martin, 22, Iraq, Ohio Army National Guard

08/20/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Brad McCormick, 23, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Tennessee

08/20/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Caleb Powers, 21, and Harvey Parkerson III, 27, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/20/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Dustin Fitzgerald, 22, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/20/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jacob Martir, 21, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/19/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Henry Risner, 26, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/19/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brandon Titus, 20, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/18/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Heath, 30, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/17/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Fernando Hannon, 19, and Geoffrey Perez, 24, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/17/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Mark Zapata, 27, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/17/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Goins, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/16/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: John Howard, 26, Iraq, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California

08/16/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Tavon Hubbard, 24, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/16/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brandon Sapp, 21, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/16/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Daniel Shepherd, 23, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/15/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Anthony Santoriello, 24, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/15/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Nicholas Morrison, 23, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/14/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kane Funke, 20, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/13/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Tarlavsky, 30, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/13/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Daniel Galvan, 30, Afghanistan, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

08/12/2004: DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Rick Ulbright, 49, Iraq, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland

08/10/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Andrew Houghton, 25, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

08/09/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jonathan Collins, 19, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/09/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Craig Cherry, 39, and Bobby Beasley, 36, Iraq, Virginia Army National Guard

08/09/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Yadir Reynoso, 27, and Roberto Abad, 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/09/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Potter, 22, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/09/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Raymond Faulstich Jr, 24, Iraq, Fort Eustis, Virginia

08/09/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joshua Bunch, 23, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/07/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Moses Rocha, 33, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/07/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Larry Wells, 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/06/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Donald McCune, 20, Iraq, Washington Army National Guard

08/05/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Dean Pratt, 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/05/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Elia Fontecchio, 30, and Joseph Nice, 19, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/04/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Justin Onwordi, 28, and Harry Shondee Jr, 19, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/04/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Gregory Ratzlaff, 36, NCD, Iraq, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California

08/04/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Tommy Gray, 34, NCD, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/04/2004: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Juan Calderon Jr, 26, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/03/2004: Remains of American MIAs Found in North Korea

08/02/2004: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Anthony Dixon, 20, and Armando Hernandez, 22, Iraq, Schweinfurt, Germany

Press Release: Department of State Returns Double Homicide Suspect Adib “Eddie” Ramez Makdessi to U.S. (July 22, 2003)

On July 22, 2003July 7, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, ScandalsLeave a comment

Eddie Makdessi — Fugitive: Adib “Eddie” Ramez Makdessi

DSS Returns Double Homicide Suspect to U.S.

Bureau of Diplomatic Security
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC

August 4, 2003

Adib “Eddie” Ramez Makdessi, formerly of Virginia Beach and a fugitive from U.S. law enforcement, was located and returned to the United States by the Diplomatic Security Service on July 22. Makdessi was wanted for the 1996 murder of his wife, Elise Makdessi, and one of her co-workers, Quincy Brown.

Makdessi originally claimed that he and his wife were ambushed in their home, he was knocked unconscious and awoke to find Brown stabbing his wife. Makdessi stated he shot Brown with a gun from his wife’s nightstand. After several years of investigation, Makdessi was indicted with the first-degree murders of his wife and her co-worker in 2001. He then fled the country.

Law enforcement authorities contacted the DSS, which located Makdessi in Russia. However, no extradition treaty exists between the United States and Russia, so securing a provisional warrant was not possible. There was nothing law enforcement could do.

Read more from the Department of State here.

Victims:

P.O. Elise Makdessi, U.S. Navy

P.O. Quincy Brown, U.S. Navy

Army National Guardsman Charles Lewis Fatally Shot Before Deployment to Iraq; Step-Mother Teresa Lewis Conspired, Executed by State of Virginia (October 30, 2002)

On October 30, 2002August 19, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, ScandalsLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2018-02-19 at 7.48.18 PM — Charles ‘CJ’ Lewis, Maryland Army National Guard

In the News:

A Virginia woman, Teresa Lewis, is scheduled to be executed in on September 23, which would be the first US execution of a woman in five years and in the state of Virginia over a decade. A Virginia woman who used sex and money to persuade two men to kill her husband and her stepson, in order to collect a $250,000 life insurance policy. -RT America (July 30, 2010)

The US state of Virginia is set to execute by lethal injection a 41-year-old grandmother, the first woman to be put to death in Virginia in almost 100 years. -Al Jazeera English (September 23, 2010)

Despite Teresa Lewis’ admission of guilt, many are still coming to her defense. -ABC News (September 23, 2010)

Teresa Lewis set to die on death row – 5:30 p.m. -WAVY TV 10 (September 23, 2010)

Teresa Lewis execution – 6 p.m. -WAVY TV 10 (September 23, 2010)

Teresa Lewis, 41, became the first woman executed in Virginia in nearly a century. -CNN (September 23, 2010)

Teresa Lewis executed – 11 p.m. -WAVY TV 10 (September 24, 2010)

Woman executed in Virginia. -CNN (September 24, 2010)

Mentally Challenged Woman Executed? -The Young Turks (September 24, 2010)

Theresa Lewis before her tragic execution. -Ignored Voices (November 18, 2010)

Investigation Discovery:

Preview: Teresa Michelle Lewis used sex for currency to get what she wanted. -To Love and To Murder, Deadly Women (S5,E5)

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)

While mourning the death of his wife, Julian falls hard for his much-younger coworker Teresa. For a time, her spunk lifts him out of to his sorrows until a sordid affair plunges him even deeper into the abyss. -Second Chance at Death, Fatal Vows (S5, 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.

Video Links:
Sex, money and the death penalty
US grandmother set to be executed
Virginia Set to Execute First Woman Since 1912
Teresa Lewis set to die on death row – 5:30 p.m.
Teresa Lewis execution – 6 p.m.
CNN: Accounts of Teresa Lewis being put to death
Theresa Lewis before her tragic execution
Execution of Teresa Lewis
Teresa Lewis executed – 11 p.m.
Woman executed in Virginia
Teresa Lewis Receives Execution By Lethal Injection
Mentally Challenged Woman Executed?
Song A Day #634: The Ballad of Teresa Lewis
Death Row Prisoners Last Meals
The Puppetmaster | Deadly Women (Preview)
To Love and To Murder | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (S5, E5)
To Love and To Murder | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (website)
To Love and To Murder | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
To Love and To Murder | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (Hulu)
Second Chance at Death | Fatal Vows | Investigation Discovery (S5,E1)
Second Chance at Death | Fatal Vows | Investigation Discovery (website)
Second Chance at Death | Fatal Vows | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)

‘A Clue From the Grave’ by Irene Pence Unveils the Military Homicide Investigation of Air Force Spouse Kathleen Lipscomb in Texas (May 1, 1997)

On May 1, 1997August 24, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, Military Policy, Scandals, Sexual Assault, USAFLeave a comment

‘A Clue from the Grave’ by Irene Pence is a fascinating look into the investigation of US Air Force wife Kathleen Lipscomb’s murder in San Antonio, Texas in 1986. Her husband MSgt William Lipscomb, who was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base as a Military Training Instructor, would eventually be accused of her murder and stand trial at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in 1989. This book shows the difficulties the detectives face when it comes to investigating crimes perpetrated by a transient military member.

If not for the persistence of Kathleen’s mom Nadine and her sister Darlene, Bill Lipscomb almost got away with murder. Kathleen’s family did not want to believe that Kathleen’s estranged husband committed this crime but nonetheless wanted to find out who killed Kathleen. Kathleen was found battered and nude on the side of the road outside the city limits of San Antonio. It appeared that she had been raped and murdered elsewhere and her body was dumped at this location. As a result, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department had jurisdiction of the investigation of Kathleen’s murder. The book revealed that Air Force leadership was not aware that Bill Lipscomb was even considered a suspect by the local Sheriff’s Department. In the meantime, Bill Lipscomb requested a humanitarian transfer to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia so that he would be near his parents who would help him care for Kathleen and Bill’s two children.

After the investigation stalled at the Sheriff’s Department and it looked like no one would be held accountable for Kathleen’s death, Nadine and Darlene decided to hire two private investigators to find out who killed Kathleen. The private investigators carefully went through the list of suspects to rule people out but they could not rule out Bill Lipscomb after what they discovered. These investigators learned that Bill had plenty of motive to kill Kathleen including the fact that Kathleen threatened to turn Bill and his Air Force colleagues in to Air Force leadership for their role in a WAPS test promotion cheating scandal. Bill also wanted custody of the two children so Kathleen used her knowledge of this cheating scandal as leverage in the divorce proceedings so she could keep custody of the two children. In addition, Bill Lipscomb had over $300,000 worth of life insurance on Kathleen, one policy was purchased after Kathleen decided to divorce him. Coincidentally, Kathleen was murdered just days before the final divorce proceedings. Nadine and Darlene began suspecting Bill more and more as time went on because of statements made by Bill and Kathleen’s children and the controlling behavior he exhibited after Kathleen died.

It would be the private investigators that Kathleen’s family hired who convinced the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) to get involved. Bill was no longer in the San Antonio area so no one but the AFOSI had jurisdiction over him. The crime was committed in Texas yet Bill had been conveniently transferred to Virginia. Thanks to the thorough work by the two private investigators, the AFOSI had probable cause to investigate Bill Lipscomb. The AFOSI used both their knowledge of the WAPS test cheating scandal and what they learned from the private investigators to begin their own investigations. They would learn from others involved in the cheating scandal that Bill did in fact cheat on his promotion testing which is how he was able to achieve the rank of MSgt so soon. They would also learn from Kathleen’s date book that she was fully aware of the cheating scandal and knew that Bill was having an affair with another Air Force member he worked with. It would be this date book that gave the investigators involved in the case a reason to suspect Bill Lipscomb of her murder. In the end this information would become ‘A Clue from the Grave’ that helped Kathleen solve her own murder.

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Tag: Virginia

Navy Dependent Meghan Landowski Found Stabbed to Death in Virginia Home; Schoolmate Robert Lee Barnes Pleaded Guilty, Sentenced to 42 Years in Prison (April 10, 2008)

Navy Ensign Cory Voss Found Murdered in Bank Parking Lot in Newport News, Virginia; Wife Catarina Voss, Michael Draven, and David Runyon Conspired to Kill for the Life Insurance (April 29, 2007)

Marine Veteran Joseph Kerekes & Navy Veteran Harlow Cuadra Murdered Bryan Kocis in Pennsylvania Home; Sentenced to Life in Prison (2007)

September: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2006)

Eddie Makdessi Convicted of Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder in Virginia; Given Two Life Sentences for the Homicides of Navy Sailors Elise Makdessi & Quincy Brown (March 16, 2006)

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2005)

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2004)

Press Release: Department of State Returns Double Homicide Suspect Adib “Eddie” Ramez Makdessi to U.S. (July 22, 2003)

Army National Guardsman Charles Lewis Fatally Shot Before Deployment to Iraq; Step-Mother Teresa Lewis Conspired, Executed by State of Virginia (October 30, 2002)

‘A Clue From the Grave’ by Irene Pence Unveils the Military Homicide Investigation of Air Force Spouse Kathleen Lipscomb in Texas (May 1, 1997)

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