Cold Case Chronicles

With the ladies of the Crew back together for once, they stick close to home.  It's hard to believe there are so many cases that have become cold.

Missing since 1983, Viola Marie Findley left her 3 children with a sitter in Iowa to visit family in Florida and never returned.  Nearly 40 years have passed and there are more questions than answers.

Catherine Diane "Catrina" Mowrey moved to Dallas, Texas for an exciting new life. How could she have known only six years later, she would be murdered, wrapped in a sheet, and stuffed in the trunk of a car as if her life meant nothing? To make things worse... the Dallas Police Department chose to treat her case as if she never mattered, causing a ripple effect of damage through an entire family.

Far removed from the Free Love and Peace of the late 1960s, the late 19970s were pay to play.  In 1978 a body was found in rural Iowa.  She would be Jane Doe for three decades.  This is Unidentified Female – The Story or Wilma June Nissen.  

Sometimes when a case is researched, very little information is found.  In the case of 18-year-old Calab Luckett who was found shot in an abandoned apartment, is no different.  While the crew found little information about his killer, they found a lot of information about a systemic problem of violence among youth. 

In November 1997, 13 year old Ricky Lane Thomas vanished into thin air.  Speculation surrounded a step father and the rural background makes a random abduction unlikely.  Will we ever know where Ricky is?

It takes a special kind of evil to prey on the weak.  Sarah Gibbs had autism spectrum disorder and was the target of someone heinous.  In December of 2014, in Warsaw, Indiana she was murdered and a fire was started to cover it up.  Her case remains cold.  Or does it?

The 1988 Murder of Mary Plummer is nothing short of a travesty.  Taken before her time, her family still suffers.  In cold cases like these, that are still entirely solvable, justice is still to be served. The prime suspect may be long dead, but the preponderance of evidence suggests he likely did not act alone.

The murder of Mary Plummer is not without suspects.  But what do you do when all the people who have motive and opportunity also have alibis?  As we learn this week, no alibi is airtight.  We just have to find the leaks.

Of course, a spouse will always be the first suspect in a homicide. Some will have doubts, especially when a case goes cold.  As we ask who and why would anyone want to kill Mary Plummer, we have to look at everyone, starting with those closest to her.

Avon, Indiana was a small town back in November of 1988 when a young mother of three was found shot to death in her running car, just a half of a mile from her home.  Mary Plummer was murdered without witness.  32 years later, her case remains unsolved.

In the last 18 months the Cold Case Chronicles team has covered 17 cases in over 70 episodes.  In each case the crew dives as deep as possible, researching and talking to family and local investigators where allowed.  Inevitably, some of these cases become very personal to the team.  We have built many relationships and are grateful for every single one of them.  Just like the families of victims we don’t stop seeking justice and truth.  We still follow up, dig for more answers, and every so often we see motion in the cases.  Here are the latest updates from a few of our cases.

Live from from Indianapolis’ Ash and Elm Cider Company, the Cold Case Chronicles Crew delivers the case of Trisha Meredith to live audience.  On April 7th, 1986, 19 year old Trisha was brutally murdered in an apartment laundry room on the Indianapolis west side.  Her live in boyfriend found her, but was he guilty?  Or was it a crime of opportunity?

These days, most of our cases come from listeners, or family members who want desperately to solve a case close to them.  The family of a missing Missouri MMA fighter wants answers before the case becomes cold.  This is the story of David Koenig, The Missing Giant.

Marcie Fuller Swinford deserves justice.  As do many missing and murdered victims.  Surely, in a free society adults have a right to be missing, to run away, or start over.  But where does that right end as the families and loved ones fear for their well being?  That is why many states have adopted laws forcing local law enforcement to investigate adult missing persons cases, so the critical time and evidence isn’t lost in the delay.  But still some cases seem to get priority over others.  What makes one life worth more than another?

This week, we hear from family:  Marcie’s niece, Courtney tell us what the case means to her.  We’ll update our relationship with the Sheriff’s Department and give a special insight from Marcie’s youngest son.  Why contrast sides of a story when we all have a common goal?

In the 1985 murder of Marcie Fuller Swinford there is no shortage of suspects.  Each with his own opportunity, but the motives raise eyebrows.  That's not all of Vigo County's secrets.

On August 2nd, 1985 Marcie Fuller Swinford went missing while out running errands.  The young mother's remains were found nine days later in a wooded area, miles from where the car she was driving was found.  More than 35 years later, the case remains unsolved.

Tawnya's Mother, Lori shares her thoughts and knowledge on her daughter's murder.  Time and lies have marred the case over the years.  Almost as much as police treating her like a runaway instead of a victim.

Sara's own words contradicted themselves in her recorded statement to police.  The timeline was further muddied by Steve's statements to Tawnya's mother.  The only thing clear, is that someone is lying.