Amber Wilde was a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay working on becoming a pediatrician. Amber kept a detailed diary throughout her life and this chronicle is now giving the police hope that this case can be solved. Clues in this diary lead to a suspect, but 20 years have passed with no arrests. What happened to Amber and why does her aunt believe she’s buried somewhere under the asphalt of Hwy 29?
Wednesday, September 23, 1998:
Amber was in a minor car accident on her way to school. Amber had rear-ended the car in front of her. Although the accident was minimal, she hit her head hard on the windshield and complained of an intense headache. The drivers exchanged phone numbers and the day continued for both. Unfortunately, this would be Amber’s last day.
Amber checks in with the medical staff at the school and they advise her that she may have received a concussion. She called her father and relayed the events to him and he promised to call periodically throughout the day to check on her. The last call he received from her was around 7 pm. He was scheduled to call her first thing in the morning to make sure that she was feeling ok before she went to class.
That call went unanswered as well as several others. A worried father went to her apartment to check on her and although he found nothing obviously disturbing, he knew something was wrong. His daughter was pregnant and she had been having issues with the father of her child.
A few days pass without any word before the police found Amber’s abandoned car parked in the parking lot of Lambeau Field. Strangely, the car was unlocked, the phone was still charging on the front passenger seat, and her purse was locked in the trunk. Nothing looked odd or out of place until her father looked closer. Amber Wilde is reported as 5′ 2″ – 5′ 4″. (Some people fuss over this discrepancy, but as a short girl myself, I find my height determined by my stilettos.) The father noticed the drivers’ seat was pushed all the way back. There was no way his daughter could have driven the car with the seat in that position.
Was this a clue or was this an intentional diversion? To make things even worse, two days before her disappearance Amber’s car had been serviced and the mileage had been noted at that time. Now an extra 900 miles were on the odometer. Where had this car been?
In Amber’s diary, she outlined the love affair she had been having with a man named Schneider. When she became pregnant this narrative changed drastically. She began to document their phone conversations. Schneider didn’t want his fiancé or his family to find out about Amber and he didn’t want a baby. He even tried to convince her, according to Amber, to have an abortion. She refused. Could this be the motive behind Amber’s disappearance? Or, could she have run off to start a new life? Her family says it’s not possible and the police tend to agree.
When police interview Schneider he denies everything claiming that he never touched her. His fiancé claims Amber was nothing more than a love struck teenager that had an infatuation with her man. Unfortunately, the phone records indicate that there were over 60 phone calls between Schneider and Wilde. Was he fighting for his innocence against a determined teen, or was the love affair a reality?
When Crime Watch Daily approached Schneider about this case he refused to talk. I’m sure that’s what his attorneys want him to do. What I find even more disturbing about this case is the comments by online skeptics. Some vilify the man before he can be proven guilty, but most vilify the victim claiming she had no right to approach Schneider’s family. She was a teenager that had been in love with an older man. Was he promising her the world? Who knows? But, whatever the case may be, it is never acceptable to murder someone.
As with all my cases, if you have any information please contact the Green Bay Police Department (920) 448-3200.
Check Out Synova’s Chasing Justice Video On This Case: (New Episodes Premiere on Tuesday 7pm Central)
Shattered: Behind Every Story Is A Shattered Life (Synova’s Case Files Series)
Follow the heart-rending cases Synova first wrote about on her blog in 2018. Filled with missing persons’ cases, unsolved homicides, and even serial killer cases, this book will give you a greater insight into the shattered lives behind every story. Cases Included in this book: Jayme Closs, Haley Owens, Josh Robinson, Timothy Cunningham, Carol Blades, Pam Hupp, Arthur Ream, Angela Hammond, The Springfield Three, Jennifer Harris, Danny King, Angie Yarnell, Jack Robinson, Madelin Edman, Alexis Patterson, Amber Wilde, Sandra Bertolas, Jennifer Casper-Ross, Crystal Soulier, Jody Ricard, Carmen Owens, Brandon Tyree McCullough & The I-70 Serial Killer
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A black SUV slowly pulled out of a driveway in Spanish Lake, MO. The vehicle is found 25 miles away in the roughest part of St. Louis. The door was slung open, the engine left running, and the driver was missing. What happened to this beautiful young college student? Seven years later her grieving parents still pray for answers.
Phoenix Coldon, 23 had recently moved back into her parent’s home in the Spanish Lake suburb of St. Louis Missouri. The deeply religious family upbringing had sheltered the young woman from the dangers of the world around her. On the outside, the smart, outgoing Phoenix had a bright future ahead of her. She was a fencing champion, a talented pianist, and made friends easily. She was surrounded by love, how could this sweet girl go awry? I wish I knew.
On December 18, 2011, Phoenix and her mother attended morning services at their local church. The pair made a stop on their way home but arrived in the early afternoon. Around 3 pm, her father noticed Phoenix walk out to her black SUV and pull out of the driveway. He didn’t think much about it until she didn’t return. What happened to his lovely daughter? Phoenix had lived away from home for a while, but as long as she lived under their roof, she never stayed out past 2 am. The next morning Phoenix was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, when Goldia Coldon tried to file a missing persons report she was informed her daughter was of age and the report wasn’t taken seriously. Goldia tried to explain that her daughter still lived at home and had always come home on time. Finally, the report was taken, but that wouldn’t be the only obstacle the parents would face. They quickly found that getting media attention was nearly impossible.
Within three hours of the SUV leaving the driveway, the vehicle was found abandoned in one of the roughest places in East St. Louis. The location was only 25 miles from her home, but it was a world away from the quiet life she led. No one could understand why she would go to East St. Louis. The vehicle brought on more questions, a few conspiracy theories, but unfortunately no answers.
For seven years it has been told this way:
The 1998 Chevy Bronco was found parked in the traffic lane on the corner of 9th St & St. Clair Ave, East St. Louis, Illinois. The driver’s door was open, and the engine was running. The initial reports claimed there wasn’t anything left in the vehicle. The 911 call came it at 5:27 pm on December 18, 2011, and the officer arrived on the scene at 5:35 pm. Here is where the problems begin. For seven long years, people were working with this story with these facts. It leads people to believe that poor Phoenix was pulled from her vehicle in a violent way. The Bronco was found next to Interstate 70 which is known as the human trafficking highway. This made investigators immediately think of this possible scenario. I’m not so sure, and I will tell you why.
When conducting interviews for the documentary “The Disappearance of Phoenix Coldon,” the hosts speak with the first officer on the scene. This interview would shake up the entire investigation. The attending officer claimed the vehicle was not running when he came upon it, and the driver’s door was not open. Where did this story come from then? Who knows?
The Double Life of Phoenix:
Investigations tend to kick up all your dirty little secrets and seems Phoenix wasn’t as saintly as initially described. Everyone has their problems, and it appeared the 23-year-old was struggling with her share of difficulties. Phoenix was homeschooled for most of her education and many wonder if she was too sheltered and just decided to break out and try something new. In fact, she did move out of the house when she started college. But, if her home life was so restricting and terrible, then why would she move back into her parents’ home in early 2011. This theory doesn’t hold water with me. There are many other ways to leave the nest.
Phoenix was leading a double life of sorts. After her disappearance, her parents discovered she kept a separate cell phone just to speak with friends she thought her parents wouldn’t approve of. Also when she had rented an apartment earlier, she wasn’t living with a female friend. Going against her religious upbringing, Phoenix was living with her boyfriend; Michael B. Supposedly, she was on the phone with Michael B. on the day she disappeared, but frankly, nothing seems for sure in this case. If Michael B. was the last person to talk to her, then why do investigators adamantly claim he wasn’t involved in her disappearance. It’s strange to hear an investigator say that they are 100% sure someone wasn’t involved. Maybe the guy was in jail, or in the hospital, I don’t know. But everything was so vague, and it’s hard to understand why the police wrote him off as a person of interest.
Continuing with Phoenix’s secrets, we also find out that she had been dating another man from school also named Michael. We will call him Mike#2. It was later determined that Mike #2 had a violent nature with women when his ex-girlfriend came forward to talk to investigators. She would eventually have to file a restraining order against him. Could Mike #2 have anything to do with Phoenix’s disappearance? The ex is unsure. He did seem to be overly interested in the case but said it was just because he had known her.
“Why are you worrying about someone who’s dead?”
Those are the words that fell from the lips of Mike #2 when his ex-girlfriend continued to question him about his interest in this case. How did he know she’s dead? More importantly, what are investigators doing about it?
Phoenix’s Best Friend:
When interviewed by the investigators for the documentary, Phoenix’s next door neighbor and best friend came forward to talk with the hosts. She claimed to know some things about her friend and had been afraid to say anything in the beginning. This friend claims Phoenix had grown paranoid in the last few months before her disappearance. She claimed Phoenix talked about leaving and even said she was afraid something terrible was going to happen to her. She claimed Phoenix was driving around with a large knife tucked in beside the drivers’ seat of her Bronco. Strangely, this knife wasn’t found in the abandoned vehicle.
Honestly, I don’t know what to do with this. Yes, there is evidence to show that Phoenix had gotten mixed up with a rough crowd, but why would the friend just now be showing up to talk? Why would she talk on camera if she were so afraid? She didn’t even ask for them to hide her identity. I don’t know. Maybe she is legit, but I find it funny when someone who’s afraid to come forward suddenly jumps into the limelight of television.
The Fateful Video:
When the hosts spoke with the family, they were given a bunch of evidence and documentation the family had collected over the past seven years. In this pile of evidence was a “selfie video” of Phoenix. In this video, we see the true nature of Phoenix’s mental anguish. She felt like she couldn’t turn to anyone and she just wanted to start over. After watching the film, it is apparent that Phoenix’s life was spiraling out of control. What had she gotten involved with? Why did she say she would have been better off to stay the way she used to be?
Investigators came back to the poor parents and said they believe the runaway theory. Of course, if this is true, she sure did a great job hiding her identity for seven years. I still think if she’s alive she was lured away by someone. I don’t believe she would go through all of this without stashing away some clothes and building an identity for herself ahead of time. Her family still thinks she was forced into the sex trade. They even interviewed local prostitutes and visited the strip clubs hoping someone would recognize their daughter.
Tragedy upon Tragedy:
During the most difficult time of their lives, the Coldon family should be surrounded by loving friends and supportive strangers. Instead, their misfortune has been compounded by grief upon grief. A few days after Phoenix went missing, Goldia received a phone call from a female claiming to be her daughter. Police tracked down the caller to find it was a 14-year-old prankster from California. Who would do such a thing?
If that weren’t bad enough, the Coldons spent every dime they had trying to investigate their daughter’s disappearance. When they had spent their savings and were nearly wiped out they got a tip out of Texas claiming their daughter was in a prostitution ring. This caller needed money to buy her out. Of course, the grief-stricken parents gave them the money only to find out it was another horrid hoax. This one left them nearly homeless. Their family home was behind, and the lender was threatening to foreclose. A stranger stepped in and helped negotiate a quick sale for the family. Although they avoided foreclosure, they still lost their family home.
“It’s just money, and it’s just a house,” Goldia said. “It wasn’t a home when she’s not there.”
Sightings & Rumors:
To make this case even more bizarre, the private investigator says there is evidence that Phoenix had been taking money from her parents’ safe and had found out she had two separate birth certificates. One certificate was with the Coldon name, and the other was with her mother’s maiden name. The parents’ deny this, but why would their own private investigator say this? Also, when tracking down the maiden name theory, investigators found a person by that name living in Alaska. They made the trip up there only to find out the person at the given address had never heard of Phoenix. Could that be a coverup? Could Phoenix really have run away and used a random address? Who knows.
If that’s not enough twists for you, here’s another one. Two years after Phoenix went missing one of her church friends was on an airplane coming home from Vegas when she saw Phoenix in a group of well-dressed women. She called out her name, and strangely the woman looked at her.
“Do I look like someone?” was the woman’s response. Two men were with the group, and the crowd moved past the stunned friend. Was this really Phoenix? The concerned woman immediately reported the incident to airport security. The entire place was searched, but no one found Phoenix or the group of people. Was this really Phoenix? Were the ladies high priced escorts and the men their bouncers, or was this a random group of people?
Through all the chaos, hoaxes, and turmoil Goldia and Lawrence Coldon are still searching for their precious baby girl. Where is Phoenix Coldon? Who took her? Did she go on her own? Is she still alive? These questions and more torment the poor mother causing panic attacks and even a heart attack. If you have any information or if you have seen Phoenix, please contact the St. Louis County Police Department 314-615-5317
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Chaos rules in a small Southeastern Missouri County. Madison County spans 500 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The county seat is Fredericktown with a population of approximately 4,000 people. This rural county should be a safe place in beautiful Americana, but it hides a dark secret. Fredericktown is one of the most dangerous places to live in America. Check out this quote from neighborhoodscout.com.
“With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Fredericktown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32.”
I started researching one case sent to me by a desperate grandmother. That case led me to fifteen more. Then I realized this county has had murder, corruption, and chaos since before the Wild West days. This book will start with a lynching by a Fredericktown mob in 1844. Hold onto your seats when you read this one. You’re in for a wild, chaotic ride through rural Missouri.
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Tracy Pickett vanished after a sleepover in Webb City, Missouri — and 33 years later, justice still hasn’t been served.
On the night of August 11, 1992, 14-year-old Tracy Pickett did something countless teens do — she went to a sleepover with friends. But by the next morning, Tracy had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a grieving mother and a community haunted by unanswered questions.
This unsolved disappearance remains one of Missouri’s most disturbing cold cases, with key suspects, suspicious sightings, and a chilling voicemail, but still no body — and no closure.
A Mother’s Worst Nightmare Begins
Glenda “Kay” Blaser, Tracy’s mother, never imagined she would be living every parent’s worst fear. She agreed to let her daughter spend the night with friends. But someone else showed up that night — two convicted felons. One of them, Ernest “Michael” Hensley, was dating one of the girls. He brought along a man known only as “Al.”
That “Al” was later identified as Lowell Andrew Billy, a convicted $ex offender with a dark past and a disturbing future.
The Chilling Voicemail and Tracy’s Sudden Disappearance
On August 12, 1992, Blaser received a bizarre, possibly pre-recorded voicemail:
“Tracy is on her way home to change her clothes.”
The message came twice. But Tracy never came home.
When Blaser went to the friend’s house, she found Tracy’s shoes in the closet — but no sign of her daughter. Witnesses say “Al” had given Tracy a ride home that morning in a distinctive black van with Oklahoma plates, louvers on the windows, and two sunroofs — a vehicle later tied to multiple sightings.
One witness reported hearing a girl scream, “Leave me alone!” in a nearby alley. Another saw “Al” cleaning out the van near Carthage, Missouri, around noon on the day of Tracy’s disappearance.
A Prime Suspect with a Violent History
Police eventually identified “Al” as Lowell Andrew Billy, a man with a violent record. He told investigators he dropped Tracy off in front of a pawn shop in downtown Joplin, but no witnesses or evidence support that claim.
A year later, Billy was arrested for kidnapping and $exu@l assault of another woman in Oklahoma. He served time but was later re-arrested for failing to register as a $ex offender. Despite being labeled the prime suspect in Tracy Pickett’s disappearance, insufficient evidence has kept authorities from charging him.
Renewed Investigations and Ongoing Search for Justice
In 2005, investigators drained a local mining pit, hoping to uncover evidence. In 2018, the Joplin Police Department searched several ponds linked to the other man who was at the sleepover — Ernest “Michael” Hensley, who has since passed away.
Police believe Hensley and Billy may have both been involved, but decades later, Tracy Pickett remains missing, and her case is still unsolved.
Help Bring Tracy Pickett Home
If you have any information about the disappearance of Tracy Pickett, please contact the Joplin Police Department at
(417) 623-3131.
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Shattered: Behind Every Story Is a Shattered Life
Behind every story I write is a life that’s shattered. These aren’t headlines. These are people. Those who try to twist headlines to generate more views are toying with someone’s trauma. I have raised awareness for 500 cases and helped generate leads for law enforcement. That’s my purpose and that’s what keeps me going.
This book has the top 40 cases that I’ve highlighted on my blog throughout the years. Please enjoy the book but remember these are real people with real trauma.
On December 4, 1974, the 17-year-old Laurie Partridge left school because she wasn’t feeling well. She couldn’t get a ride home, so she decided to walk the two miles home, but she would vanish without a trace.
Strangely, her concert tickets were used a few days later, but the police didn’t want to inconvenience the concert goers and wouldn’t allow the people to be stopped as they checked into the venue. When the family questioned the venue, they found Laurie’s two tickets had been used. Did Laurie’s kidnapper go to the Beach Boy’s concert with her tickets? Where is Laurie?
Laurie was a senior in high school and already had enough credits to graduate, so when she told them she didn’t feel good and wanted to leave, they let her go. She reportedly left the Joel E. Ferris High School around 12:30 pm. She said she wanted to lay down and rest before she had to go to work that evening. She worked at the Lincoln Heights Theater.
She walked through the first neighborhood on her way home, and a witness noticed her walking by as he shoveled his driveway. Then, she would pass a rural area with fields and woods. No one noticed her walk through the second neighborhood, and police think she may have been kidnapped in the rural area between the houses.
Laurie had two tickets to the Beach Boy’s concert on December 9, 1974. The family tried to get the police to watch for those ticket numbers at the event, but they refused to interrupt the crowd. They also refused to let the family do it. They sent two officers who spent a short time looking around for Laurie in case she showed up to the concert. She did not. Afterward, the venue verified that all the tickets had been turned in. Were the kidnappers at that concert? We will never know.
During the 50 years since this disappearance, people have tried to tie it to Ted Bundy and other various cases. There have been a couple of witnesses and theories, but none of these tips went anywhere. This poor family has been left without answers and is in the same spot as they were on that cold December day in 1974.
At first, the police said this was a runaway, and because of that mentality, they missed the opportunity to develop the one good lead in this case. Laurie was engaged to a 20-year-old man from the area. They were going to pick out rings in a day or two. They were planning a wedding after Laurie’s graduation in the spring. She was, by all accounts, a very stable teenager with big dreams and a life waiting for her after high school.
What can we do now? Share. That’s about it. The more we talk about these cases, the more pressure we can put on those who have information.
Check out my new Chasing Justice Episode about this case:
This episode is brought to you buy my latest book “Madhouse Madison County.” Follow this link to order your copy on Amazon today. Every book you buy helps me make more videos for you!
Chaos rules in a small Southeastern Missouri County. Madison County spans 500 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The county seat is Fredericktown with a population of approximately 4,000 people. This rural county should be a safe place in beautiful Americana, but it hides a dark secret. Fredericktown is one of the most dangerous places to live in America. Check out this quote from neighborhoodscout.com.
“With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Fredericktown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32.”
I started researching one case sent to me by a desperate grandmother. That case led me to fifteen more. Then I realized this county has had murder, corruption, and chaos since before the Wild West days. This book will start with a lynching by a Fredericktown mob in 1844. Hold onto your seats when you read this one. You’re in for a wild, chaotic ride through rural Missouri.
To say Steve Davis was a creative individual is a massive understatement. Not only did he play music and write songs, but he loved to make videos and one day dreamed of being a musician or even a Hollywood actor. Steve even dabbled in modeling for a while. His older sister was a backup musician for some very famous artists at the time. Unfortunately, Steve would never fulfill his creative goals because he would go missing on the weekend of Halloween 1989.
He left his job in downtown San Francisco that Friday afternoon telling his boss he had a great day. He stopped on the way home and grabbed a few groceries, and then ended up at his apartment in the Richmond District a short time later. He had some vague plans for the weekend, but no one was really sure where he was going.
His mother lived in Corte Madera, California. It was about a 30-minute bus ride away, and he may have had plans to stop by a childhood friend’s house along the way. His friend was named Steve as well. Steve Habernass. Habernass lived in Larkspur, not too far from his mother. He had a home recording studio, and Steve had recorded some music at his house. Steve told friends he was going to stop by and pick up his cassette tape. There were rumors that Habernass was having a Halloween party, and some people remembered Steve saying he was going to go, and others thought he was just going to pick up his tape and go on to his mom’s house. He never showed up at either place.
People started to worry when Steve’s boss called on Monday morning, saying that he had missed work. Steve never missed work. The family visited Steve’s apartment and found that it was in perfect condition. There were no signs of violence in the apartment whatsoever. They did find out that Steve had made it home after work. The receipt where he had bought some groceries was still sitting on the table. They also found the local newspaper sitting inside his apartment. So what happened? Did he open the door for the wrong person? Did he leave on his own accord and then meet foul play somewhere along the bus ride to his mom’s house? Did he ever get on the bus? We simply don’t have any answers.
Although the police did investigate Steve Davis’s disappearance, everyone was kind of hoping that he had run off and would return. When the days turned to weeks, to months, and then to years, that hope slowly faded away.
What happened to Steve Allen Davis?
Theories:
Angry Husband:
This 23-year-old man lived close to his family and kept in regular contact with them. He didn’t do drugs or alcohol. He wasn’t involved in gangs or violence. He didn’t live in what most people would call a dangerous lifestyle, but he was dating a married woman. Now, there is some contention within the family. Some people say they were just friends, and other people say they were dating. But either way, the girlfriend broke it off with Steve a week before her husband was to get out of jail. I contend that if they were just friends, she wouldn’t have anything to break off.
Needless to say, the husband was the first person the police investigated. But they come up with nothing, and they do not believe that he had anything to do with Steve’s disappearance.
A Friend’s Deadly Confession:
There was one more thing that made the police nervous. Steve told someone close to him that a friend of his had confided in him. This mysterious friend had confessed to murdering his wife. Steve never told who it was, and the police still to this day can’t figure out the identity of this mysterious friend. Most of Steve’s friends were in their early twenties and had never been married. So, who did Steve know who had been married and lost their wife? It’s another mystery surrounding this young musician.
Dumped in the Bay:
There is one more theory in this case. A local man named Larry Schwimmer was sitting at a bus stop not far from where Steve lived. Three armed men in a vehicle kidnapped Larry from the bus stop, tied him up, robbed him, and then threw him into the bay. Larry survived, and the story hit the newspapers. Steve’s father called Larry and talked to him for a good long while, hoping to find some kind of connection to his son. could this have been what happened to Steve? Again, we may never know.
Strange Conversations:
Some opportunities were missed at the beginning of this investigation because everyone was hoping Steve had just stepped away. And, there was a good reason for it. After Steve disappeared, conversations were remembered that seemed a little strange. His mother remembered having a conversation with Steve a few months earlier. Steve had asked her nonchalantly, “What would you do if I disappeared?”
His mother thought he was just having an emotional moment and tried to support him the best she could. She told him everyone felt like that every once in a while, and everything would be okay. The conversation turned the other topics, and it was immediately forgotten.
Shortly after Steve’s disappearance, a friend calls and talks to the investigators. He says that he remembers Steve asking him what it would take to get a new social security number. This may have been up to 2 years before he disappeared. Again, he wasn’t really sure when the conversation occurred. And again, at the time it didn’t seem all that serious of a conversation.
Was Steve trying to find a way to walk away from his life? If so, why? He didn’t have a contentious relationship with his family or friends. He had plenty of money and plenty of friends. He was chasing his dreams and fulfilling his goals. He seemed to be the least likely to run away. Was he actually in trouble? Was he fearful for his life? Did he know something bad was going to happen, so he was trying to outrun it? It’s been 36 years, and this poor family still has no answers.
Check out Synova’s Chasing Justice Episode About this Case: (New Videos Premiere Each Tuesday Night at 7pm Central)
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Tyler was a mild-mannered 16-year-old boy from Edmonds, Washington. He left his house at about 6:30 on the night of April 19th, 2016. He told his parents he was going to a youth meeting at a church less than a mile from his house. Sometimes, he would take his bicycle to these meetings, and other times, he would run. This time, he would never make it to the meeting, and he wouldn’t return home.
The family called the police by 3:00 a.m. that morning when they realized he had never come home and something was wrong. He left wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and running shoes. He was not dressed for the weather, and everyone was worried. The youth pastor informed the police that he hadn’t received a text message from Tyler that evening, so he wasn’t looking for him and didn’t realize he was missing. Normally, since he walked or rode his bike, Tyler would text the youth pastor and let him know he was on his way. But that night, he didn’t receive a text message. This was strange. Tyler’s phone was at the house. Later, someone down the road turned over video footage from their home surveillance system. It showed Tyler going in the opposite direction of the church. Did Tyler leave on his own accord? It would seem he did.
Missing person’s flyers go up all over the area, and a couple of weeks later, a man calls in a tip. He said he believed he had picked up Tyler hitchhiking along the road that night. Tyler had gotten off of the ferry and was hitchhiking. Tyler told the man that he was going to go hiking in the Olympic National Park. The man said he had a black backpack with him. (Please note that the backpack was not seen in the surveillance footage from earlier).
A short time later, the backpack was found near High Steel Bridge. Strangely, it had a couple of emergency blankets, a little bit of food, and a pair of sweatpants. We know that Tyler loved camping and hiking; a seasoned camper would have taken better provisions. They also found a ferry receipt in the bag. I contend that the receipt should be suspect. Did someone verify that the backpack was actually Tyler’s? If bought with cash, the receipt could technically belong to anyone.
Theories abound online as to what could have happened to this child. Most people think he ran away on his own accord and left the backpack by the bridge himself. After writing about 300 cases, my mind goes in a different direction. Did they thoroughly investigate the man who brought this tip? Could he have been a predator? Was the backpack conveniently placed in that location to establish a false narrative?
One online theory says that he may have traveled to this location because he was planning on committing suicide. I have a few questions. Did anyone check his internet search history? Did he show signs of depression online? Was he lured out by a predator? Did he leave a toxic home environment? Sadly, there is no information available online in this case. His Facebook page hasn’t even seen a new post since 2021. Why isn’t someone publicly pushing to solve this? Whatever the case, I don’t think this boy had the wherewithal, the contacts, or the cash to live on the lamb for 8 years. If he is still alive, somebody either has him in an abusive situation or assisted him in a benevolent manner. Whatever the case, somebody knows what happened to this teenage boy that night in April. It’s been 8 years. It’s time to come forward.
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Chaos rules in a small Southeastern Missouri County. Madison County spans 500 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The county seat is Fredericktown with a population of approximately 4,000 people. This rural county should be a safe place in beautiful Americana, but it hides a dark secret. Fredericktown is one of the most dangerous places to live in America. Check out this quote from neighborhoodscout.com.
“With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Fredericktown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32.”
I started researching one case sent to me by a desperate grandmother. That case led me to fifteen more. Then I realized this county has had murder, corruption, and chaos since before the Wild West days. This book will start with a lynching by a Fredericktown mob in 1844. Hold onto your seats when you read this one. You’re in for a wild, chaotic ride through rural Missouri.
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A local K.C. radio personality leaves for a college field trip in Chicago and never returns. “Opie Cunningham” from 95.7 The Vibe was going to a conference with 13 other students from the University of Kansas City. The group was scheduled to return home two days before Thanksgiving, 2006 but Opie wasn’t among them. Where’s Opie?
Jesse Ross, 19 was a sophomore at UKC and worked as a radio personality on a local station. With his flaming red hair, freckles, and slightly mischievous personality, Opie (as in Ron Howard’s character on the Andy Griffith Show) was an obvious nickname. Jesse carried this moniker into his radio career and became part of a segment called “Where’s Opie?”
For these shows, Jesse would broadcast from random points throughout the city, and the listeners would then be required to call in and guess his location. This quick-witted young man thrived on the radio waves, and just before his trip to Chicago, Jesse Ross had been promoted from intern to paid employee with the station.
In November 2006 Jesse was scheduled to attend a four-day conference with thirty other students and his professor. The meeting was set up like a mock United Nations conference, and over 1,200 students from across the nation would gather at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago for the event. Donald Ross, Jesse’s father, dropped his son off at the school in the wee hours of the morning and told his son goodbye. He never realized it would be the last time.
November 20, 2006, was the last full day of events, and everyone was attending little parties and meetings as the event wound down to a close. Jesse calls his mother and says he’s having a great time. He promises to call the next day when the group loads up in the van and starts their long drive home. A party was held that final night, but reports differ on the details. Some say the party lasted from 10 pm to 3 am, while others say it was held from midnight to 3 am. Whatever the case, there was alcohol involved, and in the middle of the party, a mock “Emergency Security Meeting” was called. All of this seems strange, but supposedly it had a purpose. Around thirty students attended this meeting, and the group took a break around 2:30 am.
Why was a bunch of kids called to a meeting at 2:30 in the morning to pretend to negotiate affairs of state? Seems strange.
The events were held in one building, and most of the group were staying at the 4 Points Sheratan Hotel half a mile away. The walkway between the venues was well-lit, heavily trafficked, and entirely covered by security cameras. What could go wrong? Hum. Let’s see about that. We have a group of underage kids drunk and walking after dark in one of the most dangerous cities in America. Oh, I have a great idea! Let’s call them to a meeting at 2:30 am.
During the break, Jesse is seen leaving the conference room by the security cameras in the hotel, but no one can say what happened next. Did he go to the room of another college student to party? Did he have an accident inside the hotel and it was covered up? No one can prove that Jesse left the building, and no security footage picked him up, walking back to his hotel room. What happened to this teenager?
Almost 18 years have passed, and no one can find him. Did he meet a predator on his way back? Did he stumble his way down to the bridge and fall into the river?
A new documentary titled, “When I Last Saw Jesse,” was released this past April at the K.C. Film Festival. Local filmmaker, Brian Rose spent six years trying to interview those college kids at the conference and claims to have a new witness. He doesn’t disclose what type of information this witness gave, so we can only hope it will help solve this strange case.
If you have any information on this case, please contact the Chicago P.D. at (312) 744-8266.
Synova’s Video Replay: (click on picture to watch)
Shattered: Behind Every Story Is A Shattered Life (Synova’s Case Files Series)
Follow the heart-rending cases Synova first wrote about on her blog in 2018. Filled with missing persons’ cases, unsolved homicides, and even serial killer cases, this book will give you a greater insight into the shattered lives behind every story. Cases Included in this book: Jayme Closs, Haley Owens, Josh Robinson, Timothy Cunningham, Carol Blades, Pam Hupp, Arthur Ream, Angela Hammond, The Springfield Three, Jennifer Harris, Danny King, Angie Yarnell, Jack Robinson, Madelin Edman, Alexis Patterson, Amber Wilde, Sandra Bertolas, Jennifer Casper-Ross, Crystal Soulier, Jody Ricard, Carmen Owens, Brandon Tyree McCullough & The I-70 Serial Killer
Follow me on Rumble:
Youtube has started restricting my videos because of their true crime content. This hinders my channel’s monetization, sure, but more importantly it makes it hard to get these stories the publicity they need. Please consider following me on Rumble to help avoid these issues and to raise awareness about these unsolved cases.
If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Weekly True Crime Newsletter. You will receive exclusive content directly in your inbox. As a gift for joining you will also receive the Grim Justice e-book free.
A 21-year-old mother goes out for a night on the town. She hadn’t been out since the baby had been born and was looking for a good time. Christina Whittaker ended up having too much to drink and would be kicked out of more than one bar that evening. Was the alcohol mixing with her bipolar medication and causing problems? We may never know.
Christina was last seen leaving a bar crying, trying to get someone to help her get a ride home. While the rumor mill fingers a local hood and claims Christina was trafficked to the town of Peoria, Illinois there’s no solid evidence to verify this. While the family clings to hope with all of the unverified sightings, not one shred of evidence has come forward to prove Christina ever left the town of Hannibal that night.
There are two pieces of tangible evidence in this case, however. Her phone and keys were found just down the road from the bar. This is also the site of what looked like a hit and run accident. There were red paint fragments on a car that looked like it had been hit. No one really investigated this, but a local Hood would later confess to a girlfriend that Christina died on the road that night and they threw her in the back of the red pickup truck they were in. Supposedly, Christina had called a local man and asked him to take her home. They flew around the corner and Christina was stumbling in the road and they hit her.
There is so much quiet corruption and chaos in the small town that no one wants to talk about, but this just lends itself to the rumor mill. So many theories in this case have come up in the last 13 years, but after researching this case there are still only two pieces of evidence. Those two pieces point to a local Hood named Danny Baker. Unfortunately, Baker died on January 4th, 2017. Unless we can find out where they stashed her body that night, the mother will still cling to the hope every time someone sees a young redhead in Peoria Illinois. No one can blame her for this she is a grieving mother. However, sometimes it’s best to let go of the sensationalism and go back to the basics of police work. Like I always said, “When a case becomes too fantastical it’s time to step back and look at the practical.”
Someone needs to investigate this case and find the body of Christina Whittaker. Then maybe the mother can grieve properly. Check out my True Crime Tuesday video below for more information on this case. Also, check out the documentary series titled Relentless. I will put a link below to this documentary created by Christina Fontana. Whatever you do, make sure and share this story. Together we can make a difference.
Each week Synova highlights obscure cold cases on her blog as a victim’s advocate. She never charges for her services. If you’d like to help support Synova in this worthy cause please check out the affiliate links below. By purchasing one of her books or using these links, you will be supporting Synova’s work on cold cases and will ensure her ability to continue to give a voice to the victim’s family. Thank you.
Throughout this show, Synova will reference a documentary created by Christina Fontana. Check out the Relentless Documentary on Discovery+ using this link
If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Weekly True Crime Newsletter. You will receive exclusive content directly in your inbox. As a gift for joining you will also receive the Grim Justice e-book free.
Youtube has started restricting my videos because of their true crime content. This hinders my channel’s monetization, sure, but more importantly it makes it hard to get these stories the publicity they need. Please consider following me on Rumble to help avoid these issues and to raise awareness about these unsolved cases.
He was supposed to be released from the Humboldt County Jail in time for dinner. He called his mom to let her know that all of the charges were dropped and he was coming home. He would never make it. Instead, he was beaten to a bloody pulp and strung up in his cell. The case was labeled a suicide and dismissed. Who did this to Raymond? Why wasn’t he allowed to go home?
Raymond Johnathan Eacret, 34 was arrested on June 19, 2015, for a misdemeanor parole violation and was scheduled to be released by June 26, 2015. He wouldn’t survive that long. He was found dead within hours of his release. Immediately conflicting reports arose around this young man’s death. At first, they said he was found hanging in his cell. Then it was reported that he was found hanging in the medical unit of the prison which a fellow inmate claims its impossible to do in that facility. A witness claims to have seen them bring Raymond into the Medical unit beaten, bruised, and unconscious.
The distraught mother tried to see her son, but the coroner refused until after an autopsy was completed. Raymond Eacret a card-carrying member of the Yurok Tribe was denied his final rights as a Native American. When Sheila was finally able to see her son she was shocked by the state of his body. He had two black eyes, a broken nose, and was covered in bruises. It looked as if he’d been kicked in the back and his ribs broken. They were left protruding through the skin. There was a three-inch deep cut across part of his neck, but not all the way around it. A secondary bruise circled his neck but was much lighter in color making you wonder if someone had strangled him to cover up a beating.
A few hours before his death, Raymond had called his mom to tell her not to worry. The charges against him had been dropped and he would be home by dinner time. If this were a suicide why would he call his mother? Why would he commit suicide when he was being released and the charges were dropped? It didn’t make sense. Raymond had struggled with meth addiction but was trying desperately to start over. Why would he commit suicide now? How did he get broken ribs and bruises from a suicide?
If you’d like more information check out my True Crime Tuesday Video where the team and I cover this case along with a few more from this same area.
Youtube has started restricting my videos because of their true crime content. This hinders my channel’s monetization, sure, but more importantly it makes it hard to get these stories the publicity they need. Please consider following me on Rumble to help avoid these issues and to raise awareness about these unsolved cases.
If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Weekly True Crime Newsletter. You will receive exclusive content directly in your inbox. As a gift for joining you will also receive the Grim Justice e-book free.
Each week Synova highlights obscure cold cases on her blog as a victim’s advocate. She never charges for her services. If you’d like to help support Synova in this worthy cause please check out the affiliate links below. By purchasing one of her books or using these links, you will be supporting Synova’s work on cold cases and will ensure her ability to continue to give a voice to the victim’s family. Thank you.
Shattered: Behind Every Story Is A Shattered Life (Synova’s Case Files Series)
Follow the heart-rending cases Synova first wrote about on her blog in 2018. Filled with missing persons’ cases, unsolved homicides, and even serial killer cases, this book will give you a greater insight into the shattered lives behind every story. Cases Included in this book: Jayme Closs, Haley Owens, Josh Robinson, Timothy Cunningham, Carol Blades, Pam Hupp, Arthur Ream, Angela Hammond, The Springfield Three, Jennifer Harris, Danny King, Angie Yarnell, Jack Robinson, Madelin Edman, Alexis Patterson, Amber Wilde, Sandra Bertolas, Jennifer Casper-Ross, Crystal Soulier, Jody Ricard, Carmen Owens, Brandon Tyree McCullough & The I-70 Serial Killer
On the day of the funeral, a grieving sister received the worst of phone calls.
“I’m sorry. I killed the wrong Sharon Jones,” the caller hung up before she could get more information. What happened to the ECSU student in dorm room #125 on March 4, 1984? How did she end up strangled with a belt and tied to her own bedpost? Forty years and still no one knows why.
Sharon B. Jones, 21 returned to the ECSU campus early from spring break to prepare for her student teaching job. She arrived around 9:30 pm and spoke to the Assistant Housing Director, Herbert Williams to gain entry into the Mitchell Lewis Dorm on the S.E. side of the campus. Williams and his cousin Adrian Douglas escorted the woman to her room.
Monday morning Sharon’s body was discovered in the room. She was naked and lying face down. She had been strangled with a white belt tied to a bedpost. There was evidence of blunt force trauma above the right eye and bruising above the left ear. Strangely the window was broken from the inside of the room leaving glass outside on the ground. A small amount of blood was found on the windowsill. Detectives found a bloody dumbbell under one of the beds when searching the room.
It seemed like the case was doomed from the beginning. Williams and Douglas told investigators that Jones was nervous walking to her room alone when she noticed a light above her dorm room when no one was supposed to be there. Investigators researched the light and found there was one other woman who had stayed on campus during spring break. Her name was Angela Jones. (No Relation)
Angela was dating a 31-yr-old man by the name of Delantry Terrial Tafton. Tafton was somewhat of a campus troublemaker and had recently received a 14-week suspension. Although he wasn’t supposed to be on campus, he had spent the night with Angela and left around 7 am the next morning. Both Angela and “Tee” claimed a stranger had knocked on their door around 11 pm asking for their names.
The police chief stated within days that the motive must have been malice or jealousy since they couldn’t find evidence of a robbery and the sexual assault tests were inconclusive. They dialed in on Tafton and refused to look elsewhere. This hasty rush to a motive effectively eliminated other possible suspects and is most likely the reason why this case is still cold 40 years later.
During the chaos that engulfed the campus after the brutal murder, the funeral arrangements were made for Sharon Beatrice Jones. On the day of the funeral, Sharon’s sister Lisa gets a phone call from a stranger. The man sounded young. Before she could say anything, the man pleaded his case.
“I’m sorry. I killed the wrong Sharon Jones.”
Before the confused woman could respond the line went dead. Lisa didn’t know what to think and now three decades later no one knows why Sharon died or who killed her. I realize Tafton shouldn’t have been on campus, but I’m wondering why no one thought it was suspicious for two men to escort one girl to her dorm room all because of a light. Did anyone investigate Williams and his cousin? Why was his cousin there anyways? Did he work there?
If you have any information on this case, please contact the Elizabeth City Police Department at (252) 335-4321
This blog post is an excerpt from Synova’s book: Shattered
Shattered: Behind Every Story Is A Shattered Life (Synova’s Case Files Series)
Follow the heart-rending cases Synova first wrote about on her blog in 2018. Filled with missing persons’ cases, unsolved homicides, and even serial killer cases, this book will give you a greater insight into the shattered lives behind every story. Cases Included in this book: Jayme Closs, Haley Owens, Josh Robinson, Timothy Cunningham, Carol Blades, Pam Hupp, Arthur Ream, Angela Hammond, The Springfield Three, Jennifer Harris, Danny King, Angie Yarnell, Jack Robinson, Madelin Edman, Alexis Patterson, Amber Wilde, Sandra Bertolas, Jennifer Casper-Ross, Crystal Soulier, Jody Ricard, Carmen Owens, Brandon Tyree McCullough & The I-70 Serial Killer
This book has recently been updated and now has 40 cases for you to read!
Follow me on Rumble:
Youtube has started restricting my videos because of their true crime content. This hinders my channel’s monetization, sure, but more importantly it makes it hard to get these stories the publicity they need. Please consider following me on Rumble to help avoid these issues and to raise awareness about these unsolved cases.
If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Weekly True Crime Newsletter. You will receive exclusive content directly in your inbox. As a gift for joining you will also receive the Grim Justice e-book free.
