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REAL CRIMES -
REAL CASES. Real cover-up and
corruption by law enforcement. Real family frustration and heartbreak. |
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A Resource for Investigative
Reporters and TV Producers Professional
writers, publishers, and TV producers, with an authentic interest in doing
stories about individual cases, can contact the NM Justice Project at justiceproject@comcast.net to
be put in touch with the families through their private investigators.
Tipsters can use this same e-mail address to get information to the
families. Bestselling true crime writers Ann Rule (Every Breath You Take; Small
Sacrifices, etc.) and Jerry Bledsoe (Bitter Blood; Death By Journalism,
etc.) are frequent visitors to this website. Newly posted
cases have red lettering in the left column; updates are in red lettering
in the right column | |
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"HOW CAN YOU BREAK THE LAW
WHEN YOU ARE THE LAW?" This web site originated in As this core group of families began to compile their reports of misfeasance and malfeasance, families of murder victims from other states got wind of that effort and began to contribute their own cases of cover-up and corruption. It is the hope of these families that, by sharing their loved ones' horror stories, they may be able to shine the light of truth on a Justice System that is very different from what is portrayed on TV "cop shows." A message board is provided to readers for discussion of the individual cases presented below. Click here to view the message board. Click here to enter your comment onto the message board. When possible, the families of the victims will respond to questions and/or comments. Because of the overwhelming response to several individual cases, we have installed separate message boards for posts that relate specifically to the following: Tom Stump & Diana Harris Cases: Click here to review the message board or here to enter your comment. Ronda Reynolds Case: Click here to review the message board or here to enter your comment. John Petrazzuoli Case: Click here to review the message board or here to enter your comment. | |
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N M Case Kaitlyn Arquette Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Kaitlyn, 18, was chased down in her car and shot to death. The Albuquerque Police Dept. dubbed the shooting a "random drive-by," despite extensive evidence that Kaitlyn was deliberately murdered because she was preparing to blow the whistle on an Asian crime ring whose activities were protected by certain police officers. Excerpt from the book, Who Killed My Daughter?, by Kaitlyn's mother, Lois Duncan. Update: Kaitlyn's case was featured on "Good Morning America" and in People Magazine and the Albuquerque Journal. Psychic Reading by Robert Petro. New Input Update: July 16, 2004, APD Cold Case Squad reopens Kait's case. Visit Kait's new expanded site. |
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N M Case Russell Cage Bloomfield
Police Dept. Farmington
Police Dept. |
Police assert Russell shot himself in the side of the head, and the bullet exited, made a 86 degree turn, and penetrated a wall. Russell stood 5’10” and the hole in the wall is 4‘ from the ground. Also, Russell was right-handed, and the entrance wound appears to be on the left side of his head. Can this really be suicide? ? Jan. 24, 2004, Russell's case was featured in Farmington Daily Times. |
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N M Case Troy Pino Santa
Rosa Police Dept. New
Mexico State Police |
Troy died following a brutal assault by his
girlfriend’s ex-husband. The
cops who witnessed the assault deny it took place, although there were
seven other witnesses. Is
that because one cop is the assailant’s nephew and the other the
assailant’s best friend? Update:
March 21, 2003, Troy's case was featured in the Santa Rosa
News. Update: April,
2004, family petitions grand jury to investigate Santa Rosa PD. Update: June 2004, petition is
granted. |
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N M Case Teresa Reyes Albuquerque Police Dept. |
On the night Teresa Reyes disappeared from her Albuquerque home, she left an unlisted phone number hidden in a hole in a stuffed doll. Whose number is it, and why won't the Albuquerque Police Department follow up on it? Is Teresa alive or dead? Update: July 13, 2002, Teresa's case was featured in the Albuquerque Tribune |
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N M Case Peter Klunck
Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Peter Klunck was shot in the back, allegedly "in self-defense," by an Albuquerque Police Officer whose hobby was robbing banks. Was Officer Matt Griffin's true motive for killing Peter to keep him from turning Griffin in as "The Ninja Bandit." Psychic Reading by Betty Muench. Excerpt about this case from the upcoming book, The Tally Keeper, by Lois Duncan. |
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N M
Case Harriet
Moldov-Taylor Albuquerque Police Dept. |
The Medical Investigator ruled that Harriet, a disabled woman who lived alone, died from strokes and blood loss due to a violent sexual attack. So why do police insist her injuries were self-inflicted and refuse to follow up on the OMI’s finding of “homicide”? Nov. 2003, Harriet’s was featured in the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Tribune. |
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Killer Convicted!! NM Case Stephane Murphey Rio Rancho D.P.S. |
Stephane was raped and murdered in her home in Rio Rancho, NM, in April, 1999. It was only after years of relentless pressure by Stephane's family and the intervention of an investigative reporter that police finally agreed to submit DNA evidence for testing. Update: July, 2002. David F. Bologh was arrested and arraigned as a result of that DNA evidence. Bond was set at $1 million. Feb. 2005, a judge declared the key jailhouse statement that incriminated Bologh inadmissible, because police did not have him sign a waiver of his rights and misled him about why they were questioning him. March 2006, Bologh was convicted and sentenced to 21 yrs. on a plea bargain. Family statements at sentencing. |
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NM Case Caroline Ferraro Rio Rancho D.P.S. |
Caroline, 18, was sexually assaulted at knife-point by a man who broke into her bedroom. Other local women were similarly assaulted. Police had a suspect they felt certain was the perpetrator. Why did they tell the crime lab NOT to process the semen on the bed sheets to compare with the suspect's DNA, allow the suspect to leave the state, and destroy all the evidence, including the rape kit? |
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N M Case Benny
Esquivel Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Benny Esquivel, 14, was shot in the neck and survived seven and a half years as a quadriplegic before he died of complications from respirator use. Benny's death has now been ruled a homicide, and his father claims to know the identity of his killers. Is it too late for the Albuquerque Police Department to arrest them? |
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N M Case Stephanie Houston New Mexico State Police |
Stephanie Houston's jealous and abusive boyfriend ran her over with his
truck when he suspected her of seeing another man. Why do the State Police
insist Stephanie's death was an accident when the medical examiner has
labeled it a homicide? Updates: July 2002,
Stephanie's father was charged with "stalking" for attempting to obtain
information about his daughter's killer; March 15, 2003, Stephanie's case
was featured in the Albuquerque
Journal; May 2003, the case has been reopened and will be investigated
as a homicide; Dec. 18,2003, Patrick Murillo was indicted
for vehicular homicide.
April, 2004, family petitions
grand jury to investigate NMSP.
July 9, 2004, Jury Acquits
After Prosecutor Fails To Prosecute. |
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N M Case April/Spring Miller Albuquerque Police Dept. |
April Miller's body was found in an alley, nine years after the unsolved murder of her sister, Spring Miller. The mother of the two girls has many questions about the circumstances of their unrelated deaths. And why won't the Albuquerque Police investigate the mysterious "Roland," the last person to see April alive? |
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N M Case Melanie McCracken New Mexico State Police |
State Police told the media that Melanie McCracken died in a car
accident. Her husband, (a State Police officer), claimed his wife died of
cancer. A medical expert determined the cause of death was "homicidal
suffocation." What is the real story? Update:
May
3, 2002, Melanie's case was featured on "NBC Dateline" winning the Edward
R Murrow Award for investigative reporting. 10/31/03, NMSP Lt. Mark McCracken was indicted
for the first degree murder and evidence tampering. Grand jurors also requested that
another grand jury be empanelled to review
the conduct of the NMSP investigators. 4/04, family petitions
grand jury to investigate NMSP.
12/30/04, McCracken won't
stand trial. 1/8/05, outcry for
reform in NM. |
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Killers Convicted!! N M Case Nathan Romero Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Nathan was stabbed to death in the street and found with a Vietnamese medallion clutched in his hand. Why did the Albuquerque PD not collect that important piece of evidence from the coroner and why did they refuse to arrest the Asian gang members who were identified by witnesses as Nathan's killers - until Nathan's mother threatened the City with a lawsuit? |
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N M Case Gabino George Venegas New Mexico State Police |
Gabino Venegas was killed by a hit and run driver. Did the State Police
drop off the unsolved homicide because a witness identified the car that
left the scene as a law enforcement vehicle? Update: Jan.
24, 2004, Police agree to reopen case after Real Crimes press conference
-- Albuquerque Tribune
and Albuquerque Journal. |
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N M Case Ramona
Duran Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Albuquerque Police say Ramona Duran died of "an accidental drug overdose." Ramona's family believes that Ramona was murdered, because she was a threat to important people involved in the local drug scene. Who is right? |
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N M Case Stephen
Haar Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Stephen Haar died after being shot in the back while lying on the floor on his stomach. Albuquerque Police say they can't charge the admitted killer, because he claims self-defense. Informants told the family that police were involved in the murder. What does the evidence indicate? |
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N M Case Sal
Martinez Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Sal Martinez was shot to death at a party. Albuquerque Police say they can't charge the admitted killer, because he claims self-defense, although Sal wasn't carrying a weapon, nor was anyone else at the party except the killer. Is the killer being protected? If so, why and by whom? |
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N M Case Kristopher
Gray Navajo Tribal Criminal Investigators & F.B.I. |
Kris's body was found beside a pump jack on the Navajo reservation.
Tribal investigators told the family Kris was beaten to death. The OMI
report says he "accidentally fell from a height." The FBI says he walked
into a revolving pump jack, (although scene investigators stated in their
reports that the pump jack was not in operation). The embalmer informed
Kris's mother that Kris had a fresh stab wound under his rib cage. How did
Kris really die, and why was information about the stab wound withheld
from the OMI and police reports?
Jan. 24, 2004, Kris's case was featured in Farmington
Daily
Times. |
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N M Case Tyrone
Tsosie Navajo Tribal Criminal Investigators |
Tyrone was found brain dead on the roadside. Police told his mother, “He got tired and lay down and a car ran over him.” They said the car was so hot that Tyrone’s nylon jacket melted onto his body. So why did the autopsy describe no injuries except a blunt force blow to the back of the head? |
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N M Case John Sherman Sandoval Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
John was found, slashed and stabbed to death, in the front seat of his
van in Rio Rancho, NM. Sheriff's deputies transferred John's body to the
back of the van before taking scene photos, and insisted his death was a
suicide, despite a finding of "homicide" by a former head of forensics at
the Menninger clinic. What's going on here? Psychic Reading by
Nancy Myer. Updates: June, 2002, John's case was reopened and will
be investigated as a homicide, thanks to the intervention of an
investigative reporter; July,
2002, the lead detective was indicted on
18 charges of sexual misconduct with a 5-year old
child; Jan. 17,
2003, the new sheriff, J. P. Trujillo agreed to reopen John's case and
then discovered that his predecessor had removed
all information from the case file.. |
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Killer Convicted!! N M Case Crystal Houston Socorro Police Dept. |
Crystal was found dead in her home, severely beaten with blunt force injuries to her head, just 14 months after the death of her sister, Stephanie. A prison escapee, who had been in Crystal's home on the night of her death, was later found in another city with Crystal's car, trying to cash Crystal's checks. Yet police say he can't be prosecuted because Crystal had drugs in her system. Update: April 2005, As a result of a DNA semen match and the testimony of an eyewitness, the prison escapee, Ramon Lopez, has been charged with murder. July 12, 2006, Lopez was convicted. |
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N M Case Josh Vihel Albuquerque Police Dept. |
Josh,16, died at a party, allegedly of alcohol poisoning. But a tipster informed his family that Josh was slipped GHB (date rape drug), beaten and robbed, and his body was removed from the premises. Police say that former DA Bob Schwartz will not allow them to investigate the adult males who threw the party. Why not? Update: April, 2002, the Vihels' civil suit against the men who threw the party was settled for $100,000. |
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MS
Case
Nichole LaDue
January
Pass Christian
Police Dept.
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Did Nikki commit suicide? Was she shot by her jealous husband because she spent the day with another man? Or was she killed because of her knowledge of organized crime and interstate drug trafficking, linked to the Grand Casino in Gulfport, MS, where she worked? Update: May 2005, PCPD Officer Tom Putsay, chief investigator in Nikki's case, has resigned from the force after being accused of child molestation. May, 2007, Putsay is convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison. |
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OR
Case
Deschutes Co. Sheriff's
Dept.
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Shawn, with half his head blown off, walks across the room to bleed out on a sofa. Shawn's dog, alleged beneficiary of a $100,000 insurance policy, is confiscated by the man who finds Shawn's body. The Sheriff's Department does no investigation. The coroner determines "suicide" without ever seeing the body. Is there something wrong with this picture? |
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TX Case Joshua Robinson
McGregor Police Dept.
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Joshua died at night in a park with a swing chain around his neck. Police insist it was suicide. If so, why was Joshua found, not suspended, but kneeling on the ground, and why are police reports filled with contradictions? Is it possible that Joshua was killed during a confrontation with cops who tried to force him to leave the park, and his alleged "suicide" was a cover-up by the department? |
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LA
Case
Bossier City Police Dept.
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Greg died of a drug overdose in the home of a convicted dealer who was on probation. That dealer identified a second dealer, who had threatened to kill Greg, as the source of the drugs. A state statute says that if someone dispenses or distributes a CDS that causes a death, that supplier is guilty of second degree murder. Why were the dealers not prosecuted? |
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DE
Case Warren
Pritchett Delaware
State Police
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Warren died after being run down by a truck while
riding his bicycle. His
killer, Gregory Keiser, has a long criminal history and 14 driving
violations. Did the AG’s
office change the charge of “criminally negligent homicide” to “careless
driving” because of their discovery that Keiser worked as a snitch for the
State Police? Update: June
25, 03, Delaware Senate passed the Warren Pritchett Act increasing the
penalty for careless driving causing death. Dover
Post |
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CA
Case Brooks
Black Nevada
Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
Brooks was shot in the back while hunting wild
pigs. Was the shooting an
accident? If so, who was
responsible, and why do the members of the hunting party tell such
different stories? Jan. 9,
2004, Brooks's case was featured in Press
Tribune. Mar. 24, 2004,
investigative update has been added to this case report. |
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CA
Case
David Dagon Botts
Del Norte Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
Dag, 14, was caught in the rapids of the Jed Smith River. His mother, a swift water rescue tech, towed him to safety. Then Dag's sister's new boyfriend, James Steele, grabbed Dag under the arms and hauled him back out 30 feet into the rapids and abandoned him. Police closed this case as an "accidental drowning." Is the fact that James's mother works for the DA's office a factor in that decision? Feb. 17, 2007, Dag's story was featured in Poor Magazine. |
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MD
Case Susan Hurley Harrison Baltimore
Co. Police Dept. MD State
Police |
Susan vanished following a fight with her allegedly abusive estranged husband, Jim Harrison. Two years later she was found in a shallow grave, dead from a blow to the head. Despite circumstantial evidence implicating Jim, and his failure to pass a polygraph test, the Attorney General’s office refuses to prosecute. Is Jim guilty? If not, who is? Excerpt from the book, Finding Susan, by Susan's sister, Molly Moran. Update: Susan's case was featured in the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Magazine. |
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Killer Convicted!! MN
Case Gregg
Meissner Clay Co.
Sheriff's Dept.
Hawley
Police Dept. MN
BCA |
Shawn Padden was convicted of Gregg’s murder, but questions remain: Did police try to protect Padden because he was a confidential informant? Is Padden guilty of other hanging deaths as well? And, most bewildering, who stole Gregg’s organs and scooped out his brain? |
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WA
Case Ronda
Reynolds Lewis Co.
Sheriff's Dept. |
Ronda allegedly shot herself in the head, after a heated fight with her husband. The husband, 15 feet away, says he slept through the gunshot, but was awakened an hour later by his alarm clock. When the Sheriff’s Dept. closed the case as a suicide, the lead detective quit the department rather than participate in a cover up. Excerpt from the book, Justice for Ronda, by Ronda's mother, Barbara Thompson Update: More suspicious Lewis Co. "suicides". New Input Ronda's mother has filed a civil suit against the coroner. Update: Jan. 23, 2008, Court of Appeals unanimously reversed trial court decision. |
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NV
Case Ricky
Dyer Storey
Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
Ricky was in the process of trying to disassociate himself from a group of new acquaintances who were involved in drugs, Dungeons and Dragons, and alleged links to the Occult. Was Ricky’s death a suicide, or was he murdered? Psychic Reading by Sylvia Browne. |
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MS
Case Nick
Swigart Lafayette
Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
Nick burned to death in a car fire, at 2:30 a.m., in a vacant field 25 miles from home. Police closed the case as an “accident.” Nick’s family asks, “What was he doing there? How did the fire start? And why were his car keys and money clip missing?” |
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SC Case John Petrazzuoli Jr. Horry Co. Police Dept.,SC Horry Co. Fire Dept., SC |
Johnny was shot and then burned to death in his car. Police promptly
closed the case as a suicide/accident. But what about the note in Johnny's
briefcase, that said, "If you fuck me over, you're DEAD!"? Psychic
Reading by Betty Muench.
Update: May, 2003, an eyewitness has come forward with
information indicating murder and arson which has been attached to the
case report. New
Input |
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MA Case Valarie Fiorenza Saugus Police Dept. |
Valarie, who was preparing to leave her abusive boyfriend, Saugus Police Officer Paul Bennett, for another man, was found hanged in a closet in Bennett's basement. Was it suicide? Update: Valarie's case was featured in the Boston Globe and on NBC's news magazine "NOW with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric." |
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WI Case Natalie Wagner Milwaukee Police Dept. |
Natalie, who was preparing to leave her abusive boyfriend, Milwaukee Police Officer, Michael Quigley (aka Michael Austin) for another man, had her head blown off by a shotgun. Was it suicide? Update: Michael Quigley/Austin's ongoing behavior problems were featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September, 14 and December 15, 2004. New Input |
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MI Case Ruth Sharon Hoffman River Rouge Police Dept. Wayne Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
Ruth vanished the day after being beaten and brutally raped by the owner of a local "cops bar" and his buddy. Is that why River Rouge Police only pretended to file a missing person report and told Ruth's daughter not to "bug them" about her missing mother? Ruth's official website. |
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FL Case Joshua Whittier Santa Rosa Co. Sheriff's Dept.
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Joshua's body was found on Navarre Beach in front of Juana's Pagoda Bar, where he and under-age companions had been served liquor non-stop for about 14 hours. The Sheriff's Dept. quickly closed this case as an accidental drowning. So why do physical evidence and statements from witnesses indicate that Josh was the victim of a drug related murder and his body was dragged through the sand to the water line? Who is being protected -- the killers or the owners of the bar? |
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FL Case Shawn McMillan Tarpon Springs Police Dept. FL Dept. of Law Enforcement |
Shawn was shot in the head with the gun of Dan Nordfork, a drunken cop. Tarpon Springs Police immediately sent out the code word "Special Circumstances," meaning the suspect was one of their own. Is that why they instantly labeled Shawn's death a suicide and pretend that they had conducted forensic tests that were not performed? ABC 28 Investigates. Shawn's personal website |
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FL Case Diana Lynn Harris Monroe
Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
Diana vanished from the “party house” of attorney,
Mitchell Denker, immediately after telling a friend that a big drug bust
was coming down and she was afraid the phones were tapped. Diana’s daughter has now
discovered that subjects linked to her mom’s disappearance are also linked
to the disappearance of Tom Stump (see below). Neither body has ever been
found. Can this be a
coincidence? Or did Diana and
Tom both become threats to the same people? Update: Diana's case was featured on
"Missing Pieces" radio show and Hot Psychology magazine. Excerpt from upcoming book,
Two Gone Missing |
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FL Case Tom Stump Monroe Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
Tom vanished while preparing to go on vacation with his family. The
case detective concluded that Tom: "Committed suicide, relocated to an
unknown area or died as a result of accident, negligence or homicide."
What does the evidence indicate?
Updates: Timeline of
activities at time of Tom's disappearance; Jan. 31, 2002, Key West the
Newspaper featured Tom's case along with two
letters. July 03, Det.
Norman refuses to comply with State Attorney request to subpoena Stump
phone records.
New
Input. Excerpt from
upcoming book, Two Gone Missing |
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FL Case Kevin McGinley Florida Highway Patrol |
Kevin McGinley was found dead at the junction of Highway 275 and Armenia Avenue in Tampa, Florida. Physical evidence and witness reports indicate Kevin was viciously and brutally attacked for fifteen minutes before being pushed to his death beneath the wheels of an oncoming tractor-trailer unit. Police say Kevin's death was a hit and run accident. Decide for yourself. |
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