Tragic Accident or Horrific Murder? - July 22 2025

January 11th: Tessa Van Hart Born (1971) You never know when a cold case will suddenly thaw. On January 11th 1971 a woman was born who would have her life brutally ripped away. Her case went cold for a few years until, suddenly, one man started talking and changed the entire course of the investigation.  *Suggested by Fran* https://thecinemaholic.com/tessa-van-hart-murder-how-did-brian-cherrix-die/, https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c1/cherrix-brian-lee.htm, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/03/19/va-executes-man-who-killed-pizza-delivery-woman-in-94/9ec78f4b-4695-403d-bcf5-0f9e828dbcb0/, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161460535/dontessa-karin_ida-vanhart, https://thedailyrecord.com/2001/02/08/murder-of-pocomoke-woman-in-chincoteague-tests-virginia-dna-rule/, https://thedailyrecord.com/2004/03/17/chincoteague-rapist-ends-appeals-will-be-executed-for-1994-murder/, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2004/03/19/Pizza-deliverywoman-killer-executed/59171079701312/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11 Jan 8min

January 10th: Rachel Cooke Goes Missing (2002) How can a person simply vanish without leaving behind any evidence? On January 10th 2002 a young woman went missing in a case that has long been at a standstill. A case with little to no evidence and no traces of the still missing girl. https://www.fox7austin.com/news/missing-in-texas-rachel-cooke-georgetown, https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Where-is-Rachel-Cooke, https://www.trace-evidence.com/rachel-cooke, ,https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Rachel_Cooke https://www.statesman.com/story/news/crime/2021/01/10/williamson-sheriff-has-new-suspect-case-missing-rachel-cooke/6615785002/, https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/rachel-cooke-disapperance-20-years-later-texas/269-b8e09e50-0018-4d6b-aa0b-81949896cc90, https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/rachel-louise-cooke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Jan 9min

January 9th: Richard P. Rodriguez Dies (2005) Some events will leave a lasting effect on your life. On January 9th 2005 a man took his own life after decades of dealing with the emotional scars left on him when he was just a child. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Rodriguez, https://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Ricky_Rodriguez, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/children-of-god-cult-messiah-chosen-one-182272/, https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/x6f599/ricky_rodriguez_was_used_as_a_cults_poster_child/, https://murderpedia.org/male.R/r/rodriguez-ricky.htm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Jan 15min

January 8th: Lam Luong Arrested (2008) The loss of human life will always be devastating. But, it becomes particularly heartbreaking when the lives at stake belong to children. On January 8th 2008 a man was arrested as volunteers scoured the state of Alabama and beyond looking for 4 very young children. https://murderpedia.org/male.L/l/luong-lam.htm, https://www.wkrg.com/true-crime/lam-luong-man-throws-four-kids-off-dauphin-island-bridge/, https://www.al.com/opinion/2018/10/is_there_such_a_thing_as_justi.html, http://www.mibba.com/Articles/World/2262/Father-Who-Laughed-Over-His-Own-Childrens-Deaths/, https://www.aclu.org/news/capital-punishment/case-rocked-alabama-man-intellectual-disability-spared-death, https://www.9news.com.au/world/man-threw-four-children-off-bridge-alabama-death-sentence-life-prison-usa/9855fb9a-c62a-4913-9664-c75fb6525512 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Jan 10min

January 7th: Dorcas Kelly Dies (1761) Sometimes a story takes on a life of its own. On January 7th 1761 a woman was executed in Dublin for one crime and one crime only. Yet, as centuries passed, this woman’s story took on a whole new life of its own and created a version of events that, though entertaining, leaves the difference between fact and fiction more than a little muddled. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkey_Kelly, https://spellcasterghosttours.com/darkey-kelly/, https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/darkey-kelly-witch-serial-killer-or-wronged-woman, https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/irish-legal-heritage-the-execution-of-dorcas-kelly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Jan 8min

January 6th: Andres Ulises Castillo Villarreal Arrested (2016) Sometimes a serial killer remains elusive until a careless mistake sends police their way. On January 6th 2016 a man was finally arrested after years of murdering young men in Mexico completely undetected. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Ulises_Castillo_Villarreal, https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/americas/mexico-alleged-serial-killer-arrested/index.html, https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2016/01/06/serial-killer-suspect-held-chihuahua-city/78342550/, https://news.sky.com/story/suspected-serial-killer-arrested-in-mexico-10333674, https://torontosun.com/2016/01/06/suspected-serial-killer-arrested-in-mexico, https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/english/2016/01/6/authorities-detain-alleged-serial-killer-chihuahua/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Jan 9min

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5 Jan 23min

January 4th: Tia Rigg Born (1998) When you search for danger, you don’t often look within your own family. On January 4th 1998 a young girl was born who would have her life brutally ripped away by a man who she loved dearly and who she thought cared for her in return. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Tia_Rigg, https://truecrimediva.com/tia-rigg/, https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/the-tragic-murder-of-tia-rigg, https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/maden-john.htm, https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/xrqahi/the_murder_of_tia_rigg_is_one_of_the_most/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Jan 8min