Dixon went missing shortly after Simmons's disappearance in 1974 and has not been heard from since. Raymond and Mabel Aguirre were married more than 60 years before a brutal act of violence ended his life. This story was originally The next morning, the friend sawthat Dykes was gone. WebKansas Bureau of Investigation Media Releases The Media releases are ordered by date of release. Daphne Rhodes was a wealthy, divorced, 26-year-old New York socialite who came to Topeka to receive outpatient treatment at Menninger. West Drive with her 12-year-old daughter, who was away visiting her father. "I mean it's almost a year. Of this years 120-plus homicides in Kansas City, only 56 have been cleared, according to information from the police department and local prosecutors. If you take out the handful of older, "cold" cases that were solved during 2022, the clearance rate in Oakland just 27%, an analysis by the S.F. 75-712b mandates the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to be the central repository of "It's still emotional every day coming in here, you know?" In 1944, 10-week old baby Laurence had been with his mother at the grocery store. Stephanie Mendez, Willie Thrower, Marilyn Zelen Monroe It took a day for police to Unsolved homicide cases are from Cherokee, Dickinson, Doniphan, Finney, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Johnson, Leavenworth, Mitchell, Montgomery, Osage, Saline, The city's per capita homicide rate remains abnormally high and its murder solve rate is among the lowest in the nation, hitting just 36% last year. 2nd and Urish Road. Police said McKnight was an uninvolved party who was fatally shot while trying to break up a large-scale fight involving 30 to40 youths. Dykes made plans to sleep in his friends sisters room. Dozens of teenagers watched in October 2008 as Marini McKnight, 34, was shot and killed in broad daylight as she tried to stop a large fist fight on the east side of central Topeka's Central Park,in the area of S.W. K.S.A. On September 4, 2002, at approximately 7:55PM, Great Bend Police Department responded to a call at Dolly Madison Bakery, 1004 Harrison, Great Bend, Ks. Last April, his death Clearinghouse for the State of Kansas. Officers were called to 40th and Jackson at about 1:30 a.m. July 19, Still, there's been no break in the case and no word. On the evening of December 29th 1999, teenaged best friends Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible went missing after Freeman's family home was set on fire. It is not known whether Alonzos death was a hate crime or not. Ronnau had lived alone in her familys home since her parents died. Rhodes attended aparty on the eveningshe was last seen aliveand became involved in what Topeka police later described as a scene. Policesaid there were no signs of forced entry to her apartment, thoughshe apparently struggled with her attacker. During the Montana gold rush in the mid-1800s, notorious town-sheriff-gone-bad Henry Plummer lead a gang of ruthless robbers and murderers in an attempt to steal miners gold. "It reached close to 50% at that time nationwide, which was the lowest ever recorded by the FBI. Once word got out that Plummer was the leader of the so-called "Road Agent Gang," he was hanged--before he could tell anyone the whereabouts of his stolen treasure. They're overworked and overwhelmed, he says. WebA collection of photocopied newspaper articles from the Kansas City Star and Kansas City Times detailing various unsolved murders. Anyone with information that might help authorities identify the killers in any of these cases isasked to call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007. Of the 176 homicides officially counted by police in 2020, 93 were cleared, according to the departments statistics. 75-712b mandates the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to be the central repository of information relating to missing and unidentified persons by the creation of the Missing Person Clearinghouse for the State of Kansas. KSN continues to look into the challenges Wichita Police and the Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office face when the clues go cold. Legaspi says nodding toward the street where Jun was murdered. The Aguirres were returning to their home at 1900 S.E. It's not clear how she was killed. In front yard of Oakland's Saint Columba Catholic Church along bustling San Pablo Ave, a garden of simple, wooden, white crosses with the names and ages of the dead grows with every killing. More murders across America are going unsolved, exacerbating the grief of families already reeling and worsening the largely cracked trust between police and the public, especially communities of color most affected by gun violence. Oakland, Calif., is a prime example of that vicious circle. Brayona Hullum was speeding away from gun shots when her car flipped over, killing the 17-year-old. information relating to missing and unidentified persons by the creation of the Missing Person "We never give up, you know. "Just got to keep that love with him every day, you know.". Meulis remains werefound in April 1979 in a wooded area north of Interstate 70, between S.E. Oakland detectives released security camera footage and the license plate number of the suspected get-away car. In June of 2020, the cold case was formally re-opened. Valencia Road. Kansas City police were asking anyone with information to call homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. When authorities arrived, they were only able to find Kathy and Danny Freeman's (Ashley's parents) bodies, with apparent gunshot wounds to their heads. WebRoughly 3,678 of those homicides were solved throughout the years, sadly leaving approximately 1,965 unsolved murders in Kansas today. A cause of death was not determined, and to this day, Brookss family is searching for answers they may never have., Stay Overnight In This Breathtaking Cabin Just Steps From A Lake In Kansas, Youll Barely Be Able To Take A Bite Of The Massive Burgers At Big Larrys Burgers In Kansas, The Food Truck Festival In Kansas Is About The Tastiest Event You Can Experience, This Delicious Restaurant In Kansas On A Rural Country Road Is A Hidden Culinary Gem, 8 Truly Terrifying Ghost Stories That Prove Atchison Is The Most Haunted City In Kansas, This Creepy Kansas Asylum Is The Stuff Nightmares Are Made Of, These 10 Famous Homicides In Kansas Will Never Be Forgotten. BA (Law) degree University of Durban-Westville (Now University of Kwa-Zulu Natal), LLB degree (Post graduate) - University of Durban-Westville, LLM (Labour Law) degree - University of South Africa, Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa 1993, Admitted advocate of the High Court of South Africa 1996, Re-admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa 1998, Appointed part-time CCMA Commissioner - 2014, Senior State Advocate Office for Serious Economic Offences (1996) & Asset Forfeiture Unit (2001), Head of Legal Services City of Tshwane (2005) and City of Johannesburg Property Company (2006), Head of the Cartels Unit Competition Commission of South Africa 2008. WebTopeka Police are investigating a homicide, aggravated burglary and aggravated battery that occurred at 1900 SE Washington, Topeka, KS, on September 19, 2000. Parishioner Rich Laufenberg makes the wooden crosses and dutifully "plants" them every week or two. But he wants answer. "Well, I certainly don't believe in anyone getting away with murder. Subsequent investigation determined that Leach was last seen in the early morning hours of April 16, 1988 at a high school pre-graduation party given by a classmate in rural Leavenworth County, Kansas. During the early 1990s, nine separate women were shot and killed in shopping malls across I-70, including Wichita bridal shop workers Patricia Smith and Patricia Magers. On August 15, 2003, at approximately 6:00am, store manager David "Ray" Ninemire, was finishing his work shift at the Westwood Apple Market, 4701 Mission Road, Westwood, Kansas, when a female employee was grabbed from behind by a male subject. Anabo's family believes the suspect is a man who sold Anabo a truck that turned out to be stolen. With advances in DNA technology to include investigative genetic genealogy, we can go beyond customary investigative techniques to solve various types of cold cases. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. Legaspi's frustration and pain are shared by hundreds of families of murder victims in Oakland and across the country whose cases remain unsolved. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! There have been 680 homicides in the Kansas City metro that have gone unsolved since 1970. She had been shot with a shotgun in the chest and right side of the head. WebUnsolved Homicide Cases 19772016 Date Victim(s) Location Case Details Case Number January 24, 1974 Bruce Douglas Rock Rd. Which mysteries in Kansas would you like to see us cover more in-depth? In the evening hours of October 27, 1990, the body of Nelson Louis Jones was found in his bedroom at the family residence located at 101 East Second Street, Hope, Kansas. WebUnsolved Homicides | Police Department Toggle navigation Codes Building and Construction Codes Development Code International Property Maintenance Code The body of Zweisler, 39, was found in June 1994 in the apartment where she lived alone at2541 S.W. The initiative is designed to update cold case homicides, and is assigned to the Persons Crimes Section 'The state's biggest prison break since the 1930s':History Guy looks back on 1981 escape from Lansing. & 53rd St. N Wichita, KS. Roxanne Zwiesler was shot to death In that time the troubled agency has gone through a dozen leaders. A fisherman 10 days later found Jacks body floating in Dragoon Creek, about 35 miles southwest of Topeka and just inside the west border of Osage Creek. On January 24, 1974, Bruce Douglas' car was found in a field in the area of Rock Rd. The FBI defines a murder "cleared" if a suspect has been identified and arrested. "I haven't had any word," says Mark Legaspi about the murder of his cousin, friend and business partner Artgel Anabo Jr., 39, who was known as Jun. WebThe victim of the homicide, Louis Davis, Jr., 57, remains unsolved following an attempted robbery incident. Police said someone slit a front window screen to gain entry to herhouse. "People don't want to cooperate, people don't want to come to court and testify. The girls have never been found. He has reported on major events for the network from wars and revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa to historic wildfires and terrorist attacks in the U.S. The accused shooter, 84-year-old Andrew D. Lester of Kansas City, North, was released by police within two hours of being taken into custody after the shooting. In addition, judges, prosecutors and juries have higher evidence and procedure standards than in the 1960s when 90-plus% of homicides were listed as solved. It is not known whether Alonzos death was a hate crime or not. Police Department officers were dispatched to 8442 Tauromee Avenue on a "shooting/stabbing" call. WebMissing Persons Clearinghouse. 5 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Kansas That'll Creep What are some eerie unsolved murders in Kansas?, Kansas has an unusually high murder rate per capita, which isnt necessarily something folks expect when thinking of Americas heartland. To access any listed media release, please click on the name of the media release and you wish to view. Kansas City police were asking anyone with information to call homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. K.S.A. The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department has launched a cold case unit to investigate about 285 unsolved homicides. Kiah was right next to his dad when the gunman attacked. Thompson was a local Kansas City, Kansas attorney, and at the time of the murder was the Democratic Chairman of the Wyandotte County Central Committee, and was very active in politics. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. These cases are never closed," says Drennon Lindsey, an Oakland deputy chief who formerly led the department's homicide division. Jackie Hay was playing in the front yard when she disappeared Sept. 12, 1981. More:Topeka man pleads not guilty to charges in malnutrition death of 2-year-old daughter. Annie is a freelance writer, content editor, and marketing whiz with a background in broadcasting and a passion for chicken nachos. In a statement to NPR, Tran's attorney Andrew M. Ganz called the charges "baseless" and lashed out a District Attorney Pamela Price for treating "murderers like heroes. The boyhad been abducted, killed and sexually mutilated. Raymond Aguirre died the following month at age 82 of injuries suffered in the beating. This site uses different types of cookies. It is speculated that his bounty was buried in either Colorado, Kansas or California. In October 1991, Independence, Missouri bus driver Tyrone Rollins discovered the body of Overland Park businessman Gary Simmons inside a hidden cave behind his bus barn. 21st, and her car was found at a car wash at S.W. Police were called in May 2000 to 2603 S.E. Some creepy unsolved mysteries in Kansas include the terrifying saga of the Interstate 70 Killer, who murdered and dumped numerous people in places surrounding the I-70 in several states, including Kansas. I would like to know something. She was found to have been raped and strangled in June 1962 in the apartment where she lived alone at 3725 S.W. Love Kansas? Washington in September 2000 when they encountered an intruder, who beat them so badly they were unable to call for help, then left them for dead. Topeka man pleads not guilty to charges in malnutrition death of 2-year-old daughter, 6shot, one fatally, at downtown Wichita nightclub; alleged gunman remains at large, 2 dead in apparent domestic shooting, according to the Shawnee County Sheriff's office, Emporia man, 28, dies when car he was driving strikes horse and tree in Lyon County, History Guy looks back on 1981 escape from Lansing, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Facts surrounding the case are unclear, and the FBI is still investigating to this day. Witnesses say she was involved in a violent altercation with a man believed to be lifelong criminal with a history of violent behavior, particularly toward women. And they're afraid of retaliation, of being labeled in their communities as a "snitch." In July 2020, the Bureau exhumed Brooks body, which was buried in Topekas Mt. Police said they thought the casemarked the first time Crime Stoppers had featured a homicide victim on a billboard in Topeka. Now the group has launched a petition on Change.org calling on KCK police and the Unified Government board of commissioners to establish a cold case unit within the police department. The victim, Gina Cyphers, 24 years of age, was found by her live-in boyfriend, Jimmie Anderson. Chronicle shows. One of Kansass creepiest unsolved mysteries is that of Kelly Lynn Albright, who, at 12 years old, went missing from her home and was found dead four days later. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. Central Park Ave. aspart of a quadruple homicide that also claimed the life ofCarla Jean Avery. Thank you! On December 24, 2010 the body of Pedro Morales was discovered in a ditch along a low-maintenance road in rural Ford County Kansas. On April 16, 1988, Harold and Alberta Leach of Linwood, Kansas reported the disappearance of their son, Randy Wayne Leach, to the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Department. The Pittsburg Police Department is seeking the location of, and information about Bryan L. Bridges, a suspect of the October 9th, 2014 homicide of Taylor Thomas in Pittsburg, Kansas. Lindsey says the veterans among her 16 detectives are often handing two dozen or more cases at a time, far above the federal recommendation that detectives carry an average of only four to six new homicide cases per year. The killings are Olathes second and third homicide of the year, according to data tracked by The Star. The family plans to honor Anabo with a gathering at the restaurant on the upcoming May 18 anniversary of his murder. I don't get no answers," he says noting that he and his family haven't heard from Oakland homicide detectives for months. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. "I do it as some kind of service work, I hope, and to let people know that we have a major violence problem here in Oakland," he says. Those two murder convictions have been tossed out. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. Represent employers and employees in labour disputes, We accept appointments from employers to preside as chairpersons at misconduct tribunals, incapacity tribunals, grievance tribunals and retrenchment proceedings, To earn the respect of the general public, colleagues and peers in our our profession as Labour Attorneys, The greatest reward is the positive change we have the power to bring to the people we interact with in our profession as Labour Attorneys, Website Terms and Conditions |Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy|Sitemap |SA Covid 19 Website, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. "We saw a sharp drop in the national clearance rate in 2020," says Prof. Philip Cook, a public policy researcher and professor emeritus at Duke University and the University of Chicago Urban Labs who has been studying clearance rates for decades. On Monday, December 21, 1987, at approximately 8:15 A.M. Charles W. Thompson was found lying on the sidewalk in front of Jalisco's Restaurant located at 5000 State Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas. Jan. 2: George Kirksey, 27, and Alicia Roman, 22, were found shot to death inside a room at Wichitas Hotel at WaterWalk, 711 S. Main. The truck was parked facing west on Scarritt, east of Wheeling. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), in partnership with the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP), the Kansas Sheriffs Association (KSA) and the Kansas Peace Officers Association (KPOA) have developed the Cold Case Playing Cards project. The expectant mother and her unborn child are thought to have been murdered by a disgruntled employee of the Kickapoo Indian reservation casino that she and her husband managed, but there has never been enough evidence to convict anyone. In addition, she says, an antiquated case management data system, which the city is working to replace, is another reason behind the painfully low clearance rate. "And then is just gets grows and grows" all year. While a neighbor was watching the baby so the mother could put the groceries away, the two girls grabbed the baby and disappeared. Police checked out hundreds of tips in an investigation that included searching a lawyers office at a state agency and hypnotizing some peoplewho had giventheir consent. Read More. On the night of July 4th, at about 8:30, Kansas City police, fire and EMT units were called to Scarritt and N. Wheeling on an injury accident. Central Park and Douthitt streets. Wanamaker Road. Brandwine Lane, one block west of S.W. The caller who alerted police to the murders has never been identified. He was shot just outside their popular Filipino fast-food restaurant Lucky Three Seven in East Oakland, Calif., May 18, 2022. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. And so does his murdered cousin's son, Kiah, now 12 who was super tight with his dad. The shootings didn't appear to be a random act of violence, according to Topeka police. So, criminologists note, even some cities now touting modestly improved murder clearance rates, such as Chicago, are really just artificially boosting their clearance numbers through that "exceptional means" clause. On July 30, 1977, 27-year-old Sandra Talbotts body was found in a tree row near 111th Street South and 231st Street West, in southwestern Sedgwick County. But a murder can also be declared cleared through what's known as an "exceptional means." At Oakland's Lucky Three Seven Filipino restaurant, owner Mark Legaspi says he doesn't blame Oakland detectives, per se, for not solving his cousin's murder. Facts surrounding the case are unclear, and the FBI is still investigating to this day. "You know, if there's anything, you know, even if they didn't do anything, that'd be nice to know. He's making the Honor Roll and trying to stay positive. "My biggest concern, and I prayed about this, there are about 100 people walking around Oakland now who will not be walking around Oakland at the end of the year," McAleenan says. While reasons behind the drop are multi-faceted, Cook and other experts warn that more people getting away with murder in the the U.S. is driving a kind of doom loop of mutual mistrust: low murder clearance rates impede future investigations which in turn potentially drive up killings in some communities where a lack of arrests undermines deterrence and sends a message that the police will not or cannot protect them. An extensive investigation was instituted immediately. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Mr. Brooks died as a result of blunt-force trauma, and that the dismemberment occurred post-mortem. 26th. Photos and video of a person who may have been involved were released the following month by the Topeka Police Department, and information about thatindividual is still being sought. Instead of us hoping.". WebVonzall Temple Homicide May 29, 2007 Submit a Tip Just before 5:30 p.m. on May 29th, 2007, Kansas City Police were called to the 2500 block of Kensington on a shooting. WebUnsolved Homicides. Cox died a violent death, and her death was ruled a homicide. timely notification of the family members of the missing or unidentified person. A former Overland Park police officer has been arrested on charges of rape and other sex crimes in Wyandotte County. And it's a vicious circle," Cook says. 5th. The subject was described as about 5'5", thin build, wearing a top hat, fake beard pulled up high on his face, a black medium length coat and blank pants, displaying a handgun. Holley, 24, was shot eight times in the back early one morning in February 2008 outside Deep Pockets, 4310 S.W. Justice hasn't been served," Legaspi says. When they arrived they found 17 year-old Vonzall Temple slumped over in the seat of his car that had come to rest against a pole. These 15 Shawnee County homicides have gone unsolved through the decades You may download a free reader from Adobe's web site. Calvin is among several Black women in Kansas City, Kansas, whose murders have remained unsolved for years. Police latermade publicthe names of two people they said werepersons of interest in the case, though neither has been charged. A witness described seeing a white male, approximately 6'1"-6'2", weighing 175 lbs, having collar length light brown to blond hair, and a slight beard, walking away from the front door of the bakery. The victim, 34 year-old Victorino V. Perez, was found lying in the grass near the passenger side of his truck. Sandra J. Meuli was last seen alive in August 1978, coming home from church choir practice to theapartment where she lived at 5311 S.W. This reflects the 95 murders within the state, up from 82 murders in 2019. Steiner carried a shoulder bag, whichwas never found. "It is undermining whatever trust there is in the police. Sometimes the most highly publicized homicides can gounsolved. A fresh review, combined with new DNA technology and other advances 2023 www.cjonline.com. At this point, it was speculated that Ashley and Lauria shot the couple, set the house on fire, and then fled--that is, until a death row inmate later came forward, saying he killed the Freemans over a drug debt, took the two girls to Kansas, shot them and threw their bodies into an abandoned mine. Well never know what exactly happened to Kelly Lynn Albright, and its one of those cases that haunts Kansans to this day. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. All rights reserved. WebHomicide; Intimidation and Harassment; Cyber Crimes; Economic Crimes; Make a Police Report Online; Submit an Anonymous Tip to Greater KC Crime Stoppers; Crime This story was originally published April 20, 2023, 1:45 PM. That's the case with the following killings, which were all committed in Shawnee Countybetween1962 and 2020. Other reasons for the further decline in murder clearance rates, experts say, include chronic police staffing and recruiting problems, and the fact that more murders are committed with firearms, which can result in fewer witnesses and less physical evidence. A jury subsequentlyacquitted a different man of murder linked to theslaying in 2000. On or about August 15, 2003, a 911 call came into the Mitchell County Law Enforcement Center reporting that Carol FLEMING had been shot in the head at her local residence located in Beloit, Mitchell County, Kansas. Upon arrival, it was determined that there were two females dead inside the business. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com. For example, if a suspect is dead, can't be extradited or prosecutors refuse to press charges. Calvary Cemetery, and performed a second autopsy. It is speculated that Simmons, who went missing 17 years prior, was murdered by Tom Dixon after a horse deal gone bad. And several big cities, including Chicago, have seen the number of murder cases resulting in at least one arrest dip into the low to mid-30% range. ", Price's office in a statement says it is now reviewing at least 125 murders Tran investigated "to see if we have wrongfully convicted anyone else. Overland Park Police Department vehicle. Get more stories delivered right to your email. More:Jackie Hay was playing in the front yard when she disappeared Sept. 12, 1981. What are some creepy Kansas unsolved mysteries?, What are the most notorious Kansas unsolved murders?, In May 2004, the body of a man named Alonzo Brooks was found in La Cygne, Kansas, one month after he had been reported missing. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. Utah has a 2020 murder rate of 2.9 per 100,000. More murders across America are going unsolved, exacerbating the grief of families already reeling and worsening the largely cracked trust between police and the 21st. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is not the originating source of the information contained on this webpage. Tirell Ocobock,an 18-year-oldfreshman art student at Washburn University and an employee at Gage Boulevard Animal Hospital, was beaten to death with tree limbs in April 1976. Circumstances of Ms. Tighe's disappearance strongly suggest that she has been a victim of foul play. The FBI this week offered a reward of $50,000 for information in one case, a 1998 homicide. In June of 2020, the cold case was formally re-opened. Researchers say key ways cities can to try to stop the downward spiral is simply investing more in homicide investigations: improving crime labs, training, DNA testing, computer modeling systems. Victims are 82 year old Raymond AGUIRRE and his wife, 80 year old Mabel AGUIRRE. Over the years, Kansas has seen its fair share of unexplainable murders and various phenomena that have baffled both law enforcement and the general public alike. Louisiana - 19.90 per 100k. "Feeling guilty? Those words,accompanied by a photo of a smiling Michael Holley with one of his two daughters,adorned temporary billboards put up in early 2010 encouraging the public to call Crime Stoppers if they had any information about his death. Prof. Cook's research, for example, shows that from 2016 to 2020 the percentage of murders in Chicago with any type of weapon resulting in at least one arrest was just 33%. Huntoon. Dykes had beenbeaten with a baseball bat and shot in the head before his body was taken outside and put in the trunk of a car, whichwas found abandoned about a quarter of a mile behind a house at 510 S.E.