On November 20, 2014, 54-year-old mother Melissa Millan was out on a run in Simsbury. In actuality, they were erased every 30 days. On a boat called The Investor, Mark Coulhurst and his family had returned to town with tons of fish to sell. Real Adults Who Convinced Kids to Do Their Bidding, 10 Ice Cold Killers From Alaska That Will Make You Fear The Last Frontier, he was a serial killer who had murdered nearly twenty young women, strangled LaFerrara with a ligature while his wife stabbed the man, Keyes sexually assaulted and murdered Koenig, one person has claimed responsibility for his death, James Dale Ritchie shot at Anchorage officers, took her into the woods, fired a fatal shot into her head. He had last been seen by a security camera leaving his dorm. Robert Hansen. While the city with highest number of murders period? WebThis is the largest unsolved mass murder in Alaska State history. Craig, Alaska where the murders took place. Its heartbreaking, Jackson tells A&E True Crime. On August 3, 2007, 27-year-old Joshua Wade snuck into the home of his Anchorage neighbor, Mindy Schloss, and threatened her until she provided him with her ATM card and PIN number. While many of his fellow Anchorage residents thought Robert Hansen was a good father, loving husband, successful businessman, and skilled hunter, his neighbors eventually learned that he was a serial killer who had murdered nearly twenty young women over the course of more than a decade. Estrada found her roommates bed the following morning, unmade, and her car in the driveway. After the Schloss's badly burned corpse was discovered, police quickly focused in on Wade, who had been acquitted in 2000 of killing another woman, Della Brown. On 22 January 1957, their naked bodies were found off a road near Willow Springs, Illinois. More Tupac Shakur. Tina McMenamin, an 18-year-old University of Nebraska freshman, was stabbed and sexually assaulted, and she had died from her injuries. Still, its a big problem in Americas biggest stateAlaska has more square miles than Texas, California and Montana combined. One-Eyed Jack is not your typical missing person. Each of these victims had been shot three times. No one has been charged with his death, although it is rumored to be gang-related or somehow connected to Notorious B.I.G., Tupacs rival at the time. Rapper Tupac Shakur was shot and murdered in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 13, 1996. Upon further investigation, the police discovered one of the victims Ritchie killed, 21-year-old Treyveonkindell Thompson, was the son of one of his oldest friends, a fact officers suspect the serial murderer didn't know at the time of the killing. Conspiracy theories centered around Boggs involvement with the Warren Commission have often taken center stage as explanations. Maine's oldest unsolved murder case is that of 13-year-old Mary Catherine Olenchuk. In 2012, Matthew Blanchard had already faced a tragedy himself when his girlfriend, a mother of his children, was killed in a car crash. Radio silence fell and the N720 dropped off the grid on their return trip to the lake. Many small, remote towns and reservations have no police departments. Many people were interviewed, but a suspect was never named. One-Eyed Jack is not your typical missing person. That would be Dillingham with 41.6 murders per 100,000 people. The tragedy goes unsolved, despite two trials. On the afternoon of Sunday, September 5th, 1982, a 58-foot fishing vessel known as the Investor pulled into the port of Craig, Alaska. 3) The Mystery of N720. The disappearence of Merrian Lynn Carver is one fraught with mystery. Serial killers also hit the state during the 70s. Tribes are trying to address these issues, with parenting programs and domestic-violence workers, but there is little or no money available to support them. An escaped prisoner believed to have been involved was taken into custody. The disappearance of Alaska secessionism advocate Joe Vogler in 1993 prompted widespread rumors that he had been assassinated for political purposes, although in the end the motive proved to be more mundane: a botched robbery. Only when he killed a white woman was he captured. Craig, Alaska where the murders took place. Lizzie Borden, Andrew's daughter and Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. Altogether, the deaths of nine people who were killed on Anchorage trails, in parks and on isolated streets since January remain unsolved among them three cases involving two victims each. It is suspected that she may have been killed by a serial killer who killed many sex workers and dancers in the area. These women were remembered during womens marches held across Alaska in January 2019. In order to avoid detection, Keyes would fly to a location in the United States, rent a vehicle, and drive to another state in search of an unsuspecting victim (or victims), even going as far as to bury caches of money and weapons in multiple locations throughout the country to help him carry out his crimes. However, a few days later, hikers found their four bodies in the woods. Take them to church, its very important to me. While no reference to suicide is explicitly made, here, it is considered a possibility. On November 18, 1980, Clarence Riffle, a 76-year-old retired coal miner, was murdered at his residence near Jimtown, West Virginia. Jonathan Luna, then 38 years old, worked an assistant U.S. attorney. In 1995, Sarah Bognich found her roommate Tina McMenamin in a pool of blood after she came home from work. Years later, an old girlfriend of Rogers would ask Terry for $5,000. Alaska is a vast place. WebThe city with highest murder rate in Alaska? Alaska State Troopers are currently at critically low levels, according to a report. Community members are the first, and sometimes only, responders to cases of domestic violence and sexual assault, Patricia Alexander, co-chair of the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaskas (CCTHITA) Violence Against Women Task Force, told A&E True Crime. There are rumors of an underground cave where the seals would have access to freshwater in order to survive the winter under the ice but the theory of the cave has yet to be proven true. Was the answer in those tapes? After all, she didnt live in Alaska, and didnt disappear from the state proper. The book starts with the actual scene of the murders and continues on through the lives of those involved as well as two trials of the suspected killer. So the question has to be asked: what happened to Merrian Lynn Carver between August 27th and 28th? In the late 1800s, forensic evidence was next to nothing, so many crimes went unsolved. The gruesome crimes in Alaska stand in direct contrast with the state's natural beauty. The final sighting came in 1969, over 38 years after the steam ship broke adrift into the Beaufort Sea and continually eluded capture. The FBI announced in 2018 that they suspect that a hitman was paid to kill him. If Gilbert is indeed alive, she would be 41-years-old today. Homicide Rate in Alaska. In Monteiros words, his boss said that he would take care of it. With this information, ABC News prompted the question: was this a cover-up? Unfortunately on the night of September 5th somebody climbed aboard and massacred the entire family. He was found in a Lyndhurst, New Jersey lime pit in January 1941. We owe it to these many [missing] native women to ensure they are not forgotten Murkowski says in a video she shared with A&E True Crime. He kept no permanent residence, opting instead to stay in hotels. In actuality, they were erased every 30 days. Hamblens adoptive mother recently filed for custody of her grandson, Joel. Her body was exhumed in 2013, but no recent developments have been announced. While many of his fellow Anchorage residents thought Robert Hansen was a good father, loving husband, successful businessman, and Miranda Barbour. The Best Writers of All Time. WebThis is the story of the Investor murders. WebWhat remains one of Alaska's most horrific mysteries, the fishing town of Craig became known for the murder of 8 people. However, due to corruption surrendering Walters murder, Isadore may be more involved than it seems. Well, this case remains unsolved if you believe that Lizzie Borden was innocent. While the city with highest number of murders period? On the afternoon of Sunday, September 5th, 1982, a 58-foot fishing vessel known as the Investor pulled into the port of Craig, Alaska. WebWere changing the narrative around cold cases and Alaska murders through collective impactjoin us! The pairs respective children were being looked after by Kendras mother. What remains one of Alaska's most horrific mysteries, the fishing town of Craig became known for the murder of 8 people. As youll see on this list, some defy explanation or even logic. On November 11, 2013, 19-year-old Miranda Barbour met Troy LaFerrara on Craiglist, and she agreed to have sex with him in exchange for money. Andrew Borden was found with 11 hatchet marks in his face, and Abby had 19 in the back of her head. To this day no one knows the fate of the Baychimo or why it could never be captured. Instead, she vanished off of the vacation cruise, Mercury. Dons mother believes that he was abducted, meanwhile, the police believe he accidentally froze to death. 1) Ghost Ship from the Frozen North. Complex jurisdictional issues also complicate policing, leaving people in some native communities unsure of who to call for help. Somewhere between there and Anchorage, the plane seemed to vanish. Andrew Borden was found with 11 hatchet marks in his face, and Abby had 19 in the back of her head. They had been beaten, strangled and raped. Interestingly, four witnesses were killed before they could testify. Physical assault of women is 12 times the national average, and rape rates are the highest in the nationthree times the national average. Before his death, Ken was accused of committing assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary. Wikimedia | Flickr. 2) Lake Iliamna Monster. When he returned, Erin Marie Gilbert had vanished. According to a 2016 National Institute of Justice study, more than 80 percent of Native women experience violence in their lifetimes. They were found brutally murdered by an axe by their grandson in late July. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. When she was arrested on December 3, 2013, Barbour admitted to killing LaFerrara, but she also told officers she had murdered more than 20 other people from 2008 to 2013. Klutuk. No one has been arrested for this crime and the police have not publicly named any suspects. They entered Alaska and, as the driver later told police, Jack annoyed him. Take good care of my daughters and your self. Law enforcement officials returned fire, killing the 40-year-old man. Jael Tiara Hamblen was out having dinner with her roommate, Kendra Vincent Estrada, on the night of October 11, 2014. The opioid epidemic only compounds the problem, Alexander adds. He began killing women early in the decade, continuing into the 80s before finally getting caught. We have his body, we know what happened to him, but we dont know who he. In Monteiros words, his boss said that he would take care of it. With this information, ABC News prompted the question: was this a cover-up? WebUnfortunately on the night of September 5th somebody climbed aboard and massacred the entire family. Boggs obliged, and on October 16, 2016, he and Begich boarded a small twin engine plane out of Alaska bound for the state capital, Juneau. Over the next few decades, authorities tried to track this man down, but to no avail. He kept no permanent residence, opting instead to stay in hotels. The disappearance of Representative Nick Begich and Louisiana politician Hale Boggs is shrouded in mystery. Her mother Karen Foster, meanwhile, became a nationwide advocate for taking DNA samples of all suspects upon their arrest and entering them into a national database. And much of this violence is happening in their homes. As of 2016, the National Crime Information Center reports that more than 5,700 Native American women have been reported missing, although some advocacy groups say that number is inaccurate. 4) Cold Case - Alaskas Worst Unsolved Mass Murder. 2023 Anchorage Daily News. If you want to learn more interesting tales, then you need to read all about howTheres A Bermuda Triangle In Alaska And It Will Baffle You Beyond Words. He also skips past the more recent case of serial killer Joshua Wade, who operated out of Anchorage during the aughts, primarily preying on Alaska Native women. Orville never made it to the barn, and his body was later found in the Connecticut River. Roughly a month later, the Delaware state medical examiners office reported Wheelers cause of death as assault, Johns remains were interred at Arlington National Cemetery, and no one has been arrested in connection to his death. Tupac Shakur. The Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force searched all along the flight path for 39 days. Tupac Shakur. On November 12, 2016, James Dale Ritchie shot at Anchorage officers who were responding to a complaint that he had refused to pay a cab driver. This crime is one of the oldest unsolved murder cases in Oregon history. Truthfully, there can be. In exchange, she would reveal the fates of Amy and Scott. The victim, who remains unidentified, was between 18 and 35 years old. So the question has to be asked: what happened to Merrian Lynn Carver between August 27. So he killed him and dumped his body on the side of the highway. Mark had the dream of retiring early and spending his days with his family. 36 years later, no one has been convicted of committing this mass murder. Lizzie was arrested for their murders, but she was found innocent in trial. WebHere are the top 8 creepiest unexplained disappearances in Alaskas history. Miller had been living alone at the residence and died from gunshot wounds. Robert Hansen is the most well known. There is no 911 to call. Boston Public Library | Flickr. Still, its a big problem in Americas biggest stateAlaska has more square miles than Texas, California and Montana combined. On them, Thomas, accompanied by a thin, dark-haired woman, buys chips, soda, two lighters, and a pack of cigarettes. 10 guests died in a 26 November 1978 fire at a Holiday Inn in Greece, New York. Fun fact: I have three citizenships (American, Canadian, and Swiss), Keep up with Julia on Instagram, Twitter and juliametraux.wixsite.com. The ship was owned and captained by 28-year-old Mark Coulthurst from Blaine, Washington, who'd just recently purchased the ship for more than $750,000. Set in the Alaska of the early eighties, it takes a deep dive into the mysterious murder of eight people on board a fishing boat in Craig, Alaska. A traveling nurse, Nuzzi was well-versed in the state. Stranger still, the housekeeper told Nuzzis nephew, Stephen Reeves, that, after she knocked on Nuzzis door, that a young woman answered. He was told she had boarded, but had disappeared, her belongings left behind and later given to charity. In 1938, the dead body of a man believed to be Klutuk was discovered in a cabin, and while at least one person has claimed responsibility for his death, it's possible he simply died of natural causes. Robert Hansen. Eight people were slaughtered, including two small children and the Captians pregnant wife. No one has been charged. A friend, Mr. Guernsey, knew that Nuzzi had stayed at a Super 8 Motel. No suspects have been publicly identified and her case remains open. Dwight Beers | Flickr. The ship was owned and captained by 28-year-old Mark Coulthurst from Blaine, Washington, who'd just recently purchased the ship for more than $750,000. Its also one of the most sparsely populated states. She never disembarked. Perhaps the most famous unsolved murder in recent history, rapper Tupac Shakur's death is still a mystery. However, almost two years later, no arrests have been made. Rampant serial killers! This case has later been referred to as the Villisca axe murders. There's just something about places with large areas of untouched landscapes that attracts a certain type of degenerate, like all of the infamous serial killers from Texas. With subzero temperatures, rapidly changing weather, and all manner of obstacles, accidents do happen. It didnt go well. Eight people were slaughtered, including two small children and the Captians pregnant wife. 4 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Alaska That Will Leave You Baffled. Witnesses say that they saw her standing next to a maroon car driven by a man in his 30s on August 9, 1970. No one has been convicted for their murders. Andrew And Abby Borden. Peel settled for 900k and disappeared forever, never explaining why he settled for so little. Bonnie Craig was murdered in 1994, and her case also went cold until a DNA match with a jailed felon led to a conviction years later. Altogether, the deaths of nine people who were killed on Anchorage trails, in parks and on isolated streets since January remain unsolved among them three cases involving two victims each. At around 663,000 square miles, its got just under 400,000 square miles on the next biggest state, Texas. The deaths of nine people who were killed on Anchorage trails, parks or isolated streets since January remain unsolved among them three cases involving two victims each. Despite their efforts, no wreckage or remains were ever found. The pairs respective children were being looked after by Kendras mother. Lesser known, but also found in this book, is Thomas Richard Bunday, who began killing women in and around Fairbanks in 1979 while stationed at Eielson Air Force Base. Brennan offers these and other tales in a book that delves into the events that have made Alaska so violent. What Happened in Craig: Alaska's Worst Unsolved Mass Murder What Happened In Craig: Alaska's Worst Unsolved Mass Murder by Leland E. Hale Some of the victims ran in bad circles, some had unintended conflicts with murderous individuals, some were chosen at random. Klutuk. Brennan does, however, include others that border on incredulous but absolutely happened. When he called his friends room, a man, who Guernsey stated sounded nothing like Nuzzi, answered the phone. The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years. Five months later, her purse was found buried in the snow just outside of Anchorage. 39 years later, this case remains unsolved and is considered Alaskas largest mass murder. It is speculated that the death was gang-related, but sufficient evidence was never given to lead to any arrests. In September 1978, Jack was picked up somewhere near Boise, Idaho. In 1999, high school seniors J.B. Hilton Green Beasley and Tracie Jean Hawlett, both 17 years old, were on Alaska. #849 of 1,172 on. Anchorage with 32. Kendall Carver would go on to issue a subpoena to. Its likely an undercount, the report states. The two cases were officially linked through DNA analysis, and a 20-person task force was formed to find the killer. She was found dead on August 22 in a barn in Kennebunk with a rope around her neck. David A. James is a Fairbanks-based freelance writer, and editor of the Alaska literary collection Writing on the Edge. He can be reached at [email protected]. 2010 The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxWwrUC5iig%5D, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rECG8hl9D8%5D, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VJ6UlWycio%5D, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DipkpSXIqyU%5D, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaN6mY_6Ss8%5D, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPLc1tCfRVg%5D, Barbie, Shrek 5, And A New Harry Potter TV ShowHeres What You Might HaveMissed, 8 Prom Movies To Watch Before Prom Pact Comes Out On Disney+ Friday, March31, Heres Your Perfect Date Night Horror Movie, Based On Your ZodiacSign, 92 Juicy Details From Paris Hiltons NewMemoir, Why Horror Is So Much Scarier When Its Located In A BigCity, Valentines Day Streaming Guide: The Best Rom-Coms To Binge On Netflix, HBO Max, AndMore. Louisiana politician Hale Boggs is shrouded in mystery she would reveal the of... Little known destinations - straight to your inbox a pool of blood after she came home work. 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