Cold cases. Buried voices. Forgotten victims. I’m Joey Grimes, and this is The Grimes Files: Gone, Not Silent—a true crime podcast exposing cases that never got justice. Season one reopens the 1998 murder of Helen Eskew in Douglasville, Georgia, where silence and fear still surround the truth.

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In Episode 2 of The Grimes Files, the search for Debbie Connor begins after she fails to arrive at her family’s home in Stanfield following a night out in Hermiston. As her loved ones retrace her final hours, investigators face conflicting witness accounts, mounting leads, and clothing recovered along South Edwards Road—each discovery pointing toward Cold Springs Reservoir.Twelve days after Debbie’s final known phone call, the missing-person search becomes a homicide investigation. What happened to Debbie Connor, and who was responsible?Listener discretion is advised. This episode includes discussion of homicide and the recovery of a victim’s body.The Debbie Connor Case ArchiveAnonymous tips can be submitted here:<a href="https://www.solvethecase.org/case/1990-36/debra-kay-connor" rel="nofollow">https://www.solvethecase.org/case/1990-36/debra-kay-connor</a>If you have information about the murder of Debbie Connor, please contact or the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit:<a href="mailto:OSP.CCU@osp.oregon.gov" rel="nofollow">OSP.CCU@osp.oregon.gov</a>You can also contact The Grimes Files directly:<a href="mailto:thegrimesfiles@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">thegrimesfiles@gmail.com</a>Support The Grimes Files through donations:https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFilesFollow The Grimes Files:<a href="https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles" rel="nofollow">https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

The Search for Debbie Connor

After Debbie Connor fails to arrive at her family home in Stanfield, a frantic search begins. Conflicting witness accounts and clothing recovered along South Edwards Road lead investigators toward Cold Springs Reservoir. Twelve days after Debbie’s final phone call, her disappearance becomes a homicide investigation.

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Unsolved: Debra Kay Connor Part 2

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On October 28, 1991, an anonymous man called 911 and directed emergency crews to a home in Wheeling, Illinois. He gave Jamie Santos’s exact address, said a young woman inside was not breathing and “turning blue,” then disconnected when dispatchers asked when he had been at the house.Jamie was 27 years old. She could not be revived. More than three decades later, her murder remains unsolved—and the caller has never been publicly identified.In this episode of The Grimes Files, Joey Grimes reconstructs the 911 call, the emergency response, and the investigation that followed. We examine reported voice-recognition claims, the nearby surveillance lead, conflicting public accounts of the scene, and physical evidence retested decades later with results that have not been publicly released.If you have information about Jamie’s murder or the anonymous 911 caller, contact the <a href="https://www.wheelingil.gov/234/Investigations-Division" rel="nofollow">Wheeling Police Department Investigations Division</a>. If you believe you recognize the voice, provide that information directly to investigators. Do not publicly name a private person.Links &amp; SupportListen, watch, and follow The Grimes Files:<a href="https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles" rel="nofollow">https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles</a>Support the research and production of future episodes:<a href="https://tr.ee/brCBCoFw07" rel="nofollow">https://tr.ee/brCBCoFw07</a>Sources &amp; Further Reading<ul><li><a href="https://unsolved.com/gallery/jamie-santos/" rel="nofollow">Unsolved Mysteries: “The Mysterious Murder of Jamie Santos”</a></li><li><a href="https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8409252/" rel="nofollow">ABC7 Chicago: “1991 Wheeling murder of Jamie Santos goes 20 years unsolved”</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/police-seek-clues-in-wheeling-murder-20-years-later/" rel="nofollow">CBS Chicago: “Police Seek Clues in Wheeling Murder, 20 Years Later”</a></li><li><a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2011/10/31/18532296/can-911-call-crack-20-year-old-murder-mystery" rel="nofollow">Chicago Sun-Times: “Can 911 call crack 20-year-old murder mystery?”</a></li><li><a href="https://uncovered.com/cases/jamie-santos-wheeling-il" rel="nofollow">Uncovered: Jamie Santos case page</a></li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F8vSji3JGz8UOOXSkIuWrjAby8ED9Qj_/view" rel="nofollow">Daily Herald, November 1, 1995: “911 Tape May Unlock 4-Year-Old Mystery”</a></li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EqdaWsVBALy9-lTBUmc-ME_EoprqjuC1/view" rel="nofollow">Daily Herald, June 14, 1996: “Family Hopes TV Show Helps Lead Police…”</a></li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FZM6hoa33FKcfxXcdNL0p1VWtbIjBDfB/view" rel="nofollow">Daily Herald, January 8, 1997: “Unsolved Mysteries to Look for Leads…”</a></li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FdLkrc3nFAToJK1sgmcvqrcVevqTdh33/view" rel="nofollow">Daily Herald, January 16, 1997: “Police Continue Hunt for Clues to Five-Year…”</a></li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FMFU5aDqte2wKWLYTIq3wUsUtjZd4tQm/view" rel="nofollow">Daily Herald, January 17, 1997: “Unsolved Wheeling Murder Gets TV Time…”</a></li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F_zqacGDsOyx8wALkWtRraRIimZ_NW6j/view" rel="nofollow">Daily Herald, April 17, 1997: “Wheeling Police Commended for Diligence in Murder…”</a></li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F-WH-29tx7DIu8UIK8XE39GKpTjEtSdP/view" rel="nofollow">Daily Herald, October 28, 2011: “Information Sought 20 Years After Murder”</a></li><li>Contemporary Chicago Tribune reporting from November 1, 1991, documenting that four people told police they could identify the caller’s voice.</li><li>Contemporary Chicago Tribune reporting from January 1992 concerning Wheeling Police’s planned use of hypnosis.</li><li><a href="https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/death-certificates-and-reports" rel="nofollow">Cook County: Death Certificates and Reports</a> — relevant to the still-unreleased Medical Examiner records discussed in the episode.</li></ul>Source note: Public reporting contains conflicts and gaps. This episode distinguishes documented facts from unresolved questions and does not identify any person as Jamie’s killer. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

The Murder of Jamie Santos and the Anonymous 911 Caller

On October 28, 1991, an anonymous caller gave 911 Jamie Santos’s exact address, said she was not breathing, and hung up when asked how he knew. More than three decades later, Jamie’s murder and the caller’s identity remain unsolved. Joey Grimes examines the 911 call, voice-recognition claims, the nearby surveillance lead, and the evidence that may still hold answers.

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Murdered: Jamie Santos

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She thought she was meeting prospective homebuyers.Instead, Lindsay Buziak walked into one of the most meticulously planned unsolved murders in Canadian history.In February 2008, 24-year-old real estate agent Lindsay Buziak was contacted by a woman claiming she and her husband were relocating to Victoria, British Columbia, and wanted to purchase a million-dollar home. The opportunity seemed perfect—but almost immediately, Lindsay sensed something was wrong. The callers couldn’t explain who had referred them, the conversations felt strange, and Lindsay became so uneasy that she saved the number in her phone as “Million Dollar.”On the evening of February 2, Lindsay unlocked the door of a vacant luxury home for what should have been a routine showing. Minutes later, she was stabbed to death. The man and woman who entered the home with her disappeared without a trace.More than eighteen years later, investigators still believe Lindsay was deliberately targeted. The prepaid phone, the false identities, the carefully selected vacant house, and the mysterious couple all point to a murder that was planned long before Lindsay ever arrived.In this episode of The Grimes Files, we separate verified evidence from speculation, reconstruct Lindsay’s final days minute by minute, examine what investigators have publicly revealed, and explore why this remains one of Canada’s most haunting unsolved homicide cases. Lindsay Buziak Episode.pdfIf you have any information regarding the murder of Lindsay Buziak, please contact the Saanich Police Department or Crime Stoppers. 🔗 Follow &amp; SupportLinktree: <a href="https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles" rel="nofollow">https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles</a>Substack: <a href="https://substack.com/@thegrimesfiles" rel="nofollow">https://substack.com/@thegrimesfiles</a>Support the Investigation: <a href="https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles" rel="nofollow">https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles</a> If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following The Grimes Files, leaving a rating or review, and sharing this episode with someone else. Every share helps bring renewed attention to forgotten victims and unsolved cases.The Grimes Files is an independent investigative podcast covering cold cases, missing persons, and unsolved crimes through original research, public records, interviews, and evidence-based storytelling. New investigations are released regularly. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Lured to a Million-Dollar Home

On February 2, 2008, 24-year-old real estate agent Lindsay Buziak entered a vacant million-dollar home to meet prospective buyers she’d never met. Minutes later, she was brutally murdered, and the mysterious couple vanished without a trace. More than eighteen years later, investigators still believe the crime was meticulously planned. In this episode of The Grimes Files, Joey Grimes reconstructs Lindsay’s final days, examines the evidence made public by investigators, and explores one of Canada’s most haunting unsolved murder cases.

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Murdered: Lindsay Buziak

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More than eleven years ago, twenty-four-year-old D’Lisa Michelle Kelley left her grandmother’s home in Dallas, Texas, to attend her best friend’s wake. She never arrived.A short time later, her sister unexpectedly received a phone call from D’Lisa’s cellphone. For just over seventy-one seconds, she listened helplessly as what sounded like a violent assault unfolded in real time. Minutes later, D’Lisa’s family called 911, convinced she was in immediate danger.One week later, D’Lisa was found murdered on the front porch of an abandoned house.In this episode, I reconstruct D’Lisa’s final known movements using police records, 911 audio, dispatch recordings, court documents, and investigative files. We examine the unanswered questions surrounding the mysterious seventy-one-second recording, the reported Stop &amp; Save surveillance footage, the blue Mercury Grand Marquis, the delayed police response, and how this tragic case ultimately led to the creation of Texas’s CLEAR Alert system.More than a decade later, D’Lisa’s murder remains unsolved.If you have information regarding the murder of D’Lisa Michelle Kelley, contact the Dallas Police Department Homicide Unit or North Texas Crime Stoppers. Even the smallest detail could help provide the answers her family has been waiting for.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎙️ Follow The Grimes Files🔗 Linktree:<a href="https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles" rel="nofollow">https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles</a>━━━━━━━━━━━━━━❤️ Support These InvestigationsIf you’d like to help fund public records requests, travel, document fees, archival research, and future investigations, you can support the show here:💰 <a href="https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles" rel="nofollow">https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles</a>━━━━━━━━━━━━━━📂 Coming SoonI’m currently developing a monthly membership where you’ll have access to complete case files, timelines, source documents, photographs, transcripts, and other research materials that don’t always make it into the finished episodes. I’m still working to find the best platform and the best way to deliver everything, but it’s coming soon. This episode is based on extensive research and publicly available records compiled for The Grimes Files.  Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

A 71-second recording. A delayed response. An unsolved murder that changed Texas law.

Twenty-four-year-old D’Lisa Michelle Kelley left her grandmother’s home on March 7, 2014, intending to attend her best friend’s wake. She never arrived.

A short time later, her sister unexpectedly received a phone call from D’Lisa’s cellphone. For approximately seventy-one seconds, she listened helplessly as what sounded like a violent assault unfolded in real time. Within hours, D’Lisa’s family was pleading with 911 for help. One week later, D’Lisa was found murdered on the front porch of an abandoned house in Dallas.

In this episode of The Grimes Files, I reconstruct D’Lisa’s final known movements using police records, 911 audio, dispatch recordings, court documents, and investigative files. We examine the unanswered questions surrounding the unidentified voice heard during the recording, the reported Stop &amp; Save surveillance footage, the blue Mercury Grand Marquis, the police response that night, and how D’Lisa’s case ultimately led to the creation of Texas’s CLEAR Alert system.

More than eleven years later, D’Lisa’s murder remains unsolved.

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Unsolved: D’Lisa Kelley

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Thirty-six years ago, a routine Saturday morning at a neighborhood bowling alley turned into one of the most brutal unsolved mass murders in American history.On February 10, 1990, two armed men entered Las Cruces Bowl in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Minutes later, five people were dead, three others were critically wounded, and one of the most haunting 911 calls ever recorded was made by a twelve-year-old girl fighting for her life.In this episode of The Grimes Files, we reconstruct the events of that morning, examine the investigation that followed, separate fact from speculation, and remember the lives of the victims whose stories are too often overshadowed by the crime itself.⚠️ Listener Warning: This episode contains the original 911 call placed from inside the manager’s office. The recording includes distressing audio, including the voices and breathing of seriously injured victims. Listener discretion is advised.If you have information about the Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre, please contact the Las Cruces Police Department or Crime Stoppers.🎙️ Follow The Grimes Fileshttps://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles❤️ Support the Investigationhttps://cash.app/$TheGrimesFilesEvery donation helps cover public records requests, travel expenses, archival research, document fees, and the hundreds of hours that go into researching and producing these investigations.I’m also working on a monthly membership where you’ll have access to case files, source documents, timelines, photographs, interview transcripts, and additional research that doesn’t make it into each episode. More details will be announced soon.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow The Grimes Files on your favorite podcast platform so you’re notified whenever a new episode is released. Leaving a rating or review—and sharing this episode with just one other person—is one of the biggest ways you can help these stories reach a wider audience. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

One of America’s Most Haunting Cold Cases

On February 10, 1990, two armed men entered Las Cruces Bowl in Las Cruces, New Mexico, killing five people and forever changing the lives of three survivors. More than thirty-six years later, the case remains one of America’s most haunting unsolved mass murders. This episode reconstructs the events of that morning, examines the investigation, and separates evidence from speculation.

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Unsolved: The Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre

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On May 13, 1990, 30-year-old Debra Kay “Debbie” Connor made a phone call that should have brought her safely home. Standing at a payphone across from Frasu’s Restaurant and Lounge in Hermiston, Oregon, Debbie called her twin brother and asked if she could spend the night at the family home. He agreed and told her he would leave the door unlocked. Before hanging up, Debbie said she had a ride. She never arrived. Twelve days later, Debbie’s body was discovered in Cold Springs Reservoir. She was found nude, bound, and murdered. In Part One of this multi-episode investigation, we step away from the crime scene and meet the woman at the center of the mystery. Through interviews, newly obtained case records, and the memories of those who knew her best, we explore Debbie’s life in Pilot Rock and Stanfield, her relationships, her struggles, and the final hours leading up to her disappearance at Frasu’s on the night of May 12, 1990. Drawing from more than 400 pages of investigative records, witness statements, interviews, and years of independent research, this episode reconstructs Debbie’s last known movements and examines the people who saw her alive for what would become the final time. Before Debbie Connor became an unsolved homicide, she was a daughter, a sister, a twin, an artist, a cowgirl, and a friend. This is where her story begins. If you have information about the murder of Debbie Connor, please contact the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit. Support The Grimes Files:https://tr.ee/brCBCoFw07 Follow The Grimes Files:https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Debbie Connor, Part 1: The Last Night at Frasu's

On May 13, 1990, 30-year-old Debra Kay “Debbie” Connor made a phone call that should have brought her safely home.

Standing at a payphone across from Frasu’s Restaurant and Lounge in Hermiston, Oregon, Debbie called her twin brother and asked if she could spend the night at the family home. He agreed and told her he would leave the door unlocked.

Before hanging up, Debbie said she had a ride.

She never arrived.

Twelve days later, Debbie’s body was discovered in Cold Springs Reservoir. She was found nude, bound, and murdered.

In Part One of this multi-episode investigation, we step away from the crime scene and meet the woman at the center of the mystery. Through interviews, newly obtained case records, and the memories of those who knew her best, we explore Debbie’s life in Pilot Rock and Stanfield, her relationships, her struggles, and the final hours leading up to her disappearance at Frasu’s on the night of May 12, 1990.

Drawing from more than 400 pages of investigative records, witness statements, interviews, and years of independent research, this episode reconstructs Debbie’s last known movements and examines the people who saw her alive for what would become the final time.

Before Debbie Connor became an unsolved homicide, she was a daughter, a sister, a twin, an artist, a cowgirl, and a friend.

This is where her story begins.

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Unsolved: Debra Kay Connor Part 1

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The Lane Bryant Massacre | The Grimes Files On February 2nd, 2008, a man posing as a delivery driver walked into a Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park, Illinois. Over the next thirty-six minutes, six women were bound with duct tape and held inside the store before five were executed just moments before police arrived. The killer vanished almost immediately. Nearly two decades later, the case remains unsolved. In this episode of The Grimes Files, Joey Grimes reconstructs the timeline of the Lane Bryant massacre minute by minute — examining the whispered 911 call, the suspect’s strange behavior, the disturbing psychological elements of the crime, the suspicious vehicles seen outside the shopping center, and the growing questions surrounding whether this was ever truly “just a robbery.” This episode contains real 911 audio and discussion of violence, sexual assault, and homicide. Listener discretion is advised. The victims:• Rhoda McFarland • Carrie Chiuso • Connie Woolfolk • Sarah Szafranski • Jennifer Bishop  The sole survivor of the attack is still living with the aftermath of what happened inside that store that morning. Follow The Grimes Files everywhere:https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles Support the investigations:https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Unsolved: The Lane Bryant Massacre

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On April 18th, 2016, Missy Bevers walked into a church in Midlothian, Texas to teach an early morning fitness class.She never made it out.Before she arrived, someone was already inside the building. Moving through the halls. Opening doors. Breaking glass. Waiting in a space they believed was empty.Within minutes of her entry, Missy encountered that person.The attack was never fully captured. The timeline is fragmented. And the most critical moment in the case—the encounter itself—was never clearly seen.What followed was a tightly compressed sequence of events that unfolded in under an hour. No theft. No clear motive. Just a suspect on surveillance footage… and a series of unanswered questions that still remain nearly a decade later.Was this a burglary gone wrong?Or was Missy Bevers the intended target from the beginning?This episode breaks down the full timeline, the behavioral patterns of the suspect, and the theory that this wasn’t a random act—but a planned attack made to look like something else.Follow &amp; Support The Grimes Files:🔗 All platforms + social media:https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles💰 Support the investigations:https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFilesIf you have information related to this case or any case featured on The Grimes Files, you can reach out confidentially through the links above.The Grimes FilesStay safe. Stay curious. And if you see something… say something. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

A pre-dawn murder, a suspect already inside, and a missing moment that still hasn’t been seen.

On April 18th, 2016, Missy Bevers was killed inside a church in Midlothian, Texas just minutes before she was scheduled to teach an early morning fitness class. Surveillance footage shows a suspect moving through the building before she arrived—but the moment of the attack was never captured.

In this episode of The Grimes Files, Joey Grimes breaks down the full timeline, the suspect’s behavior, and the critical gaps in surveillance that leave one question at the center of the case: was this random… or was she the target?

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Murdered: Missy Bevers

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A woman leaves for work.And disappears… in the most ordinary moment of her day.On January 24th, 2006, 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse vanished from her condo complex in Orlando, Florida. There were no signs of forced entry. No obvious struggle inside her home. Everything pointed to a normal morning — until it wasn’t.Hours later, her car was found just over a mile away.A man was seen on surveillance leaving it behind.He should have been identified immediately.Instead, every single frame captured him at the exact moment his face was hidden.No name.No answers.No explanation.In this episode, we break down the full timeline, the missing hours, the physical evidence, and the behavioral patterns behind one of the most frustrating unsolved disappearances in modern true crime.Because this isn’t just a case about who took Jennifer Kesse.It’s about how someone could vanish in a matter of minutes… and leave behind a case that still feels like it’s missing the one moment that matters most.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.🔗 Full episode, socials, and everything in one place:https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles💰 Support the investigation:https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

A Morning Routine, A Missing Window, and the Man No One Could Identify

On January 24th, 2006, 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her condo complex in Orlando, Florida.

There were no signs of forced entry. No clear indication of a struggle inside her home. Everything suggested she woke up, got ready for work, and left like she always did.

But she never made it.

Hours later, her car was found less than two miles away at another apartment complex. A man was captured on surveillance parking it and walking away. He should have been identified immediately.

Instead, every image of his face was blocked.

In this episode of The Grimes Files, we break down the full timeline, the unexplained gaps, the physical evidence, and the behavioral patterns behind one of the most frustrating unsolved disappearances in modern true crime.

Because this case isn’t just about who took Jennifer Kesse.

It’s about how someone could vanish in a matter of minutes… and leave behind a timeline that still feels incomplete.

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Missing: Jennifer Kesse

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Three women vanished from a home in the early hours of the morning. No signs of forced entry.No clear struggle.No confirmed sighting of what actually happened inside that house. At first glance, it looks like nothing happened at all. But when you strip the case down to what actually holds up—the timeline, the scene, the behavior—a very different picture begins to emerge. This wasn’t random.It wasn’t chaotic.And it wasn’t a mystery without structure. It was controlled. In this episode of The Grimes Files, we break down the Springfield Three case from the ground up—separating what’s stable from what’s noise, and focusing only on what can actually be trusted. No speculation.No recycled theories.Just the mechanics of what had to happen—and what that means. Because when you remove everything that doesn’t hold… what’s left is a case that makes far more sense than people realize. And that may be the most unsettling part. 🔗 All links / socials:https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles 💰 Support the show / donations:https://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Three women vanished. The evidence never moved.

Three women disappeared from inside a home in the early morning hours.

No forced entry.
No clear signs of a struggle.
No confirmed explanation for how it happened.

At 1717 East Delmar, everything was left behind—cars, purses, keys, personal belongings. The house looked untouched. But when you focus on what actually holds up—the timeline, the scene, and the behavioral constraints—a different picture begins to form.

This wasn’t random.
It wasn’t chaotic.
And it wasn’t a case without structure.

It was controlled.

In this episode of The Grimes Files, we break down the Springfield Three case using only what can be verified—separating stable facts from decades of noise, contradictions, and speculation.

Because when you remove everything that doesn’t hold…

what’s left may be the clearest—and most unsettling—version of this case.

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Missing: The Springfield Three

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On March 31, 2006, Brian Shaffer went out with friends in Columbus, Ohio. It was a normal night. Bar hopping, drinks, a crowded city full of people. At 1:55 a.m., Brian is seen on surveillance footage entering the Ugly Tuna Saloona. He never comes back out. There is no footage of him leaving. No confirmed sightings after that moment. No activity on his phone or bank accounts. Inside the bar, there were no cameras tracking his movements. Witnesses say he was calm, talking with two women near closing time. At one point, he tells them he is heading back toward the stage area. Deeper into the bar, not leaving. That is the last confirmed moment anyone sees him. His friends leave later that night without him, believing he had already gone. But there is no clear moment where they separate. No goodbye. No explanation. Just absence. Investigators reviewed everything. Every camera angle. Every possible exit. Every route through the building. Nothing. Nearly two decades later, Brian Shaffer is still missing. Because this is not just a disappearance. It is a moment that should exist, but does not. 🔗 Full episode and socialshttps://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles If you would like to support these investigationshttps://cash.app/$TheGrimesFiles Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

The disappearance that shouldn't be possible

On March 31, 2006, Brian Shaffer entered a crowded bar in Columbus, Ohio—and was never seen again.

Surveillance captured him going in. Investigators tracked nearly everyone who came out.

But Brian isn’t on any exit footage.

With no confirmed sightings, no activity, and no clear explanation, his disappearance remains one of the most baffling missing person cases in modern history.

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Missing: Brian Shaffer

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/9/21/8b643e69-3676-4978-824e-b43053725de6_hedvigagolikfinished.mp3

In May 2008, residents of an apartment building in Zagreb, Croatia forced open the door to a small attic apartment that had remained closed for decades. Inside, they found human remains. The woman who lived there had never left. Her name was Hedviga Golik, and investigators believed she had been dead for more than 30 years. For decades, neighbors assumed Hedviga had simply moved away. Some believed she had joined a religious group. Others thought she had left the city entirely. No one reported her missing, and because of local tenancy laws, no one felt comfortable entering the apartment. So the door stayed closed. Behind it, time simply stopped. In this episode of The Grimes Files, host Joey Grimes examines the real story behind one of the internet’s most widely misreported cases. Viral retellings often claim Hedviga Golik was found sitting in a chair in front of a television decades after her death. But the original Croatian reporting tells a very different story. Through archival reports and forensic explanations, this episode explores what investigators actually know about Hedviga Golik’s life, her disappearance, and the disturbing discovery that shocked Zagreb. Because Hedviga Golik didn’t disappear in a remote place. She died inside an apartment. In the middle of a city. Surrounded by neighbors. And for more than three decades… no one realized she was still there. Follow &amp; Support The Grimes Files Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFilesSupport the show / Donate: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations Sources Index.hrJutarnji ListDnevnik.hrMetro PortalSlobodna DalmacijaVečernji List Host: Joey GrimesPodcast: The Grimes Files These sources come directly from the contemporaneous Croatian reporting corpus from May 2008, which consistently describes Golik’s body as being discovered on a bed in the apartment’s bedroom, contradicting later viral claims about her being seated in front of a television.   Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Hedviga Golik: The Woman Found Dead in Her Apartment After 30 Years

In 2008, residents of an apartment building in Zagreb, Croatia forced open a door that had been sealed for decades. Inside they discovered the remains of Hedviga Golik — a woman believed to have died more than 30 years earlier while still living in the apartment.

For decades, neighbors assumed she had moved away. No one reported her missing.

In this episode of The Grimes Files, Joey Grimes examines the real story behind one of the internet’s most misreported cases and the disturbing reality of how someone could die in the middle of a city — and not be discovered for decades.

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Unmissed: Hedviga Golik

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/2/23/23/ea64d55b-2acd-400d-8d97-fff4323c6712_brandonswansonfinished.mp3

On the night of May 13, 2008, nineteen-year-old Brandon Swanson left a friend’s house in rural southwestern Minnesota and began driving home. Sometime before 2 a.m., his car went into a ditch. He called his parents for help. He told them he wasn’t hurt. He believed he knew where he was. For nearly an hour, he stayed on the phone while walking through dark farmland toward what he thought were town lights. Then he said, “Oh, s—.” And the line went silent. In this episode, we reconstruct Brandon’s final known movements using documented timelines, cell tower data, search reports, and public statements from law enforcement. We examine how a miscalculated location shifted the search by nearly twenty miles, how rural geography complicated early response efforts, and how a scent trail that led toward water shaped the investigation that followed. We also take a close look at the large-scale search operation — tracking dogs, river searches, seasonal re-examinations, and years of continued efforts that produced no physical evidence. From there, we examine the legislative aftermath: how procedural confusion in the early hours contributed to the passage of Brandon’s Law in 2009, permanently changing how missing adult cases are handled in Minnesota. This is not an episode built on speculation. It is a reconstruction of what is documented — and a recognition of what remains unexplained. Brandon Swanson has never been found. And his case remains open. ⸻ 🔗 Follow &amp; Support Linktree (all socials, episodes, and resources):👉 https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles Support independent investigative work:If you’d like to help keep these cases visible, you can donate here:❤️ https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations Every contribution helps fund research, records requests, and continued coverage of underreported cases. ⸻ 📚 Sources &amp; ResearchThis episode draws from publicly available reporting, official case summaries, and legislative records, including:•	Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) missing person bulletin•	FBI ViCAP alert and FBI case page for Brandon Swanson•	National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children (NCMEC) poster entry•	Lincoln County and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office statements•	Contemporary reporting from The Marshall Independent, The Star Tribune, CBS News, ABC News, and regional Minnesota outlets•	Interviews with BCA agents and Lyon County sheriffs in later retrospective coverage•	Minnesota Legislature records for H.F. 1242 (2009), known as Brandon’s Law•	Minnesota Statutes § 299C.53 (Missing Persons Procedures) Additional geographic context sourced from Minnesota DNR, USGS watershed documentation, and Yellow Medicine River public records. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

The 47-Minute Call Into the Dark

In May 2008, nineteen-year-old Brandon Swanson vanished in rural southwestern Minnesota after his car went into a ditch late at night. He called his parents for help. He said he wasn’t hurt. He believed he knew where he was.

For forty-seven minutes, he stayed on the phone while walking through dark farmland toward what he thought were town lights.

Then he said, “Oh, s—.”

And the line went silent.

In this episode of The Grimes Files, we reconstruct the documented timeline of Brandon Swanson’s disappearance — from the initial call window to the discovery of his vehicle near the Yellow Medicine River, the large-scale search efforts that followed, and the legislative reform that became known as Brandon’s Law.

This is a fact-based reconstruction grounded in official statements, public records, and primary reporting. No speculation. No theory-building beyond what investigators have confirmed.

Brandon Swanson has never been found.
The case remains open.


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Missing: Brandon Swanson

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/2/10/0/4398ef76-85fe-42c5-bcaf-c3bce6a33a37_kyronhormanfinishedepisode.mp3

On the morning of June 4, 2010, seven-year-old Kyron Horman walked the halls of his elementary school during a science fair.By the end of the day, he was gone. In this episode, we reconstruct Kyron’s last confirmed movements minute by minute, separating what is known from what has been assumed over the past fifteen years. We examine how a crowded school, delayed attendance procedures, and gaps in supervision created a critical window where Kyron vanished without immediate notice. We also take a hard look at the investigation itself — how early uncertainty turned into hardened public narratives, how “soft evidence” and rumor often replaced proof, and why suspicion filled the vacuum left by the absence of physical evidence. This is not an episode about certainty.It’s about systems, timelines, and the uncomfortable reality of what can — and cannot — be proven. Kyron Horman is still missing.And the case remains unresolved. <h3>🔗 Follow &amp; Support</h3> Linktree (all socials, episodes, and resources):👉  https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles Support independent investigative work:If you’d like to help keep these cases visible, you can donate here:❤️  https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations Every contribution helps fund research, records requests, and continued coverage of underreported cases. <h3>📚 Sources &amp; Research</h3> This episode draws from a comprehensive review of primary reporting, public records, and investigative analysis, including: <ul><li>Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office press releases and public statements (2010–2025)</li><li>Portland Public Schools attendance policies and schedules</li><li>FBI and Oregon State Police search operation summaries</li><li>Contemporary reporting from The Oregonian, KGW, KATU, KPTV, ABC News, CBS News, and People</li><li>Court filings related to the Horman family (divorce, restraining orders, civil proceedings)</li><li>Compiled timeline reconstructions, media-vs-fact audits, and soft-evidence reviews prepared specifically for The Grimes Files</li></ul> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

What We Know, What Was Assumed, and What Was Never Proven

Seven-year-old Kyron Horman disappeared from his elementary school during a crowded science fair on June 4, 2010.

In this episode, we reconstruct Kyron’s last confirmed movements minute by minute, separating documented facts from assumptions that hardened into public narrative. We examine institutional gaps, investigative constraints, and the absence of physical evidence that continues to prevent resolution.

This is an evidence-forward analysis of what can be proven, what cannot, and why the case remains unresolved.A video companion to the full podcast episode examining the disappearance of Kyron Horman.

This episode focuses on confirmed facts, disputed claims, and the investigative gaps that continue to prevent resolution.

Sources and case materials in description.

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Missing: Kyron Horman

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/27/0/64efa615-06a6-49f6-8916-63e2eef43d59_sharonkinneafter.mp3

In 1969, Sharon Kinne walked out of a women’s prison outside Mexico City and was not reported missing for nearly twenty one hours. She was serving a thirteen year sentence for murder. By the time anyone acknowledged she was gone, the window to find her had already closed. This episode traces how that moment became possible and what led up to it. It begins in suburban Missouri in 1960 with a husband found shot to death inside his home. Police ruled it an accident. Years later, another woman was killed. That case ended in acquittal. A third death finally resulted in a conviction. And even then, accountability did not hold. Escaped is not a story about criminal genius or a daring prison break. There was no elaborate plan and no flawless execution. What allowed Sharon Kinne to disappear was something quieter and more unsettling. Early assumptions went unchallenged. Patterns were treated as isolated events. Delays became normal. Responsibility fractured across jurisdictions. And eventually, pursuit stopped altogether. After her escape, Sharon Kinne lived openly under another name. She married. She worked. She raised children. She aged. She was never arrested. She died without ever being held accountable for what she had done. This episode focuses on institutional failure rather than spectacle. It examines how the system responded at each critical moment and how every missed opportunity narrowed the path to justice until there was nothing left to pursue but memory. Sharon Kinne did not beat the system once. She outlasted it. 🔗 All episodes and socials<a href="https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles" rel="nofollow">https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles</a> 💛 Support independent investigations<a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations" rel="nofollow">https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

A convicted murderer who was never caught

In 1969, Sharon Kinny escaped from a women’s prison outside Mexico City and was not reported missing for nearly twenty one hours. She was serving a thirteen year sentence for murder.

This episode examines how that escape was possible and what came before it. Beginning with a husband’s death ruled accidental in suburban Missouri, the case moves through an acquittal, a later conviction, and a prison system that failed to recognize risk. At every critical point, early assumptions went unchallenged, patterns were treated as isolated events, and accountability eroded over time.

Sharon Kinny lived openly for decades under another name. She was never arrested. She died without ever being held fully accountable.

Escaped focuses on institutional failure rather than spectacle, tracing how fragmented investigations, delayed responses, and abandoned pursuit allowed a convicted murderer to disappear in plain sight.

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Escaped: Sharon Kinne

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/12/13/4bd98c9a-76ca-469c-98b7-34ef21161bd1_benjaman_kyle.mp3

In August 2004, a man was found nearly dead behind a Burger King dumpster in coastal Georgia. He had no identification, no memory of who he was, and no clear explanation for how he got there. Law enforcement treated the discovery as a medical issue, not a crime. The scene wasn’t preserved. The questions stopped early. For more than a decade, that man lived in plain sight — moving through hospitals, shelters, and media appearances — while remaining legally nonexistent. He was known first as “Burger King Doe,” and later by the name he chose for himself: Benjaman Kyle This episode is not a whodunit. There is no suspect board and no clean resolution. Instead, it follows what happens when someone survives a catastrophic break from identity — and enters systems built to process data, not people. We trace Benjaman’s story from the morning he was found, through years of institutional limbo, public doubt, and failed attempts at identification. We examine how assumptions about homelessness, trauma, and credibility shaped the way he was treated — and how the longer his case remained unsolved, the more suspicion shifted onto him rather than the circumstances that failed him. Eventually, DNA genealogy does what fingerprints, media exposure, and public appeals could not. In 2015, Benjaman Kyle is identified as William Burgess Powell. But knowing his name does not restore his memories, nor does it explain how he ended up behind that dumpster in the first place. Because this case is not really about amnesia.It’s about identity.About verification.About how easily someone can slip out of the structures meant to protect them — and how quietly it can happen. <h3>Follow &amp; Support</h3> 🔗 Follow The Grimes Files on all platforms:https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles 💛 Support independent investigations and reporting:https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Benjaman Kyle: A Man Who Existed Without an Identity

A man is found nearly dead behind a Burger King dumpster with no memory of who he is and no way to prove he exists. For more than a decade, Benjaman Kyle lives in legal limbo while systems built to identify people fail to recognize him. This episode examines identity, amnesia, and what happens when someone falls outside the structures meant to catch them.

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Unidentified: Benjaman Kyle

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/12/30/0/53da0e78-2978-4d74-8e4b-b6bb1d78c1a9_chrimstmas2025.mp3

In January 2006, bailiffs arrived at a small bedsit above Wood Green Shopping City in North London. They weren’t there for a welfare check. They weren’t responding to concern. They were there because rent hadn’t been paid — and paperwork had finally caught up. Inside, the television was still on. The heat was running. Christmas presents sat wrapped near a small tree. And Joyce Carol Vincent — thirty-eight years old — had been dead for more than two years. This is not a whodunit. There is no suspect board, no dramatic reveal, and no confirmed crime. What happened to Joyce is something quieter — and in many ways, more disturbing. This episode examines how someone can die in one of the largest cities in the world and not be noticed. Not for days. Not for weeks. But for years. In this episode of The Grimes Files, we walk through the scene exactly as it was found, then rewind to Joyce herself — a professional, socially active woman with friends, family, and plans for the future. We trace the changes in her life, including her experience with domestic violence, her withdrawal from her support systems, and the housing placement meant to keep her safe. From there, we lay out the systems failure piece by piece: housing benefits, utility practices, assumptions made by neighbors, and the quiet efficiency of bureaucracy that allowed a person to become invisible in plain sight. We examine what is known — and what cannot be known — about Joyce’s death, including the open verdict, the medical possibilities, and the limits of speculation. This is not a story about a killer. It’s a story about absence. About how responsibility gets diffused. About how “someone else will notice” becomes no one noticing at all. Joyce Carol Vincent wasn’t missing.She was unmissed. Follow The Grimes Files &amp; additional case materials:https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles Support independent investigative work:https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations Content note: This episode discusses domestic violence, death, and advanced decomposition (non-graphic). Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

A woman dies in London — and isn’t discovered for more than two years.

In 2006, the body of Joyce Carol Vincent was discovered in her North London flat—more than two years after her death. This episode examines how a professional, socially connected woman became invisible in plain sight, and how isolation, domestic violence, and bureaucratic systems quietly failed her. This is not a whodunit, but a case about absence, neglect, and how responsibility dissolves when everyone assumes someone else will notice.

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Joyce Carol Vincent: Unmissed in North London

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/12/16/0/a47de5bd-d3c0-4bea-b06f-d940fc4c85ae_missing_patriciavaughanpt5.mp3

Over the last few weeks, rumors have torn through Hardy County—bones in a backyard, a surgical plate, and whispers that eighteen-year-old Patricia “Patty” Vaughan may have finally been found. But rumors aren’t answers. In Episode 5, Joey Grimes corrects the record—publicly and personally—then follows the evidence and testimony where it actually leads: into the silence that swallowed Patty’s name, into one of the earliest known survivor accounts connected to Doug Sager, and into the disturbing discovery along Route 259 that reignited this case. This episode includes: <ul><li>Major factual corrections about Patty’s background and identifying details</li><li>Why so many locals say they never even heard Patty’s name until now</li><li>An early survivor account that predates Patty—showing Doug’s pattern years earlier</li><li>A clear breakdown of what’s confirmed (and what is not) regarding the bones, plate, and ongoing testing</li><li>A witness who lived beside Doug’s former land—and what he learned about the chicken houses tied to multiple accounts</li></ul> <h3>Content warning</h3> This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, coercion, grooming, violence, and traumatic experiences. Listener discretion advised. <h2>Help keep this investigation independent</h2> If you want to support records requests, travel, forensic consultation, and ongoing reporting, you can donate here:Donate: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations <h2>Join the case community</h2> Facebook Group (Missing: Patricia Vaughan): https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1RyvCFadui/ <h2>Follow Joey + get all links in one place</h2> Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheGrimesFiles TikTok / Instagram / updates and documents are posted as this case develops. <h2>Tips, leads, and witness outreach</h2> If you worked with Doug Sager, knew him, trucked alongside him, or you have information about Patty Vaughan—or any woman you believe may be connected—reach out. Confidentiality respected.Contact: joeyg@mcwgp.com Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

When Silence Breaks

In Episode Five of The Grimes Files, host Joey Grimes corrects the record surrounding the disappearance of eighteen-year-old Patricia “Patty” Vaughan, who vanished from Mathias, West Virginia in 1982.

As rumors spread through Hardy County following the discovery of bones and surgical hardware along Route 259, this episode separates fact from speculation, addresses earlier reporting errors, and lays out what is currently confirmed by law enforcement and forensic experts.

The episode also introduces one of the earliest known survivor accounts connected to Galen Douglas Sager, predating Patty’s disappearance and revealing a pattern of coercion, isolation, and silence that extended for decades.

Through firsthand testimony, community memory, and on-the-ground reporting, Episode Five explores how fear and erasure allowed a young woman to vanish without a town noticing — and why that silence is finally breaking.

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Missing: Patricia Vaughan Pt. 5 - When Silence Breaks

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/12/2/1/a869c23b-9915-44c3-b6eb-97cb930fcf0e_paulmerhidge_thethanksgivingmassacre.mp3

On Thanksgiving night in 2009, the Sitton family gathered in Jupiter, Florida for a warm, ordinary holiday—full of food, laughter, piano music, and the kind of comfort only family can create. But sitting quietly among them was a man who hadn’t come to reconnect. He had come with a plan. This episode of The Grimes Files tells the full, chilling story of Paul Michael Merhige—how a lifetime of untreated mental decline, deep resentment, and quiet fixation turned into one of the most devastating family massacres in recent American history. We take you from Paul’s early struggles and escalating obsession, to the days of preparation leading up to Thanksgiving 2009, where he shaved his entire body, bought ammunition, mapped out his escape, and waited for a moment when his entire family would be gathered under one roof. Inside the Sitton home that night, we walk through the moments of calm before the violence: the conversations, the TV humming in the living room, the kids falling asleep, and six-year-old Makayla Sitton joyfully playing piano for her cousin one final time. And then, we follow the horror minute-by-minute as Paul retrieved a handgun from his car and opened fire—killing his twin sister Carla, his cousin Lisa Knight and her unborn child, and young Makayla, while wounding others who tried desperately to hide or flee. From there, we cover Paul’s calculated escape, the multi-state manhunt, the media frenzy, and the break that came when a motel employee recognized him after seeing the case featured on America’s Most Wanted. His quiet arrest, days later in the Florida Keys, shocked even seasoned investigators. Finally, we explore the courtroom aftermath: Paul’s guilty plea, the decision to remove the death penalty, the heartbreaking victim impact statements, and the seven consecutive life sentences that ensure he will never walk free again. We look at how the Sitton, Knight, and Merhige families have carried their grief forward, honoring the memories of Makayla, Lisa, Carla, and Baby Knight while navigating the lifelong aftershocks of trauma. This is the full story of a Thanksgiving that became a nightmare—and a family whose strength, faith, and commitment to remembrance refuse to let their loved ones be defined only by the violence that took them. <h3>Support the Show</h3> Help keep The Grimes Files independent and investigative.Donate here:➡️ https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations <h3>Follow Me on Social Media</h3> Stay connected for case updates, behind-the-scenes research, new episodes, and more:➡️ TikTok / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook: @TheGrimesFiles <h3>Credits</h3> Hosted, written, and produced by Joey Grimes.Thank you for listening and supporting independent true crime journalism. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

When Thanksgiving Became a Crime Scene

On Thanksgiving night 2009, a Jupiter, Florida family gathered for food, football, and sleepover plans—only to be ambushed from within. Quiet, troubled relative Paul Michael Merhige sat through dinner, listened to his six-year-old cousin Makayla play piano… and then opened fire.

In this episode, we walk through Paul’s long unraveling, the warning signs everyone tried to explain away, the calculated steps he took before the holiday, the minutes of terror inside the Sitton home, his week on the run, and the tip that finally brought him down. We’ll also look at the families left behind, the decision to take the death penalty off the table, and how they’ve fought to make sure Makayla, Lisa, Carla, and Baby Knight are remembered for their lives—not just the brutality of their deaths.

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Paul Merhige: The Thanksgiving Massacre

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/11/18/7/77da7fbe-3fc5-476b-9030-a695fa92e7ca_redhead_i-81.mp3

From 1983 to 1995, women were vanishing along America’s highways—pulled from truck stops, gas stations, on-ramps, and interstate corridors stretching from Tennessee to West Virginia. Their bodies appeared miles from where they were taken, often strangled, discarded, and left unidentified for decades. The press called them the Redhead Murders. Later, law enforcement whispered about another pattern: the I-81 Strangler. But these weren’t isolated series. They were a network of predators using the interstate system as their hunting ground. In this episode, we break down the victims, the trucking routes, the law enforcement failures, and the long-haul drivers tied to multiple states and multiple murders—including Jerry Leon Johns, Henry Wise, Sean Patrick Goble, and Warren Luther Alexander. We look at the survivors who escaped, the victims who still have no names, and the cases that overlap in terrifying ways. And we connect this landscape directly to the disappearance of Patty Vaughan in 1982—because the world she vanished into wasn’t random. It was already full of men who knew how easy it was to make a woman disappear along America’s highways. This is Truck Stop Killers. Follow &amp; Contact Stay updated on the investigation:@thegrimesfiles on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Submit tips (confidential):@thegrimesfiles or joeyg@mcwgp.com Support the Investigation Every donation helps fund travel, records, FOIA requests, interviews, and boots-on-the-ground work.👉 <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations" rel="nofollow">https://app.redcircle.com/shows/cef31eb2-a731-4b09-b2e4-f6b293fd4f4a/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Predators on America’s Highways

Women were disappearing along America’s highways throughout the 1980s and 1990s—taken from truck stops, gas stations, and interstate corridors, then found miles away, strangled and unidentified. The press called them the Redhead Murders. Investigators whispered about the I-81 Strangler. But these weren’t isolated series—they were part of a much larger pattern of long-haul predators using the interstate system as their hunting ground.

In this episode, we break down the victims, the routes, and the men tied to murders across multiple states, and we show how this landscape connects directly to the disappearance of Patty Vaughan in 1982.

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Truck Stop Killers: Redhead Murders and I-81 Strangler

Cold cases. Buried voices. Forgotten victims.

I’m Joey Grimes, and this is The Grimes Files: Gone, Not Silent—a true crime podcast exposing cases that never got justice. Season one reopens the 1998 murder of Helen Eskew in Douglasville, Georgia, where silence and fear still surround the truth.