Koltergeist: True Crime Stories

On today’s episode of Koltergeist, we’re going to discuss the unsolved murders of a 10-year old boy and his step mother. These brutal murders occurred in sanctity their home in the middle of a beautiful summer afternoon-and have remained unsolved for decades. Despite the horrific nature of the crime, the case has remained largely absent from the national spotlight. For decades, the victims' loved ones have been left searching for answers while investigators have released very little information to the public. With few details available and no one ever brought to justice, the murders remain one of Indiana's enduring cold cases.Chynna Lynne Dickus 26 Years Old - National Organization of Parents of Murdered ChildrenFamily, friends continue search for justice in 2006 Franklin murders | wthr.comNearly murdered, but didn't know it at the time. : r/LetsNotMeetDec 04, 1980, page 4 - Indiana Gazette at Newspapers.comDec 13, 1987, page 1 - Scrantonian Tribune at Newspapers.comDec 17, 1978, page 3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comSep 09, 1986, page 3 - The Tribune at Newspapers.comAug 29, 2010, page A3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comMay 24, 1989, page 29 - Scrantonian Tribune at Newspapers.comMay 15, 1989, page 4 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comJun 11, 2007, page A8 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comJun 08, 1989, page 3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comJun 17, 1989, page 5 - The Tribune at Newspapers.comOct 21, 1989, page 1 - Scrantonian Tribune at Newspapers.comJul 05, 1989, page 4 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comAug 04, 1990, page 3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comWho Killed Blake and Chynna Dickus? Pt. 2 - Crime Watch Daily

In November 2006, five-months-pregnant Michelle Young was brutally murdered inside her Raleigh, North Carolina home while her two-year-old daughter was just feet away. Her husband, Jason Young, claimed he was away on a business trip, but investigators soon began questioning his alibi and uncovered serious problems in the couple’s marriage. After two trials, Jason was convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.https://6abc.com/archive/8532605/https://abcnews.com/US/jason-young-found-guilty-murdering-wife/story?id=15852520https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nc-supreme-court/1711438.html

In June 2013, 16-year-old Ethan Couch drove drunk at nearly three times the legalalcohol limit, speeding through a residential area in Texas before crashing into a groupof people helping a stranded motorist. The crash killed four people. Couch's casebecame infamous after his defense argued that his wealthy, permissiveupbringing—dubbed "affluenza"—left him unable to understand the consequences of hisactions. Instead of prison, he initially received probation, sparking widespread publicoutrage.In March 2009, 16-year-old Justine Winter was speeding and illegally passing traffic ona two-lane highway near Missoula, Montana, when she crossed the center line andcrashed head-on into another vehicle. The collision killed a woman who was eightmonths pregnant and her 13-year-old son, devastating an entire family and leading toWinter's conviction on multiple homicide charges.https://abcnews.com/US/affluenza-dui-case-happened-night-accident-left-people/story?id=34481444https://www.nytimes.com/topic/ethan-couchhttps://mezrano.com/alabama/car-accidents/drunk-driving/https://missoulian.com/guilty-teen-drops-lawsuit-against-family-of-victims-in-fatal-crash/article_de025f9e-c303-5b0a-8085-3526c112f17b.html?mode=nowapphttps://abcnews.com/US/justine-winters-court-statement/story?id=14283064https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14242654/

In this episode of Koltergeist, we examine the crimes of one of America's most dangerous suspected serial predators, Larry DeWayne Hall. The Unorthodox strategy of how the government kept this criminal off the streets required the courage of an unconventional partner and is told in the Netflix series Blackbird. In this episode, we are delving beyond Blackbird-into the actual crimes and suspected crimes tied to Larry Hall, including multiple kidnappings, murders, and sexual assaults of young women and girls throughout the Midwest in the 1980's and 90's. CNN.com - TranscriptsApr 07, 1994, page 3 - JG-TC: Journal Gazette and Times-Courier at Newspapers.com™May 21, 1995, page 1 - The Pantagraph at Newspapers.com™Who killed Michelle Dewey? | wthr.comMissing Wisconsin Woman Laurie Depies' 19-Year-Old Cold Case Cracked By Inmate Larry Hall's Admission - ABC NewsThese Indiana Cases Have Potential Ties To Larry Hall | wthr.com Apr 02, 1993, page 8 - Chronicle Tribune at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™Amazon.com: In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption eBook : Keene, James, Levin, Hillel: Kindle Store

Scranton mechanic Frank Osellanie had a dark and predatory past that culminated with the brutal assault and murder of 9-year-old Renee Waddle. But can investigators tie him to other unsolved cases? In this episode we delve into four other unsolved cases of the Electric City-the murder of Laureen Finn and the disappearances of Michelle Jolene Lakey, Shelley Diane Luty, and Joanne Williams. References:Dec 04, 1980, page 4 - Indiana Gazette at Newspapers.comDec 13, 1987, page 1 - Scrantonian Tribune at Newspapers.comDec 17, 1978, page 3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comSep 09, 1986, page 3 - The Tribune at Newspapers.comAug 29, 2010, page A3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comMay 24, 1989, page 29 - Scrantonian Tribune at Newspapers.comMay 15, 1989, page 4 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comJun 11, 2007, page A8 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comJun 08, 1989, page 3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comJun 17, 1989, page 5 - The Tribune at Newspapers.comOct 21, 1989, page 1 - Scrantonian Tribune at Newspapers.comJul 05, 1989, page 4 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.comAug 04, 1990, page 3 - The Times-Tribune at Newspapers.com 

This captivating truecrime episode explores the shocking divergence within the Stayner family. It begins with young Steven Stayner’s abduction at age 7 and his courageous escape seven years later—saving a fellow captive along the way. But the story takes a darker turn, as his older brother Cary grows up overlooked and troubled, eventually becoming the notorious “Yosemite Park Killer.” The hosts trace childhood trauma, media obsession, and familial neglect, culminating in Cary’s chilling crimes near Yosemite National Park in 1999. The episode highlights how two brothers, bound by blood, ended up on dramatically different paths.References:https://abcnews.go.com/US/steven-cary-stayner-tale-brothers-horror-heroism/story?id=60529944https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/20/there-was-a-lot-of-torment-the-family-who-endured-two-true-stories

On a cold January evening in 2011, 27-year-old Ellen Greenberg, a beloved teacherand bride-to-be, was found dead in her Philadelphia apartment with 20 stabwounds—10 of which were to the back of her head and neck. Despite the medicalexaminer determining the manner of death as a homicide, it was never reallyinvestigated as such. The medical examiner then suddenly changed the manner ofdeath to suicide-and then changed it yet again, but the story doesn’t end there. Ellen’sfamily and many experts have raised compelling questions about the clearly bungledinvestigation. On this episode of Koltergeist we’ll delve into the evidence, the autopsyfindings, and a brand new bombshell to ask the difficult question—who killed EllenGreenberg?References:Ellen Greenberg - Crime TimelineEllen Greenberg died by ‘suicide’ with 20 stab wounds. Her parents are out to provethat’s impossible | Lamb McErlane PCEllen-Greenberg-Autopsy-2012-Wecht-RPT.pdfhttps://gavinfish.com/cases/ellen-greenberg/Teacher stabbing death to be revisited after medical examiner walks back ruling ofsuicide - ABC NewsAnnie McCormick on X: "Breaking Today : The Medical Examiner in Ellen Greenberg’scase says her death was NOT suicide. The legal tide appears to be turning for theGreenberg family in their decade plus long fight to change their daughter’s suicide rulingto homicide or undetermined."

In this episode, we explore two shocking cases of fetal abduction—where pregnant women were targeted by women desperate to steal their unborn babies. First, we recount the 2015 attack on Michelle Wilkins, who was lured by Dynel Lane under the guise of a Craigslist baby clothes sale, only to be brutally attacked and have her baby cut from her womb. Then, we examine the infamous case of Lisa Montgomery, who strangled Bobbie Jo Stinnett in 2004 and stole her baby, later attempting to pass the child off as her own. Both stories reveal the darkest extremes of obsession—and the strength of the survivors and families left behind.References:https://www.justice.gov/file/262956/dl?inline=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/2021/01/07/lisa-montgomery-federal-execution-bobbie-jo-stinnett-baby-victim-what-we-know/6550809002/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/dynel-lane-convicted-in-mother-to-be-stabbing-trial/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/04/29/judge-sentences-dynel-lane-to-100-years-for-attack/