Murder, She Told

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How Marc Karun Got Away With Murder For 33 Years May 18, 2021

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1986 - Norwalk, Connecticut.

When Kathleen Marie Flynn left for school the morning of September 23rd, 1986 in Norwalk, Connecticut it was just a normal day. But when 3:30 rolled around and punctual Kathleen still wasn't home from school, her mother started panicking. Later that night Kathleen's body is found in the woods. She'd been killed on her way home from school.

Police quickly add 23-year-old Marc Karun to their suspect list based on a violent assault he'd committed earlier that year. There were similarities between that case and Kathleen's murder, but police don't have enough evidence to charge him.

But this is the 1980's, and DNA evidence is decades away from what we know today. So Marc Karun walked a free man, terrorizing women in the Norwalk community, and spending short stints in jail... until 2013, when Marc Karun moved to a tiny town in the middle of central Maine and made his presence loud and clear...

This is a story of a monster who lived amongst us. The story of innocence stolen, and the story of the rise of DNA evidence and the long, winding road to justice.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence or assault and need support, help is available. Reach out to the Rape Abuse incest National Network support hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org for more information.

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The Double Arson Murders of Lorna Brackett & Vincent White May 11, 2021

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1991 - Waterville, Maine.

In November of 1991, police in Waterville, Maine arrived on the scene of a suspicious fire that was ablaze at a home in the middle of town. After the fire was controlled, two bodies were found inside, charred beyond recognition.

They were later identified as 25-year-old Lorna Labbe Brackett, and 46-year-old Maynard Vincent White. Tests to the house confirmed that accelerants were present, and the deaths were ruled a homicide.

Rumors start flying about their deaths possibly being linked to cocaine trafficking, and despite over 400 interviews for the case, nobody has been brought to justice for Lorna and Vincent's senseless deaths.

This is the story of Lorna Brackett and Vincent White.

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If you have any information about the murders of Lorna Brackett and Vincent White, please contact Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central at (207) 624-7143 or leave a tip.

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Was Krystal Lee Higgins Murdered? May 04, 2021

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2004 - Downeast, Maine.

When 17-year-old Krystal Lee Higgins went missing after a night with friends in 2004, the entire Downeast, Maine community rallied together to search for her. But the search came to a devastating end when Krystal's car was found in the river. Two days later, Krystal's body was found close to the same spot.

The police ultimately ruled it an unfortunate accident, but for the past sixteen years, friends and family still have questions about what exactly happened that night. Was foul play involved? If it was an accident, why are there so many pieces of the puzzle that don't make sense?

Then, in 2015, this closed case took a dark turn... A mysterious letter surfaced, pointing to an unnamed killer, and saying that Krystal's death wasn't an accident... Krystal Higgins was murdered.

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Curtis Pishon Vanished Without a Trace Apr 27, 2021

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2000 - Seabrook, New Hampshire.

In 2000, while working the Fourth of July graveyard shift as a security guard in Seabrook, New Hampshire, Curtis Pishon disappeared without a trace.

Earlier that evening Curtis's car has been mysteriously set on fire, and though the insurance company later ruled it an arson, it is still unknown who set the fire, and why it was set. After that, Curtis disappeared.

The Pishon family suspects foul play, and investigator Michael Gallagher does too. And though a person of interest has been named in Curtis's case, no charges have ever been made.

Curtis Pishon is Seabrook's only missing persons case.

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If you know anything about the murder of Curtis Pishon, I urge you to contact to the Seabrook NH Police Department.

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The Tangled Mystery of Shirley McAvoy Apr 13, 2021

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1990 - Pittsfield, Maine.

Shirley McAvoy had been missing for over a month when her estranged husband showed up to winterize her mobile home in Pittsfield, Maine in October of 1990. When he opened the door, he had no idea of the horrifying crime scene awaiting him inside.

Shirley was last seen with a mystery man who called himself "Jerry", and the day she went missing, this mystery man was seen driving her red 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme alone.

When Shirley's body is discovered, police know they have a murder on their hands, and a person of interest to find.

Tune in to this tangled mystery of the murder of Shirley McAvoy, an unsolved case that travels all the way to the bottom of the eastern seaboard.

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If you know anything about the murder of Shirley McAvoy, I urge you to leave a tip with the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central.

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Forever Fourteen: The Murder of Christopher Rines Apr 06, 2021

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1991 - Pittsfield, Maine.

14-year-old Christopher Rines wasn't a bad kid. He skipped school a lot and snuck out at night, but he wasn't a bad kid.

In April of 1991, after a night out with friends gone wrong, Christopher disappeared. And the local police department in Pittsfield, Maine wrote him off as a teenage runaway.

But the weeks passed with no sign of Christopher... until his jacket showed up in the water of Mill Pond in the center of town, and everyone begins fearing the worst.

This month marks the 30th anniversary since Christopher's murder. His case still remains unsolved.

If you know anything about the murder of Christopher Rines, I urge you to leave a tip to the Maine State Major Crimes Unit Central.

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Horrid Murder! The James Purrington Family Massacre Mar 31, 2021

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1806 - Bowdoinham, Maine.

On a hot July night in 1806, in a frontier town near Augusta, Maine (before the state had its name), Captain James Scales Purrington took an axe and a straight edge razor, and murdered his wife and 7 of their children before killing himself.

This horrifying act shocked the town. What kind of man would slaughter his children? Did James Purrington have a psychotic break? Or did something more sinister happen?

This is the story of the original family annihilator, James Purrington, and the Purrington family massacre.

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The Unsolved Bangor House Murder of Effie MacDonald Mar 23, 2021

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1965 - Bangor, Maine.

In March of 1965, 54-year-old Effie MacDonald went to her job as a chambermaid at the Bangor House Hotel, a prominent luxury hotel in downtown Bangor, Maine.

At 1:15pm, she was seen speaking with a man in the hotel's corridor, and she wasn't seen again... until 2:45pm, when her body was found in a vacant 3rd floor room. She'd been strangled, beaten, and raped.

Around this time, the Boston Strangler had been terrorizing Massachusetts with a string of unsolved murders. Could Effie be the victim of a copycat serial killer?

To this day, Effie's case is one of Maine's oldest unsolved cases. Effie had no enemies. She lived a modest and quiet life. Who would brutally murder such a respectable Maine woman?

This is the story of Effie Terrill MacDonald.

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Justice For Joyce McLain Mar 17, 2021

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1980 - East Millinocket, Maine.

In 1980, 16-year-old Joyce McLain went out for a jog one hot summer day and never came back. Two days later, her body was behind her East Millinocket high school bludgeoned to death.

Who would do this to such a well loved young woman? Over the years her mother fought like hell to keep this case in the interest of the public, and even successfully petitioned Unsolved Mysteries to cover it. But despite the national attention, Joyce's case sat unsolved for nearly four decades... until one day, a new team takes over the case and realizes the killer may be a lot closer to home than they thought.

This is the story of one of Maine's longest homicide investigations and one of its most recently solved cold cases, the murder of Joyce McLain.

SIGN DANIELLE'S PETITION

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Murder Mountain, Part Two: The Danielle Bertolini Investigation Mar 09, 2021

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2014 - Fortuna, California.

In 2014, Danielle Bertolini went missing in Humboldt County, California. She was a childhood friend of mine from Maine, and her case has never been solved. But there is a person of interest... and Danielle isn't the only woman who was last seen alive with him.

Joining me this week is Detective Brian Taylor of the Fortuna Police Department to talk about his involvement on the case, and The Murder Squad's Billy Jensen, who wrote about Danielle in his book, Chase Darkness With Me.

(July 2022 update: Please note this episode was recorded and released over a year prior to any allegations about Jensen coming to light. While I work on making updated edits, this episode will remain as originally recorded and edited because some of the insight is still important to moving the case forward.)

This is Murder Moutain, Part Two: The Danielle Bertolini Investigation.

SIGN THE PETITION – I am asking the Humboldt County DA to prioritize this case. You can help us make this happen. Please listen to Danielle's story and share this petition.

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