The Path Went Chilly

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Michael Rosenblum Pt. One Jan 06, 2022

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February 14, 1980. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While recovering from a bad drug hangover, 25-year old Michael Rosenblum drives off in his girlfriend’s car and vanishes without a trace. The vehicle is soon found abandoned by the Baldwin Borough Police Department, but even though Michael’s family reports him missing, the police inexplicably keep the car impounded for three months without informing anyone. As the years go by, Michael’s father uncovers disturbing evidence to suggest that the Baldwin police chief helped orchestrate an elaborate cover-up involving his son’s disappearance. Even when a skull fragment belonging to Michael is found in 1992, there are no answers about what happened to him. This week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly” chronicles the unexplained disappearance and death of Michael Rosenblum, which is perhaps our most convoluted and controversial case to date.
Support the show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Additional Reading:
http://unsolved.com/archives/michael-rosenblum
http://coldcaseshardcopy.blogspot.com/2011/10/who-murdered-michael-rosenblum.html
Pittsburgh Magazine (April 1988)

The Suspicious Death of Patrick Sean Kelly Pt. Two Dec 30, 2021

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(Part 2/2) May 5, 1996. Tijuana, Mexico. A young man is struck by a motorcycle while running across the highway and dies in hospital six days later. Three weeks pass before he is identified as Patrick Sean Kelly, a 22-year old Canadian film student who had gone missing from the University of Southern California. There are a number of suspicious discrepancies to suggest there is more to Patrick’s death than a simple accident, as his ATM card is used and his vehicle is driven after he is hospitalized. The evidence also shows that Patrick may have travelled to Mexico with another young man, but this person is never identified. What compelled Patrick to make this trip? If he travelled with someone else, what happened to them? Was Patrick’s death really caused by the motorcycle accident, or did the local authorities orchestrate a cover-up? These are just some of the unanswered questions in this week’s baffling episode of “The Path Went Chilly”, which chronicles an unexplained death which turned into a nightmare of jurisdictional red tape.
Support the Show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Additional Reading:
http://unsolved.com/gallery/patrick-sean-kelly/
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Patrick_Kelly
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-07-22/news/mn-26754_1_terri-kelly
https://web.archive.org/web/20041224153241/http://www.thepacc.org:80/Kelly.html

The Suspicious Death of Patrick Sean Kelly Pt. One Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

May 5, 1996. Tijuana, Mexico. A young man is struck by a motorcycle while running across the highway and dies in hospital six days later. Three weeks pass before he is identified as Patrick Sean Kelly, a 22-year old Canadian film student who had gone missing from the University of Southern California. There are a number of suspicious discrepancies to suggest there is more to Patrick’s death than a simple accident, as his ATM card is used and his vehicle is driven after he is hospitalized. The evidence also shows that Patrick may have travelled to Mexico with another young man, but this person is never identified. What compelled Patrick to make this trip? If he travelled with someone else, what happened to them? Was Patrick’s death really caused by the motorcycle accident, or did the local authorities orchestrate a cover-up? These are just some of the unanswered questions in this week’s baffling episode of “The Path Went Chilly”, which chronicles an unexplained death which turned into a nightmare of jurisdictional red tape.
Support the Show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Additional Reading:
http://unsolved.com/gallery/patrick-sean-kelly/
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Patrick_Kelly
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-07-22/news/mn-26754_1_terri-kelly
https://web.archive.org/web/20041224153241/http://www.thepacc.org:80/Kelly.html

The Disappearance of Kristen Tomlin Pt. Two Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

(Part 2/2) November 13, 1981. Stinson Beach, California. 44-year old John Paul Russell and 34-year old Bob Dozier emerge from the Pacific Ocean, claiming that their yacht, the Freedom II, sank after a large freighter crashed into them. John’s 30-year old wife, Suzanne Russell, and their 20-year old friend, Kristen Tomlin, were also on the boat and presumed drowned. However, when no trace of the Freedom II can be found, investigators begin to suspect that the whole incident is an elaborate scam orchestrated by the two men. Evidence also suggests that Suzanne Russell may have been in on the scam and faked her own death. After hiding out as fugitives for over a decade, John Paul Russell and Bob Dozier are captured and serve time in prison for fraud, but no trace of Kristen Tomlin is ever found. Was Kristen also a part of the scam and did she stage her own disappearance? Or was she an innocent victim who fell prey to some con artists? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” covers an incredibly bizarre fraud scheme involving a missing boat which eventually turned into an unsolved missing persons case.
Support the show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Additional Reading:
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Kristin_Tomlin_and_Suzanne_Russell
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/17/Ketch-mystery-deepens/7430788022132/
https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/us/san-franciscans-puzzled-over-missing-ketch.html
http://articles.latimes.com/1991-05-01/local/me-766_1_theft-suspect

The Disappearance of Kristen Tomlin Pt. One Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

November 13, 1981. Stinson Beach, California. 44-year old John Paul Russell and 34-year old Bob Dozier emerge from the Pacific Ocean, claiming that their yacht, the Freedom II, sank after a large freighter crashed into them. John’s 30-year old wife, Suzanne Russell, and their 20-year old friend, Kristen Tomlin, were also on the boat and presumed drowned. However, when no trace of the Freedom II can be found, investigators begin to suspect that the whole incident is an elaborate scam orchestrated by the two men. Evidence also suggests that Suzanne Russell may have been in on the scam and faked her own death. After hiding out as fugitives for over a decade, John Paul Russell and Bob Dozier are captured and serve time in prison for fraud, but no trace of Kristen Tomlin is ever found. Was Kristen also a part of the scam and did she stage her own disappearance? Or was she an innocent victim who fell prey to some con artists? This week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly” covers an incredibly bizarre fraud scheme involving a missing boat which eventually turned into an unsolved missing persons case.
Additional Reading:
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Kristin_Tomlin_and_Suzanne_Russell
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/17/Ketch-mystery-deepens/7430788022132/
https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/us/san-franciscans-puzzled-over-missing-ketch.html
http://articles.latimes.com/1991-05-01/local/me-766_1_theft-suspect

The Disappearance of Audrey Moat and the Murder of Thomas Hotard Pt. Two Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

(Part 2/2) November 24, 1956. LaPlace, Louisiana. 46-year old married family man Thomas Hotard and 31-year old single mother Audrey Moate meet up to continue their secret affair, which they have been carrying on for years. The following day, Thomas’ body is discovered inside his vehicle at a remote swamp area with a shotgun blast to the back of his head. Even though most of Audrey’s clothing has been left behind, she is nowhere to be found and a search of the area turns up no trace of her. Two decades later, a dying man confesses that his common-law wife was responsible for murdering the couple and that he helped dispose of Audrey’s body, but no evidence is found to support his story. This week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly” covers a “lovers’ lane” murder from the Louisiana bayou involving one victim who has still never been found.
Support the show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Additional Reading:
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Thomas_Hotard_and_Audrey_Moate
http://charleyproject.org/case/audrey-alta-moate
https://nbcmontana.com/archive/montana-woman-hopes-dna-will-crack-unsolved-mysteries-cold-case

The Disappearance of Audrey Moat & the Murder of Thomas Hotard Pt. One Nov 25, 2021

Show notes

November 24, 1956. LaPlace, Louisiana. 46-year old married family man Thomas Hotard and 31-year old single mother Audrey Moate meet up to continue their secret affair, which they have been carrying on for years. The following day, Thomas’ body is discovered inside his vehicle at a remote swamp area with a shotgun blast to the back of his head. Even though most of Audrey’s clothing has been left behind, she is nowhere to be found and a search of the area turns up no trace of her. Two decades later, a dying man confesses that his common-law wife was responsible for murdering the couple and that he helped dispose of Audrey’s body, but no evidence is found to support his story. This week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly” covers a “lovers’ lane” murder from the Louisiana bayou involving one victim who has still never been found.
Support the show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Additional Reading:
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Thomas_Hotard_and_Audrey_Moate
http://charleyproject.org/case/audrey-alta-moate
https://nbcmontana.com/archive/montana-woman-hopes-dna-will-crack-unsolved-mysteries-cold-case

The Murder of Donna Branion Pt. Two Nov 18, 2021

Show notes

(part 2/2) December 22, 1967. Chicago, Illinois. After leaving work and picking up his son from school, Dr. John Branion, a prominent African-American physician who treated Martin Luther King Jr., returns home to discover that his wife, Donna Branion, has been shot to death. Police become suspicious of Dr. Branion’s behaviour and eventually charge him with the murder after discovering that the likely murder weapon, a Walther PPK, and four shells are missing from his home. Even though Branion appears to have a solid alibi and his defense team argues there was not enough time for him to commit the crime, he is found guilty at trial. While free on bond to appeal the verdict, Branion flees the country, but is recaptured years later and dies in 1990. However, questions remain about the validity of the original conviction. Was Donna Branion actually murdered by her husband? Was an innocent man wrongfully convicted? Or is the real answer a lot more complex? This week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly” examines a very controversial murder case which is still debated 50 years later.
Support the Show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Art: @fleshwadYT
Music: Paul Rich

The Murder of Donna Branion Pt. One Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

December 22, 1967. Chicago, Illinois. After leaving work and picking up his son from school, Dr. John Branion, a prominent African-American physician who treated Martin Luther King Jr., returns home to discover that his wife, Donna Branion, has been shot to death. Police become suspicious of Dr. Branion’s behaviour and eventually charge him with the murder after discovering that the likely murder weapon, a Walther PPK, and four shells are missing from his home. Even though Branion appears to have a solid alibi and his defense team argues there was not enough time for him to commit the crime, he is found guilty at trial. While free on bond to appeal the verdict, Branion flees the country, but is recaptured years later and dies in 1990. However, questions remain about the validity of the original conviction. Was Donna Branion actually murdered by her husband? Was an innocent man wrongfully convicted? Or is the real answer a lot more complex? This week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly” examines a very controversial murder case which is still debated 50 years later.
Support the show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Music: Paul Rich
Art: @fleshwadYT

Latricia White, Dub & Chance Wackerhagen Pt. Two Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

December 27, 1993. Lockhart, Texas. The body of 38-year old Latricia White is discovered in her bed after having been shot six times. Latricia’s live-in boyfriend, Lee “Dub” Wackerhagen, has vanished from their home, alongside his nine-year son, Chance. Three days later, Dub’s abandoned pick-up truck is discovered, containing many of his personal items and blood which does not belong to Latricia. Since Dub was known for having a volatile temper, he becomes the prime suspect in the murder and a warrant is issued for his arrest. However, over two decades later, the authorities announce that new evidence suggests Latricia, Dub and Chance were all victims of foul play. But who could have been responsible? Today’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly” examines a baffling unsolved case which was voted on by our listeners in a Facebook poll.
Support the show:
Patreon.com/julesandashley
Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold
Also, please check out the Charley Project profile pages for Lee “Dub” Wackerhagen and Chance Wackerhagen for more information.
Additional Reading:
http://unsolved.com/gallery/chance-wackerhagen/
http://archive.caller.com/news/local/crime/dps-looking-for-suspects-in-1993-murder-missing-persons-case-involving-kingsville-boy-33386e34-526b–380185871.html
http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Investigators-reopen-1993-Texas-murder-disappearance-case-379961121.html

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