True Crime Couple

Latest Episodes:

Episode 112: Missing | The Search for Sage Smith Sep 26, 2021

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Sage Smith was a 19 year old transgender woman when she disappeared from the downtown area of Charlottesville, VA on November 20, 2012. In today’s case we discuss her background, the circumstances surrounding her case, and question why her story has not been as told as other missing teen’s cases. Sage, and someone else closely related to the case, are still missing.
The investigation into the disappearance has turned into a homicide investigation and the police, as of 2018, consider Erik McFadden a suspect again. But as you will listen you will learn of many suspects.
Sources:https://www.glaad.org/publications/transgendervictimsofcrime https://splinternews.com/i-am-a-girl-now-sage-smith-wrote-then-she-went-missin-1797178002 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/grant-funding/john-h-chafee-foster-care-independence-program#:~:text=Chafee%20Foster%20Care%20Independence%20Program%20(CFCIP)%20offers%20assistance%20to%20help,care%20youths%20achieve%20self%2Dsufficiency.&text=This%20program%20makes%20available%20vouchers,and%20training%20for%20eligible%20youth.https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/cpd-still-seeking-info-on-8-year-mark-of-sage-smiths-disappearance/article_665c4a22-2b6d-11eb-bd7d-13f1a546a61f.html https://www.nbc12.com/2020/11/20/investigation-into-disappearance-sage-smith-enters-th-year/https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Transgender-teen-has-been-missing-presumed-dead-in-Va-for-7-years-565224482.html
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Merchhttps://truecrimecouples-store.creator-spring.com
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Episode 111: The Yosemite Killer | The Victim's Stories Sep 12, 2021

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Today’s case covers the murders of the Yosemite Park Killer. Carole and Juliana Sund along with their family friend were murdered in February of 1999. Five months later Joie Armstrong would also be senselessly and brutally murdered. In this case we discuss the murders, the investigation and the shocking identity of the killer and what this meant for all the crimes that were committed.
Please email all paranormal/true crime related stories to truecrimecouple@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in our October episode. If featured in the episode an amazon gift card will be sent.
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Sources:https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Stayner-on-tape-describes-killing-3-Court-2910908.php https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Stayner-s-parents-fear-losing-another-son-2789304.php https://groups.google.com/g/alt.true-crime/c/nAIsLy513QA?pli=1 https://www.nydailynews.com/news/justice-story/justice-story-twisted-trail-yosemite-murders-leads-resort-handyman-article-1.1168927
The Yosemite Murders by Douglas McDougal accessed through Scribd
Murder at Yosemite by Carlton Smith accessed through Scribd

Episode 110: A Monster in Michigan | The Rachel Timmerman Case Aug 30, 2021

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In today’s case we are going to discuss a strong woman from Newaygo county MI. She had a very difficult childhood which led her down a dangerous road. However, when she got pregnant at 17 she chose to start making the right choices in her life. Months after the birth of her daughter she was brutally raped. When she went to police to report this story it resulted in a good investigation and the arrest of her attacker. But the trial would never happen because of the mayhem that would ensue after the charges were followed. Newaygo County went from a rape investigation to being on the hunt for a serial killer.
PLEASE SEND GHOST/PARANORMAL/TRUE CRIME STORIES TO truecrimecouple@gmail.com FOR OUR OCTOBER EPISODE- Chosen submissions will earn an Amazon gift card.
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Sources: https://casetext.com/case/gabrion-v-united-states-3 https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-gabrion https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/13a0151p-06.pdf https://wbckfm.com/cold-case-cedar-springs-the-disappearance-of-baby-shannon/https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2011/02/father_uncle_pour_out_grief_lo.html https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2013/05/marvin_gabrions_death_penalty.html https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2009/01/supreme_court_asked_to_address.html
Link to Rachel’s father’s book:https://www.amazon.com/Color-Night-Mother-Missing-Cold-Blooded/dp/0882823221

Episode 109: The Trover Family | A Calculated Plan Aug 15, 2021

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In the winter of 1998 there did not seem to be a more idyllic family than the Trovers in Gillette Wyoming. But in early December of that year the perfection would come to a screeching halt when the family was brutally attacked in their own home. The Trovers had just returned from a night out at a local bar and grill and was preparing for bed when the power to their house was cut, and the nightmare began.
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Sources:https://psychology.wikia.org/wiki/Gillette_Syndrome https://www.humphreysbargrill.com/gallery https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19981214&slug=2788953 Link 4 https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/news/article_7f376adb-ec3f-50f7-a55a-b4cb0dacadae.html https://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19981209-01.2.26 https://www.independent.ie/world-news/suicide-of-love-cheat-murderer-26165545.html

Episode 108: The Erie Factory Murders | A Family Betrayed Aug 01, 2021

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On December 3, 1997 the Dosso family was supposed to be celebrating the birthday of Frank Dosso's 10 year old twin daughters. Instead, the family ended up mourning his death. But the mourning did not stop there. Frank had been found in the family owned factory alongside his father's business partner and his brother-in-law. His sister was found in the entrance way. Who could have so callously destroyed an entire family?
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Sources:https://caselaw.findlaw.com/fl-supreme-court/1559835.html https://wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/viewcase.php?eid=2365 https://wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/transcript/pdfs/15-258.pdf https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20171202/justice-yes-peace-no-families-still-in-mourning-from-bartow-mass-murder-20-years-ago

Episode 107: Elise Makdessi | The Case of the Fallen Officers Jul 18, 2021

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On the night of Tuesday May 14, 1996 a call came into the Virginia Beach dispatch. A man was frantically screaming into the phone. "Please help, my wife, my god", he yelled between labored breaths. Dispatch was slowly able to get all of the information out of him. He told them where he lived, which was a condo complex near the naval base. But what the man said next shocked even the veteran dispatcher. As his wife could be heard gasping for breath beside him he said, "I killed him. I was attacked and when I came to a man was raping and stabbing my wife. So I got my gun and I killed him."
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Sources (SPOILER ALERT DO NOT LOOK AT LINKS UNTIL YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THE EPISODE):https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/article_db11275c-1fb9-56a8-9e8e-dac5795cd2ce.html https://casetext.com/case/makdessi-v-watson https://militaryjusticeforall.com/2006/03/https://www.redorbit.com/news/health/427742/forensic_expert_uses_blood_to_recreate_1996_slayings/https://cher19994861.wordpress.com/2021/01/18/elise-makdessi-a-female-sailors-false-rape-allegation-and-bizarre-husband-plot-failed/http://www.womenssupportproject.co.uk/userfiles/file/resources/nationalresources/coercive-control.pdf https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/booming/revisiting-the-militarys-tailhook-scandal-video.html https://www.wtvr.com/2017/04/25/dan-rice-featured-on-48-hours https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-news/releases/print?id=47598 https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960827/08270266.htm

Episode 106: The Murder of Tristan Jensen Jul 04, 2021

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In September of 1998 a foul smell and blockage was reported by the citizens in Redlands, CA within a two block radius. The town’s DPW went out to clear the blockage. But instead of hair, tree roots, or disposable wipes (fun facts from John), they found a human skull. It took the police hours and the uncovering of all the manholes that were interconnected for one mile to find the entire skeleton. It was clear the person had been young. A child of 13-15 years old by the size of the bones. No one was saying it but everyone was thinking it, this seemed ripped from the pages of Stephen King’s It. And really, who would have done something like this besides a monster like that? Although it was not a fictional child murdering monster that committed the crimes we will talk about today, the theme from his story can still be applied- the idea that lurking beneath the idyllic façade of any American town something more sinister hides.
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Patrons:Chelsie WatsonLynne McDonaldAimee BerganAndrea IlieToyahJill PerrinSarah BishopAndrea DanielsonShayStephanie LaroseChristine O’ReillyFelipa BrockmanJessica ShannonMarina LedezmaRuthann GonzalezChristina LusicicAbigail EdgertonDavid LeFeverRick JohnsonManda DudaJim BergAlyssa DoukasRosalyn CoxLydia BradfordJaclyn MojicaMarnieJason

Episode 105: The Honeymoon from Hell | The Van Beers Jun 20, 2021

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In today’s case we examine a honeymoon a young Belgian couple took on a Mediterranean island in 1995. What is supposed to be the happiest time in their life turns to tragedy when the bride has to bring her new husband home in a coffin. The death that occurred on that trip led to an international manhunt and the uncovering of a diabolical scheme that seemed more fit for a movie than it did the real world.
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Sources:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/27/andrewosbornhttps://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/07/10/belgians-accused-of-murder-near-extradition/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-11-22-9711210568-story.htmlhttp://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,987484,00.htmlhttps://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1998-07-09-9807080394-story.htmlhttps://www.xumo.tv/channel/9999384/xumo-free-crime-tv?v=XM0TGNISYF870W&p=19897
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Episode 104: Zach and Greg Witman Jun 06, 2021

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The murder of Gregory Witman on October 2, 1998 was brutal. The 13 year old boy walked home from his bus stop after school and was ambushed the second he walked through the threshold of his home. He was stabbed over 64 times and practically decapitated with a pen knife.
The investigation into the crime took only 12 hours. The police concluded it was Gregory’s 15 year old brother, Zach. Join us as we discuss if Zach could have done this and what his fate was.
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Sources:https://caselaw.findlaw.com/pa-superior-court/1058673.html https://www.knoxnews.com/picture-gallery/news/2018/02/08/photos-a-look-back-at-the-witman-trial/110231908/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-witmans-murder-true-crime-investigation-discovery https://apnews.com/article/e6d474d9426f4f64b8d2c184adab3b29 https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/592975/witmans/
The WitmansInvestigation Discovery Premiered 12/01/2020https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/the-witmans/full-episodes/the-witmans
Patreons:Kathryn MartinRosalyn CoxMartin EstradaTaylorDevin Oscar SaurusCallie DurdenMegan WoodsGriselda GuzmanMaryTiffany GuitardJoEll SimonsonElizabeth CalhounAmanda GalvanOrcaputt

Episode 103: Amanda Gaeke | Taken in Broad Daylight May 23, 2021

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