As a true crime enthusiast, I find myself spending countless late-night hours immersed in podcasts, keeping up with the latest on missing persons and both well-known and lesser-known homicide cases. Here’s a rundown of some of the top stories I’ve been tracking over the years – some are fresh, while others have been haunting headlines for a while – sorted by the victims’ names:
JonBenét Ramsey
The JonBenét Ramsey case, which has remained unsolved for nearly three decades, has recently seen significant developments due to advancements in DNA testing technology. In November 2023, new DNA testing was completed on previously untested evidence from the crime scene. This testing was done using more advanced techniques than were available in the past, with the hope that it might finally identify the person responsible for the murder of the 6-year-old beauty queen in her own home.
The autopsy report, according to Wiki, says that JonBenét’s official cause of death was “asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma.” Over the years, the media has speculated that her mother, Patsy, or possibly her brother Burke, were involved in the child’s murder but earlier DNA tests clearing the immediate family members of suspicion.
The results of the new DNA testing have been returned to the authorities, but as of now, they have not been publicly released. Boulder Police, in collaboration with the FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, are closely analyzing the findings. This renewed effort comes after years of criticism from JonBenét’s family, particularly her father, John Ramsey, who has been advocating for more aggressive and modern investigative techniques to be used in the case.
In a recent report from Fox News, Ramsey said he’s been told that members of the police department might be waiting for him to die so that the pressure of the case is not on them anymore. Ramsey says about news, “It’s just disgusting, but it’s not out of character at all.”
The Delphi Murders
The Delphi murders refer to the tragic case of the 2017 killings of two young girls, Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German, in Delphi, Indiana. The girls, aged 13 and 14, went missing on February 13, 2017, while hiking on the Monon High Bridge Trail.
Their bodies were discovered the next day in a wooded area near the trail. The case garnered national attention due to the chilling evidence found on Libby’s phone, which included a brief video and audio clip of a man suspected to be their killer, known as “Bridge Guy,” instructing the girls to go “down the hill.” Despite numerous tips and leads, the case remained unsolved for several years.
In October 2022, Richard Allen, a Delphi resident, was arrested and charged with the murders, bringing a new chapter to the investigation. The case is ongoing, with law enforcement continuing to piece together the events that led to the girls’ deaths and seeking justice for Abby and Libby.
Currently, the attorneys are in court and the judge will soon decide what pieces of evidence will be let into the trial, which is scheduled to start in October or November unless there are more delays. In a boost to the prosecutors, a judge has decided that multiple confessions of the murder by Allen CAN be used in trial.
Laci Peterson
The Scott Peterson case, involving the 2002 murder of his wife Laci Peterson and their unborn son Conner, has seen renewed legal developments as of August 2024. Scott Peterson was originally convicted and sentenced to death in 2004, but his death sentence was overturned in 2020 due to juror misconduct. The California Supreme Court upheld his conviction but ordered a new sentencing trial.
Since then, Peterson’s defense team has been pushing for a completely new trial, arguing that juror bias during the original trial may have affected the verdict. In particular, the defense has focused on one juror, Richelle Nice, who failed to disclose that she had previously sought a restraining order against her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, claiming that she was fearful for her unborn child. This information, they argue, indicates that she might have been biased against Peterson from the outset.
In late 2022, a judge ruled that Peterson would not automatically receive a new trial but allowed for a hearing to determine whether the juror’s conduct was indeed prejudicial enough to warrant a retrial. This hearing took place in 2023 and Peterson was denied a new trial. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles “Innocence Project” took on Peterson as a client – making many question the legitimacy of the group.
There are two new docuseries that are out about this case – one on Netflix called “American Murder: Laci Peterson.” and another on Peacock called “Face to Face with Scott Peterson.”
Crystal Rogers
Crystal Rogers was a young mother from Bardstown, Kentucky, who disappeared in July 2015. Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, has been a key figure in the investigation. Houck’s brother, Nick Houck, was a police officer at the time and was accused of interfering in the investigation. Nick Houck was later fired from the Bardstown Police Department for his actions related to the case.
Crystal’s disappearance and presumed murder have been widely covered, especially due to the suspicious involvement of Brooks Houck and the potential cover-up by his police officer brother. The murder has also been linked to other murders including Crystal’s father and a police officer.
Houck has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence. Additionally, Joseph Lawson and his father Steve, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence. They have been in and out of court recently with their attorneys concerning various motions including requesting the lowering of bond, trying to get the trial moved to another venue and trying to get their trials severed from each other. A trial date has been set for February 2025 for a trial that includes more than a terabyte of evidence.
John O’Keefe
The case of John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, revolves around his tragic death in January 2022. O’Keefe was found unresponsive outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, during a blizzard. He later died from his injuries, which included blunt force trauma. The circumstances of his death quickly led to a murder investigation, with his girlfriend, Karen Read, becoming the prime suspect.
Karen Read was accused of striking O’Keefe with her vehicle after a night out and then leaving the scene, leading to his death in the freezing conditions. Prosecutors allege that Read knowingly hit O’Keefe with her SUV during a dispute, though she maintains her innocence, with her attorneys claiming that he died from some kind of incident that included his police “buddies” inside of the house. John’s cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma and hypothermia.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a police officer and the dramatic nature of the accusations. Additionally, the trial brought up all kinds of conflicts of interest between the witnesses and the police/prosecutor’s office as well as total police incompetence. The trial ended in a mistrial when the jury couldn’t reach a verdict. However, it has since come to light by five of the jury members that they agreed Read was innocent on the two counts of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, but could not decide on manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
Read’s attorneys have been arguing in court recently to get the case thrown out, claiming if they try her again it would be unconstitutional.
Prosecutors currently plan to go to trial again in January 2025.
More recently, O’Keefe’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read. In a 13-count complaint they accuse her of causing the death of O’Keefe by hitting him with her SUV while she was drunk.
The unending quest for justice.
These cases remind us that the search for justice can be a long and winding road, filled with twists, turns, and heart-wrenching delays. From the haunting mystery of JonBenét Ramsey to the ongoing legal battles surrounding Scott Peterson, these stories continue to capture the public’s attention and fuel our fascination with the darker side of human nature.
While new developments offer glimmers of hope, they also underscore the persistent challenges faced by investigators, families, and communities yearning for closure. As these cases evolve, they not only shape the narrative of true crime but also remind us of the resilience of those who seek answers, no matter how elusive they may seem.
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