Investigation Discovery’s ‘Homicide City: Family Tragedy’ brings to the viewers the events that led to the deaths of 29-year-old Lisa Manderach and her daughter. Through dramatic re-enactments, the show attempts to recreate the subsequent investigation and how the killer, Caleb Fairley, finally answered for his crimes. While Caleb was sentenced to life in prison, his … Read more
Laura’s husband, David Johnson, dropped her off at the Billy Club bar on north Vail Avenue in Arlington, Illinois at approximately 10:30 p.m. on May 4, 1990. (The establishment is now called Harry’s of Arlington). The couple were regulars at the club. David returned to their residence in the 20 block of south Highland Avenue … Read more
On January 17, 1986, 19-year-old Lisa Joann Palmer was murdered inside her home in Oklahoma City. More than three decades later, the person responsible has never been identified or brought to justice. Lisa was a young wife and mother. She was also caring for her 18-month-old half brother that afternoon. Her youngest child was home … Read more
Mercedes Grabowski, better known by her professional name August Ames, built a successful career in the adult entertainment industry before her life ended tragically at just 23 years old. Born on August 23, 1994, in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Ames grew up in a military family. Her parents both served in the army, and much of … Read more
In the early hours of June 3, 2011, 20-year-old Indiana University student Lauren Elizabeth Spierer disappeared from Bloomington, Indiana. Lauren had spent the night with friends and had been drinking heavily. In the hours that followed, she moved between several apartments and locations around the IU campus. By approximately 4:30 a.m., she was walking alone … Read more
On December 23, 1974, three girls went to a Fort Worth shopping center to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. They arrived at Seminary South Shopping Center expecting to spend only part of the day there. Instead, they disappeared without a trace. The three were 17-year-old Mary Rachel Trlica, known as Rachel; 14-year-old Lisa Renee Wilson, … Read more
In the mid-1980s, Gary Michael Heidnik appeared to many people to be an unusual but financially successful man living in Philadelphia. Behind that outward image, however, was a history of violence, sexual abuse, psychiatric problems, and disturbing criminal behavior. Between 1986 and 1987, Heidnik abducted six women and imprisoned them inside the basement of his … Read more
For years, several murders in North Texas remained unsolved. The victims had seemingly disappeared from their ordinary lives, leaving investigators with few answers and families waiting for justice. The breakthrough eventually came from an unexpected source: a man who was already serving time for another murder. Ellen Blau On September 20, 1985, 21-year-old Ellen Blau … Read more
On June 18, 1988, 22-year-old Marie Patricia Wilks was driving home toward Worcester after visiting her husband, Adrian, who was serving at a Territorial Army camp. Marie was seven months pregnant. Her 11-year-old sister, Georgina Gough, and her 13-month-old son, Mark, were also in the car. Their journey changed when Marie’s vehicle broke down on … Read more
In late-1980s Poland, the name Mariusz Trynkiewicz became associated with a series of crimes that shocked the country. Later dubbed the “Satan of Piotrków,” Trynkiewicz was a former physical education teacher who had already faced criminal convictions involving sexual offenses against boys before four young victims were murdered in 1988. His history of offending began … Read more