UNSOLVED SUSPICIOUS DEATH: AMY AHONEN

When an experienced Colorado outdoorswoman fails to return from a hike, her vehicle is found abandoned along a scenic route with her personal belongings left inside. Even after the discovery of her partial remains, investigators are left with more questions than answers in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

This missing poster was circulated after Amy’s disappearance in July of 2011.
The red star on this map denotes where Amy’s abandoned vehicle was found sitting on the shoulder of Colorado’s scenic Route 6.
Amy Ahonen went missing on the day before her 38th birthday in the rural area outside Golden, Colorado. The cause and manner of her death are unknown, although her partial skeletal remains have been discovered.
Police and EMTs respond to the shoulder of Colorado’s Route 6, where Amy’s vehicle was found 2 days after her disappearance. Photo from My Fox Detroit.
Searchers look down at Clear Creek from the shoulder of Colorado’s Route 6, where Amy’s vehicle was found 2 days after her disappearance. Photo from My Fox Detroit.
This Google image shows the section of Colorado Route 6 (Mile Marker 264) where Amy’s vehicle was found abandoned.
This Google image shows the rugged, rocky slopes that surround the section of Colorado Route 6 (Mile Marker 264) where Amy’s vehicle was found abandoned.
The red star on this map denotes where Amy’s abandoned vehicle was found after her disappearance, and the green star marks where her partial skeletal remains were discovered months later. It’s possible–but not known–that Clear Creek may have carried her remains for nearly 18 miles, into suburban Denver.

Sources used to research this episode:

Colo. Woman Missing, Car Found on Side of Road (CBS News)

Taylor: Friends, Family Hold Onto Hope as Search for Former Resident Continues in Colorado (Rene Cizio / The News Herald)

Craigslist Tie in Disappearance of Colorado Woman? (Christina Ng / ABC News)

Authorities Suspend Search for Missing Denver Woman (CBS Denver)

Woman’s Remains Found in Colorado Woods Nearly Three Years After She Vanished Without a Trace (Daily Mail)

More of Amy Ahonen’s Remains Found in Clear Creek (CBS Denver)

Coroner Confirms Remains Found at I-76, Sheridan are Amy Ahonen (Matt Farley / Fox31 Denver)

Animal Scavenging and Scattering and the Implications for Documenting the Deaths of Undocumented Border Crossers in the Sonoran Desert (Jess Beck,1 M.A.; Ian Ostericher,2 M.A.; Gregory Sollish,1 B.A.; and Jason De Leon,1 Ph.D. / Journal of Forensic Sciences)

Bones Aren’t Enough to Say How Missing Denver Woman Died (Associated Press)

If you have any information related to the death of Amy Ahonen, please call the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: ROBERT HARROD

When a California man reunites with a long-lost love after a lifetime of separation, they decide to finally marry. Immediately afterward, he disappears, and suspicion surrounds those who may have been preying upon his multimillion-dollar estate in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Robert Harrod went missing from his California home on July 27th, 2009.
  • Robert Harrod was 81 at the time of his disappearance, and in good health. Family photo.
  • In this 1949 family photo, 21 year old Robert is pictured fishing with Fontelle, his 15 year old fiancé. When Robert enlisted in the military during wartime, they made the tough decision to end their engagement.
  • In 2009, after nearly 60 years of separation, Robert and Fontelle reunited and were finally married. Both had married before, had families and were widowed. Robert disappeared just weeks after his wedding to Fontelle. Family photo.
  • Robert lost his treasured first wife of more than 50 years in 2008. Shortly thereafter, he lost his beloved dog. Reuniting with Fontelle was a ray of sunshine in Robert’s life after the tremendous grief he’d suffered. Family photo.

Sources used to research this episode:

Robert Harrod (Disappeared Blog)

Two Persons of Interest in 2009 Disappearance of Millionaire Released (Vicky Nguyen / Spectrum1 News)

81 Year-Old Man Missing After Wedding (ABC7NY)

After a 4 Year Search, Missing Placentia Man’s Wife Suspects Foul Play (CBS Los Angeles)

Man, 81, Married High School Sweetheart After Reconnecting with Her — and Went Missing Weeks Later (Chris Harris / People.com)

$50K Reward Offered in 2009 Killing of Placentia Man Who Vanished After Marrying High School Sweetheart (Chip Yost / Erika Martin / Mary Beth McDade / KTLA)

Vanished: Orange County’s Most Infamous Cold Cases | Bob Harrod (Miles Corwin / Orange Coast Magazine)

A Love Story Turned Mystery (Paloma Esquivel / Los Angeles Times)

Disappeared Season 6 Episode 13: Long Lost Love

If you know anything about the disappearance of Robert Harrod, please call the La Placentia Police Department at (714) 993-8164.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: BRANDY HALL

When a dedicated firefighter-medic leaves her shift and disappears in the dead of night, the search for her begins immediately. Evidence surfaces from the coastal Florida waters to tell a tragic story in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Brandy Hall was 32 years old at the time of her disappearance and presumed murder. She’d spent her entire adult life serving others as a firefighter-medic.
  • Brandy is pictured dancing with her husband, Jeff. Investigators do not believe Jeff was involved in her disappearance.
  • Brandy’s career was extremely important to her. She lost her paid job as a firefighter-medic shortly before her disappearance and chose to volunteer instead.
  • Brandy left her firefighting shift early on an August 2006 night and never made it home. Investigators found her truck in a pond the following day. Blood was located on the seats and floor. Her body has never been found, but she’s believed to be deceased.
  • Randall Richmond was Brandy’s former boss, with whom she was having an affair at the time of her disappearance. Randall has told different stories to police, who believe he knows more than he’s revealed about Brandy’s disappearance and presumed murder.

Sources used to research this episode:

Brandy Hall (Disappeared Blog)

Missing Firefighter’s Pants Found in Pond (Firehouse.com)

Ex-Fire Chief in Osceola Gets 3 Years for Pot Farm (Mark Pino / Orlando Sentinel)

Ex-Osceola Fire Chief Arrested in Pot-Growing Bust (Erin Cox / Orlando Sentinel)

Brandy Hall Dig Reveals Nothing as Police Plan to Search Another Area (John A. Torres / Florida Today)

[Video] Mother of 2 Drives out of Fire Station, Vanishes – Pt. 1 (Crime Watch Daily)

[Video] Mother of 2 Drives out of Fire Station, Vanishes – Pt. 2 (Crime Watch Daily)

[Video] Mother of 2 Drives out of Fire Station, Vanishes – Pt. 3 (Crime Watch Daily)

When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2018 Homicide Data (Violence Policy Center)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Brandy Hall, call the Palm Bay Police Department at 321-952-3539.

UNSOLVED SUSPICIOUS DEATH: JONATHAN LUNA

When a federal prosecuting attorney working in Baltimore is found dead hours away in the heart of idyllic Amish Country, questions abound. Local police and the FBI disagree over whether his death is a homicide or a supremely strange suicide in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • From a young age, Jonathan was known for his academic ambitions and sense of style. Here, he’s pictured in his high school cafeteria. Photo courtesy of: the Luna family.
  • Jonathan didn’t let his family’s modest financial background inhibit his academic achievements. Here, he’s pictured during a clerkship he earned after graduating from law school. Photo courtesy of: the Luna family.
  • Jonathan was known for his social, accepting nature. He accumulated many friends during law school, and was voted class president. Photo courtesy of: the Luna family.
  • Jonathan had a prestigious career as a successful federal prosecutor, prosecuting criminals including those who committed crimes against children. Photo courtesy of: the Luna family.
  • Pictured: a Pennsylvania State Trooper hands yellow tape around the creek where Jonathan was found deceased. Photo courtesy of: Lancaster Online.
  • Pictured: Jonathan’s Toyota, which he inexplicably drove several hours from Baltimore to rural Lancaster County, PA on the night of his death. Blood and cash were scattered throughout the car when it was found close to his body. Photo courtesy of: FBI.

Sources used to research this episode:

A Decade Later, Prosecutor Luna’s Death Still a Mystery (Cheryl W. Thompson / Washington Post)

Slain Prosecutor’s Relationships with Women Examined (Gail Gibson / Baltimore Sun)

Sources: Slain Prosecutor was Tortured (Elaine Quijano / Terry Frieden / CNN)

Personal Motive Suspected in Killing of US Prosecutor (Gail Gibson / Baltimore Sun)

Luna Parents Wait, Hope for Word on Son’s Killer (Gus G. Sentamentes / Baltimore Sun)

Two Accused of Using Studio in Drug Ring (Gail Gibson / Baltimore Sun)

Slain Prosecutor’s Personal Life Probed (Rebecca Gomez / Fox News)

Probe in Killing of Prosecutor Luna Stalls (Gail Gibson and Lynn Anderson / The Baltimore Sun)

Luna’s Three-State Car Trip a mystery to Investigators (Susan Levine, Frederick Kunkle and Allan Lengel / The Washington Post)

If you know anything about the death of Jonathan Luna, call the FBI at 1-800-225-5324. Or, submit a tip online by clicking HERE.

BREAKING UPDATE IN FAITH HEDGEPETH’S CASE: MAN ARRESTED ON CHARGE OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER

Nine years and nine days after 19 year old college student Faith Hedgepeth was beaten to death by an unknown assailant, a man has been arrested on a charge of 1st Degree Murder.

Faith was a 19 year old student at the University of North Carolina whenever she was cruelly murdered in September of 2012. She loved children and was an aspiring pediatrician. Amongst others in her Halawi Saponi tribal community, she was known as a role model for younger girls.
Miguel Enrique Silguero-Olivares has been charged with Faith’s murder.

Miguel Enrique Silguero-Olivares, 28, of Durham, NC has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and is being held without bond in the Durham County Jail.

Listen to our next episode (airing Monday, 09/27/2021) for a more detailed update on this breakthrough in Faith’s case.

Listen to our original episode on the case–Unsolved Homicide: Faith Hedgepeth:

Did you know? The Hedgepeth family provides scholarships to other young indigenous women in memory of Faith. So far, 26 scholarships have been gifted to deserving women who, like Faith, want to make a positive impact on the world.

Want to contribute? Info on how to donate is here.

Sources used to research this update:

Faith Hedgepeth’s Dad Watches as Accused Killer Appears at Court (Gloria Rodriguez / ABC11 News)

Family, Tribal Members React to Arrest in Faith Hedgepeth Murder Investigation (Michael Perchick / ABC11 News)

Arrest Made in Faith Hedgepeth Murder Investigation 9 Years Later (Elle Kehres / Chapelboro.com)

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: ERIC TAMIYASU

When a third generation Oregon fruit-grower is murdered on the grounds of his own orchard, investigators struggle to determine who could have wanted the well-liked man dead. An investigation full of surprising twists unfolds in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Eric Tamiyasu was 41 years old whenever he was murdered in June of 2001 in Hood River, Oregon. Family photo.
  • Don Dixon, an associate of Eric’s, discovered Eric’s remains and has been a controversial figure since. Photo from KOIN News.
  • Eric was a professional fruit-grower who lived on the grounds of his family’s orchard. Family photo.
  • This satellite image shows the remoteness of the property where Eric was murdered. Investigators believe that whoever murdered Eric came there with the express purpose of doing so. Image from Google Maps.

Sources used to research this episode:

Unsolved Mysteries: Eric Tamiyasu (Unsolved Mysteries)

‘Somebody Came for the Sole Purpose of Killing Eric’ (Chelsea Wicks / KOIN News)

‘Local Murder Draws New Exposure’ (Hood River News / Columbia Gorge News)

About Tamiyasu Orchards (TamiyasuFruit.com)

Tamiyasu Case: Rumors Swirl Around Murder (Hood River News / Columbia Gorge News)

Population of Hood River County, Oregon: Census 2010 and 2000 (Census Viewer)

Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques (V. DiMaio, MD)

If you know anything about the death of Eric Tamiyasu, please call the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office at 541-386-2098.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: BRITTANY WILLIAMS

When a terminally ill Virginia mother relinquishes custody of her child to a supposed good Samaritan, she has no way of knowing she’s being deceived. A young girl goes missing while in the care of a woman who exploited vulnerable children in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Brittany Williams was last seen alive on August 18th, 2000 in Richmond, Virginia. She was 7 years old at the time.
  • Years after her disappearance, those who knew Brittany remember her smile and sweet personality.
  • Brittany’s mother relinquished custody of her to an alleged good Samaritan shortly before she died of AIDS. Brittany also had the illness and needed frequent medical care.
  • This age progression image from the NCMEC shows what Brittany may look like if still alive. Unfortunately, because she required medication and frequent medical treatment to live at the time of her disappearance, she’s likely deceased.

Sources used to research this episode:

Finding Brittany Williams: 7 Year Old with AIDS Still Missing After 19 Years (Kelly Avellino / NBC12 News)

Brittany Williams (Community United Effort)

Brittany Williams, 7, Was Allegedly Given Away to a Woman in 2000 (Our Black Girls)

VA Man Not Father of Dead Girl in Kan. (Margaret Stafford / The Intelligencer)

Police Search for Missing 9 Year Old Aids Victim (The Daily Press, Feb. 1st, 2003 via Newspapers.com)

Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities 2019: Statistics and Interventions (Children’s Bureau)

The Foster Care System and its Victims: Part 2 (Susanne Babbel, MFT, PhD)

‘Samaritan’ Gets 8 Years for Fraud (Justin Bergman / AP News)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Brittany Williams, please contact the Henrico County Police at (804) 501-4000.

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: ALIZA SHERMAN

When a woman is murdered in broad daylight in downtown Cleveland, her killer is caught on camera. Still, finding answers proves difficult as bizarre details emerge in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Family members remember Aliza Sherman after her death in this photo from Cleveland Jewish News.
  • Aliza’s love of being a mother drove her career as a fertility nurse. Here, she poses with her daughter in an undated family photo.
  • This satellite image from Google Maps shows the area where Aliza was ambushed and fatally stabbed.
  • Aliza Sherman was 53 years old whenever she was murdered on March 24, 2013. She was a mother of 4 and worked as a fertility nurse at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic.
  • Aliza’s murderer was caught on surveillance footage fleeing the scene of the stabbing. Here, they’re pictured in a still frame.

Sources used to research this episode:

What Happened to My Mother? (James Bigley II / Cleveland Magazine)

Fight for Justice in 2013 Murder of Aliza Sherman Continues Eight Years After She Was Stabbed to Death in Downtown Cleveland (Andrea Cavallier / NBC News)

Aliza Sherman Remembered on Mother’s Day for Her Mission to Help Women Conceive (Denise Zerella / Cleveland 19 News)

Family, Friends Remember Aliza Sherman on Three-Year Anniversary of Her Murder (Michael C. But / Cleveland Jewish News)

VIDEO: Cleveland Surveillance Video of Aliza Sherman Crime Scene with Second Camera (News 5 Cleveland)

Backstory: Aliza Sherman’s Killer Caught on Tape, but Still No Arrest Seven Years After Stabbing (Amber Hunt / Cincinnati Enquirer)

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas: JENNIFER SHERMAN, CO-EXECUTOR, ETC. vs. SANFORD SHERMAN, ETAL

Aliza Sherman Attorney Sentenced to Jail for Lying During Homicide Investigation (Cory Shaffer / cleveland.com)

Joseph Stafford’s Law License Suspended for Twelve Months by Ohio Supreme Court (Vince Grzegorek / The Cleveland Scene)

Divorce Attorney Indicted in Connection to Aliza Sherman Murder Investigation (Michael C. Butz / Cleveland Jewish News)

Aliza Sherman’s Former Attorney Gets Law License Yanked After Felony Conviction (Cory Shaffer / cleveland.com)

If you know anything about the murder of Aliza Sherman, please call the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 740-845-2000.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: TAMMY KINGERY

When a South Carolina woman disappears while her family is out on an errand, a note left behind offers little explanation. A vast array of possibilities surrounds a truly mysterious disappearance in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Marked: Mealing Rd, the rural road along which Tammy lived. She disappeared from her home, and the heavily wooded surrounding areas were subsequently searched by law enforcement and civilian volunteers alike.
  • Marked: Mealing Rd, the rural road along which Tammy lived. This topographical map illustrates numerous bodies of water within walking distance of the Kingery home.
  • Tammy Kingery disappeared from North Augusta, SC, in 2014. She lived with her husband and 3 children, and worked as a nurse.
  • Pictured: Tammy enjoying time with one of her children. Those who knew her best do not believe her capable of not communicating with her children if alive and able.
  • Tammy Kingery, pictured, was 37 years old at the time of her disappearance in September of 2014.

Sources used to research this episode:

Tamera Sue Kingery (The Charley Project)

Edgefield Man Deals with the Anguish of Missing Wife (Jeffrey Collins / The Aiken Standard)

Transcript: Mother of Three Missing in South Carolina (CNN / Jane Velez-Mitchell)

Tammy Kingery’s Family Candidly Speaks on Her Disappearance One Year Later (Julie Calhoun / 12WRDW)

Depression Statistics (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)

Deadliness of Attempted Suicide Has Been Dramatically Underestimated (JM Bostwick / Mayo Clinic / American Journal of Psychiatry)

Suicides by Persons Reported as Missing Prior to Death: a Retrospective Cohort Study (Jerneja Sveticic, Lay San Too, Diego De Leo / BMJ Open)

Family Still Searching for Answers One Year After Augusta Woman’s Disappearance (Mike Rosier / Online Athens)

Body Found on Property Where Woman Held Chained ID’d as Missing Boyfriend (Phil McCausland / NBC News)

Serial Killer Todd Kohlhepp Says 2 More Victims Buried in South Carolina (Daniel J. Gross / The Greenville News)

Living with Alligators: A Florida Reality (Elizabeth Swiman et al / University of Florida)

Wild Pigs Causing Problems Across the CRSA (Riley Hale / WRDW News)

Black Bear (Jimmy D. Taylor, James P. Phillips / US Department of Agriculture)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Tammy Kingery, please contact the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-637-5337

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: DR GEORGE CHRONIS

When a doctor takes a break from practicing medicine to get away from it all in rural Texas, the last thing his family expects is for the retreat to turn deadly. A small town death investigation encounters big problems in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Suburban Chicago Gynecologist’s Strange Death Has Left A Texas-Sized Mystery (Frank Main / Chicago Sun Times)

Suburban Chicago Gynecologist’s Mysterious Death in Texas ‘Was a Homicide,’ Expert Says (Frank Main / Chicago Sun Times)

Rains County Sheriff’s Office Continues to Investigate Death of Visiting Doctor (Christian Terry / KLTV News)

Billboard in Alba Offers $75,000 Reward in ‘Undetermined’ Death of Chicago Area Doctor (Alex Leroux and Jeff Wright / KLTV News)

Justice of Peace Have Leeway in Dealing With Death Issues (Erin Quinn / Waco Tribune Herald)

Texas Justice of the Peace (Texas Association of Counties)

Inquests: a Deskbook (Texas Justice Court Training Center)

Educational Requirements for Medical Examiners (Study.com)

Texas State Directory: Rains County

Public Admonition and Order of Additional Education: Paul Foley (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct)

If you have any information about the death of Dr George Chronis, please call the Lake Country Crime Stoppers at 903-885-2020.