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.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: PHYLICIA THOMAS

When a Pennsylvania woman becomes convinced her missing friend was murdered, she’s determined to figure out who killed her. After she goes missing herself, investigators are left to explore whether the cases are connected in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Phylicia Thomas was 22 years old whenever she went missing from Lake Township, PA in 2004.
  • The oldest of 7 siblings, Phylicia was known for her caring personality and love of nature and animals.
  • Pictured: a billboard maintained by Phylicia’s family, who’ve been seeking answers ever since her 2004 disappearance.
  • Phylicia’s mother, Pauline (pictured), has relentlessly searched for the truth regarding her daughter’s disappearance and likely murder.
  • A cadaver dog searches property where Phylicia’s family believe she was killed, and her remains dismembered.
  • A cadaver dog alerts to a spot inside a barn located on property where Phylicia’s family believe she was killed and dismembered.

Sources used to research this episode:

The Charley Project: Phylicia Albina Thomas

17 Years Later, Family of Phylicia Thomas Asks for Help to ‘Bring Her Home’ (Bill OBoyle / Times Leader)

I-Team: “Where is Phylicia Thomas? (WBRE/WYOU-TV)

I-Team: “Where’s Phylicia?” Part 2 (Andy Mehalshick / WBRE/WYOU-TV)

Family Believes Phylicia Thomas’ Remains Are On Hunlock Township Property (Ed Lewis /Times Leader)

Family of Phylicia Thomas Still Looking for Answers 14 Years Later (Jade Jarvis/ Fox56 News)

Missing Woman’s Birthday Marked (WNEP16 News)

‘Person of Interest’ Hangs Himself in Cell (UPI)

Woman Vanishes While Investigating Dead Friend’s Disappearance (True Crime Daily)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Phylicia Thomas, please contact the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigations Bureau at 717-783-5524.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: JENNIFER CAHILL-SHADLE

When a Pennsylvania woman disappears without a trace, the only thing that seems certain is the likelihood of foul play. A contentious divorce, personal vulnerabilities, four mysterious men and other factors are explored in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Jennifer Cahill-Shadle smiles in an undated photo. She was 48 years old whenever she disappeared from State College, PA on May 15th, 2014.
  • Jennifer is included in the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list of missing persons.
  • Jennifer smiles in an undated photo. A loving mother of 3, her family knew something was wrong whenever they realized that Jennifer hadn’t contacted her youngest daughter in days.
  • Two weeks prior to her disappearance, Jennifer socialized with a group of four men at a sports bar. Police shared this receipt with the public and asked the men to come forward. It’s unclear whether they ever identified or spoke to the men.
  • Jennifer was captured on Walmart security camera footage on the afternoon of the day of her disappearance.

Sources used to research this episode:

FBI Most Wanted, VICAP Missing Persons: Jennifer Cahill-Shadle (FBI.gov)

What Happened to Jennifer Cahill-Shadle? 4 Years After Her Disappearance, Police Trying New Approach to Investigation (Geoff Rushton / StateCollege.com)

Family and Police Still Searching for Answers 6 Years after Jennifer Cahill-Shadle’s Disappearance (Geoff Rushton / StateCollege.com)

Police Find New Leads in Woman Missing for Months (Lori Falce / The Centre Daily Times)

Unsolved in PA: Have You Seen Jennifer Cahill-Shadle? (Courtney Highfield / Local21News)

Authorities Pursue New Lead in the Disappearance of Jennifer Cahill-Shadle (Jennifer Miller / StateCollege.com)

Shadle Still Missing After Two Years (Lori Falce / The Centre Daily Times)

TV Show Features Local Missing Person Case as New Details Emerge (Lori Falce / The Centre Daily Times)

Two Years Later, Jennifer Cahill-Shadle Still Missing (Howard Sheppard / Fox43)

Jennifer Cahill-Shadle (Charley Project)

Substance Abuse and Victimization (NCJRS.gov)

Man Charged in 2016 Killing of Jean Tuggy (Geoff Rushton / StateCollege.com)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Jennifer Cahill-Shadle, please call the Ferguson Township Police Department at 814-237-1172. If you prefer to be anonymous, there’s an anonymous online tip form here, and information regarding Jennifer’s case is welcomed.

NO-BODY HOMICIDE CONVICTION: KELSIE SCHELLING

When a young Colorado woman disappears shortly after finding out she’s pregnant, investigators quickly zero in on a suspect. A case full of unbelievable twists and turns results in a rare no-body homicide conviction in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

  • Kelsie Schelling was 21 years old when she disappeared from Pueblo, CO on Feb. 4th, 2013. She was also 8 weeks pregnant.
  • Kelsie loved animals and children, and was excited about her pregnancy. Her doctor confirmed her pregnancy was healthy on the day she left for Pueblo.
  • Kelsie drove from Denver to Pueblo on Feb. 4th to visit her on-again, off-again boyfriend and alleged father of her baby, Donthe Lucas. He lured her there with the promise of a surprise.
  • Security footage shows Donthe driving Kelsie’s abandoned car out of a Walmart parking lot. It was later found abandoned in a hospital parking lot.
  • Surveillance footage shows Donthe exiting Kelsie’s car alone the morning after her disappearance. He’d originally told police they’d gone to the store together.
  • This snapshot of the inside of Kelsie’s car shows a teddy bear and rosary that she normally kept in the vehicle. They were missing whenever her car was recovered. Instead, gravel was scattered throughout the car
  • Donthe Lucas was convicted of the first degree murder of Kelsie Schelling on Mar. 8th, 2021–7 years after her disappearance. Kelsie’s case is an example of a rare no-body homicide conviction, and her family is still waiting to bring her home and honor her memory with a burial.

Sources used to research this episode:

Mom Fights to Bring Pregnant Daughter’s Killer to Justice 8 Years After She Disappeared (ABC News / Allie Yang, Gerry Wagschal, Emily Wynn and Joseph Rhee)

Man Convicted in Slaying of Pregnant Girlfriend 8 Years After Disappearance (Dorian Geiger / Oxygen)

“I can honestly say I was scared at the time”: Donthe Lucas’ Neighbor Takes the Stand Tuesday (Kate Singh / Fox21 News)

Witness Testimonies Continue Friday in Donthe Lucas Trial (Kate Singh / Fox21 News)

Men’s Basketball: Donthe Lewis (NJCAA)

Where is Donthe Lucas Now? (Kriti Mehrotra / The Cinemaholic)

Donthe Lucas Interviews with Pueblo Police Presented During Trial for Kelsie Schelling’s Murder (Heather Willis / The Pueblo Chieftan)

Female Victims of Violence (Bureau of Justice Statistics)

Homicide: A Leading Cause of Injury Deaths Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States, 1991-1999 (American Journal of Public Health / Jeani Chang MPH, Cynthia J. Berg MD / MPH, Linda E Saltzman PhD, and Joy Herndon MS)

Photos of Schelling’s Car, Additional Physical Evidence Presented Monday in Donthe Lucas Murder Trial (Colette Bordelon / KOAA News)

Sara Lucas Testifies in Son’s Murder Trial (Brandon Thompson / Fox News)

“I Knew What I Was Doing” Woman Admits to Romantic Relationship with Donthe Lucas (Kate Singh / Fox News)

Donthe Lucas Admits to Moving Kelsie Schelling’s Car to St. Mary-Corwin in Taped 2017 Interview (Zach Hillstrom / The Pueblo Chieftain)

Donthe Lucas Trial: Kelsie Schelling’s Father, Stepfather Testify About 2013 Disappearance (Tracy Harmon / The Pueblo Chieftain)

Roxann Martinez, a Witness in the Donthe Lucas Murder Trial, Shot and Killed in Denver (Heather Willard / The Pueblo Chieftain)

If you know anything about the location of Kelsie Schelling’s remains, please contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at (719) 647-5999.