UNSOLVED SUSPICIOUS DEATH: DEBBIE WOLFE

When a North Carolina nurse is found dead after being threatened by a stalker, investigators quickly write her death off as an accident. Questions abound in this episode of Last Seen Alive, such as: how does a body “accidentally” wind up in a barrel underwater?

Debbie Wolfe was 28 years old whenever she was found dead at the bottom of the pond in her backyard. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning despite extensive suspicious circumstances.

Debbie worked as a nurse at a veterans’ hospital, where she was in charge of coordinating hospital volunteers. A volunteer who’d unsuccessfully pursued her romantically left a suspicious voicemail on the day of her disappearance.

Sources used to research this episode:

Debbie Wolfe (Unsolved Mysteries)

The Body in the Barrel: Questions Linger in 1985 Fayetteville Drowning (Michael Futch / The Fayetteville Observer)

Drowning is one of the hardest homicides to prove. These investigators want to change that. (Cara Tabachnick / NBC News)

Investigation of Drowning Deaths: A Practical Review (Erica J. Armstrong MD, Kevin L. Erskine)

Cold Water Immersion Syndrome and Whitewater Recreation Fatalities (David J. Farstad, MD1; Julie A. Dunn, MD2)

Help bring Debbie the justice she deserves!