UNSOLVED TRIPLE HOMICIDE: WOMEN OF FLORENCE

When three women are killed with a knife inside a small town Montana beauty salon, investigators are nearly as stunned as the citizens they serve. A truly unusual crime remains unsolved twenty years later in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

The Florence Murders 20 Years Later (Jill Valley / KPAX News)

Dorothy Harris, Brenda Patch and Cynthia Paulus — Florence (The Billings Gazette)

Triple Slaying Stuns Montana Town (Eric Slater / LA Times)

Florence Homicide Stands Alone in FBI Records (Mick Holien and Michael Moore / The Missoulian)

Ask the Judge: Gangs of Montana (Russell Fagg / The Missoulian)

Two Men to be Charged in Connection with Triple-Murder (Michael Moore / The Missoulian)

Florence Murder Suspects Arraigned on New Charges (The Flathead Beacon)

2 Deny Montana Murders (Michael Moore / The Billings Gazette)

Lincoln Benavides Pleads Guilty in US Federal Court (US Attorney’s Office / FBI)

Knife vs. Gun: What a Weapon Reveals (Eric Niller/ Seeker)

Double Homicide Remains Unsolved (Susan Thacker / Great Bend Tribune)

If you know anything about the murders of Brenda Patch, Cynthia Paulus and Dorothy Harris, please call Detective Sergeant Matt Cashell at 406-375-4024.

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: PATTY VAUGHAN

When a devoted mother disappears from her Texas home on Christmas day, investigators immediately suspect foul play. A bloody trail of evidence points to an obvious suspect and offers a surprising twist in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:


Family of Patty Vaughan Hopes for Answers 23 Years After She Vanished from Texas Home on Christmas Day 1996 (Andrea Cavallier / NBC News)

Disappeared: Patty Vaughan (Disappeared Blog)

Silent Night (Disappeared Season 3, Ep. 13)

The Mystery of Patty Vaughan (Keith Griffith / Daily Mail)

Search for Patty Vaughan on Former Husband’s Property Turns Up Empty (Stephanie Serna / KSAT News)

Investigators Still Trying to Close Patty Vaughan Case 15 Years Later (Tim Gerber / KSAT News)

New DNA Findings in Patty’s 1996 Disappearance (KSAT News)

If know anything at all about the disappearance and murder of Patty Vaughan, please contact Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7868. You can remain anonymous.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SOLVED HOMICIDE: ALIZA SHERMAN

When a woman is murdered in broad daylight in downtown Cleveland, her killer is caught on camera. After a dozen years of searching for answers, her alleged killer is finally charged. One of the most bizarre motives for murder imaginable is exposed in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

SPRING OF 2025 UPDATE: an arrest has been made in relation to Aliza’s murder. Her divorce attorney, Gregory Moore, has been indicted on murder, conspiracy and kidnapping charges. An update episode aired on 5/26/2025.

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)

Cleveland Nurse’s Divorce Lawyer Charged with Her Cold Case Stabbing Death (CBS News)

How Technology Led to an Indictment in the Aliza Sherman Cold Case (Tracy Carloss and Courtney Shaw / News 5 Cleveland)

Attorneys for Aliza Sherman’s Accused Killer: Criminal Complaint Against Gregory Moore is ‘Vague and Unclear’ (Alyssa Belli and Cleveland 19 Digital Team / Cleveland 19 News)

Aliza Sherman’s Family ‘In Shock’; Her Lawyer Gregory Moore Charged With Her Murder (Sarah Shookman / Cleveland Jewish News)

State of Ohio vs. Gregory J. Moore (Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division)

To learn more about Aliza’s legacy of caring for others–and support the cause–check out The Aliza Sherman Fund at Cleveland Clinic.