UNSOLVED DOUBLE-HOMICIDE: MELODY AND PAUL JONES

When an Oklahoma newlywed is found murdered in his own home, all signs suggest that his missing wife was abducted from the scene. A small town is haunted by these crimes—plus another, eerily-similar abduction—in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Community Frightened by Seemingly Motiveless Kidnappings and Murder (Robbie Trammell / The Oklahoman)

Police Still Searching for Answers 35 Years After Murder of Paul, Disappearance of Melody Ann Jones (Juliet Muir / NBC News)

Oklahoma Cold Case Remains Unsolved (Mary Joseph / News 9)

Oklahoma Investigators Comb Through 10-Acres of Land, Hoping for Answers in 1983 Cold Case (KFOR News)

19-Year-Old’s Remains Identified 4 Decades After ‘Suspicious’ Disappearance, OK Cops Say (Kate Linderman / Kansas City Star)

For Missing Woman’s Mother, Not Knowing Is the “Hardest Part” Convenience Store Clerk’s Disappearance All But Forgotten (Richard W. Break / The Oklahoman)

Remains Match Missing Woman’s, Official Says (Don Mecoy / The Oklahoman)

Missing Seminole Woman Worked Night Shift to Pay Rent (Robby Trammell / The Oklahoman)

Body Found After Suspects Give Directions (Nolan Clay, Robby Trammell / The Oklahoman)

Skeleton Found Near Konawa is Identified (Durant Daily Democrat, Oct. 20th, 1991 Edition)

Judge in Innocent Man Case Agrees to Suppress Original Confession by Karl Fontenot (Clifton Adcock / The Frontier)

Obituary: Melody Ann Garton-Jones (Brown’s Family Funeral Home)

Gary Alan Walker (Murderpedia)

Shaw-Hartzell Kidnap, Murder Trial Under Way (Griff Palmer / The Oklahoman)

Walker V. State (casetext.com)

Victims’ Families Watch Killer’s Execution Prisoner Pays Price for ’84 Murder Spree (Kelly Kurt / The Oklahoman)

Remains Identified as Woman Missing from Earlsboro Since 1983 (Kim Morava / The Shawnee News Star)

If you have any information on the deaths of Paul Jones, Melody Jones or Patty Hamilton, please call the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 800-522-8017, or email your tip to  tips@osbi.ok.gov.

UNSOLVED HOMICIDES: ATLANTIC CITY SERIAL KILLER VICTIMS

When an Atlantic City, New Jersey woman vanishes, her remains are found a month later—along with those of three other women. Investigators are still working to identify the “Atlantic City Serial Killer” nearly 20 years later, in this episode of Last Seen Alive.      

Sources used to research this episode:

From the Archives: Who Were the Atlantic City Serial Killers’ Victims? (Mark Mueller / NJ.com)

48 Hours: Beyond the Boardwalk (CBS News / James Klatell)

So Close to the Glitter of Atlantic City, a Corridor of Death (Serge F. Kovaleski / New York Times)

New Jersey Officials Identify 4th Body Found in Ditch (Nate Schweber / New York Times)

Many Leads, But No Arrests in Killings of Four Prostitutes (Serge F. Kovaleski / New York Times)

Salem County Man Questioned in A.C. Prostitute Killings Still Feeling Taint of Suspicion (Noah K. Murray / The Star-Ledger)

Terry Oleson: The Fifth Victim (Brian Hickey / Atlantic City Weekly)

No Known Link Between Gilgo Beach Murder Suspect Rex Heuermann, Atlantic City Slayings: Prosecutor (Emily Shapiro et al / ABC News)

If you know anything about the deaths of Barbara, Kim, Tracy or Molly, please contact the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office at  609-909-7800.

UNSOLVED CASES: MISSING AND MURDERED HUNTERS

Each fall, millions of hunters venture into the American wilderness in pursuit of wild game. Some return successful, others empty-handed—and some not at all. These are the stories of four different hunters who never made it home to their families, having fallen victim either to natural perils, or the greatest danger of all: other humans. Now, investigators must track through the backwoods in search of answers far more elusive than any prey.

These little-known cases are in critical need of tips from the public, so join us as we explore the stories of multiple victims in this special multi-case episode of Last Seen Alive.

Cases covered in this episode include:

  • The unsolved 2001 murder of James Southworth, a Wisconsin man who was ambushed by a cruel killer while hunting alone on family property.
  • The unsolved 2005 murder of Pennsylvania hunter Steve Kachonik, who was gunned down months after narrowly avoiding a deadly trap someone had set for him in the same woods.
  • The unsolved 2016 murder of Terry Brisk, who was fatally shot at close range with his own deer rifle while hunting on his family’s property in Minnesota. 
  • The unsolved 2022 disappearance of Steve Keel, an avid outdoorsman who vanished without a trace just outside of camp during an Alaskan hunting trip. 

Unsolved Homicide: James Southworth

James was 37-years-old when he was murdered in Clark County, Wisconsin. Investigators–and his family–are still seeking answers. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research James Southworth’s segment of this episode:

Dead-End Grief for Family of Slain Hunter a Decade Ago (Chuck Rupnow / Leader-Telegram)

Unsolved: 20 Years Pass Since Hunter Found Dead in Clark County (WSAW News)

Family Still Mourning Unsolved Killing in 2001 (Chippewa Herald)

Widow of Hunter Seeks Info (Wisconsin State Journal)

Convicted Hunter Eyed in ’01 Death (Chicago Tribune)

Hmong Hunter Charged With 6 Murders Is Said To Be a Shaman (Stephen Kinzer New York Times)

Authorities Consider Link to Past Killing (Robert Imrie / Post-Bulletin)

Death of 37-Year-Old Deer Hunter Continues to Baffle Authorities (WIRE)

Deer Woods Murder: The Day a Trespasser Killed 6 Hunters (Patrick Durkin / meateater.com)

If you know anything about the death of James Southworth, please contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Department directly at 1-800-743-2420.

James’ family and friends have posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death.

Unsolved Homicide: Steve Kachonik

Steve was 39-years-old when he was murdered in the area of New Alexandria, Pennsylvania. Investigators–and his family–are still seeking answers. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research Steve Kachonik’s segment of this episode:

Crime Stoppers Focuses on Cold Case in the Kiski Valley (Patrick Cloonan / Indiana Gazette)

Hunter Was Shot Out of Tree (Tom Yerace / TribLive.com)

Police Seek Answers in Hunter’s 12 Year Old Murder Case (WPXI News)

Hunter’s Death Remains Unsolved (Valley News Dispatch via TribLive.com)

Cold Case: Steve Kachonik (Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office)

If you know anything about the death of Steve Kachonik, please call the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477), or submit a tip online HERE.

Either way, you can remain anonymous if you wish. If your tip moves the case forward, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

Unsolved Homicide: Terry Brisk

Terry (pictured above with one of his children) was 41-years-old when he was murdered in the area of Belle Prairie Township, Minnesota. Investigators–and his family–are still seeking answers. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research Terry Brisk’s segment of this episode:

Hunter Became the Hunted: 2016 Minnesota Murder Remains Unsolved (Chelsea Perkins / TwinCities.com)

Mom: Murder of Deer Hunter “Tore Our Family Apart” (Ellery McCardle / Kare11 News)

7 Years On, Terry Brisk’s Family Won’t Let His Murder Case Go Cold (John Lauritsen / CBS News)

Authorities Still Seeking Answers Seven Years After Hunter was Shot (Kirsty Marohn / MPR News)

News Release: Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, November 6th, 2023

Unsolved Disappearance: Steve Keel

An older man dressed in hunter's camouflage stands smiling in an open field, carrying a set of antlers on his back.
Steve was 61-years-old when he went missing in the wilderness near Deadhorse, Alaska. His family is still searching for him. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research Steve Keel’s segment of this episode:

Dover Man Reported Missing in Northern Alaska During Caribou Hunting Trip (Nick Beres / News Channel 5 Nashville)

Tennessee Family Continues to Search for Man Who Went Missing Near Deadhorse in 2022 (Carly Schreck / Alaska’s News Source)

‘Tough as a Pine Knot:’ Sons Join Search for Missing Tennessee Hunter in Alaska (Alexandra Koehn / News Channel 5 Nashville)

Family Frantically Searching for Tennessee Hunter Missing in Alaska (Alaska Sporting Journal)

Friend Speaks Out About Last Time He Saw Missing Hunter on Alaska Trip (WSMN4 News)

Remains Originally Believed to be Missing Dover Man Are Not Human, Alaska Troopers Say (Caleb Wethington / WSMV News)

Deadhorse, Alaska (prudhoebay.com)

If you have information on the disappearance of Steve Keel, please contact the North Slope Borough Police Department at 907-852-2611.

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: MARIA CALEEL

When an Illinois veterinary medicine student is attacked in her own home, she uses the last of her strength to seek help, but dies before being able to name her killer. No explanation—or potential suspect—is off the table as investigators seek the truth behind an unlikely crime in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Police Hopeful Science Will Solve 1988 U. of I. Murder Mystery (Christy Gutowski / Chicago Tribune)

Years Later, Veterinary Student’s Death Remains a Mystery (R. Scott Nolan / American Veterinary Medicine Association)

Jim Dey: 1988 Murder Remains a Mystery (Jim Day / The News-Gazette)

Family of Slain Student Keeps Death Probe Alive (John O’Brien / Chicago Tribune via newspapers.com)

Dr. Richard T. Caleel: Man of all Seasons (Beverly Fead / Montecito Journal)

Slain U. of I. Student Had World to Live For (Jorge Casuso / Chicago Tribune)

Veterinarian Accused of Horse Theft in Florida, Illinois (Nancy L. Othon / Orlando Sentinel)

The Vidocq Society (vidocq.org)

The Palm Beach Post, Sunday, March 9, 2003 Ed. (Palm Beach Post via newspapers.com)

Cops to Interview Victim’s Kin (Chicago Tribune)

Vet Charged With Stealing Show Horses (Chicago Tribune)

Vet Charged Over Horse Thefts (Horse & Hound)

Wellington Vet Pleads Guilty to Stealing Horses (Sun Sentinel)

Police Hopeful Science Will Solve 1988 U. of I. Murder Mystery (Christy Gutowski / Chicago Tribune)

If you have any information on the death of Maria Caleel, please contact the Urbana Police Department at 217-384-2320.

SOLVED: DISAPPEARANCE OF DALE WILLIAMS

When a small-town Colorado man vanished in the middle of his work day, no trace of him was found until his vehicle was pulled from a local river six weeks later. Certain that foul play was involved, investigators worked for years to determine who might’ve wanted to harm a well-liked family-man. A suspect is finally charged with first degree murder in this breaking update episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Affidavit: Murder Suspect Denies Involvement in 25-Year-Old Cold Case (Katharhynn Heidelberg / Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)

Murder Arrest in 25-Year-Old Cold Case (Colorado Bureau of Investigation)

A Dad’s Mysterious Disappearance Captivated a Small Colorado Town. Twenty-Five Years Later, Cops Have Made a Major Breakthrough (Andrea Cavallier / The Independent)

Unsolved Mysteries — Season 12, Episode 8: Dale Disappears (Unsolved Mysteries via YouTube)

Unsolved Mysteries: Dale Williams (unsolved.com)

CBI Seeks Help in 20-Year-Old Cold Case (Jim Mimiaga / The Journal)

CBI Seeking New Leads in 20-Year-Old Western Slope Cold Case (Angela Case / Fox21 News)

Divers Down: New Sheriff’s Office Team Hits the Water (Kylea Henseler / Montrose Daily Press)

If you know anything about the location of Dale Williams’ remains, please call the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office at 970-252-4023.

UNSOLVED DOUBLE-DISAPPEARANCE: BRYAN HAYES AND MARK DEGNER

When two special needs students vanish from a Florida middle school, delayed search efforts yield tragic consequences. The FBI identifies a serial predator as a potential suspect after nearly 20 years in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Unsolved: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mark Degree and Bryan Hayes (Kathryn Jeffries and Destiny Johnson / First Coast News)

Fate of 2 Missing School Children Prompts Many Tough Questions (Orlando Sentinel)

New Photos Showing How Missing Florida Boys Might Look 15 Years after Disappearance Released as Search Continues (Ewan Palmer / Newsweek)

Could Arrest in 23-Year-Old Murder Help Other Missing Persons Cases? (Jim Piggott and Francesca Amiker / News4Jax)

FBI: Accused Child Killer, Foster Parent Possibly Connected to Unsolved Cases (Scott Johnson and Erik Avanier / News4Jax)

Former Youth Pastor Arrested in Florida Teen’s 1994 Cold Case Murder and Dismemberment (Devan Stuart Lesley / People.com)

Case Documents Say Ronnie Hyde Was Teen Victim’s Foster Father (Anne Schindler / First Coast News)

Arrest Warrant: Hyde, Ronnie (Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, Duval County, Florida)

Former Youth Pastor Sentenced to Life in Prison for 1994 Murder of Teen (Ashley Harding / News4Jax)

Court Records: 1994 Cold Case Suspect Abused Other Boys (Eileen Kelley / Jacksonville.com)

If you have any information on the disapperance of Bryan Hayes and Mark Degner, please contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500.

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: LAURA CECERE

When a Kentucky woman disappears, police are ambivalent—until her jawbone is mailed to a local news station. A marriage of convenience, another woman’s mysterious death, a possible serial killer and corrupt medical examiners all complicate a rollercoaster of an investigation in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Beneficiary of Soldier’s Insurance in Question (Messenger-Inquirer / newspapers.com)

Soldier: A Year Later, Little Learned About Her Disappearance (Cincinnati Enquirer / newspapers.com)

Roybal Acquitted in Death of Solider (Melany Leazer / Kentucky New Era)

The Courier-Journal, Monday, September 1, 1997 ed., Page 7 (Louisville Courier-Journal via newspapers.com)

Cecere Mom Seeks Answers, Kentucky New Era August 3, 1997 ed., Page 3 (Kentucky New Era via newspapers.com)

Roybal Defense Team Critical of Prosecution (Melony Leazer / Kentucky New Era)

Jury Acquits Roybal in Fiancee’s Death (Jennifer P. Brown / Kentucky New Era)

Cecere Spouse Eyed in 2nd Death (Kentucky New Era via newspapers.com)

The State Journal, Thursday, March 26, 1998 ed., Page 15 (The State Journal via newspapers.com)

Pathologists in Roybal Trial Say Woman Died of Head Injury (Jennifer P. Brown / Kentucky New Era)

Odd Behavior Finally Catches Up With Tennessee’s Medical Examiner (Bill Poovey / The Daily Herald)

Arrested TN Medical Examiner Allegedly Had Evidence on Him (Local 3 News)

Former Medical Examiner Bruce Levy Pleads Guilty to Official Misconduct (Brian Hass / The Tennesseean)

Prosecution Could Rest in Roybal Trial (Melony Leazer / Kentucky New Era)

If you know anything about the death of Laura Cecere, please call the Kentucky State Police at 606-676-3313.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: ALYNE BARRICK

When a widowed Kentucky woman vanishes from her cabin home on the outskirts of a National Park, the evidence makes it clear that she was violently attacked. The search for a beloved mother and her presumed killer spans decades in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Still Searching (Deborah Highland / The Daily News)

Family Searching for Answers on the 22nd Anniversary of the Disappearance of Alyne J. Lawrence Barrick (Juliet Muir / NBC News)

Edmonson County Kentucky (ky.gov)

Family of Missing Woman Looks for Answers (Justin Story / Bowling Green Daily News)

22 Years Later: Disappearance Remains a Mystery (Sam Terry / Jobe Publishing)

The Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, Thursday, Nov 14th, 1996 Ed., Page 1

Park City Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Tuesday, Feb. 4th, 1997, Page 6

Park City Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Wednesday, April 20th, 2016, Page A2

Missing for 23 Years and Presumed Dead, Investigation Continues into the Disappearance of Alyne Barrick (WNKY News)

Local Authorities Hope Cards Shed Light on Cold Cases (Justin Story / Bowling Green Daily News)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Alyne Barrick, please contact the Kentucky State Police at (270) 782-2010.

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: MARGARET CARABETTA

When a Tucson, Arizona teen vanishes from her home while her mom is at work, evidence suggests that she was abducted. Her body is located on the outskirts of town the following morning, prompting a homicide investigation that remains open decades later in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

@lastseenalivepodcast

This was the last drive of 15-year-old Margaret Carabetta’s life. Her case is still unsolved. #truecrime #truecrimetok #tucson #arizona

♬ Ambient-style emotional piano – MoppySound

Sources used to research this episode:

Crime Stoppers (Arizona Daily Star)

Murdered Women Were Killed at Home (Arizona Daily Star via newspapers.com)

Margaret Carabetta’s Murder is ‘That 1% that Haunts You’ (Arizona Daily Star via newspapers.com)

Rape Suspect Linked to Killing (The Arizona Republic May 28, 1982 ed. via newspapers.com)

The Tucson Citizen, Saturday, October 30th, 1982 Ed., Page 4 (The Tucson Citizen via newspapers.com)

The Arizona Daily Star, Saturday, May 15th, 1982 Ed., Page 39 (The Arizona Daily Star via newspapers.com)

The Arizona Daily Star, Thursday, May 27th, 1982 Ed., Page 15 (The Arizona Daily Star via newspapers.com)

The Arizona Daily Star, Sunday, June 6th, 1982, Page 2 (The Arizona Daily Star via newspapers.com)

If you know anything about the murder of Margaret Carabetta, please call the Tucson Police Department at 520-791-4444, or, click here to access the online tip form.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: LOUK PHIANGDAE

When a young boy disappears from his bedroom during a stormy night in coastal Washington state, all signs suggest that he climbed out the window. Despite immediate and thorough searches, he remains inexplicably missing without a trace years later in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Sources used to research this episode:

Mystery of Missing Raymond Boy Still Lingers 28 Years Later (Eric Trent / The Chronicle)

Immigrants Fill Up Local Labor Pool (Chris McGann / The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans, Who Fought a ‘Secret War’ During Vietnam, Honored in CT (Maricarmen Cajahuaringa / Connecticut Public Radio)

Loukthayoth Yoshi Phiangdae (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

The Olympian Sunday, March 10th, 1996 Edition, Page 20 (via Newspapers.com)

Episode 97 Loukthayoth “Luke” Phiangdae (Missing Persons Podcast)

Hypothermia (National Park Service)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Louk Phiangdae, please contact the Washington State Police Missing Persons Unit at 1-800-543-5678.