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.
Prior to her death, Sgt. Laura Cecere held the unique distinction of being the only female instructor at the Sabalauski Air Assault School. She was a capable and decorated soldier who had also served overseas during the Gulf War. Image source: family photo.Laura Cecere was a hard-working and tremendously strong woman known for her optimism and athleticism. She was 25-years-old when she was murdered. Her murder was almost certainly an act of betrayal by someone she knew and trusted. Image source: family photo.At the time of her death, Laura was legally married to her friend, Max Roybal. The marriage was one of convenience, designed to provide Laura with housing benefits from the Army, and Roybal with the benefits of being a military spouse (e.g. healthcare). Investigators eventually charged Roybal with Laura’s murder, as well as the murder of another woman, and accused Roybal of being a financially-motivated serial killer. He was not convicted of either killing. Image source: newspaper clipping.Pictured: a memorial stone Laura’s family had made in her remembrance. The majority of Laura’s remains have never been located, and no remains are interred at this site. Image source: Running Deer via FindaGrave.com
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.
Alyne Barrick was 61-years-old when she went missing from her cabin near Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Image source: family photo.Alyne was locally known as “the rose lady” because of her practice of sharing the beautiful roses she grew with family, friends and strangers.Alyne was an incredibly hardworking woman, and wonderful caretaker to her children, and to her siblings, who she raised. Image source: family photo.Alyne was an avid outdoorswoman, and especially loved to fish. Image source: family photo.
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.
Margaret Carabetta was 15-years-old when she was abducted from her home in Tucson, AZ and murdered in 1982. Her murder is still unsolved. Image source: family photo.Margaret’s killer abducted her from her home in an East Tucson neighborhood. Her body was located about 4.5 miles away the following morning in the much less densely populated Catalina foothills (pictured) just north of town. Image source: Last Seen Alive.Margaret was abducted from her home on North Woodland Ave. This map shows the location of her home in relation to the place where her body was found (top) and where a possible suspect resided just a few blocks away (bottom). Image source: Google Maps.Margaret was abducted and murdered at night, and her body was found the following morning by two women walking in the Catalina foothills near the intersection of North Craycroft Rd and East Pinchot Rd. This (modern) photo is of the approximate location. Image source: Last Seen Alive.
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.
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.
Louk Phiangdae was 11-years-old when he vanished from Raymond, Washington in February of 1996. He was a 5th grade student with a talent for athletics, particularly dodgeball. Image source: family photo.This age-progressed image shows what Look might look like now, at approx. age 40, if still alive. Source: NCMEC.Pictured: Louk (4th from right) with his parents and six siblings. Although Louk’s parents and little brother have passed away, he is still missed by five siblings. Image source: family photo.Louk lived with his family in their home on Crescent St (denoted with red marker) in Raymond, Washington. Image source: Google Maps.Raymond is a small town in Pacific County, coastal Washington State. Image source: Google Maps.Pictured: the route from Louk’s home to the 8th St Park. Image source: Google Maps.Pictured: a newspaper article written by Polly Sears and published around the time of Louk’s disappearance . Image source: The Daily World.
When a young New Mexico woman decides to enroll in college and turn over a new leaf in life, her family is excited for her fresh start. Excitement quickly turns to heartbreak when she vanishes unexpectedly in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Melanie James was 21-years-old when she vanished from Farmington, New Mexico in 2014. Image source: family photo.Melanie (left) is a beloved big sister to Melissa (center), and cherished daughter to Lela (right). She is badly missed. Image source: family photo.There have been no known sightings of Melanie since 2014.Farmington, New Mexico is located in the “Four Corners” area. Three other states are within close driving distance.
When it comes to unsolved cases, nothing is more haunting than the unsolved disappearance or death of a child.Each of these little-known cases are in critical need of tips from the public, so join us as we explore the stories of multiple young victims in this special multi-case episode of Last Seen Alive.
Cases covered in this episode include:
The unsolved 1998 suspicious death of 17-year-old Danny Violette, whose remains were found abandoned in an Ohio cornfield.
The unsolved 2000 triple-disappearance of 1-year-old Sidney Smith, newborn Monique Smith and their 20-year-old mother, Jennifer Lancaster, all of whom vanished from Kansas without a trace.
The unsolved 2014 disappearance of 7-year-old Julia Potter, who was allegedly abducted from Washington by her own non-custodial father and is believed to now be living off grid with him.
The unsolved 2021 disappearance of 16-year-old Kit Nelson-Mora, who vanished shortly after reuniting with their birth parent, who had a history of child abuse.
Danny VioletteDanny Violette’s obituary.
Sources used to research Danny Violette’s segment of this episode:
If you have any information about the death of Danny Violette, please contact the Huron County Sheriff’s Office at 419-668-6912, or fill out this online tip form.
Age progression of Sidney Smith. Image source: NCMEC.Jennifer Lancaster pictured around age 20. Image source: family photo.Age progression of Monique Smith. Image source: NCMEC.
Sources used to research Sidney Smith’s, Monique Smith’s and Jennifer Lancaster’s segment of this episode:
If you know anything about the disappearance or whereabouts of Jennifer Lancaster, Sidney Smith and / or Monique Smith, please contact the call the Topeka police criminal investigation bureau at 785-368-9400. Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, call the Shawnee County Crimestoppers at 785-234-0007 OR access their online tip form at www.p3tips.com/128.
Age progression of Jason Potter. Image source: NCMEC.Dated photo showing Jason Potter dressed as a woman. He may dress this way as a method of disguise.Julia Potter. Image source: family photo.Age progression of Julia Potter. Image source: NCMEC.
Sources used to research Julia Potter’s segment of this episode:
If you know anything about the disappearance of Julia Potter and / or the whereabouts of Julie or Jason Potter, please contact the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011. If you know whether either of them are right now, please call 911. If you wish to submit a tip anonymously, call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Missing teen Kit Nelson-Mora.Missing teen Kit Nelson-Mora.
Sources used to research Kit Nelson-Mora’s segment of this episode:
If you know anything about the disappearance or whereabouts of Kit Nelson-Mora, please contact the Omak Police Department at 509-826-0383, or the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit at 844-770-7900.
When a beloved elementary school teacher is found dead in Maryland just off the Appalachian Trail, news of his murder is met with disbelief. Despite investigators’ efforts, a puzzling case goes cold in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
This is Keep Tryst Rd in Sandy Hook, Maryland (just outside of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia). The road is rural, beautiful and part of it runs congruent with the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal (which briefly intersect). It’s also where someone took 43-year-old Jeff Rowland’s life in 2002. Jeff was a beloved elementary school teacher and community member in nearby Charles Town, West Virginia. His case remains unsolved, and tips should be reported to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. #truecrime#truecrimetok#unsolved#appalachia
Jeff was a lifelong resident of Charles Town, WV–a small town just minutes away from Harpers Ferry (pictured). Harpers Ferry is widely considered the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail, and draws visitors from all over the world. Jeff’s body was found just outside of Harpers Ferry. Image source: Mark Fickett.Jeff Rowland was 43-years-old when he was murdered. He was a dedicated 4th Grade teacher, a caring son to his elderly parents and an active member of his community in Charles Town, WV. Image source: family photo.Jeff’s body was found by a jogger just off the Appalachian Trail in the unincorporated area of Sandy Hook, Maryland. He had been fatally shot. Image source: Google Maps.
When a Pennsylvania couple is brutally attacked in the dead of night, their rural farmhouse becomes a crime scene. Investigators search for the person responsible for the death of one victim—and the near-death of another—in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Dana Gates was 31-years-old when she was murdered in her Bedford County, Pennsylvania home. Image source: family photo.Dana lived in a farmhouse located on Schellsburg Rd in rural Bedford County, PA. She was murdered in her home. Image source: Google Maps.Investigators have considered the possibility that killer couple Benjamin and Erika Sift may’ve been involved in Dana’s death. Image source: Centre Daily Times.
If you have any information on the murder of Dana Gates, please call the Pennsylvania State Police tipline at 1-800-472-8477, or click here to use the online tip form. You may remain anonymous if you wish.
When a North Carolina college student went for a run while visiting home during a break, she was waylaid by a cruel killer who held her hostage and ultimately took her life. After decades of waiting, her killer is finally named in this breaking case update episode of Last Seen Alive.
Tammy Aldridge was 20-years-old when she was abducted and murdered during a jog outside of Burlington, NC in the summer of 1979. Tammy was kind, outspoken, athletic and known for her green thumb. She was studying to become a physical therapist when her life was taken. Image source: family photo.Through the use of DNA science, investigators have determined that Gary Laframboise was Tammy’s killer. Although Laframboise had a considerable violent criminal record in the 70s and 80s, his mugshots from that time period have been destroyed. Therefore, investigators had this age-regression image made to show what he looked like at the time of Tammy’s murder. Laframboise died in 2020. Image source: police image.
When a Florida college student is found dead in her dorm under highly suspicious circumstances, her death is ruled a homicide—at first. Disappearing evidence, medical examiners at odds and disgraced public officials all combine to undermine an investigation in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Jennifer Kauris was 19-years-old when she died in her dorm room at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, in March of 1998. Her death was originally ruled a homicide, although controversy followed this ruling. Photo source: family photo.Jennifer was a student at Rollins College, a small private school that overlooks Lake Virginia (pictured). The campus is idyllic and–generally–safe. Image source: Tschimmelfing.Jennifer was a theater major at Rollins College. She was vivacious and had loved to perform since childhood. Image source: family photo.Pictured: an excerpt from Jennifer’s autopsy, detailing the drugs found during screening. A dangerously high amount of propranolol (a beta blocker) was present in her system. She was not prescribed the drug, and it’s unknown when, why or how she ingested it. Image source: police document.
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