When Milwaukee’s most successful nightclub owner is murdered with a crossbow bolt to the chest, he uses his last words to name his killer. However, the investigation uncovers a different suspect and the case ultimately goes cold in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Karl Lotharius was 47-years-old when he was murdered via crossbow on the night of December 20th, 1981. He was about to enter his home after a late night at work when he was killed. Image source: family photo.Pictured: a modern street view of Von Trier, one of the popular Milwaukee bars that Karl founded and owned during his lifetime. Von Trier is still in operation today, under different ownership. Image source: Google Maps.
Sources used to research this episode (Karl Lotharius):
If you know anything about the murder of Karl Lotharius, please call the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-933-4444.
Also included in this episode: a segment on the April 2024 disappearance of Bryant Palacios-Zuñiga from Redwood City, California. Information on his case is urgently needed.
Sources used to research this episode (Bryant Palacios-Zuñiga):
When an Alabama woman disappears from her place of work, the evidence suggests an abduction. Afterward, the dentist she worked for spirals into a series of criminal charges and attempts to reinvent himself as a spiritual leader in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Kelley Howard went missing from Riverside, Alabama on June 2nd, 2009. She has not been seen or heard from since. Image source: family photo.Pictured: the property that once housed the dental practice where Kelley worked. She disappeared from its parking lot. Image source: Google Maps.The red pin on this map denotes the location of the dental office that Kelley disappeared from. It was located alongside a highway in Riverside, Alabama. The Coosa River was nearby. Image source: Google Maps.Rick Mitchell was a practicing dentist, for whom Kelly worked, in 2009. He closed his practice after her disappearance, and reinvented himself as a faith leader. He was eventually charged with multiple crimes not related to Kelley’s disappearance, but died suddenly before he could go to trial for charges of arson and insurance fraud. He is the last known person to have seen Kelley alive. Image source: Riverside Police Department.Kelley was 41-years-old at the time of her disappearance. She is survived and missed by many family members, including her husband, son and her first grandchild, who was born shortly after her disappearance. She has been declared legally deceased. Image source: family photo.
From sunrise hikes to foraging sessions, the unsolved cases included in this episode feature stories of victims who ventured into nature and never made it home. Each of these little-known cases are in critical need of tips from the public, so join us as we recount the final hikes of five separate victims in this special multi-case episode of Last Seen Alive.
Stories in this episode include:
The 1986 murder of Jane Pritchard, a botany student who was killed with a shotgun blast while studying botanical specimens in Delaware’s Blackbird State Forest.
The 2006 double-homicide of Mary and Susanna Stodden, a mother / daughter pair who were fatally shot while hiking together on Washington’s rugged Pinnacle Lake Trail.
The 2022 disappearance of Niqi Cavanaugh-De Calderon, a professional ballerina and avid forager who vanished during a walk in woods near Oregon’s Mt. Hood.
The 2023 murder of Dr Honoree Fleming, an accomplished academic who was fatally shot while hiking her favorite trail in Vermont’s picturesque lake region.
Unsolved Homicide: Jane Pritchard
Jane Pritchard was murdered in 1986 while conducting botanical research in Delaware’s Blackbird State Forest. Image source: family photo.
If you know anything about the death of Jane Pritchard, please contact the New Castle County Police’s Cold Case Homicide Squad at: 302-395-2781. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333, or submit a tip via their website: delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.
Unsolved Double-Homicide: Mary and Susanna Stodden
Susanna Stodden (left) a d her mother Mary Stodden (right) were murdered while hiking together at Pinnacle Lake in 2006. Image source: family photo.
Sources used to research Mary and Susanna Stodden’s story:
Niqi Cavanaugh-De Calderon’s disappearance is complicated by the fact that at the time of her disappearance, she was suffering from a serious medical condition. She is considered an endangered missing person. Image source: family photo.Niqi Cavanaugh-De Calderon has not been seen since she failed to return from a walk in the Oregon woods in 2022. Image source: family photo.
Sources used to research Niqola “Niqi” Cavanaugh-De Calderon’s story:
If you know anything about the disappearance or whereabouts of Niqi Cavanaugh-De Calderon, please contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office at (503) 785-5000.
Unsolved Homicide: Dr Honoree Fleming
Dr Honoree Fleming was murdered while hiking a popular trail in her Vermont hometown in 2023. Image source: family photo.This sketch depicts Dr Honoree Fleming’s killer, as described by witnesses. Image source: Vermont State Police.
Sources used to research Dr Honoree Fleming’s story:
If you have any information on the murder of Dr Honoree Fleming, please contact the Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101. Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, use the Vermont State Police’s online tip form: vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
When a mom-of-four moves halfway around the world to a remote corner of northern Maine, she soon disappears from her new home. State investigators assume control of a case originally handled by a criminally corrupt small-town police department in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Attiin Shaw was 33-years-old when she vanished from the remote town of Washburn, Maine. She had recently moved there (along with her husband and four children) from her home country of Malaysia. Image source: family photo.Attiin enjoyed the outdoors, and made it a point to share that passion with her sons, who she often took on nature walks. Image source: family photo.Attiin loved animals and was excited to have room for pets in her new home in the rural US. Image source: family photo.Attiin is remembered by friends and family for her charismatic, social nature. She has–uncharacteristically–not been in touch with any of her loved ones since her disappearance in 2021. Image source: family photo.Attiin disappeared from Washburn, Maine (denoted by red square). Washburn is a small and remote community in the northern part of the state, far-removed from any cities. Image source: Google Maps.
When a teenage trafficking victim agrees to testify against her traffickers in criminal court, she goes missing before the case makes it to trial. The disappearance and probable murder of a vulnerable child shed light on the harsh realities of hidden in plain sight sex trafficking in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Pictured: Kelsey Emily Collins as a toddler. As an infant, Kelsey faced near brushes with death, spending the majority of her first year of life in the hospital due to a birth defect. During this time, her mom stuck steadfastly by her side. Image source: family photo.Pictured: Kelsey Emily Collins as a young child. As a young child, Kelsey suffered from seizures as a result of childhood abuse inflicted by her step-father. Kelsey’s mom fled the stepfather’s reach with her children, but the effects of the trauma would be long-lasting. Image source: family photo.Pictured: Kelsey as as teenager. By this point in her life, she was a victim of sex-trafficking. Her traffickers exploited her past trauma and special needs. Image source: Washington State Department of Licensing.Kelsey Emily Collins is remembered as an extraordinarily empathetic and caring young woman who never missed an opportunity to help anyone in need. Unfortunately, she was exploited as a child–and likely murdered–by ruthless human traffickers. Image source; family photo.
Beloved family man and avid hunter Chong Moua Yang was murdered on public land in Michigan on November 16th, 2018. On February 22nd, 2024, Thomas Olson (age 35, and also of Michigan) was convicted of his murder. Olson was one of two suspects originally charged with Chong’s murder. This case update episode covers Olson’s trial and sentencing.
Chong Moua Yang was a beloved Michigan father and grandfather known for his love of hunting and the outdoors. He was a knowledgable and skilled hunter who prioritized safety and consistently harvested game from Michigan’s public lands. On November 16th, 2018, he was murdered on those same public lands via a gunshot wound to the head. He is badly missed by his spouse, children, grandchildren and other family members. Image source: family photo.On February 22nd, 2024, Thomas Olson (age 35, of Michigan) was convicted of murdering Chong Moua Yang via a gunshot wound to the head. Image source: police photo.Chong Moua Yang is missed and remembered by his many family members as a loving husband, father, grandfather and provider.
When a hardworking Washington woman is abducted from a remote job site, a massive search is launched. Investigators explore the possibility that her case may be related to those of several other women who also vanished from the area and were never found in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Julie Weflen was an electrical substation operator, and was abducted from an electrical substation near Washington’s Riverside State Park on September 16th, 1987. She hasn’t been seen since. Image source: family photo.Julie was a kind and hardworking woman known for her love of animals, especially horses. Image source: family photo.Julie was happily married to her husband, Mike. They had been married for four years at the time of Julie’s disappearance, They were both passionate about the outdoors. Image source: family photo.Mike Weflen searched tirelessly for his missing wife, Julie, after she was abducted. Despite his efforts, she has not been found. He was devastated by the loss. More than 30 years later, her case remains unsolved.
When a young Spokane, Washington woman goes missing, it’s not reported until more than a year later. Investigators unravel the story of a vanished woman whose adopted family called her their real-life “Cinderella” in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Courtney Holden was 27-years-old when she went missing from her home in Spokane, Washington in 2018. She vanished after trying to flee the home, where she’d been subjected to years of domestic abuse, primarily by her adopted brother. Image source: Washington State Department of Licensing.Pictured: the home where Courtney lived with her adopted family. By the time she went missing, she was seldom “allowed” to set foot outside. Note the “smile you’re on camera” sign in the lower left-hand corner–Courtney’s adopted brother had outfitted the house with security cameras. When investigators eventually searched the home, they discovered that the DVR containing security footage was nowhere to be found.While in her early 20s, Courtney gave birth to a son, who was the light of her life. After police began investigating Courtney’s disappearance, her adopted mother and brother fled to a different state with her son, who they hid from his father until investigators located them. Image source: family photo.Pictured: Courtney’s adopted brother, Josh Holden. Josh was known to abuse Courtney and has a violent criminal record. Image source: police photo.Pictured: Courtney’s adopted mother, Judy Holden. Along with her son, Josh, Judy was known to refer to Courtney as “Cindy”–short for “Cinderella”. Image source: police photo.Pictured: Courtney with her infant son. Her son was 7-years-old when Judy and Josh Holden illegally fled Washington with him, and concealed him from his father in a distant state. After law enforcement located them, Courtney’s son was placed in his father’s care. Image source: family photo.
When a young Mississippi mom-to-be goes missing, evidence discovered by a remote, abandoned bridge suggests she was murdered. A killer remains at large—and potentially still within the community—in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Angela Freeman was 17-years-old when she went missing from Petal, Mississippi in September of 1993. She was approximately 4 months pregnant, and excited to become a mother. Image source: family photo.Angela’s family has been waiting for answers in regards to her disappearance for more than 30 years. Image source: The Clarion Ledger.Angela (right) is pictured with her mom, Debra (left), who has been working tirelessly to keep her daughter’s case alive in the public’s mind for more than 30 years. She says that her worst fear is that Angela will be forgotten. Image source: family photo.Angela was last seen alive in the parking lot of a Pizza Hut restaurant in Petal, Mississippi. However, her abandoned vehicle was found approximately a half hour’s drive away at an old bridge in a remote area. Image source: Google Maps.Angela’s vehicle was found abandoned by the old Mahned Bridge (pictured), which spans a section of the Leaf River. A section of the river was searched after human remains detection canines alerted, but Angela was not found. Image source: Google Maps.This age-progression image shows what Angela may have looked like at age 32 (circa 2010). Angela has been declared legally dead, and is believed to be deceased, likely as a result of homicide. Image source: NCMEC.
If you have any information on the disappearance of Angela Freeman, please call the Petal Police Department at 601-544-5331, or the Perry County Sheriff’s Office at 601-964-8461.
When a young Missouri woman was abducted from a cemetery and murdered, her violent death haunted her rural community for 35 years. Now, three men have finally been charged with her murder. The Ozark Mountains overshadow long-awaited investigative breakthroughs in this special breaking update episode of Last Seen Alive.
Kelle Ann Workman was 24-years-old when she was abducted from rural Dogwood, Missouri and brutally murdered in 1989. She was a hard-working young woman, beloved by her family. Image source: family photo.Kelle’s family published this in memory of her on the 7th anniversary of her death. Image source: the Springfield News Leader via Newspapers.com.Kelle was working one of her jobs, mowing a cemetery, when she was abducted by her killers. Image source: the Springfield News Leader via Newspapers.com.Bobby Banks was charged with Kelle’s 1989 abduction, sexual assault and murder in February of 2024. Image source: Douglass County Sheriff’s Department.Leonard “Dwight” Banks was charged with Kelle’s 1989 abduction, sexual assault and murder in February of 2024. Image source: Douglass County Sheriff’s Department.Wiley Belt was charged with Kelle’s 1989 abduction, sexual assault and murder in February of 2024. Image source: Douglass County Sheriff’s Department.The charges filed against Bobby Banks in relation to Kelle’s murder. Image source: Missouri Courts.The charges filed against Leonard “Dwight” Banks in relation to Kelle’s murder. Image source: Missouri Courts.The charges filed against Wiley Belt in relation to Kelle’s murder. Image source: Missouri Courts.Kelle’s parents (pictured) were haunted for decades by her unsolved abduction and murder. Her father, Stanley Workman (bottom right) died without ever seeing justice served. Her mother, Joan Workman (bottom left) survives, along with other beloved family members. Image source: the Springfield News Leader via Newspapers.com.
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