FINAL STEPS: COLD CASES FEATURING MISSING / MURDERED RUNNERS AND PEDESTRIANS

From quick errands to long runs, the cold cases included in this episode feature stories of victims who set out on foot and never returned home. Each of these little-known cases are in critical need of tips from the public, so join us as we retrace the final steps of four separate victims in this special multi-case episode of Last Seen Alive.

Stories in this episode include:

  • The 1979 murder of North Carolina college student Tammy Aldridge, who went for a run while visiting home during a break and was waylaid by a cruel killer.
  • The 1981 disappearance of small-town Pennsylvania teenager Michele Reidenbach, who walked just a block away from her place of work on an errand, and vanished without a trace.
  • The 1990 cold case murder of Jennifer Bailey, who set out for a jog on a popular Kentucky running trail, only to be fatally attacked by a man who has remained unidentified for more than 30 years.
  • The 2011 murder of 23-year-old David Grubbs, who was brutally attacked and killed while walking along an Oregon bike path on his way home from work.

Unsolved Homicide: Tammy Aldridge

UPDATE: Tammy’s case has been solved. An update episode is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tammy Aldridge was 20-years-old when she was murdered in June of 1979 just outside of Burlington, North Carolina.. Evidence indicates that she was likely abducted while out for a run. Her killer remains unidentified.

Sources used to research Tammy Aldridge’s case:

Body in Whiteford Township Exhumed for DNA in Unsolved North Carolina Slaying (The Toledo Blade)

Tammy Aldridge Murder Case Reopened in Alamance County (Carter Coyle / Fox8 News)

The Herald Sun, November 8, 1985 Edition, Page 1 (The Herald Sun via Newspapapers.com)

The Herald Sun, November 8, 1985 Edition, Page 3 (The Herald Sun via Newspapers.com)

The Herald Sun, November 14th, 1985 Edition, Page 3 (The Herald Sun via Newspapers.com)

The News and Record, July 10, 1985 Edition, Page 20 (The News and Record via Newspapers.com)

The Burlington Times News, August 5, 2012 Edition, Page2 (The Burlington Times News via NewspaperArchive.com)

If you know anything about the murder of Tammy Aldridge, please call the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office at 336-570-6300.

Unsolved Disappearance: Michele Reidenbach

Michele Reidenbach was 16-years-old when she went missing from Zelienople, Pennsylvania in 1981. She has not been seen since.

Sources used to research Michele Reidenbach’s Case:

Unsolved Cases: Michele Reidenbach Disappeared After Posing for Seneca Valley Senior Photo (Sandy Dudiak / Patch.com)

Bleak Holiday for Missing Girl’s Mom (Carol Patton / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Case of Missing Harmony Teenager Still Being Investigated 42 Years Later (Molly Miller / The Butler Eagle)

North Hill News Record, November 3, 1993, Page 6 (North Hill News Record via Newspapers.com)

Police Reopen Case of Missing Girl (Allegheny Times, September 22, 1993 Edition)

Pittsburgh Post Gazette, May 12, 1989 Edition, Page 4 (Pittsburgh Post Gazette via Newspapers.com)

Christine Guenther’s Murder Remains Unsolved (Sarah Beth Martin / Patch.com)

Pittsburgh Press October 28, 1988 Edition, Page 1 (Pittsburgh Post Gazette via Newspapers.com)

If you have any information related to the disappearance of Michele Reidenbach, please contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 724-284-8100. OR, if you prefer to submit your tip online and / or to remain anonymous, go to crimewatchpa.com. 

Unsolved Homicide: Jennifer Bailey

Jennifer Bailey was 21-years-old when she was murdered in Bell County, Kentucky in August of 1990. Her killer remains unidentified.

Sources used to research Jennifer Bailey’s Case:

Parents Tireless in Their Efforts to Find Daughter’s Killer (Lexington Herald Leader via Newspapers.com)

“Someone knows what happened” | Detectives Release New Details in 30-Year-Old Cold Case (Cole Sullivan / WBIR News)

Mother of Murdered Daughter: ‘It’ll Never be Solved, I Don’t Believe’ (Taylor Upchurch / WYMT News)

The State Journal, September 7th 1990 Edition, Page 13 (The State Journal via Newspapers.com)

Lexington Herald Leader, August 20th, 1990 Edition, Page 12 (The Lexington Herald-Leader via Newspapers.com)

The Lust Murderer (Robert R. Hazlewood and John E. Douglass / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, April 1980 Edition)

Lexington Herald Leader, January 19th, 1992 Edition, Page 1 (Lexington Herald Leader via Newspapers.com)

If you have any information on the murder of Jennifer Bailey—or on the murder of Greta Henson—please call the Kentucky State Police Post 10 at 606-573-3131.

Unsolved Homicide: David Grubbs

David Grubbs was 23-years-old when he was murdered in Ashland, Oregon in November of 2011. His killer remains unidentified.

Sources used to research David Grubb’s case:

Horrific Murder Shatters Sense of Safety in Ashland (Jeff Barnard / KVAL News)

Community Still Looking for Answers in Violent 2011 Murder of David Grubbs on Ashland, Oregon Bike Path (Sarah Portney / NBC News)

New Details Emerge on Killing of Ashland Man 8 Years After His Death (Carsyn Currier / KTLV News)

Decapitation of Young Ashland Man Remains Unsolved 7 Years Later (Fe’lisha LaCher / KPIC News)

Police: Only Lead in Decapitation Case is Video Game (Jeff Barnard / The Tribute Democrat)

David Grubbs’ Mother Talks for First Time Since Son’s Murder (Kobi5 News)

Ten-Years After Unsolved Ashland Murder, Friends Remember David Grubbs (Kobi5 News)

‘What Should We Save?’ In Flight From Southern Oregon Wildfire, Mother Preserves Memory of Murdered Son (Noelle Crombie / OregonLive.com)

Christian Delaurentiis, Who Put Roommate’s Dismembered Body in Freezer, ‘Deserves No Mercy,’ Victim’s Sister Says (Emily E. Smith / OregonLive.com)

If you have any information related to the death of David Grubbs, call the Ashland Police Department at 541-552-2333. Or, if you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can call or text Crime Stoppers of Southern Oregon at 1-800-850-0580.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: GRETCHEN FLEMING

When a West Virginia woman leaves a bar with a former police officer on a winter night in 2022, she’s never seen again. Diligent investigators close in on an ex-cop with an unlikely story and an unsettling reputation in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Gretchen Fleming was 27-years-old when she went missing from her home town of Parkersburg, West Virginia on the night of December 4th, 2022. She remains missing. Image source: family photo.
Gretchen was last seen at this building, which at the time was operating as the My Way Sports Bar and Lounge. She left with a middle-aged male who was later identified as a former police officer with an unsettling reputation. My Way staff provided invaluable security footage to investigators, and assisted in IDing the man Gretchen was last seen with. According to its Google listing, My Way has since closed permanently. Image source: Google Maps.
Gretchen is remembered as being social, quick to make friends and creative, with a flair for fashion and make-up. Image source: family photo.
Pictured: the Parkersburg, West Virginia home that the man Gretchen was last seen with was living in at the time of her disappearance. Investigators secured a warrant and thoroughly searched the home. Their findings have not been publicly disclosed. Image source: Google Maps.
Gretchen is badly missed by her friends and family, including her parents, grandparents and younger siblings. Before her disappearance, she was considering changing career paths and becoming a flight attendant. Her current whereabouts are unknown, and her disappearance is believed to be the result of foul play. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research this episode:

Disappeared: S11 E8 – Gone With the Night (Investigation Discovery)

Police Search for ‘Person of Interest’ Vehicle in Gretchen Fleming Disappearance (MetroNews Staff / WV Metro News)

Parkersburg Police Back at Person of Interest’s Home as Search for Missing Woman Continues (Leslie Rubin and Bob Aaron / WCHS News)

Parkersburg Police Chief: Gretchen Fleming Case ‘Not Even Close’ to Cold (The Intelligencer)

Gretchen Fleming’s Family Discuss Law Enforcement Outsourcing Evidence to Outside Agencies (Mitchel Blahut / WTAP News)

Grandmother of Missing Wood County Woman Believes “She’s Gone” as Police Continue Investigating One Year Later (Carrie Hodousek / WV Metro News)

Update: Calhoun Man Suffers Serious Head Injury in Glenville (Drew Moody / Hur Herald)

Parkersburg P.D. Waiting on D.N.A. and Forensic Evidence to Come Back (Mitchell Blahut / WTAP News)

Why Virginia Police Hired ‘Catfish’ Cop Austin Lee Edwards (Summer Lin / Erin B. Logan / Los Angeles Times)

If you have any information on the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, please call the Parkersburg Police Department at 304-424-8444. If you wish to submit a tip anonymously, you can do so online at ppd.parkersburgwv.gov.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: PAUL FUGATE

When a National Park Service Ranger vanishes from his post in the Arizona mountains, he’s never seen again. Questions endure in the strange and controversial case of the only National Park Service Ranger to ever go missing—and never be found—in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Paul Fugate was last seen alive on January 13th, 1980. He worked as a Ranger for the National Park Service, and was stationed at Arizona’s Chiricahua National Monument. Image source: family photo.
Pictured: Paul at work early on in his career, in 1968. Image source: family photo.
Pictured: a panoramic view of Chiricahua National Park. Chiricahua is described by the NPS as a “wonderland of rocks”. Paul disappeared from this park during a work day in January of 1980. He remains missing. Image source: Wikipedia.
The section of the park Paul is believed to have disappeared from is called Faraway Ranch (denoted in red). Previously a working ranch, it was acquired by the NPS, who turned it into a historic sight. Paul went for a short (1 mile) hike in this area, and was never seen again. Image source: Google Maps.
Paul Fugate was a passionate outdoorsman, and a formally-trained botanist. His work as a park ranger allowed him to share his love of the outdoors with others. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research this episode:

Missing for Four Decades: Unsolved Park Ranger Mystery Lingers in Southern Arizona (Ryan Fish / KGUN9 News)

The Search for a Ranger Who Was Lost and Never Found (Brendan Borrell / Outside Magazine)

Chiricahua National Monument Arizona (National Park Service)

The Mystery of a Missing Naturalist May Lead to Legal Test of Dismissal (New York Times)

Los Angeles Times, Tuesday, July 13th, 1982 Edition, Page 51 (Los Angeles Times)

Reward Triples in Decades-Old Disappearance of Chiricahua National Monument Ranger (NPS Investigative Services)

Man Charges in NPS Employee Assault (Ainslee S. Wittig and Carol Broeder / Arizona Range News)

Chiricahua National Monument / Lillian Erickson Riggs (NPS.gov)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Paul Fugate, please call the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch at  888-653-0009. Or, submit a tip online by clicking HERE.

UNSOLVED DOUBLE-HOMICIDE: NEAL AND BRENDAN ABERNATHY

When a mild-mannered father and his 12-year-old son are shot execution-style inside their Bay Area home, there’s no apparent motive. Investigators are puzzled by one of the most unlikely homicides in suburban California history in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Brendan (left) and his father Neal (right) were murdered in their own home on February 19th, 1997. The motive for their murder remains unknown, and their killer unidentified. Image source: family photo.
Hercules, California (outlined in red and white) is a small, suburban town in San Francisco’s Bay Area. It’s low crime rate (in comparison to the rest of California and the US in general) made Brendan and Neal’s murders even more perplexing than they might have been elsewhere. Image source: Google Maps.

Sources used to research this episode:

Ten Years Later, Police Take New Look at Killings of Father, Son: SENSELESS CRIME STILL A MYSTERY (Karl Fischer / East Bay Times)

Cherished Memories of Home / Woman surviving horror of slayings (Suzanne Espinosa-Solis / SF Gate)

Obituary: Neal Edwin Abernathy (findagrave.com)

Reward Doubled in Hercules Killings / Father, Son Found Slain in Family Home (Henry K. Lee / SF Gate)

Website Created by a Friend of the Abernathy Family: The Abernathy Murders, February 19, 1997 (rocks4brains.com)

Shattered Nerves in Hercules / Double Killing Destroys Sense of Security (Suzanne Espinosa-Solis)

Hercules Jolted by Shooting Deaths of Father, Son / Dual-Killing is Close-Knit City’s First (Erin Hallissy / Chronicle East Bay Bureau)

Overview of PROMIS (Prosecutor’s Management Information System) (US DOJ, Office of Justice Programs)

The INSLAW Octopus (Richard L. Fricker / Wired)

If you know anything about the murders of Neal and Brendan Abernathy, please call the Hercules Police Department at 510-799-8260.

BREAKING UPDATE: ALLEGED KILLER CHARGED WITH THE 2003 MURDER OF REBECCA PARK

When a medical student and military reserve officer disappears during a run through a Philadelphia park, foul play is immediately suspected. The discovery of her body incriminates a deadly serial offender who is finally identified and charged in this special breaking update episode of Last Seen Alive.

We originally aired an episode on Rebecca’s unsolved murder in 2020. In December of 2023, Philadelphia police identified Elias Diaz, age 46, as Rebecca’s alleged killer. He was charged with her murder–and an assortment of related charges–on December 20th, 2023 (see charges listed on court document below). Bail was denied. He has also been charged in relation to two other attacks committed in November of 2023. The total number of his victims isn’t known for sure, and Philadelphia Police are seeking any information that could lead to additional charges against Diaz.

Rebecca Park is remembered by her friends, family and co-workers for her sunny attitude, organized nature and boundless energy. She was always moving forward, and excelled in her medical studies. She loved animals, science and medicine, and valued family and friends.
Pictured: composite images of the suspect in Rebecca’s murder (based on DNA) at different ages.
Elias Diaz was charged in December of 2023 with Rebecca’s murder, which occurred in 2003.

Sources used to research this episode:

Suspect in Pennypack Trail Slashings Charged with 2003 Fairmount Park Rape and Murder (NBC10 Staff / NBC10 Philadelphia)

Man Charged in 20-Year-Old Philadelphia Cold Case Killing and Rape After DNA Link, Officials Say (Celina Tebor and Danny Freeman / CNN)

Elias Diaz charged with 2003 Philadelphia cold case murder of Rebecca Park (Alexandra Simon, Aliza Shuler and Joe Holden / CBS News Philadelphia)

Runner’s Life Was Rife with Promise, Rebecca Park’s Friends and Family Recall Her Strength, Energy (Natalie Pompilio / Philadelphia Enquirer)

Body Identified as Missing Student in Philadelphia (Los Angeles Times)

Literally the Calvary: Meet the Philadelphia Police Department’s Mounted Cops (Billy Penn)

Running While Female (Runner’s World / Michelle Hamilton)

FBI, Police Continue Search for Fairmount Park Rapist 16 Years Later (NBC Philadelphia)

DNA Tool May Help in Fairmount Park Rapist Cold Case (ABC6)

Search Continues for Fairmount Park Rapist (Northeast Times / William Kenny)

If you have any information that could lead to additional charges against Diaz, please call 215-686-8477 to report what you know to Philadelphia Police.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: LISA IRWIN

When an infant goes missing from her crib in Kansas City, initial signs suggest the possibility of a rare stranger abduction. Investigators scrutinize several individuals as they attempt to determine whether a missing baby was truly kidnapped in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Lisa Irwin was nearly 11-months-old when she vanished from her crib in Kansas City, Missouri on October 4th, 2011.
This age-progressed image shows what Lisa may have looked like at age 9. If alive in 2023, she’s 13-years-old.
Lisa was affectionately known “as Pumpkin Pie”. At the time of her disappearance, she lived with her parents and two older brothers.
If alive in 2023, Lisa is 13-years-old.

Sources used to research this episode:

Search Intensifies For Missing Mo. Baby Lisa Irwin (Camille Mann / CBS News)

Is Missing Baby Lisa Irwin Dead? Unsettling Questions Remain (Julia Greenberg / International Business Times)

Surveillance Video From Night Girl Disappeared Turned Over to Authorities (CNN Wire Staff / CNN)

Baby Lisa Irwin: New Surveillance Footage of Mystery Man (ABC News)

Lisa Irwin Search Warrant Reveals Cadaver Dog ‘Hit’ (KMBC News)

Missing Baby Lisa’s Parents Make Emotional Plea for Her Return (ABC News)

Report: Timeline Emerges in Lisa Irwin Disappearance (Crimesider Staff / CBS News)

Mother: I Was Drunk When Missouri Infant Disappeared (CNN Wire Staff / CNN)

Police Search Baby Lisa’s Home (Jane Velez-Mitchell / CNN Transcripts)

Missing Baby Lisa: Family Attorney Says Cadaver Dogs May be Misleading Officials (ABC News)

Where Americans Die — Is There Really “No Place Like Home”? (Melissa W. Wachterman, M.D., M.P.H et al. / New England Journal of Medicine)

How Cadaver Dogs Help Find Dead Bodies (Mara Bovsun / American Kennel Club)

HRD Dogs: CoronerTalk Podcast (CoronerTalk Podcast feat. Guest Barbara Weakly-Jones MD)

Scientists Search for Death’s Aroma (Sarah Everts / Chemical & Engineering News)

Sigma Pseudo™ Corpse Scent (sigmaaldrich.com)

How Cadaver Dogs Are Trained to Help Authorities Locate Human Remains (Rob Earnshaw / Chicago Tribune)

Analysis of Bacterial Vaginosis-Related Amines in Vaginal Fluid by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (Helen Wolrath et al. / Journal of Clinical Microbiology)

Phone Owner in Baby Lisa Irwin Case Answers Questions on Facebook (Samantha Murphy / NBC News)

Lawyer: Phone Call Clears Baby Lisa’s Parents (Today)

Woman’s Cell Phone Confiscated for Baby Lisa Investigation (Eric Burke / Fox4 News)

Missing Baby Lisa Irwin: Teen Denies Rumor of Handyman ‘Jersey’ Kidnapping Infant for $300 (Ankita Mehta / International Business Times)

Missing Baby Lisa Irwin Update: Man Linked to Disappearance Arrested for Unrelated Stabbing Incident (Julia Greenberg / International Business Times)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Lisa Irwin, please call the Kansas City Police Department at 816-234-5136.

4 YEARS OF LSA: 4 UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCES

This special 4th Anniversary episode of Last Seen Alive presents 4 lesser-known disappearances in critical need of tips from the public, including:

  • The unsolved 1996 disappearance of 79-year-old Eva Hale from Greene County, Indiana
  • The unsolved 1998 disappearance of 8-year-old ShyShy Pate from Unadilla, Georgia
  • The unsolved 2003 disappearance of 42-year-old Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich from Belle Fourche, South Dakota
  • The unsolved 2014 disappearance of 33-year-old Nefertiri Trader from New Castle, Delaware
Eva Hale was 79-years-old when she disappeared from Greene County, Indiana in 1996. She vanished from a rural cemetery, where she had been decorating her deceased family members’ graves. Investigators believe she was abducted.

Sources used to research this episode-Eva Hale’s segment:

Eva Hale, Missing Since 1996: ‘It’s Hard to See What These Families Go Through’ (Laura Lane / The Herald Times)

“…we’re here trying to bring justice for the family.” Police Still Searching for Eva Hale 25 Years Later (Caitlin Hunt / WTHI-TV News)

Rita Buffington 7/28/1994 (Indiana State Police)

Audra Page 7/9/1996 (Indiana State Police)

Russell v. State (2001) Indiana Supreme Court

Prisoner Faces Being Charged with Murder (Associated Press via Newspapers.com)

Slain Woman’s Mother Hopes Delay Won’t Put Off the Truth (Caroline Clay / The Herald Times)

Long Found Guilty in Foddrill Murder (Jodi Burck / The Herald Times)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Eva Hale—or about the murders of Rita Buffington or Audra Page—please contact the Indiana State Police at (812)332-4411.

Shy’Kemmia “ShyShy” Pate was 8-years-old when she disappeared from Unadilla, Georgia in 1998. Investigators believe she was abducted, likely by a local person.
ShyShy was a fun-loving child who had close bonds with her older siblings. She lived with several serious health conditions, and would need regular medical care to reach adulthood.
This age-progression image from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows what ShyShy might look like now, in her 30s.

Sources used to research this episode-ShyShy Pate’s segment:

25 Years Later, A Georgia Mother Still Isn’t Giving Up On Finding Her Missing Daughter (Jonathan Franklin / NPR)

Shy’Kemmia Shy’Rezz Pate (The Charley Project)

Georgia Mother Holding On To Hope in 1998 Disappearance of 8-Year-Old Shy’Kemmia Pate (Kyani Reid / NBC News)

Shy’Kemmia Pate, 8: Last Seen Playing Outside In 1998 (Erika Marie / OurBlackGirls.com)

Middle Georgia Investigators Hope Podcast Sparks Leads in Decades-Old Missing Child Case (Nakelle Williams / WGXA News)

If you have any information on the disappearance of Shy’Kemmia Pate, please call the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at (478) 987-4545. OR, if you wish to share your tip anonymously, you can call 1-(800) 597-8477.

Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich was 42-years-old when she disappeared from Belle Fourche, South Dakota. She was a dedicated mother of 8, as well as a sister and aunt. Her husband, from whom she was separated, was the last to see her.

Sources used to research this episode-Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich’s segment:

Family of Missing Belle Fourche Woman Still Searching After 14 Years (Lacey Peterson / Black Hills Pioneer)

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (Dusty Johnson)

Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich is Still Missing (Butte County Staff / Rapid City Journal)

Video: Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich’s Disappearance Leaves a “Void” in Her Family (USA Today)

Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich is Still Missing (Butte County Staff / Rapid City Journal)

Vigil Planned for Belle Fourche Woman Missing Since 2003 (Milo Daily / Rapid City Journal)

FB Page Maintained bye Family: Missing Beverly A. Ozona Ulrich

If you have any information on the disappearance of Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich, please call the Butte County Sheriff’s Office at (605) 892-3324 OR the state Department of Criminal Investigation at 605-773-3331.

Nefertiri Trader was 33-years-old when she disappeared from her own front porch in New Castle, Delaware in June of 2014. One of her neighbors witnessed her being forcefully abducted by an unidentified man. Neither she nor her vehicle (which her abductor forced her into) have been seen since.
Nefertiri was a dedicated employee at a local hospital, where she had been working hard to advance her career. She was also a mother, and is badly missed by her children and other family members. She was ambushed and forcefully abducted as she returned home from buying coffees for herself and a daughter at a local convenience store.

Sources used to research this episode-episode-Nefertiri Trader’s segment:

FBI’s Most Wanted, Kidnappings / Missing Persons: Nefertiti R. Trader (FBI.gov)

Nefertiri Trader – 2014 Long-Term Missing Person (New Castle County Police)

Search Continues for Woman Taken from New Castle, Del. Home (6ABC News)

Four Years Later, New Castle Mom Believes Daughter is Still Alive (Esteban Parra / The News Journal)

Missing: Nefertiri Trader (uncovered.com)

$30K Reward Offered for Missing New Castle-Area Woman (Robin Brown / The News Journal)

New Castle Mother Abducted Outside Home Remains Missing, Reward Grows to $30K (6ABC News)

Family Pleads for Public’s Help as Search Continues for Missing Delaware Mother (Todd Quinones / CBS News Philadelphia)

If you know anything about the disappearance or whereabouts of Nefertiri Trader, please contact the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office at (410) 265-8080, or submit an anonymous tip online at tips.fbi.gov/home.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: FAWN MOUNTAIN

When a Pennsylvania woman goes missing, her loved ones must navigate the rocky truth that lies beneath a convicted criminal’s shifting stories. State investigators take over the case of a woman who was failed by small-town law enforcement in this episode of Last Seen Alive. 

12/14/2023 Update: Heather Dibert—Fawn Mountain’s abusive former partner—is back in jail following her alleged decision to hire a man to kill her estranged current wife (not Fawn), as well as her estranged wife’s family. Dibert is facing a total of 32 separate felony charges and 7 separate misdemeanor charges as a result of the alleged murder-for-hire scheme.

Pennsylvania State Police say that Dibert gave a 34-year-old man named Zachary Sellers money and drugs in exchange for his agreement to burn down the home where her estranged wife was staying with 5 family members. Allegedly, Dibert instructed Sellers to “kill them all”.

On October 28th, 2023, Sellers reportedly launched a Molotov cocktail onto the porch of a home while Dibert’s estranged wife was inside along with five others, including children. A fire resulted, but fortunately, no one was injured.

Because Dibert and Sellers both foolishly kept their cellphones on their persons before, during and after the arson, investigators were able to track their activities that night.

Dibert is currently being held in the Bedford County Jail, with bond set at $1,000,000.

Although Dibert’s latest slew of charges are not directly related to Fawn’s case, they are the most serious criminal charges Dibert has ever faced. They also demonstrate her alleged willingness to kill a romantic partner.

It’s possible that Dibert’s latest criminal charges will spur public interest and renewed investigative vigor in regards to Fawn’s disappearance under extremely suspicious circumstances.

Fawn Mountain disappeared from Claysburg, Pennsylvania in November of 2012. She was 25-years-old.
Fawn was a mother, daughter, sister, cousin and friend. She is missed, and her family continues to seek justice.

Sources used to research this episode:

Family Continues Search for Missing Woman (E.S. Young / Huntingdon Daily News)

Child Physical Abuse and Neglect (Casey L. Brown; Musa Yilanli; Angela L. Rabbitt / National Library of Medicine)

Family Still Hopeful that Fawn Mountain Will Return 11 Years After She Went Missing (Jordan Mansberger / WTAJ News)

Have you Seen Me? Case #1-Fawn Mountain (WTAJ News)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Criminal Courts

Non-Fatal Strangulation is an Important Risk Factor for Homicide of Women (Nancy Glass, PhD, et al. / Journal of Emergency Medicine)

Hiding from the Hide (Ad Crable / Lancaster Online)

Recommended additional reading:

The Dangers of Strangulation (National Domestic Violence Hotline)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Fawn Mountain, please call the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-472-8477, or submit a tip via their website, pacrimestoppers.org. Either way, you can remain anonymous if you wish.

UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: BARBARA BLOUNT

When a widowed Louisiana woman vanishes from her home in the middle of a rainstorm, the scant evidence left behind points to the unthinkable: an abduction. Investigators search for answers in a truly unlikely disappearance in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

POLICE PHOTO: Evidence suggested that Barbara had left her house in a hurry / possible panic. The door was partially-ajar, and her landline phone had been dropped in the carport, causing its batteries to spill out (pictured). Image source: Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.
POLICE PHOTO: Barbara had planned to spend the day of her disappearance spring cleaning her kitchen. Investigators found the kitchen empty, with pots and pans still stacked on the floor in preparation for cleaning. Image source: Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.
POLICE PHOTO: Barbara’s vehicle was found abandoned on the side of a seldom-traveled gravel road not far from her home. There was no trace of Barbara. Image source: Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Barbara Blount was 58-years-old when she disappeared from her home in rural Holden, Louisiana without explanation on May 2nd, 2008. She was a loving mother and sister who enjoyed gardening, raising animals and teaching Sunday school. She is missed by many, including her children and grandchildren, who she hasn’t had the chance to meet. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research this episode:

Missing for 15 Years, Barbara Blount’s Family Still Wants Answers (Molly Jirasek and Marnie Hughes / News Nation Now)

Detectives Investigating New Information Regarding Holden Woman’s Disappearance 15 Years Ago: ‘We have never stopped’ (David Gray / Livingston Parish News)

Barbara Blount disappeared 15 years ago. A new lead could help solve part of the mystery. (Jacqueline DeRobertis / The Advocate)

Blount Abduction Eyewitnesses Speak Out (HL Arledge / The Hammond Daily Star)

Real Life, Real Crime Podcast Begins Run of ‘Barbara Blount’ Episodes in Hopes of Solving the Case Using Crowd Sourcing (McHugh David and John Dupont/ Livingston Parish News)

Second Louisiana Fatal Train Wreck in Two Days (Firehouse.com)

What Happened to Barbara Blount? 14 Years Later, Her Family is Still Desperate for Answers (Jacqueline DeRobertis / The Advocate)

Real Life Real Crime Podcast: What Happened to Barbara Blount? Episodes (Woody Overton)

Family of Holden Woman Missing for 10 Years Pleads for Answers; Investigators Plan to Re-Test DNA (Caroline Grueskin / The Advocate)

If you know anything about the disappearance of Barbara Blount, please call the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office at 225-686-2241. Or, click here to use the tip form available on their website. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: JANICE WESSINGER

When a well-liked South Carolina woman is murdered and left in the woods near her home, her family and friends are devastated. Investigators discover that the beloved mother and accomplished healthcare provider may have been stalked prior to her death in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

South Carolina authorities have placed Janice’s case on a card in a “cold case” playing card deck distributed to South Carolina inmates in an effort to gain information.
Janice was a capable and dedicated emergency healthcare provider, a gifted musician and a loving mother. She is missed by her family, friends and community.
Janice’s family and friends were immediately alarmed when she vanished on November 22, 1997. They formed a search party, and her remains were located less than a mile from her rural home the following morning. Her killer remains unidentified.
Janice lived in rural Aiken County, South Carolina, and often enjoyed going for walks in her neighborhood. Her remains were located in a wooded area less than a mile from her home (home denoted by red pin), in a wooded area, a short distance from the road.

Sources used to research this episode:

Cold Case Project | Who Killed Janice Wessinger? (Renetta DuBose / WJBF News)

Rescue 911–“Teen Bullet” From 100 Lives Saved (Rescue 911 via YouTube)

New Efforts Underway to Solve Janice Wessinger Murder Case (Matthew Enfinger / Aiken Standard)

True Crime Podcast Will Explore the Life and Unsolved Murder of Janice Wessinger (Matthew Enfinger / Aiken Standard)

Police Think They’ve Found Serial Killer (The Daily Advertiser via Newspapers.com)

SC Cold Case Deck (FB Page Maintained by CrimeStoppers of the Midlands)

Janice Wessinger — Help Us Find Her Murderer (FB Page Maintained by Family)

If you know anything about the death of Janice Wessinger, please contact the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at  803-648-6811.