240. Picture Perfect: Karla Brown

 It was the summer of 1978 in America. The minimum wage was 2.65 an hour, the Bee Gees ruled the pop music airwaves, and Star Wars enjoyed a rerelease in select theaters nationwide. On the east side of the Mississippi River, just thirty minutes from St. Louis was the small residential town of Wood River, Illinois, where summer activities like fishing, swimming, and backyard barbecues were in full swing. Most of the residents of Wood River had lived in the town their whole lives and considered it the best of both worlds.

Karla Lou Brown, aged 22, felt the same way. When she and Mark, her boyfriend of five years, decided to move in together, there was no place that they’d rather live. They bought a home right in the center of Wood River.

Karla adored her boyfriend Mark, who was a few years older, but so far, he had been reluctant to make a long-term commitment regarding their relationship. When Mark finally suggested they buy a house together, she immediately said yes. Karla was the happiest she had ever been in her life.

That happiness lasted for one day.

Join Cam and Jen as they discuss "Picture Perfect: Karla Brown".

Promo by our friend Javier from Pretend Podcast. Be sure to check out the Stalker season.

Thank you to our team:
Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October from https://www.youtube.com/c/octoberpodhomevideo
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of https://theinkypawprint.com

Source:
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Man-convicted-in-high-profile-murder-case-charged-16948305.php
https://www.newspapers.com/image/140736226/terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1 (John Prante's arrest for murder)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/766752272/terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1 (neighbor's testimony and arrest for lying)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/140737121/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/140737900terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/766752531/terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1https://www.newspapers.com/image/140079870/terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/139946986/terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1 trial
https://www.newspapers.com/image/770488181/terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/139947688/terms=John%20Prante%20murder&match=1 (trial; John Scroggins and Mark Fair testimonies)

239. From Cop to Killer: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

 In the summer of 1984, John Ruetten met Sherri Rasmussen, and the two immediately hit it off. Their deep bond led to their marriage in November 1985, and they were thrilled to start life as a couple. On February 24, John left for his job at an engineering company, allowing Sherri to sleep in a little longer. Typically, Sherri would have already left for work by this time, but that particular day brought a change in routine. Sherri had contemplated calling in sick because she was slated to attend a seminar and didn’t really want to deal with that. John's workday began with his arrival just before 8 a.m. A few hours into his day, he attempted to reach Sherri to check if she had gone to work. He continued trying to get her throughout the day but to no avail. Upon returning home, he noticed that the garage door was unexpectedly open, a departure from the norm, and Sherri's car was gone. As he ventured into the garage, he observed broken glass on the ground. A horrifying scene awaited John inside the residence. 29-year-old Sherri lay on the floor, her face bearing the brutal signs of violence—bloodied, with a swollen and bruised right eyelid, a vacant gaze from her open left eye, and her mouth in its final, silent gasp. In desperation, John reached out to touch her, hoping for a sign of life, but her skin was chillingly cold. At that moment, he knew that Sherri was no longer with them. John called 911.

Join Jen and Cam on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘From Cop to Killer: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen.’

Listener discretion by Edward October @octoberpodVHS

Music is by our EP Nico @theinkypawprint

Promos are by our good friends:
Emily from Mobidology Podcast https://morbidology.com/
And
Eric from True Consequences who has launched ‘Angels' Voices Silenced No More,’ an organization with a mission to empower families of victims by equipping them with the necessary resources and referrals to advocate for their missing or murdered loved ones.
https://www.angelsvoicesnm.org/

Listen to his podcast here: https://www.trueconsequences.com/


Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbenSMLueyE

https://www.westsidecurrent.com/valley/parole-board-recommends-release-for-former-lapd-detective-convicted-of-1986-murder/article_1c207ab6-850e-11ee-b4ce-a35abef146d2.html

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-16/stephanie-lazarus-as-a-cop-killed-ex-boyfriends-wife-now-recommended-for-parole

https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/A-Dad-Knew-Who-Stalked-and-Murdered-His-Daughter-But-It-Took-23-Years-to-Make-an-Arrest-The-Sherri-Rasmussen

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1707766.html

https://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/women/stephanie_lazarus/1.html

https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/nbc-dateline-who-sherri-rasmussen-s-killer-now

https://allthatsinteresting.com/sherri-rasmussen

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6137054/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephanie-lazarus-former-lapd-detective-sentenced-to-27-years-to-life-in-prison-for-1986-murder

https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/07/lapd-lazurus-murder-mystery-killer

https://www.hastingstribune.com/ap/national/as-a-cop-stephanie-lazarus-murdered-her-ex-boyfriends-wife-shes-now-recommended-for-parole/article_7f67f6fc-8c69-570a-9adc-b00f892d168b.html

https://www.quora.com/What-did-you-see-were-key-mistakes-that-Stephanie-Lazarus-makes-on-videotapes-of-her-interview-by-2-fellow-LAPD-detectives-She-was-in-no-position-to-remain-silent-by-any-practical-definition-so-why-do-many-claim-it

https://www.datalounge.com/thread/28726676-stephanie-lazarus-the-la-cop-who-got-away-with-murder-for-over-20-years

https://www.laweekly.com/stephanie-lazarus-former-lapd-detective-gets-27-years-plus-for-murder/

238. Two Hours and Seventeen Minutes: The Skelton Brothers

 It's a typical situation across America, in hundreds of towns and thousands of homes. As the Thanksgiving holiday approached, a recently separated couple hashed out the details of which parent would get the kids on what day and at what times. For now, Tanya Skelton had full custody of the children she shared with John Russell Skelton. Still, Tanya felt that their three sons, Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner, should get to spend part of the holiday with their father, so she allowed them to spend Thanksgiving Day with him. The boys were to be returned to her at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon on the following day, Black Friday, but they didn't come home.

For Tanya and the tiny town of Morenci, Michigan, Friday the 26th of November 2010 would turn out to be the blackest of all Black Fridays.

Join Cam and Jen as they discuss "Two Hours and Seventeen Minutes: The Skelton Brothers."

Thank you to Factor Meals for sponsoring this episode!

This November, skip all the daily meal prep hassle and get Factor. Enjoy eating well without the hassle. Just choose your meals; they have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and enjoy fresh, flavor-packed dishes delivered to your door. Ready in just 2 minutes, no prep, no mess!
Head to FACTORMEALS.com/otcp50 and use code otcp50 to get 50% off.

Thank you to our team:
Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October from https://www.youtube.com/c/octoberpodhomevideo
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of https://theinkypawprint.com

Be sure to listen to the long-form podcast on the Skelton Brothers called
Shattered: Black Friday. It's really well done, and where we found most of the information for this episode. I think you'll really like it.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uPEBLxvL9rA2l7GEuu3kM


Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watchv=OlSdqwP3bbw&ab_channel=ClickOnDetroit%7CLocal4%7CWDIV
https://www.youtube.com/watchv=h2bici5VYBE&t=3s&ab_channel=ClickOnDetroit%7CLocal4%7CWDIV
https://www.wkar.org/2010-11-29/mom-of-missing-mich-boys-is-on-sex-offender-list
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/remains-of-three-children-found-in-shed-not-a-match-for-missing-mich-brothers/
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40427984
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/crime/john-skelton-missing-brothers-parole-denied-permanent/512-774b38f8-04cb-4297-acc1-1fb951db653a
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjboRIc62O0&ab_channel=ClickOnDetroit%7CLocal4%7CWDIV

237. We Need To Talk About David Barnett

Warning: This episode deals with child abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

At approximately 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 4, 1996, 19-year-old David Barnett went to the residence of his adoptive grandparents, Clifford and Leona Barnett. His grandparents were away, attending church services at the Kirkwood Baptist Church in St Louis. David accessed their home by entering through a bedroom window, where he sat on the couch, turned on the television, and eventually drifted off to sleep. Upon waking up, he contacted his stepbrother, Scott, and enthusiastically claimed that he had recently won the lottery overnight. Clifford and Leona returned home from church around 1 p.m. Barnett was waiting for his grandparents when they returned home. A horrifying turn of events unfolded, resulting in the brutal murders of two individuals, leaving the community bewildered and seeking answers as to what happened to David.

Join Jen and Cam on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘What Happened to David Barnett.’

Listener Discretion by Edward October @octoberpodVHS

Music by our E.P. Nico @theinkypawprint

Sources:
Forsaken Me: A Survivor’s Life Sentence: The Baffling True Autobiography of David M. Barnett. (https://read.amazon.com/ref_=ku_ap_rw_cr_rdnw&asin=B087C65WNG)

https://www.newsweek.com/i-am-killer-david-barnett-prison-released-release-netflix-john-barnett-1489244

https://www.change.org/p/mike-parson-free-david-barnett

https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/barnett-david.htm

https://www.courts.mo.gov/SUP/index.nsf/0/0b5191e7fbb19c2286256c95005c7e15/$FILE/SC84806%20Barnett's%20brief.PDF

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/mo-supreme-court/1021446.html

https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-killer-david-barnett-now/

https://www.missourinet.com/2020/03/04/missouri-supreme-court-considers-case-that-could-impact-sentences-for-teen-murderers/

https://www.phillipsblack.org/david-barnett
Join Jen and Cam on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘What Happened to David Barnett.’

Listener Discretion by Edward October @octoberpodVHS

Music by our E.P. Nico @theinkypawprint

Sources:

Forsaken Me: A Survivor’s Life Sentence: The Baffling True Autobiography of David M. Barnett. (https://read.amazon.com/ref_=ku_ap_rw_cr_rdnw&asin=B087C65WNG)

https://www.newsweek.com/i-am-killer-david-barnett-prison-released-release-netflix-john-barnett-1489244

https://www.change.org/p/mike-parson-free-david-barnett

https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/barnett-david.htm

https://www.courts.mo.gov/SUP/index.nsf/0/0b5191e7fbb19c2286256c95005c7e15/$FILE/SC84806%20Barnett's%20brief.PDF

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/mo-supreme-court/1021446.html

https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-killer-david-barnett-now/

https://www.missourinet.com/2020/03/04/missouri-supreme-court-considers-case-that-could-impact-sentences-for-teen-murderers/

https://www.phillipsblack.org/david-barnett

236. The Short Family Murders

 In August 2002, Michael Short, his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Jennifer, lived in a red brick ranch-style home right off Hwy 220 in Oak Level, Virginia. Michael owned a business named M.S. Mobile Home Movers, employing various people, most of whom were temporary or transient. The company was not doing well, so Michael decided to put their house up for sale and move into a mobile home until he could figure out his next move. He had even made a trip to the coast of North Carolina to see if he could find work there.

On the evening of Wednesday, August 14, 2002, the family's plans were up in the air. They may or may not sell the business, and they may or may not move to North Carolina. On that night, they had every reason to believe that whatever came their way, they'd do it together as a family.

Unfortunately, Michael and Mary would be found shot execution-style the following day, and 9-year-old Jennifer was nowhere to be found.

After an exhaustive search, Jennifer's remains were found 41 days after her parents were found murdered.

Now, 21 years later, police are no closer to finding their killer.

In August 2002, Michael Short, his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Jennifer, lived in a red brick ranch-style home right off Hwy 220 in Oak Level, Virginia. Michael owned a business named M.S. Mobile Home Movers, employing various people, most of whom were temporary or transient. The company was not doing well, so Michael decided to put their house up for sale and move into a mobile home until he could figure out his next move. He had even made a trip to the coast of North Carolina to see if he could find work there.

On the evening of Wednesday, August 14, 2002, the family's plans were up in the air. They may or may not sell the business, and they may or may not move to North Carolina. On that night, they had every reason to believe that whatever came their way, they'd do it together as a family.

Unfortunately, Michael and Mary would be found shot execution-style the following day, and 9-year-old Jennifer was nowhere to be found.

After an exhaustive search, Jennifer's remains were found 41 days after her parents were found murdered.

Now, 21 years later, police are no closer to finding their killer.

 

Join Jen and Cam as they discuss The Brown Family Murders.

If you have any information, no matter how small, please call one of the following numbers and report it.
Henry County Sheriff’s Department: 276-638-8751
Henry County Crime Stoppers: 276-632-7463
Rockingham County Sheriff's Department: 336-634-3300
Rockingham County Crime Stoppers: 336-349-9683.

Listener request by Judy B

Promo by our friends Amanda and Lauren of Most Wanted

Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October fromhttps://www.youtube.com/c/octoberpodhomevideo
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of https://theinkypawprint.com

Sources:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/959768809/?terms=Angry%20landlord%20fingered%20Bowman&match=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFL2Fv9iyjU&ab_channel=UnderTheAshTree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31RSMpP_jqw&ab_channel=DarkCuriosities
https://unresolved.me/the-short-familyhttps://www.wxii12.com/article/memorial-ride-honors-short-family-unsolved-murders/40891007
https://www.newspapers.com/image/921024090/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/921516510/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/837402518/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/837396650/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/921085015/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/921020776/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/837399732/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/837400335/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/837278775/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/837397288/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/921531331/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1 (https://www.newspapers.com/image/989300186/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/921568216/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/921583627/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/922828947/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Michael%20Mary%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1 (corruption indictments)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/922774688/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Michael%20Mary%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/923181266/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Michael%20Mary%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/977542626/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Michael%20Mary%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/992898215/?terms=%20Oak%20Level%20Jennifer%20Michael%20Mary%20Short%20Virginia%20murder&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/967286723/?terms=Garrison%20Bowman&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/967285514/?terms=Garrison%20Bowman&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/959767621/?terms=Garrison%20Bowman&match=1
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6823312/jennifer-renee-short
https://www.newspapers.com/image/922119076/?terms=Tony%20Epperson&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/837314673/?terms=Tony%20Epperson&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/982063674/?terms=Tony%20Epperson&match=1
https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/9-year-old-jennifers-body-was-found-under-a-bridge-far-from-her-home-8a698982aaf6