Midwest Mystery Files

28. The Disappearance of Rachel Pratt

Life had been hectic lately for 15 year old Rachel Pratt, she had recently found she was going to be a mother and was in her first trimester of pregnancy. Not being bogged down, she continued to live life as normally as she could. In January of 1995, Rachel would perform in a school band concert, then come home to settle in with her siblings while her mother worked an overnight shift. Rachel's mother would come home early, after several calls to the house would result in a busy signal. Upon returning, she would find that Rachel had vanished. This is Midwest Mystery Files, Episode Twenty-eight, The Disappearance of Rachel Pratt.

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27. The Disappearance of Stefanie Welch

On a cold morning in February 2001, twenty-three-year-old Stefanie Welch would drop her two young boys off at preschool and daycare. Hours later her vehicle would be parked at a local mobile home park, and an unknown man would be seen walking away. Stefanie, would never be seen again, this is Midwest Mystery Files Episode 27, the disappearance of Stefanie Welch.

Crime Bae Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5RNTyeE5heRu96qxPKKIDU?si=30caea2f44144ebe

Crime Scenes and Cupcakes: https://linktr.ee/crimecakes

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26 The Murder of Russell Turcotte

In July of 2002, 19 year old Russell Turcotte was on his way home to Montana from a Rainbow Gathering in the Ottawa National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He had stayed behind a few days after the gathering to clean up the mess that was left behind. With his friends already back in Montana, Russell decided to hitchhike back. Upon reaching Grand Forks, North Dakota, Russell would call his mom to have some money wired so he could ride the train the rest of the way home. Russell would never pick up the money, and it wouldn’t be until November of 2002, that his horrific fate would be discovered. This is Midwest Mystery Files, Episode 26: The Murder of Russell Turcotte.

Coffee N Crime: https://linktr.ee/coffeencrimepodcast

Opelika Jane Doe UPDATE: Her name is Amore

Update on Episode 10: The Opelika Jane Doe. Amore is her name, and suspects are in custody. Hear all the details within, apologies for some weird sound on the technical end for about 30 seconds towards the end of the episode.

25.5 The ”Exorcism” of Anna Ecklund (Bonus Episode)

My newest case isn't ready yet, so today's episode is my October bonus episode from Patreon, which focuses on the alleged possession and exorcism of Anna Ecklund in 1928 in Earling, Iowa. Was Anna really possessed? Or was she simply a mentally ill woman who was misdiagnosed? Listen and decide! Also be sure to check out That's Not Good: A True Crime Podcast! Link Below.

That's Not Good https://linktr.ee/thatsnotgoodpodcast

Patreon and socials: https://linktr.ee/MidwestMysteryFiles

Begone, Satan! https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/begone-satan-6067

 

25. The Disappearance of John and Shelly Markley

On a cold, cloudy day in December of 1995, a teller at the Bank One in Bloomfield, Ohio was working the drive up window when a red and silver pick up pulled up. The teller recognized the truck, and the couple inside, as John and Shelly Markley were regulars at the bank. Who she didn’t recognize was a man accompanying the Markley’s. John was driving the truck, while Shelly sat in the middle with the unknown individual sitting in the passenger seat. Shelly signed a check and passed it to the teller. It was a personal check made to cash for $1,000. The teller took the check and handed the Markley’s the money. The trio then drove away. Little did the bank teller know, she would be the last known person to see John and Shelly. This Midwest Mystery Files, Episode 25, the Disappearance of John and Shelly Markley.

 

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Shelly's Charley Project Page: https://charleyproject.org/case/shelly-renee-markley

 

John's Charley Project Page: https://charleyproject.org/case/john-j-markley-jr

24. The Disappearance of Marilyn ”Niqui” McCown

On July 22^nd, 2001, 28-year-old Niqui McCown was just weeks away from marrying the love of her life. She was set to address wedding envelopes with her fiancé that evening. However, a trip to the laundromat would soon turn into a mystery with no end. Niqui would never return home, and months later her vehicle would be found 45 miles away, with no clues as to her whereabouts. This is Midwest Mystery Files, Episode 24: The Disappearance of Marilyn “Niqui” McCown.

Social Media and Patreon: https://linktr.ee/MidwestMysteryFiles

Niqui McCown Crime Watch Daily

Niqui McCown Unsolved Mysteries

Missing Niqui McCown Facebook Page

23. The Vicious Murder of Carol Rofstad

It was Christmas time in the college town of Normal, Illinois. Many students had already left by December 22, 1975, gone home on break to celebrate the holiday season with their families. During their time off, they may have caught a screening of Black Christmas, a 1974 slasher film that was still doing some screenings in December of 1975. The film focused on a group of young women in a sorority being stalked and murdered by an unknown killer. Out in the real world though, a horrific crime in the same vein would be committed. 21-year-old Carol Rofstad had stayed behind in Normal to work some extra shifts at her job to earn a little extra cash for Christmas presents, unfortunately she woul fall victim to a brutal attack, just steps outside of her Delta Zeta Sorority house. An attack that lacked an apparent sign of motive or reason, that would leave a family who rather than celebrate, would have to spend their holiday in mourning. This is Midwest Mystery Files, Episode 23, The Vicious Murder of Carol Rofstad.

ISU Vidette: https://videttearchive.ilstu.edu/?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&txq=Carol+Rofstad&dafdq=&dafmq=&dafyq=&datdq=&datmq=&datyq=&txf=txIN&ssnip=txt&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-Carol+Rofstad------

Ally Things Considered: https://www.allythingsconsidered.me/investigations/project-one-3954l

True Crime Diva: https://truecrimediva.com/carol-rofstad/

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22. The Disappearance of Kristi Nikle

In October of 1996, nineteen-year-old Kristi Nikle headed out into the town of Grand Forks, North Dakota for a night of bingo. Kristi had been diagnosed with a developmental disability and posessed the mental skill of a 10-year-old. However, she was fiercely independent and was never held back from being a bubbly, friendly, and social person who was well liked around town. On the night of October 3^rd, Kristi would play bingo, before attempting to visit a friend in downtown Grand Forks, after finding that the friend was not at home, Nikki would leave the area on foot, and never be seen again. This is Midwest Mystery Files, Episode 22, The Disappearance of Kristi Nikle.

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21. The Murder of Shamonica Brown

In September of 1992 in Saginaw, Michigan, Shamonica Brown would spend her Friday evening playing with some neighborhood kids. The fun would begin on the front porch of her home but would then move to a playground a short distance away. As the evening would move on, and young children would begin to return home, Shamonica’s mother Doris would grow worried when she failed to turn back up home. Doris would find that Shamonica was not at the playground when going to look for her, unfortunately this would only be the start of the nightmare, as only a few days later, Shamonica would be found, and the search for a murderer would begin. This is  is Midwest Mystery Files, Episode 21, the Murder of Shamonica Brown.

 

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