In the magazine “North & South,” Chris Birt makes a strong case for an in-depth review of Len and Norma Thomas Demler’s involvement in the case. Note that Norma is not related to Arthur Allan Thomas. Strong ties have existed between the Demler and Thomas family for some time. The siblings in the family married each […]
Ballistics
National Police Week 2011: Tribute to Burchfield
Colorado Springs, Colorado: Patrolman Burchfield of the Colorado Springs Police Department was shot to death on November 26, 1953, with a .22 caliber handgun by an unknown subject during an armed robbery investigation in the area of 1600 N. Wood Ave. That robbery was part of a pattern that had plagued the area. Burchfield was […]
Tristan van der Vlis kills without motive
Please welcome guest blogger Erik Eggens. Erik is a Dutch reporter. He studied journalism, studied Spanish in Ecuador, and now follows national and international news. For DCC, he wrote a post about Tristan van der Vlis who went on a killing spree in Alphen aan de Rijn. _____________________________________________________________________________ Dutch Tristan van der Vlis, a 24 year old part time worker, […]
R.I.P Vivien Harrison
Vivien Harrison, the ex-wife of Arthur Allen Thomas and staunch supporter of his innocence, died of cancer. “Harrison filed for divorce after Thomas’ guilty verdict remained in place after the second trial. She changed her name from Vivienne Thomas to Vivien Harrison. She remained a staunch supporter of his innocence, maintaining he was home with her at […]
Update Trey Noah Trial
The trial in Trey Noah’s murder will most likely take place towards to end of the year. Other cases take precedence over his according to the Blanco News Online. “Harber has been released on $300,000 surety bond under nine conditions, including the conditions that he is not allowed to have contact with Noah’s family or […]
Continuance in Trey Noah murder trial
District Judge Keith Williams granted a continuance in the murder trial of Trey Noah, Kendalia, Texas. “Shelby Moore, 19, and Brandon Harber, 20, were arrested and charged in connection with the crime and were expected in court this week to stand trial. Moore is being held in the Bandera County Jail. Harber posted a $300,000 […]
Trey Noah case finally going to court!
The murder case of Trey Noah (Kendalia, Texas) is finally moving closer to the court rooms. “A court date of February 15, at 9am, has been set for Shelby Moore and Brandon Harber, who are both charged with the first-degree felony murder of Trey Noah as well as tampering with physical evidence, a second-degree felony. A continuance […]
Zeigler: The significance of the Jellison Tape
Zeigler: The significance of the Jellison Tape (part XVIII) Is it evidence? Is it exonerating? Is it implicating? The tape’s conversation has been posted in full so I refer you to the previous post to read it. As you know, it was suppressed by the state for about twelve years. Why? Because of what Jon Jellison […]
Update Burchfield
I received comments regarding the Burchfield case that I have not posted before but have decided to do so now with additional information I found: Q1: “In the picture, the officer wore his weapon at high-rise, cross-draw, on his left, making it available to either hand and away from his passengers. Do we know if […]
Zeigler, Part XVII
In my previous post “Zeigler, Part XVI“, I referred to the Jellison tape that was conveniently kept from the defense team. It was only recovered in April of 1987, when Zeigler’s lawyers made a Florida Public Records Act request for the files of the State Attorney in Orlando. That’s when they discovered (aside from the “Buried Thompson report”) […]
No independent inquiry in Crewe Murders
Justice Minister Simon Power has turned down calls for an independent inquiry into the 40-year-old murder mystery of the Crewe Family. “In response, Mr Power said he understood the interest in seeking closure, but his hands were tied. Neither I nor my ministerial colleagues can direct the police to reopen the case. Due to the constitutional separation […]
The 1953 homicide of Officer Burchfield
Officer Richard Stanley Burchfield (May 26, 1918 – Nov 26, 1953) was murdered on Nov 26, 1953. He was a patrolman with the Colorado Springs Police Department. Burchfield was killed with a .22 caliber handgun by an unknown man during an armed robbery investigation in the area of 1600 N. Wood Ave. That robbery was part of a […]
Penn State’s Forensic Science students to explore the Zeigler case
I am proud to announce a special collaboration with Penn State University’s Forensic Science Program. The students in this program will get access to crime scene photographs, police reports, witness statements and more to apply everything they have learned in class in a real case. The students will be able to explore bloodstain patterns observed […]
Zeigler, Part XVI
Zeigler, Part XVI: On misplaced pride, loyalty, and sacrifice On Nov 4, 2010, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley (a.k.a. the Memphis Three) will get their cases reviewed in a lower court hearing to see whether they should be granted a new trial. This means that they will […]
Zeigler, Part XV
Zeigler, Part XV: “Just testify that you were Zeigler’s homosexual lover and we’ll help you out!” A Florida, Orange County woman in her 80’s, reads an affidavit that she signed alleging that the state tried to get her son to testify that he was William Thomas Zeigler’s homosexual lover. As you know, the state went through great […]
Manoa murder mystery
While renovating a home at 3156 Oahu Avenue, Manoa, Hawaii, construction workers found human remains buried in dirt under a concrete slab. Renovation can indeed lead to surprises. This is the same way that ultimately Elizabeth Heath was found. Police told Hawaii News Now that the remains belonged to a man who had been shot in the head […]
Did a cop murder the Crewes?
Author Ian Wishart has named Detective Sergeant Len Johnston as suspect in the murders of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe. Johnston was a detective who played a pivotal role in the police investigation into their deaths. Johnston passed away in 1978. The accusation has created an uproar amongst those who knew Johnston personally and professionally. It has also sparked a bitter attack […]
Sentencing in Julius Schnoll case
Darrell Kastel has accepted a plea bargain in the 1979 murder of Mr. Julius Schnoll as I wrote in my previous post. I did not have further details then. I know learned that on August 30, 2010, Kastel was sentenced to 10-15 years for 2nd degree murder as part of a plea deal. He was credited […]
Zeigler, Part XIII
Zeigler, Part XIII WARNING: this post contains actual crime scene photographs. They are very graphic. The photographs are not included to sensationalize the case. They are included because they tell a story. If you scroll down and continue to read, you will view them at your own risk. ________________________________________________________________ Zeigler’s first trial attorney Ralph “Terry” […]
Update 1979 Julius Schnoll case
Darrell Kastel, facing a first-degree murder charge, entered a plea this morning, bringing relief to the people who were present during the 1979 shooting of a supermarket supervisor in Farmington, MI. Kastel, 56, pleaded no contest to an added charge of second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement. The first-degree felony murder charge against him […]