Defrosting Cold Cases

be a correctional officer in one of the largest maximum security lock-up in the free world? Meet Luke Whyte who interviewed a sergeant at Pelican Bay State Prison, California (PBSP). “Pelican Bay State Prison is the end of the line; designed to contain and isolate California’s most dangerous inmates. In the event of an earthquake, [...]

Tags: California, Prisons

Stephen Miera’s family has provided me with more details. Stephen was the oldest child and only son of Stephen M. Miera Sr. and Carmen Baca Miera.  The Mieras also had five daughters: Rosaline Perea, Lucille Miera (married to a man with the same last name), Edna O’Loughlin, Patricia Young, and the youngest Antonia Light. Antonia, the baby of the family, [...]

Tags: Albuquerque, Autopsy, California, Crime Scene, DNA, Evidence, Forensics, Hammer, Identification, Investigations Division, New Mexico, Police, Unsolved Homicide, Victim

The Albuquerque Journal of August 7, 1974, published news about the murder of Stephen Miera Jr. His family is still searching for answers and has contacted me. What do we know? Stephen was found bludgeoned to death in his Hawthorne (CA) real estate and insurance agency. His body was found by an employee on August [...]

Tags: Albuquerque, Autopsy, California, Crime Scene, Evidence, Identification, Investigations Division, New Mexico, Police, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses

During a two-day hearing earlier this month, the grand jury found there was enough evidence to hold Melanson in connection with the crime. The Anita Andrews hearing, which was held in secret, without Melanson or his defense attorney Deputy Public Defender Allison Wilensky present, included testimony from 13 witnesses, according to court documents. Among them [...]

Tags: Anita Andrews, California, Roy Allen Melanson, unsolved homicides

Richard Ramirez terrorized California in the early 80s with a string of rape-murders. His DNA has now finally been retested allowing San Francisco Police to close the case of the 1984 murder of a 9-year-old girl in the Tenderloin. Though the retesting of the serial killer’s DNA was largely a formality — meant simply to confirm the results [...]

Tags: Autopsy, California, Capital Punishment, Crime Scene, Cruelty, Death Row, DNA, DNA Database, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Police, Rape kits, Victim

The 1988 Apple Valley Murders have been solved thanks to a federal DNA grant. Hulon and Elaine Hughes were found shot to death in their California Apple Valley home on Oct. 12, 1988. They operated two business on the property: Hughes Roofing and B&S Paving. They employed Harold David Toney as a mechanic and part-time roofer according [...]

Tags: California, Crime Scene, DNA, Evidence, Forensics, Investigations Division, Police, Unsolved Homicide, Victim

The parents of Andy Moore want answers. They hope that talking about the circumstances of their son’s death and offering a large reward will prompt someone who knows something to come forward. Andy Moore was murdered in his studio apartment on the corner of Ash and 8th Avenue in downtown San Diego, California, USA. Police believe that Andy [...]

Tags: Autopsy, California, Crime Scene, Evidence, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Police, San Diego, Unsolved Homicide, Victim

Amber Nicklas has learned her true name and is being given therapy to cope with the trauma of leaving the only family she remembers, an investigator said Monday. Amber was placed with an undisclosed California foster family until authorities can determine where she finally will live, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Patrick Maxwell said. He had no immediate [...]

Tags: California, Evidence, FBI, Forensics, Foster Care, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police

More details are now available in the missing person case of Amber Rose Nicklas, the little girl who was abducted from California when she was just one year old and who resurfaced in Phoenix, AZ. The family who raised her as their own are now fighting for legal custody. They claim that they had no idea that the baby [...]

Tags: Amber Nicklas, California, Evidence, FBI, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Victim

Amber remains in protective custody in Los Angeles and it was not clear if she will be reunited with her foster parents. Authorities have not released any names or filed any charges but continue to investigate. “This girl was taken away from the only parents and family that she knows yesterday,” said Phoenix police Sgt. [...]

Tags: Amber Nicklas, Arizona, California, Child Abuse, Cruelty, Evidence, FBI, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Missing Person, Police, Victim