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Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Alice Laskey, Helen Banner and Carrie Walker

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Unfortunately, the elderly are victims of crime more often than anyone would think. It’s almost unthinkable. Who would want to hurt Nana or Pop-pop?

The elderly are generally victims of elder abuse (emotional and physical abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, etc.), which I have seen first-hand. Violent crimes against the elderly are slightly less common but the instances of violence are increasing.

There are the cold cases of Columbus residents Alice Laskey, Helen Banner and Carrie Walker. All three ladies were over 70 years old. They had all been stabbed in or in front of their homes. Robbery was possibly the motive in at least two of the homicides.

If anyone has any information about these cases, please contact the cold case division of the Columbus Police Department or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. The phone numbers are listed below.

The families of Laskey, Banner and Walker need your help to solve their loved ones homicide.

Alice Laskey

Alice Laskey. 1980

On November 12, 1980, Alice Laskey was found outside of her residence after being stabbed. She died from her wounds soon afterwards. Laskey was in her 70s. The motive was most likely robbery since her purse was found several blocks away.

Helen Banner. 2004

Robbery could have also been the motive for Helen Banner’s death on February 12, 2004. Banner, 82, was also stabbed at her residence. Her purse had been stolen in January. Her son had confronted the people responsible. Is it possible that the person who stole her purse had killed her for revenge? At the time, the police said that they didn’t think it was connected. I hope that they take a second and third look at the thieves.

Carrie Walker. 1987

Eighty-five year old Carrie Walker was found by her granddaughter on October 15, 1987. Walker had been stabbed in her residence. It’s unclear if robbery was the motive. There was at least one witness but no suspects were ever found.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.  614.461.8477 or 614.645.8477

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Anita Lias

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Anita Lias

16 year- old Anita Lias was a track star at Eastmoor High School, now Eastmoor Academy. Unfortunately, Lias did not get to realize her full potential.

Her body was found on Monday, Sept. 1, 1975 in front of the garage of 862 S. Champion St. She was last seen alive on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 30, 1975. Lias died from stab wounds but she was also strangled.

On Aug. 30, she had walked down Avalon Place to a store at Nelson and Broad St. Anita and a man in an 1969 or 1970 blue Chevelle had waved at each other. People in the neighborhood had seen the man before in the area. The neighbors said that he was a black man, 25-30 years old and wearing curlers in his hair.

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Yenko
1969 Chevelle

As far as I can tell, the man was not found or identified. How did the police not find this man? As you can see, the blue Chevelle is a flashy car. A man with curlers in his hair is also not trying to hide. Did this mystery man kill Lias or could he have information? Currently this man would be about 70-75 years old.

Lias was found about 3.5 miles away from the store, which was close to her home. I doubt that she got there on foot. It’s more likely that she got into a car, willingly or not.

Lias was found in the same area as Karen Moore but it’s unlikely that they are connected. Possible but unlikely.

It has been almost 45 years since Lias was killed. She would be about 61 years old now if she had survived. Hopefully, someone remembers something about the mystery man or new information about Lias. If you have any information, please report it to the Columbus Police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Felicia Dungey

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Picture of Felicia Dungey
Felicia Dungey

You could say that Felicia Dungey’s story is a cautionary tale for people who want to fix their significant others. Sometimes it’s better to just walk away from a bad situation.

On February 18, 2001, Felicia Dungey and her boyfriend, Calvin Daniely, were both fatally shot in their apartment. The police, family members and friends of Dungey and Daniely believe that the homicides were because Daniely was a small-time drug dealer.

Daniely did not have any drug-related arrests so the police could not say anything with 100% certainty. The police are fairly sure that it was not a murder-suicide.

However, the suspect wrote “You Hit” on the walls in red lipstick, which is kind of creepy. Who are they really sending a message to with the writing? Other drug dealers? Other people that could do the suspect wrong?

The area of the Dungey/Danielly homicides

The couple was struggling to make ends meet and were about to get evicted. There are rumors that Dungey was going to leave Daniely because she was tired of the cycle of poverty. She thought she could get back on track if she wasn’t with him.

If she had left a little bit sooner, she would still be alive. Sometimes a person doesn’t realize what they should do until it is too late. I’m sure that her family and friends wish that she had made a clean break from her boyfriend. She was a good person that just felt stuck. Unfortunately, Dungey got caught in the middle of the violence.

No one wants to name a suspect or come forward as a witness, especially since the homicides are possibly related to drugs. Hopefully, someone will come forward with information about who killed Felicia Dungey and Calvin Daniely.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers

Columbus Police Department

Cold Case Quest

Cold Case Quest: Frances Smith

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Frances Smith

In the early morning hours of November 15, 2004, the body of 47 year-old Frances Smith was found behind a home in Columbus, Ohio. She had been beaten and strangled. Whoever killed her left her outside without any clothes.

The purple marker is where Frances Smith was found.

Smith was seen at 10:30 p.m. on November 14. She was getting into a white SUV near Livingston and Fairwood Avenues.

The place that she was last seen is about a mile from where she was found. There hasn’t been any other information about who was driving the SUV. Any leads that the police had haven’t led to any arrests.

I suspect that the Smith case could be connected to the Janet Amar case. Amar was found in a house less than a mile from the place where Smith was last seen. Both ladies were strangled. There is a twelve year difference but it’s possible that it could be the same killer. Serial killers have been known to operate for long periods of time without getting caught.

Who to contact: 

If you happen to have a photograph of Frances Smith or Janet Amar, please contact me at Chasing Destino on Facebook. It would be nice to know what they looked like. Maybe a photo will jog someone’s memory.

If anyone knows anything about any of the cases of Frances Smith or Janet Amar, contact the Columbus Police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.

Contact information: Rewards may be available for information on a case that leads to a conviction by contacting Central Ohio’s Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477 or visiting their website.

If you have any information or questions about any Columbus area cold case, please contact the Columbus Police Department. The Homicide Cold Case Unit number is available (614) 645-4036 during the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. You can also call the Investigative Subdivision Duty Desk at (614) 645-4624, after hours.