Tag Archives: unsolved mystery

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Denise Collins and Thax Winston, Jr.

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Denise Collins
Thax Winston, Jr.

 Who would want to end the lives of Denise Collins and Thax Winston, Jr. ?

The pair were romantically involved. Unfortunately, their relationship came to an abrupt end in 2005. Collins and Winston were shot while at Winston’s apartment on 4th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. The incident happened prior to 6 p.m. on January 14, 2005.

It is possible that at least one of the victims knew the killer. Collins and Winston were each shot once in the head, which is more like an execution-style killing. The motive for the homicides is unclear. So far this case has not been connected to other cases.

Apparently, Winston ran a speakeasy out of his home. It was not a big secret. Most of the neighbors were aware. Was the killer a customer that wanted revenge for whatever reason?

Was it a business deal that went wrong? If I had to guess, I would say that the homicides of Collins and Winston had something to do with money and greed. I think that the killer is someone that would benefit in some way – most likely a financial gain -from the deaths of Collins and Winston. So who benefits financially from their deaths?

Even after many years, people are afraid to come forward with information in murder investigations. No witnesses have come forward yet. Hopefully, someone will call the Columbus Police or Crime Stoppers with useful information. If anyone witnessed anything at anytime on January 14, 2005, please call one of the numbers listed below.

Who to contact: 

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers  614.461.8477 
Cold Case Quest

Cold Case Quest: Janice and Brandon Beidleman

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Janice and Brandon Beidleman
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Law-Enforcement/Investigator/Cold-Case/Homicides/Beidleman

 On September 13, 1981 Beidleman and her son left a relatives house on Myrtle Drive. She was going to stop at the grocery store before returning to her home on Beechwold Drive. Unfortunately, the Beidlemans did not make it home.

On September 14, 1981, Janice Beidleman and her 18-month old son, Brandon, were found in the water near the Agler Road. Janice Beidleman had been beaten and strangled. The police believe that Brandon had been suffocated, possibly with a pillow.

The police also know that before being placed in the water, the Beidlemans were attacked near Putter Ave. The people in the Putter Avenue neighborhood heard the screams. It must have been terrible.

The car that Beidleman was driving was found near the bridge at Agler and Sunbury Roads.

So I have a theory about what happened to the mother and son. It is possible that Beidleman was confronted by the attacker while in the store parking lot. I think that the suspect was waiting for someone that he could kidnap. For whatever reason, Janice Beidleman fit the bill. Who knows if the suspect knew that there was a toddler or not?

The cause of death was also strangulation in the case of Sheronda Norris. It seems like they both were either out for a walk or shopping. They could have each been an easy target for their killer.

The Beidlemans were found extremely close to where Sheronda Norris was found. Norris went missing on September 15, 1991, almost exactly 10 years later.

Sheronda Norris.

The people of Columbus really wanted to see this case get solved. They wanted the mother and especially the young son receive some justice. Every few years, the police and the media revisit this case in order to solve the case. I hope that after almost 39 years that someone can put all the pieces to this cold case together.

Who to contact: 

If anyone knows anything about any of the cases of Janice and Brandon Beidleman or Sheronda Norris,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.

Links:

https://www.10tv.com/article/janice-and-brandon-beidleman

https://www.10tv.com/article/cold-case-detectives-hope-solve-28-year-old-murder

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold case Quest: Darchelle Stone

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Darcelle Stone
Ohio Attorney General website

Darchelle Stone was only 19 years old when someone took her life on September 2, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. She died due to injuries from stab wounds.

Although Stone’s photograph is not listed on the Ohio Attorney General’s website, it was published with her obituary. She was a young mother who was involved in community service. Stone and her mother helped to clothe and feed the homeless and other people in need.

From the little bit of information that I found, it doesn’t seem like she had enemies. Who would do such a horrible thing to such a good person?

I’m sure that the police ran into the same problem of not finding any viable suspects.

If there were any witnesses, no one has said anything. Hopefully, someone will come forward with information. It would be a travesty if they kept silent. Please honor Darchelle Stone’s memory by helping to solve her case.

The area where Darcelle Stone was found.

Who to contact:

If you would like to submit information, contact the Columbus Police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. 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.

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.

Cold Case Quest

Cold Case Quest: Clara King

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Clara King

Clara King was a hardworking mother and grandmother. She had two jobs – plus babysitting for her grandson while her daughter went to work. On November 9, 1998, someone took the life of King while the grandson was in the next room. When her daughter arrived home at 3 p.m., she found her mother’s body in the kitchen.

Area of the King homicide

The police didn’t reveal very much information about the cause of death except to say it was probably blunt force trauma. It was also difficult to speculate about what the possible motive was for committing the crime. No one disliked King. Everyone said that she was a kind and caring person.

King was also protective of her home. There were double locks on the door and a security system. It would be almost safe to say that she knew the person that murdered her.

Her daughter left for work that morning at 7 a.m. Her husband said that he left shortly after 7 a.m. I don’t think that anyone in her immediate family did this crime. It could be possible that the killer got inside before King had a chance to lock the doors or set the alarm.

Who would kill King and leave the baby unharmed? Did the killer know that the baby was there? The only blessing in this case is that the baby was not hurt.

No witnesses have come forward. The crime probably occurred around 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on November 9, 1998. If anyone knows anything about any of the cases of Clara King, contact the Columbus Police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.

If you happen to have a photograph of King, please contact me at Chasing Destino on Facebook.

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 Clara King’s 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.

Cold Case Quest

Cold Case Quest: Cynthia K. Smith

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Cynthia K. Smith

20- year -old Cynthia K. Smith was shot while making a phone call at a record store in Columbus, Ohio. The incident occurred on January 24, 1993.

The record store, Negus, Negast, was close to Reggae nightclub. If I understand the story correctly, the nightclub was next door to the record story. The shots came from across the street.

The police suspected that the shooter was upset that they could not enter the nightclub. So in retaliation they opened fire. Smith happened to be shot by a stray bullet.

There were about 20 people at the nightclub. No one will tell police who was shooting. It seems unlikely that no one saw what happened.

The witnesses were probably afraid to name the shooter. This person opened fire because they were angry about something that was more than likely trivial. So can you imagine how much destruction they would cause for something like being accused of the murder of Cynthia K. Smith?

The area of the homicide location.

If any of the witnesses had come forward, the suspect could have been arrested and hopefully sent to prison.

The hope in writing this post is that someone that witnessed the crime would finally tell the police what they know about the night of January 24, 1993.

If you have any information or questions about Cynthia K. Smith’s case, please contact the Columbus Police Department. If you happen to have a photograph of Smith, please contact me at Chasing Destino on Facebook.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Gladys Taylor

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Columbus resident Gladys Taylor, 54, was shot in the bedroom of her home on July 26, 1987. She was home with a 10 year old relative. On that Sunday evening, her husband had been at a church service. He found his wife when he returned at 10 p.m.

The area of the Taylor home

There weren’t any suspects that the police have mentioned. They did question the relative that was home at the time. The child was the only one that heard the gunshot. I hate to even think that a 10 year old could kill someone. However, It is also not totally out of the realm of possibility. Maybe it was an accidental shooting.

If I had to say, I suspect that it may have been a burglary. Maybe the killer didn’t think that anyone would be at home and was surprised by Taylor.

Lack of suspects and evidence didn’t help this case at all. I cannot say that the crime scene was contaminated but it’s possible.

If anyone happens to know anything about Gladys Taylor or if you have a photo of her, you can send a message to my Facebook page, Chasing Destino. More importantly, if you have any information about the homicide itself, please contact the Columbus Police Department.

Cold Case Quest

Cold Case Quest: Donna Jean Hudson

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Donna Jean Hudson
The Columbus Dispatch

On September 5, 1972, an unknown intruder killed 20 year- old Donna Jean Hudson in front of her three young children. The situation is beyond horrible.

 Hudson lived in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and three children. She was pregnant with a fourth child. Her husband found her when he came home from work at 8:30 p.m.

Sometimes the killer is the husband but I don’t think it was in this instance. The oldest child was able to give a description of the man. She did not identify her father as the killer. The description was that the man was an African-American, possibly early to mid-20s.

The child was five years old at the time and had been through a traumatic event. Children can be credible witnesses. Let’s hope that Hudson’s child was not influenced by anyone to give the wrong description.

There’s a news article from 1975 about unsolved cases in Columbus. The police were trying to link some cases together including the Donna Jean Hudson file.

Most of the cases were not similar at all to Hudson’s. However, there was one case that could have been connected. Unfortunately, I cannot find any more information about the other investigation beyond 1975. It may have been solved but so far I haven’t found evidence to convince me that anyone has worked on it since 1975. I hope that I’m wrong and the other case has been solved.

Like many older investigations, the homicide happened in 1972 – way before DNA testing. I hope that there was some evidence that could be retested.

If you have any information or questions about this case, please contact the Columbus Police Department. 

I found the photo in the Columbus Dispatch newspaper archives. It hasn’t been posted on the Ohio Attorney General’s website yet.

Cold Case Quest

Cold Case Quest: Brenda West & Robert Valentine

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Brenda West
Robert Valentine

On February 3, 1987, Columbus residents Brenda West and Robert Valentine were found deceased in their living room. Both had been shot while sitting on the couch. Robbery and murder/suicide were ruled out as possible motives.

West and Valentine had lived at the apartment for a little over a year. West was separated from her husband and in the process of getting a divorce. She was a library aide at a local school.

Police wanted to question the husband but could not find him. As far as I know, they did not find the estranged husband. Did West’s husband commit the murders and steal the car? I wonder if there was a development in the divorce proceedings that sent the husband over the edge.

Was the killer’s motivation due to the fact that West and Valentine were an interracial couple? People weren’t tolerant or accepting of interracial couples in 1987 or even in the present day. Was it a mixture of jealousy and racism?

In 1987, the police did not release a photo or name of the husband. I’m not sure why they would keep the information about the husband a secret. They already stated publicly that they were looking for him so it’s not confidential anymore. It seems like they put the case on the back burner and then forgot about it.

If you have any information or questions about this case, please contact the Columbus Police Department. If you happen to have a photograph of West and Valentine, please contact me at Chasing Destino on Facebook.

 Details about Valentine’s missing car: 1973 Chevrolet Impala with Ohio license plates 576 LQQ. Maroon with a black top. I’ve added a photo to show what Valentine’s car looks like.

Image result for 1973 chevy impala maroon with black top
http://tenwheel.com/view/8163-1973_chevy_impala_custom_____burgundy_with_black_vinyl_roof_.html

The area of the apartment

Cold Case Quest

Cold Case Quest: Danita Obanion

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Danita Obanion

Who: Danita Obanion, 30, had just moved to a new apartment about a week before her murder occurred on January 23, 1989. Neighbors and police suspected that the homicide was drug-related.

The only thing anyone said about the reason for suspecting was that there was a lot of traffic at the apartment. She was known to narcotics officers as “Star” because she wore a star nose ring.

She was found in the kitchen with a gunshot wound in her chest. The police would not identify the man who found her. Is it possible that he was a source of information about drugs in the area?

Obanion had been arrested for prostitution so did she switch to making or selling drugs? It’s possible that she thought a career in drugs was a step up from prostitution.

 This is a map of the area of Obanion’s apartment in the central area of Columbus. I hope that if anyone has any information about the case that they come forward. It’s been 31 years which seems too long to hold on to information that could solve a homicide.

If you have any information or questions about Danita Obanion’s case, please contact the Columbus Police Department. If you happen to have a photograph of Obanion, please contact me at Chasing Destino on Facebook.