True Crime Stories

I almost feel as if when it comes to the last several cases that I have researched have not only been ones with many twists and turns, but each time I sit down to compose them I am convinced it will end up being my longest blog yet. I am not sure where I heard the name Ralph Lobaugh and the sad part about that is that it was not that long ago that this name made it to my list. This became one of those cases where I have spent hours upon hours today researching. Some of the extra hours is because there was a lot I needed to double check and confirm; some of it was because not only were there several victims but there were several suspects and perpetrators in this case, let alone other players in the story. I will admit that by the time I am done you may have a lot of questions. For that I apologize as I try my best to package these blogs well and have a full beginning, middle and end and I like to tie up as many loose ends as I can. That simply is not going to be the case her...

Once again I have come across a case in which I simply could not find a lot of information. However, the information I did find was quite interesting. The last case that I discussed this issue it was a very cut and dry case. There was a perpetrator, there were victims and there was a conclusion even if I was unable to fill in the blanks in the middle. This case is much different. Of course there is a victim. But it is unclear just who the perpetrators in this case were. Every prosecutor has a theory on how a crime was committed based on the their idea of who the perpetrator(s) is. Even when that theory falls apart it is difficult to change that theory, especially when that theory involves more than one person. So to tell this story will be a little difficult. What I can tell you is that on the night of December 10, 1982 in Fort Wayne Indiana, twenty year old Carmen Zink lost her life. She had been shot in the head. Carmen was with another woman, someone I was unable t...

I am a bit disappointed with this case and the information that I found available, but it is not necessarily that unusual when a defendant pleads guilty and forgoes a trial. I had a little ray of hope when another lawsuit was filed and it looked as if an interesting legal question would be answered but I later learned that the lawsuit was dropped. When I research a case, it is fairly simple. I start with a name that I throw into a Google search and then I add “and murder” unless of course I have a notation that it may possibly not be a murder case. If I have some difficulty finding what I need or sorting through results I will sometimes add a location. I generally go through about three or four pages to get most of what I need. I will also look at department of corrections websites and may check a few things throughout to clarify but that it usually all that it takes. This case took me through more than six pages in the initial search because the perpetrator, Marcus Dansby, re...

  I started researching this case and then I almost decided not to continue. Since the case ended in a guilty plea and ultimately in the suicide of the defendant in prison there is not a lot of information out there that can really be “nailed down” and verified. But, I decided to continue for a few reasons. First, there are the heinous crimes that Rios committed, first the murder of an innocent young girl and then five days later to his own family including his wife and three young daughters. Secondly, there were questions raised as to why Rios was not deported to his home country of Mexico prior to committing murder. I will try to discuss both issues at length and explain what I can. In the end, and as always, I welcome feedback to possibly explain some of the things I could not or to clarify any confusing issues that I may have. Simon Rios lived in Fort Wayne Indiana with his wife, Ana and their three daughters, Liliana, Katherinne and Thannya. In 2005 the girls were ten,...

This is one of the cases that I am actually surprised that I have not blogged about before. It is a crime that happened in my state and the perpetrator was sentenced to death so every few years his case seems to be back in the news. It is also a case that irritates me just a tiny bit. I have often stated that I am neither an advocate nor an opponent of the death penalty. But, I also find it ridiculous all of the inmates that remain on death row when a state has not executed anyone in several years nor do they look to have plans to do so any time soon. While Corcoran was sentenced long before the last execution took place in Indiana in 2009, three people went on death row in 2013. As of 2018 there are no scheduled executions planned in the state despite there being eleven death row inmates. Three of those inmates, including Debra Brown who is held in Ohio for the crimes she committed with Alton Coleman, were sentenced before Joseph Corcoran. And, to be fair one of t...

I have a little time on my hands so I thought I would throw together a few cases that are short and less complicated than most. This case qualifies because there is little information available due to the time era. In fact, the only reasons I was able to obtain as much information as I did was because a) Richard Kiefer was executed by the state of Indiana and; b) he was the last person in the state to be executed before they were deemed unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in 1972. In 1957 Richard Kiefer lived in Fort Wayne Indiana with his wife, Pearl and their five year old daughter Dorothy. It is said that Richard and Pearl were in the basement of their home allegedly having an argument. Richard would claim that he was “tired” of Pearl criticizing him about his fishing and drinking habit. Further details indicate that Pearl was upset at the money that was being spent for these things, but to be fair the only details available are those provided by R...

From time to time I come across a case that I know, no matter what, it is the next one that I want to compose. This is just such a case. I have to say that I was really surprised that I had never heard of this case since it took place in my home, and lifelong state of Indiana. I cannot even say how exactly I came across something about it recently. We have all seen the cases that by legal standards are not necessarily “solved” but by police and community standards they are. We most often think of the cases such as O.J. Simpson and Casey Anthony, two cases in which the defendant was charged, taken to trial and later acquitted. From a legal standpoint those murder cases are unsolved. However, the police, prosecutors and much of the community at large feel differently and believe the person responsible simply got away with murder. Then you have the cases of murder/suicide. Some of those are more disputed at times, more often by family members who in some cases just...