Cold Case True Crime: Missing Persons Vol. 1

By Margaret Snead

In the shadowy world of unsolved mysteries, delve deep into the most perplexing true crime cold cases of missing persons. Each chapter unfolds like a dark, gripping novel, yet the stories within are tragically real. This book is a haunting journey through cases that have baffled investigators, haunted fami

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cold Case True Crime
• Release date: Feb 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869192844

Book preview

Margaret Snead

Cold Case True Crime Missing Persons Vol. 1

Copyright © 2024 by Margaret Snead

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

Contents

Maureen Anu Kelly

Kortne Stouffer

Rico Harris

Robert Hourihan

Rachel Cooke

Dee Ann Warner

Bethany Decker

Christopher Hoye

Alexandria Joy Lowitzer

Pamela Tinsley

Brandy Wesaquate

Nita Mayo

Max Greenfield

Michael David VanZandt

John Spira

Morgan Nick

Lashaya Stine

About the Author

Maureen Anu Kelly

Anu’s story begins on a cool autumn day, September 26, 1993, when she was born into a diverse family heritage. With the Pacific Islander ethnicity as described by the Charlie Project and an intriguing mix of Irish and Hawaiian nationality according to Wikipedia, Anu was a unique blend of cultures. Her physical features were striking - long, brown hair cascading over her shoulders and deep brown eyes that held the stories of her mixed heritage.

Her family was her anchor in life. Her mother, Mapua de Kelly, and father, Sean Kelly, alongside her stepmother, shaped her early years. Anu was one of six siblings, a vibrant mix of personalities and talents, including Sherilyn, Shereena, Colt, Nalu, and Michael. This family dynamic, as depicted on her stepmother’s Facebook page, was a tapestry of love and complexity.

Anu’s educational journey was a rocky one. She briefly attended Lewis and Clark High School before being expelled, and the pattern repeated at Hudson Bay High School. These challenges in her teen years were a testament to her spirited nature. Her personal Facebook page reveals a turning point in her life - obtaining her GED, a symbol of her resilience and determination to overcome obstacles.

At the time of her disappearance, Anu was living in Vancouver, Washington, yet she always held a piece of her heart in Kara gleam, Ireland, her hometown.

The timeline of her disappearance begins on a fateful day, June 9, 2013. Shari Kopu, her house sister in Vancouver, recalls Anu’s last phone call with fondness. She wanted to borrow some camping gear for an adventure with friends. Shari remembers Anu’s excitement and affectionate nature; her last words were an ‘I love you’ - a typical expression of her loving personality.

However, Anu’s plan wasn’t just any camping trip. It was a spiritual quest, as described by acquaintances to the authorities. Stripping away her clothes and armed only with a fanny pack containing knives, matches, and a compass, she ventured into the wilderness, promising to return by midnight.

As the sun set at 9:00 p.m., Anu had only a few hours of daylight left. The weather, mild during the day, plummeted into the 40s at night - a dangerous temperature for someone without clothes.

Her friends, proactive and concerned, reported her missing shortly after midnight on June 10th. This initiated an urgent search by the Skamania County Sheriff’s Department. The searchers found bare footprints, presumably Anu’s, crossing Canyon Creek and vanishing on forest Road 54. The faintness of these prints, and the inability of K-9 units to pick up her scent, deepened the mystery.

By Monday night, the threat of hypothermia loomed large, with temperatures dropping and light precipitation. Anu, lacking protection from the harsh elements, was in grave danger.

The search continued in the rugged terrain of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Gary Walker, the climbing and programs trails manager at Mount St. Helens, highlighted the perils of the wilderness - the exposure, the steep and thick underbrush, the wet and moss-covered grounds.

On June 11, 2013, the search resumed with renewed vigor. Amidst this turmoil, Anu’s sister stood strong, especially for their mother, who was grappling with the enormity of the situation.

Amanda Ziegler’s friendship with Anu, spanning about a year, was filled with the kind of understanding and connection that forms the bedrock of true camaraderie. Living in Vancouver, Amanda knew Anu well enough to not be surprised at her embarking on a spiritual quest - it was just the kind of soul-searching journey that resonated with Anu’s adventurous spirit. However, Amanda’s concern was palpable when she learned that Anu had ventured into the woods alone and without clothes. It’s strange because she would know better than to go out unprepared like that, Amanda reflected, her worry evident in her voice. It doesn’t make sense.

Amanda’s connection to the area where Anu was last seen added another layer of personal involvement. Both she and her boyfriend were familiar with the camping site, and her boyfriend’s decision to join the search efforts underscored the gravity of the situation. Amanda’s apprehension was intensified by the harsh weather conditions - the relentless cold and pouring rain in the area.

Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox’s insights into the search efforts painted a picture of a challenging and urgent mission. The terrain was mountainous, blanketed with heavy timber and dense brush, making the search for Anu incredibly difficult. The thick cloud cover added another layer of complexity, hampering aerial search efforts and confining the rescue teams to land operations.

The dropping temperatures since Anu’s disappearance further heightened concerns. With the weather plummeting from the mid-70s to the mid to upper 40s, the risk of hypothermia loomed large, especially given Anu’s lack of clothing. As this progresses, we get a little more concerned, Cox admitted, his professional calm belying the urgency of the situation.

Despite the concerted efforts of 12 4x4 search teams, the initial searches yielded no clues to Anu’s whereabouts. The discovery of bare footprints, potentially Anu’s, offered a glimmer of hope, but the uncertainty remained. The absence of any other signs was disheartening, with Cox noting, most people do not go barefoot in the forest.

The search’s peculiar circumstances, including Anu’s nude departure from the campsite, raised eyebrows, but there was no indication of drug use at the time of her disappearance. The scaling back of the search operation after only two days reflected the challenging nature of the mission, but the search teams remained committed, with additional resources being requested from Washington and Oregon departments of Emergency Management.

Anu’s brother’s description of her as comfortable and capable in the outdoors offered some solace, yet his concern about her preparedness and lack of a clear return plan echoed the worries of her friends and other campers. The dangers of the Canyon Creek area were well-known – its steep, mountainous terrain, the presence of wildlife like bears and mountain lions, and the risk of landslides. Camper Liz Nuland’s remark about the impossibility of surviving the cold nights without clothes, and Jessica Harmon’s mention of the area’s hazards, underscored the perilous situation.

Sharon Ward from Pacific Crest search dogs highlighted the difficulty of the terrain, especially near the creek where Anu was believed to have been. How she got down there barefoot is a wonder, and how she came up out of the bottom is also a wonder, Ward remarked, emphasizing the daunting nature of Anu’s path.

The search efforts continued, with teams scouring the area, trying to determine where Anu might have left the pavement to enter the woods. The uncertainty of her location - whether on a road, a trail, or moving cross-country - added to the complexity of the mission.

On the morning of June 15, 2013, a solemn mood hung over the dense forests near Canyon Creek. It had been six days since Anu, a young woman full of spirit and mystery, had disappeared into the woods, embarking on what she called a spiritual quest. The search efforts, which had been momentarily suspended due to a lack of manpower, resumed with renewed vigor on this Saturday. The air was thick with hope and apprehension as Under Sheriff Dave Cox coordinated the search, explaining their limited resources during the week.

The scenario was a challenging one. Approximately 50 state-certified searchers gathered, ready to comb through the wilderness in an all-day effort. Cox, speaking to ABC News, expressed cautious optimism. It should be a good day to find her, he said, the weight of responsibility evident in his voice. He knew the odds were stacked against them, but the hope that Anu wanted to be found drove them forward.

Cox revealed that Anu had spoken about undertaking this spiritual journey for quite some time. The friends who last saw her felt this was a journey she needed to take. Yet, the risks were immense. The territory was unforgiving - deep, rugged, and littered with debris. Every step could lead to injury, a slip on moss, or worse.

The Sheriff’s Office, working with limited information, knew Anu’s physical description but lacked photos for identification. There aren’t too many folks we know that are missing in the woods without clothes on, Cox noted, a hint of bewilderment in his tone. Anu’s family, grappling with their private anguish, declined to comment to the media.

As the clock ticked towards 6:00 p.m. that Saturday, the search teams, comprised of about 75 volunteers and 17 search-and-rescue teams, had to call off the search. They had combed a four-square-mile area of rugged terrain, coordinating communications through the Yakult Fire District 13. Despite their expertise and determination, Anu remained elusive. One searcher sustained an ankle injury, and a search canine split a paw - testament to the treacherous conditions they braved.

We’re assuming she’s up there and moving around, Cox said, comparing the search to looking for a needle in a haystack. Even after the official ground search was halted, deputies continued to patrol the area, and detectives pursued any credible leads.

In the wake of Anu’s disappearance, her friends and family rallied together, creating a Facebook page called ‘Find Anu Kelly’. Unfortunately, as the case progressed, this page became inactive.

The weeks passed with no significant leads. On July 20, Anu’s DNA was submitted to the National Missing Persons database, a somber acknowledgment of the growing mystery surrounding her whereabouts. By July 24, a month and a half after her disappearance, a benefit concert was held at Avenue Lounge. The community gathered, the music playing not just as entertainment but as a beacon of hope, with all proceeds going to the ‘Bring Anu Kelly Home’ fund.

Let’s reflect on Anu’s journey. She was last seen venturing into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Cougar, Washington, wearing nothing but her convictions and a fanny pack. Reported missing in the early hours of June 10, 2013, her disappearance left more questions than answers.

UCLA defines a spiritual quest as a search for meaning, purpose, and enlightenment. Considering Anu’s young age of 19, her undertaking such a quest, particularly in such a vulnerable state, raises profound questions about her comfort and safety in the wilderness.

Deputy Jordan Spencer, a search and rescue coordinator, advises that the best course of action when lost is to stay put. However, did Anu follow this wisdom, or did her quest lead her further into the unknown? The lack of clues, especially the dogs’ inability to pick up her scent after Forest Road 54, fuels speculation. Could she have been picked up by a vehicle, or did she intentionally use this event as a means to start anew elsewhere?

As the sun set around 9:00 p.m. that fateful day, questions lingered in the twilight. Could Anu have found a ride out of the woods, or did the four-hour window allow her to venture deeper into the forest, beyond the reach of the search teams? How far could she have traveled, barefoot and unaided, through such challenging terrain?

These questions form a tapestry of mystery and concern, painting a picture of a young woman’s quest that turned into a profound enigma, leaving friends, family, and the community in a state of hopeful yet uneasy waiting.

Kortne Stouffer

In a cozy corner of Pennsylvania, Kortne Stouffer’s life story began, wrapped in the warmth of a close-knit family. Born to Wendy and Scott Stouffer on April 24, 1991, her childhood was painted with the love and laughter of life with four siblings. Even the challenge of her parents’ divorce when she was just eight couldn’t shake the strong family foundation her parents worked hard to maintain. Wendy and Scott, despite their separation, were constant sources of love and support, creating an environment where family ties flourished.

Kortne grew up as a spirited and multifaceted young girl. The fields and courts of sports were her playground, where she channeled her competitive spirit and unyielding desire to succeed. But her talents didn’t stop at sports. Kortne also had a creative soul, shining through in her beautiful singing and her imaginative artwork. She was a delightful blend of contrasts - part girlish charm, part tomboy tenacity, often seen enjoying both the delicacies of indoor creativity and the rough-and-tumble of outdoor farm life.

A special chapter in Kortne’s life was her deep connection with animals, a bond that went beyond mere affection. Her involvement with 4-H reflected her commitment to animal care and her desire to learn and grow in this field. This love was personified in Sheba, the dog who became her loyal friend at the age of eight. Sheba was not just a pet; she was a constant companion, sharing in Kortne’s life’s highs and lows, her adventures, and her quiet moments, embodying the unspoken bond of friendship and loyalty that only a pet can provide.

After graduating from high school, Kortne’s path was initially undefined. Her exploratory journey led her to attain a cosmetology license, working alongside her mother in a salon. However, her enduring love for animals guided her to a different calling - dog grooming. This career shift was a natural fit for Kortne, melding her professional life with her passion for all creatures great and small.

Kortne’s personal life took a significant turn when she met Brad, her boyfriend. Their relationship quickly progressed, and within nine months, they decided to move in together in an apartment in Palmyra. This new chapter was exhilarating for Kortne, who relished the independence it brought. Sheba, her loyal dog, was a comforting presence in this new phase of life. However, the couple’s inclination for hosting house parties often put them at odds with their neighbors, leading to tensions within the community.

On the night of July 28th, 2012, the simmering discord reached a boiling point. Another party at Kortne and Brad’s apartment escalated, resulting in the police being called. The situation took a dramatic