Cold Case True Crime: Missing Persons Vol. 2, Investigations of People Who Mysteriously Disappeared

By Margaret Snead

Readers are invited into a compelling and somber journey through the most haunting unsolved missing persons cases. Spanning the quiet corners of small towns to the anonymous streets of bustling cities, this book uncovers the intricate mysteries that have eluded detectives, tormented families, and captivate

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cold Case True Crime
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869216359

Book preview

Margaret Snead

Cold Case True Crime Missing Persons Vol. 2

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

Megan Foglesong

Jeramy Burt

Mary Opitz and Mary Elizabeth Hare

Robert Baron

The Beaumont Children

Nancy Moyer

Marina Boelter

Robin Trivisonno

Brianne Wolgram

Janteyl Johnson

Bryce Laspisa

Alexis Patterson

Tiffany Daniels

Keeslyn Roberts

Dori Ann Myers

Pepita Redhair

About the Author

Megan Foglesong

Megan Foglesong’s life story is a rich tapestry of personal growth, challenges, and mystery, woven with the vibrant threads of her experiences and relationships. Born on January 20, 1994, in the small, close-knit community of Oneida in Knox County, Illinois, Megan’s early life was shaped by the picturesque Midwestern landscape and the nurturing environment of her family. Her childhood was marked by a significant family change when her parents separated while she was just nine. This pivotal moment brought her closer to her stepmother, Don Foglesong, who played a crucial role alongside her father in raising Megan.

Growing up, Megan’s life revolved around the softball fields, where she honed her skills and passion for the sport. Her dedication and talent as a pitcher were evident, leading her to become a key player for her high school alma mater’s softball team. In 2012, she celebrated a milestone by graduating from ROVA High School in Oneida, carrying with her dreams and aspirations for the future.

Soon after her graduation, Megan embarked on a personal journey to Alden, Kansas. This move was fueled by her deep desire to reconnect with her biological mother, Pam Lewis, and explore the bonds of her maternal lineage. At 18, Megan’s striking appearance, with her blonde hair (which she occasionally dyed) and captivating green eyes (often accentuated with contact lenses or glasses), was complemented by her vibrant personality. Standing around five feet four inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds, Megan’s infectious energy and happy-go-lucky attitude endeared her to everyone she met.

Megan’s friend, Aaron Bagby, fondly recalled her vivacious character, describing her as full of life and energetically embracing each day. What truly set Megan apart, though, was her unique flair for tattoos and body art. Her left hip boasted a beautifully designed flower tattoo, while her left wrist was adorned with black inked hearts linked together, accompanying the words Thick and Thin. A striking dream catcher tattoo graced the outside of her left calf, and the symbol of infinity was etched forever on the right side of her upper chest. Megan’s adventurous spirit extended to her piercings, with her belly button, tongue, and multiple earlobe and cartilage piercings adding to her distinctive look.

Megan’s allure was undeniable, and she attracted the attention of many. However, her friends were puzzled by her romantic choice – David Madden, a former Marine 14 years her senior. The complexity of their relationship was heightened by the fact that David had previously dated Megan’s biological mother, Pam. Despite the concerns of her friends and the unconventional nature of their relationship, Megan and David’s connection was characterized by its tumultuous nature, marked by on-and-off periods and troubling reports of physical and emotional abuse.

Megan had confided in a few close friends that if she ever disappeared, David would likely be responsible. This fear wasn’t unfounded, given David’s troubling past, which included three convictions of battery in 2007. Despite the glaring red flags, Megan, perhaps blinded by love or hope, seemed to either overlook or dismiss these warning signs. Her tumultuous relationship with David not only affected her emotionally but also led to personal struggles, including methamphetamine use during her time in Alden with him.

The turbulent and fraught relationship between Megan Foglesong and David Madden, marked by its alarming episodes, took a particularly disturbing turn in December 2014. This period in their lives was ominously illuminated by a frantic 9-1-1 call, a distressing beacon that shed light on the depth of their troubled relationship. The call, placed by Kelly Starnes, a friend of David’s, was a desperate cry for help from Barton County, located about 32 miles from Alden, where the couple resided.

In the chilling recording of the 9-1-1 call, Kelly Starnes conveyed a harrowing account of David’s actions. His voice, fraught with anxiety, relayed a series of alarming threats and abuses David had inflicted on Megan. Kelly recounted how David had not only threatened to confine Megan in a straitjacket but had also physically restrained her in a closet and, most disturbingly, threatened to end her life. His description of David painted a picture of an unstable and dangerous individual, highlighting his military background, disdain for government, and aversion to law enforcement. The gravity of these words, especially the declaration of David’s hatred for cops, seemed to ominously foreshadow events that would unfold years later.

However, at this juncture, the story leaps forward in time, momentarily bypassing the immediate aftermath of this alarming incident. Following Kelly’s distressing 9-1-1 call, the authorities in Rice County, where David lived, located Megan at her boyfriend’s residence. When questioned by the police, Megan stated that David had not abducted her and insisted she was unharmed. Her declaration, whether true or a mask for deeper troubles, left the authorities with no substantial ground to continue their investigation.

Seeking solace and perhaps a respite from the chaotic orbit of her relationship with David, Megan returned to her familial roots in Oneida, Illinois, towards the end of 2014. She spent several months there, a welcome presence for her father and stepmother, who were overjoyed to have her back in their lives. During this period of relative calm, Megan reached out to Kelly Starnes, the very individual who had alerted the authorities to her plight. In a poignant message, she expressed her gratitude and remorse, stating, Thank you again, and I’m so sorry too. Never again. Yet, this promise of ‘never again’ was a hope that would not be fulfilled.

By the summer of 2015, the pull of her relationship with David proved too strong, and Megan found herself back in Alden and, once again, in David’s embrace. This cycle of breaking up and reuniting was a familiar pattern in their relationship, but little did Megan know that this reunion would be their final chapter together. Dawn, her stepmother, persistently warned Megan about the worsening nature of her situation with David. Despite Dawn’s fears and advice, Megan’s return to David seemed inevitable.

In a conversation filled with maternal concern and foreboding, Dawn spoke to Megan for the last time on November 25, 2015, the day before Thanksgiving. During this call, Megan shared that David would be released from jail that day after an arrest for driving with a suspended license. Dawn felt a temporary wave of relief wash over her when Megan revealed plans to leave David, driven by fear and finding safety among friends. However, this sense of security was short-lived. In a disheartening turn of events, Megan once again reconciled with David just a few days later.

On November 30th, Megan Foglesong engaged in what would tragically become her final interaction on social media. Responding to a friend’s message on Facebook, she mentioned she was back at David Madden’s house. This seemingly mundane update masked the gravity of the situation, as it marked her last activity ever on the platform.

The very next day, December 1st, a concerning event unfolded. David reported to the local sheriff that he had confronted Megan for stealing from him, leading to a heated argument. His claim that Megan left his residence almost a week later added a layer of mystery to her already complicated narrative. In the midst of these unsettling events, one of Megan’s friends received a text message from her, simply stating, I’m fine. However, given the circumstances, the friend doubted whether Megan had actually sent the message.

In a distressing twist, another close friend of Megan’s shared a haunting account. She recalled receiving a call from Megan, who was apparently walking along a rural road, drenched in the rain, and in need of a ride. Regrettably, the friend was unable to assist her at the time. This missed opportunity would linger as a poignant ‘what if’ in the story of Megan’s disappearance.

Megan was reportedly seen for the last time on Christmas Day of 2015 at Guy’s Liquor Store in Larned, Pawnee County, a significant distance of about 49 miles from Alden. After this sighting, Megan seemed to vanish into thin air. Known for her lively, spontaneous nature, it was uncharacteristic of Megan to be out of touch with her family and friends for an extended period. Concern escalated when Megan’s 22nd birthday on January 20, 2016, passed without any communication from her, an alarming deviation from her usual behavior.

Dawn, Megan’s stepmother, was overcome with a sense of foreboding. The silence didn’t seem right to her. Driven by worry, she left Oneida for Alden, seeking answers about Megan and David. To her dismay and fear, Dawn discovered from the locals in Alden that David was viewed unfavorably and was even suspected of having murked Megan, a slang term implying he had murdered her. Dawn was not alone in her fears. Kelly, the friend who had previously alerted authorities to Megan’s plight, also harbored growing concerns. David’s ominous statement, No one will ever have to worry about her again, coupled with Kelly’s firsthand experience of witnessing David’s aggressive behavior towards Megan, only intensified the unease surrounding her disappearance.

Two months after Megan’s last known sighting in late December 2015, the gravity of the situation finally culminated in action. Megan was officially reported missing on February 10, 2016. Dawn had implored the Rice County Sheriff’s Office to perform welfare checks at David’s residence in Alden, fearing the worst. I believe he did something to her, she expressed, though the exact nature of what transpired remained shrouded in uncertainty.

Pam Lewis, Megan’s biological mother and the initial reason for her move to Alden, received a different account. She was informed that Megan had left for Colorado with an unnamed friend of David’s. Pam believed this man, not David, was responsible for her daughter’s disappearance. This belief stood in stark contrast to law enforcement’s suspicions, which increasingly focused on David, the former boyfriend not only of Pam but also of her missing daughter, Megan.

The search for Megan Foglesong has been both extensive and intensive, involving numerous large-scale efforts and smaller, more targeted searches. These efforts were spearheaded by Rice County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Trester, who, along with his team, combed through various areas in a bid to uncover any clue that might lead to Megan. Despite these exhaustive efforts, no tangible trace of Megan was found. On July 29, 2016, Trester made a grim announcement, confirming that foul play was suspected in Megan’s mysterious disappearance.

Back in Illinois, as well as in Kansas, Megan’s family and friends rallied together, determined to assist law enforcement in any way possible. They turned to social media, a powerful tool in modern investigations, to spread awareness and gather information. A Facebook page titled Bring Megan Home became a hub of activity, constantly updated with posts filled with hope and calls for any information that might lead to finding Megan.

The sheriff’s office, alongside the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), diligently followed every lead that emerged in the case. Their investigation eventually led them to identify David Madden as a prime suspect in the disappearance of Megan. This development culminated in February 2017, when the KBI executed a search warrant at David’s house in Alden, a significant step in the ongoing investigation.

This turn of events brought a mix of hope and anxiety to Dawn, Megan’s stepmother in Oneida, Illinois. Her longing for answers about Megan’s fate was palpable. The only thing I care about right now is just finding her. No matter what has happened, just so we know and we aren’t spending the rest of our lives wondering what happened, she expressed, a sentiment echoed by many who were closely following the case. At this juncture, no arrests had been made, nor had criminal charges been filed in connection to Megan’s disappearance. The story, however, was far from over, as subsequent events would reveal a darker side of David.

In what appeared to be an attempt to evade the search warrant issued by the KBI, David led the police on a high-speed chase through Rice and Barton Counties, an incident that escalated into a standoff. He was eventually arrested, and this chase led to his sentencing for probation on state charges, which included attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault in August of the same year. However, David’s troubles didn’t end there. He violated his probation terms, which were compounded by the fact that he was still residing in his father Tom Madden’s house in Alden. Tom, aged 65, complied with the search warrant.

The investigation into Megan Foglesong’s disappearance took a dramatic and cinematic turn following a high-speed car chase involving David Madden. In the aftermath, when authorities executed a search at his residence, they uncovered a startling arsenal. Two wooden crates were found, each containing 24 metal pipe bombs, meticulously wrapped with wire and black tape. The cache of weapons didn’t stop there; they also found two live military ordnance projectiles, 12 containers of smokeless powder, a railroad torpedo, a .45 caliber pistol, and an AK-47 assault rifle concealed under his bed. David, when questioned, casually mentioned that he had been making and setting off pipe bombs since childhood, as if it were a harmless hobby. He claimed to have found the AK-47 in Iraq during his service with the Marines and brought it back to the U.S.

It wasn’t until April 2019, a few years after these discoveries, that David was indicted on one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. The delay in filing these federal charges remained a mystery. Despite his history of run-ins with the law, David seemed undeterred. In fact, he was about to commit his most audacious and fatal act yet.

Following the federal firearm charge, Kansas authorities were determined to apprehend David. On the evening of April 29, 2019, Rice