WEBVTT 1 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:12.519 In the final Update episode of twenty twenty four, we 2 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:15.919 take a look back at six cases previously featured on 3 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:20.160 the show which have had major updates. First, there is 4 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:23.839 the case of Charles and Catherine Romer, an elderly couple 5 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:26.719 who have been missing for more than forty years after 6 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:31.480 checking into a South Georgia area hotel. For decades. It's 7 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:35.200 been believed that the couple were likely targeted by murderous thieves, 8 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:38.759 but now the discovery of new evidence suggests the truth 9 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:43.520 as far less grizzly and much closer to home. We'll 10 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:46.759 also touch on developments in the two thousand disappearance of 11 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:50.520 nine year old Asia Degree, the horrific nineteen eighty nine 12 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:53.920 abduction and murder of five year old Justin Turner, and 13 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:58.000 new developments about those charged with the crime. We'll also 14 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.840 discuss the verdict in the case against the man accused 15 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:04.719 of abducting and murdering four year old Jessica Gutierrez, new 16 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:08.040 theories in the two thousand and one disappearance of twenty 17 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:12.400 year old Brandon Perry outside of Skidmore, Missouri, and finally, 18 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:16.400 new charges filed against the suspect in the twenty twelve 19 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:21.840 murder of nineteen year old Chapel Hill resident Faith Hedge Peth. Finally, 20 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:25.120 as always, we'll be releasing a twenty twenty four wrap 21 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:28.400 up episode later in the year where we'll answer all 22 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:31.480 of your burning questions, So stick around for all of 23 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:35.799 the information necessary to get your questions in before the deadline. 24 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:40.719 This is Trace Evidence twenty twenty four final updates of 25 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:51.840 the year. Welcome to Trace Evidence. I'm your host, Stephen Pacheco. 26 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:55.560 Today we will be looking back at six updates and 27 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:58.920 cases previously featured on the show. I want to thank 28 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:01.560 all of you who've emailed and messaged me about some 29 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:05.200 of these updates. You're all extremely passionate and motivated, and 30 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:08.080 I love it. By the nature of this show, however, 31 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.960 I generally do have to take time before I can 32 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:14.280 release updates so as to provide all of the relevant information. 33 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:16.879 It's not so easy to do it in real time, 34 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:20.120 especially when things come out and drips and drops. So 35 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:24.280 thank you all again for your messages and your emails. Now, 36 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.759 one last note before jumping into these updates, I wanted 37 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:30.400 to let you know about the Q and A. It's 38 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:33.439 that time of year again, as New Year's Eve approaches 39 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.039 and we look. To wrap up our coverage for twenty 40 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:40.199 twenty four, back by popular demand, we will once again 41 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:42.960 be releasing a year end Q and A episode full 42 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:47.759 of questions from listeners like you. You can visit Trace dash 43 00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:52.520 Evidence dot com slash twenty twenty four QA and submit 44 00:02:52.599 --> 00:02:55.960 your questions. I'll also include a link in the show notes. 45 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:59.639 You can also submit your questions in email, sending them 46 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:04.360 to me at Trace evidencepodatgmail dot com. Just make sure 47 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:07.039 you use a subject line like twenty twenty four Q 48 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:10.560 and A so you don't get lost in the mix. Otherwise, 49 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:14.199 you can submit questions on social media or directly through 50 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:18.240 the podcast linktree page, which is also in the show notes. 51 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.759 As always, you can ask anything you want, whether it's 52 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:26.759 about the show, previous cases, future cases, me or anything 53 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:40.080 in between. Now, without further delay, let's jump into these updates. 54 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:44.240 Episode one hundred and seventy three, The Vanishing of Charles 55 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:48.960 and Catherine Romer. Seventy three year old Charles Romer and 56 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:53.159 his wife, seventy five year old Katherine would leave their Scarsdale, 57 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.960 New York home to spend their winters in the warmth 58 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:59.400 and sunshine of Florida. The couple would spend the colder 59 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:02.319 months down south, living in a luxury apartment at the 60 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:05.759 Seaview Hotel in Bell Harbor. At the end of the 61 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.000 winter and generally during the return of spring, the roamers 62 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:12.520 would pack up their car, a custom Lincoln Continental, and 63 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:15.520 make the long drive back to New York. In the 64 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:20.000 spring of nineteen eighty, however, the roamers would mysteriously vanish, 65 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.759 leading many to wonder if the elderly couple had been 66 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:26.040 targeted for robbery and murder, given that they lived a 67 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:30.600 lavish lifestyle and that Catherine had thousands and thousands of 68 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:34.279 dollars worth of jewelry on her as they traveled. On 69 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:38.199 the morning of Tuesday, April eighth, the couple left Florida 70 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:41.639 and arrived at their first stop, a holiday in hotel 71 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:46.199 in Brunswick, Georgia, not far from the Florida state line. 72 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.240 The couple checked into the hotel at approximately four pm 73 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.759 that day, but what happened next has never been determined. 74 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:56.399 After two days passed with no sightings of the couple, 75 00:04:56.839 --> 00:05:00.199 on Thursday, April tenth, a maid entered the room when 76 00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:03.720 found personal effects, but no sign of the couple, nor 77 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:06.920 any indication that they'd even spent the night in that room. 78 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:12.399 Two more days passed when, on Saturday, April twelfth, Charles 79 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.680 Romer Junior began trying to reach the couple. Junior quickly 80 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:19.639 learned that the roamers had not been seen after arriving 81 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:23.120 in Georgia and had never arrived at their next scheduled 82 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:28.199 stop in South Carolina. Massive searches were kicked off, spanning 83 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:30.600 the route that they would have traveled and areas they 84 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:35.319 were known to have been familiar with. Despite helicopters, search dogs, 85 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:39.040 a large group of law enforcement and family members joining in, 86 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:43.399 no trace of Charles or Catherine Romer was ever found 87 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:53.480 until now case update in late November of this year. 88 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:56.920 Actually just a few weeks ago, there was a massive 89 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.079 break in this case, which has mystified family members and 90 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:04.240 investigators for more than four decades. After learning about the 91 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:08.480 roamers disappearance, a group of volunteer divers decided to pay 92 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:11.160 a visit to Brunswick to see if there was anything 93 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:15.079 to be found. The divers utilize sonar equipment to search 94 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.959 bodies of water for vehicles in their hunt to close 95 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:21.560 out missing persons cases from across the country. The group, 96 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:26.160 Sunshine State Sonar is run by step brothers Mike Sullivan 97 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:31.279 and John Martin, both of Florida. On Friday, November twenty second, 98 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:35.279 the group started scanning various bodies of water located within 99 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:38.240 a few miles of the Holiday Inn, where the roamers 100 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:41.560 were last known to have been. Much to their surprise, 101 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:46.079 while there are larger lakes and watery areas, their equipment 102 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.920 came chirping to life as they scanned through a ten 103 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:52.360 foot deep pond near a parking lot which during the 104 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:56.480 roamers visit serviced the Holiday Inn, but now belongs to 105 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:00.639 the Royal Inn, which stands in its place. The surface, 106 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:04.839 the divers located a vehicle which appeared to match descriptions 107 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:08.439 of the one which disappeared with the Romans inside of 108 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:13.600 the vehicle. They also recovered human bones. Law enforcement in 109 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:17.120 the area was shocked by the discovery. Glenn County Police 110 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:21.120 Department spokesman Lawton Jay Dodd would tell the New York 111 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:24.240 Times quote, it came out of the blue. It's a 112 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:27.199 cold case that is not a cold case any longer. 113 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:32.160 The investigations reopened end quote. Dodd went on to note 114 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:35.360 that while they could not say with absolute certainty at 115 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:38.560 this time if the car and remains are those of 116 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:42.560 the Roamers. Pending official test results, he did confirm that 117 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:45.759 the evidence found thus far certainly seems to point in 118 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:49.600 that direction. According to Dodd, police need to verify the 119 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:53.480 vehicle's identity by locating and confirming the ven number. In 120 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.959 their efforts, they drained the small pond and then had 121 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:59.279 to determine if the vehicle was in good enough shape 122 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:01.959 to pull out from the water. At the same time, 123 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:06.399 Dodd reported that forensic experts working with the GBI would 124 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:10.040 need to analyze and hopefully identify the bones that were 125 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:14.839 found inside the vehicle. On Monday, November twenty fifth, law 126 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:18.360 enforcement got in touch with remaining members of the Romers family. 127 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:23.040 One of their granddaughters, Christine Heller Seaman, was a little 128 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:26.439 more certain of the discovery, as according to her, she 129 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:29.959 was informed that in addition to bone fragments, there were 130 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:35.000 personal items of the Roamers recovered. When the couple initially disappeared, 131 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:37.679 it was believed they might have been killed and robbed 132 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:40.960 of jewelry estimated in value to be around eighty one 133 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:45.480 thousand dollars, which was in Catherine's possession, but according to Semen. 134 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:48.840 Some of that jewelry was found inside of the vehicle. 135 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.480 The family was shocked by the find, having believed for 136 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.200 so long that it had been a double homicide and 137 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:58.799 a robbery, and that the culprits were still out there somewhere. 138 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:04.159 Heller Semen explained, saying, quote, we were led to believe 139 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.279 the worst. They had assured us. It was a terrible 140 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:11.600 robbery gone wrong. We don't have confirmation, but it's heading 141 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.720 to It was an accident, not a horrific, painful death 142 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.799 end quote. Seamen was just fifteen years old when her 143 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:23.559 grandparents vanished and remembers the anguish the family felt in 144 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:27.080 their unknowing. She went on to say, quote, it was 145 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:30.360 a horrific time for all of us, and especially watching 146 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:35.360 my father suffer. That was his mother end quote. According 147 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:39.080 to Semen, over the years, her father and his siblings 148 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:43.000 had gone down to Brunswick multiple times to identify bodies, 149 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:46.320 none of which ever turned out to be their parents. 150 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:50.840 This was another major find for Sunshine State Sonar, who 151 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:53.639 to date have found human remains in more than a 152 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:57.440 dozen cases since they began searching in twenty twenty two. 153 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:01.360 Upon entering the water that Friday, the twenty second, Sullivan 154 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:05.919 and Martin quickly located two large objects. Both were cars, 155 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:09.840 with one being identified as a smaller size Sedan, while 156 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:13.799 Sullivan described the second car as being longer and more boxing. 157 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:18.159 Approaching the larger of the two, Sullivan immediately knew it 158 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:21.840 was a Lincoln, telling The Times quote, I know Lincoln's. 159 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.679 As soon as I pulled that up, I could clearly 160 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:29.399 see this is a black Lincoln end quote. Moments after 161 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.840 Sullivan identified the vehicle as being a Lincoln, Martin emerged 162 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.639 from the water holding a human femur he'd managed to 163 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:38.799 pull from the vehicle. At that point, they stopped all 164 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:42.159 of their work and exited the water, notifying law enforcement. 165 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:47.360 Sullivan explained, quote, once we discover remains, we call the police. 166 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.679 It's a crime scene. End quote. Arriving at the scene 167 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:55.879 and conducting their own dives, law enforcement recovered additional items, 168 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.960 including a belt with Charles Romer's initials on it and 169 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:01.840 several pieces of jewelry, though at the time of the 170 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:06.679 find police would not confirm receipt of jewelry. There was 171 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:10.759 also reportedly a license plate bearing the couple's initials recovered. 172 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:15.879 Law enforcement does not anticipate getting confirmed genetic matches until 173 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:19.879 testing is complete, which they say will take several months. Regardless, 174 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:23.639 the family is convinced that their missing relatives have been found, 175 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.840 and they're extremely grateful to learn that their debts were 176 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:30.279 likely not the result of foul play. According to Semen, 177 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:35.000 the family spent their Thanksgiving holiday together discussing the surprising 178 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:39.480 and comforting fine. She explained, quote, the whole family just 179 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.720 shared stories about them. It was a happy time because 180 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:45.679 of this resolve, we're feeling it sort of gave us 181 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.879 permission to celebrate their lives and talk about the fun 182 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:54.000 memories without the feeling of dread, sorrow, and sadness end quote. 183 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:58.720 Semen described Catherine as being very close with her grandchildren 184 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.679 and having the title of life of the party. She 185 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:06.159 described Charles as a lovely and generous man. According to Semen, 186 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:09.559 the entire family is grateful for the efforts of Sunshine 187 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:12.600 State Sonar, who have helped conclude a mystery which has 188 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:18.440 haunted their family for decades. Semen explained to NBC saying, quote, 189 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:22.279 we're all in shock, but we have this gratitude for 190 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.679 the people that hunted this whole mystery down, people who 191 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:28.720 don't know us and we're not related to and our 192 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.960 perfect strangers would go to extensive measures to find answers 193 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:36.360 and help give a family peace of mind and resolve 194 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:41.360 end quote. Obviously, this break in the case is newly 195 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:44.600 developing and there's a lot of information which hasn't yet 196 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:49.200 been released. However, it seems fairly clear that everyone involved 197 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.879 believes that Charles and Catherine Romer and their custom Lincoln 198 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:57.600 have finally been found. It is a bittersweet ending, but 199 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:00.879 far better than the horrible nightmare many had expected to 200 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:05.159 discover had this case ever been broken. As always, I 201 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.440 will keep up to date with what information comes out, 202 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:10.799 and additional updates will be released pending the completion of 203 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:23.399 the investigation and those genetic tests. Episode eleven the vanishing 204 00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:35.240 of Asia Degree. During the early morning hours of Monday, 205 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:39.759 February fourteenth, two thousand, nine year old Asia Degree packed 206 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.879 a bag and exited her family's home on her own, 207 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:47.039 despite a storm which brought in heavy rains and wind. 208 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:51.240 The child was spotted walking along North Carolina Highway eighteen, 209 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:54.559 approximately a mile and a half from her Shelby home. 210 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:58.360 She was reportedly seen running into a wooded area by 211 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.080 a motorist who stopped to ask if she needed help. 212 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:04.600 When her parents woke later in the day, they discovered 213 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:09.120 their daughter missing. Despite a massive response from law enforcement 214 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:12.200 and multiple searches, no one seemed to be able to 215 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:16.879 determine the child's location or fate. One of the greatest mysteries, 216 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:21.000 which still endures, is wondering why Asha decided to leave 217 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.840 her home in the early morning darkness in the first place. 218 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:28.600 A year and a half after disappearing, Asha's backpack was 219 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:33.000 discovered buried at a construction site along Highway eighteen in Morganton, 220 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:37.879 forty miles north of Shelby. Though there are many holes 221 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.679 in the investigation. While it was initially theorized that Asha 222 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:44.240 had run away, it was later believed that she had 223 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:47.559 likely been abducted by someone who came upon her in 224 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:51.759 the early morning hours, or perhaps someone who had convinced 225 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:54.159 her to leave her family home in secret in the 226 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:58.759 first place. Though local law enforcement and federal agencies have 227 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.679 revealed smaller detail house about the case over the years, 228 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:05.000 there has never been a suspect named or a firm 229 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:11.960 theory presented about what might have happened until now case 230 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:19.679 update earlier this year. On Tuesday, September eleventh, law enforcement 231 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:23.799 descended upon a property located along Cherryville Road in Shelby. 232 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:28.000 A large gathering of officers was quickly noted by local media, 233 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:31.360 who learned that searches were being executed in connection with 234 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:36.720 the February fourteenth, two thousand disappearance of fourth grader Asia degree. 235 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:41.159 Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman confirmed the search was related 236 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:44.399 to Asia, and noted that the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office 237 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.360 had been joined in that search by the FBI and 238 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:51.759 the State Bureau of Investigation. A house was the focus 239 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:54.919 of the search, and law enforcement officers were seen carrying 240 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:58.200 out boxes of unknown items. There was also a major 241 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:01.519 focus put on an old car that was found parked 242 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:05.639 in the driveway. The vehicle, then described as an older 243 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:09.080 model green in color, would ultimately be towed off the 244 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:12.960 property by police. It was noted that the vehicle very 245 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:17.279 closely resembled descriptions given by police years earlier, when in 246 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:21.000 twenty sixteen they stated they were looking for a nineteen 247 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:26.480 seventies era green Ford Thunderbird or Lincoln Mark four. The 248 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.120 vehicle toad did not match either of those descriptions, but 249 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:34.240 did look similar to those two models. While searching the 250 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:38.320 home and property, law enforcement were extremely tight lipped about 251 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:41.519 what in particular they were looking for. While it was 252 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:44.399 reported that some items of interest were recovered and taken 253 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:48.720 into custody, there were no specifics given. Towards the end 254 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:52.039 of the search, police brought in specially trained dogs to 255 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:54.799 go through the home and over the property upon which 256 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:59.000 it sat. While everything was kept under wraps for several days, 257 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:02.360 A deli uge of new information was revealed on Monday, 258 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:06.400 September sixteenth, when the search warrants and supporting affidavits were 259 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.640 made available to the media. Firstly, documentation showed that the 260 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.960 search of the Cherryville Road property in Shelby was but 261 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:18.079 one of several searches executed, with others targeting a home 262 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:22.559 in Charlotte as well as an assisted living facility in Vale. 263 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:26.559 These locations are all associated with members of the Deadman family. 264 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:30.480 According to the filing, The search warrants were sought out 265 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:36.279 after a DNA test conclusively linked samples from previously acquired 266 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:41.480 evidence to two separate people, a woman named Annelie Deadmond 267 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:45.960 Ramirez and a man named Russell Underhill. Six years ago 268 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:50.000 in twenty eighteen, law enforcement had noted that items found 269 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:53.359 in acious backpack, which was found buried and double wrapped 270 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:56.440 in garbage bags years earlier, did not belong to the 271 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:59.480 missing child. How those items empted up in her bag, 272 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:02.799 and more curiously, who they belonged to, became a prime 273 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:07.680 focus for investigators. DNA found on some items is what 274 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:11.960 was used to make the link to Deadman Ramirez in Underhill. Interestingly, 275 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:16.160 a hair stem found on Asha's undershirt was tested and 276 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.640 that is what made the link to Anna lie Deadman Ramirez, 277 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:23.559 who was thirteen years old at the time of Asia's disappearance. 278 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:27.799 According to the documents, there were two other Deadman girls 279 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:30.559 in the area at the time of the disappearance, then 280 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:34.680 being fifteen and sixteen years old at the time. One 281 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:39.519 search warrant went further revealing what investigators now believe. The 282 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:43.880 document specifies that they believe Asia is a quote victim 283 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:48.200 of homicide with her body concealed. Given the dead men's 284 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.759 sisters ages at the time, police stated they believed they 285 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:54.559 had to have received some kind of adult assistance from 286 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:58.559 their parents, Roy and Connie Deadman. The documents went on 287 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.839 to explain that the issa asistance of Roy and Connie 288 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:06.000 Deadman quote would have been necessary in the execution and 289 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:10.640 or concealment of the crime. Roy Deadman's home is located 290 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:14.559 at six point twenty one Cherryville Road, making it approximately 291 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:18.160 three point seven miles from Asia's last known location near 292 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:23.240 Highway eighteen and Wallace Grove Drive. The documents also revealed 293 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:26.519 that prior to searching the deadman home, they had used 294 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:29.720 drones to search the home and area surrounding it back 295 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:34.359 in February, seven months prior to the search. Warnings Highway 296 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:38.000 eighteen is a pivotal area in this case, with it 297 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:41.079 being noted that Asia was seen by two witnesses walking 298 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:45.279 along the highway the night she vanished. Asia's backpack was 299 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:48.599 later found miles away in Burke County at a wooded 300 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.000 site where a home was being built. That site was 301 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:56.960 also a long Highway eighteen. The assisted living facility in 302 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:00.920 Vale was identified as the Northbrook Rest Home, and it 303 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:03.680 was noted that the facility is owned by Roy and 304 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:08.279 Connie Deadman. Russell Underhill, one of the more mysterious names 305 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:11.599 in the investigation, had previously lived in at least two 306 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:16.880 facilities operated by the Deadman's at the time of Asia's disappearance, Underhill, 307 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.720 who died in two thousand and four, lived at the 308 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:24.440 Veil facility between two and four. It's not yet entirely 309 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:28.039 clear what role, if any, Underhill played in the disappearance, 310 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:32.599 but legal documents note that he quote new and associated 311 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:37.319 with Roy Deadman. In fact, Deadman was listed as Underhill's 312 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:41.880 emergency contact in his medical records. The house search in 313 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:47.559 Charlotte targeted a home owned by Annalie Deadman. Lamirez Reportedly 314 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:52.119 several different items were taken from Roy Deadman's home. Allegedly, 315 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:56.440 Deadman has twenty nine vehicles registered to his name, with 316 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:59.880 three green vehicles and one red truck spotted on his 317 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:03.559 property during the searches. The green car towed from the 318 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:09.039 property was later identified as an old amc rambler. Documents 319 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:12.839 note that police took several computers, laptops, cell phones, and 320 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:17.839 records from Deadman's home. Disturbingly, it was also noted that 321 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:21.000 a human tooth in a plastic bag was found in 322 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:25.160 the house. According to the warrants, Roy Deadman had a 323 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:29.119 DNA sample taken from him during the searches. Connie at 324 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:32.359 this time does not live at the Cherryville Road home, 325 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:35.799 and police specified that they also searched her home, where 326 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:40.000 they seized two computers, flash and hard drives, a tablet, 327 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:45.319 and various memory cards. From Annelie Deadmond Ramirez's home in Charlotte, 328 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:50.160 only a BlackBerry device was taken. Despite exhaustive searches, no 329 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:54.279 human remains were found at any of the properties. When 330 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:58.319 Asha's backpack was recovered, it was approximately seven miles away 331 00:21:58.359 --> 00:22:03.799 from Broughton Hospital, a state psychiatric hospital in Morganton. Interestingly, 332 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:07.240 search warrants note that Roy Dedman often used to send 333 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:11.279 one of his daughters to transport patients quote in an 334 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:17.079 unreliable vehicle to and from Broughton Hospital in Morganton end quote. 335 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:21.519 Around the time of Asia's disappearance, Highway eighteen, it was noted, 336 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:24.920 quote is the most logical route to travel to and 337 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:29.240 from Northbrook Rest Home and or Broughton Hospital end quote. 338 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:32.559 The document went on to specify that Deadman would send 339 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.839 his daughter, who was sixteen or seventeen years old at 340 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:40.279 the time, not the then thirteen year old Annalie Deadman Ramirez. 341 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:45.759 David Teddy, an attorney representing Roy Deadman, noted as being 342 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:50.240 in his eighties at this time, confirmed the searches had occurred. However, 343 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:54.319 Teddy reported that Deadman denied any involvement in or knowledge 344 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:59.079 of Asia's disappearance. This was supported somewhat by statements in 345 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:02.279 the warrant Affidie Davids that noted law enforcement could find 346 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:06.039 no conclusive link between Roy Deadman and Asha or any 347 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:09.799 other members of the Degree family. During a press conference 348 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:13.559 held by Teddy, it was suggested that the deceased Russell 349 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:17.119 Underhill may be the one who had knowledge of or 350 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:21.400 involvement in the disappearance, with Teddy theorizing that police would 351 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:24.759 ultimately link Underhill to the crime, but little could be 352 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:29.200 done since he has since passed away. Asha's family were 353 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.720 not surprisingly shocked and taken aback by the flurry of 354 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:37.039 searches and release of new information. Asia's uncle, Jesse Jackson, 355 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:40.759 spoke for the family for the most part. Speaking to 356 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:44.960 WBTV News, Jackson stated how grateful they were to the 357 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:49.119 community for never giving up, saying, quote, thank God for that. 358 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:52.319 I thank God that they still have hope and faith. 359 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.359 I hope and pray to God that they find her 360 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:59.279 dead or alive, then we can be at rest and 361 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:04.480 quote As of this current moment, the investigation is ongoing. 362 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:07.720 No charges have been filed, nor have law enforcement laid 363 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:10.799 out their theory on what exactly they believe happened to 364 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:14.799 the missing child. Hopefully there will be more information coming 365 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:17.839 soon and some kind of advancement in the case which 366 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:21.640 might allow investigators to finally charge someone or at least 367 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:26.519 locate and retrieve the child's body. Asha's case has been 368 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:29.200 one that's stuck with me since the very beginning, and 369 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:32.759 I sincerely hope investigators are closing in on finding justice 370 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:36.279 for her and her family. For now, it remains to 371 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:41.359 be seen. Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman urged the local 372 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:44.599 community to be patient, to contact them if they had 373 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:48.200 any information, and to try and avoid spreading baseless rumors 374 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:52.160 and accusations. He also reminded them that there is a 375 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:54.599 family at the heart of this case who have been 376 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:59.000 searching for the truth for twenty four years. Sheriff Norman 377 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:03.359 explained to the show observer, saying, quote, I know our 378 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:06.400 community is anxious to learn about every aspect of our 379 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:11.119 ongoing investigation. While we appreciate your support, I urge you 380 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:13.960 to put yourself in the place of Asia's family, who 381 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.759 for twenty four years have entrusted law enforcement to do 382 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:20.920 everything possible to find her. Please do not spread or 383 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:25.400 share rumors on social media. Official information will be released 384 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:29.640 by my office when appropriate. Pray for Asia, her family, 385 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.759 and everyone who has worked for decades to locate Shelby's 386 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:38.519 sweet Look end quote. If you have information about this 387 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:41.880 case and you wish to share it with investigators, please 388 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:45.880 contact the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office at seven zero four 389 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:57.359 four eight four four seven five six. Episodes one hundred 390 00:25:57.400 --> 00:26:00.680 and seventy and one hundred and seventy one. The murder 391 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:13.880 of Justin Turner. On Friday, March third, nineteen eighty nine, 392 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:18.119 five year old Justin Turner mysteriously disappeared from his father 393 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:23.160 and stepmother's home along Horseshoe Road in Monk's Corner, South Carolina. 394 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:26.839 The child was allegedly on his way to a nearby 395 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:31.279 bus stop to attend kindergarten classes at Whiteville Elementary School. 396 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.240 For much of the day, no one seemed to know 397 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:37.839 anything was wrong. However, when the bus returned that afternoon 398 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:41.559 and Justin wasn't on it, his stepmother confronted the bus driver, 399 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:44.400 who informed her that the five year old had never 400 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:48.200 gotten on the bus that morning. A large scale search 401 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:51.720