Keystone Cold Cases

John “Jack” Parsons Wheeler III, was a decorated veteran, Washington power player, and Vietnam Memorial architect whose body turned up in a Wilmington landfill on New Year’s Eve 2010, beaten to death in a way that screamed foul play. His death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma with no suspects, no clear motive, and a trail of erratic behavior that leaves you questioning everything.

Melissa Ortiz-Rodriguez was a 31-year-old mother of two from Collingdale, Pennsylvania, whose sudden disappearance in April 2013 left her family searching for answers. She was last seen preparing for a trip to visit a friend in New Jersey—but she never made it. As the days turned into years, troubling details emerged about her troubled marriage. Despite multiple investigations and public pleas for information, Melissa’s case remains unsolved, casting a long shadow over those still hoping for closure.

Christmas 1991 should have been joyful — instead, Lancaster was shaken to its core by a senseless murder. Join Chelsea as she unravels the shocking story of Laurie Show and the horrifying events that lead to her death.

On September 10th, 2021, just after midnight, Key West police received an unusual 911 call—not from a local resident, but from a man in Boston watching a live feed. He believed he was witnessing a sexual assault. Other callers also reported a naked woman crying and screaming in the street. When officers located her, the story she told was shocking, chaotic, and infuriating.

On Christmas Day 1986, 79-year-old Ivan Darling was found brutally murdered inside his York Street home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. His death — ruled a homicide — resulted from “massive hemorrhaging from numerous puncture wounds,” likely inflicted by a knife, and investigators believed robbery was the motive. In 2022, authorities reopened the case, hoping modern forensic methods will finally bring justice for Ivan Darling and his family.

On April 19, 2015, 16-year-old Jericho Scott was murdered in a drive-by shooting just outside his home on Exchange Street in New Haven, Connecticut. A friend nearby was also injured, and the case remains unsolved. Today, Jericho’s case stands as a sobering reminder of unresolved violence, lost potential, and the urgent need for community action. In this episode, we explore his life, the circumstances of his death, and the ongoing efforts to bring closure to a grieving family.

In 1995, 29-year-old Lisa Manderach and her toddler daughter, Devon, vanished after leaving their home in Limerick Township, Pennsylvania for a quick trip to a local children’s clothing store. What began as a routine errand quickly became a nightmare investigation.

This month’s special episode steps outside Pennsylvania to examine two striking disappearances involving suspected domestic violence: Suzanne Simpson from Texas and Nikki Saelee from California. Though not Keystone cases, both stories reflect troubling patterns seen in many unsolved cases across PA. Listener discretion is advised due to themes of abuse and suspected murder.

In September 1997, 26-year-old Sandra L. Morgan was found dead in her Pittsburgh apartment—stabbed multiple times in a brutal attack that stunned the community. Despite the violent nature of her death, the case quickly faded from headlines, leaving more questions than answers. In this episode, we look back at the unsolved murder of Sandra Morgan, the fragments of information that remain, and how stories like hers risk being forgotten with time.

In the rush of our daily routines, we rarely stop to consider how quickly life can change. Most of us are simply trying to keep pace with the relentless grind of the clock. So when Joshua Maddux left for a walk one day in May 2008—a normal, everyday habit—no one imagined it would be the last time he was seen. His quiet disappearance left behind no clues, no trail… just questions. And while it might seem rare, vanishings like Joshua’s happen more often than you'd think. According to NamUs, at any given time, as many as 100,000 people are reported missing in the U.S., with up to 600,000 reported each year. Most are eventually found—many alive. But in Joshua’s case, the outcome was far from hopeful. In August 2015, his remains were discovered, reopening wounds and dividing a community with theories, confusion, and even more unanswered questions.

In Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the Valley Creek Road Twin Tunnels were long known for eerie local legends and ghost stories. But in 1995, the folklore turned frighteningly real when a body was discovered there. The chilling find linked the tunnels to an actual, gruesome crime—and more than 30 years later, the case remains unsolved.

In 1973, 9-year-old Lisa Ann French of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, went out trick-or-treating on Halloween night but never returned home. Her neighbor, Gerald Turner, lured her into his house, where he assaulted and murdered her. He disposed of her body in a rural area, where it was found the next day. Turner was convicted and sentenced to prison, and the crime had a lasting impact on how communities approached Halloween safety.

When looking at the Twin Tunnels in Downingtown, PA a feeling of unease appears. Is it because you can’t peer inside the tunnel and see the other end? Or is it because you heard a strange sound and just aren’t quite sure if it was natural or not? Or did you turn too fast and see something out of the corner of your eye? The Twin Tunnels are infamous throughout SEPA. I guarantee you probably know someone who has a story. Whether it be a local, someone just passing through, or the avid paranormal enthusiasts so many stories are tied to the Twin Tunnels. In this episode we are going to touch on the local lore and a cold case that is tied to these tunnels. Buckle up because we are covering outlandish ghost stories all the way to a brutal murder that left a woman unidentified for just over 30 years.

We all love a good horror movie—the kind that gets your heart racing, makes you bury your face behind a blanket, and delivers that perfect jump scare. While many of these films are wild, over-the-top creations born from twisted imaginations, some are rooted in chilling reality. In this episode, we’re diving into one of those eerie tales: the story of Annabelle. And no, we’re not talking about the creepy porcelain doll from the popular horror franchise. The real Annabelle existed—but her appearance and story are far more unsettling than Hollywood would have you believe. Join us as we uncover the true origins of Annabelle and explore her eerie connection to the Keystone State.

In the coal region of Pennsylvania in 1893, a Hungarian miner stricken with consumption becomes convinced that the spirit of his former boss is squatting on his chest, draining his life. His fear leads him to a desperate, macabre act — exhuming the man’s corpse and cutting out its heart, hoping to free himself. This case reveals how vampire superstition persisted among immigrant communities in America. The story reminds listeners that folklore and fear once provided frameworks for life and death — until science (eventually) caught up.

The Perkasie Train Tunnel is more than a forgotten stretch of railroad—it’s a monument to both ambition and loss. Beneath its rough-hewn stone and cold, dripping walls lingers a tale few are willing to whisper. A tale of tragedy, obsession, and something that still haunts the tracks under the glow of the moon. So lower the lights. Slip on your headphones. And listen carefully. Because once you step inside the tunnel… you might not come back the same.

It’s officially spooky season, which means we’re bringing you chills, thrills, and maybe even a few things that go bump in the night. So grab your blanket, light a candle, and settle in—because this October, we’re serving up fright with every episode, starting with the Gettysburg Murder House!

Shannon is joined by special guest Chris from the Drunk Phils Fans Facebook community and the podcast DPF on Tap to close out the regular baseball season with a look at the weird and wild side of Major League ballparks. From freak injuries and shocking falls to promotions that went off the rails, we’re diving into the risky side of America’s pastime. Join us as we gear up for Red October (IYKYK).

The tragic and unsolved murder of Donna Barkon Friedman remains a haunting mystery. In this episode, we dig into the chilling details of her case, exploring the events leading up to her death and the unanswered questions that still linger. Who was responsible for this brutal act?

The Murder of Miss Hollywood/ The Murder of Jill Ann Weatherwax - She was beautiful, ambitious, and carried the nickname “Miss Hollywood.” But Jill Ann Weatherwax’s dreams of stardom came to a haunting end in 1998, when she was found brutally murdered in a lonely field. Who was behind the killing of this aspiring starlet—and what secrets followed her into the shadows? Join Melissa and Chelsea as they unravel the mystery of the Murder of Miss Hollywood.