Episode 151: Asha Degree

Rachel Mellon Skemp was well-liked, thrived in school, & exuded positivity everywhere she went. Even with a tumultuous home life (at times), she seemed to have a glow about her. On January 31, 1996 — Rachel stayed home from school, only to mysteriously vanish by mid-day. Rachel has not been seen or heard from since. If you have any information regarding Rachel or her disappearance, please contact: • Bolingbrook PD: (630) 226-0600 • Bolingbrook Police Department Investigations Division: (630) 226-8620 • Crime Stoppers: (630) 378-4772 • Callers can also submit a web tip at bolingbrookcrimestoppers.org *These can be submitted anonymously* Sidenote: this week contains IMPORTANT INFORMATION regarding future episodes of Crime, Cults, & Coffee 🎃👻🖤 Not ghosting you, just on a temporary hiatus. Tata for now!

Spooky RE-RELEASE from last October 👻 Next week will come with a new episode, along with info going forward for when the Halloween babe is here 🦇 Thanks again for your understanding, listens, & support! IT’S SPOOKY SEASON GUYS & GHOULS!!! If you’ve been listening long enough, you know how much we love this time of the year. So to be super festive, we’re bringing back the eerie. This week we’re covering the story of Slender Man (aka Slendy) and the horrifying depictions that come along with him. Creature? Shadow? Human? How could a legend evolve into a murder plot of the most devious and disturbing kind? Listen in closely to find out… & maybe keep a light on. Sidenote: Happy Birthday to the lovely Mom (Sunday) and Happy ✨now 3✨ Year Anniversary to Crime, Cults, & Coffee (Monday)!

Thank you listeners for sticking it out with me as this week’s episode is another RE-RELEASE. Month 9 and I’m currently exhausted and trying to slow down a bit (since I haven’t up until now, along with running on fumes). I’m trying my best to still post something for you, even if that *something* isn’t a brand new episode! In one of the most perplexing cases yet— this week we cover the story of the Mary Morris Murders. Two horrific crime scenes. Four days apart. Similar case details. Not to mention, two women with the SAME NAME. There are sooo many questions and not nearly enough answers.

Bare with me, as this week’s episode is a RE-RELEASE! TRIGGER WARNING: This case includes gruesome crime scene details. What do you get when you combine fire, murder, money, and a bat-shit crazy human with a pig farm? This. Episode. Let's take you back to the early 1900's... when searching for a husband in the personal ads was apparently a thing (at least in this story anyway), and people were going missing left and right across the U.S. If you've never heard of the crimes committed by Belle Gunness-- you're going to want to give this week's episode a listen. Atrocious doesn't even begin to describe it.

TRIGGER WARNING: Includes graphic detail, rape, and murder. Peter Morin aka The Chameleon spent decades committing crimes... and 12 years (that we know of) taking the lives of others. Between living a transient lifestyle and going by a multitude of aliases, he evaded authorities and suspicion of certain crimes for years. Manipulative, cunning, and elusive -- he found ways to ensnare those around him, with no regards to human life. Listen in to hear not his story... but the story of the lives that were taken and/or affected by Morin, as well as his eventual capture.

It’s BABY SHOWER WEEK!!! 🦇🎃🤍This week’s episode is a RE-RELEASE & there’s been a couple requests for coverage of this case lately. So here it is again for those who missed it/haven’t gotten to it/didn’t realize we had an episode on it/want to re-hash Brian’s story again. CCC will be back with a new episode for next week’s podcast! In 2006– a night at the bar with friends, evolved into a massive mystery. The disappearance of Brian Shaffer is baffling, devastating, and ongoing. Where could this med student have gone? Was it foul play, an accident, or by choice? What happened after leaving the view of outdoor cameras? So many questions and not nearly enough answers. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact: — the Columbus Division of Police at 614-645-2358 — Stopcrime.org to submit a tip online According to the poster on fbi.gov you can also: — contact Detective Andre Edwards of the Columbus Police Department, Ohio at 614-645-4624 OR [email protected] — contact FBI ViCAP at (800) 634-4097 OR [email protected]

Asha Degree was a 9 year old girl, who was a star on the basketball court and had a loving and supportive family. February 14, 2000– she left her bed and disappeared into the rainy darkness. A timeline leading up to Asha’s disappearance since unfolded, clues were uncovered, and multiple questions arose. What happened to Asha in those early hours of Valentine’s morning & what truly motivated her to leave? If you have any information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of Asha Degree, please contact: • The FBI: 704-672-6100 • Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office: 704-484-4788

Gather round’ the campfire 🔥 Let’s tell some urban legends! This episode covers the tales of 100 Steps Cemetery and Goatman. A strange ghostly figure with prophetic visions & a bloodthirsty creature hiding in the woods. Do you believe these stories… or are they really just legend?

This week’s episode is a RE-RELEASE because this week turned out to be very unpredictable and LOUD NOISES! This episode dives into the drug rehab turned cult. Synanon began in the late 50’s-early 60’s, and grew to be a nightmare for most that attended. From shaved heads, to attack therapy, to a fleet of 400 motorcycles and an airstrip, Synanon became very well known to California residents. But no cult starts out as a “cult”! Find out how this rehab program on the beach was later twisted into something horrific!

Lindy Sue Biechler was a newlywed, 19 year old girl, whose beautiful life was just beginning. After a day of work and errands, she returned home to her apartment— only to be met with an intruder of the worst kind. Investigators worked tirelessly from 1975-on, never giving up on Lindy or her case. This episode comes with a timeline of information that makes you want to scream from the rooftops (in good ways & bad). Listen in to hear Lindy’s story and the power of perseverance and DNA technology. If you have any information regarding Lindy’s murder or knew/witnessed Sinopoli during the 1975 timeframe, please contact: • Lancaster County Detective Christopher Erb: 717-299-8100