Nicole VanderHeyden // 503

In April of 1989, an intruder wiped out nearly an entire family inside their Indiana home on prom night. With little evidence left behind at the scene, the case went cold for some time - until renewed vigor in the investigation revealed a shocking suspect - one that many believe to this day may actually be innocent. These are the murders of the Pelley family, otherwise known as the Prom Night Murders.

In May of 2016, a 31-year-old woman went out for a night of music and drinks in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But the next morning, her body was found in a farmer’s field, miles from home, and brutally beaten. Investigators soon uncovered a tangled timeline of jealousy and digital footprints that pointed back to the man she had trusted most. But with evidence from a fitness tracker, the entire case against the most likely suspect would be questioned. This is the murder of Nicole VanderHeyden.Pre-order Daphne's thriller novel Night Watcher now! Out July 8: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/daphne-woolsoncroft/night-watcher/9781538770900/

In June of 1995, a 27-year-old morning news anchor vanished outside her Iowa apartment complex as she rushed to go to work in the dark, early morning hours. When police came upon the scene, they found her high heeled shoe, and various other items like a hairdryer strewn next to her car door - proving that she likely been abducted. As evidence of a stalker came into light, with her reporting being followed months earlier, and telling friends of disturbing anonymous phone calls, investigators worked hard to find a suspect. This is the disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit.

In June of 2013, a 25-year-old newlywed vanished in the picturesque mountains of Montana, just days after saying "I do." What began as a missing persons case in a tight-knit community quickly turned into something far darker, as investigators uncovered chilling secrets, a cryptic email regarding his death, and a truth that no one saw coming. This is the murder of Cody Johnson.

Tensions were high during the summer of 1983 in Saint Petersburg, Florida, leading it to become known as the “summer of hell” after a rash of murders plagued the city. Two years prior, Playboy had opened the Suncoast Club, the first of its kind in the area. And now, as the city grappled with a potential serial killer, the Suncoast Club’s “Bunny of the Year” contest would result in both the winner and the photographer turning up dead. The bunnies feared they were being targeted, and wondered: who among them could be next? With Holly Madison today, in excitement for her new season of The Playboy Murders on ID, these are the murders of Linda Lansen, Barbara Grams, and Carolyn Merricks.

In May of 2009, the 31-year-old wife of a televangelist’s security guard was murdered in her Illinois home alongside her two sons. For months prior, her husband had been receiving threatening messages via email, and he told police that he feared his anonymous stalker had finally acted on their warnings. But as the investigation into the tragic murders unfolded, a shocking scheme, and sinister cause, was revealed, and it was closer to home than anyone could have imagined. These are the murders of Sheri, Garett, and Gavin Coleman.

In February of 1985, two teenage girls headed out for an unofficial tour of a historic abandoned mansion outside of San Francisco. But once they arrived, the security officer outside - who had a bad reputation in the area - took the opportunity to prey on the girls, and what followed was a night of horror that only one of the girls would survive. This is the murder at the Carolands Chateau.Sources:“Carolands Foundation.” Carolands Foundation, https://carolands.org/history/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.“David Allen Raley Claims Autism Exempts Him from Death Sentence - UPI.Com.” UPI, UPI, 9 Sept. 2013, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/09/09/Calif-death-row-inmate-claims-autism-exempts-him-from-execution/18281378760170/.“Harriett Pullman Schermerhorn (1869-1956) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15732070/harriett-schermerhorn. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.“Living Terror : Stabbing Victim Survives on Sheer Willpower, Small Victories - Los Angeles Times.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 1988, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-22-mn-4762-story.html.“Trial Set to Start in Torture-Murder Case - UPI Archives.” UPI, UPI, 23 Mar. 1987, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/03/23/Trial-set-to-start-in-torture-murder-case/9763543474000/.SF Gate, 18 Sept. 2022, https://www.sfgate.com/sfhistory/article/california-gilded-age-mansion-carolands-17441886.php.The Peninsula Times Tribune, 5 Feb. 1985.SF Gate, 15 Apr. 2006, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/san-mateo-county-death-penalty-upheld-in-teen-s-2499469.php.The San Francisco Examiner, 5 Feb. 1985.The Peninsula Times Tribune, 9 Feb. 1985.News-Press, 6 Oct. 2006.The Peninsula Times Tribune, 2 Apr. 1987.

In January of 2025, a 14-year-old Indigenous girl went missing without a trace from her home in Mesa, Arizona. Just weeks later, her dismembered remains were discovered on the side of a highway a few hours away. Investigators began to dive into a devastating homicide investigation, but it is still very much underway. This is the murder of Emily Pike.Sources:Blasius, Melissa, et al. “What Led up to Emily Pike’s Placement in Foster Care?” ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV), ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV), 15 Apr. 2025, https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/what-led-up-to-emily-pikes-placement-in-foster-care.DeYoung, Lauren, and Robert Anglen. AZ Central, 15 Apr. 2025, https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2025/04/15/emily-pike-san-carlos-apache-tribe-homicide-investigation/83016994007/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawJyC_tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHq6CGD6NvXUs6oNFiGUTdzJ.Grace, Nancy. Horrifying Discovery: Emily Pike’s Body Found Off US 60. YouTube, 24 Mar. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAz9Sz83Kok.Holden, Ashley. “New Reports: Emily Pike Didn’t Want to Return to Group Home.” ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV), ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV), 24 Mar. 2025, https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/mesa/new-reports-emily-pike-didnt-want-to-return-to-group-home.Krasean, Nicole. “Family of Emily Pike Says Murdered 14-Year-Old Was a Sexual Assault Victim before the Murder Occurred | FOX 10 Phoenix.” FOX 10 Phoenix, FOX 10 Phoenix, 16 Apr. 2025, https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/family-emily-pike-says-murdered-14-year-old-was-sexual-assault-victim-before-murder-occurred.“Family of Emily Pike Says Murdered 14-Year-Old Was a Sexual Assault Victim before the Murder Occurred | FOX 10 Phoenix.” FOX 10 Phoenix, 16 Apr. 2025, https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/family-emily-pike-says-murdered-14-year-old-was-sexual-assault-victim-before-murder-occurred.The Interview Room. EMILY PIKE: IS THIS A SERIAL KILLER? - The Interview Room with Chris McDonough. YouTube, 14 Apr. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1e2W0EUPXE.Whitney, Briana. “Former Roommate Describes What Happened Before Emily Pike’s Mesa Disappearance.” Https://www.Azfamily.Com, https://www.facebook.com/arizonasfamily/, 5 Mar. 2025, https://www.azfamily.com/2025/03/05/former-roommate-describes-what-happened-before-emily-pikes-mesa-disappearance/.Young, Lauren De. “Slain Apache Teen Emily Pike Honored in San Carlos Memorial Service.” The Arizona Republic, Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2025, https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2025/03/29/slain-teen-emily-pike-honored-san-carlos-memorial-service/82697107007/.Legiscan, 2025, https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/HB2281/id/3059181

Between April of 1971 and September of 1972, six girls, between the ages of 10 and 18, were abducted from Washington DC and found murdered. After some of their abductions, he would call the families or those close to the case breathing heavily, or giving crude messages. Then, left behind in one of the victims’ pockets was a note from the killer, taunting the police by saying, “Catch me if you can,” followed by a terrifying name he gave himself. This is the story of the Freeway Phantom.