Oct. '26 Update

A note before you start- remember a few months ago when we said we'd be changing from RedCircle to iHeartRadio for our feed? Well, we made that change and assumed everything was working correctly. We didn't check, and no one asked us what was up, so we had no idea nothing was uploading! We apologize for the lack of episodes and the no-longer-timely content. Welcome to Murder in the Rain’s update for October 2026! Today we’ll be letting you know where we stand on a few things. We’ll talk about some naughty coppers and a plea from a family member of Aron Christensen. We have information about Donald Vandetta, a couple of special events coming up for spooky season, and of course, Josh’s Library Corner and Hot Streamers, so here…we… go!Gresham police identify man killed in homicide linked to fatal police shootingThe IJ Database of ALPR Abuse - Institute for JusticeAuburn Police say ‘wrong man’ was involved in shooting | Update | Courier-HeraldA license plate camera got it wrong. Police arrested the father instead | king5.comOpinion: A humble plea to Lewis County citizens about your upcoming vote | The Daily ChronicleBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

Michael, 42, was a former prosecutor and judge, chosen as Director of the Oregon Department of Corrections in 1987. On January 17, 1989, the night before he was to speak to the Oregon Senate about corruption he’d discovered, he was stabbed to death.Officials refused the theory that this had been a move to silence Michael, instead insisting he had been the victim of a car burglary. In 1991, 29-year-old petty criminal Frank Gable was railroaded into a no-parole life sentence for Michael Francke's murder. He spent the next 28 years incarcerated. In 2019, Gable's conviction was overturned, and he was exonerated, receiving a settlement of 1.9 million dollars, paid by the State of Oregon. This was after a federal appellate court found "significant investigative misconduct" by the State, as well as the exclusion of crucial evidence indicating another suspect in the murder.Now, almost 40 years after Michael Francke's murder, his unknown killer or killers remain free, and local journalist Phil Stanford has written a book about the murder, the wrongful conviction, and how Michael’s brother, Kevin, has been fighting for justice for all these years. “Who Killed Michael Francke- and How They Got Away with It” is available now. We will be interviewing Phil Stanford on the Murder in the Rain Podcast to discuss this case for an upcoming episode. While Michael Francke's murder remains unsolved, there doesn’t seem to be a specific agency handling the case. The Oregon State Police, in fact, has refused to reopen the investigation, which they initially led in 1991.If you have any information about Michael Franke’s murder on January 17, 1989, OregonCrimestoppers.org would be a good place to start, or you can email us at [email protected], and we can connect you with the case’s expert, Phil Stanford. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this episode, Josh interviews journalist and author, Phil Stanford, about the infamous Michael Francke murder case. Why has no one been charged when it seems everyone knows who's to blame?Who Killed Michael Francke? - 1989 | KATU In The Archives - Phil Stanford Oregonian 1990 ad - DESTINY KEPT THE APPOINTMENT 2.8.89 - Michael Francke - Unsolved Mysteries - Portraits of guilt : the woman who profiles the faces of America's deadliest criminals : Boylan, Jeanne : Internet Archive - Unsolved Mysteries: The Michael Francke Case Explained | TikTok - Without Evidence | Angelina Jolie | YouTube - https://www.statesmanjournal.com/picture-gallery/news/2019/04/19/photos-through-years-michael-francke-murder/3520300002/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

A few weeks ago, we had a booth at Troutdale’s First Friday. I love being a booth bitch, Josh loves….helping me. While we’ve always had a good time at the bigger events, like CrimeCon, it was SO much fun speaking with our neighbors, talking about true crime. What was surprising, but shouldn’t have been, was how many people mentioned cases I had never heard of! Names and stories were coming at us left and right. It was during one of these conversations, with new friend of the show, Jill, we learned about a disturbing case I was shocked had never been on my radar. She asked if we knew about the young girl who had been thrown off a cliff into the Clackamas River. We hadn’t, and it piqued my interest. When I was first researching the case, I wasn’t sure there would be enough for an entire episode. Then, I kept pulling the thread and it led me down an unexpected path. What I thought would be a case about a young woman’s murder, led me to her heartbreaking background: which included another murder and a devastated mother left houseless. This is the story of the Spicer family.Photos and links to interviews and the GoFundMe are on our blog.Join Patreon for just $1 for bonus content not available anywhere else! https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091398847/?match=1&search-id=6258386a-6d10-4490-b42e-49af715946e7&search-rank=7&terms=%26%2334%3BDeborah+Spicer%26%2334%3B+ - https://www.koin.com/news/elderly-and-evicted-one-gresham-womans-struggle/ - https://www.koin.com/news/elderly-and-evicted-donna-still-looking-for-new-home/ -https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/evicted-elderly-woman-finds-new-apartment/ - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183058350/deborah-sue-spicer - https://law.justia.com/cases/oregon/court-of-appeals/1993/124-or-app-585.html - https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/state-v-bockorny-890886793 - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1092643813/?match=3&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=1&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091470537/?match=5&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=2&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/187732508/?match=3&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=3&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1312687161/?match=3&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=4&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1092367108/?match=3&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=5&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1092650066/?terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3Bn - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1092633838/?match=1&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=7&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091315637/?terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091631215/?match=4&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=9&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091566184/?match=5&search-id=6ecdcf91-08af-492a-ba44-e7c98281d092&search-rank=10&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/886295034/?terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/272978163/?match=1&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=1&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/272979775/?match=1&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=3&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/272980738/?match=1&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=5&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/273082347/?match=1&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=9&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1053893112/?match=1&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=16&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1174576967/?match=2&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=25&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1053897693/?match=1&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=18&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/248096852/?match=1&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=20&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091448720/?match=3&search-id=7fab9f94-dac1-42d4-99d8-548e96242841&search-rank=24&terms=%26%2334%3BRandy+Bockorny%26%2334%3B - https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/103481?page=28 - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1172639364/?match=1&search-id=69f696d2-d1fa-4b4e-a4c1-cd6eeee6a112&search-rank=8&terms=%26%2334%3BDeborah+Spicer%26%2334%3B+ - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1174575902/?match=1&search-id=69f696d2-d1fa-4b4e-a4c1-cd6eeee6a112&search-rank=9&terms=%26%2334%3BDeborah+Spicer%26%2334%3B+ - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1178333464/?match=1&search-id=69f696d2-d1fa-4b4e-a4c1-cd6eeee6a112&search-rank=10&terms=%26%2334%3BDeborah+Spicer%26%2334%3B+ - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091408565/?terms=%26%2334%3BDeborah+Spicer%26%2334%3B+ - https://www.newspapers.com/image/1093497738/?article=e91b5c9a-007e-45e2-bfa4-1161b79e38c3&search-id=4a3dfe05-f8e9-498f-b411-4cbe8e27483d&search-rank=15&terms=%26%2334%3BScott+Spicer%26%2334%3B - https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/or-court-of-appeals/1377833.html - Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

The word Vendetta originated in Italy and was related to clan-based feuds. The meaning expanded to acts committed in a feud before eventually meaning a prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts. Going back further, Vendetta traces back to the Latin verb “vindicta,” meaning vindication or revenge. So it comes as little surprise to learn the antagonist in today’s case was named Donald Vandetta. He didn’t care that his victim, Susan Reed, was with someone else or had told him she wanted to end things. He couldn’t see past his own wants and desires. Leading to a catastrophic outcome. A few months back, we received an email from listener Sarah. I’ll skip the compliments; while they are appreciated, anyone who knows me knows that’s not my love language. What she told me was that her great-aunt Phillis’ daughter Susan had been murdered in 1987 near a rail yard. Phyllis eventually passed, taking the information she knew about the case with her. Phyllis had attended the parole hearings for her daughter’s killer to make sure he stayed behind bars. Since Sarah wasn’t privy to case details, she wanted to carry the torch for Susan, but she didn’t have enough information to do so. I’ve since received the police reports about this case. While at first this appeared to be a lover scorned in an “if I can’t have you no one will” type of jealous rage, the investigation revealed much more. Susan sought help from friends and authorities. She tried to protect herself by asking for support. She told Donald no over and over again. Still, nothing could stop this man on his green-with-envy path of destruction.Full Police Report PDF - Classmates - Vandetta Yearbook - Classmates- Susan Yearbook - Sunday Oregonian Obituaries- Nov. 8 1987 - East Oregonian Nov. 6 1987- Portland records another homicide - The Oregonian March 16 1988 - Vancouver man convicted of murder in death of ex-girlfriendOur Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

Hey! It’s update time! We’ll share our return from break date and some other show business. We finally have news about Cameron Hooker’s case, an update to Aron Christensen’s case, Seattle had to settle a suit, as did Oregon. I’ll chat a little about Camp Erin, and of course we’ll visit Josh’s Library Corner and Hot Streamers, so let’s get on with it!Trial considers fate of 'girl in the box' kidnapper Cameron Hooker as jurors weigh predator status - San Mateo Co.: Hearing Begins To Keep Parole-Eligible Sexually Violent Predator Civilly Committed - Tehama DA says community can breathe easier after Cameron Hooker release blocked - Family requests investigations into death of Aron Christensen - The Daily ChronicleSeattle pays $2.6M to settle sexual harassment claims against ex-chief - Oregon to pay $800K to man wrongfully convicted of murder in 1980s - oregonlive.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

Welcome to Murder in the Rain and to our update for June of 2026! Today we’ll be talking about a phone scam, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, some info about the show this summer, updates to our Street Kids episode & a wildlife sanctuary, and of course Josh’s Library Corner and Hot streamers. Let’s get on with it!No sheriff's office will ever call to demand payment - Parole denied for man convicted in Portland ‘street family’ killing - Convicted for a shocking Portland murder, he’s now asking Oregon to free him - Owner of Oregon wildlife park pleads guilty to more than 40 charges of animal neglectOur Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

In our last episode, I told you the stories of Elena Jacobs and Teresa Krause. How their bodies were found on Del Rey beach, 7 months after they disappeared from the Tongue Point Job Corps location, and that no one has been held responsible for their deaths. In this episode, I’ll still be focused on Del Rey Beach, but jumping ahead to 1988. That was when 15-year-old Dorene Raterman disappeared after going on a bike ride. Someone was held responsible, but was he the only responsible party?The Oregonian June 29 1988 Seaside suspect hunted (PHOTO) - Dorene's Yearbook - Findagrave.com Dorene Marie Raterman - Seaside Signal March 29 1984- Artistic Advice - Seaside Signal June 21 1984- Seaside Kids, Inc. baseball 1984 - Seaside Signal Feb 21 1985- Good citizenship award - Seaside Signal Jan 30 1986 - Other scores… - Seaside Signal Feb 6 1986- Other Scores… - Seaside Signal Feb 20 1986 Other Scores… - Seaside Signal Jan 22 1987 Broadway's Brightest - Seaside Signal April 7 1988 Sports notes - Almond Eastman Obituary (1935 - 2004) - Clatskanie, OR - The Daily News - The Oregonian June 17 1988 Northwest Digest - The Oregonian June 17 1988 - Gearhart girl, 15, vanishes; officials fear foul play - The Daily Astorian June 17 1988 Search widens for teenager who vanished - The Bulletin June 19 1988 Gearhart girl still missing - The Daily Astorian June 20 1988 Leads sparse in search for teen - Albany Democrat-Herald Gerhart Teen Still Missing - The oregonian June 24 1988 'Whoever's got her, please let her go' - The Observer June 28 1988 Astoria man implicated in disappearance - Longview Daily News June 29 1988 Man arrested, charged with killing Oregon girl - Tri-City Herald July 12 1988 Hundreds of residents search for missing Oregon teenager - The Daily Astorian July 26 1988 Cause of Raterman's death uncertain - Seaside Signal Aug 4 1988- Hundred throng to pay last respects for Raterman - Albany Democrat Herald June 30 1988 - Colunteers continue search for girl's body - The Daily Astorian Nov 23 1990 - Penalty phase of Futch's trial opens Monday - JOSH MARQUIS: - Oregon's Death Penalty - The Oregonian July 26 1991 - Figure in teen's murder gets 5-year prison term - Seaside Signal Aug. 1 1991 Eastman meted five years - The Oregonian June 27 1995 - Prospect of a free Mullins shocks victim's parentsOur Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

On April 9th, 2006, a memorial service was held at the entrance of Del Rey Beach on the Oregon coast. During that somber ceremony, there was an offer of comfort and closure for the families of Elena Jacobs, Teresa Kruse, and Doreen Raterman. Three crosses stood in the parking lot, instead of three young women. Over the next two episodes, I’ll be sharing the unsolved case of the double murder of Elena and Teresa, and the sort-of solved case of Doreen Raterman. Wife told ex-sheriff: ‘Don’t go’ | The Astorian - Tongue Point Job Corps Center slated to close | The Astorian - US Department of - Labor pauses Job Corps center operations - Job Corps | U.S. Department of Labor - Anchorage Daily News Sept. 15 2003- Obituaries - Aleknagik, Alaska - Wikipedia - The Daily Astorian April 7 2006- Memorial held for three girls - Ancorage Times Nov 3 1977 - Beating hospitalizes man, jails another - Anchorage Times Dec 7 1977 - Vital Satistics - The Daily Astorian Dec 6 1978 - Crime experts investigate apparent double murder - The Daily Astorian Dec 7 1978 - Identities of slain TP students confirmed - The Daily Astorian May 4 1978- Weather and Records - Oregon Jounral Dec 7 1978 - Coast slaying victims identified - The Oregonian Dec 8 1978- Bodies found at Gearhart those of Alaskan women - Albany Democrat-Herald Dec 7 1978 - DA's office identifies dead women - Longview Daily News Dec 7 1978- Bodies along beach were Job Corps girls - The News Tribune Dec 7 1978- Authorities say bodies Job Corps members - The Daily Astorian Dec 8 1978- Boy Scouts asked to search dunes- Tri-Ciry Herald Dec 8 1978- Women not shot to death - Seaside Signal Dec 28 1978- Top news stories during 1978 - Seaside Signal Jan 18 1979 - No leads found in murders - Seaside Signal Dec 14 1978- Bodies of two slain identified - ​​The Daily Astorian Jan 19 1988 Cannon Beach Police Dept. - Facebook Post - Oregon State Police : Cold Case Unit Our Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

When multiple young women were found slain within days of each other in 1978, not much fuss was made as they were simply labeled as ‘prostitutes’. If these stories had made more than a blimp in local reporting, there might have been talks of a serial killer being on the loose, tormenting sex workers. But what’s scarier? One man taking out multiple women, or multiple men killing women as they please? Today I’ll be discussing the stories of Antoinette Carter, Dianna Kuhn, and Lisa McCauley. Classmates.com- Toni Carter - Newspapers.com Dec 11 1978, Obituaries - Newspapers.com December 12 1978, Dianna wanted to 'be on her own' - A closer look at the 1978 cold murder case solved by West Linn police - Adams High School (Oregon) - Wikipedia - The Oregonian Dec 8 1978 - Second prostitute slain in Portland in 11 days - The Daily Astorian Nov. 28 1978 -Charge upped to murder - The Bulletin - March 30 1979- Murder trial begins - The Oregonian April 3 1979- Moore convicted in Woman's death - Oregon Journal April 3 1979- Man convicted of stomping death - The Bulletin April 3 1979 Moore convicted - The Oregonian- May 23 1979- Moore sentenced to 30 years in fatal assault - State v. Moore :: 1980 :: Oregon Court of Appeals Decisions - The Oregonain Aug 13 1993- Obits. Torey Carter - The Sunday Oregonian Aug 8 1993- Shootings leave 1 dead, 1 hospitalized - The Oregonian Aug 17 1993- Red-Clad mourners grieve for leader of gang - The Oregonian July 7 1994 - Killer of teen pleads no-contest to murder - The Sunday Oregonian Sept. 5 1993 - Moose: Chief gets out on the streets, patrols with officers - The Sunday Oregonian Jan 9 1994 - 1993: The Homicide Year - Alameda, Portland, Oregon - Wikipedia - Alameda neighborhood - Alameda (remastered) - The Oregonian Dec 3 1992- 9-year-old victim of shooting wants to move out of his home - Fontaine Bleau shooter sentenced to life in prison - Owner of Shuttered Hip-Hop Club, The Fontaine Bleau, Details Allegations of Racial Discrimination by Portland City Hall and OLCC - Judge throws out Fontaine Bleau’s discrimination suit against city of Portland, state liquor control commission - oregonlive.com - The Oregonian July 7 1994- Killer of teen pleads no-contest to murder - Oregon Journal June 6 1979 Confession to highlight murder trial - Statesman Journal Aug 18 1981- Courts - Oregon Journal Feb. 15 1979- Suspect held in death of woman, 68, here - Oregon Journal Dec 13 1979 Death Probe Continues - Oregon Journal Dec 14 1979, Police ask public aid in murder - Oregon Journal Jan 30 1979 Link hinted in slaying of women - The Oregonian Dec 14 1978 Park murder believed unrelated to slayings - Oregon Journal Dec 22 1978 Who killed Dianna Kuhn? Police checking every lead - Mary S. Young Park | City of West Linn Oregon Official Website - Oregon journal Nov 12 1981 - Slayer Quinn sentenced anew without guaranteed minimum - Oregon Offender SearchOur Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.

Welcome back to Murder in the Rain, where today we’ve got a gaggle of updates for you. One of which I’m extra excited about. Today I’ll be talking about new information in Kristin Tomlin’s case, how an artist in Seattle is honoring the victims of Gary Ridgway, a new documentary about Mulugeta Saraw, and how day parole was revoked for one of the murderers of Reena Virk. So let’s not waste any time and get to it!Reddit - Kristin Can You Hear Me? - How a Tacoma artist is honoring Gary Ridgway’s victims | The Seattle Times - LauraLeMoon- What The Earth Knows - Notorious B.C. killer Kelly Ellard gets pregnant while serving life sentence for murder - Where Is Reena Virk's Killer Kelly Ellard Now? Inside Her Life 28 Years After Murdering Her Classmate - Kyle Brewster, convicted in notorious 1988 hate crime killing, seen at pro-Trump rallies in Salem, Portland - oregonlive.com - Revoked day parole upheld for woman convicted in 1997 killing of Saanich teen | Victoria NewsOur Sponsors:* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-in-the-rain--3553421/support.