SOLVED! 2011 Cold Case Murder of Teen: Justice For Blake Chappell

He was the first to use PCR testing on crime-scene DNA, inspiring a practice that has freed thousands of wrongfully convicted people. Edward T. Blake passed away due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. He is credited with being THE forensic expert that sparked the Innocence Movement using PCR to help set wrongfully convicted people free. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack go behind the scenes of the life of Forensic Scientist Edward T. Blake and explore how the technology he helped develop showed up on the big screen as Jurassic Park but showed up in courtrooms across the country as a way to prove a convicted person innocent of the crime as charged.          Transcribe Highlights00:00.03 Introduction  02:12.96 Edward Blake has died, led to exoneration of more than 50 people 06:26.42 Peter Neufeld calls Edward Blake the Ted Williams of DNA 09:53.90 What is a "forensic prostitute" 15:16.69 using fragmented DNA 20:08.12 DNA Replication and Jurassic Park 25:08.04 Blake was a problem solver 30:12.93 Work as a forensic scientist 35:07.77 Testing methodology 40:01.81 Blake set the standard 42:07.71 Conclusion DSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fake photos, false claims and wild conspiracy theories swirling around the murder of Charlie Kirk are nothing more than click bait for people trying to build a following on the death of a man who wanted to engage in a truthful discussion of our differences in an attempt to find common ground.  Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take a close look at what is really happening in the discussion about the murder of Charlie Kirk.  Why does Joe call it a murder investigation? Who is really in charge of the investigation? Why are some people so ready to embrace unfounded, made up stories, while ignoring the facts of what actually took place when Charlie Kirk was murdered in front of the world?         Transcribe Highlights 00:00.03 Introduction  01:32.62 The Death of Charlie Kirk 05:06.05 Murder of Assassination 09:57.63 Prosecutor press conference 14:25.00 Solving a murder, not a political event 19:02.29 Claims about autopsy 24:28.32 APs and Laterals 29:35.10 Autopsy would take place at a specific time 34:17.85 Discussion of ammunition size and speed 39:11.01 ATF might be consulting the case 43:03.48 Candace Owens "claims" of "inside info" 48:08.91 Murder Investigation      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He is called "The Butcher of Plainfield" "Grandfather of Gore  "The Ghoul of Plainfield" and has been a source of inspiration of countless movies that take a small truth about the life of Ed Gein and spin an entire book or movie series designed to scare those who dare read or watch. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack go behind the stories and tell the true story of a man who admitted to killing two women in the 50s but is suspected of so much more.             Transcribe Highlight 00:02.83 Introduction  02:11.40 Conversation about Ed Gein 05:02.30 Scary movies using parts of Ed Gein story 10:09.05 Grave Robbing  15:08.53 Body exam done in a mortuary 20:13.24 Deputy sent to Ed Gein's house, finds decapitated victim 25:24.90 Gein admitted killing two women - did he practice on the dead? 30:09.33 Waste basket made of human skin, skulls mounted on bedposts 35:10.80 Gein made belt out of nipples 40:23.39 Movies using parts of Ed Gein story  42:03.25 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Franz and Theresia Kraus are a retired couple. In 2025 he is 92 and she is 83. The problem is that nobody has seen them in several years. Their social security checks are automatically deposited and their adult son, Lorenz Kraus, tends to other matters for them. After years of attempting to contact the couple without success, the social security office asks police to do a "welfare check" on Franz and Theresia Kraus. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take a look at what happened when police do the welfare check and how their "loving son" Lorenz Kraus ends up on local tv confessing to killing his parents and burying their bodies in the backyard.           Transcribe Highlights 00:00.11 Introduction 01:16.21 Man buries mom and dad in backyard 04:36.12 Mountain Family Comes to big city to transport body of their loved one on a flatbed truck 08:59.11 News Anchor gets son to admit murder during interview 14:37.45 Early Luminol story 20:10.37 Body decomposing in soil will cause sinking 25:11.76 Newsman interviews murderer 30:14.33 Suffocated father 34:31.88 Admits killing in 2017 40:13.36 Skeletal remains can breakdown 44:27.65 Conclusion  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christa Pike killed a classmate in Job Corps, carved a pentagram in her chest with a box cutter, kept a piece of crushed skull as a trophy, and showed it to friends. Sentenced to death for the January 1995 murder, she finally gets her date with death, but it is still another year away! On January 12, 1995, Colleen Slemmer, 19, was lured to her death by Christa Pike, Tadaryl Shipp, and Shadolla Pederson. Pike believed Colleen was trying to steal her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp.  Colleen's friends say she was not involved with Shipp. J oseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack look at the beating that brought about Colleen's death. And how Christa Pike saved a piece of Colleen's skull as a trophy she shows to other members of Job Corps. Shadolla Pederson turned informant and got probation. Tadaryl Shipp was sentenced to life but comes up for parole this month. Christa Pike was sentenced to death, and the date of her execution has been set for September 2026.       Transcribe Highlights 00:03.86 Introduction 03:29.97 What Christa Pike did in killing Colleen 08:31.69 Must be death penalty qualified  13:02.52 Job Corps 18:02.64 Christa Pike lured Colleen 23:32.31 Brain coming out of skull  27:37.26 Moving skin around skull  31:37.68 Long cut down Colleen's back 36:29.24 Colleen endured great pain during beating  41:07.05 Crime solved within 36 hours 44:26.51 Conclusion  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirby Carpenter was a 36-year-old entrepreneur dealing in gold, silver, and coins. He was known to carry large sums of cash at all times, was found dead on December 2, 2022. Authorities believe he was murdered with a shotgun or a firearm that fires shotgun-style shells on November 30, shortly after returning home from a grocery trip. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the case behind the murder and the trial that has just ended.             Transcribe Highlights 00:05.83 Introduction 03:23.12 Sounds like "movie of the week" 05:00.85 Spence steals horse "Goliath" 09:59.19 Murdered by gun that fires "shotgun like" shells 14:43.31 Different guns for different hunting 20:12.78 Multiple bullet holes using shotgun 25:09.84 Drag marks lead to shooting location 30:07.44 If a robbery, body wouldn't have been moved 35:02.15 $2,000 in cash in a pocket 40:04.25 Caitlin is the one who "found" Kirby 45:36.01 SHOCKING MISTRIAL! ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The remains of an unknown female were discovered in a well shaft in Saskatoon's Sutherland neighborhood in 2006. Now, almost 20 years later, she has been identified as a woman born in 1881! Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack go behind the shocking find and discover who the woman was and how she was murdered!  Alice Spence (nee Burke), a woman of Irish ancestry who was about 35 years old at the time of her death, sometime between 1916 and 1918. Saskatoon and Toronto Police Services Team with Othram to Identify Canada's "Woman in the Well". Check out DNASolves.com         Transcribe Highlights 00:08.72 Introduction -History  03:17.40 Ben Franklin's bathroom  05:20.03 Human remains in burlap bag, placed in a barrel, found in a well  10:01.36 Murderer did good job hiding body  15:30.58 Forensic anthropologist at work 20:25.39 Joe Loves the Saints 25:05.77 Atl, body stashed down manhole 30:12.75 Hyoid bone could still be intact 35:20.77 Gilgo, burlap sacks used 40:14.48 Othram is changing lives  45:12.44 Body finally identified with trauma from murder 47:03.89 Conclusion  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After hitting Kjersten Strang on her Ebike with such force her body lands wedged in the windshield of his Nissan Altima, Xavier Rigby, 22, continues driving with the single mom embedded in his windshield. Finally, after eight blocks, her body dislodges from the windshield and lands on the ground, but Rigby doesn't stop, he keeps driving. He is captured a mile away at a closed liquor store! Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take a look at the vehicle vs bicycle story and Joe explains how investigators will determine what happened and where, even when the crime scene is 8 blocks long.              Transcribe Highlights00:02.52 Introduction 00:31.09 Learning to drive  04:20.61 Kjersten Strang hit riding bike, lands in windshield 09:25.84 Driver continues driving 13:59.45 Accident investigation course 18:18.40 Car hit rear tire of bike 22:56.58 Looking for pieces of body  27:03.60 Suicide by vehicle 31:31.94 Pimp hit by cab  35:39.82 Fatal Vehicle vs Bicycle crash   39:47.92 Woman has armed ripped off body  41:35.31 Conclusion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The homicide investigation into the death of Vadim Kruglov, a 37-year-old Russian national who called Washington State home, continues as the 70,000 attendees and a killer leave Black Rock City. While everyone focused on the Burning Man, the dying man was laying in a pool of his own blood, bleeding out from a stab wound to the throat. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss what the crime scene is like when the murder happens in a temporary city, where thousands of people are standing around one another but nobody sees a man murdered. A festival of art and piece ends with fire and murder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joseph Scott Morgan challenges his class at Jacksonville State University to try and solve a cold case. Two years in a row, two different classes and students chose the unsolved murder of Blake Chappell.  Blake Chappell tells his mother he is having the best night of his life with his girlfriend at the East Coweta High School Homecoming Dance. By 6am the next morning, he is missing. Two months later, Blake's body is found in a creek, shot in the head. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack look at the story and how after 14 years, police have arrested Scotty Elliott Smith and have charged him with the 2011 murder of Blake Chappell!           Transcribe Highlights 00:02.06 Introduction, benchmarks in a child's life 02:04.24 Background on Blake Chappell 05:07.36 Looking at a "Cold Case" 09:15.68 JSU Students choose to work Chappell case 14:16.64 Blake walks back to girlfriend's house 19:25.73 5:00am Blake walking, texting 24:14.77 Blake ended up in jail previously 28:42.00 Police playing things close to the vest 33:27.98 Blake was found in his underwear, shot in head 39:07.60 Police arrest Scotty Elliott Smith for murder 45:32.74 Smith had a long criminal record 50:31.54 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.