Last week was a lighter week in true crime, but this week is making up for it! We’ve got some blasts from the past popping back up in the news, updates on some ongoing cases, and some recent court judgments. So, get yourself a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or whatever your beverage of choice is, because we’ve got a lot to discuss!
Part 1: Current Cases
Texas County, Oklahoma: Arrests were made in the case of the missing Kansas moms, Veronica Butler, 27, and Jillian Kelley,39. Missing since March 30, the women’s bodies were apparently found this weekend, although official identification and cause of death is still pending. Four people were arrested, and details are emerging surrounding the who, what, why, when and how. Based on details we’ve pulled from here and there, it seems that this all centers around a custody dispute between suspect Tifany Adams, and one of the victims, Veronica Butler. (It does not seem that Jillian Kelley was affiliated with the two families beyond her role as a facilitator appointed to be present for the custody swaps.) Meanwhile a small Kansas community mourns and tries to move forward after this senseless. self-seeking crime.
Sydney, Australia: A mass stabbing in a shopping mall resulted in the loss of six lives, with a number of others seriously injured. The perpetrator was a 40 year old man who’d only moved to Sydney four weeks earlier. His motives, so far, are unclear but there’s nothing unclear about the terror he unleashed in a matter of fifteen minutes. So many lives tragically lost in the midst of what was otherwise just an ordinary Saturday afternoon at a shopping mall.
Gilbert, Arizona: One of the seven suspects arrested in the Preston Lord murder case, which we covered last week, has been released on bond as he awaits his trial on first degree murder and kidnapping charges. Talyn Vigil is the first of the seven suspects to have been released, and will wear an electronic monitoring device prior to his day in court, where he will be tried as an adult.
Box Elder County, Utah: This week the body of missing teen Dylan Rounds was found after the man long suspected of killing him struck a plea bargain and took authorities to where the body was. This is a case we’ve been following ever since Dylan went missing and his parents took up the charge to push for answers. Dylan, who had dreamed of working his own farm had bought remote property and began farming it, working the unyielding land day in and day out, committed to his dream until the day he disappeared. This week his parents got the answer they’d likely known was coming, but had to have been hard to take in, nonetheless. Dylan was quite a kid, and our thoughts go out to all who loved him and lost him at such a young age.
Part 2: Trial Updates
Santa Fe, New Mexico: Rust movie armorer, Hannah Gutierrez was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins in March of this year and was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison. Gutierrez’s attorneys had requested a conditional discharge, which meant straight probation, but the state opposed this motion, stating that in recorded jail calls Gutierrez has continually placed blame on others instead of taking responsibility for her part in the death and has not shown genuine remorse. The judge agreed with the state and gave Gutierrez the maximum. She also gave her quite a talking-to.
Boise, Idaho: Chad Daybell had his first week of court this past week, and in opening statements his attorney John Prior revealed his defense tactic, which was really no surprise to anyone. Prior blamed Chad’s second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, who has already been convicted for the murder of her two children (who were found buried on Chad’s property), as well as other crimes. Lori is currently in Arizona, where she was extradited to stand trial for the murder of her husband, Charles Vallow, the man she was married to when she met— and pursued, to hear John Prior tell it— Chad Daybell. Prior would like the jury to believe that Chad was just an innocent bystander caught up in Lori and her brother Alex’s terrible actions. We shall see if the jury will go for that. This trial is expected to go about 8 weeks, so we will keep you posted with any news that is revealed through testimonies from week to week.
Hudson, Wisconsin: This week Nicolae Miu, who stabbed several teenagers, one of whom lost his life, after an alcohol-fueled encounter while tubing, was found guilty of first degree reckless homicide, amongst other charges. This is one of those tough ones where the perpetrator, an immigrant who was initially confronted by the drunken teens, could’ve made different choices, but didn’t. It is heartbreaking for all involved. So needless. And now he faces up to 97 years in prison. HIs sentencing has not been scheduled yet.
Stamford, Connecticut: Michelle Troconis was in court this week asking for a new trial and to be acquitted on all charges. The judge denied both motions, but is considering vacating one charge that has to do with tampering with evidence due to double jeopardy possibly applying. Troconis is due to be sentenced in May for being convicted of criminal involvement in the murder of Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five who went missing and has never been found. Jennifer Dulos was the wife of Fotis Dulos, who was Troconis’ romantic partner.
Ivin, Utah: Kevin Franke, the husband of convicted child abuser, Ruby Franke, filed a lawsuit against Ruby’s business partner, and the family’s therapist, Jodi Hildebrandt who owned the home where the Franke children were abused, this week. Franke is asking for damages in order to provide the ongoing therapeutic and medical care the children will need to heal from the horrific physical and emotional abuse they endured at the hands of their mother and her friend.
Part 3: Old Cases, Revisited
Las Vegas, Nevada: OJ Simpson died after a battle with prostate cancer this past week. His children with Nicole Brown Simpson, the woman he was accused of murdering (along with her friend Ronald Goldman) did spend time with him in his final days. Famously acquitted for the heinous crime, OJ lived and died with a cloud of suspicion hanging over him. Both Kato Kaelin, who lived on the property where OJ lived at the time of the murders, and Ronald Goldman’s father gave statements after he died, each showing how that night— and the questions surrounding it— lingers on in their consciousness, and ours.
Florence, Italy: Amanda Knox, the young woman who was convicted of the murder of her roommate in Italy back in 2007— and served four years in prison before being exonerated in 2011— is headed back to court in Italy for a slander trial because, under some pretty intense questioning, she accused a Congolese bar owner of the murder. In Italy, slander is a felony. Amanda, 36, is now married and a mother of 2 who works as an advocate for people who have also been wrongfully accused. She says she sees this time in court as an effort to clear her name in Italy, and also in America.
Frederick, Colorado: The house where family annihilator Chris Watts killed his pregnant wife, Shannan, went back on the market this week, causing speculation amongst people who are infinitely drawn to this case. The family that bought the house have done significant redecorating and had claimed that they were only there to bring life and happiness back to the home. Yet they only stayed there less than two years. We doubt we will ever find out why they decided to move on, but we wish whoever else decides to live there all the best.
Waukesha, Wisconsin: Morgan Geyser, one half of the duo of 12 year old girls who brutally stabbed another 12 year old, Payton Leutner, 19 times to please a fictional character called Slenderman was refused conditional release by a judge this week. She was committed to a state mental institution for 40 years and has served 10 of those years. She has been off anti-psychotic meds since December of 2022 with no violent outbursts. But after two days of testimony about her mental state, the judge deemed Geyser, now 21, as still a public safety risk. She can try again in six months.
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana: Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was the victim of Munchasen by Proxy Syndrome from her mother, who she was later convicted of the second degree murder of, has split with the husband she married in prison in 2022, Ryan Anderson. We realize this was last week’s news. But this past week it was revealed that Gypsy has now filed a restraining order against Ryan. Though Ryan has been vocal about his heartbreak over the breakup with Gypsy, it seems Gypsy is moving on. She was spotted shopping and smoking cigarettes at a Louisiana Dollar General with ex-boyfriend Ken Urker and they got matching tattoos. Gypsy also went public about a recent nose job. Her new show Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup premieres this coming June on Lifetime network, which we don’t think comes as a surprise to anyone reading this.
That’s it for this week. As always, let’s remember to keep these victims and their loved ones in our hearts and prayers as they piece their lives back together amidst such loss and trauma. We wish for hope, healing, and peace to reign in the lives we’ve mentioned today, whether named or not. May justice prevail.