The Tuesday TWITCH: The Summer Break Edition 6/4/24
This Week In True Crime Happenings
Hello True Crime fans— did anyone go to Crime Con this past weekend? I so wish I could’ve been there but it just wasn’t doable this year. Someday, though! I was all set to go back in 2020 with my cousin, who’s an ADA (Assistant District Attorney) and therefore shares in my true crime interests. It would’ve been SO FUN. But we all know what happened there. <Whomp, whomp>
I wanted to let you guys know that this will be the last TWITCH for the summer. I’ve got a book due 10/1, and my latest one releasing on 10/1— so I really need to use all available time right now to work on all that. Which means I am taking a summer break and will plan to return in the fall. Who knows what will be going on in the true crime world by then? I honestly hope it’ll be nothing. But we all know that people consistently make bad decisions, act impulsively, and use substances that leave them with brains that aren’t functioning at full capacity— and that’s just for starters. So my hopes aren’t high that I’ll have nothing to report come fall.
In the meantime, we will leave off with this update. Several court judgments came through this past week, and a couple of new cases occurred:
Boise, Idaho: Chad Daybell, the self-professed prophet, was found guilty of the murder of his first wife and his second wife’s two children, and sentenced to death over the weekend. I was particularly fascinated by the way that Idaho does their DP cases, with the jury rendering their recommendation based on stipulations. It sort of takes the emotions out of the decision: Does the evidence support these extenuating circumstances? Yes? Ok, then. You have your answer. And the answer was likely not what Chad was hoping for.
Ocean County, New Jersey: Christopher Gregor was also found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated manslaughter, but not of murder, this past week in the “treadmill abuse” case. This was a case I was unaware of until recently, and had to do some background digging to understand. Such a tragic story— my heart goes out to the mother of little Corey Micciolo, who died so needlessly and tragically. Gregor will be sentenced August 2nd and faces up to 40 years at sentencing.
Hartford, Connecticut: Michelle Troconis, the girlfriend of Jennifer Dulos’ ex-husband, Fotis Dulos, who was convicted of helping him plan and cover up Jennifer’s murder, was sentenced to 14 1/2 years in prison for her role. After listening to victim impact statements from Jennifer’s family, Troconis spoke, saying she deeply regretted ever getting involved with Fotis Dulos. I bet she does.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: Christopher Palmiter, stepfather of still-missing girl Madalina Cojocari, the 11-year-old girl who was last seen in November of 2022, was found guilty by a jury of failing to report her disappearance and was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation and restitution for his defense attorney’s representation (estimated at $30,000). A tough case that still has no answers, I hope this judgment helps move this mystery towards the answer of where is Madalina?
Jefferson County, Missouri: Ashley Parmeley walked into the Festus Police Department and admitted to killing her two children, shooting her 9-year-old daughter, Scarlet, and drowning her 2-year-old son, Isaac. Details are still forthcoming but for now the suspect has been arrested following her confession and an investigation into this tragedy is being conducted.
Los Angeles, California: Johnny Wactor, the actor who portrayed Brando Corbin on the soap opera General Hospital, was working at a bar in downtown Los Angeles when he left his job at around 3:30 in the morning where he encountered thieves trying to steal his catalytic converter. It’s unclear what transpired exactly but he was shot, and died at the scene. There are three suspects out there, but no arrests have been made as of this writing. An investigation is ongoing and we hope the murderers are captured and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Mica Miller’s estranged husband, J.P. Miller, is due in court June 5th for a family court hearing. This is a story I’ve kind of lost the thread on, as it’s hard to parse out what is and isn’t true amongst the accusations being tossed around. At the end of the day, no matter what emerges, I keep trying to focus on this young woman who had so much ahead of her, yet is tragically gone.
Long Island, New York: Rex Heuermann, the suspected LISK (Long Island Serial Killer) is due back in court later this week and a lot of people are speculating that this means a new indictment for yet another murder following a six day search at his home in Long Island recently.
And that’s it for a while. It’s kind of like the end of the school year when we used to write in yearbooks, “Stay cool! Have a great summer! See you next year!”
Thanks to all of who’ve commented and shared this series over this first half of the year. I love sharing this weekly missive, and I know I will be thinking about it even as I’m working hard on other things. I’ll be back just as soon as I can, but in the meantime, y’all be safe this summer. Make good decisions, as I tell my kids. And, you know, stay cool. Have a great summer. See you next (school) year.
Thank you Linda— hope you have a lovely summer!
Best wishes on your writing and we will see you at summer's end.