For years, some law enforcement agencies have replaced the faces of traditional playing card decks with images of missing and murdered people and distributed those cards in prisons hoping inmates would come forward with information needed to crack these cold cases wide open. Now, audiochuck is dealing you in. Each week, we will be working with investigators and family members to bring you the details of some of the coldest cases from around the country in hopes that someone listening can finally bring these victims the justice they deserve.
Loni Kai Okaruru (5 of Hearts, Oregon)
Our card this week is Loni Kai Okaruru, the 5 of Hearts from Oregon.Loni Kai Okaruru made several stops on the morning of August 26, 2001, and interacted with several people, before she was beaten to death, her body left on a farm in Washington County, Oregon. Loni Kai’s murder was quickly labeled by police as a hate crime, but decades later her killer is still unknown. If you know anything about the murder of Loni Kai Okaruru in August 2001 in northwest Oregon, please call the Washington County Sheriff’s Investigations Division at 503-846-2500, and ask for Detective Shannon Wilde.To learn more about Basic Rights Oregon, please visit their website by clicking here.audiochuck is proud to support the Trans Journalists Association, an organization whose mission is to promote accurate, nuanced coverage of trans issues and communities in the media. To explore resources, learn more about their work, and join us in supporting them, please visit https://www.transjournalists.org/ Thank you to author and activist Raquel Willis, who helped us by reviewing and editing this episode. Visit her website to learn more about her work! View source material and photos for this episode at: thedeckpodcast.com/loni-kai-okaruruLet us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllcTo apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit www.seasonofjustice.org. The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Kirsten Leonard (9 of Spades, Nevada)
A while back, our team at audiochuck received an email from Kirsten Leonard’s family asking us if we would cover her case. Specifically, the email was sent by her nephew, Karsten, who’s named in memory of his aunt… an aunt he never got the chance to meet.That’s because in June 1986, at just 22 years old, Kirsten was murdered in what can only be described as a senseless and brutal crime.If you have any information about the murder of Kirsten Leonard in 1986, please call the Reno Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 775-334-2188, or anonymously report information by calling Secret Witness at 775-322-4900. You can also visit the Secret Witness link on the Reno PD’s website to submit tips anonymously, or send an email to rpdcoldcases@reno.gov. View source material and photos for this episode at: thedeckpodcast.com/kirsten-leonard Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllcTo apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit: www.seasonofjustice.org The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Renee Rosita Harris (King of Spades, Florida)
In the spring of 2000, a 24-year-old woman was found floating in a Citrus County, Florida canal. Though answers have eluded authorities for more than two decades, a present-day sergeant is hoping that putting her story in the spotlight may help reveal the truth.If you know anything about the murder of Renee Rosita Harris, you can call the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office at 352-249-2790 and ask for the major crimes unit. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call 1-800-ANY-TIPS (269-8477).View source material and photos for this episode at: thedeckpodcast.com/renee-rosita-harris/ Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllcTo apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit: www.seasonofjustice.org The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Twana Smith (7 of Clubs, Connecticut)
Our card this week is Twana Smith, the 7 of Clubs from Connecticut. When Twana Smith’s body was discovered behind an abandoned building in Hartford in October 1997, she joined a growing list of the city’s vulnerable locals who fell victim to violent predators. And for decades, her case sat unsolved, gathering dust… even as detectives found the keys to unlock mysteries from the same era. But after years of dead ends, investigators now believe they're on the brink of a breakthrough… they just need a final push over the finish line.If you know anything about the murder of Twana Smith, please contact the Hartford Police Department's Major Crimes Division at 860-757-4000, or the Cold Case Tip Line at 860-722-TIPS (8477). You can also email tips hartfordpd.media@hartford.gov.Hartford Detective Drew (Andrew) Jacobson’s email: Jacoa001@hartford.gov View source material and photos for this episode at: thedeckpodcast.com/twana-smith Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllcTo apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit www.seasonofjustice.org. The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at (317) 733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Debra Elizabeth Espey (6 of Clubs, Florida)
Our card this week is Debra Espey, the 6 of Clubs from Florida. A college campus in broad daylight in a town literally called “Niceville” might be one of the last places you’d expect a young collegiate to disappear from, but in March 1973, that’s exactly what happened.Debra Espey’s case spans more than 50 years, includes a primary suspect from the beginning, and has long been thought to have connection to other unsolved cases in the Florida panhandle. But for all the twists and misdirections, detectives are hopeful they can close this case soon.If you knew Debra back then and she shared any concerns with you before her murder, detectives want to know. You can contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477. You can also submit a tip online HERE. Or, download the P3 Tips Mobile App to submit anonymous tips from a free and secure mobile app.View source material and photos for this episode at: thedeckpodcast.com/debra-elizabeth-espey Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllcTo apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit www.seasonofjustice.org The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at (317) 733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Lola Katherine “Kathy” Fry (3 of Clubs, Indiana)
Our card this week is Lola Katherine “Kathy” Fry, the 3 of Clubs from Indiana. 28-year-old Lola, AKA Kathy, Kat, or Lolabee, as her family lovingly called her, was excited for a fresh start just before the holidays in 1993. She’d just left her job at an Indianapolis nightclub and was wrapping up the process of moving two hours northeast of Fort Wayne to live with her older sister. Kathy was planning to take her life down a new road and go back to school, maybe start a family.But before she could ever make good on those plans… something happened. Though, the specifics of what exactly that something was is still something we are trying to piece together today.If you have any information about the disappearance of Lola Katherine “Kathy” Fry in November of 1993, please call the Indiana State Police at (317) 899-8266, or you can provide an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please know that resources are available. You can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.View source material and photos for this episode at: thedeckpodcast.com/lola-katherine-kathy-fry Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllcTo apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit www.seasonofjustice.org. The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at +1 (317) 733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Kemberly Ramer (6 of Clubs, Florida)
Our card this week is Kemberly Ramer, the 6 of Clubs from Florida.In 1997, 17-year-old Kemberly Ramer had big goals of getting out of her small town. She made great grades, was a star athlete, and was well-liked by her peers. Heading into her senior year, she already had plans to go to college to become a physical therapist, and there was no question, she had the brains and the talent to do just that. It would take a thief, a monster in the middle of the night, to take that away from her. But that’s exactly what happened one August evening, and her mother thinks she knows the true identity of this so-far untraceable culprit.If you have any information about the murder of Kemberly Ramer in 1997, please contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 892-8111, or remain anonymous by calling the Emerald Crime Stoppers at (850) 863-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at EmeraldCoastCrimeStoppers.com View source material and photos for this episode thedeckpodcast.com/kemberly-ramer Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllcTo apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit www.seasonofjustice.org The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at +1 (317) 733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)
Our card this week is Rose Marie Gayhart, the Queen of Diamonds from New York.When 23-year-old Rose Gayhart left Dansville, New York with her boyfriend for Cape Coral, Florida in December of 1984, she was looking for a fresh start. But as Rose hugged her sister goodbye on that cold December day, neither of them could have imagined that it would be the last hug they’d ever share… or that within 3 short months, Rose would be gone.If you have any information about the disappearance of Rose Marie Gayhart, or the activities of Roland Davis in Florida in the mid-1980s, please contact the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223.To apply for a Cold Case Playing Card grant through Season of Justice, please visit www.seasonofjustice.org View source material and photos for this episode at thedeckpodcast.com/rose-marie-gayhartLet us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at +1 (317) 733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Roy Frisch (6 of Spades, Nevada)
Our card this week is Roy Frisch, the 6 of Spades from Nevada.Dubbed “the most famous missing man in Nevada” by local press, Roy Frisch was a bright light during an otherwise dark, lawless time in 1930s Reno. Yes, you read that right…1930s. This is the oldest case we’ve covered so far on this show. Roy disappeared almost 90 years ago, so while it’s not possible to punish those responsible for his death, thanks to newfound permission from a property owner, there is now serious potential his remains could be recovered, and just maybe, Roy can finally rest in peace.If you have any information about the disappearance and supposed murder of Roy Frisch in 1935, please contact the Reno Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (775) 334-2188, or you can anonymously report information by calling Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900. You can also visit Secret Witness on Reno PD’s website to submit a tip anonymously, or send an email to rpdcoldcases@reno.gov. View source material and photos for this episode at thedeckpodcast.com/roy-frisch Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at +1 (317) 733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more!
Nicole M. Saylor & Kayla M. Harris (7 & 8 of Hearts, Indiana)
Our cards this week are Nicole M. Saylor and Kayla M. Harris, the 7 and 8 of Hearts from Indiana. When three women are ambushed by a gunman in the early morning hours of a cold November Indiana night, investigators are left to sort through the complicated relationships of one, asking themselves who would want to hurt these women, and why. If you know anything about the murders of Nicole Saylor and Kayla Harris, and the attempted murder of Danielle Carter, you can submit an anonymous tip via the P3 tip line app, or call the Greater Fort Wayne Crime Stoppers at (260) 436-7867. Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AFTo apply for the Cold Case Playing Cards grant through Season of Justice, visit www.seasonofjustice.org.Follow The Deck on social media and join Ashley’s community by texting (317) 733-7485 to stay up to date on what's new!
Charles & Jennifer Chia (Jack of Diamonds, Nevada)
Our card this week is Charles and Jennifer Chia, the Jack of Diamonds from Nevada. Charles and Jennifer Chia could see their apartment complex from their school bus stop – that’s how close to their building it was. Such a small distance for something to go so terribly wrong. But a couple hundred feet is all it took for someone to stop the Chia siblings from making it home safely. That person has gone undetected for more than 34 years. But present-day detectives say their days are now numbered, as new technology could soon expose this nameless predator. If you know anything about the murders of Charles and Jennifer Chia, contact the Reno Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (775) 334-2188. You can also anonymously report information by calling Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900. If you don’t feel comfortable calling on the phone, you can visit the Secret Witness link on Reno Police’s website, where you can submit tips anonymously, or send an email to rpdcoldcases@reno.gov. Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AFTo apply for the Cold Case Playing Cards grant through Season of Justice, visit www.seasonofjustice.org.Follow The Deck on social media and join Ashley’s community by texting (317) 733-7485 to stay up to date on what's new!
Andrea Durham (Ace of Clubs, Florida)
Our card this week is Andrea Durham, the Ace of Clubs from Florida.Revisiting a place that holds bad memories isn’t for the faint of heart. Just pulling up to a specific location can bring on anxiety about the past trauma that once took place there. Even decades later, that sinking feeling doesn’t go away. Until recently, Ashyea Durham Pugh hadn’t been back to the scene since that mostly blocked-out memory was her cruel reality. That night she and her mom returned home to their apartment to find that her little sister had vanished without a trace. And as the anniversary of that fateful February passes, her uneasiness grows. Because February 1st, 2024 has come and gone. No one has seen Andrea Durham in 34 years. And whoever took her could still be out there.If you know anything about the disappearance of Andrea Durham, please contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477, or visit their website to submit a tip anonymously. Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AFTo apply for the Cold Case Playing Cards grant through Season of Justice, visit www.seasonofjustice.org. Follow The Deck on social media and join Ashley’s community by texting (317) 733-7485 to stay up to date on what's new!
Belinda VanLith (Queen of Hearts, Minnesota) Part 2
Our card this week is Belinda VanLith, the Queen of Hearts from Minnesota. This is part 2 of her story. Last week we walked through the initial investigation into the nearly 5-decade-old missing person case of 17-year-old Belinda VanLith. Despite her disappearance essentially being considered a runaway case by police initially, they had quickly come around to the possibility that perhaps Belinda had been met with foul play – and there were some people close to the cabin she was last known to be at that were looking like promising suspects, but police never had enough evidence to move forward, and her case went cold for almost 3 decades.Where we left off, investigators were 28 years into their investigation with little to show for it, when suddenly, in 2002, a relative came forward to police with a story they hadn’t heard before. And that’s where we’re picking up…If you have any information about the disappearance or murder of Belinda VanLith in 1974, please call Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at 1-800-222-TIPS. You can also submit a tip online through Crime Stoppers. Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AFFollow The Deck on social media and join Ashley’s community by texting (317) 733-7485 to stay up to date on what's new!
Belinda VanLith (Queen of Hearts, Minnesota) Part 1
Belinda’s story has held a special place in our hearts for a very long time. Back in August of 2022, her family reached out to the team here at audiochuck requesting we cover her case. We told Belinda’s family we’d try, and for months we did try – we reached out to the investigating agency on multiple occasions, but we’ve still never heard back about an interview.Thankfully, through a records request, we were eventually able to obtain hundreds and hundreds of pages of reports spanning the nearly 50 years since Belinda’s disappearance. Hopefully, by bringing her story to you, we can bring her some justice that she very much deserves.If you have any information about the disappearance or murder of Belinda VanLith in 1974, please call Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at 1-800-222-TIPS. You can also submit a tip online through Crime Stoppers. Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AFFollow The Deck on social media and join Ashley’s community by texting (317) 733-7485 to stay up to date on what's new!
Deshawna Wilkerson (3 of Clubs, Ohio)
Deshawna was a bright, recent high-school graduate who was so excited for her future in nursing. She loved helping others, and she wanted to make it her career. But late one night in October 2001, someone saw to it that Deshawna would never have a chance to help anyone ever again.If you know what Sam’s phone number or numbers were back in 2001, please contact the Dayton Cold Case Unit at (937) 333-7109, or you can submit a tip to the Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-637-5375.If you have been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Let us deal you in… follow The Deck on social media.Instagram: @thedeckpodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @thedeckpodcast_ | @audiochuckFacebook: /TheDeckPodcast | /audiochuckllc The Deck is hosted by Ashley Flowers. Instagram: @ashleyflowersTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieTwitter: @Ash_FlowersFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AFFollow The Deck on social media and join Ashley’s community by texting (317) 733-7485 to stay up to date on what's new!