In July 2021, a peaceful family camping trip in Ohio’s vast Appalachian Hills Wilderness Area turned into a chilling crime scene. Two lives were lost, and a community was shaken. In this gripping episode, we sit down with ODNR Investigator Kirk Kiefer to uncover the layers of a complex and haunting double homicide.
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Here’s what we discuss:
· Investigator Keifer appeared in a previous episode
· International Game Warden Association Officer of the Year
· ODNR’s nomination submission
· The ‘ginseng detective’
· Nomination was kept secret!
· A missing persons / suspicious activity report on State land
· The couple’s phones - and daughter - were left behind
· Suspect claimed the couple had gone to CA and were expected back
· A concerned camper contacted ODNR
· The couple’s license plate had recently been checked on the Interstate
· Suspect had a ‘tell.’
· “He was convinced I was a human lie detector.”
· The sudden confession: “I killed ‘em.”
· Killings had happened 13 days prior
· Suspect led investigators to the bodies
· Defense attorney admitted there was no defense to be mounted
· Claimed he was ‘rescuing’ the child
· Body cameras were used in case the suspect did not testify
· Appeared to feel badly about killing the female.
· “Sometimes there is no ‘why’.”
· Never expected to be investigating homicide
· Attended the couple’s memorial services
· Inter-agency cooperation was key to this case
· Killer received two automatic life terms with no parole
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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