While intriguing, unsolved mysteries are a nightmare for the loved ones left behind and the detectives dedicated to solving them. Sometimes it’s new forensic evidence and other times it’s as simple as re-examining clues that leads to a cold case being solved. You never know, you might be able to help classify these cases as solved, once and for all.
1. Shannon Baldwin-Hokanson, Enid, 2012.
Shannon, a mother of 3, was last heard from in May 2012 but was not reported missing until August 7, 2012. She stopped responding to family and friends in the spring of 2012. The police received a few tips on the whereabouts of her body but the tips only led them to a dead-end. Detectives believe she is a victim of foul play and continue their investigation in the case.
2. Girl Scout Murders of 1977
This horrific crime happened on June 13, 1977 at Camp Scott in Mayes County. It was the first night of Girl Scout camp when 3 young girls were killed and sexually molested. The girls were ages 8, 9 and 10 and were murdered sometime between 2-4 a.m. They were murdered in their tent and carried about 150 yards from it. At about 6 a.m., a camp counselor was walking along a trail to the shower when she discovered their bodies on the side of the trail. A man was tried and acquitted for the murders. Thirty years later, new DNA tests were found to be inconclusive, since the evidence was too old.
3. Paula Ivey George, Manchester, 2013
Paula, a 44 year-old woman, was shot to death in her home on April 30, 2013. Somebody shot her from the porch through a window into her bedroom. Paula's home was located at a busy intersection in Manchester and police believe someone had to have witnessed her murder. Nobody has come forward with any information.
4. Nancy Probst, Midwest City, 2000.
The case of Nancy Probst's murder still remains unsolved. In the daylight hours back in November 2000, Nancy was beaten and shot to death, while her 9 month old baby was in the room next to hers. Her cheating husband was not home at the time and saw her body through a window, before entering the home. He called police and waited down the street for them to arrive. He was the prime suspect and was held in jail for 13 months before the judge ruled there was not enough evidence to convict him. There had been other break-ins in the neighborhood and some women were sexually assaulted. Nancy's body was not sexually assaulted, so her crime did not follow the pattern of the others. Police are retesting unknown DNA that was found at the crime scene.
5. Lauria Bible and Ashey Freeman, Welch, 1999.
No one knows for sure what happened to Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman on December 30, 1999. The girls were staying the night at the Freeman's mobile home when sometime during the early morning hours a fire erupted. Mrs. Freeman's body was found in the mobile home but Mr. Freeman and the 2 girls were not found. A day later, Mr. Freeman was found shot in the head. His wife had also been shot in the head prior to the fire. No trace of Lauria or Ashley has ever been found. A few men have "confessed" but the confessions were proven false. The case still remains unsolved.
6. Brittany Phillips, Tulsa, 2004.
Brittany, an 18-year-old college student, was found dead in her Tulsa apartment on September 30, 2004. She had been raped and strangled and was probably dead for a few days before her body was found. DNA found at the crime scene has not matched any of the suspects or any of the other 3,000 samples it has been tested against. Brittany's mother is still actively seeking justice for her daughter. She has driven hundreds of thousands of miles in her car that has been wrapped with photos of Brittany...hoping to bring awareness to this decade-long case.
Unfortunately, Oklahoma has many unsolved cases still on the books. If you have any information about any of these cases, please call your local police department.
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