Listen on:
Episodes
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
On August 3, 2013, 17-year-old Alexis Murphy vanished after stopping at a gas station in Nelson County, VA. Known for her bright personality, ambition, and social media presence, Alexis' sudden disappearance left her family and community reeling.
In this first episode of our Route 29 Series, we walk through the early hours of Alexis' case-- from frantic search efforts to the shocking surveillance footage that led investigators to a man named Randy Taylor. Despite his shifting stories and attempts to manipulate the investigation, mounting physical evidence would ultimately expose the horrifying truth.
But even after Taylor's conviction, one chilling question lingered for years: WHERE WAS ALEXIS?
Join me as we break down the timeline, the evidence, and the unanswered questions--including possible connections to other cases along Route 29 in Virginia. Was this an isolated tragedy, or part of something bigger?
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Alexis_Murphy
https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/alexis-murphy-body-slain-teen-found-7-years-after-disappearance-6-years-after-killer-convicted/UTMOWX6BBBA45GOBGUO27V4PZ4/
https://www.oxygen.com/final-moments/crime-news/randy-taylor-killed-high-school-student-alexis-murphy
https://wset.com/news/local/where-alexis-murphy-aunt-found-closure-forgiveness-randy-taylor-murder-nelson-county-disappearance-remains-anniversary-gas-station-dna-angela-family-hope-august-2023
Route 29 Stalker Podcast march 14 2021
Going West True Crime Ep. 134
The Murder Diaries Feb 25 2021
Alexis Murphy and Samantha Clarke Mind Over Murder Feb 24, 2020
Mountain Murders 5-1-22
Seasoned Crime 12-14-21
The Missing 6-22-20
Truly Criminal 1-13-24
https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/16/us/virginia-alexis-murphy-disappearance/index.html
https://wset.com/news/local/10-years-after-alexis-murphy-murder-investigator-provides-new-insight-into-case-randy-taylor-billy-mays-fbi-gas-station-trailer-remains-dna-search-family-aunt-victim-true-crime-nelson-county-virginia-august-2023
https://wset.com/news/local/10-years-after-alexis-murphy-murder-investigator-provides-new-insight-into-case-randy-taylor-billy-mays-fbi-gas-station-trailer-remains-dna-search-family-aunt-victim-true-crime-nelson-county-virginia-august-2023
Wikipedia
K. L. (2013, August 6). 17-year old Nelson Girl Missing for Two Days. The News and Advance.
Hardy, S. (2013, August 7). Car found but no Sign of missing Nelson teen. The News and Advance.
Hardy, S. (2013, August 7). Teen's Car Located. The Daily Progress.
Bayne, L. (2013, August 8). Search continues for missing Shipman teen. The Roanoke Times.
Bayne, L. (2013, August 8). Search for #Alexis via internet. The Daily Progress.
Hardy, S. (2013, August 8). Search continues for missing Nelson teen. The News-Virginian.
"Family's Agonizing Wait Drags on." The News and Advance, 8 Aug. 2013.
Hardy, S. (2013, August 9). "We all want her to come back". The News and Advance.
Bayne, L. (2013, August 9). Search for teen reaches fifth day. The Roanoke Times.
Bayne, L. (2013, August 9). Clock is Ticking. The Daily Progress.
Mohrmann, B. (2013, August 10). Search for missing girl continues for sixth day. The News and Advance.
Hardy, S. (2013, August 10). Candlelight vigil held for missing Nelson County teen. The Progress-Index.
Koerting, K., & Hardy, S. (2013, August 11). Nelson rallies in search for missing teen. The Daily Progress.
"Suspected Arrested in Teen's Vanishing." The Roanoke TImes, 12 Aug. 2013.
Faulconer, J., Busse, M., & Cropper, N. (2021, February 18). Alexis Murphy's remains found in Nelson County. The Roanoke Times.
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Tyrone, Missouri, is a small, no-stoplight town 90 miles east of Springfield. With a population of about 50, there are no restaurants, stores, or even a school. The remote area, consisting mainly of mobile homes and small houses, was rocked to its core in February 2015.
At 10:15 p.m. on February 27, 2015, a 15-year-old Tyrone resident called 911 from a neighbor's house. The neighbor (who wished not to be named) said she was barefoot, in a nightgown with no sleeves, and her legs were all scratched up from briars. The teen told the neighbor she saw a man in her dad’s bedroom, talking to him in a normal voice. She then heard gunshots and screaming, which is what made her run to the neighbor's house. She was terrified and unaware of the state of her parents. She just knew she had to get help.
The local police rushed to the scene of the call. At the same time, another 911 call came in at 10:36 pm from Martha Shriver reporting another shooting at a home not far from the original call. She explained she and her husband had both been shot.
One shooting, let alone four shooting victims, was completely unheard of in this area.
But unfortunately, that wasn’t even half the destruction done in this small town that night.
Sources:
Johnson, W. (2015, February 28). After massacre, shooter takes own life. The Springfield News-Leader, 1A, 6A.
Salter, J. (2015, February 28). Mother Dies, Killing Begins. Hartford Courant, A1, A6.
Gounley, T. (2015, March 1). Neighbor: Suspect 'just got too strange acting'. Springfield News-Leader, 1A, 5A.
"Man Kills 7, Self After House-to-house Rampage." The Lima News, 28 Feb. 2015, p. 4A.
"Mothers Death May Have Sparked Shooting Rampage: Officials." The Windsor Star, 28 Feb. 2015, p. 17.
Keegan, H. (2015, March 1). Tragedy in Tyrone Motive Still A Mystery. The Springfield News-Leader, 1A.
"Tiny Missouri Town Mourns After Gunman Kills 7, Then Himself." The Newnan Times-Herald, 1 Mar. 2015, p. 10.
Salter , J. (2015, April 10). Sheriff: Missouri shooter was drunk, had marijuana in system. Lake Sun Leader, 3.
"Town Altered After the Killings." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 18 Oct. 2015, pp. A1, A14-A15.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/nine-dead-including-gunman-missouri-shooting-spree-report-n314071
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/27/tyrone-missouri-9-dead/24108089/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missouri-shooter-who-killed-seven-idd-some-victims-were-cousins/
https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-6968218fbdda4f31be49d60f1f303d2b
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/feb/28/man-kills-7-himself-missouri/
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article11418062.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/three-missouri-shooting-rampage-victims-identified-members-one-family-n314821
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/27/missouri-gunman-kills-seven/24151981/
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/uk/eight-dead-in-door-to-door-missouri-shooting-spree-idUSKBN0LV1JB/
https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/27/us/missouri-deaths/index.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/01/motive-still-a-mystery-in-missouri-mass-shooting/24225891/
https://youtu.be/upVBJ5ZfOsE?si=MyDx-AFpcpq9YuJD
https://youtu.be/tSWhuw0KHFM?si=JmHmb0eGMP-sPQDD
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
2:27 am on June 18, 1982, Martha Yankee a 911 dispatcher received a call from the Imperial Gas Station on south main street in Harrisonburg, Va.
The young lady calling was 20 year old Kelly Bergh Dove who was working the night shift alone at the gas station.
When Officer Sam Yankee arrived she was gone without a trace. Her cigarette was in the ashtray burned down to the butt, the magazine she was reading was still open on the counter as well as her pack of marlboro lights with a $5 bill inside. It was like she just walked away! Literally minutes from officer yankee being dispatched to the gas station, there was no sign of Kelly.
The last 911 call would be the last time anyone ever talked to Kelly.
"Woman Asks Aid, Then Vanishes." Richmond Times Dispatch, 19 Jun. 1982, p. 15.
"Apparent Kidnap Victim Is Sought." The News-Virginian, 19 Jun. 1982, p. 8.
"Missing Woman's Sister: Calls Common." The Roanoke Times, 23 Jun. 1982, p. 47.
"Search Continues for Woman Missing From Service Station." The Roanoke Times, 23 Jun. 1982, p. 21.
"Reward Set in Alleged Abduction." Richmond Times-Dispatch, 29 Jun. 1982, p. 13.
"Case Still Baffling to Area Police." The Daily News Leader, 16 Jul. 1982, p. 7.
"Police Lack Hard Evidence in Abduction." The Daily News Leader, 29 Jul. 1982, p. 9.
"Is Abducted Woman Still Alive." The Bee, 29 Jul. 1982, p. 1.
"Police Sift Clues in Gas Station Attendant's Disappearance." Richmond Times-Dispatch, 16 Jan. 1983, p. 83.
Lee, M. (1993, February 14). Fatal Connections. The Daily Progress, A-1, A-12.
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
March 1, 1983, in McCarthy, Alaska an old mining town at the base of the Wrangell Mountains.
It was a Tuesday, which in this town of about 20 people was mail day. Because this town was so remote, residents received mail and necessities such as groceries only once a week from what they called the mail plane.
Yall This town was so remote and small that one resident said “Around here there are so few of us we know each other by boot tracks.” Not only that they had no electricity, no running water and no telephone service. Im talking nearly off the grid all the way. If you wanted to be left alone completely McCarthy was the place for you.
On mail day, the locals gathered at Lester and Florence Hegland’s place to wait for the mail plane because it was close to the airstrip. They would have coffee, play games, chat, etc while waiting. It was a social event for them.
But, this mail day was different. There were no games, no coffee, no chatting. Only terror ending in nearly half of the population of McCarthy being dead.
"Six Shootings Rock Little Town." The Hanford Sentinel, 2 Mar. 1983, p. 4.
Bartley, B. (1983, March 3). Shooting Spree Stuns Isolated Alaskan Outpost. The Herald-Palladium, 11.
"Troopers Leave Mass Murder Site." Anchorage Times, 4 Mar. 1983, p. 4.
"Harvard Grad, Husband Alaska Shooting Victims." North Adams Transcript, 7 Mar. 1983, p. 18.
"Two Hours of Terror Change Town Forever." The Atlanta Journal, 8 Mar. 1983, p. 2.
Conklin, E. E. (1983, March 12). Hastings Claims Innocence; Trial Set for May 31. The Anchorage Times, B-7, B-11.
"Conflicts Delay Hastings Trial." Anchorage Times, 3 May 1983, p. 14.
O'Brien, P. (1983, July 17). Mccarthy Residents Recall Blood Bath. Anchorage Times, A-1, A-11.
O'Brien, P. (1983, July 23). Judge Sanctions Search of Hastings Property. Anchorage Times, B-2.
You Tube Video
O'Brien, P. (1983, July 27). Psychiatrist Says Hastings Won't Talk. Anchorage Times, A-1, A-4.
Toomey , S. (1983, August 11). Murder Suspect Refuses to Talk to Psychiatrist. Anchorage Daily News, 17.
"Multiple Murder Suspect May See Psychiatrist." The Peninsula Clarion, 12 Aug. 1983, p. 6.
Bartley , B. (1983, December 5). McCarthy Murders Trial: Mystery to be Unraveled. Daily Sitka Sentinel, 1.
"McCarthy Murder Spree Suspect's Hearing Held." The Peninsula Clarion, 6 Dec. 1983, pp. 6, 9.
Pierson, R. (1984, May 15). Confessed Killer Seeks to Fire "Laggard" Lawyer. Anchorage Times, A-1, A-12.
"Convicted Killer Denied New Attorney." Anchorage Daily News, 19 May 1984, p. 21.
Toomey, S. (1984, June 14). Relatives Seek Psychiatric Care for Killer of Six. Anchorage Daily News, A-1, A-16.
Scarpinato, M. (1984, June 14). Family Knew Hastings as "Happy Little Boy". Anchorage Times, A-1, A-12.
Leslie, T. (1984, June 16). Attorneys Condemn Release of Hastings Letters. Anchorage Times, B-5.
"Dissolutions." Anchorage Daily News, 24 Jun. 1984, p. 16.
O'Brien, P. (1984, July 12). Judge Decrees Hastings' Hearing Open to Public. Anchorage Times, B-1, B-5.
Scarpinato, M. (1984, July 25). Hastings' Plan: Slaughter, Suicide. Anchorage Times, 1.
Toomey, S. (1984, July 26). Psychiatrist: Killer Wanted to Wreck Pipeline. Anchorage Daily News, B-1, B-3.
Scarpinato, M. (1984, July 27). Judge Rules McCarthy Killer Was Sane. Anchorage Times, B-1.
Toomey, S. (1984, July 27). Killer May Have Intended to Slay Others, Doctors Say. Anchorage Times, C-1.
Kizzia, T. (1984, July 28). McCarthy Killer Gets 634 Years. Anchorage Daily News, 1, 16.
Scarpinato, M. (1984, July 28). Hastings Gets 634-Year Term. Anchorage Times, A-1, A-8.
Scarpinato, M. (1984, October 27). Hastings' Victim Files Suit for $3 Million in Damages. Anchorage Times, B-1.
Scarpinato, M. (1984, November 10). Confidentiality May Block Killer's Legal Fight. Anchorage Times, B-1, B-4.
Scarpinato, M. (1984, November 21). Mass Murderer Wants to Serve Sentence in Alaska. Anchorage Times, 13.
Leslie, T. (1985, February 2). Hastings Asks to Withdraw Murder Plea. Anchorage Times, A-1, A-12.
Rich, K. (1985, February 2). Hastings Puts Blame on Toxic Poisoning. Anchorage Daily News, C-1, C-3.
"Judge Denies Murderer's Request." Anchorage Daily News, 8 Feb. 1985, p. 16.
"Suit Filed in McCarthy Killings." Anchorage Daily News, 5 Mar. 1985, p. 27.
Jarvis, C. (1985, March 6). Hastings Bans Lawyer from Court. Anchorage Times, B-6.
Toomey, S. (1985, March 7). Judge Rejects McCarthy Killers Bid for Trial, New Plea. Anchorage Daily News, C-3.
Pragano, R. (1987, May 24). Appellate Court Upholds Hastings Murder Sentences. Anchorage Times, B-1, B-8.
Friday Jan 03, 2025
Friday Jan 03, 2025
On February 5th, 1997, around 8:35 pm employees at a Stuarts Draft pizza place heard the back door close that was shared with the next-door floral shop. At first, they thought it was the co-owner Dawn Snyder leaving. It wasn’t until they noticed she had left the lights on that they felt something wasn’t right.
Once they realized her van was still outside with her keys and purse inside they KNEW something wasn’t right.
The next couple weeks left the small town of Stuarts Draft, Virginia reeling to discover the truth about where Dawn was and what happened to her.
Resources:
(n.d.). Bobby Wayne Swisher. Murderpedia. https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s1/swisher-bobby-wayne.htm
(n.d.). Bobby Wayne Swisher. Clark Prosecutor. http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/swisher866.htm
(n.d.). Bobby Wayne Swisher Obituary. Legacy. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/bobby-swisher-obituary?id=29646320
(n.d.). Dawn Snyder. Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51760516/dawn-shadir-snyder
Shaver, M. (1997, February 9). Time of Woman's Disappearance Narrowed to a Half Hour Span. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Hewlett, M. (1997, February 13). Disappearance Shakes Draft Residents' Feelings of Safety. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Shaver, M. (1997, February 13). Prayer Vigil Set. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Bacheller, J. (1997, February 14). Praying for Dawn Snyder. The News-Virginian, 1, A-10.
Bacheller, J. (1997, February 14). Family Offers Reward. The News-Virginian, 1, A-10.
Shafer, M. (1997, February 14). Community Prays for Dawn. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Shafer, M. (1997, February 14). Family Offer $10,000 Reward. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Bergen, P. (1997, February 15). Friends Fill Orders for Missing Florist. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Shaver, M. (1997, February 17). FBI Enter Dawn Snyder Search. The Daily News Leader, 1, 2.
Carter, S. (1997, February 22). Body Believed to be Dawn Snyder. The Daily News Leader, 1, 2.
Meeks, D. (1997, February 22). Draft Residents Shocked by News. The Daily News Leader, 1, 2.
Bacheller, J. (1997, February 22). Woman's Body Found. The News-Virginian, 1, A-2.
Shaver, M. (1997, February 23). Body ID'd as Dawn. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Bacheller, J. (1997, February 24). Suspect's Arrest Rumored. The News-Virginian, 1, A-10.
"Dawn Snyder Obituary." The News-Virginian, 24 Feb. 1997, p. 10.
Shaver, M. (1997, February 25). Man Nabbed in Slaying. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Shaver, M. (1997, February 25). Arrest Jolts Friend From Childhood. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Hewlett, M. (1997, February 25). Though Relieved by Arrest Draft Residents Still Shaken. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Clark, J. (1997, February 25). Augusta Sheriff,'Jail Lacks Proper Space'. The News-Virginian, 43.
Bacheller/staff, J. (1997). Pic of Florist and JJs Pizza [Photograph].
Shaver, M. (1997, February 28). Dawn's Family: 'Help Us Help Each Other'. The Daily News Leader, 1.
Allison, W. (1997, October 29). Dawn's Family: 'Help Us Help Each Other'. Richmond Times-Dispatch, 22.
Bacheler, J. (1997, October 31). Jury: Swisher Should Die. The News-Virginian, 1, A-2.
Bacheler, J. (1997, October 31). Court Awaits Report Before Sentencing; Swisher's Attorney Planning Appeal. The News-Virginian, 1, A-2.
Bacheler, J. (1997, November 1). Family, Community React After the Verdict. The News-Virginian, 1, A-2
Lerz, V. (1997). Bobby Wayne Swisher [Photograph]. The Daily News Leader.
Meeks , D. (1997, December 31). Death Sentence Recommended for Swisher. The Daily News Leader, 13.
Bacheller, J. (1998, February 5). One Year Later...Draft Family Copes with Dawn Snyder's Death. The News Virginian, 1, A-2.
Bacheller, J. (1998, February 5). Swisher Will Face a Sentencing Hearing. The News Virginian, 1, A-2.
Hickerson, S. C. (1998, February 19). Swisher Sentenced to Die. The News-Virginian, 1.
Bacheller, J. (1998, February 19). Ervin: Death Pentalty Needed in This Case. The News-Virginian, 1, A-2.
Bacheller, J. (1998, September 16). Attorneys Argue Swisher Murder Conviction. The News-Virginian, 1.
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Over the years while listening to and watching these stories I noticed a running theme. When cases in small towns were covered people would say “things like this don’t happen around here” or “this doesn’t happen here” as if being in a small town kept the evil at bay. I knew the false sense of security we feel in small towns is just that, false.
I know this because my grandfather was that evil…….
I have only met my grandfather in person one time and I do not even remember it. I was very young. However, his evil was very well known in our family. My grandfather had shot and killed a woman in cold blood at THE POLICE STATION!!
Oh yea you heard that right I said at the police station….right in front of his victims mother and his own daughter!
Resources:
(n.d.). Houghtaling V Commonwealth. Justia. https://law.justia.com/cases/virginia/supreme-court/1968/6836-1.html
"Obituary." The Daily Newsleader, 2 Aug. 1986, p. 2.
"Obituary." The Daily Newsleader, 22 Aug. 1966, p. 2.
"FamilyTells Details Leading to Murder." The News-Virginian, 22 Aug. 1966, pp. 1, 8.
"Slaying Case Figure Said Improved." The Roanoke Times, 23 Aug. 1966, p. 32.
"Houghtaling Satisfactory in Hospital." The News-Virginian, 23 Aug. 1966, p. 8.
"Houghtaling Due Out of Hospital Soon." The Daily Newsleader, 4 Sept. 1966, p. 2.
"Judge Orders Mental Tests for Suspect." The Daily News Leader, 8 Sept. 1966, p. 2.
"Mental Tests Ordered in Slaying Case." The Roanoke Times, 8 Sept. 1966, p. 28.
"Houghtaling Committed to Mental Institution." The News-Virginian, 8 Sept. 1966, p. 1.
"Houghtaling Sane, Slated for Trial." The News-Virginian, 22 Nov. 1966, p. 7.
"Preliminary Houghtaling Hearing Set." The News-Virginian, 14 Dec. 1966, p. 1.
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024