Suspicious Death of Grover Ramirez Jr

On June 3, 2001, 20-year-old Grover Ramirez Jr went out of his home and went to get his daughter's milk. That night he would meet up with two friends before returning home. The friends, Michael Burns and Marco Sandoval, stated that near Comanche Creek in Chico, California they spotted an abandoned truck. The three made a plan to strip it of parts and sell it. 

His friends stated that a group of people was also in the area and they began chasing Grover and his friends. They stated it was unknown why the group started chasing them. During the chase, they stated that they heard splashes. When his friends stopped running after about a mile they noticed Grover wasn't with them anymore.

It wasn't until June 7th it was found what happened to him. Grover's body was found in a creek under a group of overhanging bushes. It was listed that he had died from drowning and had no signs of trauma and a lack of scrapes and scratches. Which doesn't match the brushy, thorny area the men were running on that night. 

The family stated that they didn't believe the two friends. They stated that after Grover left someone had called the house threatening to kill her and Grover. It was shocking because Grover was well-liked and got along with a lot of people.  His family also believes that the police dropped the ball in this case. That they did not take the search for him seriously and that they didn't take his death seriously. They even labeled him as a gangbanger even though he was not. 

SOURCES:

Uncovered

Facebook

Enterprise-Record June 8, 2001

Enterprise-Record June 9, 2001

CN&R July 19, 2001

Murder of Rashaun Julius Nelson

Around 1 am on May 9, 2001, 21-year-old Rashaun Julius Nelson rode his bike on West Buck St in Paulsboro, New Jersey. He was confronted by two men and shot in the head causing death. He was found with at least 10 bags of cocaine and several hundred of dollars on him. So robbery does not seem to have been the motive. 

One article stated that a few weeks before his death Rashaun was confronted by a man. The man brandished a gun and threatened him. 

There was someone charged with Rashaun's murder, but they were found not guilty.

SOURCES:

Uncovered

Gloucester New Jersey

Courier-Post May 10, 2001

Courier-Post June 6, 2001

Yahoo News! January 6, 2017

Lost Media: VeggieTales Musical E-card

In late 2001 BigIdea released an online-exclusive VeggieTales musical e-card. It was in promotion of their latest VeggieTales release, The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown, It was based on the segment Silly Songs with Larry and featured The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. 

At the time there were only two ways of acquiring the digital card. The card could be acquired by being signed up to become an official BigIdea online fan and said fan sending that card to friends and family. It is now impossible to get the card as the website doesn't feature it anymore. BigIdea.com is now Veggietales.com. 

SOURCES:

Lost Media Wiki

BigIdea.come Archive 1

BigIdea.com Archive 2

Murder of Robert Simmons

On December 28, 2001, Robert Simmons was found dead in the northern part of White County, Arkansas. He had been dead between a year and a year and a half. He was not immediately identified and would remain a John Doe until May of 2014. There is little information in this case.

At the time he and his family lived in Augusta

SOURCES:
White County, Arkansas

Disappearance of Luis Acosta

On November 18, 2001, 16-year-old Luis Acosta called his foster home in Aurora, Colorado, and told them he was not returning back. According to the reporting party he may be living in Honduras.

Luis is a Hispanic male and was 16-years-old at the time. He was 5'4" and 106 lbs at the time. He has black hair and brown eyes. 

SOURCES:

NamUs

Murder of Michaela Hague

In the early evening of November 5, 2001, 25-year-old Michaela Hague left her home in Pitsmoor, England to Sheffield where she worked as a prostitute. She would be last seen on Bower St. across from the pub formerly The Manchester and now known as the Harlequin. 

Around 8 pm that night another sex worker would find her in a car park at Spitalfields. Michaela was still alive and suffering from 19 stab wounds in her neck and back. She would still be able to talk saying "White, Clean shaven, and wedding ring" to the responding officer. She would unfortunately pass 3 hours later. 

The place she was found was a place sex workers would bring their clients. Other sex workers would work with the police giving a description. It's believed that she got into a blue Ford Sierra. He was around 38-years-old and 6ft tall. He was wearing a blue fleece and glasses at the time of the attack.

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Yorkshire Live April 9, 2023

The Star June 15, 2023

October 23, 2001 Detroit Michigan John Doe

On October 23, 2001, partially skeletonized remains of a man were found in a vacant dwelling by workers removing rubbish in Detroit Michigan. He had been dead for months possibly since 2000. He was wrapped in a green blanket and a dirty floral sheet. It's not stated if they think the man may have been a transient.

John Doe is a black male between 35 to 50-years-old. He was around 5'10. He has black kinky textured hair. He appeared to be a heavy smoker one or both hands were not recovered. He was wearing work-type overalls.

SOURCES:

NamUs

Unidentified Wiki

Disappearance of Jason "J" Anthony Franks

On August 9, 2001, 21-year-old Jason "J" Franks was camping with friends near the Klamath, California/Chiloquin, Oregon area. His friends would leave him at the campsite as they went into town. They claimed when they came back Jason was nowhere to be seen. Both California and Oregon Police are investigating this case. 

Jason is a white male and was 21-years-old at the time. He has Blonde or Strawberry blonde hair and blue/hazel eyes. He's 6'0" and 153 to 165 lbs. He has one partial upper front tooth, scars on his nose, and a previously fractured left arm. He had a cross and black dots tattoo on his right hand, a skull tattoo, and an unfinished tattoo of a demon on his right shoulder. 

He was wearing a heavy chain necklace. 

SOURCES:

NamUs

State of California Deparment of Justice

National Missing Persons Directory

Charley Project

February 17, 2001 New Orleans, Louisiana John Doe

On February 17, 2001, the skeletal remains of a young man were found in a wooded area behind a playground in the 7000 block of Tullis in New Orleans, Louisiana. he may have been dead for around a year. 

John Doe was a black male between 18 to 25-years-old. He was around 5'10". He has gold crowns on two teeth. He was wearing a Big Boy Records" T-shirt, blue/black, size XL with the words "Dawg House Entertainment" and a picture of a dog house and dog bowl on the right sleeve and on the back of the T-shirt is a drawing of a child with the words "Big Boy Records" and "Unstoppable".

SOURCES:

NamUs

Doe Network

Unidentified Wiki

Murder of Harland Shuey

On January 11, 2001, 78-year-old Harland Shuey would receive news that his wife who had dementia would not return home. He would call 911 for an injury twice. He was found stabbed in his home at 3310 E. 42nd St. in des Moines, Iowa. He would pass away from his wounds. It was initially thought that it may have been suicide, but the weapon wasn't found in the home. A pair of scissors was found near him and all the knives in the home were tested. None of them matched his wound though.

SOURCES:

Iowa Cold Cases

Find a Grave

Des Moines Register April 7, 2001

Des Moines Register July 1, 2001

Murder of James Leon Medler

Around 11 p.m. on January 7, 2001, James Medler and his son Jamie and a female associate were at Jame's home on 3043 W Lynn in Springfield, Missouri. James was talking to a family friend on the phone when he heard someone at the door. He would go to the front door as the people on the other side made it inside. Jamie and the female associate had fled from the home through the back door. They would hear a gunshot a short time later.

Jamie would return home after a few minutes to find his father laying in the front doorway. He had been shot and killed. Neighbors stated that 4 to 5 black males were seen running from the scene. Three different vehicles were seen fleeing the scene a maroon four-door Cadillac or Buick, a yellow Ford Mustang with a black top, ad a four-door Dodge Neon.

It's believed that James may have been targeted. He lived there with his dog bullet and walked with a cane. It's possible that he was targeted for a home invasion. At the time There was a string of robberies happening in Springfield at the time. 

SOURCES:

Springfield Police

Springfield Watch

Disappearance of Craig Jeffrey Graves

On January 1, 2001 33-year-old Craig Graves was last seen in Santa Monica, California. There isn't much information in this case.

Craig is a white male and was 33-years-old at the time. He's 6'1" and 200 lbs. He has blonde hair and blue eyes.

SOURCES:
Doe Network
State of California Department of Justice

Disappearance of Gerald William Carroll Sr.

On October 22, 2001, 44-year-old Gerald Carroll Sr. went to cash his check at the Penn Mart Shopping Center in New Castle, Delaware. He would then last be seen riding on his bicycle. His son stated that it could be possible that Gerald, who loved fishing, may have gone that day and possibly accidentally drowned. His green mountain bike was his sole means of transportation.

Gearld is a white male and was 44-years-old at the time. He's 5'8" and 145-165lbs. He has brown hair and blue eyes. He is missing his front teeth. He was wearing jeans at the time. His nicknmes are Fordy and Jarr

SOURCES:

NamUs

National Missing Person Directory

Charley Project

Tapatalk

Murder of Shannon Nicole Paulk

On the afternoon of August 16, 2001, 11-year-old Shannon Paulk and her sister Lisa were at home in the Candlestick Mobile-Home Park in Prattville, Alabama.  Shannon was a very friendly girl, she knew everyone in the neighborhood and played with most of the children there. It wasn't unusual for her to be gone hours at a time, but to come back home to eat and drink and go back out to play. This day though she would never come back home. When her mother returned home that evening Shannon didn't return home. They would report her missing at 9 p.m.

It was found that Shannon was last seen talking to an unknown man in a vehicle in the trailer park. It was believed at the time that this man had abducted the girl. It wasn't found out till the child who gave the description was an adult who said they made up the man in order to help with the investigation. 

On October 6th Shannon's remains were found by two rabbit hunters in the woods just off Autauga County Rd 66 in Autauga County Wildlife Management. This was a public hunting area about 10 miles north of Prattville. Her body had been tied with a rope and wrapped up in a trash bag before being dumped. 

SOURCES:
Alabama's Attorney General's Office
Find a Grave

The Suitcase Detective
The Montgomery Advisor August 18, 2001
The Prattville Progress August 25, 2001
The Prattville Progress October 13, 2001
The Montgomery Advisor October 31, 2001

Murder of Joshua Seales

 

On September 17, 2001, 18-year-old Joshua Seales would use his girlfriend's car. He went to his bank in Palestine, Texas, and made a small withdrawal with another man. He would then buy a large amount of food at a local restaurant. 

The next morning the car he was using was found on fire on Country Rd3490 in Rural Anderson County. Inside the trunk was Joshua's body. It's not stated how he died or if he was alive when the car was set on fire. The killers used a flammable liquid to set the car on fire from a distance. 

A witness stated that they believe that they saw Joshua with men and another vehicle near where he was found. The witness stated that he may have been arguing with them.

It's unknown who the black man he was at the bank with was. He was described as well-mannered.  It was unknown if he was a friend or someone related to his death. The men seen with him on the side of the road have also never been identified.

SOURCES:

Texas Department of Safty

Find a Grave

KLTV Jan. 8, 2006

Front Page Detectives Nov. 23, 2021

Murder of Elwyn Randy White

On August 21 2001 40-year-old Elwyn White's roommate reported him missing after some time of no one seeing him. It was unknown what had happened to him until May of 2002. A turkey hunter near the Berlin Pond Rd in Northfield, Vermont followed a strong smell which lead to a shallow grave that was disturbed by wildlife. It wasn't released on how he died. 

Elwyn was familiar with law enforcement and allegedly had a drug problem. It's unknown if this had anything to do with his murder. 

SOURCES:

Vermont State Police

Rutland Herald May 15, 2002

Times Argus May 22, 2002

Murder of Lydia Varo-Braschler

13-year-old Lydia Varo-Braschler was visiting family in Big Lake, Washington from Wisconsin. On July 2, 2001, Lydia was irritated and went on a walk to cool off. She walked down Highway 9 towards where a convenience store in Big Lake was. She would never show up back at her aunt's home. No one knew what happened to the poor girl until April 16, 2002.

A Mushroom hunter would find Lydia's body in a 50 ft embankment off of Lake Cavanaugh Rd. Where she was found 2 miles from Highway 9. Her body had been hidden in the wooden area. She had died due to blunt force to her head. 

SOURCES:

Skagit County Sheriff's Office

Tap a Talk (has a list of articles from the time)

King 5 November 1, 2017

Murder of Regina Rowe Hicks

 

On October 18, 2001, at 8 p.m. 25-year-old Regina Rowe Hicks was in the car with her live-in boyfriend Victor "Mike" Perkins in Willard as she was taking him home. She called her ex-husband Paul Hicks and told him she was ready to pick up their 4-year-old son. Her Ex told her that they were at a friend's on Townline Rd and to pick him up there. She would then call her Mom and ask her to watch her son as the couple wanted to go out that night and her Mom agreed. Regina would drop off Mike and planned to return. 

Regina would never show up to pick up her son and was not seen alive after. She would be reported missing. On October 22, 2001, Regina's Camero would be found in a pond at Section line 30 in Willard. Inside the car was Regina's body was in the passenger seat. It was found that she had bruises on her head and there was evidence of her being dragged. She was placed in the car alive and drowned when the car was put into the pond.

SOURCES: 

Ohio Attorney General

Marysville Journal-Tribune October 25, 2001

News-Journal October 26, 2001

Telegraph-Forum March 7, 2002

 Toledo Blade August 4, 2002

Cleveland 19 October 15, 2002

News-Journal October 22, 2002

Murder of Laura Lee Cross

In 2001 33-year-old Laura Cross was living at 18 Middle Street in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was last seen on July 21, 2001, and was then reported missing in August. Unfortunately, over a year later her body would be found. On October 14, 2002, around 5:30 p.m. two hunters discovered her remains off a logging road on the Old Guysborough Road near Dollar Lake Provincial Park. She had been murdered.

There is up to $150,00 leading to the conviction of the person and persons responsible.

SOURCES:

Nova Scotia

CTV News

Justice For Native People

I Heart Radio

CBC

Murder of Karen Sabrina Willis

On September 4, 2001, 20-year-old Karen Willis was shot and killed inside a residence on Kings Warf Place in the Wakefield subdivision of Waldorf, Maryland. The shots were fired from the outside.

Karen was working at Marshall's and was an aspiring model. She had hoped to become a day care provider. 

SOURCES:

Charles County Sheriff's County