January 11, 1984. Ypsilanti, Michigan. Two armed men enter a real estate and insurance office before one of them fires a shot into the neck of the 47-year old owner, Jack Brown. The assailants then lock the office’s other employees inside the bathroom before fleeing the scene and Jack dies in the hospital several hours later. Prior to his death, Jack had hinted that he might be involved in something which led to him being murdered, but the two perpetrators are not identified and the motive for the crime remains unclear. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a baffling murder which resembled a professional hit and has remained unsolved for 40 years. In addition, we will also be discussing the unsolved murders of 54-year old Elizabeth Shumate, 60-year old Frances Ivey and 46-year old JoAnn Brown, a trio of real estate agents who were shot to death inside their office in Houston, Texas in August 1983.
Additional Reading:
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Jack_Brown
https://unsolved.com/gallery/jack-brown/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/99060743/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/99426108/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/99810146/
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/08/30/Priest-denied-access-to-crime-scene-for-last-rites/4372431064000/
https://www.click2houston.com/news/2019/05/29/questions-remain-in-1983-triple-homicide-police-ask-for-publics-help/
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/slideshow/Houston-s-infamous-crimes-in-August-194965.php
https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/missing-pieces/murders-of-3-realtors-still-unsolved-37-years-later/285-3d493018-69d6-447f-bb43-2fc49163dcd9
https://torontosun.com/news/world/crime-hunter-hurricane-and-homicide-a-deadly-cocktail
If you have any information about the murder of Jack Brown, please contact the Ypsilanti Police Department at (734) 483-9510. If you have any information on the murders of Elizabeth Shumate, Frances Ivey & JoAnn Brown please contact the Houston Police Cold Case Unit at (713) 308-3618 or the Crime Stoppers of Houston tip line at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).
“The Trail Went Cold” is on Patreon. Visit www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold to become a patron and gain access to our exclusive bonus content.
“The Trail Went Cold” is going to be appearing on podcast row at “Crimecon UK” in London on September 21-22, 2024. To get a 10 % discount on the purchase of tickets to the event, please use our specialized promo code, “COLD24”, by visiting their website.
The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote.
All music is composed by Vince Nitro.
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The Trail Went Cold – Episode 268 – Ray Gricar
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 267 – Elizabeth Eisel & Katherine Lowery
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 266 – Jocelyn Hickenlooper
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 265 – The Alcatraz Escape (Part 2)
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 264 – The Alcatraz Escape (Part 1)
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 263 – Cassandra Rundle, Detrick Sturm & Melanie Sturm
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 262 – Jack Wheeler
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 261 – Gracie Nash & John Davis Jr.
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 260 – Kristen Modafferi
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 259 – Laurie Depies
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 258 – Shane Stewart & Sally McNelly
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 257 – Update, Part 2
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 256 – Mary Elizabeth Edens
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 255 – Colleen Wood
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 254 – Derrick Engebretson & Kurt Newton
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 253 – Kathy Page
The Trail Went Cold – Bonus Episode – Kay Hall
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 252 – The Jamison Family
The Trail Went Cold – Episode 251 – Sandra Kay Baker
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