Buried Bylines

81. The Stalking Case of Dawn Hillyer

In this episode, we cover the harrowing five-year stalking ordeal of Fort Wayne mother Dawn Hillyer, whose case exposed the failures of Indiana law to protect victims. What began as a casual connection quickly spiraled into years of relentless harassment, break-ins, false police reports, and emotional devastation—while the system largely failed her. We’ll trace Dawn’s fight for safety, the long-delayed conviction of her stalker, and her journey from survivor to advocate, founding Hiding Hilda and pushing for stronger protections for victims. Plus, we’ll look at new research linking stalking and restraining orders to long-term health risks for women.SOURCES: https://www.wane.com/news/stalking-victim-works-to-change-state-law/https://www.kpcnews.com/news/latest/newssun/article_dac18ef6-6841-5d78-bafc-40057286d0b1.htmlhttps://law.justia.com/cases/indiana/court-of-appeals/2012/02a03-1204-cr-180.htmlhttps://www.pal-item.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/04/15/view-woman-target-stalker-victimized/25818041/ https://www.nrawomen.com/content/hiding-hilda-the-harrowing-story-behind-her-stylish-ccw-purses https://www.stalkingawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IN-Stalking-Laws-Statutes.pdfhttps://www.wrtv.com/news/wrtv-investigates/new-law-criminalizes-using-tracking-device-on-someone-without-their-knowledge https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2021/09/10/restraining-order-domestic-violence-indiana-laws-vicitm-protection-how-to-file/7996715002/ https://www.newser.com/story/373470/women-face-potentially-huge-health-impacts-after-violence.html

80. Remembering the Jeff Davis 8 with Ethan Brown

20 years later, still no justice. Between 2005 and 2009, the small town of Jennings, Louisiana, was rocked by the deaths of eight women—each with ties to one another through poverty, drugs, and sex work. Known as the “Jeff Davis 8,” or the “Jennings 8,” the cases remain unsolved and are clouded by corruption allegations, mishandled evidence, and suspicions that local law enforcement may have been involved. Was this the work of a serial killer, or a tangled web of crime and cover-up in a community already struggling with mistrust of police?Join us as we sit down with author and investigative reporter Ethan Brown to discuss his groundbreaking work and his book Murder in the Bayou… and the families’ ongoing search for justice for Loretta Lewis, Ernestine Daniels Patterson, Kristen Gary Lopez, Whitnei Dubois, Laconia “Muggy” Brown, Crystal Benoit Zeno, Brittney Gary, and Necole Guillory.SOURCES: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Bayou-Killed-Women-Known/dp/1476793255  https://www.biography.com/crime/murder-in-the-bayou-jeff-davis-8-true-storyhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt10609888/ https://www.aetv.com/shows/cold-case-files-murder-in-the-bayou https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/jeff-davis-8-interview-ethan-brown-murder-in-the-bayouhttps://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/crime/2018/05/16/jeff-davis-murders-13-years-later/608716002/https://www.newspapers.com/image/229399391/?match=1&terms=%22loretta%20lynn%20chaisson%20lewis%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/322315177/?match=1&terms=%22loretta%20lynn%20chaisson%20lewis%22Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office now answering calls in city limits https://www.newspapers.com/image/432255529/?match=1&terms=%22loretta%20lynn%20chaisson%20lewis%22https://www.oxygen.com/martinis-murder/where-is-murder-in-the-bayous-frankie-richard-today The Promise of Justice Initiative Demands Launch of Federal Investigation into Violent, Corrupt Jefferson Davis Parish Law Enforcement — The Promise of Justice Initiative https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/id-shows/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-complex-case-of-the-jennings-8 Hot Cases | Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriffs Office 

79. Idling on the Interstate: What Happened to Paige Renkoski?

In 1990, substitute teacher Paige Marie Renkoski, 30, vanished under chilling circumstances on Interstate 96 near Fowlerville, Michigan. What began as an ordinary day—dropping her mother at the airport and stopping at a store in Canton—ended in a mystery that remains unsolved over three decades later.Witnesses last saw Paige appearing upset and speaking with two men beside a maroon minivan. Hours later, her 1986 Oldsmobile was found idling on the roadside with her purse and shoes inside—but no sign of Paige. The case suffered early missteps: police treated the scene as an abandoned vehicle rather than a potential crime scene, delaying vital investigation. Despite fingerprints, tips, searches—like ground-penetrating radar and FBI digs—no trace of Paige has ever been found. The case remains one of Michigan’s most puzzling cold cases, with authorities believing it may only be solved if someone steps forward, perhaps even decades from now.Join us as we unravel the timeline, examine the evidence, explore the tragic theories, and sit with the hope—and heartbreak—that still lingers in the search for Paige.SOURCES: coming soon!

78. Iowa Cold Case: Who killed Wilma June Nissen?

Meet Wilma June Nissen—a resilient spirit whose life was brutally cut short in 1978 but whose story refuses to stay buried.From a childhood of unimaginable neglect to being identified decades later as a Jane Doe in rural Iowa, her daughter, Krissi Atkinson, has never stopped searching for answers. At least one person of interest remains at large, evidence waits for breakthrough DNA testing, and justice remains unclaimed.Tune in to our latest episode to hear Krissi’s courageous fight for her mother’s voice—and join us in amplifying this cold case to demand the truth.

77. The Suspicious Death of Noah Presgrove

In September 2023, 19-year-old Noah Presgrove was found dead on the side of an Oklahoma highway, his body bearing multiple blunt force injuries. Nearly two years later, his family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging he was beaten to death by friends during a party. Join us as we delve into the details of this perplexing case, exploring the events leading up to Noah's death, the subsequent investigation, and the family's ongoing quest for justice.