I was inspired to create this thread when I was re-watching some discs and saw the 30-45 second coverage on Shannon Smith, wanted for child molestation. The police officer briefing the fugitive said that Smith had been known to brag that "seducing young girls was his hobby." If that's not scream-worthy, I don't know what is.

I have also been creeped out by the Martha Roberts caller tape recording, and the entire Barbara Jean Horn story.

I just can't believe these can be just as scary as a full segment, even though they're no more than a minute or so long. Do you have an Alert case that freaks you out?

The special alert about the Florida church fires was pretty scary. I saw it on the forbidden site earlier this year but it's since been removed. The case was solved though, and Patrick Lee Frank was arrested and committed to a mental hospital.

The other one that is also unsettling is the murder of the newborn baby in Oklahoma. Luckily the mother was arrested and convicted.

In a way, they all freak me out a little bit but just like any other scary moment on UM, that's what makes the show so entertaining; the way it immerses you into the cases.

The FBI alert segments had a special touch of scare to them because they all ended with RS warning us viewers, "remember, these fugitives are considered armed and extremely dangerous, do NOT approach them". Just that little spark really warns you the gravity of the case and how crucial it is to stopping these psychos before they cause more harm to the public.

In a way, they all freak me out a little bit but just like any other scary moment on UM, that's what makes the show so entertaining; the way it immerses you into the cases.

The FBI alert segments had a special touch of scare to them because they all ended with RS warning us viewers, "remember, these fugitives are considered armed and extremely dangerous, do NOT approach them". Just that little spark really warns you the gravity of the case and how crucial it is to stopping these psychos before they cause more harm to the public.
Agreed whenever Stack utters those words "The suspect is armed & extremely dangerous do not approach them" I get a lil scurred

Tyrom Theis, the guy who was fired for theft from the store where he was employed, then he returned to rob and kill the three clerks.

http://kidnappingmurderandmayhem.blogspot.com/2008/11/where-is-ty-theis.html

Like Michael Cline on one of the other specials (the guy who murdered his pregnant girlfriend, then weighed down her body with blocks), there's a possibility that Theiss has lived a regular life since then.

Yes! I was discussing this with a friend recently and commented on just how compelling and effective some of these shorts were. They gave you just enough information to wet your appetite.

My personal opinion and selection...

Although I was an adult when I first saw this, so I wasn't "scared" as I probably would have been had I seen it as a child during the original run, I thought the 1989 "Robert Stack profiles ten missing persons" entry was sort of unnerving/disturbing.

The musical selection (from the Michel Scott Martin segment) as well as the still photographs over the black marble background coupled with Stack's narration about the physical characteristics of the victims and the (very brief) circumstances of their disappearances was very haunting.

It almost invoked a "what the Hell happened?" type thought when Stack spoke of the reward for the "recovery" of two men who disappeared on the hunting trip; the young boy who vanished while walking to school; the beautiful young lady who vanished while walking to her car after work.

Powerful stuff.

I have also been creeped out by the Martha Roberts caller tape recording, and the entire Barbara Jean Horn story.

This one was my scariest. Even though the mock Asian accent was somewhat comical, it was still scary to think her friends and family were being tormented like that.

Personally, I think the 2-minute special alert that went through a roll call of missing persons (such as Julie Weflen, Kyle Clinkscales, etc.) is one of the creepiest segments on UM. For whatever reason, the combination of the eerie music, Robert Stack's voice-over and the old photographs just manages to give me the willies.

I was inspired to create this thread when I was re-watching some discs and saw the 30-45 second coverage on Shannon Smith, wanted for child molestation. The police officer briefing the fugitive said that Smith had been known to brag that "seducing young girls was his hobby." If that's not scream-worthy, I don't know what is.

I've looked all over the Net and can't find any info about this guy. I'd hate to think he was never caught since he sounded about as scummy as a child molestor could get, especially when RS mentioned that Smith specifically liked to target girls with emotional problems, and that four of his victims have attempted suicide! :eek:

Personally, I think the 2-minute special alert that went through a roll call of missing persons (such as Julie Weflen, Kyle Clinkscales, etc.) is one of the creepiest segments on UM. For whatever reason, the combination of the eerie music, Robert Stack's voice-over and the old photographs just manages to give me the willies.


Agree 100%!!! It has terrifying music and only 3 of the people have ever been found-all murdered.The two hunters and the boy who disappeared returning home from school. The way it's described it makes it sound like the boy made it home and then vanished, making it all the more horrifying! :eek: I don't think they ever solved who did it. The segment also starts out with one of the women being abducted from her workplace and you just know it's not going to end well. The only one of those missing persons that is probably alive is the young boy abducted by his uncles.

I think the lack of information given also just makes it sound all the more eerie. Like David Thies randomly disappearing in New York and Stefanie Stroh calling her parents from a payphone and never returning. Of course, I have looked into some of the cases and even gathering more information doesn't make it any less creepy.

I've looked all over the Net and can't find any info about this guy. I'd hate to think he was never caught since he sounded about as scummy as a child molestor could get, especially when RS mentioned that Smith specifically liked to target girls with emotional problems, and that four of his victims have attempted suicide! :eek:

Yeah, same story here on digging up whatever became of him. He was like the EMS version of Charles Mule. puke:

As well, I'd really like to know whatever became of Tyrone Thies, who was featured on the same Alert. I always thought he was waaaaay young to have committed a crime that violent.

Agree 100%!!! It has terrifying music and only 3 of the people have ever been found-all murdered.The two hunters and the boy who disappeared returning home from school. The way it's described it makes it sound like the boy made it home and then vanished, making it all the more horrifying! :eek: I don't think they ever solved who did it. The segment also starts out with one of the women being abducted from her workplace and you just know it's not going to end well. The only one of those missing persons that is probably alive is the young boy abducted by his uncles.

I think the lack of information given also just makes it sound all the more eerie. Like David Thies randomly disappearing in New York and Stefanie Stroh calling her parents from a payphone and never returning. Of course, I have looked into some of the cases and even gathering more information doesn't make it any less creepy.

I became curious about the Kyle Clinkscales case after seeing that roll call and I ended up on Charley Project late at night reading up on his case. As it turns out, not a trace of him was found until someone found his gas credit card eleven years after he went missing on some random, undeveloped plot of land in Troup County, GA. He was last heard from in January 1976, and the card wasn't found until 1987. :eek: That's been the only trace of Kyle ever found.

Julie Weflen was extremely scary, too. There were definite signs of a struggle at the substation she was last known to be.

I became curious about the Kyle Clinkscales case after seeing that roll call and I ended up on Charley Project late at night reading up on his case. As it turns out, not a trace of him was found until someone found his gas credit card eleven years after he went missing on some random, undeveloped plot of land in Troup County, GA. He was last heard from in January 1976, and the card wasn't found until 1987. :eek: That's been the only trace of Kyle ever found.

Julie Weflen was extremely scary, too. There were definite signs of a struggle at the substation she was last known to be.
As soon as I read the words ''she was believed to have been overpowered by two people'' I got scared just reading the Charley Project. It's very easy to envision what probably happened. She set her stuff down, opened the back of her car, then the people who abducted her showed up and it seems that she almost was able to get away because the driver's side door was hanging open. :( I have never read an Ann Rule book and am wondering if I should read ''Kiss Me, Kill Me'' to get more info on that case.

As for Kyle, yes, it is a horrifying case. The story about the young boy seeing his body disposed of, the credit card being found over a decade later...I wonder if anyone in this community has read the book his father wrote on the case?

As soon as I read the words ''she was believed to have been overpowered by two people'' I got scared just reading the Charley Project. It's very easy to envision what probably happened. She set her stuff down, opened the back of her car, then the people who abducted her showed up and it seems that she almost was able to get away because the driver's side door was hanging open. :( I have never read an Ann Rule book and am wondering if I should read ''Kiss Me, Kill Me'' to get more info on that case.

As for Kyle, yes, it is a horrifying case. The story about the young boy seeing his body disposed of, the credit card being found over a decade later...I wonder if anyone in this community has read the book his father wrote on the case?

I have "Kiss Me, Kill Me" and it was far more sad than scary in Ms. Rule's telling. But it does definitely have its frightening bits. The day she disappeared Julie's husband came home from work that evening when he found a paper note on his front door. All it said was "Call BPA (Bonneville Power Administration). Your wife's been kidnapped." :eek:

I have "Kiss Me, Kill Me" and it was far more sad than scary in Ms. Rule's telling. But it does definitely have its frightening bits. The day she disappeared Julie's husband came home from work that evening when he found a paper note on his front door. All it said was "Call BPA (Bonneville Power Administration). Your wife's been kidnapped." :eek:
:eek: Just an anonymous note? Whoa, that is freaky! I really want to read the book now.

:eek: Just an anonymous note? Whoa, that is freaky! I really want to read the book now.

It wasn't specified who the note came from in the book, but I assume it was probably someone at BPA. In any event, to walk up on something like that would be scary as hell.

It wasn't specified who the note came from in the book, but I assume it was probably someone at BPA. In any event, to walk up on something like that would be scary as hell.
I would have a small heart attack. I know they didn't have cell phones, but surely that could have been handled better. Another question I have is, isn't "Kiss Me, Kill Me" about lust-driven murders or cases with spouses and those in relationships? Does Rule have a theory about what could have been the motive? This one just baffles me!

As well, I'd really like to know whatever became of Tyrone Thies, who was featured on the same Alert. I always thought he was waaaaay young to have committed a crime that violent.

There's a very interesting comment at the very bottom of this article about him. Apparently, the last confirmed sighting of Theis was him bragging about the murders in the bar, and there's a possibility he may have become a victim of vigilante justice:
http://kidnappingmurderandmayhem.blogspot.ca/2008/11/where-is-ty-theis.html

I would have a small heart attack. I know they didn't have cell phones, but surely that could have been handled better. Another question I have is, isn't "Kiss Me, Kill Me" about lust-driven murders or cases with spouses and those in relationships? Does Rule have a theory about what could have been the motive? This one just baffles me!

Me too. :eek:

The vast majority of the cases deal with spouses and those in relationships, yes. If you're not familiar with Rule's writing, she's from the greater Seattle area and her stories are most often from King and Pierce Counties and the surrounding areas.

Rule does not have a theory of her own about Julie's disappearance--at least not one she wove into her story, anyhow. She typically doesn't work in her own theories, I've found--she simply relays the story.

There's a very interesting comment at the very bottom of this article about him. Apparently, the last confirmed sighting of Theis was him bragging about the murders in the bar, and there's a possibility he may have become a victim of vigilante justice:
http://kidnappingmurderandmayhem.blogspot.ca/2008/11/where-is-ty-theis.html

That makes much more sense to me than Tyrom being out on the run or assuming a new identity.

There's a very interesting comment at the very bottom of this article about him. Apparently, the last confirmed sighting of Theis was him bragging about the murders in the bar, and there's a possibility he may have become a victim of vigilante justice:
http://kidnappingmurderandmayhem.blogspot.ca/2008/11/where-is-ty-theis.html
All for $30...what a horrible person. Did he even know the other two workers? :mad: I know this will sound awful, but the vigilante theory is one that I would hope would be true over him living a normal life where he could possibly strike again.

Me too. :eek:

The vast majority of the cases deal with spouses and those in relationships, yes. If you're not familiar with Rule's writing, she's from the greater Seattle area and her stories are most often from King and Pierce Counties and the surrounding areas.

Rule does not have a theory of her own about Julie's disappearance--at least not one she wove into her story, anyhow. She typically doesn't work in her own theories, I've found--she simply relays the story.
Thanks for giving me all this info! I will definitely look into some of her books : )

When I first started watching UM between 1989-1991...can't remember the exact year, but one of these short segments caused me to stop watching. I was a kid then and I saw a person that was a wanted fugutive that I thought I saw in my apartment complex that I lived at. I told my parents and they said it was in my head. Now it probably wasn't the same person, but it was chilling enough to get me to stop watching for a long time.

Just saw the Art Jones Special Alert segment for the first time plus the update, and it freaked me out a lot more than I expected it to.

Special Alert segments, what do you mean? Like when they profiled other fraudulent frauds still at large?

Just saw the Art Jones Special Alert segment for the first time plus the update, and it freaked me out a lot more than I expected it to.
I just watched this one tonight, too, for the first time in years. I didn't find it scary before (just very sad), but the mention of possible foul play was pretty freaky.

I just watched this one tonight, too, for the first time in years. I didn't find it scary before (just very sad), but the mention of possible foul play was pretty freaky.

The creepy music adds to the uneasiness of the whole ordeal.

I remember seeing that special alert as a little kid and then the update saying his body was just 400 yards away the whole time people were looking for him. :eek:

Just saw the Art Jones Special Alert segment for the first time plus the update, and it freaked me out a lot more than I expected it to.

What I need to know is...where are you Art Jones?

I always found that comment by one of the investigators memorable.

Is that the one where the family home either exploded or burned down and it appeared to be foul play? The main suspect was the dad, who they were looking for?

Then THAT special alert was followed by an update that said, "Oh, yeah. We found him. His body was here the whole time."

If that's the one-- yeah, that one freaked me out, too. :)

Is that the one where the family home either exploded or burned down and it appeared to be foul play? The main suspect was the dad, who they were looking for?

Then THAT special alert was followed by an update that said, "Oh, yeah. We found him. His body was here the whole time."

If that's the one-- yeah, that one freaked me out, too. :)

yep.

I was reading up about David Thies (http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/David_Thies) who was featured on a quick special alert which showcased 10 missing persons cases, and found an obituary for his step father (http://thevillager.com/villager_250/ralphdigia80.html), and it lists that he is survived by a child listed as David. Does this mean they eventually found him? Virtually nothing about this case is featured online aside from this (https://books.google.com/books?id=YegCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=david+thies+missing+new+york&source=bl&ots=Ch8OWcMm5f&sig=YoJ3eLy2ZyXHsnFi3REXv_Ts_xM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWy9baxaXZAhWiY98KHbemCN0Q6AEIOjAD#v=onepage&q=david%20thies%20missing%20new%20york&f=false) little blurb in a NY magazine from 1997. The obituary mentions how his mother transformed a nonprofit missing persons organization into a Bosnian relief agency in the early 90's. I wonder if they found David, and for reasons unknown, never contacted the proper authorities to let them know he was found alive. Granted, it could just be a simple error on the obituary writer's part, but with that lengthy of an obituary, it seems unlikely to me.

Mike Cline, the guy who murdered his pregnant girlfriend and threw her body into Lake Winnebago.

His age-progression pic still creeps me the f*ck out!

Mike Cline, the guy who murdered his pregnant girlfriend and threw her body into Lake Winnebago.

His age-progression pic still creeps me the f*ck out!
Agreed! That and the fact that they never caught him is pretty terrifying.

Agreed! That and the fact that they never caught him is pretty terrifying.

That's the dude the FBI thought had probably attended college under another name and had potentially become a veterinarian, right?

If so, he would likely be retired by now, after probably a pretty good career. Blegh. :mad:

That's the dude the FBI thought had probably attended college under another name and had potentially become a veterinarian, right?

If so, he would likely be retired by now, after probably a pretty good career. Blegh. :mad:
That's him. :mad: Because it was so much easier to slip under the radar back then, I fear you're correct that he was probably able to go to college under an assumed name and thrive despite this crime. I think it's highly probable that he received financial help from relatives, too.