What in your opinion is the most astonishing update ever featured on the show?
I will start with Pat Carlton being found alive 33 years after vanishing.

Dennis Depue being caught after fleeing the house where he was living AFTER his story aired! He and the woman he was living with were regular UM watchers.

The update with Elaine Parent committing suicide when the cops came to arrest her. Karma's a bitch!

The Patricia Stallings update in which RS reported that the night the story aired, calls poured into the UM telecenter with physicians familiar with the symptoms of MMA that Ryan Stallings died from.

Most perplexing and strange update: Elizabeth Campbell's purse being found for years after she disappeared.

Most heartwarming update: Judi Davis Dymond connecting with childhood friend Becky Terry while their segment was airing, and their junior high boyfriend David Major calling and leaving his number. hen, the two women reuniting and calling their old beau together!

Stephen Marfeo's wistful look out the kitchen window at the end of the Doreen Marfeo segment, sitting there calmly with that cup of coffee while his own voiceover plays expressing his wishes that she would come home, then an abrupt cut to that text update detailing how, nine years later, Marfeo shot and killed his ex-girlfriend before committing suicide.

The immediate jumpcut update to David O'Neil's body being hauled away in the Scott Rossiter update.

George Boyd's update turning from what looks like a thriller movie to a lost loves update. I'm glad her children were able to reunite, but there was a lot left to wonder about.

Dennis Depue being caught after fleeing the house where he was living AFTER his story aired! He and the woman he was living with were regular UM watchers.

Never shown in syndication (Lifetime or other networks) was how eager UM was to update the viewers on this one. The very next week after this segment originally aired, Stack informed us that Dennis had been captured after watching his own story and tried to escape. He did all this before introducing that night's segments. This is the only time UM did this.

Jerry Strickland and Missy Munday watched their own segment and then waited for the police to arrive. But Dennis tried to watch his own story while packing AND distracting his live-in girlfriend before making an escape. I think UM was really excited to get that news out before they could even film a reenactment of the update.

-The update that gave the sad news that Gale Samuels had died without ever finding her biological family

-The delivery in Robert Stack's voice when giving the update to the Daly City John Doe being identified by his family, as well as the John Doe who was found comatose (I forgot where he was found)

-Both the NBC and Lifetime update when Andolina Gonzalez was arrested and later freed when her victim, Judge Leland Geiler, died

-The eerie Lifetime update music that played when Astarte Davis-Rice was re-arrested in 2002

-The whole atmosphere when the deceased old man in the steamer trunk was identified as Jasper Watkins

Stephen Marfeo's wistful look out the kitchen window at the end of the Doreen Marfeo segment, sitting there calmly with that cup of coffee while his own voiceover plays expressing his wishes that she would come home, then an abrupt cut to that text update detailing how, nine years later, Marfeo shot and killed his ex-girlfriend before committing suicide.

This is the one for me.

Authorities searched for Donald Eugene Webb for decades only to discover he died in 1999 and was buried in the backyard of his former wife’s home.

Learning that Matthew Chase's killer had died unexpectedly in the days following Matthew's murder.

What's the one where a woman's skull was found like in a planter or green area outside a restaurant or something.. Years after she disappeared.

And.. Lee Selwyn's murderer being found. I mean.. For a random road rage case to be solved years later is actually fairly astonishing.

What's the one where a woman's skull was found like in a planter or green area outside a restaurant or something.. Years after she disappeared.


Linda Sherman, but this wasn't an update. The segment revolved around that happening over a decade after she vanished.

Linda Sherman, but this wasn't an update. The segment revolved around that happening over a decade after she vanished.

Yeah.. You're right.. I guess because it happened so long after the fact I kinda thought of it as an update.

At the time, Lisa Marie Kimmell. The eyewitnesses were SO SURE and seemed 100% sincere, not coming across as crackpots or attention seekers. To find they were ALL wrong and she was killed almost immediately was a shock to me at the time.

Of course we UM veterans all know how useless eyewitness testimony and this is a case study on why you never rely on it but back then nobody saw that update coming.

At the time, Lisa Marie Kimmell. The eyewitnesses were SO SURE and seemed 100% sincere, not coming across as crackpots or attention seekers. To find they were ALL wrong and she was killed almost immediately was a shock to me at the time.

Well, except she wasn't killed almost immediately. Lisa had a fate I wouldn't wish on anybody. She was tied up in Dale Wayne Eaton's van for over 3 full days, repeatedly raped and GOD knows what else, before being driven out to the bridge where she was stabbed, killed and THEN thrown overboard. Nothing about it was immediate. That's how much of a sick POS Eaton was.

This case, like the Gus Hoffman and the Ashley Freeman/Lauria Bible cases, disgust me to no end. The fact that there are people who are not only satisfied with killing people, they enjoy torturing their victims for multiple days first.

Well, except she wasn't killed almost immediately. Lisa had a fate I wouldn't wish on anybody. She was tied up in Dale Wayne Eaton's van for over 3 full days, repeatedly raped and GOD knows what else, before being driven out to the bridge where she was stabbed, .

I was always under the impression it was "only" a day before she was killed. Regardless I only hope it was as painless as possible.

Really sickens me how long it took to get him locked up for life. Makes me wonder if the authorities were taken off the scent by the well meaning eyewitnesses as Eaton didn't seem like a criminal mastermind and don't get me started on how the Bechtel murder was handled.

Well, except she wasn't killed almost immediately. Lisa had a fate I wouldn't wish on anybody. She was tied up in Dale Wayne Eaton's van for over 3 full days, repeatedly raped and GOD knows what else, before being driven out to the bridge where she was stabbed, killed and THEN thrown overboard. Nothing about it was immediate. That's how much of a sick POS Eaton was.

This case, like the Gus Hoffman and the Ashley Freeman/Lauria Bible cases, disgust me to no end. The fact that there are people who are not only satisfied with killing people, they enjoy torturing their victims for multiple days first.

I believe it was 6 days.

I was always under the impression it was "only" a day before she was killed. Regardless I only hope it was as painless as possible.

Really sickens me how long it took to get him locked up for life. Makes me wonder if the authorities were taken off the scent by the well meaning eyewitnesses as Eaton didn't seem like a criminal mastermind and don't get me started on how the Bechtel murder was handled.

I don't really think so, because.. The only way he was caught was DNA.. I don't believe he was even on LE radar before that.

However.. Your point remains valid. Mistaken/false eyewitness accounts can be quite damaging.

Eaton eventually buried Lisa's car but we don't know when exactly he buried it. He held her captive for nearly a week (I stand corrected, it was more than 3 days) and I think it's possible he allowed someone close to him...maybe another garbage human being family member or friend....who drove Lisa's car for a few days. That's why I always assumed those witnesses did in fact see Lisa's car (LilMiss from Montana) but it wasn't Lisa driving.

After about a week or so, he buried the car where it would not be dug up for a couple decades.

I don’t think this episode ever aired in syndication. It was a story about a grandmother who had kidnapped her grandchild. The commercials for the upcoming episode aired a few times that week. On the night the segment aired there was a quick update that the lady saw her story was to be aired on UM and had turned herself in to authorities.

I was pretty astonished that the real reason for Danny Paquette's murder not only had nothing to do with his mother Rena's murder years earlier (the segment leaned really hard into the notion that they might have been), but that it was because he allegedly molested his stepdaughter no less, and that his killer was a high schooler.

I don't think anyone saw the Eva Shoen (U-Haul) murder update coming. The way the family aired their dirty laundry it seemed obvious that it was a family feud that boiled over into a contract killing (the guy publicly accused his own brothers) except it wasn't. Turns out it was a random burglar caught in the act.

I don’t think this episode ever aired in syndication. It was a story about a grandmother who had kidnapped her grandchild. The commercials for the upcoming episode aired a few times that week. On the night the segment aired there was a quick update that the lady saw her story was to be aired on UM and had turned herself in to authorities.

That sounds like the Pat Farmer case, although there was an update to the original story.

Just thought of two that made me irrationally angry:

Dave Freeman getting caught and serving less than 10 years for murdering Tim Good and Jerry Gervasoni serving 6 years for murdering Paula Pasciak.

-The update that gave the sad news that Gale Samuels had died without ever finding her biological family

-The delivery in Robert Stack's voice when giving the update to the Daly City John Doe being identified by his family, as well as the John Doe who was found comatose (I forgot where he was found)

-Both the NBC and Lifetime update when Andolina Gonzalez was arrested and later freed when her victim, Judge Leland Geiler, died

-The eerie Lifetime update music that played when Astarte Davis-Rice was re-arrested in 2002

-The whole atmosphere when the deceased old man in the steamer trunk was identified as Jasper Watkins

Do you or anyone else have the NBC update of the Andolina Gonzalez segment?

Who was the female voice who narrated the 2002 Lifetime update of the Astarte Davis-Rice segment?

I don't remember if it was specifically mentioned on the show or just the website, but it was a shock to everyone, believers and skeptics alike the ultimate fate of Dr. Melvin Morse. It's hard to separate the legitimate and sincere experiences and research on child NDEs he shared (along with MANY medical accolades) with the horrific abuse on his stepdaughter he went to prison for. I always saw him as the pediatric version of Mr. Rogers. It's another example of the dangers of black and white, good vs evil thinking I see frequently on any true crime or unsolved mysteries discussion. It also stood out to me because as a child I had a very well respected pediatrician who, while not abusive, didn't exactly line up with his squeaky clean image.

Stephen Marfeo's wistful look out the kitchen window at the end of the Doreen Marfeo segment, sitting there calmly with that cup of coffee while his own voiceover plays expressing his wishes that she would come home, then an abrupt cut to that text update detailing how, nine years later, Marfeo shot and killed his ex-girlfriend before committing suicide.

that always makes me sick when I see it.

Dennis Depue being caught after fleeing the house where he was living AFTER his story aired! He and the woman he was living with were regular UM watchers.

The update with Elaine Parent committing suicide when the cops came to arrest her. Karma's a bitch!

The Patricia Stallings update in which RS reported that the night the story aired, calls poured into the UM telecenter with physicians familiar with the symptoms of MMA that Ryan Stallings died from.

Most perplexing and strange update: Elizabeth Campbell's purse being found for years after she disappeared.

Most heartwarming update: Judi Davis Dymond connecting with childhood friend Becky Terry while their segment was airing, and their junior high boyfriend David Major calling and leaving his number. hen, the two women reuniting and calling their old beau together!
Dennis Depue's update will always be the one that stands out to me. But in real time I'll never forget seeing Christophe Day's update for the first time. I think someone on here made the point that Christophe's mom might have lied and said that he passed away to keep him away from the father.

Dennis Depue's update will always be the one that stands out to me. But in real time I'll never forget seeing Christophe Day's update for the first time. I think someone on here made the point that Christophe's mom might have lied and said that he passed away to keep him away from the father.

That was me. And I still feel that way. Betty Day wasn't exactly a reliable source. If I'm Bill, I'm not believing a single word out of her mouth.

Eaton eventually buried Lisa's car but we don't know when exactly he buried it. He held her captive for nearly a week (I stand corrected, it was more than 3 days) and I think it's possible he allowed someone close to him...maybe another garbage human being family member or friend....who drove Lisa's car for a few days. That's why I always assumed those witnesses did in fact see Lisa's car (LilMiss from Montana) but it wasn't Lisa driving.

After about a week or so, he buried the car where it would not be dug up for a couple decades.

It's possible.. i just.. that seems really outlandish - and dumb - that he would do that. Suhc a recognizable car with such a recognizable plate? And the vehicle was seen pretty far away, but never seen going to that location or coming back.

That whole case.. A lot of similarities between that and Todd Kohlhepp, which is local to me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Kohlhepp

I have to say I’m astonished over Little Miss Panosofkee being identified. After the isotope testing so many, myself included were convinced she was a Greek immigrant. Turns out she was from Maine and the testing was most likely irrelevant.

I have to say I’m astonished over Little Miss Panosofkee being identified. After the isotope testing so many, myself included were convinced she was a Greek immigrant. Turns out she was from Maine and the testing was most likely irrelevant.

What's even more shocking is that I just rewatched and researched this literally two weeks ago and there was no such update. I would be interesting in hearing her story.

There is a link to the press conference on the other thread that I updated this morning.

Here is a more informative article I just found.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/little-miss-panasoffkee-cold-case-update-florida

Short of something like Amelia Earhart being solved once and for all, Little Miss Panasoffkee might be it for me. I never expected to see this solved this long after the fact. Glad for her family, and only wish the sheriff was still here to see this day. I am sure he knows though.

Short of something like Amelia Earhart being solved once and for all, Little Miss Panasoffkee might be it for me. I never expected to see this solved this long after the fact. Glad for her family, and only wish the sheriff was still here to see this day. I am sure he knows though.

Of course it was bound to be solved sooner rather than later at this stage in the game. Genetic genealogy. That's all they have to do with anyone anymore, provided they have the funding.

I am still waiting on the day when the government will fund these in their entirety as opposed to money having to come from other channels. It truly enervates me that victims' families sometimes have to pay out of pocket for this sort of thing. Haven't they been through enough? It's completely wrong that any private citizens should have to pay to solve a crime.

LMP was identified by her fingerprints.

Yeah this was not some case I expected would automatically be solved because of DNA. Not 54 years later. Just too many variables after all this time to say it was bound to be solved.

Little Miss Panasofkee was indeed a HUGE surprise!

That was me. And I still feel that way. Betty Day wasn't exactly a reliable source. If I'm Bill, I'm not believing a single word out of her mouth.

I agree

It's possible.. i just.. that seems really outlandish - and dumb - that he would do that. Suhc a recognizable car with such a recognizable plate? And the vehicle was seen pretty far away, but never seen going to that location or coming back.

That whole case.. A lot of similarities between that and Todd Kohlhepp, which is local to me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Kohlhepp

Killers are not always smart. Their own stupidity can often be their undoing. Like Elmo Florence advertising his services to kill people and telling a bartender how/where/when he murdered TK Harty. He literally confessed to a murder in order to get another job for murder. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

And as for the sightings, the first one was in Casper, Wyoming, just a 20-minute drive from where Lisa's body was dumped and just a 10-minute drive from where she got the speeding ticket. That's hardly far away.

Authorities searched for Donald Eugene Webb for decades only to discover he died in 1999 and was buried in the backyard of his former wife’s home.

I had never read about that update before right now. Wild!

I don't think anyone saw the Eva Shoen (U-Haul) murder update coming. The way the family aired their dirty laundry it seemed obvious that it was a family feud that boiled over into a contract killing (the guy publicly accused his own brothers) except it wasn't. Turns out it was a random burglar caught in the act.

Thanks for the reminder. This would 100% make my top 3, and I can't think of another 2 I found more surprising off the top of my head.

Dennis Depue's update will always be the one that stands out to me. But in real time I'll never forget seeing Christophe Day's update for the first time. I think someone on here made the point that Christophe's mom might have lied and said that he passed away to keep him away from the father.

I vaguely remembered seeing this case and hearing the original (tragic) update, but the faked death I never heard about - holy WOW.

What an evil person that mother is.

I vaguely remembered seeing this case and hearing the original (tragic) update, but the faked death I never heard about - holy WOW.

What an evil person that mother is.

the faked death is a theory. some of us don't believe that it happened because the mother's past behavior.

Sharon Kinne living in Alberta for 40+ years and having another son.