The "Freedom 2", John Russell, Bob Dozier, Suzanne Russell, & Kristin Tomlin

[truthbtold]

Just watched this segment recently(called "Freedom 2" should you choose to research it. To refresh, John Russell and Bob Dozier show up on a beach and claim that their boat, the "Freedom 2" was hit by a freighter and 2 woman aboard, Suzanne Russell and Kristin Tomlin, were missing. It is later discovered that Suzanne was married to both John and Bob and that they all have numerous alias'. We then find out that they were involved in some insurance scam and possibly even drugs. Has there been any update on this?

[DarkDante]

There were a few updates on this case. First UM updated the case on 11-23-88 when two viewers called in claiming that The Russells and Doescher stole their boat several years after the incident surrounding the "Freedom 2". Obviously the most relevant piece of information to come from this update was evidence that Suzanne Russell was still alive after the alleged casualty to the "Freedom 2". For some reason this update has never been included in any syndication of "Unsolved Mysteries" and only came to light a few years back when the NBC broadcast of the 11-23-88 episode surfaced in trader's circles.

Bob Doescher and John Russell were located in the early 1990s and charged with insurance fraud and were given short jail terms (They would both be released for several years now) - Upon their capture both Doescher and Russell claimed to have no idea what happened to Russelll's wife or Kristin Tomlin.

Also the original NBC broadcast included some details about the case that were not included in syndication. Most notably was that prior to setting sail, The Russells visited a gun shop and purchased several different type of weapons including several assault rifles and literally tons of of ammunition. The Russells claimed they needed the weapons to protect themselves against pirates.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by DarkDante

There were a few updates on this case. First UM updated the case on 11-23-88 when two viewers called in claiming that The Russells and Doescher stole their boat several years after the incident surrounding the "Freedom 2". Obviously the most relevant piece of information to come from this update was evidence that Suzanne Russell was still alive after the alleged casualty to the "Freedom 2". For some reason this update has never been included in any syndication of "Unsolved Mysteries" and only came to light a few years back when the NBC broadcast of the 11-23-88 episode surfaced in trader's circles.

Bob Doescher and John Russell were located in the early 1990s and charged with insurance fraud and were given short jail terms (They would both be released for several years now) - Upon their capture both Doescher and Russell claimed to have no idea what happened to Russelll's wife or Kristin Tomlin.

Also the original NBC broadcast included some details about the case that were not included in syndication. Most notably was that prior to setting sail, The Russells visited a gun shop and purchased several different type of weapons including several assault rifles and literally tons of of ammunition. The Russells claimed they needed the weapons to protect themselves against pirates.

This case was always in my top ten most bizarre. And I have no idea why there was never an update aired on the reruns stating that Suzanne was still alive. I wonder if Kristin Tomlin was involved in this scam, or just an innocent bystander?

[truthbtold]

So Suzanne, Bill, and Bob are all alive, well, and free?!?! How have they not been questioned extensively or even hooked up to a lie detector. Surely, investigators must be able to find more information from them if we know exactly where they are. Is this case still open or did law enforcement just throw up their hands and give up?

[DarkDante]

Originally Posted by truthbtold

So Suzanne, Bill, and Bob are all alive, well, and free?!?! How have they not been questioned extensively or even hooked up to a lie detector. Surely, investigators must be able to find more information from them if we know exactly where they are. Is this case still open or did law enforcement just throw up their hands and give up?

I have no idea whether Suzanne Russell is alive or not. When Bob Doescher and John Russell were captured both denied any further knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing women.

The details of the case remain sketchy but the fact that the authorities were unable to charge Doescher and Russell with anything except insurance fraud tells me that they probably lacked any evidence to charge them with the myriad of other crimes that they were suspected of committing that were brought up during the UM segment.

As for the whereabouts of Suzanne Russell and Kristin Tomlin? Your guess about as good as mine. There is always the possibility that the couple interviewed back in 1988 that alleged that The Russells and Doescher stole their boat were mistaken. However personally I'm of the opinion that with all three people being identified by the same couple, that probably isn't likely. Either way, although UM noted back in 1988 that the couple had won a judgment in their favor against The Russells and Doescher for the theft of their boat, nothing further was ever mentioned of this judgment once John Russell and Bob Doescher were captured. So that is a bit of an open ended question in enough of itself.

As for Kristin Tomlin, it's my personal belief she is dead. Tomlin's family was interviewed for the original segment (this was also deleted from the syndications) and both her mother and brother expressed bewilderment as to why Kristin had not contacted them if indeed she was still alive. That was over twenty years ago now and then some if we are speaking of the actual date of her disappearance. So that leaves two possibilities: Either Suzanne Russell and Kristin Tomlin are still in hiding somewhere all these years later due to some incident that occurred aboard "The Freedom 2" or one or both of them are deceased.

The bottom line is that for whatever reason there is probably not enough evidence to charge anyone in the disappearance of either of the two women and add to that there is some credible evidence (at least in my mind) that Suzanne Russell was still alive after the casualty to the boat.

[Thiussat]

Is this the episode where the people went missing on the boat and then their bodies were found on a deserted island much later on? I am probably thinking of a different segment all together, but does anyone know which one I have in mind?

[unsolved243]

Originally Posted by Thiussat

Is this the episode where the people went missing on the boat and then their bodies were found on a deserted island much later on? I am probably thinking of a different segment all together, but does anyone know which one I have in mind?

I believe you are thinking of the segment of the Hawaiian fishermen who disappeared in 1979 after going into a dark storm aboard the Sara Joe. Ten years later, on the Marshall Islands, the Sara Joe was discovered, along with the remains of Scott Moorman, one of the crew. The other fisherman have never been found and nobody knows if the survived, if they are deceased, and who buried Scott.

[Thiussat]

Originally Posted by unsolved243

I believe you are thinking of the segment of the Hawaiian fishermen who disappeared in 1979 after going into a dark storm aboard the Sara Joe. Ten years later, on the Marshall Islands, the Sara Joe was discovered, along with the remains of Scott Moorman, one of the crew. The other fisherman have never been found and nobody knows if the survived, if they are deceased, and who buried Scott.

Thanks. That was it. I hadn't seen the segment in a number of years and was glad I found it on the bad site. One of the more bizarre cases.

[WishfulDreamer]

Aw, the family of Kristin was interviewed for the original segment? Too bad I haven't seen it. I personally think that Kristin was probably killed by the other three, possibly because of drugs/fraud witnessing. Suzanne, I believe, was alive and did steal the boat. It just really sucks that they're out of prison now and the case is not even solved.

[RobinW]

I just probably Kristin Tomlin's disappearance to the "Mysteries That Will Never Be Solved" thread. When the two suspects have done their time in prison and been set free without having to divulge her whereabouts, then I doubt they're going to lead anyone to a body anytime soon.

It's infuriatingly similar to the Annie Hearin kidnapping where Newton Alfred Winn served time for the crime, but there was not enough evidence to charge him with her murder, so he got to walk out of prison without ever revealing where her body is.

[WishfulDreamer]

I know, RobinW, it's just aggravating! I understand lack of evidence, but in the Newton Alfred Winn case, he was convicted of the actual kidnapping so I just can't believe he hasn't been convicted of at least causing her death. If I was a family member I would feel like becoming a vigilante. It's not terribly surprising that Dozier and Russell haven't been convicted since they were there for other charges not relating to the women's disappeances. I wonder if Suzanne Russell is still wanted and living under an alias?

[ILikeTurtles]

Very interesting to think what ended up happening with these people and how they got away with their activity. I'm assuming Kristen was killed and dumped to sea at some point if there was a drug deal gone wrong.

[ILikeTurtles]

Rewatching the case again...another theory is Kristen was a victim of circumstance from seeing or hearing something at the Saloon she worked at that was drug related, and she was invited to come out for the boat ride in order to silence her.

[TheCars1986]

I think Russell and Dozier wanted to carry out this scam and saw Suzanne and Kristin as "expendable" to their plan.

[LaurierCrimmajor]

Unfortunately, I get a sneaking suspicion that Kristin Tomlin was used in this case as a body double for Suzanne Russell and her aliases, so that the Russells would get another fresh identity and proclaim all were 'lost at sea'....