Do you own or have read any books on UM cases? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Evadual · 12-18-2003, 08:32 PM

Here are a few I own or have read: Green River Killings, "Without a Trace" about Amy Billig's disapperance, The Boston Stranglers, Mark Fuhrman's book on the death of Martha Moxley. All interesting reads, though I haven't really gotten into the Green River book yet. I'd like to see some replies on any other books featuring cases on UM.

crystaldawn · 12-18-2003, 10:25 PM

I have a book titled "Who Killed Cindy James" about the UM case of the young nurse who was stalked for years and then murdered (some think it was a suicide). I found it very interesting. Let me know if you want to borrow it. I know there is also a book about the murder of Anita Green (her husband was convicted of her murder for hire) and its called "No Sanctuary" but I haven't read it.

dynoguy88 · 12-19-2003, 12:18 AM

I have the book "The deaths of Cindy James" by Neal Hall. (Neal Hall was interviewed in the UM segment.)

I was always fasinated with the Cindy James Case. Sad and scary story of her hellish last 7 years of life.

I also have the book called "The face of a monster" which involved the life of murdered Thomas Luther who is expected of killing Bobbie Oberholzter and Annette Kay Schnee - shown on Unsolved Mysteries - the two women who vansihed on the same night in Breckenridge, Colorado in 1982. Both women's bodies were found later with an orange sock.

Books involving UM stories are pretty cool because they give alot more details that UM usually leaves out.

FanfromES · 12-19-2003, 02:06 PM

"I also have the book called "The face of a monster" which involved the life of murdered Thomas Luther who is expected of killing Bobbie Oberholzter and Annette Kay Schnee - shown on Unsolved Mysteries - the two women who vansihed on the same night in Breckenridge, Colorado in 1982. Both women's bodies were found later with an orange sock. "

I remember that the husband/boyfriend of one of these women was a suspect. He even was interviewed in UM. This man is Thomas Luther? or the guy who appeared in UM was ruled out as a suspect?

connieallbright · 12-19-2003, 06:48 PM

I have Stalemate about the disappearance of Amber Schwartz and Angela Bugey. Very creepy. I'm really surprised there aren't more books out there about UM cases. The Mary Morris cases and some of the other more bizarre cases.

dynoguy88 · 12-20-2003, 01:20 PM

FanfromES -

The man that was interviewed in the Unsolved Mysteries segment was Bobbie's husband, Jeff Oberholtzer. He was ruled out as a suspect years ago and it looks pretty obvious that he had nothing to do with the killings. Telephone records show that he was home on the phone during the same time that Bobbie had dissapeared after leaving the bar. He also had a friend visit him at his house that night. It would have been impossible for him to drive out and find his wife in the middle of the night, kill her, find Annette and kill her, than race home to recieve his telephone call shown on the records. Jeff Oberholzter also took several polygraph exams and passed with flying colors every single time.

Surprisingly, there was no mention of Thomas Luther in the Unsolved Mysteries segement at all. But he is still considered a suspect in the murders of Bobbie and Annette because he had killed several other women in that same area, in the exact same way, during that same time period. (Early 80's.) He even bragged in jail that he had killed Bobbie and Annette but always claimed to police that he didn't.

I'm very surpised that none of this was ever mentioned on UM. But the book claimed that after the story had aired, several callers called in to the telecenter saying that they suspected Luther as the killer.

Another interesting part of this book was the way it went into detail - the way they filmed this story for Unsolved Mysteries. Exactly 10 years to the night that the women were murdered, they went to both areas to reanact the crimes for the shows. Very interesting.

Kane · 12-20-2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dynoguy88
FanfromES -
Surprisingly, there was no mention of Thomas Luther in the Unsolved Mysteries segement at all. But he is still considered a suspect in the murders of Bobbie and Annette because he had killed several other women in that same area, in the exact same way, during that same time period. (Early 80's.) He even bragged in jail that he had killed Bobbie and Annette but always claimed to police that he didn't.

I'm very surpised that none of this was ever mentioned on UM. But the book claimed that after the story had aired, several callers called in to the telecenter saying that they suspected Luther as the killer.

Could it be that nobody had previously thought to consider Thomas Luther to have possible connections to the case until after the UM segment was filmed? That sort of thing happens, and would likely explain why the segment made no mention of Luther.

Another possible explanation would be that Luther might have been a person of interest before the filming of the segment, but that it may have been too soon for the authorities (or anyone else) to declare him a possible suspect (or at least a person of interest).

dynoguy88 · 12-20-2003, 10:23 PM

You might be right, Kane.

But the impression I got from the book was that Luther was suspected as being the killer before Unsolved Mysteries was even contacted.

One of the women he attacked was named Mary Brown - and he tried to rape and kill her the exact same way that Schnee and Oberholtzer were mudered just one month earlier; giving her a ride home, driving her out into the woods in Breckenridge and killing her. But she escaped and lived. She identified Luther as the killer. There's no doubt about it in my mind. Luther has got to be the killer. It is just too much of a coincidence for him not to be.

It just would have been nice if Unsolved Mysteries had at least mentioned Luther and the way he tried to kill Mary Brown.

FanfromES · 12-24-2003, 01:59 PM

Maybe they didnt mention Luther because they didnt want to alert him that he was a suspect and compromise the investigation.

Dilly · 12-27-2003, 09:43 PM

I just recently bought the book, "Teresita" on EBay and tells the story from an early episode of Unsolved Mysteries where a nurse is murdered and then appears to a coworker.

She also takes possession of the coworker and names her killer. Teresita also tells what her killer Allan Showery did with her jewelry so the police could use as evidence.

The case was called "Voice from the Grave" and is absolutely true. Allan confessed and was convicted. The book has more details that UM didn't include. I know there was a tv movie but I never watch those because they add so many fictionalized segments.

Kane · 12-27-2003, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FanfromES
Maybe they didnt mention Luther because they didnt want to alert him that he was a suspect and compromise the investigation.

Good point, FanfromES. It's worth noting that if you're a detective investigating a crime, there IS such a thing as naming a suspect too soon. Publicly naming someone as an official or potential suspect too soon could work to your disadvantage. It could, indeed, compromise the investigation.

I remember hearing about some stories about the investigation into the infamous Green River murders (this was long before Gary Ridgeway was identified as the Green River Killer). Some names of suspects were leaked to the press, and it was more than enough to ruin the lives of some of those men, who would be wrongfully nicknamed the Green River killer by some people (especially passersby). Unfortunately, situations like that do happen.

Thracian · 12-31-2003, 12:01 AM

I've read:

The Deaths of Cindy James
No Santuary

Both of which are mentioned above. There may be a few more, but I can't think of them just now. (If I do, I will revise my list.)

I'm currently reading Finding Susan, a recent book written by the sister of Susan Harrison, who disappeared back in 1996. Susan's body was found two years later (I think). Many people believe that her husband, Jim Harrison, killed Susan. Jim was interviewed for the segment along with Susan's sister and two sons.

It is interesting to read about the cases--you always get more information in the books than there is time to portray in the TV program.

80s90sFanatic · 01-03-2004, 10:55 PM

I have the book of the Dowaiby Case, which was featured on UM. I haven't gotten the chance to read the rest of the book though.

12-18-2003, 08:32 PM	#1
Evadual Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 16	Do you own or have read any books on UM cases? Here are a few I own or have read: Green River Killings, "Without a Trace" about Amy Billig's disapperance, The Boston Stranglers, Mark Fuhrman's book on the death of Martha Moxley. All interesting reads, though I haven't really gotten into the Green River book yet. I'd like to see some replies on any other books featuring cases on UM.

12-19-2003, 12:18 AM	#3
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,672	reply I have the book "The deaths of Cindy James" by Neal Hall. (Neal Hall was interviewed in the UM segment.) I was always fasinated with the Cindy James Case. Sad and scary story of her hellish last 7 years of life. I also have the book called "The face of a monster" which involved the life of murdered Thomas Luther who is expected of killing Bobbie Oberholzter and Annette Kay Schnee - shown on Unsolved Mysteries - the two women who vansihed on the same night in Breckenridge, Colorado in 1982. Both women's bodies were found later with an orange sock. Books involving UM stories are pretty cool because they give alot more details that UM usually leaves out.

12-20-2003, 01:20 PM	#6
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,672	reply.... FanfromES - The man that was interviewed in the Unsolved Mysteries segment was Bobbie's husband, Jeff Oberholtzer. He was ruled out as a suspect years ago and it looks pretty obvious that he had nothing to do with the killings. Telephone records show that he was home on the phone during the same time that Bobbie had dissapeared after leaving the bar. He also had a friend visit him at his house that night. It would have been impossible for him to drive out and find his wife in the middle of the night, kill her, find Annette and kill her, than race home to recieve his telephone call shown on the records. Jeff Oberholzter also took several polygraph exams and passed with flying colors every single time. Surprisingly, there was no mention of Thomas Luther in the Unsolved Mysteries segement at all. But he is still considered a suspect in the murders of Bobbie and Annette because he had killed several other women in that same area, in the exact same way, during that same time period. (Early 80's.) He even bragged in jail that he had killed Bobbie and Annette but always claimed to police that he didn't. I'm very surpised that none of this was ever mentioned on UM. But the book claimed that after the story had aired, several callers called in to the telecenter saying that they suspected Luther as the killer. Another interesting part of this book was the way it went into detail - the way they filmed this story for Unsolved Mysteries. Exactly 10 years to the night that the women were murdered, they went to both areas to reanact the crimes for the shows. Very interesting.

12-20-2003, 10:23 PM	#8
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,672	reply You might be right, Kane. But the impression I got from the book was that Luther was suspected as being the killer before Unsolved Mysteries was even contacted. One of the women he attacked was named Mary Brown - and he tried to rape and kill her the exact same way that Schnee and Oberholtzer were mudered just one month earlier; giving her a ride home, driving her out into the woods in Breckenridge and killing her. But she escaped and lived. She identified Luther as the killer. There's no doubt about it in my mind. Luther has got to be the killer. It is just too much of a coincidence for him not to be. It just would have been nice if Unsolved Mysteries had at least mentioned Luther and the way he tried to kill Mary Brown.
	Last edited by dynoguy88; 12-21-2003 at 02:46 PM.

12-31-2003, 12:01 AM	#12
Thracian Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Posts: 81	I've read: The Deaths of Cindy James No Santuary Both of which are mentioned above. There may be a few more, but I can't think of them just now. (If I do, I will revise my list.) I'm currently reading Finding Susan, a recent book written by the sister of Susan Harrison, who disappeared back in 1996. Susan's body was found two years later (I think). Many people believe that her husband, Jim Harrison, killed Susan. Jim was interviewed for the segment along with Susan's sister and two sons. It is interesting to read about the cases--you always get more information in the books than there is time to portray in the TV program.
	__________________ Alyssa Fan of Unsolved Mysteries since 1992

12-18-2003, 10:25 PM	#2
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	I have a book titled "Who Killed Cindy James" about the UM case of the young nurse who was stalked for years and then murdered (some think it was a suicide). I found it very interesting. Let me know if you want to borrow it. I know there is also a book about the murder of Anita Green (her husband was convicted of her murder for hire) and its called "No Sanctuary" but I haven't read it.

12-19-2003, 02:06 PM	#4
FanfromES televidente Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2002 Location: el salvador central america Posts: 161	"I also have the book called "The face of a monster" which involved the life of murdered Thomas Luther who is expected of killing Bobbie Oberholzter and Annette Kay Schnee - shown on Unsolved Mysteries - the two women who vansihed on the same night in Breckenridge, Colorado in 1982. Both women's bodies were found later with an orange sock. " I remember that the husband/boyfriend of one of these women was a suspect. He even was interviewed in UM. This man is Thomas Luther? or the guy who appeared in UM was ruled out as a suspect?

12-19-2003, 06:48 PM	#5
connieallbright Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 20, 2003 Posts: 115	I have Stalemate about the disappearance of Amber Schwartz and Angela Bugey. Very creepy. I'm really surprised there aren't more books out there about UM cases. The Mary Morris cases and some of the other more bizarre cases.

12-24-2003, 01:59 PM	#9
FanfromES televidente Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2002 Location: el salvador central america Posts: 161	Maybe they didnt mention Luther because they didnt want to alert him that he was a suspect and compromise the investigation.

12-27-2003, 09:43 PM	#10
Dilly Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Location: California Posts: 133	I just recently bought the book, "Teresita" on EBay and tells the story from an early episode of Unsolved Mysteries where a nurse is murdered and then appears to a coworker. She also takes possession of the coworker and names her killer. Teresita also tells what her killer Allan Showery did with her jewelry so the police could use as evidence. The case was called "Voice from the Grave" and is absolutely true. Allan confessed and was convicted. The book has more details that UM didn't include. I know there was a tv movie but I never watch those because they add so many fictionalized segments.

01-03-2004, 10:55 PM	#13
80s90sFanatic Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2003 Posts: 123	I have the book of the Dowaiby Case, which was featured on UM. I haven't gotten the chance to read the rest of the book though.
	__________________ Whitney & MJ