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more during the winter of 1993 the Melbourne suburb of Frankston was terrorized by a
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vicious serial killer named Paul Daniel three decades later Danielle has applied
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for parole to coincide with Daniel's bid for parole casefile presents is launching a
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long-form series about the case as a reminder that Dania must never be released researched written and hosted by
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award-winning crime writer Vicky betrayedus the Frankston murders podcast uncovers new material and new victims
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stalked by Danya in the lead-up to the killings all 11 episodes of the Frankston murders
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are available to listen to right now be sure to follow the Frankston murders wherever you get your podcasts
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stay tuned until the end of today's episode to hear the trailer and be sure to follow the Frankston murders wherever
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you get your podcasts foreign [Music] still with serious and often distressing incidents if you feel at any time you
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need support please contact your local crisis center for suggested phone numbers for
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confidential support please see the show notes for this episode on your app or on
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our website today's episode involves crimes against children and won't be suitable for all
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listeners [Music] on the night of Sunday September 5 1982 the crew aboard a fishing vessel called
00:03:17
the decade through a party they were celebrating the coming end of the fishing season
00:03:24
while they drank inside their boat a storm raged across the southern Alaskan Coast outside
00:03:32
around 6 the following morning a hungover crew member stuck it out to the deck to be sick over the side
00:03:39
the sun was breaking Over The Misty Horizon as rain drizzled across the cold Blue Waters of the Pacific
00:03:48
the crew member took in his surroundings and caught sight of something [Music] another fishing vessel a 58-foot percina
00:03:57
dubbed the investor was slowly drifting out to sea barely visible in the gloomy weather was
00:04:04
the Investor's Pilot House where its navigation equipment was held at the helm was a man
00:04:12
he looked to be in his twenties and was of average height with a stocky build he was wearing a baseball cap though
00:04:20
some of his light-colored hair was visible the final phase of the summon season was
00:04:28
being reopened by Alaska's Department of Fish and Game that day it seemed the investor was getting a
00:04:35
head start The Man Behind The Wheel was assumed to be the Investor's Captain 28 year old
00:04:43
mark colthurst the decade crew member waved to him the man raised a single hand in response
00:04:52
as he steered the investor silently away [Music] foreign [Music] 1982 and dozens of fishing trawlers were
00:05:24
docked in the remote Alaskan Village of Craig located on Prince of Wales island in the
00:05:30
southern part of the state Craig faces outwards to the Gulf of Alaska with several other smaller largely deserted
00:05:38
Islands inside the local community of just 600 people relied on its strong fishing industry
00:05:46
supported by the abundance of halibut and salmon in the surrounding Waters Craig was a stopping point for fishing
00:05:54
vessels as they journeyed between Alaska and the continental United States boats docked at the Village overnight
00:06:02
then set sail shortly before first Allied in search of a fishery areas of sea where fish occurred in large
00:06:09
quantities captains and their Crews were known to Anchor at a fishery for several days
00:06:15
before returning to Craig to sell their catch the fish were then sent to the Island's
00:06:22
Cold Storage plant and Cannery the investor was one of the more impressive boats docked in Craig
00:06:31
the state of the art red and gray fiberglass Cena was the largest size of boat permitted to fish in Alaskan Waters
00:06:39
valued at around one and a half million dollars The Vessel was comfortable to live in and decked out with the latest
00:06:46
fishing gear the investor was just one year old when its current Captain Mark coldhurst
00:06:53
boarded Mark was a naturally gifted fisherman from the state of Washington he had taken up fishing in his teens
00:07:02
starting out with a wooden skiff he used to net Herring for profit he then upgraded to an old rusted
00:07:09
trawler during a week-long expedition in 1979 ma called in an impressive 105 thousand
00:07:18
dollars worth of fish eventually he bought the boat of his dreams the investor in a feature article for Pacific
00:07:28
fishermen magazine Mark explained that he had named to the investor after the money he was certain it would make
00:07:36
he hoped it would facilitate his plans to retire at the age of 50. in 1982 Mark arrived in Craig on Sunday
00:07:46
September 5. after two weeks at sea it was a rare stop he didn't usually visit the island
00:07:54
Village it was also the first time he'd been there in his new boat a broom was attached to the Investor's
00:08:03
Mast a message to other vessels that it had so far caught one hundred thousand pounds of salmon
00:08:10
because there weren't enough morage spots on Craig's dock to accommodate so many boats the investor was Tethered to
00:08:17
the decade which was tied to another boat called the defiant in the early hours of Monday September 6
00:08:29
the investor was on the move aside from The Hungover crew member aboard the decade a number of other
00:08:37
fishermen noticed the investor quietly slipping away Mike coldhurst had left the investors
00:08:45
tie lines the heavy braided rope that had connected it to the decade on the other boat's deck
00:08:52
tie lines cost over 100 dollars they were not the type of thing fishermen discarded lightly
00:09:01
at around 7 30 a.m it stopped at fish egg Island a small landmass about a mile away
00:09:09
then a heavy fog rolled in obscuring the investor from side the fog hung low across the harbor for
00:09:17
the rest of the day it finally cleared by the following morning of Tuesday September 7.
00:09:24
revealing that the investor hadn't moved from its spot alongside fish egg Island
00:09:31
just after 4 pm that day fisherman Bruce Anderson noticed thick black smoke by fish egg Island
00:09:39
he wondered whether it was engine exhaust from a vessel that had just started its motor
00:09:46
the smoke remained heavy and didn't dissipate Bruce grew concerned and grabbed a pair
00:09:52
of binoculars he recognized that the investor it was engulfed in flames Bruce and his wife Jan Kittleson raced
00:10:05
towards the fire in their own boat as they drew closer they saw a smaller boat speeding towards them from the
00:10:13
investors Direction it was a 20-foot red and gray fiberglass skiff a craft used to maneuver a person
00:10:21
as fishing net into place before the net is pulled on board Bruce and Jan identified this skiff as
00:10:29
belonging to the investor as it was made of the same fiberglass and painted to match the larger vessel
00:10:37
but they didn't recognize the lone man in it he had tanned skin and slightly long
00:10:45
hair partially obscured by a baseball cap Bruce thought he had a California Surfer
00:10:52
look about him Jan waved for the man to stop but he seemed it determined to avoid them
00:11:00
Bruce cut the skiff off forcing the man to stop about 15 feet away are there people on the boat Jan shouted
00:11:10
the man didn't reply Jen repeated herself several times wide-eyed the man finally said
00:11:21
yes there are people on the boat he then sped off at Full Throttle towards Craig
00:11:31
Sue dominowski and her boyfriend Paul Page were watching the chaos unfolding from the docks in Craig
00:11:38
had seemed like every boat in town was moving towards the fire except one a man in a red and gray fiberglass skiff
00:11:47
was heading to shore he looked about 20 or 21 years old and roughly 150 pounds he had brown or blonde hair and was
00:11:58
wearing a baseball cap with a logo on it what was striking was how one bothered the man looked as if nothing out of the
00:12:07
ordinary was happening he was driving at such rapid speed he caused waves that flooded the engine of
00:12:15
a passing rescue party the man landed the skiff with a crash hitting its bow into the dock that Sue
00:12:23
domonowski was standing on she felt its Shake beneath her feet the young man leapt from the skiff and
00:12:32
hurriedly tied it to the dock his face was pale but his cheeks appeared slightly flushed
00:12:40
he carried what looked like a shoebox under one arm Sue and her boyfriend Paul asked if the
00:12:49
man had come from the boat that was burning no he replied before explaining that he
00:12:56
was in a hurry he fidgeted awkwardly and kept his gaze downcast Sue then asked if there was anyone on
00:13:05
the burning boat it was hard to get a clear answer the man spoke slowly as though in shock
00:13:15
he reiterated that he had to go yet he just remained standing there he offered the couple use of his skiff
00:13:23
before saying that he had to go call the Coast Guard no one's called the Coast Guard yet Sue
00:13:31
cried out in Surprise the man walked away without a reply the fire was fierce producing waves of
00:13:48
heat so intense it was impossible to move in to stop it it consumed to the Investor's wheelhouse
00:13:55
and spread along the back deck a smaller more Nimble vessel circled closer to the investor to see if anyone
00:14:03
was on board nothing was visible aside from a few unidentifiable objects bobbing in the
00:14:10
water with no way to get close enough to douse the Flames onlookers watched helplessly
00:14:20
at 4 20 PM Alaska State Trooper Bob Anderson was alerted to the situation he took his personal boat to fish egg
00:14:30
Island where a small Fleet surrounded the investor from a safe distance by now the investors entire cabin Galley
00:14:39
bridge and scene net were Ablaze the speed and viciousness of the fire left Trooper Anderson in No Doubt
00:14:48
it had been deliberately lit Trooper Anderson rushed back to Craig to locate the Investor's Captain
00:14:58
he was informed that Mark Colt Hurst hadn't been fishing alone That season he was joined by four decades 18 year
00:15:08
old Chris Heyman and Mike Stewart Dean Moon and Jerome Cowan who were all 19. also traveling aboard the investor were
00:15:18
Mark's wife Irene and their two children five-year-old Kimberly and four-year-old
00:15:24
John Irene was three months pregnant Trooper Anderson got to work tracking down everyone who had been on the
00:15:35
investor the last time the coldhursts and their crew had been seen was two days earlier
00:15:41
on Sunday September 5. that afternoon Mark and his decades returned to Craig to offload salmon
00:15:50
they'd caught payment wouldn't come through until the following day faced with some Spare Time Mark gave his
00:15:59
crew the night off Dean Moon and Jerome Cowan headed into town Chris Heyman and Mike Stewart weren't
00:16:08
seen with them it was presumed they remained behind on the investor Mark Colt Hurst opted to spend the night
00:16:19
with his wife and children it was the Family's last chance to be together for a while
00:16:25
Irene Kimberly and John were flying back to Washington the next day to prepare for Kimberly starting school
00:16:33
September 5 also happened to be Mark's 28th birthday the coldhursts had a celebratory dinner
00:16:41
at a local restaurant before returning to the investor just before 10 o'clock they were witnessed clambering over the
00:16:50
two boats the investor was Tethered to passing a party in full swing along the way
00:16:56
no one from the investor was cited after that night at 8 pm state trooper Bob Anderson
00:17:06
received a call that the fire had been extinguished the once gleaming investor was now a
00:17:13
charred and melted wreck Trooper Anderson boarded the ruined boat it was slick from water and leaning
00:17:22
slightly to the right making it difficult to walk on where the Gully door had once stood was
00:17:29
what appeared to be the badly burnt carcass of an animal perhaps a dog lying on its side with its legs sticking out
00:17:39
on closer inspection Trooper Anderson realized the corpse was actually human [Music]
00:17:58
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deliver quality content dental records confirmed the body belonged to 19 year old deckhand Mike
00:20:29
Stewart he was also Captain Mark coldhurst's cousin Mike's remains were too destroyed to
00:20:38
determine a cause of death [Music] a second body was soon discovered beneath a section of melted fiberglass
00:20:45
where the investors stateroom had been this one was Tiny it was five-year-old Kimberly the eldest
00:20:55
of the two coldhurst children while Kimberly's body was also too damaged to determine a cause of death
00:21:03
there was evidence that she might have been bludgeoned another two bodies were found under a
00:21:10
separate layer of fiberglass one was on top of the other the body on top was Mark coldhurst
00:21:19
under him was Irene called Hurst it appeared Mark had died while protecting his pregnant wife
00:21:28
both had been shot multiple times including at least once in their head as Mark Irene Kimberly and Mike's
00:21:38
remains were being collected the fire broke out again the First Responders were forced to
00:21:46
disembark as firefighting efforts resumed it took until the following night of Wednesday September 8 to put the fire
00:21:54
out for good what remained of the investor was towed to shore a device that detects accelerants
00:22:05
uncovered traces of pure white gasoline on the wreckage what gasoline is primarily used in camp
00:22:13
stoves and lanterns its presence on the investor confirmed that the fire was the result of arson
00:22:22
a burnt Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle was also recovered in the wreckage this was an unexpected find
00:22:32
Mark and Irene colthurst had been executed with a 22 caliber firearm its specifics unknown
00:22:40
this meant the murder weapon was still missing between five and seven pounds of bone
00:22:50
fragments were found where the Deccan slept a partial Jawbone belonged to 19 year
00:22:56
old Jerome Cowan the remaining bones couldn't be identified it was possible they belonged to one or
00:23:06
both of the remaining decades nineteen-year-old Dean Moon and 18 year old Chris Heyman
00:23:14
no trace of the cold hurst's youngest child four-year-old John Colt Hurst was found
00:23:21
investigators considered the possibility that he'd been taken from the vessel but
00:23:27
it seemed more likely that his body had been entirely lost to the fire the fact that the blaze had melted the
00:23:35
fiberglass vessel was indicative of its extremely high temperature John was known to sleep on a daybed in
00:23:44
the Wheelhouse where the fire might have been lit investigators suspected that all the
00:23:51
victims were shot and killed beforehand Kimberly and the deccans were killed in their beds with the exception of Jerome
00:23:59
Cowan the location of his remains suggested he'd been by the Gully door when he died
00:24:05
as though heading out to the deck perhaps he'd been trying to escape no one aboard the investor was seen
00:24:15
after the evening of Sunday September 5 meaning they were likely killed that night
00:24:22
in order to reach the investor the killer had to walk across two other boats the decade and the defiant
00:24:31
it was possible they hadn't been noticed due to the raucous parties taking place
00:24:35
on both vessels the gunshots could have been drowned out by the noise the investor was witness to drifting
00:24:46
away at dawn the next day with an unidentified man behind the steering wheel he was using the vessels far quieter
00:24:55
auxiliary motor likely to avoid attention upon reaching fish egg Island it was believed that the killer tried to sink
00:25:04
the investor by opening the engine rooms of valves dense fog concealed The Vessel for the
00:25:12
remainder of the day when it cleared the killer would have seen the investor was still afloat
00:25:20
Mark coldhurst was so safety conscious he had filled the hull of the investor with flotation material
00:25:28
realizing his initial plan had failed the killer returned to the boat and set it Ablaze
00:25:38
Craig was reeling in the wake of such a violent crime rumors spread with many claiming to know
00:25:45
who was responsible Market didn't store cash on his boat ruling out the likelihood it was a
00:25:52
robbery gone wrong some believed it was the work of Alaska native fishermen Furious about the
00:25:59
large-scale fishing by Outsiders others theorized that a float plane had flown The Killers away from the scene
00:26:07
under the cover of night it was also speculated that four-year-old John colthurst whose body
00:26:15
was never found had been kidnapped John was a friendly child who stopped in on other boats to say hello during his
00:26:24
family's brief time in Craig he'd often tell people that he wanted to be a fisherman like his dad
00:26:32
had the chatty and independent John Fallen victim to a predator one day state troopers received a call
00:26:41
from a man asking for information he wanted addresses for relatives of missing investor crew member Chris
00:26:49
Heyman and Little John coldhurst the man knew detailed information about the investor crime scene including where
00:26:58
some of the bodies were found he then dropped a bombshell Chris Heyman and John colthurst were
00:27:07
alive he had helped them escape and driven them back to Washington this call was traced to Goshen a town in
00:27:18
the midwest state of Indiana the phone number led to a man who identified himself as T-Rex Mullins
00:27:26
when asked what the tea stood for the man replied Tyrannosaurus T-Rex was questioned for two hours
00:27:37
initially his story about Chris Heyman and John Colter's survival seemed credible
00:27:44
then he described the route he'd driven the pair through Alaska it was completely at odds with the
00:27:51
state's geography Troopers charged t-rex with filing a false record he said that if the police wanted
00:28:01
further Evidence they should check beneath a sofa cushion in his house they did and discovered a sensationalist
00:28:10
true crime magazine it featured an article titled mystery of the sailing skeletons that contained
00:28:18
lots of details about the investor murders law enforcement hadn't realized that this information had somehow been made
00:28:27
available to the media one of the more popular rumors about the case was that Mark colhurst had been
00:28:37
smuggling cocaine interviews with Mark's family and colleagues convinced investigators that
00:28:44
there was no truth to this rumor Mark wasn't the type to get involved in illegal activity
00:28:52
moreover there was no way he would risk the lives of his wife and children by bringing them on a drug trafficking
00:28:59
operation being from out of state the colt hursts and their crew knew few locals in Craig
00:29:08
yet the brutality and concealment of their murders indicated the crime was committed by someone with a personal
00:29:15
grievance Irene colthurst was described as loving caring and thoughtful she helped run Mark's boats with skill
00:29:26
while fostering her creative Side by making her own clothes and jewelry Mike Stewart and Jerome Cowan were
00:29:35
exceptional University students both had taken up fishing in the break between semesters
00:29:42
Chris Heyman had only just finished high school Dean Moon had been a star footballer in
00:29:49
his own school days and was now finding great success in the fishing industry it seemed unlikely that any of them had
00:29:59
been the Killer's prime target this left mark coldhurst unlike the others he had been shot
00:30:09
execution style several times as though the killer harbored deep resentment for him
00:30:16
when speaking of Mark Few had a harsh word to say about him he was the type of guy others jumped at
00:30:24
the opportunity to work with Mark typically hired young people as he wanted them to make money to continue
00:30:31
their education he was aware that he could catch more with an older more experienced crew but
00:30:39
Mark didn't care though Mark had a good reputation as a hard worker some found him arrogant and
00:30:48
argumentative at times he had spoken to extended family on the phone hours before his murder who wished
00:30:56
him a happy birthday as far as they were aware there were no issues aboard the investor
00:31:04
Mark also hadn't mentioned hiring any new crew it was clear that the killer was very
00:31:12
experienced with boats particularly with personas like the investor the obvious suspects were the two
00:31:22
decades whose remains hadn't been found eighteen-year-old Chris Heyman was from California
00:31:30
his father owned a marina muck coldhurst had met Chris's dad during a fishing Expedition and offered
00:31:38
Chris a deckhand position on the investor it was Chris's first ever Fishing Job he was the only person on board who
00:31:48
wasn't from Washington he didn't really have tires to anyone else in the group nineteen-year-old Dean Moon had spent
00:31:58
the past three fishing Seasons working with Mark Colt Hurst he was a good employee having received a
00:32:05
promotion and two percent pay rise weeks earlier but Dean also liked to party when a previous investor deckhand quit
00:32:17
Dean asked his friend Jerome Cowan to join them the two friends were seen in Craig hours
00:32:24
before the murders and reportedly bought cannabis there did this solicit purchase have something
00:32:32
to do with the murders perhaps Dean was confronted by Mark over the drugs or some other conflict flared
00:32:40
up between them apparently Dane Moon owned a gun that he carried on the investor
00:32:54
investigators considered whether the young man witnessed the driving the Investor's gift ashore during the blaze
00:33:01
was Chris Heyman or Dean Moon he was described as being in his early twenties about five feet ten inches tall
00:33:09
with a medium build and with blonde or light brown hair that fell below his ears
00:33:15
this Loosely matched both Chris and Dean's appearances some said the man looked like he had
00:33:23
acne others remembered him wearing black framed glasses he was also wearing a baseball cap
00:33:30
rubber boots and either a hooded sweatshirt or fishing jacket the skiff was seen tied up in Craig on
00:33:39
Monday morning the day before the fire this was further proof that the murders were committed on Sunday night and the
00:33:48
fire was a backup plan after an attempt to sink the investor failed fishermen said they'd noticed this GIF
00:33:56
next to the investor at fish egg Island before the blaze broke out this hadn't seemed unusual as gifts were
00:34:05
often tied to fishing vassals the skiff itself was still tied to the docks when investigators went to examine
00:34:13
it by then it had been there for three days rain had washed it and it had been moved
00:34:21
a couple of times by fishermen needing to maneuver around it found inside the skiff was a plastic
00:34:29
nozzle from a red Jerry can a flat-sided metal container used for transporting liquids typically water or gasoline
00:34:39
this discovery appeared significant when linked to an encounter reported by a local gas station owner named Jim
00:34:47
Robinson he recalled a short stocky young man wearing a baseball cap had come into His
00:34:55
store carrying a two and a half gallon Jerry can the man explained that he needed some
00:35:01
gasoline Jim told him to go ahead and pump it himself the man seemed nervous and hyperactive
00:35:10
as though in a hurry to leave he then left on foot and didn't appear to have a car
00:35:18
the investor arsonist would have had to have sourced their own gasoline as Mark coldhurst didn't stock his own
00:35:27
he was considered a real stickler about fire danger Mark allowed a diesel on his boat as it
00:35:34
was necessary but he didn't permit any other type of gasoline alcohol or propane
00:35:42
he was so cautious he was even reluctant about having cigarette lighters on board
00:35:48
the only way out of Craig was by boat or plane so if the skiff driver had skipped town
00:35:56
he must have flown or sailed away air traffic was temporarily grounded in Craig but the sea presented a greater
00:36:06
challenge there had been up to 200 boats docked in town potential Witnesses and suspects was an
00:36:15
enormous and difficult task investigators traveled all across America in pursuit of Leeds
00:36:24
after an extensive search it became clear the skiff driver had successfully eluded
00:36:31
them as the first anniversary of the murders approached the investigative team met in
00:36:42
Craig to go over what they knew they kept coming back to the investors missing deckhands
00:36:50
Chris Heyman had called home hours before he was killed he spoke enthusiastically about the trip
00:36:56
telling his mum it's hard work but I'm having a really good time Chris was ultimately crossed off the
00:37:05
suspect list he didn't have the personal connection to Mark Colt Hurst that likely motivated the crime
00:37:14
then there was Dane Moon he was an experienced fisherman who'd been promoted to the role of skiff man a
00:37:22
week or so before the attack so he definitely knew how to operate the Investor's skiff
00:37:29
plus investigators had received a tip-off that Dean was a heavy drug user who also trafficked
00:37:37
the informant claimed Dean had made frequent drug runs between California and Vancouver
00:37:44
this person also said Dean stole half an acre of cannabis plants and ripped someone else off for twenty to thirty
00:37:51
thousand dollars in cocaine money [Music] a fisherman who'd known Dane Moon came
00:37:58
forward to say he'd seen the missing man in early 1983 months after the murders the fishermen had been at a restaurant
00:38:07
in San Francisco when Dean Moon walked by the window the fishermen had previously worked with
00:38:15
Dane and was certain he was looking at the same person investigators went to San Francisco and
00:38:22
headed to Fisherman's Wharf the area where Dean was allegedly cited when shown a photograph of Dane one
00:38:31
person thought they'd recognized him they said he worked in the nearby coastal city of Monterey
00:38:40
investigators followed up with Monterey's Fisherman's Association it was a dead end
00:38:49
further investigations undermined the informant who'd claimed Dean was a drug trafficker
00:38:56
he had said that they went to school together but he was actually almost seven years older than Dean
00:39:03
they hadn't been students at the same time it seemed highly unlikely that 19 year
00:39:11
old Dean could have survived on the run for almost a year without reaching out to anyone he knew
00:39:17
it was also widely reported that Dean had idolized Mark Colt Hurst who he saw as a father figure
00:39:25
Mark in turn treated Dean like a son Dean moon was ultimately crossed off the suspect list
00:39:35
investigators were certain that he Chris Heyman and John colthurst all died on the investor
00:39:43
they were all officially declared deceased when discussing their case notes investigators mulled over another lead
00:39:56
they'd picked up on in the early days of the investigation in the immediate aftermath of the
00:40:03
investor Blaze state troopers had walked around Craig on the lookout for anyone who fit the skiff driver's description
00:40:11
they were helped by a local named Jerry Mackey he was Craig's Village safety patrol
00:40:18
officer a uniformed first responder role created for Rural Alaskan communities as detailed by author Leyland Hale and
00:40:29
Jerry went to check the local bar as it was a popular hangout spot for fishermen
00:40:36
there were around 10 to 15 people inside drinking Jerry looked around at the room taking
00:40:42
in every face most of the patrons returned his gaze but one man quickly looked away
00:40:52
he continued to sneak looks at Jerry and appeared uneasy Jerry noted that this man looked to be
00:40:59
around the same age height and appearance as the skiff driver Jerry informed the Troopers patrolling
00:41:08
the area one fetched to Bruce Anderson and a Jan Kittleson the married couple who had
00:41:15
first cited the skiff driver and got the best look at him the couple were asked to go into the bar
00:41:22
one at a time to see if they could identify him Bruce went in first he stopped near the entrance but didn't
00:41:32
see anyone familiar Jan took a little longer walking around to see people up close
00:41:42
she didn't recognize the skiff driver either [Music] despite this state trooper Captain Mike
00:41:53
colavoski was struck by how certain Jerry Mackey had been he asked Jerry to point out the
00:42:00
suspicious man he was sitting by windows that overlooked the street outside he had a longish dirty blonde hair and
00:42:09
was around five foot ten he certainly had that California Surfer look about him Captain colvoski noticed that the man
00:42:20
kept looking over at them when approached he identified himself as John peel he provided a driver's license from the
00:42:29
state of Washington peel revealed that he'd been friends with the victims of the investor murders
00:42:37
he had previously worked for Mark Colt Hurst on another boat and had once dated Mark's sister
00:42:45
at the time of the murders peel had been stationed on the Libby 8. a vessel tied
00:42:50
up behind the investor he claimed to have been asleep by six o'clock in the Libby eights crew
00:42:57
quarters on the night of the killings the reason he'd gone to bed so early was because he was stoned
00:43:06
While most who knew John peel considered him to be a good guy some described him
00:43:12
as untrustworthy he had a temper and would get a wild look in his eyes sometimes
00:43:20
while working for Mark Colt Hurst peel passed out from inebriation as a joke other deckhands tied his hands
00:43:28
and legs to a table when peel regained Consciousness he started yelling Dane Moon went to help him as peel
00:43:38
threatened to kick his ass peel Drew Mark called hurst's ire by smoking cannabis and a drinking beer
00:43:47
while on duty but the final straw was when peel turned up two hours late one day
00:43:55
Mark fired him John peel maintained that there had been no bad blood between him and Mark
00:44:04
in fact the coldhursts had bought peel and his wife a wedding present after his dismissal
00:44:10
yet peel was known to angrily complain about Mark behind his back in July 1982 peel bumped into Mark in
00:44:21
the Alaskan city of Ketchikan Mark was there with his family and crew on his new boat
00:44:29
peel asked if he could hitch a ride with them to Craig where he was hoping to find work
00:44:35
Mark Todd peel they weren't headed that way so peel pawned his watch to catch a ferry to Craig instead
00:44:44
once there he was hired to work on the Libby 8. two months later the investor arrived in
00:44:52
Craig on the night of Sunday September 5 1982 peel and Othello Libya crew member named
00:45:04
Brian palinkus went into Craig according to Brian they soon came across investor decades Dean Moon and Jerome
00:45:13
Cowan peel was said to have sold the young men four hundred dollars worth of cannabis
00:45:20
though he denied this peel and Brian then returned to the Libya for dinner afterwards they headed back out
00:45:31
while in town Brian looked away for a moment when he turned back John peel was gone
00:45:40
Brian returned to the Libby Aid at around midnight Peel's bed was empty John peel later told Brian that he'd
00:45:51
been at his girlfriend's house on the night of the murders although peel had a wife in Washington
00:45:57
he'd been seeing a young woman in Craig Peel's story to Brian palinkus was at odds with what he told investigators
00:46:07
that he was asleep on the Libby 8 from 6PM onwards investigators followed up with pills
00:46:15
girlfriend she said she'd ended things with him months earlier after finding out he was
00:46:22
married another Libya crew member named Dawn holmstrom was good friends with the John
00:46:29
peel she hadn't seen him on the boat on Sunday night or Monday either but late on Tuesday she bumped into him
00:46:39
and Craig peel was wearing blue jeans a flannel shirt and a blue baseball cap with a
00:46:46
cannabis life on her that he almost always wore the following day after news of the
00:46:52
investor murders had broken Dawn saw John peel again he seemed fine but expressed disbelief
00:47:00
that someone could have killed his friends then peel suddenly said he was scared
00:47:06
and started to cry I can't believe I could have done that peel said it all happened so fast
00:47:19
that same day John peel flew home to Washington though he initially told police he'd left on September 9.
00:47:28
according to him the reason for his sudden departure was that he was going on vacation
00:47:35
first peel had to catch a six-seater plane to catch a can it was the last flight that left the
00:47:43
island before all air traffic was grounded peel spent the flight from Ketchikan to
00:47:50
Washington drinking and smoking cannabis another passenger felt that peel couldn't wait to get home
00:47:58
he drank so much that he passed out in a bathroom and had to be carried off the plane
00:48:06
despite having not been id'd as the skiff driver John peel maintained a lingering presence in the investor
00:48:13
murder's case at one stage Mark Colt hurst's mother phoned investigators to let them know
00:48:21
she thought the composite sketch of the suspect resembled peel then investigators received a letter
00:48:29
from a man who'd been visiting Craig at the time of the fire Joe Weiss had gone to Alaska to fish the
00:48:37
previous year on the evening of Sunday September 5 he'd been at Craig's laundromat
00:48:45
he spotted some young men smoking cannabis Joe would later come to realize that these men were Dean Moon and Jerome
00:48:53
Cowan at 10 o'clock the next morning one day before the fire and Joe saw a lone man
00:49:01
pull up at the dock in what looked like the Investor's scarf he thought nothing of this sighting at
00:49:09
the time a year later Joe Weiss came across an article about the murders it featured a composite image of the
00:49:20
skiff driver sought by investigators it looked like the same man Joe had seen in the Investor's skiff the morning
00:49:28
after the murders Joe contacted the authorities and was presented with a photographic lineup of
00:49:35
six different men he was asked who looked to most like the skiff driver he'd seen
00:49:43
almost immediately Joe replied if I had to pick a most alike I think number three
00:49:53
the man Joe identified was John peel [Music] case File will be back shortly thank you
00:50:13
for supporting us by listening to this episode's sponsors well I'll be a hitchhiker in an Easter
00:50:20
bunny costume how bad were you headed BJ's Wholesale Club to do my Easter shopping I have so many baskets to fill
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digital coupon gallery on April 13th go to bjs.com Easter coupon for details BJ's absurdly simple savings well I'll
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be a hitchhiker in an Easter bunny costume how bad were you headed BJ's Wholesale Club to do my Easter shopping
00:50:55
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you support casefile to continue to deliver quality content foreign ERS orchestrated for Joe Weiss to go to
00:51:40
Washington to ID John peel in person they casually escorted Joe to the harbor where peel was in a small boat with a
00:51:48
friend Joe agreed that peel looked like the man he'd seen in the Investor's skiff
00:51:56
state troopers planted stories in the local media reminding people about the crime and hinting that they were closing
00:52:03
in on a suspect then they made arrangements to question John peel newspaper clippings about the case were
00:52:12
laid out on a table in the interview room peel was left alone to take in the site
00:52:18
before two Troopers joined him they informed peel that an eyewitness had identified him as the missing skiff
00:52:27
driver in the investor murders case oh you think you got your man right pure last sarcastically
00:52:37
he asked what they thought his motive was it was laid out to him clearly [Music]
00:52:45
as a boss Mark holdhurst could be hard to please and had a reputation for being difficult
00:52:51
had been vocal in his anger about being fired by Mark then when Mark arrived in Craig after
00:52:59
refusing to give peel a lift there Peel's feelings intensified on the night of the murders he headed
00:53:07
over to the investor to make amends and to wish Mark a happy birthday but Mark was out with his family
00:53:15
peel stayed on the boat and drank with Dean Moon and Jerome Cowan whom he knew and was friendly with
00:53:23
by the time the cold hursts returned shortly before 10 pm peel was drunk ordered him to leave
00:53:32
peel then flew into a rage and pulled out a gun it hadn't been his intention to kill
00:53:38
anyone but things spun out of control peel listened to the theory before replying
00:53:47
I think you're nuts man [Music] he repeatedly professed his innocence and agreed to take a polygraph test
00:53:55
the results indicated that peel was being deceptive still he was released from custody
00:54:04
investigators felt they had gotten what they needed a confession written transcripts of the interview
00:54:12
revealed that peel had seemingly slipped up when told he had to make up his mind
00:54:18
about what to do next peel replied I'm scared man I can't believe the things I did in there
00:54:31
the case finally had some momentum all the people who had seen the skiff driver were shown photographic lineups
00:54:39
they all picked out Peel's image this included married couple Bruce Anderson and to Jan Kittleson
00:54:47
the pair had missed peel when he'd been sitting in the bar in the days after the
00:54:52
murder but successfully pointed him out in a lineup out of all the witnesses only one caught
00:55:00
a glimpse of anyone suspicious on the investor the night of the killings Larry demet Jr was the skipper for the
00:55:08
Libby 8 the fishing vessel John peel worked on that was positioned next to the investor
00:55:15
between 10 and 11 pm Larry cited a person climbing aboard the investor in Larry's words The Stranger looked
00:55:24
like a dirty old fisherman Larry woke at around to 2AM upon hearing something strange
00:55:33
as detailed in author Leland Hale's book what happened in Craig Larry didn't say
00:55:39
what that something was all he told investigators at the time was I felt evil I felt evil in the air
00:55:51
after speaking with police Larry drank alcohol where previously he'd abstained he'd also started taking Valium and
00:56:00
carrying a gun he said he needed it to feel safe investigators tried to coax more from
00:56:08
Larry eventually he admitted that the real reason he'd woken at two on the night of
00:56:14
the murders was because he'd heard what sounded like six to eight gunshots followed by a woman's scream
00:56:22
Larry had peered out of a porthole but saw nothing after a few minutes he got up and opened
00:56:30
the door to his cabin looking outside he noticed a man walking across some neighboring boats
00:56:38
he was wearing a plaid shirt and a blue cap with a cannabis leaf on it in his right hand was a rifle
00:56:47
it was John peel [Music] Larry demet Jr was one of many eyewitnesses that implicated John peel
00:56:58
during his murder trial in January 1986. with no physical evidence the entire case rested on the testimony of the 150
00:57:08
or so people who took the stand in the words of a memory expert testifying on behalf of their defense
00:57:15
the problem was that human memories are not perfect to recordings of past events
00:57:21
they can change and be manipulated over time the eyewitnesses had not identified John
00:57:29
peel with as much certainty as had been presented the majority said peel looked the most
00:57:37
like the skiff driver out of all the images in the photographic lineups yet none were 100 sure
00:57:45
[Music] some said peel looked a bit older than the person they'd seen others said his
00:57:51
hair was a different shade [Music] one lineup included 29 images eight were of John peel
00:58:01
some were posed others were candid a few had been taken from behind a two-way mirror during a police interview
00:58:10
the other photos included a missing and declared dead victims Dean Moon and Chris Heyman as well as some men who
00:58:17
looked like peel but had no connection to the case John peel was the only person in the
00:58:24
photographs who was wearing a baseball cap as the skiff driver had been [Music] under cross-examination a number of the
00:58:33
prosecution's witnesses admitted that they weren't certain peel was the skiff driver at all
00:58:39
other witness accounts were weakened entirely Peel's lawyer also introduced a witness
00:58:45
who had seen the skiff driver that hadn't been called upon by their prosecution this witness said the man had been quote
00:58:54
a stocky native witness Jim Robinson was zeroed in on by the defense he was the local gas station owner who'd
00:59:04
sold a Jerry can of gasoline to a man believed to be the skiff driver shortly before the fire
00:59:10
[Music] and Jim had been shown the photographic lineups but was never able to identify
00:59:16
anyone in them as the customer he'd served he changed his mind after seeing John
00:59:22
peel in person at a court hearing he now claimed that peel bought the gasoline it turned out that Jim Robinson was
00:59:33
actually a wanted fugitive named Kenneth Robertson in 1981 a year before the investor fire
00:59:40
Robertson escaped Arizona where he was serving a criminal sentence Peel's lawyer wanted to question
00:59:48
Robertson about his past conviction on the stand saying it was relevant to the case but the judge disagreed
00:59:57
therefore the jury wasn't informed that Robertson had been previously found guilty of arson
01:00:04
he'd set a car on fire that belonged to his ex-wife's boyfriend he'd also threatened to kill an ax and
01:00:11
her family with explosives and a sworn off shotgun after fleeing Arizona Robertson managed
01:00:19
to leave Incognito in Craig for a number of years the jury deliberated for six days but
01:00:28
were unable to reach a verdict most were in favor of acquitting John peel though a few wanted to convict
01:00:37
realizing they were hopelessly deadlocked the judge declared a mistrial there were several key elements of the
01:00:49
case that raised serious concerns two witnesses who had been John Peel's crewmates on the Libby 8 alleged that
01:00:58
investigators had coerced statements from them one was Dawn holmstrom who had spoken
01:01:05
with peor the day after the fire he had started crying questioning how someone quote could do that to his
01:01:13
friends this part of Dawn's story had changed by the murder trial she claimed that peel
01:01:21
had actually said I can't believe I could have done that Dawn claimed that investigators had
01:01:29
threatened and sworn at her until she changed her statement her colleague Brian polinkas made
01:01:36
similar allegations about the aggressive nature of the questioning then there was the matter of Peel's
01:01:44
alleged confession to police according to the transcript of his police interview peel had said
01:01:52
I can't believe the things I did in there when the defense team listened to a recording of the interview they heard
01:02:01
peel actually say I can't believe the things you think I did in there these issues were raised in a pre-trial
01:02:11
hearing though were dismissed by the judge he didn't think the jury would give much
01:02:17
weight to the interview transcript and disagreed that Witnesses had been coerced
01:02:24
but he was concerned when evidence showed that the traces of gasoline found on the investor didn't match the
01:02:31
gasoline John peel was alleged to have purchased the residue on the boat was from Pure
01:02:38
White gasoline whereas the gasoline from the gas station was the regular kind it was possible two clients were used
01:02:47
and one had burned away leaving no Trace but the judge still determined that the
01:02:52
prosecution had presented this evidence incorrectly the prosecution remained determined to
01:02:59
convict John peel consequently a ray trial was scheduled it commenced in January 1988
01:03:13
investigators thought luck was on their side when they found a new Witness Charles Samuelson was a fisherman who
01:03:21
John peel worked for in 1983. Charles said he and his brother had been fishing with peel one day when pill
01:03:29
turned to him with a strange smile he then said I did it I killed them Charles dismissed this as a joke but it
01:03:41
played on him over the years after the first trial concluded he decided to come forward
01:03:49
Charles Samuelson had a few misdemeanor charges pending against him the state agreed to drop these in
01:03:57
exchange for his testimony John Peel's defense attorney revealed the deal to the courtroom to undermine
01:04:04
Charles's evidence his brother who had also been present for the exchange admitted that he
01:04:10
thought Peel's remark was just a joke Peel's lawyers also attacked witness Larry demott
01:04:19
the Libya Skipper claimed he had heard gunshots on the night of the murders he later revealed that he'd seen peel
01:04:26
fleeing the investor with a rifle in his hand Peel's lawyers questioned why it took
01:04:33
Larry so long to come forward with such significant information dubbing him last
01:04:39
minute Larry on the stand Larry came across as vague and Confused his use of Valium was scrutinized while
01:04:49
Peel's lawyer suggested he was only testifying to get out of drug charges but Larry demet remained adamant that
01:04:57
John peel was responsible for the murders this time the jury spent four days deliberating
01:05:06
they found a John peel not guilty on all counts having spent the last four years of his
01:05:17
life on house arrest John peel was a free man it was one of the only times in U.S
01:05:24
history where a jury had acquitted someone accused of a mass murder speaking outside Court peel remarked
01:05:34
I'd just like to say it's terrible being innocent and being accused of a crime thank God it's over and to Justice did
01:05:42
work this time to John Peel's family and friends his acquittal was a vindication
01:05:51
those closest to him had always insisted that peel wasn't a violent person and wouldn't so much as punch someone
01:05:58
they described him as a mellow easy-going person who was polite and hard-working
01:06:04
he had sold small amounts of recreational drugs on occasion but had no serious criminal history
01:06:12
after Peel's initial arrest a petition asking for the charges to be dropped reached 1500 signatures within days
01:06:22
the families of the victims felt differently Ruth the mother of missing crew member
01:06:27
Dean moon was upset she'd endured her son's name being dragged through the mud over the years
01:06:34
as it was speculated that he was the Killer Peel's lawyers had even presented Dean
01:06:40
as a likely a suspect than their client despite the teen having been officially declared dead
01:06:47
Ruth had been expecting peel would be found guilty Mark colhurst's parents also believed
01:06:55
John peel was guilty But ultimately accepted the verdict quote we have to basically now work with going
01:07:03
on with our lives and put it all behind us nothing will bring our children back and
01:07:09
if that's just the way it is authorities made it clear that they believed a guilty man had gotten away
01:07:17
with murder as far as they were concerned the case was solved they just hadn't gotten the outcome they wanted
01:07:27
the state had spent 2.7 million dollars Prosecuting John peel at the time it was the most expensive
01:07:35
case in Alaska's history some jurors later spoke out one explained that there had been a few
01:07:43
on the jury who believed appeal was guilty but the state's evidence just wasn't good enough to support a
01:07:49
conviction John peel filed a civil suit against the state for wrongful prosecution
01:07:57
he said he'd suffered mental anguish emotional distress and a loss of income as a result of the charges
01:08:05
he asked for 177 million dollars with some to be allocated to his wife son parents and sister
01:08:14
the case was settled for nine hundred thousand dollars in 2017 John peel spoke to People
01:08:23
magazine after long refusing to give interviews somebody was responsible for this he
01:08:30
said somebody out there knows what happened but I'm not going to waste any more of
01:08:36
my life on it [Music] every year on the first Sunday in May blessings for members of commercial
01:08:45
fishing fleets who have lost their lives at Sea are held in Blaine and Bellingham
01:08:50
the Washington cities where almost all of the investor victims were from [Music]
01:08:56
one of Mark coldhurst's sisters always attends and to make sure to memorialize Mark Irene Kimberly and John coltr as
01:09:05
well as Chris Heyman Dean Moon Jerome Cowan and Michael Stewart the investor murders Remains the largest
01:09:14
ever unsolved mass murder in the state of Alaska there is still speculation as to who was
01:09:21
responsible some are convinced that John peel was guilty others believed the drug smuggling
01:09:28
Theory it's also been suggested that the culprit and their motives will remain forever unknown
01:09:37
whatever the truth authorities have no intention of reinvestigating the case [Music]
01:09:53
thank you [Music] in June 1993 Elizabeth Stevens 18 was murdered on her way home from the bus
01:10:18
stop her death began a seven-week reign of terror for the people of Frankston I remember thinking like how can it happen
01:10:26
to someone that's fought so hard to get away and have a good life a serial killer was on the loose no one was safe
01:10:34
not young mother Debbie frame 22 taken on a trip to the shops nor Natalie Russell 17 murdered on her way home from
01:10:45
school then two detectives came in and they just said to Brian myself can we go somewhere pride and we went into the
01:10:54
bedroom and they said I'm sorry to tell you it's Natalie the serial killer Paul Daniel was captured and sentenced to
01:11:02
life in prison on appeal he was granted a 30-year minimum sentence and I guess I
01:11:09
saw her in his face that yeah almost by the new sort of thing he was praying of what he had done fast forward 30 years
01:11:17
and adenya has applied for parole award-winning crime writer Vicky petratus was on patrol with police the
01:11:24
night the final murder took place as a true crime author I found myself right in the heart of Frankston and doing
01:11:31
ride-alongs with the local police when the murders were happening she wrote the best-selling book The Frankston murders
01:11:38
which has never been out of print Vicky has Revisited the case in a long-form podcast to remind the world why denya
01:11:47
must never be released Dania isn't just dangerous where young women are concerned he is dangerous to all women
01:11:55
babies school girls friends strangers older women everyone the Frankston murders podcast uncovers new material
01:12:06
and new victims stalked by Danya in the lead up to the killings the woman policeman turned to me and said you
01:12:15
should take a ticket in tax as much as to say I was the luckiest person around Vicky interviews prison guards police
01:12:24
officers family members and people caught in the periphery of a serial killer he has not learned his lesson he
01:12:32
has not changed he has not become remorseful he has not repented or even apologized a scale of one to ten I'd
01:12:41
easily put him as a 20. it's that far off the scale the Frankston murders is the latest
01:12:48
podcast from casefile presents available now wherever you get your podcasts well I'll be a hitchhiker in an Easter
01:13:01
bunny costume how bad were you headed BJ's Wholesale Club to do my Easter shopping I have so many baskets to fill
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digital coupon gallery on April 13th go to bjs.com Easter coupon for details BJ's absurdly simple savings well I'll
01:13:30
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01:13:36
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here look at him go get a 15 digital coupon when you spend 150 on practically anything in one transaction through
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April 9th coupon will appear in your digital coupon gallery on April 13th go to bjs.com Easter coupon for details
01:13:57
BJ's absurd simple savings