Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The only people that really know that area or people that live in that area." — Ashley Flowers
"I think a lot of times there's people that know the actual story and they don't want to say anything because they don't want to target on their back." — Brittany
"It's just one of those situations where you know, it's dangerous, but it's worth it." — Brittany
This episode of Crime Junkie delves into the perplexing case of Danielle Gabby Aikers, a local story that received minimal media attention. Gabby's body was discovered 60 miles from her home, nude and in a creek, prompting her sister Brittany to seek answers when authorities were slow to act. The narrative emphasizes the difficulty in initiating a missing persons report due to a friend's past legal troubles and a subsequent lack of official follow-up by the police department. Brittany's persistent efforts to file a report and the ensuing investigation were hampered by initial assumptions that Gabby's disappearance was drug-related.
The investigation into Gabby's final days reveals a complex web of relationships and potential suspects, including her boyfriend Mark, an individual named Sarge who possessed her belongings, and another man, Sal, with a history of threats against Gabby. The circumstances surrounding her discovery—found in a remote creek with an overdose of 22 different drug combinations—raise significant questions for her family, who assert Gabby did not use hard drugs and that the overdose scenario did not align with her physical state. Rumors and unconfirmed reports of drug operations and suspicious activities involving those close to Gabby further complicate the investigation.
The episode highlights the frustrations faced by Gabby's family, particularly Brittany, in their pursuit of justice. They encounter a lack of transparency from law enforcement, conflicting information from potential witnesses, and a general reluctance within the community to come forward, often attributed to fear and the pervasive influence of the drug scene. The possibility of Gabby testifying in a drug case is explored as a potential motive, with the family investigating significant financial transactions and life insurance policies. Despite facing personal threats and ongoing challenges, Brittany remains determined to uncover the truth about her sister's death and seeks public engagement to aid the investigation.