Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"Every true crime story has one thing in common. Nothing is as it seems." — Ashley Flowers
"The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the rise of homicide by 500 percent as seen in Michelle's case." — Ashley Flowers
"Abusers will not change. No matter how good the good is or what promises they make, they will not change." — Ashley Flowers
The episode begins with the discovery of mummified human remains inside a large metal barrel found in the crawl space of a house. Forensic analysis identified the victim as Reina Merroquin, a pregnant woman from El Salvador who disappeared in 1968. Evidence, including a recovered address book and markings on the barrel, led investigators to Harold Elkins, a former co-owner of Melrose Plastics, the company that manufactured the barrel. Through interviews and forensic document examination, police pieced together that Reina had confided in her friend Kathy about her pregnancy with Elkins' child and her fear that he would harm her after she revealed the truth to his wife. Elkins was confronted by police and, after initially denying any knowledge, ultimately took his own life before DNA evidence could definitively link him to the murder. Investigators theorize that Elkins murdered Reina and intended to dispose of her body at sea, but was unable to, leading him to bury the barrel. The case concludes with Reina's remains being returned to El Salvador to be with her family.
The second half of the episode details the murder of Michelle Schroeder, a 27-year-old mother. Michelle was found brutally murdered in a friend's home after her ex-partner, Charles Allen, with whom she had a history of volatile abuse and restraining orders, had been with her earlier that evening. Despite overwhelming evidence of past abuse, including police reports and witness accounts of threats, and circumstantial evidence found at the crime scene such as blood on his bedding and shotgun shells, Charles Allen was acquitted of Michelle's murder. The defense successfully argued that the evidence was circumstantial and questioned the credibility of witnesses, particularly Michelle's brother. The narrative highlights the emotional toll on Michelle's daughter, Cara, who advocates for domestic violence awareness. The episode concludes by emphasizing the persistent nature of abuse and the importance of recognizing its signs, urging listeners to seek help if they or someone they know is experiencing domestic violence.