"This woman is more than a statistic. She was a mother. She had a family that loved her. She was a breast cancer survivor, and she matters." — Ashley Flowers
"The more we found, the more questions we had. Because this story has so many moving parts. But it needs to be told." — Ashley Flowers
"And the DNA that they were covered from Shakara's Sexual Assault Exam, not only match Scott, but his DNA then also matched the DNA in three other open cases that weren't even on their radar at the time because they had happened years before." — Ashley Flowers
The episode delves into the unsolved murder of Shakara Carter, a crucial witness slated to testify against a man accused of multiple sexual assaults. Her body was discovered on March 16, 2007, on Chestnut Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan, complicating the ongoing trial. The initial investigation noted similarities to previous unsolved murders of sex workers in the same vicinity, including Juline Walker and Starchenia Vance, raising suspicions of a serial offender.
Despite initial theories and extensive investigation, including exploring potential involvement of the accused assailant, Scott Gordon Payne, who was incarcerated at the time, no definitive connection was made to Shakara's murder. The narrative then broadens to examine other unsolved cases in the Grand Rapids area, notably the quadruple homicide involving the Zimmer family and the assault of Mary Louise Parker, both linked to Troy Break. The episode highlights the challenges faced by investigators, including a lack of leads, reliance on witness testimony, and the slow pace of forensic advancements, particularly in the early stages of the investigation.
The report concludes by detailing the efforts of the Kent County Metro cold case team in solving other related homicides, such as those of Juline Walker and Starchenia Vance, through re-submitted evidence and advanced forensic technology. However, Shakara Carter's case remains open, with an unknown DNA sample entered into a database yielding no resolution. The podcast emphasizes the lingering pain for Shakara's family and urges anyone with information to come forward, underscoring the importance of seeking justice for victims, regardless of their background.