Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"This is the story of the mysterious death of Joanne Matouk Romaine." — Ashley Flowers
"But Joanne's family absolutely does not buy it." — Ashley Flowers
"The matuk family was no exception. Two of the five kids, Bill and Rose Mary, they were the oldest, were the ones who kept running the wine store, and they were basically accused of taking more money like than their fair share." — Ashley Flowers
The episode delves into the perplexing case of Joanne Matouk Romaine, who disappeared on January 12, 2010, in Michigan. The initial police response was unusually swift, with officers arriving at her children's home within hours of her last known contact, presenting a theory of suicide due to her abandoned car found in a church parking lot, with footprints leading towards a nearby lake. This theory was met with immediate skepticism by the family, who stated Joanne had no history of mental health issues or suicidal ideation, and her devout Catholic faith would have precluded her from taking her own life. Furthermore, Joanne had expressed fears for her safety in the weeks prior to her disappearance, mentioning concerns about being followed and her phone being monitored.
As the investigation progressed, numerous inconsistencies emerged that fueled the family's suspicions. The initial assessment of suicide seemed to disregard potential evidence of foul play, such as a torn ruffle on Joanne's purse, despite the presence of her wallet and a significant amount of cash. The location and condition of her body, found 70 days later floating in the Detroit River, also raised questions. The body's condition, with no scuff marks or damage despite a long journey and alleged entry into the water via concrete embankments in high heels, seemed implausible. Compounding these issues, keys that had been reported missing from Joanne's car six weeks prior to her disappearance reappeared at the police station before her body was found, but were identified by her family as a different set than the one she had been using.
Further complicating the narrative, an independent autopsy revealed contusions on Joanne's arm and, more critically, concluded she died of "dry drowning" – a rare condition where no water is found in the lungs, implying she was not submerged in the water as initially suggested. The timeline of events on the night of her disappearance is also heavily disputed, with conflicting reports from law enforcement, the Coast Guard, and Joanne's family regarding when crucial notifications and actions took place. The family's persistent doubts and the uncovering of these anomalies have led them to hire private investigators, challenging the official ruling and suggesting a cover-up or a severely mishandled investigation.