MovieChat Forums > Disappeared (2009) Discussion > Cases where it's obvious who did it, but...

Cases where it's obvious who did it, but they just can't 'prove' it?

posted 13 years ago by Twilight33
39 replies | jump to latest

I love this show, but one thing that frustrates me so much are the cases where:

a.) it's obvious foul play was involved
b.) it's obvious who is responsible

...but the police don't have enough "concrete" evidence to bring the suspects to justice. I can think of two right off the bat:

-The Mike Williams case, about the hunter in north Florida who mysteriously went missing from his boat, then his greedy wife throws together a rushed memorial service, cashes in on his life insurance, marries her dead husband's best friend, and lawyers up. Yep, a total mystery there!

-The Mandy Stokes case, about the young woman going to grad school in California whose lowlife brother was seen fighting with her before she vanished. He used her credit cards right after she went missing, and acted nervous and jittery around investigators. This one isn't as clear-cut, but it's obvious the brother is involved *somehow* yet he just gets to hang out and go on with his life. So frustrating!

Any other episodes like these?

[–] Mister_Anderson 13 years ago

Both of those are good examples. I recall a few others where the suspect committed suicide before anything could be confirmed or a body located. One case involved a couple (who ultimately went missing) who was disputing finances with their accountant. The accountant lawyered up and then killed himself in his bathroom. I think another was a young black woman who went missing from her laundromat, and there was strong evidence that her ex-friend was involved, but he shot himself.

Also, the strange case of an ex-basketball player, his girlfriend and his brother who disappeared on a yacht in the middle of the ocean. Weeks later, however, the brother reappears on the mainland, impersonating his rich ex-basketball player brother in an attempt to buy a large quantity of gold. He became an immediate suspect in the disappearance of the other two and offed himself shortly thereafter.

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[–] HeywoodJablomy 13 years ago

Also, the strange case of an ex-basketball player, his girlfriend and his brother who disappeared on a yacht in the middle of the ocean. Weeks later, however, the brother reappears on the mainland, impersonating his rich ex-basketball player brother in an attempt to buy a large quantity of gold. He became an immediate suspect in the disappearance of the other two and offed himself shortly thereafter.

Yes, that was Serena Karlan. It was pretty obvious that Miles Dabord killed her, the captain, and his own brother before committing suicide. The same thing with Kristi Cornwell and Niqui McCown. The prime suspects in their murders also committed suicide before they could be tried.

I agree with the OP that those are the most frustrating cases covered. Billy Smolinski, John Spira, Jeramy Burt, and Patti Adkins are other cases where it was obvious who caused their disappearances/murders, but no one has been able to gather enough evidence to prosecute the guilty parties. Very aggravating.

[–] ThatsWayHarsh-Tai 13 years ago

i also think sometimes law enforcement agree to do the show as a way of pressuring the suspect to see what move said suspect will make next.

i know thats a tactic pretty commonly used with the press as the medium.

a good example would be the show with the woman who worked with her secret lover/affair and i think he hid her in the bed of his truck?? anyway she vanished and i think LE pretty much knows who did it and put him on national BLAST just to psych him out a little bit more.

[–] Seyphfa 13 years ago

The Rosemary Christensen case was another one, except they did eventually get the guy...seems a lot like the Mike Williams case.

[–] tropixanne 13 years ago

There was another episode I saw recently where a girl spent a lot of time with her boyfriend's father. The father had already been convicted of murdering a prior girlfriend, was found dead (apparently) trying to kill another woman, and made creepy comments about the missing girl. I mean maybe it wasn't him, but he certainly made himself look bad if it wasn't.

[–] HeywoodJablomy 13 years ago

Yes, that was Jamie Fraley. I feel sorry for her family, because now that Rick Simonds is dead, they may never know what happened to her. Sad.

[–] Goldenscud 13 years ago

Terrence Williams who was likely killed by that sheriffs deputy, who is also suspected in another dissapearence. This was featured in the Crime and Punishment episode.

[–] djrachal 11 years ago

That episode was infuriating. That stupid, bored-with-his life patrolman with too much power was obviously either targeting people without licenses or was quick to commit crimes of opportunity against the "missing" men. He was obviously guilty. And yet still walking around free. Very upsetting.

[–] GraceFromSoCal 10 years ago

I know I'm replying to an old post, but whatever! 

I just saw the episode about Terrance Williams and Felipe Santos, and I don't know what could be clearer than 'the cop did it.'

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[–] davy12349 9 years ago

Couldn't agree more, i'm normally more "pro cop", but this was clear foul play. This is case(s) where the attorney general or FBI should have stepped in.

Two person go missing , last seen with a proven lair and abuser of police powers should have been enough to search the Duty's House.
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[–] hilaryjrp 9 years ago

Two person go missing , last seen with a proven lair and abuser of police powers should have been enough to search the Duty's House.

I just saw this episode for the first time today and was sickened. What really bothered me is they never showed a photograph of the sick twist who clearly killed not one, but two, young men.

[–] libby2130 8 years ago

the lady who hid in the bed of the truck...I wonder if the lover and his wife ever get divorced..will she rat him out to the cops?

[–] libby2130 8 years ago

that was Patti aktins......he killed her for sure....wonder if the wife will rat him out if they ever split up

[–] Twilight33 13 years ago

The one that ran last night (2/20) was another example. The young mother (Margaret Haddican-McEnroe) who mysteriously "vanished" from her house with her 3 young kids inside....yeah right. It was SO obvious the husband did it!

[–] TheDirtyLollipop 12 years ago

In the Zeb Quinn case, I definitely think that married woman he was having an affair or sorts with (Misty Taylor), her boyfriend, and that aunt that somehow knew them know more than they are saying.

[–] beckiebeck 12 years ago

What about the lady who went off on the boat with her boyfriend and was never seen again?

Then the boyfriend turns up, says she ran off on him. All the evidence points to him doing something to her, but they can't prove it and he's still free, staying away from the US.

[–] Twilight33 12 years ago

Yes, I just saw the Zeb Quinn episode for the first time and it's pretty clear the girl's apparently jealous boyfriend (and the girl herself) were probably involved.

No, my username does not refer to "that" series. I just enjoy early evening!

[–] Seyphfa 12 years ago

Or Liz and John Calvert. The accountant clearly killed them, them himself, and probably tossed them in the ocean.

[–] Reichen4Eva 12 years ago

The most frustrating episode was the one i just watched! Mike Williams. It was obvious that his fugly wife and his best friend had something to do with it. Jesus, Florida has some of the worst law enforcement in the US.... I hate to say it but his mother was also quite deluded. Such a terrible episode to watch.

[–] BrohmaBull007 12 years ago

its because of those reasons why I cant stand this show most of the time. It is very obvious who is responsible but they just skate away on no charges. The police need to press harder sometimes because hiding behind a lawyer is almost an admission of guilt

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[–] 12 years ago

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