On July 9th, 1967, 20-year-old Susan Galvin was taking her usual route to her night shift at the Seattle Police Department. When she failed to show up for two shifts, she was reported missing. 5 days later, her body would be found lying strangled in an elevator. Investigators searched for the culprit, but all leads were dead ends. That was until forensic genetic genealogy was developed, and finally, a name was connected to the evidence that had been collected more than 50 years earlier. Support ...
Jul 08, 2025•40 min•Ep. 215
In our previous episode, Alisha introduced you to Anna Marie Hlavka. She was a 20-year-old woman who had been living with her boyfriend and sister at the Tudor Arms apartments in downtown Portland. On June 24th, 1979, Anna’s sister Rose Ann returned home from the McDonald’s where both sisters worked, and she discovered her sister had been murdered. Susan was lying across the bed, the power cord from her alarm clock radio wrapped around her neck. Investigators followed every lead, but the case ve...
Jun 24, 2025•46 min•Ep. 214
On July 26th, 1979, the front page of the long-defunct Oregon Journal had coverlines “Playboy’s perfect ‘playmate’”, “taxpayers missing the boat” and “Democrats back Carter gas plan”. Just beneath those, the main headline read “Woman, 20, strangled in bed here”. Paired with a photo of a young woman’s face adorned with a now heartbreaking smile. Her name, was Anna Marie Hlavka. And it would take 40 years for her killer to be named, though he would never have to face the consequences for what he d...
Jun 10, 2025•33 min•Ep. 211
We’re back with another update, and it is a doozy! There was a lawsuit settled in the case of Aron Christensen & Buzzo, possibly new evidence in the D.B. Cooper case, a sentencing for the man who put a woman in a cage, and Fiona Apple has new music! Oh, and there might be one VERY BIG change in the show's hosts, but you’ll have to listen to find out! Remastered Releases Out 31 Years After Singer's Murder Lawsuit probing Aron Christensen’s death on remote Lewis County trail is settled | The D...
May 27, 2025•41 min•Ep. 212
A 30-year-old advertising executive was abducted, raped and murdered while walking to her car after work one night in downtown Seattle. Her body was discovered a week later, and a man was arrested in connection with the crimes. He was a state inmate recently placed into a work-release facility who had skipped work the day of the crime and failed to return that night. It should not have been this way. The man was a diagnosed sexual psychopath deemed too dangerous to participate in any rehabilitat...
Apr 15, 2025•44 min•Ep. 211
Last week I told you about the murder of 21-year-old Terri Lea Foster- How she was found- half nude- in David Douglas Park in Vancouver on Christmas Eve, 1977. She had been strangled, raped,,, and dumped in a baseball field. At the time, her nearly 2-year-old daughter was in the custody of family friends, Kenneth and Janice Haynes’. Episode Host: Alisha Holland Follow us on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/murderintherain/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mintherain/ Twitter https://twitter...
Mar 18, 2025•57 min•Ep. 182
On Christmas Eve 1977, 47 years ago, a murder took place. There's a bevy of possible suspects, even motives, but no one has been brought to justice. As the years tick on, suspects have passed away, evidence has been destroyed, and the chances of solving the murder of 21-year-old Terry Lee Foster have dwindled. To honor the 47th anniversary of her death, over the next two episodes, I'll be telling you the life story of Terry and discussing the surprising amount of known possible suspects. Hopeful...
Mar 11, 2025•49 min•Ep. 209
We’re back…sort of! In today’s episode, we’ll update you on our personal lives- including a wedding, boobies and bodybuilding. We’ll share some updates surrounding past cases- including a firing out of Seattle and a lawsuit in Jackson County. Most importantly, we’ll give a long-awaited update on the status of the show! Check out OMG Haircare and say hello to haircare that's good for you. You can get yours today at omgbeautyproducts.com and get 30% off your first order with SHOWCODE30 Support thi...
Feb 11, 2025•49 min
Crime & Updates 9 Part 2 It’s the Murder in the Rain update episode! This is a time for us to give you updates on the cases we cover, share notable news stories and more! This week, you can expect to hear… Update on 2017 Portland Oregon Max stabbing case Update on Brian Steven Smith the Alaska Memory Card Killer Update on William Talbott Update on Dennis Day's death Update on Cynthia Hoffman murder If you’d like more episodes of Murder in the Rain, Patreon members at the $5/mo+ level, gain a...
Sep 03, 2024•45 min•Ep. 207
It’s the Murder in the Rain update episode! This is a time for us to give you updates on the cases we cover, share notable news stories and more! This week, you can expect to hear… Update on Joshua Wade case from Alaska Update on serial killer Harvey Carigan Escaped convict update Update on Sircharles Marc Anthony Jones case Update on Aaron Christenson case If you’d like more episodes of Murder in the Rain, Patreon members at the $5/mo+ level, gain access to exclusive episodes, ad-free episodes,...
Aug 27, 2024•30 min•Ep. 206
Several months ago, I received an email from a journalist in Washington. Eric Trent, who works for the Chronicle, informed me he had been working on an unsolved disappearance and he was hoping I could help get the word out. We were FINALLY able to have a conversation about the case and it left me with even more questions and a dropped jaw. Today I’ll be telling you all the information publicly available regarding the unsolved disappearance of 11-year-old Louk Peeyoundday and how the FBI special ...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 205
Last week, Josh detailed the disappearance and likely murder of Gene Bassett, who had vanished soon after arriving in the Pacific Northwest while on a day–trip to sell his car in Seattle. Found in possession of Bassett's vehicle and belongings, DeCasto Mayer and his mother Mary Smith were found guilty only of grand larceny in the case, as the murder of Gene Bassett could not be proven. In part two of Deadly Potentialities, a confession written on the eve of a prison release, a gruesome death by ...
Aug 13, 2024•38 min•Ep. 204
In the weeks leading up to an ocean voyage to The Philippines, Gene Bassett listed his brand new Chrysler for sale in local (Seattle) newspapers. He'd decided to sell the automobile rather than have it shipped to him in Manila, having recently accepted a position there. The morning he left on a ferry to meet a prospective buyer was the last time any of his family ever saw him. The brand-new vehicle also vanished with Gene Bassett. It was recovered days later, eight hundred miles from its last kn...
Aug 06, 2024•51 min•Ep. 203
Part 2: "The Demons Have Taken Over" In last week’s episode, we discussed the 2005 vigilante killings in Bellingham, Washington. A man, haunted by the traumas of his own childhood, was on a mission to hunt pedophiles because he thought he was protecting the public, and more specifically, vulnerable children. He claimed he was inspired to do so by another 2005 case from Idaho, the murders of Mark McKenzie, Brenda Groene, and Slade Groene, and the kidnapping of the two youngest Groene children; Dy...
Jul 30, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 202
Today, we’ll explore two unique cases where perpetrators took to the internet to bear their souls and how the cases relate; a vigilante killer in Washington state who was so floored by a devastating case out of northern Idaho that he took it upon himself to do the public a service and take justice into his own hands. Then we’ll dive into that northern Idaho case that left the nation holding their breath to see what would happen next. Episode Host: Emily Rowney For photos and sources for today’s ...
Jul 23, 2024•55 min•Ep. 201
A Patreon Exclusive As Rob Thomas iconically said in the classic summer jam Smooth ”Man, it’s a hot one”. This summer has seen record temperatures across the country. Speaking of across the country, we’re once again headed out of town, hosting a booth and presentation at the True Crime and Paranormal Podcast Festival in Denver! Since we’re out and about, we’re sharing one of my favorite Patreon episodes, Nine Strangers. Not only is it a fascinating mystery surrounding the deaths of two mountain ...
Jul 16, 2024•51 min•Ep. 200
It’s the Murder in the Rain update episode! This is a time for us to give you updates on the cases we cover, share notable news stories and more! This week, you can expect to hear… Update on Oregon’s accused serial killer Jesse Calhoun Update on Alaska’s memory card killer Brian Steven Smith Update on Lake Oswego dad Michael Meyden Update on Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton Update on Mia Zapata’s killer Jesus Mezquia Summary of Olympic volleyball player Steven van de Velde and why the inter...
Jul 09, 2024•38 min•Ep. 199
Last week, I told the stories of eight, young Black women trafficked into sex work. All had been murdered in and around North Portland. These cases were presented to the Green River Task Force when no suspects emerged during initial investigations. It was found that none of the murders were connected to Gary Ridgway. Years later, the state would claim five of the women were connected to the same culprit. Today, I’ll detail how police eventually tracked down and arrested a man for four of the mur...
Jul 02, 2024•54 min•Ep. 198
Starting in March 1983 and through June 1993, someone was killing young, black women and girls in North Portland. The victims weren’t acknowledged with much more than a blip in the paper. The killer wasn’t making the headlines as bombastic Ted Bundy was. He wasn’t prolific enough to warrant a task force like Gary Ridgway. He was a mentally ill man with an extensive criminal history, unmanageable addictions, and no memory of what he may have done. Today’s story isn’t about that man. It’s about hi...
Jun 25, 2024•50 min•Ep. 197
Black powder dynamite is both efficient and hazardous. Its general commercial use is to clear land of large debris like boulders and tree stumps. Though it has only 20 to 30 percent of the explosive power of full nitro dynamite, if that power is multiplied and applied to a human body, the effect is devastating. April 21, 1955, was the last day of Oliver Smith's life. Twelve sticks of black powder explosive had been bound with black tape and mounted to the underside of the driver's seat in Smith'...
Jun 18, 2024•40 min•Ep. 192
In today’s case we explore a real whodunit in a little unincorporated community in Jackson county called Applegate, Oregon. In 2016 a shocking crime would take place on a local ranch and leave folks reeling when they learned that their little community could be the backdrop for a soon to be infamous crime. Episode Host: Emily Rowney For photos and sources for today’s episode, check out the Murder in the Rain Episode Blog . If you’d like more episodes of Murder in the Rain, Patreon members at the...
Jun 11, 2024•51 min•Ep. 195
It’s the Murder in the Rain update episode! This is a time for us to give you updates on the cases we cover, share notable news stories, and more! This week, you can expect to hear… Patreon Shoutouts! Murder in the Rains upcoming events, goings-on, and where to find us Update on Seattle Police Department changes Update on the accused Oregon serial killer case Update on the officers in the Manny Ellis case News: Lake Oswego dad drugs girls at a sleepover News: Yakima, WA rooster killings News: Re...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 194
Hells Canyon Redux Being that May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I wanted to share a story that would highlight violence against those in the AAPI community, then I remembered one of the first cases I covered, way back in September of 2019; The Hells Canyon Massacre. Since that time, the story has received more media coverage, and my research abilities have improved, so I wanted to revisit the case and share even more of the story of Hells Canyon and how...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 193
A veteran police officer was retired from law enforcement as the result of post-traumatic stress after his involvement in what was once the worst mass shooting in the United States. The next year, after testifying against a fellow officer in a high-profile murder case, he and his family moved from California to a quiet town in Washington. Two years later, he would endure a home invasion that may have been revenge against a cop thought by some to be a rat. Though he’d been found hogtied and shot ...
May 21, 2024•46 min•Ep. 192
Today's episode is called Strange Things are afoot at the Circle K. Unlike a regular episode, Patreon allows us to venture out of the Pacific Northwest. And in this case, I will be taking us to Naples, Florida, where 20 years ago, within just a couple months of each other, two men in Naples, Florida disappeared. They didn’t have a ton in common except for both being young, hard working fathers. Another thing they have in common? The last time either of them was seen alive, they were being placed...
May 14, 2024•58 min•Ep. 191
In this week’s Murder in the Rain episode, we’ll discuss a case with a complicated list of players. When the body of a 33-year-old father is discovered in the brush off a residential road in Gig Harbor, Washington, an unlikely list of suspects is developed and you’ll end up asking yourself, where is the line when protecting someone you love? Would you lie in court for a friend? For your brother? For your child? Would you lie for your mother? Just how far does a mother’s love go? Episode Host: Em...
May 07, 2024•41 min•Ep. 190
It's been an amazing 5 years here at Murder in the Rain. In this episode, we are answering listener questions! Kick back and have a laugh with us and we'll get back to our regular scheduled content next week. For photos and sources for today’s episode, check out the Murder in the If you’d like more episodes of Murder in the Rain, Patreon members at the $5/mo+ level, gain access to exclusive episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Come visit us at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, TN this ...
Apr 30, 2024•55 min•Ep. 189
Last week we mentioned that this week’s episode is very special to us and is very different from our usual format. When Danielle Tudor was in town a few weeks ago for a political event, she was kind enough to schedule time with us to give us an update of sorts. So, we went to her mother’s home and sat down with Danielle Tudor and Tiffany Edens, both survivors of Richard Gillmore, Portland’s jogger rapist. For photos and sources for today’s episode, check out the Murder in the Rain episode blog ....
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 188
It’s the Murder in the Rain update episode! This is a time for us to give you updates on the cases we cover, share notable news stories and more! This week, you can expect to hear about… Patreon Shoutouts! A run down of the many Sean “Diddy” Combs allegations Update on the “Portland Jogger Rapist” survivors Tiffany Edens and Danielle Tudor from our episode “Unprecedented” Speaker Announcements for the first annual True Crime Fest NW Update on Amanda Jo Stott-Smith from our episode “Help Me” (loc...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 187
Last week, I told you about Robert Silveria aka Sidetrack aka The Boxcar Killer, and his years-long series of murders. Sidetrack traveled at will, with no record of his movements, and his pool of victims were the unhoused, the drifters, and the fellow rail hoppers he encountered. People on the fringe- the kind who wouldn't be missed. This week, the end of the murders, the arrest, and many confessions of Robert Silveria, as well as the California police detective who moonlighted as Elvis- a quirk...
Apr 09, 2024•43 min•Ep. 186
