Alternative Interests

The internet is a place where people can find answers to any question under the sun, and find online communities to connect with others over a wide array of interests. In the early 90s as more people were finding these connections in this developing technology, the case of Sharon Lopatka ushered in a new era of criminal investigation. Hers is an interesting case not only for the groundwork it laid with electronic evidence, but also the details of her death and the wider discussion of the limits of consent.

On August 11, 2009, fifteen year old Kayla Berg spent the day hanging out with her friend before going home and seeing her father. That evening a friend picked her up to take her out driving, and she never came home. Communication difficulties created roadblocks to finding information on her whereabouts and despite multiple searches she remains missing. Kayla's family is still tirelessly working to get her story out and bring her home. Kayla would be 32 years old at the time of this episode's publication and at the time she went missing she was 5'2" with brown hair and brown eyes. Please call the Antigo, WI police dept if you have any information at 1-715-627-6411 Link to Missing Poster: https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1129610/1

Warren Barnes was a beloved member of the community of Grand Junction, Colorado. A man who loved reading as much as he could and would take time to feed the birds while he ate lunch, he was also the type that you could set your watch by. When Brian Cohee Jr. went looking for his idea of someone who wouldn't be missed so he could experience the thrill of killing a person, he could not have been more wrong about his assessment of the kind of man Warren was.

In the second of two bonus episodes, Crystal speaks with Preston's mother, Cierra. She shares her experience navigating the worst day of any parent's life, her observations and surprising aspect of the way the justice system is working in her son's case, her grief in the wake of her son's death, and the foundation she created in Preston's name. For more information on the Preston's Promise Foundation, please visit https://www.prestonspromise.org/

Mark had been dating his girlfriend Berlinah for several years before he decided the relationship wasn't what he wanted; he broke things off, moved out, and started dating someone new. Berlinah could not accept Mark's decision and made repeated demands that he hear her out and talk to her about their relationship. She planned her retaliation that would assure Mark could never be with anyone else if he wouldn't be with her. The resulting months of suffering are more than anyone should ever have to bear, and in the words of Kees Van Dongen: there were only losers in this case.

Benjaman Kyle was the assumed name of a man who was found naked and nearly unconscious behind a Burger King in 2004. For over a decade he knew nothing of his life before he was found, and despite efforts on several fronts for answers, he struggled to find his identity while also struggling to make a life for himself. The Last Unknown Man: https://newrepublic.com/article/138068/last-unknown-man Finding Benjaman: https://vimeo.com/34589969

Melissa Oxley was suddenly jolted awake in the middle of the night after hearing a loud noise. She went to investigate and found the front door of the home wide open, and returned to find her husband, Ben, dead in the bed where they had just been sleeping together. The story she told dispatch, police, and detectives seemed odd and didn't make sense to investigators. After years of surveillance, investigation, and interviews, Ben's murderer was identified.

Colleen was one of those bright souls who worked hard daily to uplift those around her and lived her life being a positive influence to everyone lucky enough to know her. In her second year as a teacher, one of her students took her life and to this day we don't have a legitimate reason for his behavior. Colleen's friends and family live in her memory and celebrate the lasting mark she left on this world in her short time with us.

Everyone knows B is for Bigfoot when we're talking Cryptids, but we're sharing a couple lesser known beasts including a Wisconsin canine, an adorable (if sensitive) Scottish friend, and a Pacific Northwest hybrid.

In the small rural town of Athens, Wisconsin, the Kunz family were known as strange loners at the center of decades worth of rumors. On July 4th, 1987 the entire family save for one member was murdered in their home, stirring up more rumors that still exist today. There was a conviction in relation to their deaths, but there is much speculation as to whether true justice was served.

Elyse Pahler was a spunky 15 year old girl in 1995, enjoying all the perks of being an adventurous teenager. She had a wide variety of passions and interests and had an entire bright future ahead of her. Unfortunately, three boys she trusted and thought were her friends took it upon themselves to use her in their twisted violent scheme which they believed would bring them the success they couldn't be bothered to actually work for.

Max DeVries went missing while on a family vacation in Aruba on May 12th, 2004. His mother has worked tirelessly the last 20 years searching for her son and trying to get any kind of law enforcement involvement to move the search forward. Please share his story to bring justice for Max. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ycdevries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62321359000/