Island Crime (Laura Palmer / Frequency Podcast Network)

In this episode you'll hear about the extraordinary lengths taken to solve the case. Retired Detective Sergeant Don Bland describes the efforts as like 'the war measures act'. Police contact the American space agency to try to get satellite pictures. The BC government flies 9 detectives down to Quantico Virginia, to consult with the F.B.I .

Michael's grandmother Cathy Jeffries reflects on memories of Michael and recalls searching for him with one of Michael's other grandmothers.

On Sunday March 24th 1991, Ian Arnold rides his bicycle around the neighbourhood searching for Michael.  He lives across from Blanshard Elementary. The Dunahee's go to his home to phone the police that afternoon.

Retired Detective Sergeant Don Bland is one of the lead detectives on the Dunahee investigative team.  Three decades on he remembers  the mounting concern in the early hours and days after Michael disappears.

“Don't get into a vehicle with a driver you don't know.” This was the golden rule Don Young taught his daughter, Lisa Marie Young. But twenty years ago, on June 29th 2002, Lisa broke her father's rule. She got into a red Jaguar driven by a charming young man and was never seen alive again.

Where is Lisa?: Red Jag Guy marks the 20th anniversary of Young's disappearance with a two-part story of the man behind the wheel. The man is Christopher William Adair, and the myth in Lisa's story is that the driver of the vehicle is a young man of considerable wealth and privilege. But as usual, the truth is more complicated. In part one, host Laura Palmer focuses on Chris's world before he met Lisa in 2002. She examines what is known about the last person to see Lisa alive, and asks what more might he know about what happened the night she vanished?

Some voices you will hear are altered to protect the identity of sources. The sources are confidential, but they are not anonymous. They are known to the producer.

End of episode song 'Softly'  by Kyla Lee music by Tim Hearsey  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRaryWrgOgA

It's Halloween Night 2020. Neighbours hear loud noises coming from the bush. They assume the sounds are fireworks marking late night festivities. The next afternoon a dirt biker stumbles across a scene straight out of a Hollywood drama. Burned out vehicles, three dead bodies, four dead dogs and, incredibly, a survivor. 

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From afar it may appear that there is just nothing. But the opposite is true. There are many suspects and it is possible whomever is responsible has already  been identified.

Retired Detective Al Cochrane believes there is someone out there with a specific piece of information who needs to step forward in order for the Dunahees to know what happened to their son Michael. 

On Halloween night in 2020, a mass shooting took place near the resort community of Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island. Three people are found dead in a make-shift encampment deep in the woods. Beside them, four dead dogs and a burned-out trailer. Now, more than two years on, the case is at a standstill.  Island Crime Season 5: Whiskey Creek explores the secrecy and fear surrounding the shootings.

New episodes coming May 9. 

On October 16th, 2024, the RCMP release a video of Justin Hall driving Amber Manthorne's white jeep, stopping at a gas station and revealing a dark grey tote in the back of the vehicle which may contain Amber's body. They name the late Justin Hall as a person of interest in Amber's disappearance and admit they do not believe Amber Manthorne is alive. It's a devastating development to an already heartbreaking case. 

The police video is posted on the Island Crime Facebook page. If you have information please contact your local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Today, the lone survivor of the Whiskey Creek massacre lives in fear that those responsible for the slaughter are still planning to finish him off. After the attack, he fled to the mainland, warned never to return. But now he wants to come home. 

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Does a dangerous offender currently incarcerated  in a Canadian prison, hold the key to what happened to Michael Dunahee on March 24th 1991?

Retired RCMP detective Doug Hogg is one of the first investigators on Lisa Marie Young's file after she was reported missing back in 2002. He looks back at the case and what it will take to bring justice now for Lisa. 

As Amber's hometown prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of her disappearance, a forest fire severs the connection to the community. Port Alberni quietly grieves her loss, still waiting for answers. In this episode, a woman believes she may have witnessed Amber and her boyfriend together the weekend after her disappearance. And a man who never knew Amber, becomes an online antagonist, provoking a response.

This episode was recorded and edited before news of Justin Hall's death became public. An update message has been added to reflect this most recent development.  

Thank you to CHEK News for the use of audio from archival news footage.

If you would like to support Amber's friends and family please head to their Facebook page: Finding Amber Manthorne

Investigative genetic genealogy has been hailed as the biggest breakthrough in investigations since the fingerprint. And yet only a handful of police forces in Canada are using it.  Why? And what will it take to address the challenges of moving forward?

In the immediate aftermath of the original Sweetheart series, the Island Crime inbox is flooded with new leads, fresh tips and reactions from those who knew and loved Kimberly Gallup, Melissa Nicholson and Cheri Lynn Smith.

A Vancouver Island mother believes her son may have been held hostage at Whiskey Creek. In her eyes, he is an innocent victim in an act of vigilantism. But he has never been named publicly as one of the victims. What will his mom do in order to seek justice for her boy? 

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Tensions are high in Amber's hometown of Port Alberni, while Amber remains missing. What can be learned of Amber's boyfriend, allegedly the last person known to be with her before she vanishes?

Amber Manthorne has not been found. The search for her is ongoing. While her disappearance is certainly out of character, it may not be a crime. Police have not ruled out criminality in her case. Anyone who may have information and has not already spoken with police is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424. And if you want to help support Amber’s friends, you can join them on Facebook through the group, 'Finding Amber Manthorne'.

Note: Thank you to the CHEK news team who have led on the coverage of Amber's story and whose archival tape you hear in this episode.

Twenty years on, there are now new searches for Lisa Marie Young. The fresh attention is reopening old wounds and bringing unwanted attention to some.  

You'll hear from a man who had a relationship with Lisa the year before she vanished. 

& William Curry, a former criminal who once approached Lisa's father Don Young with an offer to help, shares his perspective on Lisa's disappearance.

If you were accused of being involved in a terrible crime what would you do? William Curry is anxious to clear his name once and for all. He's tired of rumours suggesting he was involved in Lisa Marie Young's disappearance. Christopher Adair has chosen to remain silent. Now one of his relatives wants to put an end to the secrecy. 

Brandon Cairney has been missing since October 2017. On September 22nd 2022, Brandon surfaced alive. 

Listen to the original story of Brandon's disappearance in Episode 1 of 'Gone Boys'.

When 40-year-old Amber Manthorne fails to show up to work on Friday, July 8th, 2022, her friends immediately believe something is wrong. At first, it is thought that Amber is with her boyfriend, Justin Hall, but then Justin surfaces days later, without Amber, leaving more questions than answers.

In this episode, host Laura Palmer outlines the timeline of events surrounding Amber's disappearance and sits down with Amber's friend, and family spokesperson, Kristie St. Claire.

Amber Manthorne has not been found. The search for her is ongoing. While her disappearance is certainly out of character, it may not be a crime. Police have not ruled out criminality in her case. Anyone who may have information and has not already spoken with police is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424. And if you want to help support Amber’s friends-you can join them on Facebook through the group Finding Amber Manthorne.

Note: Thank you to the CHEK news team who have led on the coverage of Amber's story. You hear audio of their news footage in this episode.

For three decades, Rhonda has wondered why someone killed her high school friend Kimberly Gallup. Kimberly was a girl who loved the Kansas City Chiefs and Bon Jovi. Her death has a lasting impact on all who knew her. 

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Season 3: Missing Michael. Available January 2022.

The men close to Cheri, Melissa and Kimberly, at the time of their deaths, are all potential suspects. Boyfriends, pimps, and sex traffickers, could any of them have wanted the girls gone?

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If you have information please contact the Victoria Police: https://vicpd.ca/michaeldunaheetips/

If Michael is alive, DNA is the most likely way he will be found. The police have now put together Michael's DNA from his old toys and a hat.

Detective Robertson says her gut tells her the person responsible is likely already on their radar.

Crystal's team mates 'The Hellcats' are the first to search for Michael. They will later be hypnotized to jar memories. Witnesses to one of Canada's greatest unsolved mysteries, their friendships transcend time and tragedy.

In this episode the players walk through Sunday March 24th 1991,  the minutes and hours immediately following Michael's disappearance.

John Ducker  will go on to become Victoria's Deputy Police Chief. In 1991, he is one of the junior officers called in to assist with the search and the investigation.

Melissa Nicholson’s badly beaten body is found on the side of the road.  Newspapers at the time describe her as "teen hooker #3", but her family only remembers her big smile, sparkly personality, and honey-coloured hair. The 17-year-old is last seen on the Victoria stroll.

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In this episode you will hear the voice of Michael Dunahee himself. Michael's parents Bruce & Crystal Dunahee shared home video with Producer Laura Palmer. 

Felicia Bernier was one of Michael's little chums. She describes her friend Michael through the lens of a childhood playmate. She talks about his love of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And how losing her buddy in such tragic circumstances impacted her life.  

Bruce and Crystal Dunahee reflect on their life as a family before Michael vanishes. Michael's parents talk about Michael's childhood and what kind of a little guy he is growing into. They are interviewed separately and together to capture as much detail as possible about the day Michael disappears and their specific recollections of the event. 

Author Valerie  Green wrote the book on Michael Dunahee's case. It's called 'Vanished: The Michael Dunahee story'. Valerie mostly writes local history books. And true crime represents something of a departure for her. But Michael's disappearance in 1991, is a big part of the story of Victoria. 

Townsend Coleman is the voice of  the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 'Michaelangelo', one of Michael's heroes. At the end of each episode Townsend is lending his voice to  a plea for information on Michael's case. 

Shelley Wright was Cheri Lynn Smith's best friend. After the first episodes drop, she gets in touch. In this episode, Shelley shares a loving view of her teenage friend and provides insight into Cheri's world before and after Cheri is sex trafficked.

Cheri Lynn Smith spends her days reading the bible and writing to her parents. Before she's killed, Cheri is lured away from her Regina home by a sex trafficker posing as her boyfriend. Not long after, a horseback rider finds her body in the underbrush outside of Victoria, B.C., Canada.

Thank you to Cheri's parents for permitting me to use the audio from their interview on 'Listen Up TV' -and to host Lorna Dueck for agreeing to make the audio available to Island Crime.

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Experts say Investigative Genetic Genealogy, also known as IGG, is showing incredible promise in solving cold cases abroad. But the technology is not yet commonly used in Canada. Could Cheri, Melissa and Kimberly’s cases one day be solved through IGG? And what’s preventing law enforcement from using it more frequently in Canada?

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Cheri, Kimberly and Melissa were all last seen on the stroll in downtown Victoria. The activities of the area starkly contrast the elegant image Victoria is trying to sell tourists. It becomes a fertile hunting ground for predators.

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Two weeks before the Whiskey Creek shootings, a young woman’s body is found on a nearby highway. The 22-year-old knew the Whiskey Creek victims and spent time there. Is her death somehow connected?

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Christopher William Adair is the last person known to be seen with Lisa Marie Young before she vanished in 2002. He has never been charged in connection with her disappearance and detectives currently investigating the case can't say much about him.  But now there is a $50,000 reward for information that could lead investigators to Lisa's remains. 

Where is Lisa?: Red Jag Guy marks the 20th anniversary of Young's disappearance with a two-part story of the man who gave her a ride in a red Jaguar the night she went missing. In part two, host Laura Palmer interviews a retired RCMP officer who worked on Lisa's file and an Edmonton police officer who encountered Chris while he was in Alberta. Also, an interview with the donor behind the reward explains why he wanted to get involved in Lisa's case. 

Some voices you will hear are altered to protect the identity of sources. The sources are confidential, but they are not anonymous. They are known to the producer.

The 'teen hooker’ headlines are symbolic of the very real stigma and victim blaming involved in the cases of Cheri, Melissa and Kimberly. What role did the shaming of sexually exploited youth play in the murders, the investigations and how the media told their stories?

Signs someone you know could be being sex trafficked.

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After the original series drops, new information surfaces about Kimberly Gallup's case; fresh leads and questions from people close to Kimberly in time and place.

The year is 1990 and within about 12 months three teenage girls will be murdered in Victoria, B.C., Canada. Before they were found dead, all three girls were lured into sex trafficking with promises of love and money. Today, it's been more than thirty years since they were killed, and their killer, or killers, have never been found. 

Island Crime Season 6: Sweethearts exposes the stigma surrounding their deaths and asks whether time and technology can finally bring justice for their families. 

New episodes coming April 2024. 

Amber lives for summer. She works at a boat shop, her home is out at the lake and she makes the most out of the sunny season. A colleague, a friend and a woman Amber never met, shine a light on how Amber's bright spark may have been darkened forever.

None of the allegations of abuse involving Justin have been proven.

Amber Manthorne has not been found. The search for her is ongoing. While her disappearance is certainly out of character, it may not be a crime. Police have not ruled out criminality in her case. Anyone who may have information and has not already spoken with police is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424. And if you want to help support Amber’s friends, you can join them on Facebook through the group, 'Finding Amber Manthorne'.

Don't poke the bear. It's a warning I heard a number of times as I worked on the story of 'Whiskey Creek'. After almost three years of silence, reverberations from the series are being felt across the island. I'll open up about the aftermath of reporting on this story and the knock-on effects on the victims' families.

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Amber's disappearance devastates those who love her. In this episode, close friends wrestle with the thought of life without Amber and look to the past to find clues about what was really going on in Amber's world.

Amber Manthorne has not been found. The search for her is ongoing. While her disappearance is certainly out of character, it may not be a crime. Police have not ruled out criminality in her case. Anyone who may have information and has not already spoken with police is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424. And if you want to help support Amber’s friends, you can join them on Facebook through the group, 'Finding Amber Manthorne'.

When Shawn McGrath emerged from incarceration he wound up out in the woods.  What could have helped him succeed outside of prison? And how can we prevent another Whiskey Creek from happening?

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Fresh out of jail and with nowhere to go, Shawn McGrath lands in a trailer in Whiskey Creek. That's when problems in the community begin. His encampment in the woods is a magnet for the young and vulnerable. How far will the community go to protect their own?

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81 year old Norma doesn't want to go to her grave without knowing what happened to Michael. She believes she witnessed his abduction. 

Island Crime is committed to keeping 'cold cases' in the public eye and leaving no stone unturned. In this episode, you'll hear an update to Island Crime Seasons 1-5. 

Jason is recalling the events from that night to the best of his recollection. It's been more than 20 years and he admits he was drinking that evening. No one else who was at either of the gatherings has spoken about what happened. But his descriptions are consistent with the facts of the case as they are known.

John McGrath knows his boy, Shawn, was no angel. And now, years later, he's ready to share his theory about the Whiskey Creek murders for the first time.

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What has changed when it comes to keeping kids safe from abductors?

The cliche 'It's every parent's nightmare' certainly fits the narrative of the disappearance of 4-year-old Michael Dunahee. On a spring day in 1991, Michael vanished from a playground in Victoria, BC while his parents were nearby. The adorable dimpled little boy with tousled blond hair captured the attention of the entire country. His case remains one of the largest unsolved mysteries in Canada. What happened to little Michael on that day? Could he still be alive?

Listen to Island Crime, Season 3: Missing Michael on January 18th.

No charges were ever laid in the alleged attempted abduction and Michael Dunahee's disappearance remains unsolved. 

If you have information please contact the Victoria Police: https://vicpd.ca/michaeldunaheetips/

As the first anniversary of Amber Manthorne's disappearance approaches, her family and friends prepare to say their goodbyes and celebrate Amber's life.  Meanwhile, the search for Amber and the investigation into her case carries on. In this episode, Amber's sister Shannon speaks publicly for the first time and an avid river adventurer shares that he might have found evidence, which could be helpful to the investigation.

This episode was recorded and edited before news of Justin Hall's death became public. An update message has been added to reflect this most recent development.  

Thank you to CHEK News for the use of audio from archival news footage.

Note: After the episode was published, I heard from a friend of Amber's who confirmed the shawl/sweater Amber is wearing in some photos belonged to a friend, and that friend confirms the item of clothing is in her closet. So the first item of clothing Geoff found likely did not belong to Amber. 

If you would like to support Amber's friends and family please head to their Facebook page: Finding Amber Manthorne

Amber is a cherished member of her Port Alberni community; a loyal friend, devoted daughter, a really ‘cool chick’, bubbly, and always cheerful. So it's no surprise that a community of people dubbed 'Amber's Army' have come together to help find her. Amidst the desperate search for Amber, friends take time to talk about her and answer questions about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

In this episode, host Laura Palmer talks to one of Amber's closest pals, a Chief of a local First Nation who also knew Amber well, and a friend who is a commercial diver, now using his skills to search for his friend in the lake she loved.

Amber Manthorne has not been found. The search for her is ongoing. While her disappearance is certainly out of character, it may not be a crime. Police have not ruled out criminality in her case. Anyone who may have information and has not already spoken with police is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424. And if you want to help support Amber’s friends, you can join them on Facebook through the group, 'Finding Amber Manthorne'.

Note: Thank you to the CHEK news team who have led on the coverage of Amber's story and whose archival tape you hear in this episode.

When Melissa, Cheri and Kimberly were killed in Victoria, there may have been four serial killers preying on sex trade workers and sexually exploited youth on the coast. Who are these predators, and what has been done to exclude them from the cases on the island?

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An interview with 'Someone Knows Something' host David Ridgen about true crime podcasting and his new season of SKS - The Christine Harron Case.

SPOILER ALERT: David goes into some detail about his new season.  

As time passes with no sign of Amber, friends fear the worst. The town is on edge and the behaviour of Amber's boyfriend adds to the tension. 

Amber Manthorne has not been found. The search for her is ongoing. While her disappearance is certainly out of character, it may not be a crime. Police have not ruled out criminality in her case. Anyone who may have information, and has not already spoken with police, is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424. And if you want to help support Amber’s friends you can join them on Facebook through the group Finding Amber Manthorne.

Note: Thank you to the CHEK news team who have led on the coverage of Amber's story and whose archival tape you hear in this episode.

For 9 months, the Mounties refused requests to be interviewed for this podcast. Now, the lead investigator on Lisa Marie Young’s case, Cpl Markus Muntener and spokesperson Const. Gary O’Brien sit down for an in-depth interview about the investigation.

Lisa’s hometown was once dubbed ‘the city without pity’, an allusion to dark themes of drugs, gangs, and a conspiracy of silence thwarting the investigation into Lisa’s case. In the summer of 2020, Lisa’s community finally steps up for her, embracing her story in ways both symbolic and significant. And cracks begin to form, opening …

Continue reading "Update: 2020 Summer of Hope"

After the first episodes drop, interest in Lisa Marie Young's case explodes. In Episode 7, you'll hear perspectives from two women who came forward after listening to 'Where is Lisa?' They have important information to share about the night Lisa vanished, and about one of the individuals who is a person of interest in Lisa Marie Young's case. 

CHEK TV Reporter Kendall Hanson is a rookie when he is first assigned the story of the search for Lisa Marie Young. Kendall will forge a lifelong friendship with Lisa’s mother Joanne. In Episode 3, Kendall details his fascination with Lisa’s story, and why eighteen years on Lisa’s case still keeps him awake at night.

The evening Lisa vanished began in the most ordinary way. Lisa and her dad watched TV and enjoyed a beer together. They were close. When she says goodbye and heads out into the night to meet friends, Lisa’s father Don Young has no idea he will never see Lisa again. Don recounts what happened that night and describes the immediate aftermath of losing Lisa.

Lisa fits the true crime victim cliche. The petite stunning brunette is just 21 when she disappears. In Episode 1 the focus is squarely on the victim as we meet her friends and family and discover who Lisa was in life, and why losing Lisa continues to haunt those who love her the most.

On a long weekend in the summer of 2002, Lisa Marie Young went out to celebrate a friend’s birthday. There were big changes ahead; a move to a new apartment, a fresh start on a career with big dreams of becoming a sportscaster. But that night, Lisa got into a red jaguar with a young …

Continue reading "Season 1: Where is Lisa?"

In their desperation, with no new leads, Lisa’s family turn to a psychic for help. Norm Pratt describes himself as a spiritual intuitive. He has successfully worked with police to find missing people. Norm heads into the forest with Lisa’s loved ones to search for Lisa.

Dave was a self described gangster and bad guy. Now he’s a born again Christian who claims to have inside information on what happened to Lisa. Lorimer Shenher is a former police detective who wrote a book about a serial killer he helped catch. Two men worlds apart, share their unique perspectives on Lisa’s case.

The last of the original planned episodes of S1. This  episode introduces those who sparked the inspiration for this podcast: Musician Alison Crowe was friends with Lisa and wrote a haunting song in her memory, Alison’s manager and former white collar crime investigator Adrian DuPlessis, and the tenacious high school friend and advocate Cyndy Hall. As new information surfaces the series continues...

After Lisa Marie Young disappeared in 2002, a meth dealer named Bob heard rumours that Lisa had been murdered at a specific location. Alone, he searched. Now 18 years later, a police team is conducting searches in this same spot. And Bob has just come forward with a new piece of information, possible evidence of what happened the night Lisa vanished.

To the public they are faces on faded missing person posters. To their parents, they are their boys, and they are gone. Most missing persons cases are resolved quickly. But on Vancouver Island in recent years, some men have vanished without a trace.
Follow the mystery of Vancouver Island’s missing men, on ‘Gone Boys’ Island Crime Season 2.

Thousands of people go missing each year. But almost all of them are found. But on Vancouver Island, young men are going missing and staying missing. Brandon Cairney is athletic, handsome and bright. Then, one tragic night he suffers a brain injury in a car accident and his life takes a tragic turn. Brandon vanishes from his small island community leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.

14 year old Desmond Peter was last seen walking along the side of the highway. As a child Desmond witnessed a horrific murder which upended his world and altered the course of his life. Rumours abound about Desmond’s fate, but his family fears he may have been a victim of a predator.

Ian Henry loves drumming, spear fishing and cycling. He is 26 when he disappears from the small island community, he calls home. Ian suffers from schizophrenia; without his medication he can’t function. His disappearance along with those of other men in his Cowichan First Nation has left his community unable to move forward.

Meet the RCMP statistician, the coroners and the dominatrix working to understand the data points representing the missing men’s cases.

Loral McLeod is determined to find her handsome charismatic big brother Kelly. In the years before he goes missing Kelly’s life spirals downward into addiction and homelessness. Now Loral believes her brother was murdered.

If there is a serial predator on the island, it’s possible they have targeted victims alone on the roadside. A criminologist, a criminal profiler and an FBI analyst bring their expertise to an exploration of the serial killer theory.

Daniel MacDonnell’s dad wishes his son had sought help for his mental health. But like many men, Daniel struggled along on his own. Now Daniel is gone. Why self-reliance could be a death sentence for men like Daniel.

Questions answered, exclusive new information on the missing men and the latest reaction to the ‘Gone Boys’ investigation.