The Suitcase Detective

True Crime always grabs that inner historian reader in me, and I'm quite interested to dive into this new work! This is Johnny Teague's "The Lovers' Lane Murders: The Tragic Story of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson". According to the book blurb: A haunting true crime investigation set in 1990 Houston, this deeply human cold-case narrative invites armchair detectives and justice-seekers to reexamine an unsolved lovers’ lane murder that still echoes decades later. On a warm August night in 1990, College sweethearts Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson went out for a date and never came home. Found brutally murdered at Houston’s infamous Lovers' Lane, their case remains unsolved more than three decades later. In The Lovers’ Lane Murders, author and historian Johnny Teague—working closely with the victims’ families—revisits the chilling crime that shattered a community and left two families in anguish. With compassion, fresh investigation, and never-before-seen details, Teague sheds new light on the case, reigniting hope that justice might finally be served. Part true crime, part tribute, this gripping account honors Cheryl and Andy’s memory and calls for the one thing their families have long sought: closure. I hadn't heard about this case before so guess what I'll be doing this weekend?! #TrueCrime #MysteryBooks #CrimeNovels

So my friend's son was arrested on a serious serious charge TBF. Here is my concern. They arrested him at the end of February and have held him without bail ever since. That's 7 months held in jail without trial, just a series of status hearings. And yesterday they set another status hearing but are also refusing to consider this "time served". If he were innocent (and we are all innocent until proven guilty), that's seven months of wrongful detention and growing. If a court ruled him innocent how would the system or society ever repay what looks like it's going to be at least a year of his life in jail without trial. Either prosecution can prove it or they shouldn't have arrested him. If they can prove it, move on to a speedy trial. Dragging it out like this isn't fair to the girl (if he's guilty), him (if he's innocent), ir the public paying for him in jail either way.

I've always known the State of Iowa way underpaid their indigent criminal defense attorneys so they can't get attorneys to help. This week I learned that the State has decided to help cover the salaries by offering tuition assistance (up to $60,000) to select attorneys performing certain hours of defense in poor counties. Sounds sweet and charitable right? Except it is not the STATE paying for it. The assistance is financed by an increase in filing fees paid for by CIVIL attorneys and clients. So if you are cheated in a civil matter you have to pay $20 MORE for your various filings to help cover other's criminal defense. On top of the taxes we all pay for the same thing. People already hurt and struggling to cover costs are now betrayed even more! How many won't get justice because they don't have yet another $20+ to spend? And do we (the forced payers of this illustrious gift) choose the recipients? No it goes to a VERY restricted collection of attorneys with in-state degrees who handle the state's indigent defense in poor counties (if the state chooses them). We're being forced to help the state cover the state employee's salaries while they pick and choose who gets it. Those in my office . . . struggling attorneys in a poor county who work in business law helping our rural businesses don't qualify. We are struggling to make ends meet, struggling to pay our own exorbitant school loans through UIowa but now are required by our own state to pay for OTHER'S student loans/ salaries in upped filing fees? They don't even have to live in the poor county! I'm enraged.

We've been playing this game for a couple hours every afternoon for 3 days now and we're only now to stage 5 😅 Having a great time though! #mysterygames #boxgame #games @KillerMystery1

"Malice" by the illustrious Japanese crime writer Keigo Higashino. The 180° spin you take as you work through the conclusion and the writer's ability to reflect how easily we are all swayed by a good con artist is peak writing. Excellent novel!

Had a fairly long week dealing with IRS agents and doing WAY to much peopling for my introverted self. So imagine my excitement when I got my new game from @KillerMystery1 this week! Anticipation was high since I knew it was coming and I may have checked my PO Box everyday waiting for it, but now it's here! Next week, I'm planning to have a game day at my office. My assistant will enjoy this a lot more than filing receipts 😅🕵‍♀️. #mysterygames #games #mysterybox #killergames #thesuitcasedetective *Sort of an affiliate post I suppose since I got the game as a demo. Thanks Killer Mystery Games! **PS, I really like this box, the art is so cool!

We are pleased to announce that the "Woman with the Richmond Dental Crown" has been identified as Hakima Boukerouis. In 2005, an unidentified woman was found in Saint-Quirin, France, hidden inside a Harcostar rain barrel, the victim of an apparent homicide. We first covered her case back in December of 2025. Although initially believed to be of Eastern European origin, it has now been confirmed that she was Hakima BZoukerouis, a thirty-five year old woman from Algeria. Following her identification, police were able to discover that Hakima and her step-son Yaël were allegedly murdered by her husband, Said Lalaouna, after he accused the two of having an affair. Said and multiple members of his family were arrested and charged with the murders, with the case still pending. It is unclear if they were able to locate Yaël. While their deaths are a horrifying tragedy, we are thrilled that Hakima has her name once more. Rest in peace darling 🕊️ thesuitcasedetective.com/202…

My free annual tote bage from @barnesandnoble & Seicho Matsumoto's classic crime novel "A Quiet Place". Happiness! 🌞 #readmore #reading

Oh that is infuriating. #12 had 35 YEARS and served TWO. This is just one county! This is absolutely injustice to the extent of aiding and abetting. Such disrespect for our sentencing decisions and just flagrant rejection of justice for the victims is mindboggling on the worst way! #lawenforcement #criminaljustice #whereisthejustice

Trevor John Furner, a 54-year-old Australian, disappeared while visiting Kika, Benin. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unknown, and his family is still searching for answers. If you have seen Trevor or have any information that could help locate him, please contact your local police, the Australian embassy in your country, or your local embassy so the information can be shared with the appropriate authorities. Read Trevor's full case file and learn how you can help: thesuitcasedetective.com/202… Someone, somewhere, may know what happened. Please share Trevor's story and help keep the search alive. #MissingPerson #MissingPersons #FindTrevorFurner #NeverQuitLooking #TheSuitcaseDetective #Australia #Benin #HelpFindTrevor #ShareToHelp

Ode Urielle Bankole was just 14 years old when she disappeared from Cotonou, Benin, in 2023. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unknown, and her family is still searching for answers. If you have seen Ode or have any information that could help locate her, please contact your local police, the Beninese embassy in your country, or your local embassy so the information can be shared with the appropriate authorities. Read Ode's full case file and learn how you can help: thesuitcasedetective.com/202… Someone, somewhere, may know what happened. Please share her story and help keep the search alive. #MissingChild #MissingPerson #MissingPersons #FindOde #NeverQuitLooking #TheSuitcaseDetective #Benin #Cotonou #HelpFindOde #ShareToHelp

Uryahel Hamidullah, an Afghan teenager, disappeared from Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2014. He was reportedly just 14 years old when he vanished, and his fate remains unknown. If you have seen Uryahel or have any information that could help locate him or provide answers to his family, please contact your local police, the Afghan embassy in your country, or your local embassy so the information can be shared with the appropriate authorities. Read Uryahel's full case file and learn how you can help: thesuitcasedetective.com/202… Every share helps keep Uryahel's story alive. Someone, somewhere, may know what happened. #MissingPerson #MissingPersons #FindUryahel #NeverQuitLooking #TheSuitcaseDetective #Afghanistan #Bulgaria #Sofia #HelpFindUryahel #ShareToHelp

In 2016, Amar Chelbi disappeared during a fishing trip with friends in the Mediterranean. Reports suggest the group may have been intercepted by the Tunisian Coast Guard, but Amar has never been located, and his family is still searching for answers. If you have seen Amar or have any information that could help identify his whereabouts, please contact your local police, the Algerian embassy in your country, or your local embassy so the information can be passed to the appropriate authorities. Read Amar's full case file and learn how you can help: thesuitcasedetective.com/202… Every tip matters. Please share to help reach someone who may know what happened. #MissingPerson #MissingPersons #FindAmarChelbi #NeverQuitLooking #TheSuitcaseDetective #Algeria #Tunisia #Mediterranean #ColdCase #HelpFindAmar #ShareToHelp

Gosh, I can hear his voice so distinctly in my head even now. I loved him in Buffy and while he sometimes was the villain he was always a great actor.

I just found 3 of the old Nancy Drews and about 10 Elizabeth Peter's novels for $2 each! I'm so excited!