Sixty-five-year-old Surinder Singh and seventy-eight-year-old Gurmej Singh Atwal had both emigrated from India and settled in Elk Grove, California, a growing suburb south of Sacramento. They were neighbors, friends, and grandfathers who enjoyed spending time with their families and maintaining an active lifestyle. Surinder had immigrated to the United States in 2005, after working as … More Surinder Singh and Gurmej Singh Atwal
On the night of July 30th, 2011, a devastating fire destroyed the rural Iowa home of James William “Bill” Wood and his wife, Kaidena “Kay” Wood. When firefighters extinguished the flames, they discovered a body among the ruins. The victim was later identified as seventy-nine-year-old Bill Wood, but his death was no accident. Investigators determined … More Bill and Kay Wood
Twelve-year-old Garrett Phillips was a sixth-grade student at A.A. Kingston Middle School in Potsdam, New York, a village in St. Lawrence County near the Canadian border. He lived with his mother, Tandy Cyrus, and his younger brother, Aaron, in a second-floor apartment at 100 Market Street. An enthusiastic athlete, Garrett enjoyed basketball, soccer, football, and … More Garrett Phillips
Carmen Perez-Stolts was born in Jamaica and had lived in Collier County, Florida, for more than two decades. A former nurse and caregiver, she was remembered by family members as a compassionate woman who loved animals, fashion, dancing, and spending time with the people she cared about. Although she was eighty-one years old, relatives described … More Carmen Perez-Stolts and Ludwig Volksheimer
On the morning of December 14th, 2011, a daughter arriving at her parents’ home in Andover, Massachusetts, made a horrifying discovery. Her parents, sixty-nine-year-old John “Jack” Magee and his sixty-seven-year-old wife, Geraldine “Jeri” Magee, had been shot to death inside their home at 7 Orchard Crossing. The mystery had actually begun the previous evening, more … More Jack and Jeri Magee
On September 5th, 2011, the body of David Gates was discovered among bushes near Northeast 88th Street in Vancouver, Washington. David, who had been experiencing homelessness and living in the area, had suffered fatal head trauma. Authorities determined that his death was a homicide, though the available public records do not establish precisely when he … More David Gates
Karen Johnson Swift was born on January 25th, 1967, in Galesburg, Illinois, and grew up in Arkansas. A talented runner, she won numerous awards in track during high school and continued participating in 5K races as an adult. She also worked in landscaping and was known for her dedication to her family. Karen married David … More Karen Swift
On Sunday, May 29th, 2011, members of Union Baptist Church in Northern Kentucky immediately noticed that two familiar faces were missing. For decades, seventy-four-year-old Peggy Stephenson had been a fixture at the church organ. Her husband, William “Bill” Stephenson, also seventy-four, was a deacon and an equally reliable presence. Earlier that morning, Bill had also … More Bill and Peggy Stephenson
On the evening of May 4th, 2011, the owners of an apartment building on East Moore Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania, entered the home of twenty-nine-year-old Jessica Manzanero and made a horrifying discovery. Jessica, a mother of two, was lying face down on the living-room floor. Around her was a large amount of dried blood. Police … More Jessica Manzanero
Lee Allen Goodwin was born on August 23rd, 1939. Records from Fort Snelling National Cemetery show that he served in the United States Army and attained the rank of Specialist Five. His cemetery record also identifies him as a Vietnam-era veteran. After his military service, Lee became part of another public-service institution closer to home: … More Lee Allen Goodwin
