Crime Behind the Pine Curtain

15-year-old disappears during outing with sister, friends in 1975 Join Valerie as she introduces Patricia Humphreys. The 15-year-old Northbrook High School student disappeared from the Thunderbird Drive In Theater in 1975. In today’s mini-side we recap what’s been made public so far, but stay tuned for a follow-up with the Cold Case Squad from Houston Police Department.

Opinions expressed on Crime Behind the Pine Curtain are those of the individuals appearing in this episode. No statement in this broadcast represents the official opinion of the United States Air Force. Written by Valerie Reddell Music by Billy Eli Sound by Jim Powers

On September 2, 2004, Floyd Thompson walked into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and told the dispatcher he needed to report a fire. Deputies accompanied Thompson back to his home at the Escapees Park about five miles south of Livingston. When firefighters arrived they discovered four people dead inside the burning home. Over the next few hours first responders unveiled a tragic story.

A battle between prohibitionists and imbibers led to the fiery destruction of downtown Livingston in 1902. Residents rallied to keep commerce going and rebuild the small railroad town.

A battle between prohibitionists and imbibers led to the fiery destruction of downtown Livingston in 1902. Residents rallied to keep commerce going and rebuild the small railroad town.

The S.S. Eastland, known as the “Speed Queen of the Great Lakes,” was part of a fleet of five excursion boats assigned to take Western Electric employees, families and friends across Lake Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana, for a day of fun and fellowship. But the festivities were short-lived and quickly turned tragic.The Eastland, docked at the Clark Street Bridge, never left the Chicago River. Tragedy struck as the ship rolled over into the river at the wharf’s edge. More than 2,500 passengers and crew members were on board that day – and 844 people lost their lives, including 22 …

March 10, 1978, a pair of bank robbers kidnapped John A. Gaylord, above left, hostage at his home and forced him to go to the bank and take money from the vault. FBI agents eventually arrested Mickey Clark at a Houston motel. He was charged with kidnapping and bank robbery, as well as several earlier robberies in Livingston. Raymond Herman Hicks of Galveston was arrested and charged with kidnapping and two counts of aggravated robbery for the grocery store holdups.

Opinions expressed on Crime Behind the Pine Curtain are those of the individuals appearing in this episode. No statement in this broadcast represents the official opinion of the United States Air Force. Written by Valerie Reddell Music by Billy Eli Sound by Jim Powers

The S.S. Eastland, known as the “Speed Queen of the Great Lakes,” was part of a fleet of five excursion boats assigned to take Western Electric employees, families and friends across Lake Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana, for a day of fun and fellowship. But the festivities were short-lived and quickly turned tragic.The Eastland, docked at the Clark Street Bridge, never left the Chicago River. Tragedy struck as the ship rolled over into the river at the wharf’s edge. More than 2,500 passengers and crew members were on board that day – and 844 people lost their lives, including 22 …