Case: Katelin was supposed to fly back to her home in Arizona. She asked her ex husband, James Branton, if he could bring her instead. Lisas final text from Katelin read. Lisa didnt think Katelin sent those texts. I know they searched James car, but was it looked at for blood? Her flight was scheduled for 5:00pm. The discovery of the suitcase quickly takes this from possible runaway to endangered missing person, and the investigation kicks into gear with Detective Rob Marshall in the lead. Ciccones death is more perplexing. Since Katelin was scheduled to start her new cosmetology school on Monday, she had booked her flight back to Arizona for that Saturday evening, December 5th, at 5:40pm out of the Reagan National Airport in Arlington. According to Lisa, who saw them last together, they were getting along well and catching up with each other. And systems put in. Her nose and navel are pierced and the right side of her lower lip is pierced. I think she felt guilt and had to talk about it. Dec. It is so sad that a person who was just about to start their life and do things that they migth have dreamt of their whole life. Katelin flew into Virginia to visit her family in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, for the birth of her nephew. Were hoping and this has happened before that she simply decided that she wasnt going to go back [to Arizona] and made other arrangements, Pearce says. They were talking about her cosmetology school, her high school diploma. I want to tell the stories of those never came home and went to tell you the story of Katelyn Akins. Katelin did in fact cheat on Amber the night before. But I think she had all intentions on going back that day. "Of course it's suspicious - the young lady was supposed to be on a plane back home to Arizona and we found her luggage in a drainage ditch in the middle of Spotsylvania County, nearly 50 miles from the airport," Pearce told Crimesider. Privacy Policy. Theyare in our work places, our friendship groups and sometimes even our homes. His house and vehicle were searched. https://www.facebook.com/HelpFindKatelinAkens/, https://www.spreaker.com/show/lost-souls-of-america, https://charleyproject.org/case/katelin-michelle-akens, https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/katelin-michelle-akens, https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/update-katelin-akens/, Murdered in California- The Case of the Doodler Killer, Murdered in Kansas: The Case of Alonzo Brooks, Missing in Minnesota: The Case of Brandon Swanson, Murdered in DC: The Case of the Freeway Phantom, Unsolved in California: The Case of the Keddie Cabin Murders. Police looked into whether Katelin decided to leave of her own accord. They are not hiding in shadows. KATELIN AKENS - MISSING (My theory) Springfield, Virginia 19 years old Dec. 5th 2015. He would not elaborate on the specific nature of those contents, citing an open investigation, but he did say that it gave him hope Akens would be found alive. Neither of them knew what was going on and none of it made sense. 1 Comment, "My family and myself are good, decent and very honest people. Domestic violence speaks many languages, has many colors and lives in many different communities. She always, like, asked how I was doing or how the babys doing. wallet, ID and glasses were found inside, but her clothes were missing. However, Pearce says, Akens never arrived at her destination. As police began to investigate the hours leading up to her disappearance, they interviewed the friends she had stayed with the night before who confessed that they did actually all sleep together- the night had gotten carried away, and they all agreed it was something that shouldnt happen again. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? The unsolved disappearance of a Virginia teenager four years ago has left family members desperate for answers and investigators puzzled as a key witness who may be able to help refuses to cooperate, WTTG-TV reports. Katelins Facebook also messaged a friend, in the message it stated how she didnt want to be in Virginia nor did she want to be in Arizona. Um, I dont really sugarcoat it. It was reported that James stopped cooperating with the investigators after a point. Image Credit: Help find Katelin Akens/Facebook. Also the phone was pinged near James house at the time of this text. She supposed to be reunited with her fiance, Amber. Other have said that she was receiving death threats. Her wallet, ID and glasses were found inside, but her clothes were missing. However, both cases have area residents on edge. Also near James house. the body of 21 year old Heather Ciccone. Given that James was the last person to see Katelin alive, he became the investigators next stop. She also did her best to squeeze in some visits with friends- the night before she was scheduled to fly back to Arizona shed spent the night at a friends apartment after an evening of beer and board games. Katelin arrived back home in Springfield Virginia on December 1st, ready for a whirlwind four days of visits with family and friends. Lisa dropped Katelin off with James at 9:20 that morning before work, and they had a great chance to catch up at home for a few hours before they made the drive 60 miles out to the airport from Partlow where James lived. Tabbing Tag Stringing Foil Stamping UV Coating Die Cutting General Foil Die Cutting Engraving General Mailing Fulfillment Mounting and Finishing General Business Printing They havent had any recent fights, this was in character of Katelin and Katelins family stated she was excited to go back home to Amber. I need some time alone.". by Chilling Crimes He told her he dropped Katelin off and she thanked up. They called and called Katelin with no response at all. An investigation would later show that the text message wasnt sent from the airport, but instead hit towers near Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia. Date of Birth 09/02/1996 (26) Age 19 years old. Episode Summary. Race White. The first thing to rule out in a missing persons investigation is the idea that theyre missing of their own free will. Her mother's ex-husband, James Branton, was supposed to drop her off at the airport where she would board her . Erin Donaghue reports and writes for CBSNews.com on topics including criminal justice, social justice and culture. She wears eyeglasses with dark frames. Hed unknowingly discovered the biggest clue- Katelins suitcase, scratched and missing a wheel, as if it had been thrown from a moving vehicle. I would never pack cash in my luggage unless it was in excess of what I needed. An official website of the United States government. Neither Tammy or Angela showed up to their classes and were last seen hitchhiking in the city. Where she was going to take a metro to the airport. found shot dead in a car in Spotsylvania Sunday. I think Katelin told James about the night before and how she cheated. Katelins phone records dont corroborate this theory, but there is an encrypted messaging app on her phone which police do not have access to. James told Lisa that Katelin wanted to be dropped off at the mall, the Springfield Mall, as she would be early. At this point, Lisa was completely reeling- what is going on? If you have any information about the disappearance of Kaitlin Akens, please call Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office 540-582-7115, Like and follow the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelpFindKatelinAkens/, You can listen to the full episode anywhere you find your podcasts or on Spreaker at https://www.spreaker.com/show/lost-souls-of-america, Your email address will not be published. The discovery was made one day after another young woman turned up dead, heightening concerns for Akens' safety. They were all full of encryptions that he has to this day refused to help unlock. My theory: I believe James had murdered Katelin. No, he has nothing to do with us, Detective Rob Marshall told the television station in 2017. From there, the 19-year-old was expected to take the Metro to Reagan National Airport and catch a flight back to her home in Arizona, Capt. On December 5, 2015, Katelin Akens was supposed to board a flight from Reagan National Airport in Virginia to According to my sources, Amber didnt feel there were any signs of trouble in the relationship at all before Katelin left for Virgina, so she felt pretty blindsided by the texts. I'm not coming back today. I'll let you know when I get a new flight. Katelin also needed to collect her High School Diploma as she was starting a cosmetology course in Arizona. Pearce said the case is not connected to the murder of a young woman, Heather Ciccone, who was found shot dead in a car in Spotsylvania Sunday. But when p. He decided not to take a polygraph test and it was reported that he would not give police the password for his phone. 2023 Chilling Crimes. He said that he dropped her outside the JCPenneystore but there was no CCTV in the area so at that time, they could not determine if she was at the mall at all that day. Lisa immediately got the sense that her daughter was being considered a runaway- but while she was in the middle of filling out her report a phone call came in about a mysterious find in a drainage ditch by a road crew worker. Gabriela had a new baby, a baby boy, and Katelin wanted to meet her nephew so she arranged to go back home to Virginia on a four day trip. She had been there since the 1st of December and was visiting her mother Lisa Sullivan and her sister Gabriela. Interviewer: So, Katelin, how long has it been since you last saw her? Height and Weight 5'4, 122 pounds. We are not going to turn down any information.. News briefs: the statehouse's reopening, Aikens' voter registration, Mastrangelo's missing votes. Katelin Michelle Akens (born September 2, 1996) is an American woman who mysteriously disappeared on December 5, 2015, after being dropped off at her former stepfather's residence in Partlow, Virginia. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Female. Protect yourself and those you love. Pearce wouldn't comment on the contents of the suitcase or whether anything had been removed. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Investigation Discoverys Disappeared: Flight Risk focuses on the young womans activities and whereabouts leading to her disappearance. Kaitlin Akens, 19, was supposed to catch a flight from Virginia to Arizona. Katelin Akens was last seen . Missing in Massachusetts: The Case of Neo Maximus AKA Charlie Allen Jr. Detectives have yet to name a suspect or person of interest. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. They gathered that Lisa had dropped her off at James' house but they could not confirmthat James dropped Katelin off at the mall. Lisa wasn't sure she would even know how to get the metro. Required fields are marked *. Lets talk about these cryptic text messages and her relationship with Amber. And to add to the uneasy feeling this was giving her family, Lisa says that the text messages simply werent sent in Katelins style of texting. On December 5, 2015, Katelin Akens was supposed to board a flight from Reagan National Airport in Virginia to Arizona. He was a no call no show, and he actually never went back to work there again. Katelins sister Gabi had just had a baby, and so everyone was absolutely thrilled to have Katelin make the trip home for some newborn nephew snuggles with 2 week old baby Landon! So what happened when James dropped her off at the mall? Despite the similarities in the cases,namely thatthey were a similar age and in the same area, police were able to establish early on that the two cases were not connected. But it wasthe body of 21 year old Heather Ciccone. Without his cooperation Detective Marshall was forced to execute a search warrant on James house being that it was Katelins last known location. "It bothers everybody," Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office Captain Jeff Pearce told The . Also did they ever use thermal cameras over surrounding wooded areas or watery areas. White. Facebook gives people the power. Lisa then left the house to go to work. However, its not known if she is actually the person to send the text, or if someone else sent it from her phone. All Rights Reserved. Lisa was confused due to texts from Katelins phone to her. I dont think it matters too much, but I just want to say that youll notice different timing on these things depending on which source you look at. In fact, Katelin was so bright and hard working that she doubled up on her coursework and was able to graduate highschool at just 16 years old. In 2014, just after her 18th birthday, Katelin moved to Arizona to live with her best friend who had become her fiance. The FBI Richmond office stated Friday morning that . After Lisa and James separated,it took a while for things to settle between them allbut they did and everything seemed fine. Police spoke to James and searched his house and car but they didn't find anything that could assistwith their investigation into Katelin's disappearance. She was unique and had no problem just being herself, a trait her family loved about her. If she is out there, is she going to be the same Katelin we know? He didn't work for six months after Katelin's disappearance and after that six month period, he got a new job. The fact that the missing womans stepfather was last to see and talk to her has sparked some speculation on social media and crime case forums like Websleuths. Her clothes, phone and High School Diploma were missing. Battery dying so wont be able to text for a bit.. She wasn't at the airport or the mall at that time. Police have reportedly searched Brantons home and seized a variety of evidence, including guns, electronics and his DNA; but have not found any meaningful leads or apparently, cause to arrest him. I honestly, when hes like who or where is Katelin, Im like Katelin is your aunt. Inside the suitcase was Katelins wallet, her cash, her debit cards, and her plane ticket. James was not cooperative in this investigation. Were the two cases connected? The police had to establish where Katelinwas last seen. 6 Comments, "People don't just disappear. Im not coming back today, Ill let you know when I get a new flight. In a separate text, she immediately texts, I wont be able to text for a bit. (Unsure if they ever disclosed where her phone pinged at this time. So, if youre curious about an update in the case, weve got you covered. It says, Something came up. More speculation surrounding the disappearance of Katelin Akens surrounds the murder of Spotsylvania woman Heather Ciccone, who was found shot dead in her own car on Monday morning. The fact she left cash in her luggage tells me nothing at all. But it turns out that he didnt go to work that day. Where is she?". By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Katelin's luggage was reportedly found in a drainage ditch two days after she went missing. However, I think all Facebook messages were made by Katelin. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is joining forces with area law enforcement in the effort to find a woman missing for nearly six years. Growing up, Kaitlin was adventurous and free spirited. A text was reportedly sent from her phone after she was dropped off, indicating that she was at the airport to board her flight. January 25, 2022, "The effects of abuse are devastating and far reaching. They also interviewed those closest to her. He also agreed to a polygraph, then denied on the day off. At about 2 PM the same day, Lisa then received a text from her daughters phone that said, Imat the airport. You know, she was just there; like, she wasnt there, obviously, because she was in Arizona. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Kaitlin Akens was last seen in Springfield Virginia on December 5th, 2015. Shes never used any of her accounts or her phone, and I havent seen one source that indicates they get a lot of calls about sightings of Kaitlin. In March 2021, a foundation for missing people placed a billboard regarding Katelins case on the route James took to work. Katelin Michelle Akens was born September 2nd, 1996, and was raised in Virginia with her sister Gabriella and her mom Lisa Sullivan. In fact, he didnt go back to work anywhere at all for more than 6 months after Katelins disappearance. Weight. The authorities later learned from James that he dropped Katelin at the Springfield Town Center in Virginia from where Katelin was going to take a metro to the airport. You can't trace clothes. Lisa doesnt seem to be granting James quite as much grace these days, and she says he still will not speak to her or to any of the investigators. (According to online, James then sent a text to Lisa about how her dropped her off at the Springfield mall and Katelin was going to take a metro to the airport. We dont know if shes living it up, partying around. I mean only respect to Katelins loved ones. Its totally possible that shed been communicating with people online, but if shed been communicating with anyone, no one knew then, and we may never know. The discovery of Akens' suitcase came a day after police found the body of 21-year-old Heather Ciccone slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle parked outside a Spotsylvania residence. ", by Chilling Crimes olice were able to establish early on that the two cases were not connected. There were questions as to whether that may have prompted her to leave. They were also able to determine that while all of Katelins loved ones were frantically calling her trying to find her on the day that she went missing, James never reached out to her again. Markham was a 21-year-old art student who lived in Fairfield, Ohio, and also worked two jobs in addition to her studies. and our I also want to know if where her luggage was found, if that area was searched for her body. The authorities have not charged anyone with Katelins disappearance, and without a body or any other evidence, it became difficult to prove a crime occurred. She died as a result of a gunshot wound to he head. Episode SummaryOakley Carlson was only 4 years old when she went missing in 2021. Growing up, Kaitlin was described as nurturing, adoring little kids and loving to help others in any way she could. Photo: Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office; Facebook, 35-Year-Old Man Arrested After Body of Missing Woman, 25, Found in Oregon, Missing Pa. Woman, 76, Found Dead Along Trail After Going for a Walk Near Her Home, Suspect Arrested, An Ohio Art Student Mysteriously Vanished 12 Years Ago. The hope was that he would change his mind about not cooperating with the police. She spent most of the time holding her new nephew and enjoying some quality time with Lisa and Gabi. She had been there since the 1st of December and was visiting her mother Lisa Sullivan and her sister Gabriela. She was like, no, youre lying, I don't believe you. Her mother had dropped her off at Branton's home, and he said he'd drive her to Washington-Reagan National Airport, 80 miles north, for a flight home to her . When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. When Kaitlin announced to her family just how in love she and Amber were, the family was more than supportive. SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. -- Police in central Virginia say a missing teen's luggage was found ditched along a road days after she went missing on her way to the airport. Katelin's phone was missing so police looked at the location records anddiscovered that when she sent Lisa the text message saying that she was at the airport, her phone pinged at a location more than 30 miles from that Springfield Metro stop. They confirmed with the airport that Katelin had never in fact made it on the plane, and they attempted to report her as a missing person to the police. Cookie Notice Disclaimer: the sources I used have a lot of variation in the order of this next group of incoming texts, which one came first, which one caused alarm first, when they realized she was missing. Anyone with information about her disappearance or the death of Heather Ciccone is asked to contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office at 540-582-7115 or Spotyslvania Crime Solvers at 1-800-928-5822. The area has been home to at least one serial killer, including Richard Marc Evonitz, who was accused of killing three different girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Ruling out all connections to the Heather Ciccone case, the investigators went back to local field and aerial searches. Lisa had to work that day, so they had arranged for Katelins former stepfather James to take her to the airport. James was happy to oblige but he had to work in Fredericksburg at 3pm, so they agreed that Katelin would arrive at the airport a little bit early and just hang out until her flight. 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Neither of them knew what was going on and none of it made sense. So that meant, they had to focus on the person who was the last known person to seeKatelin. What they didnt need his help to uncover were those cell phone tower pings, and they indicated that James phone also never pinged anywhere near the airport, and seemed to be at his home all day. James had to work at 3:00pm, so he wouldve had to drop Katelin off at airport early. Carter was the last known person to see Katelyn . This case has many small turns, but I think James is very intelligent. Alcohol was involved this night. But when police looked at the location records for James' phone, they discovered that his phone pinged close to his home when he sent Lisa the text message to say he had dropped Katelin off. Katelin originally went back home to get her high school diploma. The post was likely a reference to Richard Marc Evonitz. And I just called her and Im like, look Katelyn, I don't know what Im doing and Im getting frustrated and I need somebody to tell me how to do this. So that meant, they had to focus on the person who was the last known person to seeKatelin. Pearce says that investigators have spoken to the girl in question. No clothes were found and her diploma was missing. When Lisa tried calling Katelin, it went straight to voicemail, and two days later, her belongings were located. I also think she was just venting to the friend about how he stated she doesnt want to be in Virginia or Arizona. [1] Akens' former stepfather allegedly drove Akens to Reagan Washington National Airport to catch a flight back to her . Gabrielle: She was really excited. Lisa dropped Katelin off at James' house at 9.20am that morning. 2:00 pm- Katelins phone texted Lisa saying shes at the airport. unusual and worrying text message from Akens phone: Im staying with a friend and I need some time alone, the messages read, according to the report. She was supposed to have a bright future. They had a threesome and she felt guilty that she had cheated on Amber. Despite his very odd behavior, due to the lack of physical evidence, investigators have been unable to label James an official suspect to this day. Katelins sister says that his relationship with Katelin could be a little rocky while they all lived together, mostly because he was a bit more strict than Katelin appreciated. Due to the condition of the luggage, the wheel was broken and the bag was scuffed, police believed that it may have been thrown out of a moving car. He agreed, but his appointment time came and went with no James, and he indicated that on the advice of his lawyer he would not be participating in a polygraph afterall. And that person was her stepfather James. James told her that Katelin had wanted to kill some time at the mall, and shed planned to just take the metro herself to the airport.

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