This week we have two stories of women who were murdered and laid to rest, Reyna and Michelle. It would take decades before Reyna would be able to rest in peace and Michelle and her family are still waiting for their day. For current Fan Club membership options and policies, please visit https://crimejunkieapp.com/library/. Sources for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-reyna-marroquin-michelle-schroader/
In this episode of Crime Junkie, host Ashley Flowers presents the stories of two murdered women. One of them, after being laid to rest, is haunted by the man who went on trial for her murder. The first story is set in 1999 New York State and follows a man who finds a large metal drum under the crawl space of his home.
Police investigate the history of a house where a corroded barrel was found, and turn over a book found inside to a forensic document examiner. The book is put in a drying cabinet and examined by a special light spectrum machine, as investigators search for more clues.
Police question Howard and Ruth at their Florida home about the barrel found under their house, with Howard recognizing the barrel from his former job at a plant.
After being tormented in life, a mother dies with her daughter just one month after finding peace and is now being tormented even in death by the person who caused her so much pain and suffering.
Michelle files a report in September of 1997 and another police report was made on New Year's Eve showing that Charles violated that order. On the night of February 27, 1998, Michelle was scheduled to have her kids back but because of the jumbled schedule, Kyle would stay with his dad that night and Kara would go to a sleepover.
Michelle O'Connell was found dead in her house with a gunshot wound to the face. Her boyfriend, who had a history of domestic violence against her, was present in the house along with a gun, shells, and blood.
The defense in the Charles Vallow case questions the prosecution's circumstantial evidence, specifically the speck of blood on Lori's sweatshirt, and attempts to discredit Lori's testimony by focusing on her drug use.
The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it 500% more likely to end in homicide. Almost 20 people every minute are physically abused by a partner in the United States.