In 2021, we set out to cover the case of Rhys Pocan, a 35-year-old Indigenous woman who was murdered in Wisconsin in the ‘80s. But while we were in the field, we uncovered a disturbing pattern of murders with similarities to Rhys’ that were just too blatant to ignore. So, we spent the next three years working with local and federal law enforcement to try and get to the bottom of it.
Before you listen, make sure you’ve listened to WANTED: Justice for Rhys Pocan & MMIW Part 1!
In Part 2, we look into cases of two other female dismemberment victims in Wisconsin with striking similarities to Rhys Pocan’s. Rhys’ own cousin Rae Tourtillot’s remains were found just two years before Rhys’ disappearance. And Julia Baez’s remains were found buried in plastic bags the year after. But without a statewide task force, investigators are slow to put things together.
If you have any information about any of the cases below, please contact Det. Nathan Hatch at the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office at 920-459-3135, or email him at nathan.hatch@sheboygancounty.com. You can also reach out to us at crimejunkie@audiochuck.com. Other Wisconsin cases to note:
- Jane Doe, 1982, Caledonia, Columbia County
- Helen Sebastian, 1983, Racine, Racine County
- Eric Hansen, 1983, Petrifying Springs Park, Kenosha County,
- Jane Doe, 1984, Westby, Vernon County
- Terry Dolowy, 1985, LaCrosse, Vernon County
- Rae Tourtillott, 1987, Menominee Reservation
- Rhys Pocan, 1989, Sheboygan County
- Susan Poupart, 1990, Price County
- Julia Baez, 1990, Brockway, Jackson County
- Doris Mcleod, 1991, Goose Lake Wildlife Preserve, Dane County
- Jane Doe, 2002, Houlton, St. Croix County
Charlee Pocan Russ has started a GoFundMe to raise money for solving her mother’s murder. If you would like to donate or learn more, please visit this link.
And keep an eye on The Deck feed for Susan Poupart (7 of Spades, Wisconsin), or listen right now in the Fan Club!
You can learn more about The Good segment and even submit a story of your own by visiting The Good page on our website!
Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit: crimejunkiepodcast.com/wanted-justice-for-rhys-pocan-mmiw-part-2/
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