Bonus Episode

When we think of first responders, we often picture the police officers, firefighters, or paramedics who arrive on scene. But before any of them get there, someone answers the phone.

In this special episode of Dog Days of Murder, I'm joined by my friend, Joanne Wilson, a recently retired police dispatcher for a candid conversation about a profession most of us only encounter on the worst day of our lives. We talk about what it's really like to answer 911 calls, how technology has changed emergency response, the emotional weight dispatchers carry, and what they wish every caller knew.

The first heroes are often the ones who simply pick up the phone.

Whether you've ever needed to call 911 or simply want to better understand the people behind the headset, I hope you'll come away with a new appreciation for the calm voice on the other end of the line.

Resources

If you or someone you know is a first responder in need of support, or if you're looking for mental health resources, the following organizations may be helpful:

• First Responders Foundation – A Guide to First Responder Peer Support Groups
  https://firstrespondersfoundation.org/a-guide-to-first-responder-peer-support-groups/
• Peer Support Foundation
  https://peersupportfoundation.org
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
  https://nami.org

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

We have a special guest cohost this week!

In 2012, 20th Century Fox executive Gavin Smith vanished after leaving a friend's home in Oak Park. A devoted father of three, Gavin was the kind of man who always showed up—until one morning he didn't.

As investigators searched for answers, years passed with no sign of the missing father. Then, in a remote stretch of California desert, an ordinary hike took an extraordinary turn when a loyal Labrador named Buddy refused to walk away.

What happened next would help unravel a mystery that had haunted a family for more than two years.

Join Paula, and her "buddy" Monica, as they tell the story of the dog who helped bring a missing man home.

And always remember... #krazyforkeith

Sources

Dateline NBC – "Dark Valley"

Los Angeles Times

• Coverage of Gavin Smith's disappearance
• Discovery of Gavin's remains
• Arrest, trial, and sentencing of John Creech

NBC Los Angeles

• Reporting by Eric Leonard
• Coverage of the discovery of Gavin's remains and subsequent investigation

ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC)

• Reporting on the recovery of Gavin Smith's remains
• Investigation updates and arrest coverage

People Magazine

• Case overview and trial coverage

Variety

• Reporting on Gavin Smith's disappearance and his career with 20th Century Fox

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

• Missing person investigation
• Statements regarding the discovery of Gavin's remains
• Arrest information

Trial Testimony and Court Proceedings

• Chandrika (Chandy) Cade
• Stan McQuay
• Jorge Valle
• Detective Ty Labbe
• Detective John O'Brien

Additional reporting and background materials regarding Gavin Smith's disappearance, recovery, investigation, and prosecution.

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

When 25-year-old National Guard veteran Tony "Bubba" Procell disappears from his Louisiana home, investigators quickly focus on a fellow Guardsman and police officer whose obsession had been growing for months.

What begins as a missing person investigation soon becomes a desperate search spanning multiple parishes, a high-speed chase, and a tense standoff. But even after a suspect is in custody, one critical question remains unanswered:

Where is Tony?

Five days later, deep within Louisiana's Kisatchie National Forest, a discovery changes everything. As investigators work to understand what happened in the woods near Saline Lake, an unlikely source of evidence begins pointing them toward answers.

In this episode of Dog Days of Murder, we explore the murder of Tony Procell and the remarkable role animal behavior played in helping investigators uncover the truth.

Because sometimes the smallest clues are the ones that refuse to stay buried.

Sources

News Coverage

• KSLA News 12 – "Body Found in Kisatchie National Forest Believed to be Tony Procell" (Carolyn Roy, August 2013)
• KSLA News 12 – "Robert Barthelemy Indicted in Kidnapping, Murder of Tony Procell" (September 2013)
• KSLA News 12 – "Barthelemy Sentenced to Life in Prison in Plea Deal Following Guilty Verdict" (Carolyn Roy, October 2015)
• KTBS – "Body of Tony Procell Believed To Be Found in Winn Parish" (Jessica Crandall, August 2013)
• KTBS – "Guilty as Charged: Barthelemy Found Guilty of First Degree Murder" (Vickie Welborn, October 2015)

Court and Case Information

• Sabine Parish Grand Jury Indictment Records
• State of Louisiana v. Robert Barthelemy
• Trial testimony and sentencing proceedings

Obituary and Family Information

• Warren Meadows Funeral Home Obituary for Tony Lynn Procell (1988–2013)

Forensic and Scientific Sources

• Dr. Lauren Pharr Parks TEDx Talk
• Research and presentations by Dr. Lauren Pharr Parks regarding vulture scavenging behavior and forensic anthropology
• LSU FACES (Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services)

Background and Location Information

• Kisatchie National Forest (U.S. Forest Service)
• Saline Lake regional and geographic information
• Sabine Parish Sheriff's Office public statements

Click here to read more about Dr. Lauren Pharr Parks:

Lauren Pharr Parks ’02: A Love of Science Uncovers the Impact of Vultures

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

In December of 1974, Patricia “Annie” Ross was preparing for a night out with friends in the quiet Orange County, California suburb of La Palma. But when she never arrived with the pizza she promised to bring, concern quickly turned into horror.

Inside Annie’s apartment, investigators discovered a brutal crime scene, a terrified little dog locked inside a dresser drawer, and a mystery that would haunt detectives for more than four decades.

As the years passed, leads faded, evidence aged, and the case slowly drifted into cold case history. But investigators refused to let Annie Ross be forgotten.

And somewhere inside the story of her murder was a small black-and-brown dog named Jodie.

Sources

• Los Angeles Times — Matt Hamilton, “40 years later, Northern California man charged in O.C. woman’s killing” (June 2, 2015)
• Orange County Register — coverage of the investigation, trial, conviction, and sentencing of Larry Stephens
• KTLA 5 News — “Man Convicted in 1974 Strangling Murder of Woman at Her La Palma Apartment” by Marissa Wenzke
• True Crime News — interviews and reporting featuring Captain Jim Engen and Detective Paul Bracciodieta
• The Cinemaholic — “Patricia Ann ‘Annie’ Ross Murder: Is Larry Stephens Dead or Alive?”
• Detective Diaries — “The Phantom of La Palma”
• Court reporting and archived newspaper coverage regarding the 2018 trial and conviction of Larry Stephens
• Public records and memorial information related to Patricia “Annie” Ross and Larry Stephens

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

Dog Days of Murder — Episode Summary

When a duck repeatedly disappeared beneath a trailer in Candler, North Carolina, renters eventually followed it underneath the home to see what kept drawing it there.

Hidden beneath the trailer was something investigators had been searching for since 2020: 90-year-old Nellie Sullivan.

As detectives worked to unravel Nellie’s disappearance, the investigation widened into allegations involving fraud, drug charges, animal cruelty, and a disturbing possibility involving the people Nellie had trusted most — including her own granddaughter.

What began as a missing persons case would eventually become a homicide investigation unlike anything investigators in Buncombe County had ever seen.

Sources:

• WRAL News
• WLOS ABC 13
• FOX Carolina
• Law & Crime
• CBS 17
• Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office press releases
• United States Department of Justice records
• Federal court filings
• Social Security fraud case records
• Interviews and statements from neighbors reported by local media outlets

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

In the early hours of May 31, 2024, a violent collision on England’s A1(M) left two people dead.

Investigators believed the driver responsible might walk away without enough evidence… until a rescue police dog named Louie found the one missing thing that changed everything.

🎧 Episode 6 — Source List

📰 Primary News Sources

• BBC News
  “Hero dog found vital evidence in baby crash death”
  By Jonny Manning (Sept 25, 2025)
  • Core facts of the case
  • Victims identified
  • Phone evidence (141 mph photo)
  • Cuthbertson quotes
  • Confirmation of Louie’s role

• Chronicle Live
  “Cop tells why he had to help search for evidence…”
  By Sophie Doughty
  • Confirms 3x legal alcohol limit
  • Details Anderson’s hitchhiker alibi
  • Strong Cuthbertson quotes
  • Emotional context + personal connection
  • Confirms phone as key evidence

• The Thin Blue Paw Foundation (via coverage & statements)
  • Award details (Rising Star Award)
  • Recognition of Louie & handler
  • Context on police dog work

• Durham Constabulary (referenced in reporting)
  • Official case involvement
  • Dog unit + digital detection role
  • Investigation confirmation

📰 Supplementary News Source

• The News (UK)
  “Abandoned rescue dog finds crucial evidence in car crash case…”
  By Jack Marshall
  • Louie’s rescue background (Gateshead)
  • Training as digital detection dog
  • Details of search (150m stretch, undergrowth)
  • Confirmation of phone discovery and its role

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

Episode 5: Found in the Ditch

Some mornings begin like any other.

Until something shifts.

In Rapid River, Michigan, a dog named Peanut refused to settle—and what she led her owner to find in a nearby field would uncover a situation far more serious than anyone expected.

This is the story of instinct, intervention, and a moment that changed everything.

Sources

This episode is based on official law enforcement statements, news reporting, and follow-up coverage related to a 2017 child neglect investigation in Delta County, Michigan, and the role a rescue dog named Peanut played in bringing the situation to light.

• Delta County Sheriff’s Office (Facebook Statement, March 20, 2017)
  – Official timeline of events, including the discovery of the three-year-old child, environmental conditions (approximately 32°F), and initial response by deputies
  – Confirmation of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions and involvement of Child Protective Services
• CBS News (March 21, 2017)
  “Former shelter dog hailed as a hero for finding 3-year-old girl curled up in ditch” (Jennifer Earl)
  – Narrative account of Peanut alerting her owner and leading him to the child
  – Details of the rescue, emergency response, and early investigation
• The Daily Press (August 2, 2025)
  “Peanut, the dog that saved three-year-old, dies at age 9” (R. R. Branstrom)
  – Peanut’s background, rescue, and adoption by Kathryn and Kyle Frisk
  – Additional reporting on the condition of the children and statements made during legal proceedings
  – Details surrounding Peanut’s later life and passing
• Supplemental reporting and case details
  – Publicly available information regarding child welfare findings, medical and developmental concerns, and judicial statements indicating the child was unlikely to have exited the home on her own

Key Takeaway

Not every case is solved by training or investigation.

Sometimes, it’s instinct.

In this case, a dog who had once needed saving refused to ignore what she found—and in doing so, brought attention to two children who needed it most.

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

Episode Summary

In October of 1994, 32-year-old mother of five Shirley Ann Duguay disappeared from her home on Prince Edward Island. What began as a missing person case quickly turned into a homicide investigation when her abandoned car was discovered—covered in blood.

As investigators worked to piece together what happened, they uncovered physical evidence that pointed toward a violent attack. But one small detail—nearly overlooked—would ultimately change the course of the case.

Inside the lining of a bloodstained jacket, investigators found several white hairs.

Those hairs did not belong to Shirley.

They belonged to a cat.

What followed would become a landmark moment in forensic science. For the first time, DNA from a domestic animal would be used in a criminal trial—linking evidence to a specific location and strengthening the case against Douglas Beamish.

This is the story of Shirley Duguay…
and a house cat named Snowball.

Key Takeaway

This case marked the first time animal DNA was used in a criminal trial—demonstrating that even the smallest piece of evidence can play a critical role in uncovering the truth.

Sources

This episode is based on reporting, court records, and forensic research related to the 1994 murder of Shirley Ann Duguay and the first use of animal DNA in a criminal case.

• The New York Times
  “Cat Hair Finds Way Into Courtroom in Canadian Murder Trial” — Gina Kolata (1997)
• CBC News
  Reporting on the investigation, conviction, and parole developments
• R. v. Douglas Beamish
  Trial proceedings, conviction, and sentencing
• Nature
  Early documentation of animal DNA in forensic science
• Research and published work by Stephen J. O’Brien
  Feline DNA analysis and forensic application
• Supplemental forensic case studies
  Hair comparison, DNA extraction, and footwear evidence analysis

Connect with the Show

Follow along on Instagram:
📷 @dog_days_of_murder

Have a case suggestion or want to reach out:
📧 dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

Support the show (and treat Ein to a pup cup 🐾):
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder