Sasha Krause was just 27 years old when she was abducted and senselessly murdered. She lived in a Mennonite community in Farmington, New Mexico, where she taught Sunday school. She lived a peaceful and pious life. She loved to write poems and hymns and would have continued writing and sharing her goodness with the world if her life hadn’t been cut short by a selfish monster.

Mark Gooch had been raised in a Mennonite community in Wisconsin. When he turned 18, he joined the Air Force which goes against the Mennonite faith. Supposedly, he held a grudge against the Mennonite community and wanted to bring them down. This thirst for vengeance is what led him to start surveilling the Mennonite community in Farmington and led him to randomly choose Sasha as his first victim. Luckily, he was caught right away before he could murder anyone else, but the damage had already been done for Sasha’s family and friends.

Come along with Hannah and her mom as they discuss recorders, crank windows, and how we need more peace in the world.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of abduction and homicide. Listener discretion is advised.

—

Please subscribe, rate, and review. Follow us on Instagram @spookybitchwalk and Facebook at Spooky Btch Walk for all the updates. Email us at spookybtchwalk@gmail.com to share all your spooky stories and case suggestions.

Sources:

A&E. (2022, October 8). The Mennonite murder [TV broadcast]. Killer cases.

Find a grave. (n.d.). Sasha Marie Krause. Find a grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207508978/sasha_marie-krause

Fonseca, F. (2022, January 19). Airman gets life in prison for death of Mennonite woman. Air Force Times. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2022/01/19/airman-gets-life-in-prison-for-death-of-mennonite-woman/

Harmon, A. (2019). Mennonite. Ebsco. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/mennonite

Kettler, S. (2026, July 16). Mark Gooch, convicted of killing Mennonite Sasha Krause, grew up in the faith. A&E. https://www.aetv.com/articles/murder-sasha-krause

Tron, G. (2022, January 21). Former Airman gets life for ‘senseless’ abduction and killing of Mennonite Sunday school teacher. Oxygen. https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/mark-gooch-gets-life-for-murder-of-sasha-krause

Vanapalli, V. (2022, July 30). Sasha Krause: How did she die? Who killed her? The Cinemaholic. https://thecinemaholic.com/sasha-krause-murder-where-is-mark-gooch-now/