Maybe we watch too much true crime TV, but we sure are used to the bad guy getting caught
in the end.
However, unfortunately, crime in real life doesn’t get wrapped up neatly after
an hour. Sometimes it takes decades before the true culprit is revealed, and sometimes,
even more chillingly, they never get caught at all. Hide under your blankets and lock your doors,
viewers, because today we’re looking at 3 chilling cold cases that still need answers.
1. Screams in the Night (Victoria “Vicky” Hall)
Saturday, September 18, 1999, was a mild night in Felixstowe, UK, a port town in Suffolk
not far from Ipswich. 17-year-old Victoria Hall, known as “Vicky,” to her loved ones,
and her friend Gemma Algar took advantage of the pleasant weather and went out dancing at
the Bandbox nightclub. As their evening ended, the pair left the Bandbox and stopped by Bodrum
Grill House for a bite to eat before making the 2.5-mile trek toward their respective
homes in the village of Trimley St. Mary.
Around 2:20 in the morning of September 19, 1999, Gemma and Vicky
said their goodbyes at the intersection of High Road and Faulkener’s Way,
mere yards from Vicky’s home. Not long after leaving her friend, Gemma heard screams in
the night, and while they spooked her, she assumed it was just some people messing around.
However, when Vicky’s parents, Graham and Lorinda Hall, woke in the morning
and realized Vicky had never made it home, the screams Gemma overheard took on a far
more ominous tone. A search was launched for the young woman, but authorities did not have to wait
for long. Five days after her disappearance, an unsuspecting dog walker in Creeting St. Peter,
a small town 25 miles to the north of Trimley St. Mary, stumbled upon a
nude female body in a watery ditch. Vicky had been found, though sadly, not alive.
Her garments and possessions were missing, but Vicky had not been sexually assaulted. The cause
of death was ruled as strangulation, and at first, it seemed like good progress was being made in her
case. By the next year, in December 2000, then 27-year-old Adrian Bradshaw was arrested for her
murder. The case against Bradshaw was remarkably thin and mostly relied on soil samples that
couldn’t conclusively tie him to the crime. In 2001, a jury unanimously cleared him of guilt.
With Bradshaw ruled out, the case stood cold for years, despite fervent dedication from the
Suffolk Police investigators. Then, suddenly, in September 2019, Vicky’s case was reopened
and christened “Operation Avon.” New information had been brought to the attention of the police,
though what exactly this is remains unknown as of now. By July 2021,
there was a new suspect. Notorious British serial killer, Steve Wright, also known as the Ipswich
Ripper or the Suffolk Strangler, was arrested at HMP Long Lartin. He is currently serving a
life sentence for five other murders that he committed in and around Ipswich in 2006. He
has since been released from questioning “pending further inquiries,” though he remains imprisoned.
The status of Vicky’s case remains murky. It is plausible that Wright is her killer since
her murder matches his M.O., and he was present in the area at the time of her death. However,
until the authorities are willing to share more information, we, the public, remain in the dark.
If you have any knowledge about the murder of Vicky Hall, you can contact Suffolk Police
at the number on the screen (01473 782059) and mention “Operation Avon.” Alternatively, you can
contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111. Vicky is greatly missed by her friends and family,
and as they patiently await justice, they remember her as the bright, young woman that she was.
2. Blood in the Basement (Oakey “Al” Kite)
It was time for work to start at the Carter-Douglas engineering firm in Aurora,
Colorado, just outside Denver, on May 24, 2004. As employees milled about, beginning their workday,
one friendly face was conspicuously absent. 53-year-old Oakey Albert Kite, known as Al,
was usually punctual and responsible, so when one hour late turned into two,
his co-workers became concerned. After multiple calls to his home and cell phone went unanswered,
they contacted his sister, Barbara, who called Aurora Police to do a welfare check.
Aurora PD obliged, and when no one answered the door at his townhome, they forced their
way inside, concerned for his safety. The main floor and upstairs bedrooms yielded no answers,
but when officers descended to the basement level, they were in for a gruesome shock. Al was
found face down, surrounded by his own blood. A wound on the back of his head was evident,
indicating that he had likely been struck from behind as he walked down the stairs.
The coroner later discovered that this was not the fatal blow–his body was wracked with evidence
of torture. He had been hog-tied and beaten for hours before he was finally killed with
a brutal 22 stab wounds. After murdering Al, his killer stayed in the townhome for a bit,
using the shower, sleeping in Al’s bed, wearing his clothes, and eating his food. However,
he was meticulous in his cleanup, pouring bleach down drains, wiping down surfaces,
and leaving several items, like a few knives and Al’s car keys, soaking in bleach in the sink.
This didn’t make any sense to Al’s loved ones or the police. By all accounts, Al was warm,
friendly, and generous. As his girlfriend Linda Angelopulos shared, “He was a very,
very nice guy, and he would give the world to anybody if they asked for it.” He had no
known enemies and no secrets that pointed to a double life or nefarious activities. However,
despite finding his keys in the sink, Al’s blue and gray GMC pickup truck was
missing from the scene, as well as his cell phone, leading police to initially suspect
the motive might have been robbery. The only clue investigators found that could point to
a potential suspect was a rental application in Al’s kitchen trashcan. It was filled out
with an address, social security number, phone number, and a name: Robert Cooper.
Al’s longtime basement tenant had recently moved out, and he had been actively looking
for a new one, placing advertisements in the local papers. Apparently, according to
Al’s girlfriend and his sister, about a week before the murder, he had a new prospective
renter in mind. Named Robert Cooper, he was supposedly new to the Denver area,
worked for Wells Fargo Bank, and wanted to move in quickly. He toured Al’s townhome,
seemingly approved, and readily gave Al a security deposit and half of the first month’s rent.
Al seemed happy with the arrangement, but Linda recalls feeling slightly uneasy about Cooper. She
says she was only near him once when she had to run into Al’s house to use the restroom.
Cooper took care to conceal his face from Linda, didn’t seem interested in meeting her at all,
and made an excuse to quickly leave while she was in the bathroom. She recalls him being
a well-dressed man in his 40s with dark wavy hair, a cane, and a noticeable limp.
Based on Linda’s tip and the rental application, authorities desperately wanted to find Cooper,
but one lead after another seemed to dry up. The address he provided on the application was simply
the address for the University of Colorado Medical School, the social security number belonged to a
random woman who was unrelated to the case, and the phone number went to a burner cell.
Furthermore, when Al’s truck was recovered about a block-and-a-half from his home later
that same day, the robbery motive was ruled out. Authorities found trace amounts of DNA
and an ATM receipt for a nearby Wells Fargo. At first, the cops were hopeful that security
footage might have captured the criminal, but he was one step ahead of them, concealing his
identity on the video with a ski mask. The suspect had only taken $1,000 out of Al’s bank account,
even though he had more funds available. Some believe that this was the mysterious Cooper
simply taking back the security deposit and rent money that he had given Al the week prior.
Frustrated, the police decided to see what information they could gather from the call
logs on the burner cell and Al’s phone. To their surprise, both phones were still active in the
Denver area, but it was soon discovered that they had been dumped in the Five Points neighborhood.
This isn’t the safest part of the city, and both Al’s phone and the burner had been picked up and
used by the homeless people who roamed Five Points–another dead end for investigators.
They were able to glean from the burner phone’s records, however,
that the cell had been used numerous times over the past month to contact
people advertising rental spaces. Aurora PD tracked down some of these would-be landlords,
and they all remembered Cooper. Descriptions of him varied. Sometimes, he had a limp; sometimes,
he spoke with a thick, Eastern European accent that one woman positively identified as Romanian.
One thing they all could agree on though, was the strange vibes that the man seemed to exude. They
noted feeling uncomfortable and “creeped out” with a sense of relief whenever he left their presence.
As of now, the working theory is that Al’s murder was meticulously planned out ahead of time. It
appeared that this Robert Cooper was shopping for a victim, and Al was ultimately chosen because he
lived alone, had few local friends and family, and, sadly, because his kind-hearted nature
made him an easy target. There were some usable fingerprints and DNA left by the killer at the
scene, and though that has been used to create a likely image of the killer, it has never
been matched to anyone. He is of Southeastern European heritage, though he may or may not
have been born there. He is thought to be between 5’8” and 5’10” tall and roughly 175 pounds. It is
difficult to pin down his age since different witnesses identified him as anywhere between
20 to 50 years old, but he is likely in his 40s with dark hair, dark eyes, and very pale skin.
Investigators do have a list of behavioral characteristics that the killer might have
exhibited. He may have been from the East Coast of the United States, particularly the New Jersey
area. He might have been familiar with the banking system or have previously worked for Wells Fargo.
He may or may not have female family members living in Aurora. He was likely familiar with
the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver and typically dressed professionally. Lastly,
he may have tried and failed to become a law enforcement officer before turning to crime.
There are no concrete suspects in this case, though some have suggested that the notorious
serial killer Israel Keyes might be responsible. Experts consulted for a TV special about the
case have noted that some of the torture Al suffered, as well as the way he was bound,
is very similar to methods used by the Turkish Hezbollah, a group of violent religious radicals.
The most likely and terrifying answer is that good-natured Al Kite was picked at random
by someone who just wanted to kill. All we can hope is that that person is no longer out there.
If you know anything about the murder of Al Kite, you can contact Detective McDonald of
the Aurora Police Department at (303) 739-6013. Additionally, Denver Crime Stoppers has issued
a $2,000 reward for information regarding this case, and you can contact them anonymously at
(720) 913-7867, or you can leave a tip online at metrodenvercrimestoppers.com.
Dear viewers, the next case involves crimes against a child and may not
be suitable for all audiences. Since this is our last case today,
if you feel this might be difficult for you in any way, please go ahead and close the video.
1. Little Girl Gone (Celina Mays)
At the young age of 12 years old, Celina Mays had already had a rough start. Both her parents
battled drug addiction in the early years of her life, which caused their relationship to
be violent, fraught, and tumultuous. Though her mother and father split up and finally got clean,
when Celina was 10 in 1994, her mother suddenly died of a brain aneurysm. A bitter custody battle
between her father, C.J., and her deceased mother’s family ensued. C.J. eventually won,
and Celina was taken to live with him and his extended family in Willingboro, New Jersey,
where his sister, Cerita Smith, was the pastor at Gospel of Christ Ministries.
The house in Willingboro was crowded, and all aspects of life revolved around the
church. Celina was surrounded by cousins, siblings, and various other church members,
and it was overwhelming. She had gone from living quietly with her mother to being thrust into a
deeply communal way of life that involved homeschooling, constant religious service,
and various other activities like selling pretzels or shilling Mary Kay Cosmetics to create more
income for the church. Gospel of Christ Ministries has faced some heat from the public and was
accused of being a cult by former members. Cerita was said to be very controlling and demanding.
It was likely a difficult time for the pre-teen, and in 1996, those difficulties compounded.
Celina discovered that she was pregnant. Though she refused to name the father of her child,
she did note to her gynecologist that she had a 16-year-old boyfriend who did
not attend her family’s church. This was not very likely–Cerita kept a tight leash
on all members of her congregation, and the children were hardly allowed to do
any activities that didn’t involve the church in some form. Neighbors of the
home in Willingboro noted that none of the children were even allowed to play outside.
Upset with his daughter’s unwillingness to be forthright with the father’s identity,
C.J. threatened Celina with a test to determine paternity once the baby arrived. Nevertheless,
Celina was reportedly happy about becoming a mother. She dutifully took her prenatal
vitamins and frequently checked in with her doctor to ensure the baby’s health. On the
morning of December 16, 1996, when Celina was nine months pregnant and due any day,
her family woke to find only pillows jammed under the covers of Celina’s bed. She was missing and
had left behind her purse and prenatal vitamins. She has never been seen again.
The baby’s due date of December 29, 1996, passed with no sign of her,
and everyone was very concerned since Celina’s young age meant her pelvis was
still quite narrow. Birth would have been very difficult and potentially rather complicated
for her. Her father speculated that his daughter ran away to avoid the paternity
test he threatened her with. Other theories are decidedly more ominous.
Some believe that Celina went into labor at home and died, with her family members quietly
disposing of the bodies after the fact. Others think it was a botched termination that led to
her demise. No one knows for sure who the father of her child was, but suspects include her father,
a cousin, and the mystery 16-year-old. Since Celina was a minor at the time,
whoever it was would be guilty of a serious sexual offense. Perhaps she
was murdered to cover up the initial crime that resulted in her pregnancy.
C.J. has largely been ruled out since he submitted
medical evidence of a vasectomy. The cousin, who is Cerita’s son, Sean,
has been interviewed numerous times by the police and vehemently maintains his innocence. However,
in 1998, he was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault against two
teens who attended his mother’s church and lived at the home in Willingboro.
In 2019, C.J. passed away. To complicate matters, the maternal and paternal sides
of Celina’s family each believe the other party is responsible. The Mays accused
Celina’s maternal family of spiriting her away to Florida, while her mother’s family
believes that the Mays had something nefarious to do with her disappearance.
Celina was a beautiful, bright child who suffered far more than she should have. She deserved to
have a chance to figure out who she wanted to be and what kind of impact she would leave on
this world. The adults in her life failed to keep her safe, and her fate may never be known.
When she vanished, Celina was 5’0”, 120 pounds, and she would now be 39 years old. She is
described as a biracial woman of black and white heritage, though she is sometimes mischaracterized
as being Hispanic or Latin. She also has black hair, brown eyes, and eyebrows that sometimes
grow into a unibrow. Her child, if they survived, would be 27 years old; their gender is unknown.
Though as the years pass, it becomes less and less likely that Celina and her baby are alive,
the case is still classified as a missing person. If you know anything
about the disappearance of Celina Mays, please contact the Willingboro Police
Department at the number on screen (609) 877-2253, ext. 1080. You can also reach
out to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
We want to hear your theories in the comments. Who do you think killed Al Kite? Is Celina Mays still
alive? Keep your eyes peeled for our second installment of unexplained cold cases…coming
soon. Be sure to like and subscribe. Until next time, thanks for watching.