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Murder, She Told Podcast, Hartland, VT (2026)

09/16/2026

MISSING: 1992, Veazie, Maine

On September 16, 1992, 38-year-old Roderick Neal Hotham disappeared from Veazie, Maine. Hotham was a Bangor resident and a certified public accountant. He was last seen at the Stucco Lodge in Veazie, and a missing-person report was filed two days later after he failed to appear for a scheduled meeting.

At the time of his disappearance, he was facing a federal investigation involving allegations that he had defrauded five federally insured financial institutions of approximately $4 million. He was indicted on federal charges in November 1992—about two months after he vanished.

According to reporting from the Bangor Daily News, Hotham was reportedly scheduled to meet with the Maine attorney general on the day he disappeared and was expected to provide information that he said implicated other people in serious crimes. A witness also reported seeing him that morning standing alone beside his blue Dodge Caravan near Coldbrook Road in Hermon.

Hotham was a prominent member of the Bangor community. He had owned or co-owned several businesses and was involved with organizations including the Bangor Noontime Rotary Club, the Bangor YMCA, Husson University and the Bangor Water District. His sudden disappearance left behind a complicated mix of unanswered questions involving his personal life, the federal investigation and what, if anything, happened to him after September 16.

His family has long believed that Hotham was murdered. His brother, Tim Hotham, told the Bangor Daily News that he believed his brother was killed the day he disappeared and described receiving a call in 2002 from someone claiming to know who had killed him. These claims remain allegations, however, and authorities have never publicly established what happened to Roderick.

If you have information about Roderick Hotham’s disappearance, contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – North at (207) 973-3750 or 1-800-432-7381.

09/15/2026

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: Kittery, Maine, 1974

Charles Mace was 19 years old when he disappeared in the summer of 1974. On July 28, 1974, Charles was reportedly seen being forced into a car in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was the last time he was known to be alive.

Nearly two months later, on September 23, 1974, Charles’ body was discovered in Kittery, Maine. Charles had been shot multiple times and that his body had been left in a remote area roughly 125 feet from Betty Welch Road.

Despite the passage of more than five decades, investigators have never publicly identified a person responsible for Charles' murder.

Anyone who may have information about Charles Mace or what happened to him in July 1974 is asked to contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-South at (207) 624-7076, ext. 9. Even information that may have seemed insignificant at the time could potentially help investigators understand what happened to Charles.

Info from: Maine State Police, WGME

09/14/2026

UPDATE: Adam Montgomery’s retrial is now expected in October 2027

Adam Montgomery is expected to return to court next year for a retrial on the second-degree murder charge in the death of his daughter, Harmony Montgomery.

During a scheduling conference today, Monday, September 14, attorneys for both sides discussed a timeline for the new trial, with jury selection preliminarily set for late October 2027. Montgomery was not present in court for the hearing.

The retrial comes after the New Hampshire Supreme Court overturned Montgomery’s 2024 second-degree murder conviction in June.

The court ruled that the murder charge should have been tried separately from a second-degree assault charge involving an earlier incident of abuse against Harmony, finding that combining the charges created a significant risk that the jury could improperly use evidence from the assault case when considering the murder charge.

The Supreme Court did not overturn Montgomery’s other convictions, including second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, witness tampering and abuse of a co**se. Those convictions remain in place, meaning Montgomery will remain incarcerated even as the state prepares to retry him on the murder charge.

During today’s hearing, prosecutors also confirmed that the search for Harmony’s remains is still ongoing. Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said searches have continued, including one conducted within roughly the last 30 to 45 days, but Harmony has never been found.

Montgomery was convicted in 2024 of second-degree murder and sentenced to 45 years to life on that charge, in addition to sentences for his other convictions. Prosecutors have maintained that they intend to pursue a new murder trial and remain confident in the evidence against him.

For now, the next major development is expected to be the scheduling and preparation for a new trial, currently anticipated for October 2027. Harmony’s remains have still not been located.

About Harmony's case:

Harmony was last seen alive in December 2019 while living with her father in Manchester, New Hampshire. Despite concerns from family members and child welfare officials, she was not reported missing until late 2021, sparking a nationwide search and intense public scrutiny of the systems that failed to protect her.

Although Harmony's body has never been recovered, prosecutors alleged that Montgomery beat her to death in December 2019 and then spent months concealing, transporting, and ultimately disposing of her remains. In 2024, a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and several related charges.

Listen to Harmony's story on Murder, She Told:

PART 1: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/harmony-montgomery-2
Listen free: https://tinyurl.com/HarmonyPart1

PART 2: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/harmony-montgomery-3
Listen free: https://tinyurl.com/HarmonyPart2

Anyone with information about Harmony Montgomery or the whereabouts of her remains is urged to contact the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit at (603) 223-3856.

Sources: New Hampshire Supreme Court, WMUR, CBS News Boston, Boston Globe

09/14/2026

Unsolved Homicide: 1969. Calais, Vermont.

On the afternoon of September, 12, 1969, a Vermont State Trooper approached a seemingly abandoned camper on a property in rural Calais, Vermont.

The scene inside the camper was that of incredible violence: the decomposing bodies of James and Iola Hipp were sprawled on the floor having been interrupted by an intruder during their lunch.

James and Iola were retirees from Lutz, Florida on a month-long road trip of the Eastern US and Canada, just passing through the Vermont country with their dogs in tow. They had no enemies in the area, let alone friends. Who would want to hurt this sweet couple?

Learn more: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/james-iola-hipp

Listen free: https://pod.link/1539794165/episode/YmYwNTE1OTYtMTdlYi0xMWVmLTk1ZmEtNDM3N2Y4ODY3YTZm?view=apps&sort=popularity

If you have any information on the murders of James and Iola Hipp, please contact the Vermont State Police Major Crimes Unit at (802)-244-8781 or anonymously text the keyword VTIPS to 274637 (CRIMES).

09/13/2026

SUSPICIOUS DEATH: Asheboro, North Carolina, 2019

This is a case I can't figure out, and one that desperately needs answers.

When police responded to a wellness check on September 12th, 2019 at Brandon Embry's apartment in Asheboro, North Carolina, they weren’t expecting what they saw inside. The apartment was a complete disaster: trash and belongings strewn about, water and blood everywhere, and the 33-year-old veteran lying on the floor, n**e and unconscious. His entire body was bruised and beaten. He made it to the hospital before he passed away.

The medical examiner concluded Brandon’s cause of death was pneumonia, but nobody—not even the police or the medical examiner—could explain the injuries on his body: he was cut and bruised head-to-toe, and his face was covered with blood. Because they couldn’t explain it, they ruled his manner of death as “natural causes”.

So police closed the case. They said Brandon’s death was an unfortunate accident and his injuries were self-inflicted. But the details, crime scene, and circumstances simply don't add up.

Could he really have done all of this to himself? While the police were conducting their investigation, Brandon's mother, Sarah, was conducting her own… and at the center of it? A woman named Cassandra who claims she was the love of Brandon's life. So why hadn't Sarah heard of her?

In the months leading up to his death, Brandon had several mysterious bouts of violent sickness that put him in the hospital, something that was fairly unusual for him. As Sarah continued to dig into the bizarre circumstances surrounding her son's death, a common denominator kept popping up around the times when Brandon was sick: his mystery girlfriend, Cassandra.

Sarah was able to connect with Cassandra's husband and ex (who were more than willing to speak to her at length and had a lot to say) and she learned that both men believed they were being poisoned by Cassandra at some point during their relationship, and both experienced eerily similar symptoms as her son.

Brandon's case is closed. If Sarah isn't pushing for the answers she needs, who will?

Fall down the rabbit hole with a 3-part deep dive series on Brandon’s life and death. We spent over 25 hours speaking with Sarah and learning about Brandon’s life, and spent over a hundred hours pouring over medical records, police reports, audio files, and other documents to streamline this case in hopes of helping Sarah find answers for her family, and bring justice to Brandon.

Part One: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/brandon-embry

Part Two: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/brandon-embry-2

Part Three: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/brandon-embry-3

If you have any information on Brandon Embry, please reach out to Sarah via the Brandon’s Voice page and follow her updates on the case.

09/13/2026

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: 1992, Boston, Massachusetts

On September 13, 1992, 27-year-old Susan “Su” Taraskiewicz was working the overnight shift at Logan International Airport in Boston. She was a ramp crew chief for Northwest Airlines and had worked her way up from a baggage-handling position. As a woman working in a predominantly male environment, Susan had reportedly endured years of harassment from male coworkers, including threats and harassment.

During her overnight shift, Susan offered to leave the airport to pick up sandwiches for her coworkers. She drove away in her blue Toyota Tercel but never returned to work.

Her body was discovered the following day inside the trunk of her car, which had been abandoned outside an auto repair shop on Route 1A in Revere. Investigators determined that she had been beaten and stabbed and believe she was killed somewhere other than where her car was ultimately found.

In the months surrounding Susan’s murder, a major credit-card theft operation was being investigated at Logan Airport. Northwest baggage handlers had been stealing newly issued credit cards from mail shipments and using or selling them. A federal investigation into the operation was already underway when, in August 1992, members of the theft ring began receiving grand-jury subpoenas. According to federal court records, a coworker who had previously harbored animosity toward Susan speculated in front of another coworker that Susan might be the person informing investigators, referring to her as the “rat.”

Susan herself was not accused of participating in the credit-card theft operation. However, the possibility that her murder was connected to the criminal operation became a major focus of investigators because of the timing of the federal investigation and the hostility some coworkers had directed toward her. Several Northwest employees connected to the theft operation were later convicted.

After Susan’s death, her family discovered a diary in which she had documented years of workplace harassment and threats. Her complaints included sexually explicit graffiti, a coworker exposing himself to her and threatening messages. In one particularly chilling incident, coworkers reportedly created graffiti depicting a coffin with Susan’s name on it. A Massachusetts proceeding later found that Northwest Airlines had not adequately responded to the harassment complaints.

Despite the investigation into the credit-card ring and the questions surrounding Susan’s coworkers, no one has ever been charged with her murder. Her killing remains unsolved more than three decades later. Susan’s mother, Marlene, has spent years publicly seeking answers, including standing outside Logan Airport on the anniversary of her daughter’s death asking anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone with information about the murder of Susan "Su" Taraskiewicz is asked to contact the Massachusetts State Police Suffolk County Detective Unit at 617-727-8817. A $250,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Susan’s killer.

Sources: CBS Boston, Massachusetts State Police, Boston .com

09/12/2026

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: Stamford, CT, 1996

Today marks 30 years. People have information. Please share! There is now a $50k reward available.

Becoming a teenage mother didn’t stop 18-year-old Rhonda Johnson from pursuing her dreams. In fact, it only gave her more motivation.

While working part time at the hospital, Rhonda was also busy taking classes at the community college. Her drive was fueled by her commitment to a promising future—not just for herself—but also for her 6-month-old son, Cor'an.

That dream was stolen on the evening of September 12th, 1996 when both mother and baby were found dead in Rhonda’s mother’s car. They’d both been shot.

This incredibly senseless act of violence stirred up heartbreak and fury in the Stamford community. What kind of person shoots a young woman and her baby in cold blood?

Rhonda’s mother, Blanche, couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to hurt her daughter let alone an innocent baby. She has fond and bittersweet memories of her daughter and grandson, and she is sharing them on Murder, She Told.

🔸Learn more: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/rhonda-johnson

🔸Find your listening platform: https://tinyurl.com/rhondacoran

If you have any information on the murders of Rhonda and Cor'an Johnson, please call the Stamford Police Department Crime Stoppers Hotline at 203-977-TIPS or email the CT Cold Case Unit at [email protected].

09/11/2026

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: Lawrence, MA, 1988

On the afternoon of September, 12, 1988, a rail yard worker for B&M Railroad in Lawrence, MA made a horrifying discovery on the tracks: the body of 11-year-old Melissa Ann Tremblay who was missing from Salem, NH.

Investigators quickly realized this was no train accident—that something more sinister happened to the young girl—and her killer tried to cover up his crime by staging the gruesome scene.

Melissa lived a tough life, but her spirit and energy are what her friends remember about her decades later. She had a bubbly and fun personality that made her stand out among her classmates. She had a confident, spirited side, and her principal described her as energetic, honest, outgoing and someone who freely expressed herself. Melissa touched a lot of lives and was someone other kids looked up to.

In April 2022, 74-year-old Marvin "Skip" McClendon Jr., a former Massachusetts corrections officer, was arrested for the 1988 cold case murder, and in December 2023, the trial began. Prosecutors disclosed that DNA evidence had led to Marvin's arrest, but what seemed like an open-and-shut case quickly unraveled into something far more complex.

After 2 trials, Marvin McClendon was ultimately acquitted of murder in October 2024, leaving Melissa's friends and family feeling the pain of decades of waiting all over again. Her case is still technically unsolved.

Today we remember Melissa and the life that was stolen at such a young age.

Part 1: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/melissa-tremblay-1

Part 2: https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/melissa-tremblay-2

Listen to Part 1: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaTremblay1

Listen to Part 2: https://tinyurl.com/MelissaTremblay2

09/10/2026

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE: 1971, Farmington, Maine.

When 15-year-old Judith Hand went missing after failing to report to her after-school babysitting job on September 10, 1971, the Farmington Police told her family she’d be back.

Her family wasn’t convinced. They knew something was wrong. Judy was extremely responsible, and wouldn’t just skip out on her job let alone not come home.

Thirteen days later, Judy's body was found buried in a decaying sawdust pile at an abandoned mill. Though her cause of death was undetermined, there was no question the baby-faced teen had been murdered. While the agonizing search for Judy had ended, the hunt for her killer had only just begun.

Learn more: https://murdershetold.com/episodes/judith-hand

The murder of Judy Hand remains unsolved. If you have any information, please contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-South at (207) 624-7076 X9, or toll free at 1-800-228-0857.

09/09/2026

Remembering: Sunao "Tom" Yamada, Portland, ME, 2017

On September 10, 2017, 54-year-old Sunao Thomas Yamada Jr., known as “Tom,” was found dead on Temple Street in downtown Portland, Maine. The Investigators determined that his death was a homicide. Yamada had been experiencing homelessness and was known to spend time around Temple Street and Monument Square.

Police believed Tom was killed at approximately 3:20am that morning.

Investigators learned that he had been seen around that time with a white man believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, approximately six feet tall, thin, with short dark hair. The man was considered a person of interest because he was reportedly with Tom shortly before Tom was killed.

Tom had lived in Portland for approximately 20 years, and although he was unhoused when he died, he was a familiar presence in the downtown community. Police said he was known to local businesses, and in later years described him as having a kind and gentle demeanor. Businesses in the area made efforts to look out for and support him.

Tom was also remembered for the things he enjoyed. According to Portland police, he was an avid reader who enjoyed arcade games and regularly spent time with friends watching Jeopardy! and playing board games. These details offer a glimpse of Tom beyond the circumstances of his death — a person with interests, routines, friendships and a place within his community.

In September 2017, police released a sketch of the person of interest and asked the public for help identifying him. Investigators said the man had been wearing a black sweatshirt with a white logo on the front and a large white circular logo on the back, along with gray sweatpants or jeans. Police also appealed for surveillance footage from the area around Monument Square, Temple Street, Free Street and Middle Street.

For years, Tom's murder remained unsolved. In 2025, as the eighth anniversary of his death approached, Portland police said detectives had followed multiple leads, conducted dozens of interviews and reviewed hours of surveillance footage. Police again asked anyone with information (including people who had previously spoken with investigators) to come forward.

Nearly nine years after Tom's death, the investigation finally produced an arrest. On April 8, 2026, Portland police arrested 42-year-old Stephen M. Versluis Jr. and charged him with Tom's murder. Investigators said the case was built through years of re-examining evidence and following multiple leads, including information provided by members of the community.

Police have emphasized that solving the case required years of work. Portland Detective Nick Goodman said the foundation of the investigation was laid in 2017 and that the case ultimately moved forward through a cumulative effort stretching from the original investigation through 2026.

If you have information that can help, now is the time to come forward.

The assigned detective is Dan Townsend, and he can be reached at 207-874-8606. If you want to remain anonymous, please call 207-874-8584 and leave a voicemail with the information that you think would help investigators. Anonymous tips can be made at (207) 439-1199 for Crimestoppers.

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