In July 2021, a peaceful family camping trip in Ohio’s vast Appalachian Hills Wilderness Area turned into a chilling crime scene. Two lives were lost, and a community was shaken. In this gripping episode, we sit down with ODNR Investigator Kirk Kiefer to uncover the layers of a complex and haunting double homicide. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line PodcastDon Noyes ChevroletNorth American Game Warden MuseumHunt RegsSecureIt Gun StorageXS Sights“A Cowboy in the Woods” BookMaine's Operation Game ThiefInternational Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss:·        Investigator Keifer appeared in a previous episode·        International Game Warden Association Officer of the Year·        ODNR’s nomination submission·        The ‘ginseng detective’·        Nomination was kept secret!·        A missing persons / suspicious activity report on State land·        The couple’s phones - and daughter - were left behind·        Suspect claimed the couple had gone to CA and were expected back·        A concerned camper contacted ODNR·        The couple’s license plate had recently been checked on the Interstate·        Suspect had a ‘tell.’·        “He was convinced I was a human lie detector.”·        The sudden confession: “I killed ‘em.”·        Killings had happened 13 days prior·        Suspect led investigators to the bodies·        Defense attorney admitted there was no defense to be mounted·        Claimed he was ‘rescuing’ the child ·        Body cameras were used in case the suspect did not testify·        Appeared to feel badly about killing the female. ·       “Sometimes there is no ‘why’.”·        Never expected to be investigating homicide·        Attended the couple’s memorial services·        Inter-agency cooperation was key to this case·        Killer received two automatic life terms with no parole  CreditsHosts: Wayne Saunders and John NoresProducer: Jay AmmannWarden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley HannettResearch / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches Subscribe:Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazonGoogleWaypointStitcherTuneInMegaphoneFind More Here:WebsiteWarden’s Watch / TGL StoreFacebookFacebook Fan PageInstagramThreadsYouTubeRSSLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices