Crime and Coffee Couple – True Crime Podcast

Episode 223: The Murders of Rick and Gail Brink

Hosts: Allison & Mike
Date: December 14, 2025

Overview & Main Theme

In this episode, Allison and Mike explore the tragic and long-unsolved case of Rick and Gail Brink, a young married couple brutally murdered in their Holland, Michigan home in 1987. The case—marked by an absence of evidence and witnesses— went cold for over two decades before being cracked open by advances in cold case investigations. The episode delves into the couple's backgrounds, the circumstances of the crime, the emotional weight on their families, and the shocking twist that led to resolution: the deep betrayal within their own family.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Brinks' Life and Sudden Loss

• Rick and Gail’s Story:
  • Rick (28) and Gail (22) recently married, buying a fixer-upper home and planning for a family.
  • "They had just started their journey through life together... the world was your oyster." (Allison, 11:08)
• Day of Discovery (09:13 - 16:26):
  • November 23, 1987: Both fail to show up for work; Rick's parents find Rick dead in his parked car, and police find Gail shot in bed.
  • "It's a worst nightmare... Ida nearly collapsed at the sight of her son." (Allison, 15:21)
• Crime Scene Details:
  • No sign of forced entry or struggle; valuables untouched.
  • Immediate suspicion that the murders were not random or for profit.

2. Initial Investigation & Community Fear

• Lack of Suspects and Evidence (18:05 – 19:28):
  • Two unknown fingerprints, but nothing further.
  • DNA technology was nascent—no CODIS system yet, so the leads ran dry.
• Community Reaction:
  • Holland, MI is a small, tight-knit, church-going Dutch community; residents rattled by the brutality and apparent lack of motive.
  • Discussion of past cases in the area and the terror of a possible serial killer (19:28 – 27:16).

3. The Biker Connection: A Dead-End Lead

• The property’s previous owner, “Shotgun Sid”, was a motorcycle gang member and police informant.
• Investigators consider mistaken identity as a motive (22:21 – 23:51), but "even with Sid's help... investigators were once again led down a dead end." (Allison, 23:51)

4. Cold Case Breakthrough – The Family Secret

• 24 Years Later – Reinvestigation (30:21 – 32:28):
  • Advances in technology and persistence lead to renewed interviews.
  • Gail’s sister Cheryl recalls Ryan (Gail’s brother) making disturbing comments after the murders, e.g., “sometimes I wonder if I could have done this.” (31:04)
• Scrutiny of Ryan Weingarten (32:28 – 36:56):
  • Ryan's alibi (via wife Pam) falters under renewed questioning.
  • Investigators speak with ex-girlfriend Crystal, who reveals Ryan confessed incest with Gail and showed obsessive behaviors.

5. Shocking Confessions & Motive Exposed

• Ryan’s Confession to Ex & Motive (36:56 – 39:09):
  • Ryan’s long-term sexual abuse of his sister. He became “tearful talking about the last time [he] was intimate with his sister... It’s so, so disturbing.” (Allison, 37:33)
  • Motive emerges: fear of being exposed and jealousy of Gail’s new life.
• Pam’s Testimony (39:31 – 47:09):
  • Years later, Pam admits Ryan left her that night, had no real alibi, and confessed the murders to her—threatening her if she ever told.
  • She saw both bodies and kept the secret out of fear for herself and her child.
  • “For 25 years, she kept Ryan’s secret under lock and key. She never spilled a word.” (Allison, 43:49)

6. Arrest and Trial

• Arrest & Indictment (49:17 – 56:28):
  • Ryan arrested in 2013—over 25 years after the murders.
  • No direct physical evidence, but overwhelming witness testimony (Pam, Crystal, family members), and incriminating statements secured a conviction.
• Courtroom Antics:
  • Ryan is combative, insists on innocence, yells in court, blames others for his downfall.
  • “He just can’t control himself, obviously.” (Allison, 53:14)
• Family’s Grief & Lasting Trauma:
  • Some, like their mother, continued to believe Ryan was innocent until her death; others, like Cheryl, accepted the painful truth.

7. Related & Unrelated Cases

• Murders in the Vicinity:
  • Other area murders (Deb Wilson, Deborah Polinsky) initially considered for connection but later resolved or remain unsolved (Deb Wilson’s killer identified posthumously; Polinsky's case still open but with new DNA evidence).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There was blood everywhere in the car… Rick had died from two bullet wounds to the head.” – Allison (15:16)
• “Could you imagine your son just laying there in his own car? That’s—” – Mike (15:16)
• “If Ryan couldn’t have his own sister, no one could.” – Allison (39:15)
• “This guy sucks. Horrible. This is his brother-in-law.” – Mike (42:30)
• “For 25 years, she kept Ryan’s secret under lock and key. She never spilled a word.” – Allison (43:49)
• “Go to hell. Go straight to hell. I wish there was this open door... It’s just like a trap door like you see. Yep.” – Mike (56:39, 56:43)
• “They had only been married for 18 short months when their dead bodies were discovered at the home… everything was taken from them by someone they should have been able to trust." – Allison (60:10)

Important Timestamps

• Start of Case Discussion: 09:13
• Discovery of Bodies: 15:16
• Brutal Crime Scene Details: 16:23
• Investigation Roadblocks/Case Goes Cold: 18:05–19:28
• Cold Case Reopening & Family Suspicion: 30:21–32:28
• Ryan’s Confessed Incest & Jealousy: 36:56–39:09
• Pam’s Testimony - Break in the Case: 39:31–47:09
• Arrest & Courtroom Drama: 49:17–54:09
• Verdict and Aftermath: 56:27–57:11
• Community Impact and Related Cases: 57:46–60:38

Tone, Delivery & Banter

• The hosts balance respect for the victims with relatable banter and dark humor—sometimes expressing exasperation at the criminals or decisions made (“You’re such a badass shooting people that are defenseless…” – Mike, 46:26).
• Allison’s research-driven narration grounds the facts, while Mike’s interruptions and commentary echo the listener’s reactions (“That is not the case at all… So you guys know, I’m always amazed when I see these videos online of these guys just building crap.” – Mike, 11:27–11:39).
• Both express sympathy for family and frustration at the long wait for justice.

Takeaways

• The case highlights the heartbreak of unsolved murders, the failings and power of memory, and the horrific consequences when those closest betray their own.
• The persistence of investigators and the eventual courage of witnesses—Pam and Crystal—were critical to breaking a 25-year wall of silence.
• The true crime community is reminded that justice, while often delayed, can eventually prevail.