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Vanessa Richardson
This is Crime House. During the week of June 23, 1968, a family of six was brutally murdered at their vacation home on Lake Michigan. Nearly four decades later, in 2006, a 21 year old nursing student found. Frauke Liebs went missing in Germany and was later found dead. To this day, neither case has been solved, making this week's theme Unsolved Murders. Welcome to Crime House the Show. I'm Vanessa Richardson. Every Monday we'll be revisiting notorious crimes from this week in history history. From serial killers to mysterious disappearances or murders. Every episode will explore stories that share a common theme. Each week we'll cover two stories, one further in the past and one more rooted in the present. Here at Crime House, we know none of this would be possible without you, our community. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Crime House the Show wherever you get your podcasts and for ad free and early access to Crime House the Show plus exciting bonus content, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. This week's theme is Unsolved Murders. We'll start Today's episode on June 25, 1968 when the Robison family was murdered in their log cabin on the shores of Lake Michigan. Although detectives were confident they'd found the killer, he never took the stand. Then we'll Skip forward to 2006 to Germany, when 21 year old Frauke Liebs called her loved ones for the last time. She was never heard from again. While today's cases happened continents apart and under very different circumstances, they both left a lasting impact on their communities. And decades later, the world is still searching for answers. Hey everyone, Vanessa Richardson here. I'm narrating the first audiobook from Crime House Studios called Murder in the Media. Told through the lens of five heart pounding murder cases, this thrilling audiobook traces the evolving and sometimes insidious role the media has had in shaping true crime storytelling. Murder in the Media is a Crime House original audiobook. Find it now on Spotify.
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Vanessa Richardson
It was late June 1968 on the shores of Lake Michigan. The sun shone down on the water, boats were out and about and nestled into a grove of pine trees. Hidden away from the road sat a log and stone cabin affectionately called Somerset. The cabin belonged to the Robisons, a family of six from Detroit. 42 year old Richard Robison ran an arts magazine and an ad agency. He'd left his businesses in the hands of a trusted employee so he could spend the summer with his family. It was a special time for Richard and his wife, 40 year old Shirley. The whole gang was there, including their children, 16 year old Gary, 12 year old Randall and 7 year old Susan. Their oldest, 19 year old Richie had been away at college for the last year, but even he'd made the trip out to the lake. The family had arrived at Somerset earlier that month. They'd only had a few weeks to enjoy it when everything changed in the blink of an eye. Sometime at the end of June 196068 all six Robison were in the cabin when they heard a rifle go off. Moments later one of the windows shattered and a bullet came flying through. It likely hit Richard and possibly his 16 year old son Gary too soon after the shooter made their way inside. They exchanged their rifle for a pistol and continued their rampage I until all six Robisons were dead. Then the murderer fled the scene. The Robisons had told family and friends they were going out of town. It seems like they didn't specify where they were going or when they would be back. So when Days, then weeks went by without a peep. No one thought anything of it until nearly a month later in late July. Some neighbors were playing bridge at a nearby cabin when they noticed an awful smell coming from Somerset. They called the community's caretaker, Monty Bliss, and asked him to check it out. Monty had actually helped build all the cabins way back in the day. He fondly called the hamlet of cabins Blisswood after himself. Monty Wasn't too worried. He figured the Oder was probably a dead raccoon in the crawlspace. He made his way to Somerset and immediately noticed the cabin seemed abandoned. He knocked on the door. No one answered. He figured the Robisons must have left early, so he used a spare key to let himself in. But when he stepped inside, he realized the truth. The Robisons had never left at all. Wherever he looked, all Monty could see were bodies and pools of dried blood all around them. Monty backed away horrified and ran to call the police. Officers from Emmet county, where Blisswood was located, rushed over to the cabin and took in the gruesome scene. Shirley was found on her stomach in the living room. Her husband Richard was in the hallway with 12 year old Randall on top of him. 7 year old Susan lay nearby. The older sons narrative 19 year old Richie and 16 year old Gary were in the bedroom. They had all been shot in the head, some with additional shots to their chest and back. And Richard and Susan were also beaten with a hammer. From what officers could tell, the killer had tried to cover their tracks after murdering the Robison. Before leaving, they'd closed the curtains, locked the door and and turned up the heat. Then once they were outside, they put cardboard on the windows to hide the bullet holes. While detectives didn't recover a murder weapon, they did find shell casings and a bloody footprint. But there was one problem. Investigators needed a suspect to compare it to. And they needed to know when the murders actually took place. In the days after the Robisons were found dead, detectives interviewed their neighbors in the Blisswood community. A few remembered hearing yelling and gunshots sometime at the end of June. But they assumed it was just someone shooting seagulls on the beach. Apparently this happened a lot, so no one batted an eye. While this information didn't lead detectives any closer to a suspect, it did help narrow down the time frame of when the killings made may have taken place. After speaking with Monte Bliss, investigators learned some local tree trimmers had worked on the Robison's property on the morning of June 25th. And they remembered seeing the family alive and well. After that. No one in Blisswood saw any signs of the Robison. To investigators this seemed to confirm the murders had occurred that evening. They still couldn't be sure, but in the meantime they needed to figure out who was at Somerset with the Robisons that night. It was an uphill battle. The Robisons were a well liked church going family. It was hard to believe someone would want to kill any of them, let alone all of them. After looking for a suspect in and around the Lake Michigan area and coming up empty, detectives decided to widen the their scope. At some point in July, they expanded their search to Detroit, where the Robison lived most of the year. They spoke to friends and loved ones, but no one had any idea who could have done this. Which made investigators think if no one in their personal lives wanted the family dead, maybe someone at work had it out for the Robisons. And when Police dug into 42 year old Richard Robison's business, they found some very important clues. While Richard vacationed with his family, he'd left one of his Employees in charge, 30 year old Joseph Scolaro. By that point, Joseph had worked for Richard for about three years as an assistant of sorts. But before that, he'd been trained as a shooter in the U S. Military. That, coupled with how precisely the Robisons had been targeted was enough to make detectives suspicious of Joseph. But it was only the first red flag because soon investigators learned Joseph wasn't a trustworthy employee. In fact, he'd been stealing money from his boss. And the same day Richard had found out, he was killed along with his entire family.
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Vanessa Richardson
Hey everyone, Vanessa Richardson here. I've got an exciting announcement. I'm narrating the first audiobook from Crime House studios called Murder in the Media. Told through the lens of five heart pounding murder cases, this thrilling audiobook traces the the evolving and sometimes insidious role the media has had in shaping true crime storytelling. From the discovery of America's first serial killer to the shocking murder of a Hollywood legend to a chilling disappearance that captivated the nation, each of these stories will change how you think about the relationship between the media and true crime forever. Murder in the Media is a Crime House original audiobook. Find it now on Spotify.
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Vanessa Richardson
In late June 1968, all six members of the Robison family were killed inside their Lake Michigan cabin. The authorities believed the murders took place on the 25th. And the day deeper they dug, the more certain they became. Because weeks into their investigation, detectives learned that 42 year old Richard Robison had gotten some very upsetting news. That very same day, Richard ran an arts magazine and an ad agency. According to his receptionist, on the morning of June 25, his bank called to say there was a large amount of money, money missing from his business account. Richard immediately phoned his office and demanded to speak to 30 year old Joseph Scolaro, the employee he'd left in charge. If anyone knew where the funds had gone, it was Joseph. According to the receptionist, there was a lot of shouting on that phone call. And right after hanging up around 10:30am Joseph stormed out of the office. When detectives heard that, they were immediately suspicious. They kept digging and discovered there were funds missing from Richard's account. And it wasn't because he'd misplaced them. It was because Joseph had been embezzling that money. It turned out he'd stolen about $60,000 from Richard. That's more than half a million in today's. To detectives, this was a clear motive. And considering Joseph's military training, he had the means to hurt the Robisons. Now the police needed to figure out if he had the opportunity to do it. They tracked down Joseph's wife. She told them that on June 25, Joseph hadn't come home until 11pm which was very unusual. According to her, it was the first, first time in their six years of marriage that he'd missed dinner without calling her. This confirmed that investigators were on the right track. If the receptionist saw Joseph leave the office at 10:30am and his wife didn't see him come home until 11pm that meant there were 12 and a half hours in which Joseph was unaccounted for. It was a nine or ten hour drive round trip from Detroit to Blisswood, which plenty of time for Joseph to make his way to the Somerset cabin, kill the Robison family and return home. It seemed like a solid theory, but before doing anything else, detectives needed to talk to Joseph and see if he had an alibi. Later that summer, probably in late July, Joseph was called down to the station for an interview. Sitting down with detectives, he admitted to speaking with Richard. On the morning of June 25, however, he insisted that Richard wasn't calling to talk about the missing funds. According to Joseph, Richard just wanted to know if some checks had arrived at the office. When asked about where he was during those 12 and a half hours, Joseph told detectives a convoluted story. We don't know all the details, but it was riddled with inconsistencies. And more importantly, Joseph couldn't point to a single person who could could corroborate it. Detectives didn't believe a word he said and had Joseph take several polygraph tests. He failed the first two and got inconclusive results on the third. It was enough for investigators to make Richard their primary suspect, and soon they had a working theory. To them, it seemed like Richard had confronted Joseph about the stolen funds, and Joseph panicked. He was worried Richard would go to the police. And so after getting off the phone that morning, he rushed over to Lake Michigan. As Richard's assistant, Joseph knew exactly where he was staying and had apparently even been to Somerset before. But when he pulled up to the cabin, he realized the entire family was there. Joseph had only planned to kill Richard, but he didn't want to leave any witnesses behind. As a former soldier, he was skilled with a gun and knew he could take them all out. So he did, then returned home to Detroit. It was a solid theory, but before arresting him, detectives needed to physically link Joseph to the crime scene. The only physical evidence investigators had was the bloody footprint they'd found at the cabin. So they got a search warrant for Joseph's home and confirmed, compared the prince to his collection of shoes. Before long, they had a match. There was just one tiny problem. The matching boots were brand new. Not a scratch on them, let alone any blood. They couldn't possibly be the same shoes that made the print. Detectives were stumped. That is, until they learned Joseph had a particular quirk. He bought two of them. Everything. If he liked something, he always got a spare, Whether that was a suit, a pair of shoes, or a gun. That would explain why investigators couldn't find the bloody boots. Joseph had probably thrown them out after getting home that night. It certainly seemed possible. But without those boots, all detectives had was circumstantial evidence. And while they'd found shell casings at the cabin and they still didn't have an actual murder weapon. Throughout the rest of 1968, the authorities continued to investigate Joseph. It took several more months, but sometime in 1969, they finally got a lead that put them one step closer to making an arrest. Because it turned out Joseph's brother in law Owned a shooting range. Detectives went to take a look and discovered AR7 shell casings. By this point, forensic investigators had determined two guns had been used to kill the Robisons. A pistol and a.22 caliber Armalite AR7 rifle. That type of rifle wasn't common. It was the kind of weapon that only an expert would have, maybe someone who used to be in the military. The fact that detectives had found that sort of shell casing at the crime scene and at the shooting range didn't seem like a coincidence. Investigators collected the casings and sent them off for testing. The state police lab came back with their conclusion. They were an exact match for the shell casings found at the scene of the crime. For detectives working the case, this was the missing piece they'd been looking for. They felt confident that Joseph Scolaro was their killer, and they were prepared to make an arrest. Unfortunately, Emmet county prosecutor Don Noggle disagreed. Even though the shell casings were a match, they still didn't have an actual murder weapon. Without that or any eyewitnesses, he thought prosecution would have a difficult time convicting Joseph. And in the end, Nagel decided not to press charges. While his decision saved the county from bad publicity and an expensive trial, not everyone was satisfied. Michigan State police were especially frustrated. So they appealed to Detroit's Oakland county, where the family had lived. It took some time, but in 1972, three years after the Robison family mass murder, Oakland county got a new prosecutor, L. Brooks Patterson. And from the moment he took office, Patterson was determined to arrest Joseph Scaro. His office spent a year gathering additional evidence, and by 1973, he felt they could successfully prosecute Joseph. But just when Patterson was about to file charges, he received some unexpected news. On March 8, 1973, 35 year old Joseph Scolaro died by suicide. He shot himself using a.25 caliber Beretta, the same type of pistol that had been used to kill the Robisons. He left a note at the bottom. It says, said, P.S. i had nothing to do with the Robison. But that wasn't enough to clear his name. Although Joseph can never be prosecuted, most people in the Michigan community feel confident he killed the Robison. They think the fact that he chose to end his own life instead of standing trial is even more proof that he's guilty. While the Robison family may never get the justice they deserve, the court of public opinion is on their side. And as far as they're concerned, Joseph Scolaro is a mass murderer. And thankfully, he can never kill again. Up next, another unsolved murder that continues to haunt investigators to this day.
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Vanessa Richardson
She's in an unknown area.
Ryan Reynolds
Do you know if she's here now or was she released?
Vanessa Richardson
They said she was released.
Ryan Reynolds
I'm Payne Lindsay.
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A late night knock at the door, a missing car and a mysterious shadowy figure caught on camera.
Vanessa Richardson
We cannot see that person's face. Ever luckiest person in the world.
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What new evidence will it take to solve one of Florida's most high profile missing persons cases?
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Vanessa Richardson
In 1973, the prime suspect in the Robison family murders took his secrets to the grave. Leaving their first friends and family to come to their own conclusions. Decades later and an ocean away in Germany, another mysterious unsolved murder would leave the victim's loved ones with more questions than answers. In the summer of 2006, a 21 year old nursing student named Frauke Liebs went missing in the German city of Paderborn. She was last seen on June 20 when she went to A local pub to watch the World Cup. No one knew where she was or if she was safe, but she had contacted her roommate, Chris Karaulis. In the weeks since Frauke disappeared, she'd been sending cryptic text messages and making strange phone calls to him. As Chris sat in his apartment on June 27, he expected another one. He'd even asked Frauke's sister Karen to come over in anticipation of the call. He hoped if they both both spoke to Frauke, they might finally get to the bottom of what was going on. Sure enough, just before midnight, Chris's phone rang. Chris picked up right away and launched into a series of questions. He asked Frau where she was. She said she couldn't tell him. Was she able to come home? No. When he asked why not, she couldn't say. Finally, Chris asked, was she being held against her will? Very quietly, Frauke said, yes. Then a moment later, she changed her answer. In a louder voice, she said no. Chris kept going, asking more questions that Frauke avoided answering. It was clear to Chris that whoever she was with was listening. And eventually, Karen hopped on the phone to speak with her sister. When speaking to Karen, Frauke was a bit more forthcoming, but not in the way Karen had hoped. She told Karen to tell their parents she loved them. Chris took the phone back after that. He knew their time was limited. The call had already lasted longer than any of the others. He made Frauke promise to call at least once a day. She said she would. Then Frauke hung up. It would be the last time anyone ever heard from her. It all started a week earlier, on the night of June 20, 2006. Fralka's mom, Ingrid, was in town visiting. Frauke's parents only lived an hour and a half away. But ever since moving to Paderborn nine months ago, Frauke had been so busy with nursing school, she hadn't had much time to go see them, which is why Ingrid made the trip instead. That night, they were out at dinner. Chris joined them. He and Frauke had actually grown up together, so he knew the whole Liebes family. He and Frauke had even dated when they were teenagers. But now, as young adults, they were just good friends. And when Frauke moved down to Paderborn, where Chris was living, it made sense that they'd be roommates. There was no weirdness between them. Chris was seeing someone new, and Frauke had been going on lots of dates. While they were sitting at the cafe on the night of June 20, Chris noticed Frauke was constantly texting someone. When he asked who she was Messaging, she said it was a guy named Niels. A mutual friend had recently introduced them and they'd hit it off. They were still in the friend zone, but Frauco was hopeful it might turn into more. In the midst of all those texts to Nils, Frauke got a message from another friend inviting her to come watch the World cup at a nearby pub. It was the big England Sweden game. Frauke thought that sounded fun. So after dinner, Frauke's mom headed to the hotel where she was staying. Meanwhile, Chris gave Frauke a ride to the local Irish pub. He wasn't interested in staying for the match and planned to go back to the apartment instead of. But when they pulled up to the pub, he realized he'd forgotten his house key. Frauke gave him hers and Chris promised to stay up so he could let her in when the game finished. Frauke said not to worry. She wouldn't be back too late. The atmosphere at the pub was electric and the place was packed. But Frauke wasn't watching the game. She was busy texting Niels. In fact, she was texting so much at one point, her friend phone died and she had to borrow her friend's charger. The game ended around 11pm as everyone went their separate ways, Frauke headed back home. She didn't have any cash, so she had to walk. But the apartment was less than a mile away. It should only take her about 20 minutes, give or take. But 20 minutes came and went and she still wasn't home. Finally, at 12:49am, Chris got a text from her. It read, coming later. The game was fun. Not against England. Smiley face. Love you lots. See you later. Most of the text made sense to Chris. They joked earlier in the day that they didn't want Germany to play England. Since Sweden won, that's who they'd be facing in the next round. What didn't make sense was her saying later. It was already basically 1am as the hours passed and Frauke still didn't show up, Chris started to worry. He'd promised to stay up, but he could barely keep his eyes open. So he decided to go to sleep and leave his bedroom door open. That way he'd hear when she rang the doorbell. But the next morning, Chris was woken up by a call from one of Frauke's classmates. She hadn't shown up for class that morning. That made Chris sit up. It was already out of character for Frauke to be out all night without explanation, but to miss school too. That was enough to convince Chris that something was wrong. He called Frauke's mom to tell her what was going on. And Ingrid agreed. It was strange. This wasn't like her daughter. She called the police to try and file a missing person report. But Frauke was an adult and she'd been gone for less than 12 hours. And as far as the police were concerned, that wasn't enough time to file an official report. For all they knew, she'd simply gone off on her own and hadn't bothered to tell her friends and family. Frauke's loved ones weren't convinced. Ingrid, Chris, and Frauke's other friends spent the day of June 21st putting up missing poster flyers around town, asking if anyone had seen Frauke. No one had. But the next day, June 22, Chris got a call. It was Frauke. She addressed him by his full name, Christos, and said she was fine. She said she'd be home soon and to tell mom, dad, and the others. Then she quickly hung up. Chris was relieved to finally hear from her, but he was also concerned. Frauke never called him by his full name, and her voice sounded strange, like she was reading from a script. Then there was the fact that she'd hung up so fast without giving him a chance to say anything. But at least she'd contacted him. Chris waited by the phone, hoping she'd reach out again. The following day, June 23rd. Right before midnight, Chris got a text. It was from Frauke. It read, I'm coming home today. I'm in Potterborn. Love you. Chris assumed that meant she'd be home the next day, June 24th. He was cautiously hopeful that it was true, but in the meantime, he figured they should try getting the police involved. After all, it had been nearly four days. They couldn't deny that something was wrong. So on the morning of June 24, Chris and the rest of the Liebs family, who joined Ingrid and Potterborn, went down to the stage station. They told them all about Frauka's strange calls and text messages. Finally, the authorities agreed they needed to take action. The police tracked the calls and found they were coming from different areas of the city. Presumably, they checked those locations but found no sign of Frauke. Their next step was to interview everyone who knew Frauka. Her family, Chris, her classmates, anyone who might have information on her. They talked to Niels, the guy she'd been texting the night she disappeared, but he had an alibi and was cleared. Detectives also tracked down everyone who had been at the pub that night, which was a lot of people. But no one remembered anything strange happening. And there were no reports of Frauke getting into a fight or a disagreement in, in or around the pub that led police to believe she wasn't abducted. They assumed that if someone had forcibly tried to take her, Frauke would have fought back or at least made enough noise to draw attention. Instead, they theorized she'd willingly gotten into a car with someone, maybe someone she knew. But they'd betrayed her and taken Frauke hostage. Did you know that Parents rank financial literacy as the number one most difficult life skill to teach? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app for families. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores automate allowance, and keep an eye on your kids spending with real time notifications. Kids learn to earn, save and spend wisely. And parents can rest easy knowing their kids are learning about money with guardrails in place. 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Vanessa Richardson
On June 20, 2006, 21 year old Frauke Liebs went missing after leaving a pub in Paderborn, Germany. But she didn't entirely lose contact with her loved ones. After her initial detective disappearance, Frauka's friends and family received a series of cryptic texts and phone calls. Her loved ones believed the messages had come directly from Frauke, but we have no way of knowing for sure. It's possible that whoever had taken her had been the one to send those texts. But on the afternoon of June 24, after being missing for four days, Frauke called her roommate, Cross Chris again. She told him she was coming home that evening. He asked if she was hurt. Instead of answering his questions, she said no. I'm in Potterborn. I'm in Potterborn. I'm in Potterborn. Chris wondered if she was trying to communicate something in code to him. Why else would she repeat that specific phrase over and over? But if she was trying to tell him something, he couldn't figure it out. And despite what she said, Frauke didn't come home that night. The next day, June 25, she called again. Their conversation was nearly identical. After a quick back and forth, Frauke hung up and her Family and friends were once again left in the dark. By then, the police had been searching for Frauke for several days without any luck. There were photos of her plastered all over Potterborn, and local news stations reported on her disappearance. Everyone was on the lookout for the missing nursing student, but it was like she'd vanished into thin air. And the more time that passed, the less hopeful her friends and family became. No one heard from Frauke on June 26th. That marked the first first day without any contact. Then on June 27, she reached out to Chris. While the other calls had all been less than a minute long, this one went on for nearly five minutes. Frauka spoke to Kris as well as her sister Karen. She told Karen to tell their parents she loved them. Before Frauke hung up, Kris made her promise to keep calling. She said she would. But June 28 came and went without a word. And the day after that, and the day after that. Soon, months had passed, and Frauke was still nowhere to be found. By October 2006, over three months since Frauke went missing, the Paderborn police had exhausted all their options. That's when they realized they probably weren't dealing with a missing person case anymore. They were looking at a homicide. Their worst fears were confirmed on October 4th. That day, a hunter was out in the woods about 12 miles outside of Potterborn when he stumbled upon a badly decomposed body. He immediately called the police, who rushed over. They found what practically looked like a skeleton, still wearing clothing. There were blue jeans and a red short sleeved collared shirt. The same outfit Frauke had been wearing the night she disappeared. The remains were sent to forensic investigators, who confirmed it was Frauke Liebs. It wasn't the outcome Frauke's family and friends had been hoping for, but the discovery did open the door for detectives to move to the next phase of their investigation to search for her killer. They combed the scene for evidence, but the woods were clean. There were no prints, no personal items, and no murder weapon, which led detectives to believe Frauke had been killed elsewhere, then moved to the forest. And because of how decomposed composed her body was, there was no way to determine her cause of death. But from what the coroner could tell, there were no bullet wounds. And there was something else that was missing. Frauke's wallet, purse, watch, and cell phone. If detectives could find just one of those items, maybe they could track down Frauke's killer. At that point, the biggest clue was still the phone calls and text messages. Detectives combed through the data once again. They Saw that the first message Frauke had sent to Chris on the night she went missing originated in the nearby town of Neham. Based on that, investigators came up with a theory. They believed she'd been abducted near the pub in Potterborn, then held captive in Neham. From there, it seemed like Frauke's kidnapper or kidnappers drove her around Potterborn. They had her make calls from all around the city to mask her true location. Detectives searched Neham and Potterborn for Frauke's missing belongings, but came up empty. They went through her social media profiles and spoke to over 100 people she'd been chatting with online on instant messenger and email. They also re interviewed dozens of people, and eventually they had five persons of interest. Their names have never been made public, but they apparently all had ironclad alibis. None of those five people were ever considered official suspects, which meant detectives were back to square one. As time went on, the case grew cold. For Frauke's family and friends, it seemed like they'd never get closure. But then, nearly a decade later, authorities discovered another horrific crime near Potterborn. And they thought it might hold the key to solving Frauke's murder. In 2017, a German couple named Wilfried and Angelika Wagner were arrested for abducting, torturing and killing a young woman. They'd look lured her to their home in Lower Saxony, about a two hour drive from Paderborn. Through a newspaper ad. After getting caught, Angelica confessed that they had abducted more women and killed at least one other. Angelica and Vilfried were eventually convicted of those two murders, but it was possible there were more unidentified victims, including Frauke. Especially because the authorities knew Angelica had impersonated one of their victims and made phone calls to their loved ones. But after searching their home, detectives didn't find anything to connect Angelica and Vilfried to Frauke. Still, it had been a decade, so it was possible the couple had gotten rid of any evidence, including Frauke's missing belongings. However, without a definitive link, it was all just speculation. Unfortunately, that's the closest authorities have ever gotten to solving Frauke's murder. Today, her case is still active, though her loved ones have accepted that they might never know who killed Frauke. Liebs. If you're listening in Germany and have any information on fraud, Liebs or her killer, you can call the state police in Bela Field at 490-521-5450. Looking back at this week in crime history, we're reminded that not every story has a satisfying ending when it comes to the robison there was a strong suspect, but no no conviction. In the case of Frauke Liebs, the authorities knew even less. But as long as her killer is still out there, justice is possible and that's something we can all hope for. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Vanessa Richardson and this is Crime House the Show. The show is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Crime House the Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, your feedback truly matters. And for for ad free and early access to Crime House the Show plus exciting bonus content. Subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. We'll be back next Monday. The show is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson, and is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Crime House the Show team Max Cutler, Ron Church Shapiro, Alex Benidon, Natalie Pertzovsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Alex Burns, Hania Saeed and Michael Langsner. Thank you for listening. Ready to rethink everything you know about true crime? Check out Murder in the Media, the first audiobook from Crime House Studios. Find Murder in the Media on Spotify.
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Hey there, it's Nicole Lapin. For your next listen, check out Scams, Money and Murder. This week we dive into the true story of the Wolf of Wall street himself. And don't miss our recent episode with Jessica Pressler. That's the journalist who uncovered the truth behind fake heiress Anna Delphi. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your favorite podcast.
Crime House True Crime Stories: Unsolved Murders – The Robison Family & Frauke Liebs
Episode Release Date: June 23, 2025
In this gripping episode of Crime House True Crime Stories, host Vanessa Richardson delves into two haunting unsolved murder cases that continue to perplex investigators and devastate families decades later. The theme for this episode centers on Unsolved Murders, highlighting the tragic demise of the Robison family in 1968 and the mysterious disappearance and death of Frauke Liebs in 2006.
Setting the Scene
Vanessa begins by setting the stage on the serene shores of Lake Michigan in late June 1968. The Robison family of six, comprising parents Richard (42) and Shirley (40) Robison, and their children Gary (16), Randall (12), Susan (7), and Richie (19), holidayed in their log and stone cabin named Somerset. The family had recently settled into Somerset, looking forward to a peaceful summer away from their bustling lives in Detroit.
The Night of the Tragedy
On the evening of June 25, 1968, tranquility was shattered when a rifle shot echoed through the cabin, followed by a bullet tearing through a window (00:06). The Robisons faced a merciless attack where all members were brutally murdered. Detectives initially believed they had identified the killer, but crucial evidence never materialized to bring the suspect to justice.
Investigation Unfolds
Vanessa recounts how the community reacted upon discovering the crime scene. Monty Bliss, the caretaker, found the horrifying scene after a neighbor reported a foul odor (04:05). The Robisons were discovered in various states of violence, indicating a meticulous and horrifying crime spree.
Detectives focused their investigation on possible suspects within the Lake Michigan area but soon expanded their search to Detroit, uncovering that Joseph Scolaro, a 30-year-old employee who had been embezzling funds from Richard Robison’s business, became the primary suspect (13:03). Scolaro's military training and access to firearms made him a plausible culprit.
Key Evidence and Suspect Profile
At [11:12], Ryan Reynolds' ad breaks briefly but soon Vanessa continues detailing the investigation. Detectives linked Scolaro to the crime through shell casings and a bloody footprint found at the scene, matching the boots Scolaro owned (09:00). However, a twist emerged when the boots matched but appeared brand new, complicating the evidence.
Legal Hurdles and Conclusion
Despite mounting circumstantial evidence, Prosecutor Don Noggle hesitated to press charges due to the lack of definitive proof, such as the murder weapon or eyewitness testimony (27:00). This led to frustration within the police force until a new prosecutor, L. Brooks Patterson, took over in Oakland County. Just as the case seemed ready for prosecution, Joseph Scolaro died by suicide, leaving behind a note denying involvement (35:20).
Notable Quote:
Vanessa Richardson [35:20]: "He left a note at the bottom. It says, ‘P.S. I had nothing to do with the Robison.’ But that wasn't enough to clear his name."
Disappearance and Last Contact
Fast forward to 2006 in Paderborn, Germany, where 21-year-old nursing student Frauke Liebs vanishes under perplexing circumstances. Initially seen at a local pub watching the World Cup on June 20, Frauke’s last known interactions were a series of cryptic texts and phone calls to her roommate, Chris Karaulis (13:03).
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Frauke’s disappearance became more concerning when she failed to return home after leaving the pub. Her sporadic communications raised red flags among her family and friends, leading to a missing person report after several days (23:05). Vanessa meticulously details how each call and message from Frauke grew increasingly mysterious, with phrases like "I'm in Potterborn" repeated without context.
Discovery of the Body and Investigation
On October 4, 2006, Frauke’s decomposed body is discovered in a nearby forest, confirming suspicions of foul play (35:20). The absence of a murder weapon and the missing personal items complicated the investigation, pushing detectives to re-examine earlier evidence and the mysterious phone calls.
Potential Connections and Leads
Investigators explored connections to other crimes, notably the Wagner couple's arrests in 2017 for similar abductions and murders. Although Angelika Wagner confessed to multiple killings, no concrete evidence linked her or her husband to Frauke’s case (34:47).
Continuing the Search for Answers
Despite these leads, Frauke’s case remains unsolved. Vanessa underscores the ongoing efforts to find closure for her family, reiterating the community's unwavering hope for justice.
Notable Quote:
Vanessa Richardson [35:20]: "Looking back at this week in crime history, we're reminded that not every story has a satisfying ending… as long as her killer is still out there, justice is possible and that's something we can all hope for."
This episode of Crime House True Crime Stories masterfully juxtaposes two unsolved murders separated by continents and decades, yet united by the tragic absence of closure. Vanessa Richardson's thorough exploration highlights the complexities and emotional toll of unsolved cases, leaving listeners contemplating the elusive nature of justice.
If you have any information regarding these cases, particularly Frauke Liebs' disappearance, Vanessa urges listeners to come forward to assist in bringing resolution to these haunting mysteries.
Contact Information:
In Germany, call the state police in Bela Field at 490-521-5450.
Listen to more true crime stories every Monday on Crime House True Crime Stories, where each episode uncovers the depths of human nature through meticulously detailed investigations.
This episode was produced by the Crime House the Show team, including Max Cutler, Ron Church Shapiro, Alex Benidon, Natalie Pertzovsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Alex Burns, Hania Saeed, and Michael Langsner. Special thanks to contributors and the loving families affected by these tragic events.