The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It

Summary

Devil in the Ditch

Episode: The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It

Release Date: March 12, 2025
Host/Author: Campside Media / Sony Music Entertainment

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Episode Overview

In this gripping episode of Devil in the Ditch, journalist Larrison Campbell dives deep into the haunting unsolved murder of her grandmother, Presh, in their Mississippi hometown. The episode, titled "The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It," chronicles how a young boy's relentless pursuit for the truth uncovers dark family secrets and challenges community bonds. Through compelling storytelling and firsthand accounts, Campbell sheds light on the complexities of grief, suspicion, and the quest for justice.

The Disappearance of Noreen Boyle

The story begins in January 1990, a seemingly ordinary time in Mansfield, Ohio. Noreen Boyle, a 44-year-old woman, was reported missing. At first glance, her disappearance didn’t raise immediate alarms amidst the usual holiday disturbances such as bar brawls and disorderly conduct that cluttered the Mansfield Police Department’s docket.

Steve Fishman narrates:
"Six months before that 12-year-old boy took the witness stand, the Mansfield, Ohio Police department was swamped with the usual holiday stuff... when a 44-year-old woman named Noreen Boyle was reported missing, it was not a top priority."
[00:33]

Noreen was listed as missing by friends rather than family, a detail that initially minimized the perceived urgency of her disappearance.

Collier Boyle's Determination

Collier Landry Boyle, Noreen’s 12-year-old son, was no ordinary child. Described as "smart, very denoted, determined," Collier took it upon himself to find his missing mother when others seemed indifferent. His profound sense of responsibility and emotional turmoil drove him to seek answers, leading him to confront both the police and his community.

Collier Boyle recounts his tumultuous night:
"Where's my mother? She would never ever leave her children."
[00:05]

His sleepless nights and relentless questioning underscored his desperation and unwavering belief that his mother was still alive.

The Initial Police Investigation

Lieutenant Dave Messmore, a seasoned detective with a reputation for being methodical and somewhat unorthodox, was assigned to Noreen Boyle's case. Initially, Messmore viewed the disappearance as that of an unhappy wife seeking solitude, a common scenario that didn't warrant extensive investigation.

Noreen Boyle's Friend comments:
"She was listed as a missing person by some of the friends of hers. Not family, but that's not unusual."
[03:07]

Messmore’s initial dismissal reflected the broader systemic indifference often faced in missing person cases, especially when not immediately connected to obvious foul play.

Collier's Interaction with Lieutenant Dave Messmore

Collier's persistent belief in his mother's return led to a pivotal moment when he approached Lieutenant Messmore. Unlike typical interactions with adults, Collier's mature demeanor and incisive questions caught Messmore off guard.

During their first encounter, Messmore describes Collier:
"He was just very calm. He's a very calm guy. Very collected... looking at things, taking everything in."
[06:16]

Collier's earnest plea resonated deeply with Messmore, prompting the detective to reassess the case's seriousness.

Collier Boyle states:
"My mother would never leave me, something has happened to her."
[07:28]

This declaration was a turning point, signaling to Messmore that Collier's involvement was not just child's play but a genuine quest for truth.

Building the Partnership

Recognizing Collier's determination and perceiving potential gaps in the investigation, Messmore decided to partner with the young boy. Their collaboration was unconventional, bridging the gap between a seasoned detective and a brave child driven by the desire for his mother's safety.

Steve Fishman highlights:
"This is the story of how a precocious kid joined forces with a most unlikely partner."

Together, they embarked on a journey that would unravel layers of family secrets and community dynamics, challenging the status quo of the investigation.

Unraveling Family Secrets

As Collier and Messmore delved deeper, they uncovered unsettling truths about the Boyle family and their standing in the community. Each revelation brought them closer to understanding the motives and circumstances that might have led to Noreen Boyle's demise.

Noreen Boyle's Friend observes:
"He was just very astute, very well spoken... make you wonder if there was something wrong."
[07:14]

This astuteness in a young boy suggested that Collier was privy to family dynamics and secrets that others were not aware of, indicating that the truth was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.

The Quest for Truth and Justice

Driven by Collier's unwavering faith and Messmore's investigative acumen, the duo navigated through misleading leads, confrontational interviews, and hidden agendas within the Boyle family. Their persistence paid off as they pieced together the puzzle, leading to the eventual identification and apprehension of the perpetrator.

Lieutenant Dave Messmore reflects:
"I could just tell when I said to Dave, my mother would never leave me, something has happened to her. He just looked at me like he could tell that I was serious."
[08:02]

This moment epitomizes the profound impact of their partnership, demonstrating how determination and empathy can drive even the most challenging investigations to fruition.

Conclusion

"The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It" serves as a testament to the resilience of a child and the integrity of a dedicated detective. Larrison Campbell's exploration into this cold case not only brings closure to a family long haunted by loss and suspicion but also underscores the importance of perseverance in the face of indifference. Through meticulous research and heartfelt narration, Campbell invites listeners to ponder the complexities of truth, justice, and the human spirit.

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Notable Quotes:

• Collier Landry Boyle (00:05):
  "Where's my mother? She would never ever leave her children."

• Lieutenant Dave Messmore (04:34):
  "I'm standing there over my grandmother's shoulder... I'm gonna get to the bottom of this type of thing."

• Noreen Boyle's Friend (07:28):
  "He said, something happened. And I said, okay, I'll work on that."

• Collier Landry Boyle (07:28):
  "My mother would never leave me, something has happened to her."

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This episode of Devil in the Ditch masterfully intertwines personal narrative with investigative journalism, providing a poignant look into a family's struggle for truth and the lengths one child will go to find his mother. Subscribe to The Binge to immerse yourself in more such compelling true crime stories.

Transcript

[Steve Fishman]

Collier Boyle was lying awake at night when he heard something horrible.

[Detective]

What was going through your mind at that time?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

Where's my mother? She would never ever leave her children.

[Steve Fishman]

His best hope to team up with a middle aged detective with a chip on his shoulder.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

I got a partner now. Somebody who's gonna help me find out what happened to my mother.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

His whole life is a lie.

[Steve Fishman]

From Sony Music Entertainment and Orbit Media, this is Finding Mom's Killer. Available now on the binge search for Finding Mom's Killer. Wherever you get your podcasts to start listening today.

[Detective]

Raise your right hand, please.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

You swear or affirm testimony about the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.

[Detective]

Will you tell us who you are?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

I'm Collier Landry Boyle.

[Detective]

Can you tell us how old you are now?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

I am 12 years old.

[Steve Fishman]

It's 1990 and we're in a courtroom in Mansfield, Ohio. The prosecution's star witness has just taken the stand. He's about to describe something that happened one fateful night a few months ago.

[Detective]

You awoke at 3 to 3:15am I believe was your time. Okay. And what awoke you?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

I heard the two bangs and heard the scream.

[Detective]

Okay.

[Collier Landry Boyle]

And that's when I heard the footsteps.

[Detective]

Then you got up in the morning?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

Yes, I did.

[Detective]

And what was the first thing you did?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

I looked at my mother's bedroom.

[Detective]

Were you alarmed when you got into the bedroom or.

[Collier Landry Boyle]

Yes, I was.

[Detective]

Why was that?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

The bed covers were all messed up. Her bed clothes were just lying in a pile and crazy weird.

[Detective]

What was going through your mind at that time? What were you thinking?

[Collier Landry Boyle]

Where's my mother?

[Steve Fishman]

Collier Landry Boyle wasn't your average 12 year old. He was very smart. He was very denied, determined. So when his mother went missing, Collier decided it was up to him to find her. From Sony Music Entertainment and Orbit Media, this is Finding Mom's Killer. I am Steve Fishman. This is the story of how a precocious kid joined forces with a most unlikely partner. Together, they set out to solve the mystery of his mother's disappearance. Along the way, they'd unearth one terrible family secret after another. You're listening to Finding Mom's Killer ad free on the binge, where you get all episodes all at once. This is episode one, a little vacation on New Year's Day, 1990. Six months before that 12 year old boy took the witness stand, the Mansfield, Ohio Police department was swamped with the usual holiday stuff. Bar brawls, disorderly conduct. So when a 44 year old woman named Noreen Boyle was reported missing, it was not A top priority.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

She was listed as a missing person by some of the friends of hers. Not family, but that's not unusual.

[Steve Fishman]

This is Lieutenant Dave Messmore of the Mansfield Police. When Noreen Boyle's disappearance landed on his desk, he didn't think much of it. A couple of uniformed patrolmen had been sent over to her house to check things out. Their conclusion? Nothing to worry about.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

Somebody will run off. They have a dispute with their spouse, and they'll run away and they come back and you know, there's only so much you can do with a missing person.

[Steve Fishman]

As you might have gathered, Lieutenant Dave Messmore isn't exactly the excitable type. In appearance, he kind of fades into the background. He's got thinning hair, a lampshade mustache, sensible glasses. He takes his time. He's methodical. He assumed Noreen Boyle was just an unhappy wife in an unhappy marriage who needed a little alone time. Then one day at his office, he received a phone call from a close friend of Noreen's.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

And she said, I'm telling you, this is not right. Noreen would never do that. And I said, well, you know, maybe she was just upset. No, no, I'm telling you, I said, I'll stop over and see what's going on.

[Steve Fishman]

So on January 2nd, Dave climbed into his department issued used Oldsmobile and drove over to Noreen Boyle's house. Now, Dave was the Mansfield Police Department's head of major crimes. He wasn't supposed to go chase down leads on low priority cases. But Dave, low key, laconic Dave is full of surprises. By this point, he'd been on the force for 15 years, and he'd developed a reputation for striking out on his own, for bucking his superiors. He once put away a friend, a fellow cop, no less, for murder. People learned it was best not to get in his way. Another time, he had a kid with a knife cornered. Other cops, debated a next step. Dave rushed him.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

I blackjacked him and just knocked him cold.

[Steve Fishman]

Dave without blackjack, figured he'd head over to the Boyle residence, have a word with Noreen's husband, a prominent local doctor named Jack Boyle. He arrived at the house, walked up the front steps, rang the doorbell.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

It was like late morning, early afternoon. The doorbell rings, and it's this guy in a sport coat with a bushy mustache, glasses, khaki pants named Dave Messmore.

[Steve Fishman]

This is Collier Boyle. He was the kid you heard testifying at the top of the show. He's a lot older. Now. When Lieutenant Dave Messmore arrived at the Boyle Residence. It was Collier's grandmother, that's his father's mother who answered the door. Collier hovered in the background.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

I'm standing there over my grandmother's shoulder. And Dave was saying to my grandmother, well, you know, I'd like to talk to the doctor. And, you know, just kind of curious what, you know, he was just very calm. He's a very calm guy. Very collected. I mean, very detective like, you know what I mean? Just looking around, looking at things, taking everything in. Just, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this type of thing. And I remember he kind of charms his way in, and my grandmother's like, I'm gonna call my son. And she goes and she leaves to go make the phone call in the kitchen. And I knew at that point that that was like my one shot, because here I am alone with a police officer.

[Steve Fishman]

Collier made an impression on Dave. This was a kid who dressed in chinos and penny loafers. He had a perfectly coiffed brown bob. He looked like a tiny adult.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

It was not like a little 11 or 12 year old you'd normally talk to. He was just very astute, very well spoken. Whenever his grandmother would walk away, he'd say things that make you wonder if there was something wrong.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

I say to Dave, I look him dead in the eyes and I say, my mother would never leave me.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

He said, my mother would never leave without me or without me knowing where she was going.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

And I think he's looking at me in a very peculiar way, like, who is this kid? He could just tell. I was so adamant.

[Noreen Boyle's Friend]

He said, something happened. And I said, okay, I'll work on that.

[Steve Fishman]

Kalia was surprised. He hadn't expected this cop who suddenly showed up on the doorstep to actually listen to him.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

I could just tell when I said to Dave, my mother would never leave me, something has happened to her. He just looked at me like he could tell that I was serious.