On November 18, 1987, the small town of Ina, Illinois, was forever changed when Keith and Elaine Dardeen, their 3-year-old son Peter, and their newborn daughter Casey were found murdered in one of the most horrific crime scenes investigators had ever encountered.

Nearly four decades later, the murders remain officially unsolved.

In this episode of Forensic Tales, I take a closer look at the lives of the Dardeen family, the timeline leading up to the murders, the crime scene investigation, the forensic evidence, and the theories that continue to surround this heartbreaking case. From early rumors and community panic to the controversial confessions of serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells, we'll examine what investigators know, what they don't, and whether this mystery may ever be solved.

In this episode:

The Dardeen family's life in Ina, Illinois
The discovery of the crime scenes
Crime scene processing and forensic evidence
Autopsy findings and timeline reconstruction
How rumors fueled fear throughout southern Illinois
The investigation and persons of interest
Tommy Lynn Sells' conflicting confessions
Why the case remains unsolved today

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