Going West: True Crime

Episode 575: Janet Chandler
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Case: The Murder of Janet Chandler (Holland, Michigan, 1979)

Episode Overview

Daphne and Heath dive into the disturbing and tragic case of Janet Chandler, a 22-year-old Hope College student who was brutally murdered in Holland, Michigan, in 1979. The case, initially cold for decades, was cloaked in silence and rumors until the tireless work of a documentary class and a reinvigorated police investigation finally unraveled the shocking truth: Janet's abduction, rape, and murder had been plotted and carried out by individuals she considered friends and acquaintances. The episode is emotionally charged, with the hosts openly sharing their outrage and heartbreak as the horrific details come to light and justice is (partially) served almost thirty years later.

Case Background

• Janet Chandler

  • Born May 29, 1956, in Muskegon County, MI.
  • Raised in a religious Baptist family, described as "sweet, sensitive, and kind, possibly to a fault" ([03:08]).
  • Passionate about singing, involved in church choir, and aspired to a career in music.
  • Attended Hope College in Holland, MI, set to graduate in May 1979.
  • Worked night shifts at the Blue Mill Inn to help with school expenses; parents were uneasy about her safety ([07:09]).

• Context at the Blue Mill Inn

  • During her senior year, a group of out-of-town security guards (hired during a local Chemtron Pigments strike) were staying at the inn.
  • Tensions, flirtations, and jealousies developed among Janet, her roommate Laurie Swank (night manager at the inn), the guards (notably Arthur "Carl" Paiva), and others ([10:54]).

The Disappearance & Initial Investigation

Janet's Disappearance – January 30, 1979

• Janet working late shift at Blue Mill Inn.
• At approximately 2:00am, security guard Robert Lynch calls 911 about a possible robbery, calmly reporting:
  "I have reason to believe that there might be a robbery in progress down in the office." ([14:24])
• Police arrive, find front desk empty, $500 missing, Janet's coat and burning cigarette left behind, office door unlocked ([15:07]).
• Investigators suspect Janet knew her abductor. No sign of struggle despite a hotel full of people ([16:21]).
• No witnesses; only Robert Lynch’s account of hearing Janet say, "Don't take it all, sir." - did not check himself, just called police ([16:21]).

The Discovery

• Feb 1, 1979, ~1:30am: A snowplow driver finds Janet's nude body discarded in a snowbank off I-196, about 30 minutes from Holland ([19:29]).
• Evidence (or lack thereof):
  • Strangled to death, no drugs/alcohol, sexual assault inconclusive.
  • Fresh snow erases much evidence. Police suspect they just missed the perpetrator by mere minutes ([20:56]).
  • No personal belongings or clothing ever recovered; case quickly grows cold ([21:14], [23:23]).

Rumors, Investigative Stalemate, and Cold Case Years

• All guards and inn staff questioned; many guards (strike over) leave town and scatter nationwide ([23:23]).
• Main persons of interest: Carl Paiva, who claims alibi with new girlfriend; Laurie moves away ([23:45]).
• No physical evidence or confessions; investigation stagnates for 25 years ([25:39]).

Quote Highlight:
Detective Jim Fairbanks (1990):
"All we have on this case is an ear witness to the crime. No one saw anything or anyone. We never recovered any of her personal items, clothes, watch, shoes, anything. Her body was found in that turnaround, but we have no idea where she was killed." ([29:30])

Break in the Case: The Documentary & Renewed Investigation

Who Killed Janet Chandler? Documentary (2004)

• Prof. David Schock of Hope College and students create a film investigating Janet's case, premiering Jan 28, 2004 ([31:45]).
• Documentary triggers new public interest and local pressure for answers.
• Police form a dedicated cold case unit ([32:19]).

The Cold Case Team

• Investigation leads detectives to 18 states, 300+ interviews; focus returns to security guards from the Wackenhut company ([33:14], [33:40]).
• Key tip: Both a former guard and Laurie advise detectives to talk (again) to Robert Lynch ([34:18], [34:25]).
• Over months and nearly 20 interviews, detectives break down Lynch’s story by appealing to his guilt, especially as a father.

The Shocking Truth: Confessions and the Crime Revealed

Lynch's Confession (2006)

• Lynch reveals:
  • He, Laurie, Carl, and three other men staged a robbery to abduct Janet as a "lesson" for Carl's jealousy and Laurie's resentment ([36:38]).
  • Janet was taken—blindfolded, under the pretense of a surprise—by people she trusted. Money was stolen to support the cover story ([37:24], [38:33]).
  • She was brought to Carl’s lake house, where she was brutally raped and intermittently strangled by multiple men while her “friends,” including Laurie, watched and egged it on ([39:07]).

Quote – Laurie's Chilling Admission

"I was looking at Janet. I called her a bitch. I encouraged the activity."
—Laurie Swank ([40:58])

• Multiple women, including co-workers Cheryl Ruiz and Diane Marsman, as well as Carl's new girlfriend, witnessed the attack and did nothing—claiming afterward they feared for their own safety. ([41:08], [41:45])
  • “Not one of them wavered. Not one of those men said, ‘Oh my God, this poor, young, innocent woman.’ Not one of those women said, ‘What the fuck are we doing?’” —Heath ([47:02])
• Janet was held and assaulted for 12 hours before Robert Lynch ultimately strangled her to death with a belt ([44:07], [44:24]).
• Her body was dumped by Lynch and discovered soon after by the snowplow driver ([45:26]).

Justice at Last: Arrests and Prosecution

Arrests & Legal Proceedings

• In February 2006, police arrest: Laurie Swank, Carl Paiva, Robert Lynch, Freddie Parker, Anthony Williams, and James Bubba Nelson ([45:26]).
• Despite evidence of more bystanders or possible accomplices, only these six (the five men and Laurie) face charges ([47:44]).
• Laurie initially denies involvement, but cracks under questioning by Detective Jeff Flohr, "the Closer" ([48:36]).
• Laurie and Lynch take plea deals for confessions ([48:45]).
  • Laurie receives 10-20 years
  • Lynch receives 25-40 years
  • Other men receive life without parole for murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping ([53:10]).

Quote – Laurie in Court

"I was part of the cheering section. I was looking at Janet. I called her a bitch. I encouraged the activity." —Laurie Swank ([50:16])

Quote – Janet's Parents

James Chandler:
"They thought that they got away with it, and for the most part, they did. They lived the last 28 years with their careers and their lives. But because of the hard work and dedication of the cold case team and others, they have finally been brought to justice." ([51:44])
Glenna Chandler:
"We ask that the verdict be to the fullest extent of the law and that the jurors render this. This will make the streets of our city safer." ([52:12])

Aftermath and Reflections

• Lawsuit against the security company dismissed ([54:01]).
• Carl Paiva dies in prison (2013); Bubba Nelson (2020). Freddie Parker released (2021). Anthony Williams and Robert Lynch remain incarcerated—Lynch could be released as early as 2026 ([54:19]).
• Laurie Swank released in 2016, now living in Pennsylvania ([54:37]).
• The episode ends with Daphne and Heath reflecting on the horror and betrayal, especially by Laurie, and inviting listeners to share their anger and frustration ([55:24]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This story is so disturbing and frustrating, though it does have resolution. But get ready, if you’re anything like Heath and I, to be filled with rage." —Daphne ([01:46])
• "We will not be holding back our feelings today…there are some huge pieces of shit in today’s episode." —Heath ([02:04])
• "It’s probably like a reality TV show over there." —Daphne, on the complicated relationships at the inn ([13:03])
• Laurie: "I was angry, jealous." ([40:59])
• Heath: "She is a fucking demon... turning your back on her... plotting this whole thing. She really screwed Janet over." ([39:56])
• Daphne: "Not only being a part of the plan but watching her friend go through this and not doing a damn thing about it." ([39:07])
• Heath, on Laurie's attempt to play the victim: "Honestly, your daughter should shun you." ([50:39])
• "Who else is clenching their fist?" —Daphne, expressing collective outrage ([51:34])

Key Timestamps

• 03:08 – Background on Janet Chandler; her life, aspirations, and move to Holland.
• 09:02 – Security guards arrive at the inn; romantic entanglements form.
• 14:24 – 911 robbery call the night of Janet’s disappearance.
• 19:29 – Discovery of Janet's body.
• 23:23 – Guards scatter; case stalls for 25 years.
• 31:45 – Hope College documentary spurs new investigation.
• 36:38 – Lynch begins to confess after persistent interrogation.
• 40:58 – Laurie’s confession of instigating and cheering the attack.
• 44:07 – Janet’s 12-hour ordeal revealed.
• 53:10 – Sentencing and aftermath.
• 54:37 – Where are they now? Status of the convicted.
• 55:24 – Hosts’ closing remarks and emotional reactions.

Conclusion

The murder of Janet Chandler is a haunting case of jealousy-fueled betrayal, group violence, and community silence. The episode showcases not just the brutality inflicted on Janet, but the unconscionable failure of friends and bystanders who could have intervened. The raw emotion and furious empathy expressed by Daphne and Heath underscore the gravity of this crime. Listeners are left with a sense of hard-won—but incomplete—justice, and the chilling reminder of what can happen when silence and complicity triumph for years.

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