Murder in America – EP. 215: NEW YORK: The Unsolved Murders Of 9/11

Podcast by Bloody FM
Hosts: Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen
Episode Date: September 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This powerful episode of Murder in America dives into three unsolved cases from New York that were overshadowed by the chaos of September 11, 2001. Hosts Courtney and Colin explore the disappearances and deaths of Dr. Sneha Philip, Henrik Siviak, and Michelle Harris, victims whose mysteries remain unsolved amid the disaster and whose stories demand to be remembered alongside the thousands lost in the 9/11 attacks.

The hosts approach each victim’s life with nuance—offering not just details of tragedy and suspicion, but celebrating their ambitions, humanity, and the enduring pain left for families seeking justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: The Forgotten Victims of 9/11

• Context: The episode opens with a somber reminder that, while 9/11 became synonymous with national tragedy, other crimes and disappearances occurred simultaneously in New York and were overshadowed by the disaster response.
• Purpose: To shine a light on three unresolved cases—those of Sneha Philip, Henrik Siviak, and Michelle Harris—demonstrating how justice was delayed or denied because resources and attention were diverted.

Case 1: The Disappearance of Dr. Sneha Philip

Timestamps: 04:43–59:41

Background & Life Story

• Born in Kerala, India, Sneha’s name means “one who brings love” (04:43).
• Immigrated to the U.S. at age 4 with her medical professional family.
• Described as bright, vivacious, artistically gifted; excelled at Johns Hopkins, later studying in Seattle and Chicago, where she met her future husband, Ron Lieberman.
• The couple settled in Battery Park City, Manhattan—four blocks from the World Trade Center (16:23).

Struggles & Complications

• Career difficulties: Issues at Cabrini Medical Center; allegations of drinking, unpreparedness, and inappropriate conduct (21:08).
  • Notable Quote:

    “She just seemed troubled, unhappy at times, a little bit of a loner.” – Dr. E, supervisor ([21:08])

• Disciplinary action, substance issues, and a strained marriage complicated her personal and professional life.
• On June 21, 2001, Sneha accused a superior of sexual assault, but later recanted. The circumstances remain ambiguous. She faced harassment and trespassing charges (25:29).
• Despite friction in her marriage (including possible infidelity), she took up a new internship at St. Vincent’s but was put on probation due to missing substance counseling (27:01).

Timeline Leading to Disappearance

• Last seen by husband Ron on Sept 10 after a courthouse appearance. They argued, made up, and he left for work after “kiss[ing] her again. And that was the last time I saw her.” – Ron Lieberman ([28:27])
• Sneha spent Sept 10 running errands, chatting with her mother, and shopping at Century 21 near the World Trade Center. She was last seen on store security cameras at around 5:09pm (44:48).
• On the morning of 9/11, a mysterious phone call was made from their apartment at 4:00am; it’s unclear who made it (29:51).
• Security footage from the next morning shows a woman resembling Sneha leaving the apartment just before the first plane hit (47:33).

Investigation, Theories, and Family’s Quest for Answers

• Initial police theory: Sneha died as a civilian hero in the WTC collapse, possibly rushing to help as an off-duty doctor. This story gained traction after her brother told the media a white lie to get her search publicized (41:31).
• No definitive evidence put her at the towers; belongings left behind suggest she planned to return home (45:56).
• Theories surfaced that she left intentionally, met foul play, or was one of the unidentified 9/11 dead.
• Official removal from the victims list in 2004 due to lack of evidence and implication of “risky behavior”—sparked controversy and family distress (52:00).
• After appeals, in 2008, Sneha’s name was restored, and she is memorialized on panel S66 of the 9/11 Memorial.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Her bedroom at her parents’ house in Poughkeepsie remains exactly how it was the day she vanished—decorated with photos, diplomas, and memories.” ([56:20])

Lasting Mystery

• Even those closest to her are divided:

  • “She finally got what she wanted. She got away. ... She was so incredibly smart that if she wanted something to happen, she could make it happen.” – Dr. E ([58:50])

• Unanswered: Was Sneha a victim of 9/11, or did she use chaos to disappear?

Case 2: The Murder of Henrik Siviak

Timestamps: 60:25–79:49

Background & Immigration Story

• Polish immigrant; devoted family man, worked in NYC to support his wife and children back in Poland ([63:55]).
• Driven by love and necessity, he performed grueling manual labor and dreamed of building a house for his family.

Events of 9/11 & His Fate

• Witnessed the attacks, called his family to say he was safe ([68:18]).
• Needed to earn wages, accepted a late-night cleaning job via a Polish temp agency in Brooklyn.
• Due to a misunderstanding in directions from his landlady, ended up in Bedford-Stuyvesant (“Bed-Stuy”) after dark—a high-crime area made more chaotic by 9/11 ([71:12]).

The Murder

• Seen wandering, lost, and being followed by three men ([73:41]).
• Shot at 11:40pm, collapses on a doorstep, his job slip still in his hand ([74:52]).
• Police resources were stretched thin; crime scene processing and investigation minimal.
• No robbery motive—belongings weren't touched.
• His family, left devastated, believes he was “the last man killed on 9/11,” yet his murder was lost amid the larger tragedy ([75:57], [78:23]).

Lingering Injustice

• No suspects, little evidence, and even less media attention or police resources.
• Family continues to remember Henrik, while Lucina, his sister, attends memorial services on every anniversary.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Each year, on the anniversary of his death, [Lucina] travels to a memorial at St Patrick’s Cathedral. ... Just as Henrik was, she’s nudged aside by the city’s greater loss.” ([78:23])

Case 3: The Disappearance of Michelle Harris

Timestamps: 79:49–110:41

Background & Domestic Turmoil

• Michelle married to wealthy car dealer Cal Harris—image of “the perfect life” quickly deteriorated into a controlling, abusive dynamic ([80:24]).
• Cal’s infidelity and emotional abuse prompts Michelle to plan for divorce and a fresh start ([83:33]).
  • Notable Quote:

    “Abusers often use a tactic called Love Bombing … It’s a very strategic way of locking people into a relationship before they show their true nature.” – Courtney ([81:19])

The Disappearance

• Sept 11, 2001: Michelle ends her shift at Lefty’s Restaurant, visits boyfriend Brian Early, and is believed to have returned home around 11pm ([88:15]).
• On the morning of Sept 12, Cal calls the nanny, claiming Michelle didn’t return home; her car is found at the end of the driveway with valuables inside ([90:06]).
• Cal is unemotional, more concerned about cleaning the car than finding his wife ([91:03]).

Investigation Hampered by 9/11

• Massive police presence in NYC left local agencies severely understaffed ([93:08]). Only a marginal search could be conducted.
• Cal points blame at Michelle's lovers, but attention is quickly drawn to his suspicious behavior and troubling statements about making her disappear ([97:48]).
• Blood spatter is found in the family home, but with no body, the evidence is circumstantial and much of the investigation delayed ([97:10]).

The Decade-Long Quest for Justice

• Cal is tried multiple times for murder—convicted twice, freed twice, with a hung jury and then finally acquitted in a bench trial ([104:20]).
  • Notable evidence involved a witness who may have seen Michelle the morning after she was supposed to be dead, and possible alternative suspects (Stacy Stewart and Christopher Thomason) who fled the state ([105:50], [108:07]).
• Michelle’s family devastated; her four children grow up without answers or closure.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Every holiday, every birthday, an empty seat is left at the table, hoping Michelle will join them, even if just in spirit.” ([108:07])

• In 2025, Cal offers a $100,000 reward for any leads.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On tragedy amid tragedy:

  “They may not have been victims of the Tower’s collapse, but they were no less affected by the madness and horror of 9/11.” – Courtney ([01:37])

• On the complexity of Sneha’s life:

  “Sneha is all the things we’ve said. Brilliant, loving, wonderful, warm. But at the same time she could be the other things we’re about to hear. And that’s okay. That doesn’t diminish her worth…” – Colin ([19:18])

• The power of overshadowed loss:

  “His name appeared in a few newspaper stories, but those who remember him best are his family. ... Just as Henrik was, she’s nudged aside by the city’s greater loss.” – Colin ([78:23])

• On children’s suffering:

  “They were left parentless, only able to see him for one hour visitations … they were forced to wonder if their father was a monster who had taken their mother’s life.” – Courtney ([108:07])

• On commemorating the forgotten victims:

  “Let us not forget the names of Dr. Sneha Philip, Henrik Siviak and Michelle Harris. They too were loved by all who knew them and their names will live on forever as long as we never forget their stories.” – Courtney ([110:41])

Segment Timestamps

• Case 1: Dr. Sneha Philip – [04:43] to [59:41]
• Case 2: Henrik Siviak – [60:25] to [79:49]
• Case 3: Michelle Harris – [79:49] to [110:41]
• Closing reflections and memorial dedication – [110:41] to [111:28]

Tone & Approach

The episode is somber, empathetic, and deeply respectful, combining true crime narration, sensitive handling of victims’ personal histories, and critical examination of police failures and media neglect. Both hosts use evocative language while integrating direct quotations and transcripts of key statements that preserve the voices of those affected.

Conclusion

Through careful storytelling and in-depth research, Murder in America honors the lives lost in the shadows of one of the nation’s darkest days—reminding listeners that even amid catastrophe, individual tragedies matter. The episode closes with a reminder to donate to Tuesday’s Children and to never forget the overlooked victims of 9/11.

If you have information about any of these open cases, or want to support the families, refer to the details shared in the episode and official resources.

For complete background, context, or personal reflections, listening to the episode is highly recommended.