Murder: True Crime Stories
SPECIAL: The Halloween Nightmare 1
Host: Carter Roy (Crime House)
Air Date: October 21, 2025
Episode Overview
This special episode, “The Halloween Nightmare 1,” dives into the 1992 abduction and murder of 11-year-old Shauna Howe in Oil City, Pennsylvania—a crime that forever changed Halloween in the community. The episode meticulously reconstructs the timeline of Shauna's disappearance, chronicles the initial investigation, details the emotional toll on her family and town, and explores the false leads that stymied detectives for years. Part one ends by setting up the break that would eventually bring some resolution.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Scene: Halloween in Oil City
- [05:34] Oil City, PA, described as a close-knit, Rust Belt town where kids roamed freely during Halloween.
- Halloween was Shauna Howe’s favorite time—she had chosen to dress as a gymnast for her Girl Scouts Halloween party.
- The festive atmosphere of the town is sharply contrasted with the tragedy that unfolds.
“Halloween is all about leaning into the scary stuff...But in 1992, 11 year old Shauna Howe had a very different experience. What should have been a night of fun and laughter ended in the worst way imaginable for the small town of Oil City.”
— Carter Roy [00:02]
2. Shauna’s Disappearance: The Timeline
- [05:34–08:00] On October 27, 1992, Shauna leaves her mother’s house for the Girl Scouts' party, dressed in turquoise.
- After the meeting ends at 8pm, she and her friend part ways. As Shauna walks alone, a local man (Dan Peyton) sees a suspicious man in dark clothes and a baseball cap approach her.
- The kidnapping occurs in plain sight: the man grabs Shauna, covers her mouth, and carries her off to a small red car before speeding away.
- Dan frantically seeks help, and the police are called, arriving 15-20 minutes after the abduction.
“He smiled when he saw her costume...But then Dan saw something that made him slow his steps. A tall, thin man in dark clothes and a baseball cap was heading directly toward Shauna.”
— Carter Roy [06:30]
3. Community and Police Response
- [08:45] Police launch an immediate search, interviewing witnesses and setting up roadblocks.
- Shauna’s mother, Lucy, initially hopes Shauna is just late, but panic grows as the hours pass.
- The whole town mobilizes: civilian volunteers join the search, and Lucy is told to stay by the phone in case of a ransom call—which never comes.
“Hundreds of civilian volunteers joined the search for her. It seemed like nearly the whole town was on the hunt. Everyone except for Shauna’s mother, Lucy. Police told her to stay home and wait.”
— Carter Roy [09:41]
4. Discovery of Evidence
- [11:38] Two days later, Shauna’s bodysuit is found under a bridge known as Coulter’s Hole.
- The bodysuit has a semen stain, providing a crucial DNA clue, but Shauna herself is still missing.
- The following day, her body is found in a creek below the same bridge, having been thrown from above.
“It was becoming more and more likely that something unspeakable had happened to Shauna Howe.”
— Carter Roy [12:40]
- The autopsy concludes she was alive when thrown, suffering fatal blunt force trauma, and likely endured immense fear and pain.
5. The Investigation: Dead Ends and Suspects
- [15:40–23:30] Police systematically interview Shauna’s family, friends, and anyone remotely connected.
- DNA is collected from family, neighbors, and those who discovered her body, but nothing matches the sample.
- Initial suspects, including Bill Crabtree (the man who found her body), Dan Peyton (the abduction witness), Michael Pruitt (neighbor with a suspicious crawl space), and Ted Walker (pizza shop worker with odd behavior)—all ruled out after investigation and DNA testing.
“Child abductions by total strangers are rare. It's much more likely that the person responsible knew Shauna beforehand.”
— Carter Roy [16:41]
- Growing frustration sets in as over 100 DNA samples are tested with no match and months, then years pass without a break.
6. Another Violent Kidnapping and Continuing Fear
- [23:32] Three years later, a woman escapes an abduction on a route eerily similar to Shauna’s—prompting police to suspect a connection.
- James O’Brien is arrested for the new assault (he and his brother had been suspects in Shauna’s case but were previously ruled out due to being incarcerated during her murder).
- While O’Brien is jailed, another child, four-year-old Shanae Freeman, is abducted (1997, five years after Shauna). The suspect, Nicholas Bowen, is caught after he confesses to police but is determined not to be linked to Shauna’s murder.
7. Lingering Impact and Unsolved Case
- [27:18+] Shauna’s murder leads to long-lasting changes in Oil City: increased police patrols on Halloween, daylight-only festivities, and deep trauma for the community and especially the families.
- By the episode’s end, five years have passed with no resolution, and Lucy Howe still waits for closure.
- Listeners are told that a new investigator will eventually shed new light on the case, promising answers in part two.
“As time passed, detectives retired or got reassigned. But not everyone was giving up. Eventually, a new investigator with a fresh perspective would come onto the scene and change the case forever.”
— Carter Roy [28:20]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“People’s lives are like a story. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don’t always know which part you’re on.”
— Carter Roy [00:55] -
“She had a page boy haircut and a slight gap between her two front teeth. Her mom, Lucy Howe, described her as sassy, headstrong and independent.”
— Carter Roy [06:08]
(Shauna’s vibrancy and individuality highlighted) -
“The silent, terrifying truth hovered over all of them. With every passing hour, it was less and less likely they would find Shauna alive.”
— Carter Roy [09:25] -
“Shauna had probably been alive for about five to ten minutes before she died. It was, and is, horrifying to think about.”
— Carter Roy [14:45]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 05:34 — Introduction to Oil City and Shauna’s background
- 06:30 — Witness sees and describes the abduction
- 09:41 — Community rallies; Lucy Howe’s harrowing wait
- 11:38 — Discovery of Shauna’s costume; crucial DNA evidence
- 13:00 — Autopsy findings; determination of cause of death
- 16:41 — Focus shifts to investigating people close to Shauna
- 19:45 — False suspects ruled out after DNA testing
- 23:32 — New 1995 abduction revives suspicion toward the O'Brien brothers
- 26:25 — 1997: Another girl abducted and murdered; town’s fears persist
- 28:20 — Case remains unsolved; hope for closure in the future
Tone & Storytelling Style
Carter Roy narrates with empathy and meticulous detail, striking a balance between emotional gravity and investigative rigor. The episode builds suspense while highlighting the personal stories of Shauna, her family, the volunteers, and the community as a whole. The storytelling is sensitive—never sensationalizing, but always honoring the impact of real-life horror on real people.
Final Note
The episode concludes on a cliffhanger, promising part two will unravel how a determined investigator finally brought some resolution. Carter Roy’s careful handling of the narrative invites reflection on the ripple effects of true crime—well beyond the initial tragedy.
Next up: Part Two, focusing on the investigation’s breakthrough and the search for justice.