Podcast Summary: The Deck – Episode: Rhonda Jawhari (10 of Spades, Michigan)
Release Date: November 6, 2024
Host: audiochuck (Ashley Flowers)
Introduction
In this emotionally charged episode of The Deck, host Ashley Flowers delves into the mysterious disappearance of Rhonda Jawhari, known as the 10 of Spades from Michigan. Distributed as part of a unique initiative to help solve cold cases, Rhonda's case has remained unsolved for over 15 years. This episode aims to uncover new insights and renew efforts to find Rhonda, hoping that someone listening might finally bring her the justice she deserves.
Background on Rhonda Jawhari
Rhonda Jawhari, a vibrant and creative individual, was a natural-born artist who left her mark through murals in Hawaii, appearances in movies like Arnold Schwarzenegger's True Lies, and contributions to television. By the age of 42, Rhonda had also authored her own book and was teaching acting lessons for children in Flint, Michigan. Her family describes her as full of energy, always embarking on new projects, and possessing a contagious zest for life.
Dee Dee Jawhari, Rhonda's younger sister, reflects on her character:
"Rhonda was I am me. And you couldn't help but love her for it, too, at the same time. And she kind of gave me a lot of strength."
(Timestamp: 17:30)
Day of Disappearance: February 11, 2009
On February 11, 2009, Rhonda disappeared without a trace from her apartment in Fenton, Michigan. Rhonda maintained regular morning check-ins with her mother, Aneesh Johari, due to her chronic physical illness and mental health challenges. However, Rhonda failed to call that morning, raising immediate concerns.
Aneesh Johari recounts the morning:
"Rhonda had moved into her own place, she called every morning at 7:30 to check in. But on that morning, Rhonda didn't call, which was unusual."
(Timestamp: 04:11)
Upon finding no response, Aneesh drove to Rhonda's apartment. While there was no sign of struggle, Rhonda's bed appeared recently used, and her clothes for the day remained untouched on a chair—an anomaly that prompted Aneesh to contact the police.
Initial Investigation
Detective Thomas Cole of the Fenton Police Department took charge of the case. Early investigations revealed that Rhonda was already on the police radar due to concerns about her well-being. Just a week and a half before her disappearance, Rhonda had drawn police attention for appearing disheveled and struggling physically.
Detective Cole explains:
"Within a week and a half span prior to Rhonda coming up missing, three of us at the police department had been called on her, concerned about her appearance and behavior."
(Timestamp: 05:52)
On the day Rhonda vanished, Detective Cole had responded to a call about her potentially wandering in traffic but had nothing alarming to report, noting:
"She looked disheveled and it wasn't safe for her to be walking out there, so I just took her home."
(Timestamp: 06:28)
Despite these concerns, Rhonda's disappearance initially didn't point strongly towards foul play. Her behavior had been somewhat unpredictable due to her health, but there were no clear signs of a struggle or forced entry at her apartment.
Key Leads and Theories
1. Mysterious Phone Call
Investigators discovered that Rhonda had a call with her sister Fadia around 11 PM on the night she disappeared. During the call, Rhonda mentioned another caller identified as "Diana," who later turned out not to be her sister. This unidentified number became a critical but unsolved lead.
Fadia recounts the call:
"Rhonda kept saying, I'm tired. Sis... she seemed upset after taking the call."
(Timestamp: 08:38)
Despite efforts, including showing the call log to family members, the police couldn't trace the number, suspecting it might have been from a burner phone.
2. Security Footage and Suspect Vehicles
Security camera footage from Rhonda's apartment complex showed three cars passing by between 8 PM on February 10 and 8 AM on February 11. However, poor video quality hindered the ability to identify the vehicles or any potential suspects.
Detective Cole notes:
"Due to the dark, the lighting... it's extremely hard to tell what type of vehicle those were."
(Timestamp: 13:51)
3. Suspected Involvement of Duane
Duane, Rhonda's neighbor and frequent companion, became a person of interest. Initially, Duane provided conflicting statements about seeing Rhonda on the night of her disappearance. He eventually contacted his attorney and refused to take a polygraph test, raising further suspicions.
Detective Cole observes:
"Duane had not been publicly attached to this case until after investigating Jack's connection."
(Timestamp: 15:58)
Tragically, Duane passed away in 2017, complicating further investigations.
4. Crane Lake Search Efforts
Detectives conducted extensive searches around Crane Lake, near Rhonda's residence, using canine units. While the dogs indicated the presence of human remains multiple times, no evidence was found due to the frozen conditions. Subsequent searches with sonar tools in 2010 also yielded no results.
Family's Perspective and Impact
Rhonda's disappearance has had a profound impact on her large and close-knit family. With six sisters, one of whom is her twin, and a brother, the Johari family maintains a strong emotional bond, feeling each other's pain deeply.
Sam Jawhari, Rhonda's brother, shares the family's anguish:
"Every day you wake up and it's like, still nothing. We're still in the same boat. Is she really gone? Is she here? Is she going to just show up?"
(Timestamp: 23:42)
Rhonda's six-year-old daughter, Maddie, continues to long for her mother's return, having never received answers about her disappearance.
Renewed Investigation: A Decade Later
After a decade with little progress, Detective Thomas Cole was assigned to Rhonda's cold case in 2023. Determined to uncover new leads, Cole re-examined all existing evidence and re-interviewed family members and witnesses. Collaborating with Western Michigan University's Cold Case Program, over 1,600 pages of Rhonda's case files were digitized for a comprehensive review.
Detective Cole states:
"I've gone back, and I've talked to all the family members... they have so many missing pieces of the puzzle that would help me."
(Timestamp: 30:19)
Despite advancements in technology, tracing the mysterious phone call from 2009 proved futile. Cole also revisited Crane Lake with fresh forensic methods, exploring new theories about Duane's possible involvement despite his passing.
Cole emphasizes the importance of closure:
"It's not for my closure. It's for her family's closure... finding Rhonda would be the biggest highlight of my career."
(Timestamp: 35:04)
Current Status and Call to Action
As Detective Cole continues to piece together Rhonda's disappearance, the Johari family remains hopeful that renewed attention and persistent investigation will eventually lead to answers.
Dee Dee passionately urges:
"Do it for you and do it for Rhonda. Do it for our family and for her daughter... Just do it. Take a load off."
(Timestamp: 36:39)
Maddie Jawhari, Rhonda's daughter, expressed her lingering pain and hope in a heartfelt remembrance:
"I spend so much time wondering if she'd be proud of me... The hardest part of loving someone is losing them. The hardest part of losing my mom is not knowing what happened to her."
(Timestamp: 37:05)
Conclusion
Rhonda Jawhari's disappearance remains one of Michigan's most perplexing cold cases. Despite extensive investigations and numerous leads, her whereabouts are still unknown. The Deck episode serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring pain such unresolved cases inflict on families and communities.
Listeners are encouraged to reach out with any information that might shed light on Rhonda's disappearance:
- Contact Detective Thomas Cole:
Phone: 810-629-5311
Email: cole@tonpolice.org - Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County:
Phone: 1-800-422-5245
Website: crimestoppersofflint.com
About The Deck:
The Deck is dedicated to solving cold cases by highlighting the stories of missing and murdered individuals. Each week, alongside investigators and families, The Deck seeks justice for those who have been forgotten.
This summary was crafted to provide a comprehensive overview for listeners and those interested in Rhonda Jawhari's case. For the full emotional journey and detailed discussions, tuning into the episode is highly recommended.