Podcast Summary: The Deck – Tangie Sims (9 of Diamonds, Colorado)

Host: Ashley Flowers
Date: January 28, 2026

Main Theme

This episode of The Deck explores the brutal 1996 murder of Tangie Sims in Aurora, Colorado—a case that went cold for decades before investigative genetic genealogy finally identified her killer, a long-haul trucker named Wes Backman. The episode delves into the details of the crime, the twists and turns of the investigation, and the broader context of long-haul truckers as serial offenders.

Key Discussion Points

1. Discovery of Tangie's Body and Initial Investigation

• Crime Scene Details

  • On October 24, 1996, Tangie Sims was found murdered in an Aurora alley (00:04–03:49).
  • Her body was discovered with clothes disheveled, a black Raiders jacket covering her face, her jeans and boxers pulled down, and multiple knife wounds.
  • Jewelry was still on her, including a gold watch stopped at 7:14.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Detective Joe Petrocelli: “On her breasts, I saw vertical cuts... So I could see these vertical cuts on her chest, but I couldn't see her face.” (02:41)

• Evidence Collection

  • Investigators found blood on a trash bag, a missing shoe in a bush, and blood-spattered leaves (03:49–04:33).
  • Coroner’s investigation revealed numerous wounds, including a fractured skull and cut throat.
  • The amount of visible blood at the scene didn’t match the brutal injuries, suggesting it was a dump site.

2. Identification of Victim and Early Leads

• Victim ID

  • Identified quickly through a birth certificate in her pocket: 25-year-old Tangie Sims, with prior arrests for sex work and related charges (06:58).
  • Autopsy clarified cause of death (throat wound) and noted ambiguous evidence of sexual assault.

• Initial Suspects and Community Impact

  • Tangie had recently relocated from Tennessee, was working as a sex worker even with limited mobility—a result of being shot five times prior (08:18–09:36).
  • Community rumors and tips highlighted a green and black semi truck as possibly involved.

• Focus on Tangie’s Boyfriend, 'Taz'

  • Known as Duane Gregory, alleged abusive pimp, history of domestic violence (11:44).

  • Similar wounds: a week before her murder, Tangie had stabbed Taz in the butt; she herself was stabbed in that area postmortem—a possible sign of personal retaliation.

  • Notable Quote:

    • Petrocelli: "I'm thinking this is a hair. Take that, you. You deserve this." (12:39)

3. The DNA Trail and a Cold Case

• DNA Evidence

  • Key discovery: blood on Tangie’s body not belonging to her—likely the perpetrator's (06:23, 13:54).
  • Police took DNA samples from Taz and others; all resulted in no match to the crime scene blood (13:54–16:59).

• The Investigation Stalls

  • Despite testing multiple suspects (many with grudges against Tangie), no matches were found. The case went cold for over a decade.

4. Revival of the Case and New Technology

• Detectives Steve Connor and Mike Prince

  • 2008–2009: Detective Connor reviewed cold cases, confirmed Tangie’s evidence was preserved properly (17:26).
  • Key quote:
    • Connor: "The first steps we take is to make sure that we still have the evidence." (17:26)

• Breakthroughs in DNA Technology

  • No hits in local, state, or national databases (CODIS), nor via traditional familial searching (18:07–19:13).
  • 2018: Detective Prince pushed for investigative genetic genealogy, funded creatively via Crime Stoppers.

5. Genetic Genealogy and the Suspect Emerges

• How the Suspect Was Found

  • Genealogist Joan Hanlon narrowed the DNA to a family in North Dakota (20:54).
  • Detectives travel to North Dakota, meet with family genealogist Nels Backman.
  • Dramatic moment: Nels points to Wes Backman as the likely culprit (22:35–23:33).
    • Notable Quote:
      • “If you were to pick somebody in this circle of family here to have killed somebody, who would you pick? Without hesitation, Nels just looks and points and says, this guy right here.” (22:35)

• Confirmation

  • Family members confirm Wes's history of violence; he was a trucker matching the profile seen in Tangie’s last known contact (24:35–25:17).

  • Problem: Wes was deceased (cremated), but his daughter provides DNA for comparison.

  • Stephanie Shoup’s reaction:

    • “She didn't say, call and let me know if it's him. It's call me and let me know when it's him.” (26:16)

  • A week later, the DNA match confirmed Wes Backman was Tangie’s killer (26:34).

6. Reflection, Mistakes, and the Broader Issue

• Investigative Errors and Learning

  • Detective Petrocelli reflects on his ‘tunnel vision’ on Taz and the dangers of confirmation bias (27:38).
    • Quote:
      • "I was so set on finding her killer, and Taz just fit the killer profile... I'm glad that we know who did it... all it tells me is that the person that I thought did it wasn't the person that did it." (27:38)

• Serial Truckers and Systemic Problems

  • Wes Backman’s long-haul trucker lifestyle made him difficult to track; it's unlikely he’s the only trucker involved in multiple violent crimes.
  • Discusses the FBI’s Highway Serial Killings Initiative and the transient nature of sex workers and truckers intersecting (28:11–31:42).
    • Frank Figlouzzi, former FBI official, quoted:
      • “There were too many bodies across too many jurisdictions and not enough answers.” (30:09)

• Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Appeal

  • Despite identification, detectives worry Wes committed other crimes. No other cases have been definitively linked.
  • Ongoing call for listeners to come forward if they have information about similar unsolved cases (31:50–32:42).
    • Quote:
      • "The fact that he was that mobile for that many years, it could be anywhere... Could he be involved in that? Sure. Can I prove it? Probably not, but it's a possibility." (32:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Detective Petrocelli on Blood Evidence:
  “On her body was the blood of the murderer. We didn't know who he was.” (06:51)

• Petrocelli on Tunnel Vision:
  “I just got this tunnel vision, which in my business, you're not supposed to have. But... Taz just fit the killer profile that I wanted him to fit.” (27:38)

• Detective Connor on Truckers and Mobility:
  “The fact that he was that mobile for that many years, it could be anywhere.” (32:20)

• Family Genealogist Nels Points Out Wes:
  “If you were to pick somebody in this circle of family here to have killed somebody, who would you pick? Without hesitation, Nels just looks and points and says, this guy right here.” (22:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04–03:49 — Discovery of Tangie's body and initial crime scene assessment
• 06:23–06:58 — Identification of key, potentially perpetrator-linked blood evidence
• 11:33–14:27 — Focus on Taz as suspect, his relationship with Tangie, and subsequent DNA elimination
• 16:59–19:13 — Cold case status and the arrival of new detectives and new technology
• 20:54–21:31 — DNA genealogy breakthrough and first contact with Backman family
• 22:35–23:33 — Family genealogist Nels names Wes Backman
• 24:35–26:34 — Gathering confirmatory DNA; daughter’s reaction; positive match
• 27:38–28:11 — Detective Petrocelli’s reflection on investigative mistakes
• 28:11–31:42 — Broader context of truckers, possible serial offenders, FBI initiative
• 31:42–32:42 — Appeal for information and open cases nationwide

Additional Details

• Investigative Techniques Highlighted:
  • Innovative uses of both familial DNA and investigative genetic genealogy
  • The importance of preserved physical evidence decades later
• Commentary on Sectoral Issues:
  • The intersection of sex work and homelessness with serial victimization
  • The limitations of law enforcement in tracking transient, mobile offenders

Closing Thoughts

The episode encapsulates not just a single cold case's journey from mystery to partial resolution, but also paints a larger portrait of how advancements in DNA technology and collaborative investigative work can shift paradigms—even as systemic issues and unanswered questions about possible serial offenses linger. The emotional impact on the families and the investigative lessons learned serve as powerful takeaways for listeners and law enforcement alike.