True Crime All The Time – Episode 470: Frank McAllister

Release Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson (Gibby)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike and Gibby explore the tragic murder of 19-year-old Frank McAllister in 1993—a case that languished unsolved for almost 25 years. The episode delves into Frank’s early life, the circumstances around his disappearance, the initial investigation, and the shocking confession of one of his suspected killers decades later. The hosts engage in their signature balanced blend of respectful investigation and humor, and unpack how one man’s conscience ultimately broke the cold case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Frank McAllister's Background and Circumstances Before Disappearance

• Frank’s Family and Upbringing

  • Born September 20, 1973, in Downey, California, to Doug McAllister and Cindy Tolmachoff.
  • Described by his mom as someone who "loved to joke, tease, and get your attention." (06:27)
  • Parents separated when Frank was 8, moved to Redding, CA with his father.

• Struggles with Drugs and Relationships

  • By age 19, Frank was using meth. His fiancée Donell Tatic tried to help him kick the habit. (07:21)
  • Despite a short breakup, Frank and Donell got engaged, with plans to elope to Reno.

• Financial Situation

  • Recently unemployed, Frank received a $5,000 settlement from a car accident; planned to use it to pay debts and get an apartment.
  • However, he also considered using some of the money to buy meth for resale—a decision that would prove fateful. (09:36)

"I really thought I had found the love of my life. I had a lot of goals, a lot of dreams... But Frank wanted to use some of his settlement money to buy meth and resell it for a profit." – Donell Tatic (09:36)

2. The Disappearance – May 6-7, 1993

• Last Known Movements
  • On May 6, 1993, Frank left in Donell’s car with siblings Curtis (21) and Shanna Culver (17), and Shanna’s boyfriend Brian Hawkins (19), allegedly to buy meth in Shingletown, CA. (10:18)
  • He never returned home; Donell reported him missing on May 7 after searching for him and her car.
  • Frank’s friends told authorities he dropped them off before supposedly heading elsewhere—but investigators became suspicious.
• Discovery of Evidence
  • Donell’s car was found with bloodstains in a Costco parking lot in Redding: “There was blood on the driver's door, armrest, and the exterior of the vehicle.” (12:23)
  • Police believed a drug deal gone wrong was likely and treated the case as a homicide from the start.

3. Early Investigation & Community Response

• Challenges of the Era
  • The early ‘90s presented communication difficulties: lacking cell phones or social media, families relied on flyers and calls for missing person outreach. (14:43)
• Family Advocacy
  • Frank’s father, Doug, led local search efforts with flyers, feeling “just driving me nuts.” (14:31)
• Initial Suspicions
  • Authorities quickly identified Brian Hawkins and the Culver siblings as last seen with Frank.
  • Lieut. Steve Davidson hesitated to publicly point to suspects: “We have a lot of witnesses... who have given their opinion... but we have no suspects we're about to arrest.” (15:42)

4. Discovery of Remains – A Year Later

• Grim Finding in Shingletown
  • On April 13, 1994, mushroom hunters found skeletal remains with Frank’s driver’s license and clothing in the woods near Grace and Nora Lakes—confirming the worst fears.
  • Autopsy revealed Frank’s throat had been cut. (23:02)
• Suspects’ Ongoing Criminal Histories
  • Over the years, all three—Shanna, Curtis, and Brian—accumulated additional criminal records. (24:47)

5. Break in the Case: The Confession (January 9, 2018)

• Brian Hawkins' On-Camera Confession
  • 25 years later, Brian Hawkins walked into local KRCR-TV and confessed to involvement in Frank’s murder, stating he'd been tormented by guilt and was motivated by faith to come clean. (26:44–28:32)
  • Quote:

    "God, Christ. These things that have happened throughout my whole life since then for over 25 years have pushed me and pushed me to do the right thing... almost every minute of every day has been a nightmare." – Brian Hawkins (27:19)

• Step-by-Step Account of the Murder
  • Brian detailed the plan: Shanna conceived the robbery and murder to steal Frank’s cash. Curtis stabbed Frank in the car; Brian later stabbed Frank on the ground; Curtis dropped a large rock on his head to end his suffering. (31:14–36:59)
  • Afterwards, they shared Frank’s bloodied cash—Brian received only several hundred dollars out of the total. (37:01)

6. Arrests & Varying Accounts (January 2018 onward)

• Curtis and Shanna Culver Apprehended
  • Curtis confesses but claims his sole act of violence was the rock, casting Brian as the one who slit Frank’s throat and did most of the stabbing. He tries to present his actions as an act of mercy. (38:59–40:19)
  • Shanna refuses to confess, repeating her original story blaming Frank’s disappearance on a supposed urgent errand. Only after being confronted with Brian’s confession does she stop cooperating and ask for a lawyer. (43:08)
• Family Reaction
  • Frank’s family was shocked but relieved that suspected culprits were finally arrested; Frank’s father died just months before the arrests. (44:21)

7. Legal Process, Trials, and Sentencing

• Trial Complications
  • Despite being 41 at the time of arrest, Shanna appeared in juvenile court due to having been 16 at the time of the murder—a controversial decision for Frank’s family. (45:14)
• Differing Defense Strategies
  • Defense attorneys for each tried to pin blame on others. Brian’s was positioned as remorseful and cooperative; Shanna’s tried to paint her as an intimidated or uninvolved minor. (47:53–49:13)
  • “Deflect, deflect, deflect.” — Mike Gibson, on common legal strategy (47:51)
• Plea Deals and Sentencing
  • Brian Hawkins pled guilty to murder, robbery, and got 25 years to life (53:52).
  • Curtis and Shanna pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, robbery, and assault—Curtis received 35 years, Shanna 20 years; both must serve 80% before parole eligibility. (54:37)

8. Reflections and Final Thoughts

• Guilt and Conscience
  • Both hosts find it extraordinary that guilt alone broke this case after so many years: “If Brian doesn’t come forward, this case could still be unsolved today.” (57:44)
  • They contrast Brian’s eventual willingness to confess with the likelihood that neither Curtis nor Shanna would have ever done so voluntarily.
• Justice and Remorse
  • Sentences may fall short in the family’s eyes; the case raises perennial questions about fairness, closure for victims’ families, and the moral weight of conscience.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Crime and Motivation
  • “A grand, fifteen hundred dollars... those types of amounts, they're just inconceivable... How could you even take a chance for that little amount of money?” – Mike Ferguson (35:22)
• On Guilt
  • “Living with the guilt for so long had been horrible, horrible, absolutely horrible. Every day, almost every minute of every day has been a nightmare.” – Brian Hawkins (27:19)
• On Turning Points
  • “You do have to give Brian credit for at least that. It doesn’t excuse what he did, but obviously his life, I think, had changed at some point.” – Mike Ferguson (58:08)
• Hosts’ Signature Banter
  • “Now, it’s all ones from whatever show at the senior center you did last night…” – Mike Ferguson, razzing Gibby for his “big roll” of cash (53:32)
  • “It just looks impressive when it’s in my jeans.” – Mike Gibson (53:54)

Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:18 | Frank McAllister’s disappearance specifics begin | | 10:18 | Frank’s drug plans and meeting with suspects | | 12:23 | Discovery of blood, start of homicide assumption | | 14:31 | Frank’s father’s emotional response & community search | | 23:02 | Discovery and identification of Frank’s remains | | 26:44–28:32 | Brian Hawkins' televised confession, discussion on guilt | | 31:14–37:01 | Detailed account of murder and aftermath | | 38:59–40:19 | Curtis’s alternate confession and self-justification | | 43:08 | Shanna’s interrogation, refusal, and request for lawyer | | 45:14 | Legal complications with Shanna appearing as a minor in court | | 47:53–49:13 | Attorney strategies; blame-shifting in court | | 53:52–54:37 | Sentencing of Brian, Curtis, and Shanna | | 57:44 | Hosts’ concluding discussion on conscience and closure |

Takeaway

This episode gives listeners a comprehensive journey through a tragic drug robbery-murder, the cold-case gridlock of the pre-digital era, and the surprising—but ultimately redemptive—power of a criminal’s guilt. Mike and Gibby carefully dissect how small choices, troubled relationships, and the lure of quick money intersected with tragic results, and how a conscience stirred after decades—plus a chance TV interview—finally delivered some justice and closure.