0712 | Couples, Part 2

Summary

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True Crime Bullsh**

Season 7, Episode 12: "Couples, Part 2"

Air Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Josh Hallmark (Studio BOTH/AND), with Michelle Tooker

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Episode Overview

This episode continues True Crime Bullsh**’s in-depth exploration of serial killer Israel Keyes, focusing on his apparent fascination with couple homicides and unsolved triple murders. The team follows up on a disturbing cold case involving the deaths of a couple and a police officer in California—a case suggested by a listener—that eerily parallels one of Keyes’s own failed attempts. The episode investigates potential links, Keyes’s MO, his media influences, and addresses the broader implications of how victim backgrounds shape media and law enforcement responses.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Tips and Investigative Process

• The True Crime Bullsh** research team regularly receives and vets around 15 tips daily, each requiring a methodical, skeptical, yet open-minded approach.
• Team members bring different perspectives to tips: Josh is the skeptic, Shana is the optimist, Tooks is unbiased, and Jordan/Kathleen are detail-oriented.
• Listener insights have led to important breakthroughs in past investigations.

“We often joke that the more we know, the less we know. The thing is, however, we don’t need to know where we’re headed when we dive deeper… We must take the journey and see what comes of the information.” – Josh Hallmark (07:23)

2. Case Background: The “Triple” Deaths in Sacramento (October 2006)

Victims:

• Deputy Jeffrey Mitchell (County police officer, beloved family man)
• Allen Everett Shubert (mechanic/handyman)
• Nicole Ann Welch (friend accompanying Shubert)

Events Summary:

• Deputy Mitchell was shot and killed during a rural traffic stop (03:30am, 10/27/2006, Sloughhouse, CA).
  • After failing to answer repeated dispatch calls, backup found him fatally wounded.
  • “Jake asked me how he died. I told him a bad man shot his daddy… His next question was why the doctors couldn’t put a band-aid on him and fix him.” – Crystal Mitchell, recounting to Jake about his father (17:13)
• Shortly thereafter, a white van linked to Mitchell’s stop was found nearby in a river, with Shubert and Welch dead inside.
  • Both ruled to have died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, though exact details remain murky.
  • Police initially denied a connection but soon confirmed the deaths were intertwined: “Nicole and Alan were dead before Deputy Mitchell was murdered… prevailing theory became that Mitchell stumbled upon the van while someone was trying to dispose of Welch and Shubert’s bodies.” (21:55)

Theories:

• Meth production, with CO poisoning as an accidental byproduct.
• Third-party killer encountered by Mitchell during disposal, possibly Keyes or another criminal.
• Police and media discrepancies in treating the officer’s murder with far more attention than the couple’s unexplained deaths.

3. Israel Keyes Connections

• The case occurred within a “Keyes hotspot” during a period he was suspected to have committed crimes in California.
• Keyes’s grandmother lived in Sacramento; he visited often.
• Six months after the incident, Keyes was confirmed nearby, engaging in suspicious activity.

Parallels to Keyes’s Statements and Behavior:

• Interview clips reviewed (08:53–11:52) detail a similar interrupted attempt at killing a couple and police ambush at Point Woronzof, Alaska—same “triple homicide” scenario.
  • “I don’t know why I was thinking about shooting the cop… just kind of started thinking about what it would be like. You wouldn’t even hear… he’d just be on the ground.” – Israel Keyes, as quoted by Michelle Tooker (10:35)
• Demonstrates Keyes’s admitted fantasies, technical weapon prep, stakes in the region, and MO consistency (e.g., carjackings, emerging focus on couples, evasion tactics).

4. The Influence of Media and Crime Fiction on Keyes

• Keyes repeatedly referenced true crime books and fiction as sources of inspiration for his methodology.
  • “There was a book I read… that gave me a lot of ideas… It’s called Intensity by Dean Koontz.” – Israel Keyes, via Michelle Tooker (33:09)
• Host notes uncannily specific parallels between Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz and both the real crime and Keyes’s own actions—car thefts, cash use, weapon dismantling, method of killing, even the locations (33:21–34:23).
  • “So much of Keyes’ MO seems to have been derived from Mr. Murder, which was published in 1993.”

5. Unanswered Questions and Broader Context

• Numerous missing person cases in Northern California, some recently resolved and ruled out (e.g. Linda Haney case, 2025 closure).
• Reminders that certain victims (e.g. those with drug backgrounds or lesser socioeconomic status) are often overlooked relative to law enforcement or more privileged victims.
• Emotional resonance with families still seeking answers nearly 20 years later, marked by personal tributes and ongoing FOIA struggles.

“Certain victims or missing people are treated differently by police and the media, especially if the victims have a history of drug use or come from lower socioeconomic means.” – Host (36:53)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the investigative process:

  • “We often joke that the more we know, the less we know.” (07:23, Josh Hallmark)

• On Keyes’s mindset and nearly targeting a cop:

  • “I had always been… you know, ever since I was a kid, it was like… white supremacist roots or something, that I was gonna ambush a cop someday.” (10:38, Keyes via Michelle Tooker)

• Family’s heartbreak:

  • “Never got to play catch… teaching me how to throw a curveball or watching Red Zone on Sundays… There’s one thing I’ve heard from all my dad’s friends and family. He was always smiling, no matter what…” (41:30, Jake Mitchell tribute)

• Media/fiction influence on Keyes:

  • “There was a book I read years and years ago that gave me a lot of ideas. But I can’t really blame that because I was already doing stuff when I read that book. But it gave you ideas.” (33:09, Keyes via Michelle Tooker)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Correction, episode context: 01:48–03:30
• Team’s tip review process: 05:30–08:53
• Keyes Point Woronzof ambush incident (audio): 08:53–11:52
• Case narrative: Deputy Mitchell/shootings and couple deaths: 15:35–25:04
• Keyes’s potential presence/connections in California: 27:31–33:09
• Discussion of Dean Koontz fiction and uncanny parallels: 33:09–34:45
• Social, media, and law enforcement treatment of victims: 36:53–38:30
• Personal/family impacts, tributes: 40:42–41:30

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Conclusion

The episode highlights the persistent, meticulous efforts of the True Crime Bullsh** team to hunt for forgotten victims and hidden connections. Though the link between Israel Keyes and the 2006 Sacramento triple deaths can’t be definitively proven, the similarities in method, geography, and timeline raise serious questions. The show also interrogates how law enforcement and media select whose stories matter, advocating for a more humane, comprehensive view of all victims. The ongoing mystery lives on, with a call to action for any new leads.

“Whether or not Keyes was involved, we hope the families of Nicole Welch, Alan Shubert and Deputy Jeffrey Mitchell get answers soon.” – Host (42:00)

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If you have information on these cases, contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office (916-874-8477).

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Transcript

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Before we start the show, I have a quick correction from the last episode. In episode 11 of this season I mentioned that Stephen Willard's vehicle and remains were recently recovered from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. That is incorrect. Steven and his 2001 green Toyota Sequoia were found in Starvation Reservoir, which is approximately 130 miles from Flaming Gorge en route from Salt Lake City to Flaming Gorge. Also a few episodes back I mentioned a podcast series on Keyes that I took part in which interviewed Keyes army buddy Nathan. That series, the Mind of a Murderer is out now, so check out their multi episode Key series. Wherever you listen to podcasts, I promise it's good. This is a studio both and production. For most of this season, we've been examining who Keyes was, what drove him and how he operated through new evidence, new witness statements, new FBI files, and more. These new lenses have given us better perspective on Keyes crimes and the cases we've looked at in the past and continue to explore. And as we pore over new maps and new information and new theories and ideas, we can't help but go back to the unsolved murders he discussed most, his penchant for couples, and how his media consumption impacted his crimes. Earlier this season we did a deep dive into couples and examined those cases for potential connections to Israel Keys. And while we continue to research potential duos that Keyes might have killed, be it romantic partners, familial pairs or complete strangers to one another, we've also looked into cases that have involved triple murders and familial disappearances. And of dozens, there's one that stands out and has stood out for years. This is true crime bullshit. The serialized investigation into israel keys season 7 episode 12 couples part 2. Throughout our investigation into Israel Keys, listeners of the show have submitted tips, potential encounters, sightings and leads to us. Whenever a new email lands in our tip inbox or a social media message notification pops up or a listener shares a striking comment during a meetup or conference, it sends us down yet another rabbit hole. We do our best to vet the person and their story, usually through multiple interviews, research of Keys's timeline and the details of the story, looking into other tips and stories we've received that may coincide, and then reviewing it all with holdback information, information we've held from the public that may assist in further vetting these comments, stories and tips. Each person on the research team views these very differently. I tend to be the skeptic, Shana the optimist. Tooks takes on a unbiased approach to each and every one. Jordan and Kathleen tend to be more data minded, each listening to these tips with an ear for details. These journeys have been bizarre, frustrating, hopeful, fruitful and sometimes hilarious. They've led to new professional connections, friendships, collaborations and a sharing of information. Some of these tips have led to dead ends, while others have helped us unearth eye opening new details or cases to research in Anchorage. It's how we learned more about the milk jugs that Keyes use to weigh down bodies. A local high school teacher told us that Detective Monique Dahl had visited her class and shared these details with her students at a Vermont meetup. A listener gave us insider information from her family members who actually worked at the community bank in Tupper Lake while Keyes robbed it. It's also how we made connections with Sidney Koppel, who connected the dots on the Stacyville John Doe and helped her former teacher Christopher Roof get his name back. And it's led us to some of our recurring partners, Sarah Kaline, Dr. Chris Kunkel, Grandpa Jean. We've also had some wild conversations with bootleggers, former bank robbers, and even arsonists who wanted to share their thoughts on Keyes and his crimes. On average, we get about 15 tips every single day. And anytime I open an email, I have no idea where it's going to take me or how much time I'm going to spend with it. There have been countless times where these tips have led us to spend hours researching the potential identity of Burger King guy or key sightings around the country. And we've come up empty handed or knowing less than when we started exploring a particular lead. We often joke that the more we know, the less we know. The thing is, however, we don't need to know where we're headed when we dive deeper into this information. We must take the journey and see what comes of the information. It's all part of the investigation. Even if we think a tip is totally bananas, we still have to do our due diligence. And in 2021, this is how an unusual case involving three unexplained deaths ended up on our radar. Back in 2021, a listener submitted an interesting tip about an unsettling case that they'd heard about on the podcast Trace Evidence. They thought the True Crime Bullshit Team should look into it. This case hadn't come on our radar before, but after spending some time looking into it, we realized that it needed a deep dive. Most notably because it occurred in a Keyes hotspot during a time that he was in the area and during a time in which the FBI believes Keyes committed at least one homicide in California. After Tookes listened to the trace evidence episode, she shared with the team the peculiar string of events that led to the unresolved deaths of a man and woman and the murder of a police officer. And this particular crime reminded all of us of that triple homicide Key said he almost committed at point Lorenzoff in 2011.

[Michelle Tooker]

And then during this time frame. This is also the time frame you talked about Point Warrenzoff or out in that area, right? Yeah. Right after you built the Silencer. Yeah, that was. I think I went up to Eagle river after that incident because. A lot of police Driving around Anchorage after dark.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

So.

[Michelle Tooker]

And. And the timeout at Point Warren's off. How late was that?

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

When that.

[Michelle Tooker]

I mean, how Was it dark?

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

11 o'? Clock?

[Michelle Tooker]

It was about 11 o', clock, yeah.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Okay.

[Michelle Tooker]

And you think that was mid. How far before you left for. You left on June 3rd to go to Vermont. How many days or weeks was that? Before that? It would have been in May sometime. Probably mid May.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Okay.

[Michelle Tooker]

And do you know for sure if it was an APD officer or was it airport? It was two of them.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Okay.

[Michelle Tooker]

Definitely not airport police. No, I'm pretty sure I saw their car. I think it said it had the big. It may. It may have been an airport police if their cars looked the same, but I don't know. It looked like UPD to me. Do you remember what kind of car was there, other than the police car? What car were you watching? It was a Subaru station wagon, I think. What color? Navy blue or darker, maybe. I don't know why I was thinking about shooting the cop. I. I had always been, you know, ever since I was a kid, it.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Was like.

[Michelle Tooker]

I don't know, white supremacist roots or something, that I was gonna ambush a cop someday. And for some reason that night, I've been saying, sitting there long enough, and I was just bored enough and just amped up enough that I almost did it. And then that other cop showed up, his backup showed up. I was just really psyched, I guess, about the gun, and just kind of started thinking about what it would be like. It was like you wouldn't even hear if I had shot him, you know, you wouldn't have even heard anything. He just would have been standing there at their window one minute, and the next minute he would have just been on the ground. They wouldn't have even known what happened. I mean, nobody would have known. He wouldn't have been able to hear anything. But fortunately for everybody there, it was like the other guy showed up. I just decided to get back under control for a couple more weeks over there.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

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On the Evening of Thursday, October 26, 2006, 38 year old Sacramento County Deputy Jeffrey Mitchell set off for patrol. Deputy Mitchell enjoyed working the night shift because it gave him the opportunity to spend time with his six year old son Jake and eat dinner with his wife Crystal before heading into work. Known as a doting family man, Deputy Mitchell kept a laminated photograph of Crystal and Jake inside his badge. He was dedicated to his loved ones and his career. Mitchell didn't start his career in law enforcement. After high school, he spent five years in the United States Air Force serving as a security officer and after completing his military service, Mitchell earned a teaching certificate from California State University, Sacramento. He substitute taught for a few years before deciding to switch to a career in law enforcement. Initially, Mitchell worked for the Rio Consumnes Correctional center in Elk Grove, California. There he utilized his love of teaching, serving as a recreation technician and helping lead the center's physical education program. In 2002, he switched to a position as a deputy and started serving on patrol. Friends and colleagues have said that Deputy Mitchell took his love of teaching into his work as a police officer and that it made him great with community relations. He was also known for his infectious smile, selflessness and a love for baseball. As October 26th became Friday, October 27th, Deputy Mitchell was on patrol in a rural area of Sacramento county called Slow House, which is about 20 miles outside of Sacramento. At around 3:30am Deputy Mitchell sent a message to dispatch using his vehicle's computer. His message let dispatch know that he was initiating a traffic stop near Mase and Dillard roads off Highway 16. A white Chevrolet van did not have license plates and there appeared to be one occupant inside. Seven minutes after receiving the message, the dispatcher on duty heard Deputy Mitchell's radio clicking. The dispatcher tried calling the deputy's police radio but received no response. Then they tried Mitchell's cell phone. Still no answer. It was clear that something was wrong. Within 12 seconds, the dispatcher called a Code 3, sending police with lights and sirens to Mice and Dillard roads. The first responding officer found Deputy Mitchell lying on the road behind his vehicle. He was bleeding from a single gunshot wound to the head. His pulse weakened as he clung to life. Soon, dozens of police Officers arrived on the scene trying to assist Deputy Mitchell and determine what went wrong, who had shot their fellow officer. Sadly, for almost two decades now, these questions have persisted, and at the time, investigators had no idea how much this mystery was about to deepen. According to an interview with SFGate.com, then Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinnis told reporters, this may be a hunch and we may never have the answer, but it is my belief that there was something that heightened Deputy Mitchell's response because it does look like he had begun to handcuff a suspect. Investigators believe that a fight ensued with Deputy Mitchell losing control of his pistol. A massive manhunt for the white Chevrolet van began with electronic highway signs broadcasting the message. Officer shot White Chevy van, no plate. Over the years, Crystal Mitchell has told reporters that she remembers seeing those alerts in the early hours of October 27th on her heartbreaking drive to the hospital to say goodbye to her husband. She wasn't allowed to touch him as investigators told her they needed to preserve all evidence. At 4:45am on October 27, 2006, Deputy Mitchell was pronounced dead. When Crystal returned home, she sat down with their six year old son Jake to inform him of the news regarding his father. Crystal told the press, jake asked me how he died. I told him a bad man shot his daddy. He wanted to know where and I told him in the head. And his next question was why the doctors couldn't put a band aid on him and fix him. While loved ones began to process the senseless murder of a beloved father and police officer, the search for the white van and Deputy Mitchell's killer or killers continued. While driving along Highway 49 in El Dorado County, a couple who had seen the bolo signs earlier noticed something strange near the town of Plymouth, California, in the Consummas river. Down below the highway, there was a white van in the water. Something wasn't right and the vehicle looked like the one on the highway signs. So the couple reported the sighting to police. The half submerged van was about 30 minutes from where Deputy Mitchell was murdered. But while investigators believed finding the vehicle would lead them to Mitchell's killer, it actually opened up a whole new investigation. Law enforcement responded to the floating half submerged van and discovered something shocking. Inside were the bodies of a man and woman later identified as Allen Everett Schubert Floyd, 43, and Nicole Ann Welch, 28. The van was registered to Shubert, whose body was found in the driver's seat. With Welch discovered in the rear of the van, there were no obvious signs of what had caused the pair's deaths. Schubert resided in Sacramento and Welch in the Sacramento suburb of North Highlands. According to friends, Schubert lived and worked as a handyman and mechanic, sometimes operating out of his van, which was filled with his tools. He had offered Nicole well to ride up to Jackson, where she planned to visit a friend. Shubert didn't plan to stay long, as he had an upcoming court appearance in Sacramento. While Shubert did have a number of charges on his record, none of them were violent. His mother, Carolyn, told the Sacramento Bee a detective came to her home to question her about Deputy Mitchell's murder. However, police quickly ruled out any involvement by Welch or Shubert. The pair were likely already deceased when Deputy Mitchell initiated the traffic stop. Police also quickly ruled out suicide, in part after learning that Shubert had plans to move in with his girlfriend Robin soon. Later, reports from the Sacramento Bee indicated that Shubert, who was 5 foot 8 and approximately 200 pounds, had some marks on him that indicated potential physical trauma, though the marks could have also occurred post mortem. Autopsies would eventually determine that Welch and Shubert had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. But how exactly? If investigators know, they've yet to publicly release that information. Police tried to deny a link between Shubert's van and Deputy Mitchell's murder. It's unclear why they initially took this stance. However, it soon became undeniable that the trio's deaths were all linked. Once investigators shifted their stance on the three deaths being connected, law enforcement was quick to affirm that Nicole Welch and Alan Shubert were not responsible for Deputy Mitchell's murder. Nicole and Alan were dead before Deputy Mitchell was murdered. And so the prevailing theory became that Mitchell stumbled upon the van while someone was trying to dispose of Welch and Shubert's bodies. So what happened? Assuming the driver went the speed limit, it would have taken them about 27 minutes to get from Mase Road to the spot in the river where Shubert's van was found. And detectives believe that Deputy Mitchell's killer immediately dumped the van. So there are a number of theories that could explain this case. There are rumors that police know who killed Deputy Mitchell, but don't have enough evidence to charge this person, who some say has fled to Mexico. Some media reports also allege that Shubert and Welch had ties to meth. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a known risk associated with meth production. So could this explain the pair's death? Was an involved party attempting to dispose of their bodies when they encountered Deputy Mitchell? This theory is certainly the strongest and most plausible, and it appears to be where police lean. However, it's worth examining if something else happened. Did someone, Keyes or another person murder Welch and Shubert and once discovered by Deputy Mitchell, shoot the officer to cover their tracks? As far as Keyes potential connection, there are several areas of interest worth exploring here.

[Michelle Tooker]

There were a couple times that I.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Moved.

[Michelle Tooker]

You know, cars and stuff of theirs, but it's not like I kidnapped them. When the carjacking thing didn't work out, I decided I was gonna look for a house with a couple in it.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

This is Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge from Two T's and a Pod.

[Tamara Judge]

All right, lovers and dreamers, buckle up because there's a new season of 90 Day the Single Life. And it's hotter than ever.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

If you've never seen 90 day before, this is the one that will get you hooked up. Their marriages crumbled. Now eight singles are taking the leap and stepping back out to the scariest place of all the dating world.

[Tamara Judge]

There will be exciting first dates, steamy hookups, big letdowns and potential love waiting in the most unexpected places.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

After Sophie's recent divorce, she's moving on to see if there's potential with a Dominican hottie. Some of you may know Pedro Gino.

[Tamara Judge]

Has a full inbox of DMs and is trying for a second chance with one that got away. And after Courtney's unexpected expected romance with Colt, find out if his history of cheating will come back to bite the relationship for good.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Get ready for this season's hottest romance series full of surprises, sparks and connections.

[Tamara Judge]

Don't miss a new season of 90 Day the Single Life, next Monday at 8 on TLC.

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The first point of interest for us was from the clip we played earlier this episode regarding Keyes thwarted plans at Point Warrenzoff. His description of what happened there is eerily similar to what happened with Shubert, Welch and Mitchell. A male female couple turned up dead in their vehicle and a police officer was shot and killed at the scene.

[Michelle Tooker]

You said the accuracy for distance with this one, you could actually get this one to be accurate for a long distance.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Yeah.

[Michelle Tooker]

How do you know that? I mean how could you test that? Oh, I shot it. I mean I probably. I took it up in the woods out in Chugash and I had it. I had a whole target system set up there. I had give away my grand plane here, but I had a moving target system to where I could trip the target and it would start rolling downhill on a pulley and it was just a piece of printer paper. But then I would put a black mark, spray paint, a black mark about that big for an aim point. That's what I was shooting at with it at about 50 yards.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

That was.

[Michelle Tooker]

That was the plan I had. I didn't actually ended up ended up doing it that way, but that's one of the ways I one of the ideas I had.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Secondly, Keyes had ties to Sacramento. His grandmother lived there and he visited her several times. And just six months after the deaths of Shubert and Welch and the murder of Mitchell, Keyes was one hour away from Slow House, kayaking and camping alone while Kim was staying at a nearby resort. That same night there was an arson at a School just 15 miles from where Mitchell was found dead. This is the same two day period that the FBI believes Keyes murdered someone in Northern California. And we believe that someone may have been, at minimum, Noam Young of San Bruno, California, a town car driver who was dispatched to an unknown location and never returned. Records indicate that from July 7th to the 10th of 2010, Keyes turned off his phone while in Sacramento. He also rented a car during this period from July 9th to July 12th. So it's certainly an area where he was up to something during at least one period in time. We've explored missing persons who vanished during this blackout period at length in other episodes. But as a quick aside, it's worth noting that one of these cases recently saw some movement. Linda Lee Haney, 39, was last seen in Northern California in late June 2010. And reported missing in July. We often wondered if Keyes could have been responsible for her disappearance given his close proximity to the area at the time and the details surrounding Haney's disappearance. However, In November of 2025, investigators announced that they'd arrested and charged a man from Tennessee in connection with Linda Haney's disappearance and presumed murder. Her body has still not been recovered, but we can almost certainly rule Keyes out in this case moving forward as we have also covered at length multiple times. We believe that Keyes buried a cache at Lake Paris in Southern California. There are credible sightings placing him in the area. And NamUs 45 cases also point to a Southern California victim or victims. And in October 2006, the same week that Mitchell Allen and Shubert died, Keyes was in California. On October 21 of 06, Keyes flew from Seattle to San Diego. On the 22nd, he crossed into Mexico at the San Ysidro, California pedestrian border crossing. But the travel records after this are murky. According to the FBI's records, there's information for a flight on October 23 from San Diego to Seattle, followed by a flight from Seattle to Anchorage on the same day. However, there's also a Seattle to anchorage flight on November 8th. Did Keyes stay behind in California and or Seattle before heading back to Alaska on November 8? Did Keyes Road trip through California to Oregon and Washington? Or did he fly with Kim from San Diego back to Seattle on October 23rd? What was he up to during these 16 days? This is a trip we're currently exploring more and we will report back if we uncover any additional points of interest or confirmation on further details. While Keyes claims to have only shot and killed one person, Bill Currier, and preferred to strangle his victims, it is of note to mention that serial killers Angelo Bueno and Kenneth Bianchi experimented with carbon monoxide poisoning. Ann, Charlene and Gerald Gallego killed teenagers Kippy Jacqueline Vaught and Rhonda Lee Scheffler on September 11, 1978 in Slow House, California. Bueno and Bianchi are covered in Mindhunter and Gallego is featured in Roy Hazelwood's book Dark Dreams. 2 True crime books we know Keyes read. Which leads us to another strange coincidence.

[Michelle Tooker]

Well, there was a book I read years and years ago that gave me a lot of ideas. But I can't really blame that because I was already doing stuff when I read that book. But it gave you ideas.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Yeah.

[Michelle Tooker]

What book was that? It's called Intensity by Dean Koontz.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Back when tookes first told me about the Schubert Mitchell Welch case. It sounded incredibly familiar, like I'd read about it before. But the more we talked about it, the more confused I got. It was similar but different from the case that I had read about. As I remembered it, it was three men who were killed not long after I realized what I was actually a chapter from Mr. Murder, the dean Koontz book that was found in the shed where Keyes murdered Samantha Koenig. It's the Dean Koontz book that makes intensity look like Nobel Prize material. I'm not going to refresh your memories on this book because every time I try to describe it, my brain fries and my eyes ache from rolling. But what I will tell you is there is a chapter in this terrible book about a killer sneaking into a parked van, killing one passenger in the front seat and another in the rear of the van, then using de icer to decompose their bodies and eventually waiting for a cop to arrive before then killing him at the scene too. And this occurs in Mammoth Lakes, California, just 200 miles southeast of Slow House. Maybe these coincidences are innocuous, but throughout our research into Keyes, we find a lot of strange connections like these. And we can't overlook that much of Keyes MO seems to have been derived from Mr. Murder, which was published in 1993. Here are just a few passages from the book. After leaving the dead bodies at the job site, he should have broken the weapon down into as many pieces as possible. He should have disposed of its parts in widely separated locations. The barrel in a storm drain, perhaps half the frame in the creek, the other half in a dumpster until nothing was left. This is almost identical to what happened after the couriers the book goes on with he parks the rental Ford in a residential neighborhood and walks three blocks trying the doors of the cars at the curb. Only half are locked. He's prepared to hotwire a car if it comes to that. But in a blue Honda, he finds the keys tucked behind the sun visor, driving back to the Ford and transferring his suitcases and the pistol to the Honda. Again, eerily similar to what happened with the courier with credit cards, someone will surely be able to track him through his purchases. He will need to pay cash from now on. He swaps the license plates on the Honda for those on a Chevy, making his stolen vehicle more difficult to locate. The neighbors couldn't have heard gunshots above the raging storm. The killer's M.O. in the book is he would carjack someone or steal a car, take off or swap the license plates, use their car in the commission of a murder, then abandon it and find a new one, always covering his tracks and keeping his known location as far as possible from the location of his crime. Sound familiar? And this book largely takes place in Las Vegas, Riverside, Barstow and the surrounding deserts and forests, all areas Keyes spent a significant amount of time in. Whether or not Keyes had any involvement in the deaths of Mitchell, Shubert and Welch, this case also highlights something we've encountered often in our Certain victims or missing people are treated differently by police and the media, especially if the victims have a history of drug use or come from lower socioeconomic means. While there are countless details about Deputy Mitchell, there is very little information available about the other two victims in this case, Nicole Welch and Alan Shubert, the two victims deaths who undoubtedly led to Deputy Mitchell's from what we have learned, Shubert was a skilled mechanic with a deep knowledge of cars. He was a son, brother, uncle and boyfriend. He loved animals and left behind a dog named Brutus. His obituary noted that his mom, Carolyn, was his biggest hero. And in lieu of flowers, loved ones were asked to donate to the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Even a few months before drafting this episode, one of Alan's friends commented on his online obituary that they are still thinking of and missing him nearly 20 years later. Unfortunately, there is even less information available publicly about Nicole Welch. However, we know the families and loved ones of all three individuals are still hoping for answers to understand what happened in late October 2006 outside Sacramento.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

This is Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge from Two T's and a Pod.

[Tamara Judge]

All right, lovers and dreamers, buckle up because there's a new season of 90 Day, the stage single life, and it's hotter than ever.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

If you've never seen 90 day before, this is the one that will get you hooked. Their marriages crumbled. Now eight singles are taking the leap and stepping back out to the scariest place of all the dating world.

[Tamara Judge]

There will be exciting first dates, steamy hookups, big letdowns and potential love waiting in the most unexpected places.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

After Sophie's recent divorce, she's moving on to see if there's potential with a Dominican hottie. Some of you may know Pedro Gino.

[Tamara Judge]

Has a full inbox of DMs and is trying for a second chance with one that got away. And after Courtney's unexpected romance with Colt, find out if his history of cheating will come back to bite the relationship for good.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

Get ready for this season's hottest romance series full of surprises, sparks and connections.

[Tamara Judge]

Don't miss a new season of 90 Day the Single Life, next Monday at 8 on TLC.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[True Crime Bullshit Host]

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[True Crime Bullshit Host]

In 2015, thieves stole a bench and other mementos from a memorial erected for Deputy Mitchell. A year later, thanks to support from the community, a new bench was installed near the site of his murder. The baseball field in El Dorado Hills was also named in Deputy Mitchell's honor to commemorate his love of baseball and his community. In 2016, 10 years after his death, Shubert's mother, Carolyn died. She never got answers on what happened to her son. On October 27, 2025, the 19 year anniversary of Deputy Mitchell's death, his son Jake shared this tribute on social media. There's so many things I could say about my dad. First off, just that I miss him more than words will ever explain. Being six when he was taken from us meant that so many memories in life were taken from my family and me. Never got to play catch, getting taught to shave, teaching me how to throw a curveball, or watching Red Zone on Sundays. I still know every day he's looking down on my family and supporting us and being our angel. But there's always that what if, what if he was still here feeling every day. There's one thing I've heard from all my dad's friends and family. He was always smiling, no matter what the occasion or time of day, just bringing pure joy to everyone he met. I still live and abide by this myself, hoping to carry that part of him with me everywhere I go. He touched so many people's lives, and hopefully one day we can get justice for whoever took him away from us. If you know anything, please let the Sacramento Sheriff's Office know. It would mean the world to us. Unfortunately, our repeated FOIA attempts for this case have been denied, at least for now. But it's a case like Linda Haney's that we're keeping on our radar. Whether or not Keyes was involved, we hope the families of Nicole Welch, Alan Shubert and Deputy Jeffrey Mitchell get answers soon. Who's in a bad mood? Who's in the taxi turning the clock back avoiding the fire with this man he is meeting stands in the lobby counting his questions in the neon light sinking under the river Sewer line touches the edge of the suburbs Back to the beach where a family is waiting on rumors of summer Lay out a blanket Bring something to feed the birds. If you have any information regarding Deputy Jeffrey Mitchell's murder or the deaths of Alan Shubert or Nicole Welch, please submit a tip to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office online or at 916-874-8477. This episode was written, researched, edited and produced by Michelle Tooker, with additional writing and editing by Josh Hallmark and research assistants by Jordan Taylor and Shayna wolensky. Sources include Namus, the Charlie Project, Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz, Intensity by Dean Koontz, the Sacramento Bee, the trace evidence podcast, sfgate.com and unresolved me. This episode was made possible by the following Patreon, Amy Basel, Kendall C, Ash Fish, Heather Horton, Whedon, Sherry Dee, Kristin Hoffman, Dale Axton, Stephanie Taylor, Drew Vipond, Amelia Hancock, Christina Sisson, Nicole and Dennis Henry, Jillian Natale, Lana Holliday, Rural Juror Tuesday Woodworth, Kathleen S, Annette L, Casey Jensen, Richardson SC Benjamin Chopa, Fong, Trista, Nicole Pink, Jen J, Robin, Carol H, Beth Jones, Michelle Jordan M. Kate Luzier, Sarah C, John Comrie, Kathy Nation, Virginia Williams, Kerry Jordan T. Bethany, David Begley, Ally, Lauren Ferry, Chris S, Tory Meyer, Sabrina Abbott, Megan Daggle, Ashley Couplin, Michael Randall, Duane C, Jen Tricola and Trixie. Thank you to Studio Both and's newest Patreon supporters Amanda P, Karen D, Justin R, Heather E, Kayla, Lauren W and Jennifer L. To support the investigation, go to patreon.comstudiobothand this episode included music by Wyeth and Infinity, with featured music by Emily Haynes and the Soft Skeleton. With all the luck you've had why are your songs so sad? Sing from a book you were reading in bed and took to heart.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

All.

[True Crime Bullshit Host]

Of your lives on we reading in bed.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's cough, cold and flu season. Do not get caught feeling under the weather. Get back to feeling good with savings on all your cold and flu Essentials now through February 24th. Shop in store or online to stock up and save on items like Mucinex Fast Max Liquid Gels, Vicks Dayquil and nyquil Combo packs, hulls, cough drops and Tylenol Children's Liquid. The offer ends February 24th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

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[True Crime Bullshit Host]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

This is Teddi Mellencamp and Tamara Judge from Two T's and a Pod. There's a new season of 90 Day the Single Life, and it's hotter than ever. If you've never seen 90 day before, this is the one that will get you hooked.

[Tamara Judge]

Their marriage has crumbled. Now eight singles are taking the leap and stepping back out to the scariest place of all, the dating world.

[Teddi Mellencamp]

There will be exciting first dates, steamy hookups, big letdowns and potential love waiting in the most unexpected places.

[Tamara Judge]

Don't miss a new season of 90 Day the Single Life, next Monday at 8 on TLC.