True Crime with Kendall Rae

Episode: Soldier Evades Capture for HOW LONG?! The Heartbreaking Murder of Cati (Katie) Blauvelt
Date: March 5, 2026
Host: Kendall Rae
Podcast by: Mile Higher Media & Audioboom Studios

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kendall Rae delves into the tragic murder of Katherine “Katie” Ann Blauvelt, a young woman from South Carolina whose life was senselessly cut short by her estranged husband, John Blauvelt—an Army recruiter. Rae explores not only the deeply disturbing details of Katie’s murder and the red flags leading up to it, but also the shocking six years John Blauvelt spent evading law enforcement, aided in part by his much younger girlfriend, Hannah Thompson. With her signature empathetic and victim-focused approach, Kendall highlights the dangers of predatory relationships, the failures in protecting victims, and the unwavering fight for justice carried forward by Katie's family.

Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Introducing Katie Blauvelt & The Red Flags

00:39 – 10:40

• Background on Katie:
  • Born August 8, 1994. Described by her mother Patty as caring, sweet, kind, and a lover of animals.
  • Dreamed of a simple, happy life—finding love, starting a family, being surrounded by animals.
• Meeting John Blauvelt:
  • John, an Army recruiter (age 26), met 20-year-old Katie while she worked at Firehouse Subs.
  • Initial charm masked John's secret: he was already married with a child. He claimed the marriage was ending.
  • Early family skepticism: Katie’s family found John standoffish and disrespectful—a major red flag.
  • “[John] just acted like he couldn't care less to be around them, had no interest in getting to know them.” — Kendall Rae (06:07)
• Toxic Relationship & Escalating Issues:
  • Arguments escalated post moving in together; John’s alcoholism and fights forced Katie to seek refuge with her sister.
  • Despite family confusion, Katie joins the Army (influenced by John), but is medically discharged.
  • Sudden marriage to John (“By the way, John and I got married today.”), troubling party lifestyle centered on providing drugs and alcohol to high schoolers.
  • John’s predilection for grooming underage girls comes into focus.

2. Predatory Behavior and Domestic Violence

10:40 – 19:00

• John Inviting Teenage Girls to Live With Them:
  • John insists on moving Katie’s teen niece, Cheyenne, into their home—"very, very creepy" per Kendall.
  • Hosting parties with drugs, targeting high school-aged girls, including 17-year-old Hannah Thompson.
  • John begins a sexual relationship with Hannah: “She was a child. He is a predator. He groomed her, he gave her drugs, he took advantage of her.” — (15:15)
• Escalation: Domestic Abuse and Police Involvement
  • Threatens Katie and her family with a gun, as well as himself.
  • Arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and domestic violence.

3. Katie’s Attempt to Rebuild & Disappearance

21:48 – 26:14

• New Start for Katie:
  • Finds a job at PetSmart, enrolls in college, begins divorce proceedings, wants to move on from John.
• Day of Disappearance (October 24, 2016):
  • Last heard making plans with niece Cheyenne for dinner, but never arrives—her family initially assumes she stayed out, but panic grows the next day.
  • Friends locate her body in an abandoned house—stab wound to the neck; knife blade still inside. Crime scene suggests an attempt to hide her body.

4. Immediate Investigation & Suspicion

26:14 – 34:24

• John’s Police Interview:
  • Appears aloof, cracks jokes (“Right now I just sit in this office, small office. Right now because of the civil investigation, all my recruiting duties have been suspended.” — John, 27:17), fails to ask about the crime or how Katie died.
  • Only concerned if he’s being charged: “Am I being charged with a crime? ... If I am, I’d like to contact a lawyer because this is uncomfortable.” — John, 27:56
• Weaponized Gaslighting:
  • Denies any involvement, claims he’s being set up by Katie’s family: “They’re trying to spin this story against me and it’s got me terrified. It’s got me scared as shit.” — John, 30:25
• Circumstantial Evidence:
  • Witnesses heard John threaten to kill Katie, offered money for help, plotted alibis.
  • Surveillance and phone records put John at the scene; Katie’s car seen being dropped off and John’s car leaving.
• No arrest made due to lack of direct physical evidence.

5. Hannah Thompson’s Role & Flight

36:04 – 39:28

• Hannah as Accomplice:
  • Identified as the person helping John move Katie’s car and possibly more.
  • Interrogated but denies involvement: “I really don’t know. I don’t know anything about her murder.” — Hannah, 36:44
  • Released for lack of evidence. John and Hannah flee before arrest warrant is issued, aided by John’s military training.

6. Six Years on the Run & Break in the Case

39:28 – 44:00

• Cross-country Escape:
  • John and Hannah head west; evade law enforcement using cash, ATM withdrawals, video surveillance—always one step ahead.
  • John abandons Hannah in Oregon; she contacts family and is brought in for questioning, confesses to aiding John and learning he killed Katie "for her."
  • “He told me that the last thing she said was that if he let her go, that she wouldn’t call the police.” — Hannah (39:48)
• Hannah protects John for years via social media contact, only admitting the truth in 2022, six years later, ultimately helping the U.S. Marshals track him down.

7. Justice & Final Outcomes

44:00 – End (~50:53)

• John's Arrest & Trial:
  • Arrested in Medford, Oregon, operating under alias "Ben Klein." Fingerprint tech confirms real identity.
  • New partner was unaware of his past and is left devastated by his arrest.
  • Hannah also arrested on five felony charges.
• Trial Revelations:
  • Hannah testifies against John without a plea deal, offering key insight into his confession and their flight.
  • Motives include revenge for Katie’s domestic violence report and spousal support, threatening John’s status and finances.
  • John’s self-pitying note to his daughter from his journal: “Someday I hope you understand why I did it. That girl was evil to me. ... Sorry bud. I love you.” — (approx. 48:20)
  • Google searches: “how to sharpen a knife,” “what to do if my wife dies.”
• Sentencing:
  • John sentenced to life in prison without parole after a five-hour jury deliberation.
  • Hannah receives three years of probation; viewed by the family and many listeners as a slap on the wrist.
  • A third, little-known figure, Charles Sidney Scott, was also arrested, though his involvement proved minimal and he served time already for unrelated charges.
• Reflection on Justice:
  • “It pisses me off so much that John was able to get away with this for six years. ... But just because justice sometimes takes a lot of time ... it doesn’t mean that it’s not coming and you can never give up.” — Kendall Rae (49:30)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On John’s predatory behaviors:
  “John is literally that guy who can’t get people his own age to like him, so he has to throw parties and seem like the cool guy to a bunch of high schoolers.” — Kendall Rae (13:59)
• On Hannah’s initial victimhood:
  “What he did to her, especially in the beginning, was extremely wrong. She was also a victim of his.” — Kendall Rae (15:17)
• On John’s callousness:
  "He didn’t ask a single question about how she died or if they knew who did it. ... The only question that John seemed to want an answer to was about himself.” — (27:56)
• On the family’s relief:
  “They were genuinely worried that he was never going to be found, that Katie would never get the justice that she deserved. But justice was now well on its way.” — (45:10)
• On delayed justice:
  “It pisses me off so much that John was able to get away with this for six years. ... But just because justice sometimes takes a lot of time ... it doesn’t mean that it’s not coming and you can never give up.” — Kendall Rae (49:30)
• On Hannah’s probation:
  “Patty says this feels like a slap on the wrist, and I couldn’t agree more.” — (49:50)

Concluding Thoughts

Kendall Rae’s coverage paints a vivid portrait of a case marked by repeated warning signs—ignored, undermined, and then tragically realized. Through family testimony, evidence breakdown, and an unflinching look at institutional and personal failure, Rae keeps the focus on Katie’s stolen future and the tenacity of those who fought for justice. The episode both warns of the danger posed by hidden predators and serves as a reminder of the necessity to persist even when justice seems out of reach.

For more cases and advocacy:
Find the video version on Kendall Rae’s YouTube.