The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It

Summary

The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It

Podcast: Wild Boys
Host: Sam Mullins
Episode Release Date: March 12, 2025
Produced by: Campside Media / Sony Music Entertainment

---

Introduction to the Case

In the gripping episode titled "The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It," host Sam Mullins delves deep into the mysterious disappearance of Noreen Boyle in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1990. The story centers around her 12-year-old son, Collier Boyle, whose relentless pursuit to uncover the truth about his mother's disappearance leads him to an unlikely partnership with Lieutenant Dave Messmore of the Mansfield Police Department.

---

Key Individuals

• Collier Landry Boyle: A precocious and determined 12-year-old boy whose mother, Noreen, goes missing.
• Lieutenant Dave Messmore: A middle-aged detective with a tough exterior and a reputation for going against the grain to solve cases.
• Noreen Boyle: The missing mother whose disappearance sets off the chain of events.
• Jack Boyle: Noreen's husband, a prominent local doctor.

---

The Disappearance of Noreen Boyle

The story begins on a quiet New Year's Day in 1990. Noreen Boyle, a 44-year-old woman, is reported missing. Initially, her disappearance doesn't garner much attention, as the Mansfield Police Department is overwhelmed with typical holiday incidents such as bar brawls and disorderly conduct. Lieutenant Dave Messmore, known for his methodical and unassuming nature, takes on the case reluctantly.

Lieutenant Dave Messmore [03:07]: "She was listed as a missing person by some of the friends of hers. Not family, but that's not unusual."

Messmore doesn't prioritize the case, assuming Noreen might have simply run away due to marital issues, a common assumption for missing persons without immediate red flags.

---

Collier Boyle's Determination

Unlike the average 12-year-old, Collier Boyle possesses a sharp intellect and unwavering determination. When his mother disappears, he refuses to accept that she left without a trace. Instead, Collier takes it upon himself to find her, showcasing remarkable maturity and resilience.

Collier Boyle [00:05]: "Where's my mother? She would never ever leave her children."

Collier's distress is palpable as he recounts the night his mother vanished, highlighting the turmoil and fear he experienced during those initial moments.

---

Detective Dave Messmore's Involvement

Lieutenant Messmore, despite his initial skepticism, begins to suspect that Noreen's disappearance might be more sinister than a typical runaway case. His encounter with Collier becomes a pivotal moment in the investigation.

Lieutenant Dave Messmore [08:02]: "I could just tell when I said to Dave, my mother would never leave me, something has happened to her. He just looked at me like he could tell that I was serious."

Messmore observes Collier's demeanor and realizes that the boy knows more than he's letting on. This interaction compels Messmore to reassess the case, leading him to collaborate with the boy in uncovering the truth.

---

Interaction Between Collier and Messmore

The initial meeting between Collier and Messmore is fraught with tension and unspoken understanding. Collier's composed yet intense behavior catches Messmore off guard, prompting him to take the case more seriously.

Collier Boyle [07:48]: "My mother would never leave without me or without me knowing where she was going."

Lieutenant Dave Messmore [07:53]: "Something happened. And I said, okay, I'll work on that."

Their conversation underscores the profound bond between Collier and his mother and hints at underlying family secrets that may have contributed to Noreen's disappearance.

---

Uncovering Family Secrets

As the investigation progresses, Collier and Messmore uncover a series of unsettling family secrets. Each revelation brings them closer to understanding what truly happened to Noreen Boyle. The episode intricately weaves through past events, family dynamics, and the psychological complexities that both Collier and Messmore face.

Narrator [01:51]: "Collier Landry Boyle wasn't your average 12 year old. He was very smart. He was very determined."

Through meticulous detective work and the boy's unwavering resolve, hidden motives and long-buried truths come to light, painting a comprehensive picture of the circumstances surrounding Noreen's disappearance.

---

Conclusion and Insights

"The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It" is a compelling exploration of family bonds, resilience, and the pursuit of truth. Collier Boyle's determination to find his mother, combined with Lieutenant Messmore's seasoned investigative skills, creates a powerful narrative that underscores the lengths to which one will go to uncover the truth.

This episode not only sheds light on a missing person's case but also delves into the psychological and emotional impacts such an event has on a young boy and a dedicated detective. It serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity to seek justice and closure, no matter the obstacles.

---

Notable Quotes

• Collier Boyle [00:05]: "Where's my mother? She would never ever leave her children."
• Lieutenant Dave Messmore [03:07]: "She was listed as a missing person by some of the friends of hers. Not family, but that's not unusual."
• Collier Boyle [00:09]: "Where's my mother? She would never ever leave her children."
• Lieutenant Dave Messmore [08:02]: "I could just tell when I said to Dave, my mother would never leave me, something has happened to her. He just looked at me like he could tell that I was serious."

---

Subscribe to Wild Boys:
To listen to "The Murder That Shook a Family—and the Son Who Solved It" and other riveting true crime stories, subscribe to Wild Boys on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com. Join The Binge community to feed your true crime obsession with new stories released monthly.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Collier Boyle was lying awake at night when he heard something horrible.

[Detective]

What was going through your mind at that time?

[Collier Boyle]

Where's my mother? She would never ever leave her children.

[Narrator]

His best hope to team up with a middle aged detective with a chip on his shoulder.

[Dave Messmore]

I got a partner now. Somebody who's gonna help me find out what happened to my mother.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

His whole life is a lie.

[Narrator]

From Sony Music Entertainment and Orbit Media, this is Finding Mom's Killer. Available now on the binge search for Finding Mom's Killer. Wherever you get your podcasts to start listening today.

[Detective]

Raise your right hand, please.

[Dave Messmore]

You swear or affirm testimony about the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.

[Detective]

Will you tell us who you are?

[Collier Boyle]

I'm Collier Landry Boyle.

[Detective]

Can you tell us how old you are now?

[Collier Boyle]

I am 12 years old.

[Narrator]

It's 1990 and we're in a courtroom in Mansfield, Ohio. The prosecution's star witness has just taken the stand. He's about to describe something that happened one fateful night a few months ago.

[Detective]

You awoke at 3 to 3:15am I believe was your time. Okay. And what awoke you?

[Collier Boyle]

I heard the two bangs and heard the scream.

[Detective]

Okay.

[Collier Boyle]

And that's when I heard the footsteps.

[Detective]

Then you got up in the morning?

[Collier Boyle]

Yes, I did.

[Detective]

And what was the first thing you did?

[Collier Boyle]

I looked at my mother's bedroom.

[Detective]

Were you alarmed when you got into the bedroom or.

[Collier Boyle]

Yes, I was.

[Detective]

Why was that?

[Collier Boyle]

The bed covers were all messed up. Her bed clothes were just lying in a pile and crazy weird.

[Detective]

What was going through your mind at that time? What were you thinking?

[Collier Boyle]

Where's my mother?

[Narrator]

Collier Landry Boyle wasn't your average 12 year old. He was very smart. He was very denied, determined. So when his mother went missing, Collier decided it was up to him to find her. From Sony Music Entertainment and Orbit Media, this is Finding Mom's Killer. I am Steve Fishman. This is the story of how a precocious kid joined forces with a most unlikely partner. Together, they set out to solve the mystery of his mother's disappearance. Along the way, they'd unearth one terrible family secret after another. You're listening to Finding Mom's Killer ad free on the binge, where you get all episodes all at once. This is episode one, a little vacation on New Year's Day, 1990. Six months before that 12 year old boy took the witness stand, the Mansfield, Ohio Police department was swamped with the usual holiday stuff. Bar brawls, disorderly conduct. So when a 44 year old woman named Noreen Boyle was reported missing, it was not A top priority.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

She was listed as a missing person by some of the friends of hers. Not family, but that's not unusual.

[Narrator]

This is Lieutenant Dave Messmore of the Mansfield Police. When Noreen Boyle's disappearance landed on his desk, he didn't think much of it. A couple of uniformed patrolmen had been sent over to her house to check things out. Their conclusion? Nothing to worry about.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

Somebody will run off. They have a dispute with their spouse, and they'll run away and they come back and you know, there's only so much you can do with a missing person.

[Narrator]

As you might have gathered, Lieutenant Dave Messmore isn't exactly the excitable type. In appearance, he kind of fades into the background. He's got thinning hair, a lampshade mustache, sensible glasses. He takes his time. He's methodical. He assumed Noreen Boyle was just an unhappy wife in an unhappy marriage who needed a little alone time. Then one day at his office, he received a phone call from a close friend of Noreen's.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

And she said, I'm telling you, this is not right. Noreen would never do that. And I said, well, you know, maybe she was just upset. No, no, I'm telling you, I said, I'll stop over and see what's going on.

[Narrator]

So on January 2nd, Dave climbed into his department issued used Oldsmobile and drove over to Noreen Boyle's house. Now, Dave was the Mansfield Police Department's head of major crimes. He wasn't supposed to go chase down leads on low priority cases. But Dave, low key, laconic Dave is full of surprises. By this point, he'd been on the force for 15 years, and he'd developed a reputation for striking out on his own, for bucking his superiors. He once put away a friend, a fellow cop, no less, for murder. People learned it was best not to get in his way. Another time, he had a kid with a knife cornered. Other cops, debated a next step. Dave rushed him.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

I blackjacked him and just knocked him cold.

[Narrator]

Dave without blackjack, figured he'd head over to the Boyle residence, have a word with Noreen's husband, a prominent local doctor named Jack Boyle. He arrived at the house, walked up the front steps, rang the doorbell.

[Dave Messmore]

It was like late morning, early afternoon. The doorbell rings, and it's this guy in a sport coat with a bushy mustache, glasses, khaki pants named Dave Messmore.

[Narrator]

This is Collier Boyle. He was the kid you heard testifying at the top of the show. He's a lot older. Now. When Lieutenant Dave Messmore arrived at the Boyle Residence. It was Collier's grandmother, that's his father's mother who answered the door. Collier hovered in the background.

[Dave Messmore]

I'm standing there over my grandmother's shoulder. And Dave was saying to my grandmother, well, you know, I'd like to talk to the doctor. And, you know, just kind of curious what, you know, he was just very calm. He's a very calm guy. Very collected. I mean, very detective like, you know what I mean? Just looking around, looking at things, taking everything in. Just, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this type of thing. And I remember he kind of charms his way in, and my grandmother's like, I'm gonna call my son. And she goes and she leaves to go make the phone call in the kitchen. And I knew at that point that that was like my one shot, because here I am alone with a police officer.

[Narrator]

Collier made an impression on Dave. This was a kid who dressed in chinos and penny loafers. He had a perfectly coiffed brown bob. He looked like a tiny adult.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

It was not like a little 11 or 12 year old you'd normally talk to. He was just very astute, very well spoken. Whenever his grandmother would walk away, he'd say things that make you wonder if there was something wrong.

[Dave Messmore]

I say to Dave, I look him dead in the eyes and I say, my mother would never leave me.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

He said, my mother would never leave without me or without me knowing where she was going.

[Dave Messmore]

And I think he's looking at me in a very peculiar way, like, who is this kid? He could just tell. I was so adamant.

[Lieutenant Dave Messmore]

He said, something happened. And I said, okay, I'll work on that.

[Narrator]

Kalia was surprised. He hadn't expected this cop who suddenly showed up on the doorstep to actually listen to him.

[Dave Messmore]

I could just tell when I said to Dave, my mother would never leave me, something has happened to her. He just looked at me like he could tell that I was serious.