Leigh Egan

Leigh Egan is a crime-fighting journalist and editor who specializes in breaking news and investigative true crime coverage. With more than a decade of experience under her belt, Leigh’s work can be found in a number of high-profile national publications. For Leigh, learning didn’t stop after college. She considers herself a lifelong learner who frequently takes media and journalism courses to keep abreast of the latest happenings and innovations in her field. Tips: legan@crimeonline.com

Delphi Murders: Judge Fights Back After Lawyers Push For Her Removal from Accused Child Killer Richard Allen’s Trial
Court

Special Judge Frances Gull and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita have requested that the state Supreme Court deny a petition to replace Gull and reinstate accused child killer Richard Allen’s defense team, in connection with the high-profile Delphi double murder case. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Gull removed Allen’s original defense team, Andrew Baldwin and Brad …

Danielle Friedland and family
Missing
November 28, 2023

Update: Missing ‘Best Mom in the World’ Checks Baggage at Airport, Fails to Board Plane

The husband of a missing California woman who failed to return home from Texas says she has two young children at home who consider her the “best mom in the world.” As CrimeOnline previously reported, Danielle Becker Friedland, 36, checked her baggage at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Wednesday night but never boarded the plane. …

Blake Chappell
Cold Cases
November 27, 2023

New Interest Sparked in Cold Case Murder of Teen Boy, Anonymous Letters Sent to Police

Newnan police in Georgia are hoping new information will help crack the cold case of a Georgia teen found shot in the head over 10 years ago. According to the Newnan Police Department, 17-year-old Blake Chappell, who vanished on October 16, 2011, was found murdered two months later. In a video statement last week, the …

Kendrick McDonald
Homicide
November 27, 2023

Update: Nebraska Boy, 10, Shot Dead on Thanksgiving Night by His Father: Police

Omaha police say a 10-year-old boy is dead, allegedly shot by his own father on Thanksgiving in what may have been a case of mistaken identity. According to the Omaha Police Department, police responded to a home at 1112 N 31st Avenue in Omaha Wednesday night, and found the child, identified as Kendrick McDonald, unresponsive …

Danielle Friedland
Missing
November 27, 2023

BOLO: Missing Mother-of-2 Checks Baggage at Airport, Fails to Board Plane

Police are seeking tips after a California woman failed to board a plane from Texas to California Wednesday and has not been seen since. According to KHOU 11, Danielle Becker Friedland, 36, checked her baggage at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Wednesday night but never boarded the plane. According to loved ones, she was …

Court
November 24, 2023

Delphi Murders: Indiana Man Arrested for Snapping Pics of Crime Scene Photos, Evidence

An Indiana man is behind bars after police say he disclosed sensitive information and evidence in connection with the 2017 Delphi murders. According to a 29-page court transcript released Friday, police arrested Mitchell Thomas Westerman on a conversion charge, after he allegedly leaked evidence in the murders of Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14. …

Casey Garcia
School Crimes
November 24, 2023

Texas Mother Learns Fate After Dressing up as Middle School Student, Attending Classes

A Texas mother was sentenced to probation this week, after dressing up as her daughter and recording herself at an El Paso middle school in 2021. According to the El Paso Times, Casey Garcia was sentenced to six months of probation, a $700 probated fine, and 100 hours of community service for criminal trespassing, an …

Vennessa Phillips
Wanted
November 22, 2023

‘Armed and dangerous’ Georgia Man on the Run After Police Find His Wife Dead in Home

Police in Georgia are searching for a murder suspect following the discovery of a deceased woman Tuesday, at a Coweta County residence. Fox 5 reports that police are searching Dustin Allen Phillips after finding a woman dead at a home off Halo Trace. An active felony murder warrant was issued for Phillips’ arrest on Tuesday, …

Davido and Karen Koep
Court
November 22, 2023

Missing Washington Couple Likely Murdered, Police Find ‘Partially filled out’ Eviction Notice

A Washington man will remain behind bars without bail, a Thurston County judge said Monday, following evidence that a missing couple may have been murdered. According to The Olympian, Timothy Burke, 45, appeared in Thurston County Superior Court on Monday following the disappearance of Karen Koep and her husband, Davido. As CrimeOnline previously reported, police …