Digest

This podcast tells the true story of Catherine Foster, a college student who was murdered in 1980. Catherine was last seen on February 21st, 1980, when she went back into her dorm to get her purse and never returned. Her friends searched for her, but she was found dead in the woods near the university on February 23rd. The investigation was initially frustrating, with no leads or suspects. However, three years later, a police officer found evidence in the home of a deceased security guard, Michael Maris, who had been on duty the night Catherine died. The evidence suggested that Michael had kidnapped and killed Catherine, but his family explained that the cage found in his attic was used to keep his grandfather safe. The case went cold again until 2002, when a witness came forward with information about Catherine's killer. The witness was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous who had been confided in by the killer. The witness revealed that Catherine's killer was actually her best friend, Jamie Kellham. Jamie had been obsessed with Catherine's boyfriend, Tom, and had murdered Catherine to get him to herself. Jamie confessed to the crime in 2008 and was sentenced to life in prison.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the podcast and its content, which focuses on strange, dark, and mysterious stories. It also mentions that the podcast uploads twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.

00:00:10

The Case of Catherine Foster

This Chapter begins the story of Catherine Foster, a college student who disappeared in 1980. The police initially believed she would show up, but after 24 hours, they opened a missing person investigation. Catherine's friends were worried and contacted campus security. The police searched the campus and surrounding areas, but found nothing. Two days later, Catherine's body was found in the woods near the university. The medical examiner determined that she had been shot twice in the head.

00:17:12

Amazon Music Advertisement

This Chapter is an advertisement for Amazon Music, highlighting the benefits of listening to podcasts ad-free with a Prime membership.

00:18:20

Mr. Ballon's Graphic Novel

This Chapter announces the release of Mr. Ballon's first graphic novel, "Mr. Ballon Presents, Strange Dark and Mysterious, the Graphic Stories." The book is an anthology of terrifying stories that will be released on Mr. Ballon's birthday, October 1st.

00:19:16

The Investigation Continues

This Chapter continues the investigation into Catherine's murder. A student who lived near the crime scene heard two loud popping sounds at 2:38 a.m. on the day Catherine's body was found. The police re-interviewed Catherine's friends and began looking into the possibility that she was abducted by a stranger. They investigated a maintenance worker who had a criminal record, but he had an alibi. They also interviewed the two security guards who were on duty the night Catherine died, and they confirmed that they had heard two loud popping sounds around 2:30 a.m.

00:26:18

The Search for the Murder Weapon

This Chapter details the police's search for the murder weapon. They searched the campus for the gun, but were unsuccessful. After three years, the case went cold, but the police officer who was in charge of the case continued to look for leads. In 1983, he received a call from a first responder who said that a man had been found dead of an apparent suicide in a house near the university. The officer went to the house and found evidence that suggested the deceased man, Michael Maris, a security guard who had been on duty the night Catherine died, was involved in her murder. However, Michael's family explained that the cage found in his attic was used to keep his grandfather safe.

00:31:18

A New Lead

This Chapter introduces a new police officer, Mike Morgan, who took over the cold case in 2002. He received a call from a police officer in Pascagula, Mississippi, Catherine's hometown, who said that a witness had come forward with information about the murder. The witness was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous who had been confided in by the killer. The witness revealed that Catherine's killer was actually her best friend, Jamie Kellham. Jamie had been obsessed with Catherine's boyfriend, Tom, and had murdered Catherine to get him to herself.

Keywords

Q&A

• What happened to Catherine Foster?

  Catherine Foster, a college student, was murdered in 1980. She was last seen on February 21st, 1980, when she went back into her dorm to get her purse and never returned. Her body was found in the woods near the university on February 23rd. She was shot twice in the head.

• Who was Catherine Foster's killer?

  Catherine Foster's killer was her best friend, Jamie Kellham. Jamie was obsessed with Catherine's boyfriend, Tom, and murdered Catherine to get him to herself.

• Why did Jamie Kellham kill Catherine Foster?

  Jamie Kellham was obsessed with Catherine Foster's boyfriend, Tom. She had been secretly following him since high school and had even claimed to her family that he was her boyfriend. When she realized that breaking up the young couple was going to be harder than she thought, she got more and more desperate and decided to murder Catherine.

• How was Jamie Kellham caught?

  Jamie Kellham confessed to the crime in 2008. She had confided in another member of her Alcoholics Anonymous group about the murder, and the member told the police. The police were able to find a letter that Jamie had written to Catherine apologizing for killing her.

• What was the evidence that led to Jamie Kellham's arrest?

  The evidence that led to Jamie Kellham's arrest was a letter that she had written to Catherine apologizing for killing her. The letter was found in a locker at Jamie's stepfather's house. The letter detailed Jamie's motive for killing Catherine, which was her obsession with Catherine's boyfriend, Tom.

• What happened to Jamie Kellham after she was arrested?

  Jamie Kellham was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

• What is the significance of the cage found in Michael Maris's attic?

  The cage found in Michael Maris's attic was initially thought to be evidence that he had kidnapped and killed Catherine Foster. However, Michael's family explained that the cage was actually used to keep his grandfather safe. The cage was not meant to be cruel, it was just a measure they used to keep the grandfather from wandering around the neighborhood.

• What is the role of Alcoholics Anonymous in this case?

  Alcoholics Anonymous played a key role in solving Catherine Foster's murder. Catherine's killer confided in another member of their Alcoholics Anonymous group about the murder, and the member suggested that the killer write Catherine an apology letter and read it over her grave. The member then told the police about the letter, which led to Jamie Kellham's arrest.

• What is the significance of the medical examiner's incorrect estimation of Catherine Foster's time of death?

  The medical examiner incorrectly estimated the time of Catherine Foster's death at 8-24 hours before the body was found. In reality, Jamie Kellham had actually killed Catherine about 48 hours before. This incorrect estimation allowed Jamie to have a great alibi for the window that the medical examiner had identified, as she was with family and friends. As a result, the police never really suspected Jamie at all.

• What is the message of this podcast?

  This podcast is a reminder that even the most seemingly ordinary people can be capable of terrible crimes. It also highlights the importance of perseverance in solving crimes, even when the case goes cold. The podcast also shows how even the most seemingly insignificant details can be crucial in solving a crime.

Show Notes