A Humble Life: A Suspicious Death - 83 Years LaterIf you were going to read a book, you wouldn't open to a random chapter and start from there, and the same applies to Stella's story. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5 are worth the read if you want to truly understand how things progressed to this point.
I delayed the release of this part of the story, hoping that the University of Pittsburgh Archives would be able to locate the coroner's file on Stella but, unfortunately, they couldn't find an archived record for her. Any documentation, descriptions, or reports from the coroner are lost to time, I suppose. While I'm disappointed by the fruitless search, I'm confident that the rest of Stella's story can be told despite that lack of information. In February 1940, Stella Carolina Miller-O'Neill was found floating in the Ohio River, deceased, near Edgeworth. In the weeks following the discovery, county detectives were nearly as puzzled as they'd been when she first disappeared. We can't be certain about the police investigation, as those records were destroyed long ago, but the available information and outcomes provide enough insight into the steps taken after she was laid to rest. From my perspective, Stella was quickly written off as a "frail and very nervous" housewife who put herself into the river, back in December 1939, while "temporarily insane". The death certificate makes no mention of an autopsy, but the death is ruled a suicide just one day after her body was recovered from the river. Would things have gone differently with modern-day forensic technology? Would they have better understood Stella's death if they had done an autopsy like detectives ordered? If they hadn't accepted Walter's description of Stella, characterizing her as unstable and distraught, would they have taken a harder look at possible foul play? No one can change what happened in the past, but we can try to shine a light on the shortcomings of an investigation that, while likely adequate for its time, would not be so hastily closed today. A Humble Life: A Suspicious Death - 83 Years LaterIf you haven't already, go back to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4 before reading this one. I promise, its worth it.
So much has happened since this story began in 1890. 50 years of growth, loss, hardship, hard work, new loves, new life, stress, joy, and memories. The Miller family's experience wasn't really unique for the time, but it is far from what a typical American family experiences today. Improvements in pharmaceuticals and medical care, access to that care, and better community education regarding health and medicine helped to increase life expectancy. Illnesses and conditions that were deadly to members of Stella's family are now diagnosed in a timely manner and effectively treated. And what about Stella? The "nervousness" her husband described and the fretful expression that we see in her photo could have been attributed to any number of psychological issues but, in 1930s America, her symptoms were not recorded or well reported. We only know that her husband called her "frail and very nervous". Could she have received proper treatment if she were living in the 21st century? Probably. Her options were limited, though, in 1939. So limited, in fact, that she might have felt hopeless and considered ending her life. Might have.... A Humble Life: A Suspicious Death - 83 Years LaterThis is the fourth part of Stella's story. If you haven't already, I suggest going back and reading Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 first.
By now, you've met and become more acquainted with the Miller family. Both parents, John and Lena, and two brothers, Jacob and Harry, had died by 1928. All but one of the Miller children had married, most starting families of their own. They had made it through World War I, the Great Depression, and two massive floods in the Pittsburgh area (1936 and 1937). The communities in Allegheny County were hopeful for the future; the men were returning to work, children were fed, and positive change was happening in front of their eyes. We have to wonder, though, how many people experiencing mental health issues had slipped deeper into their struggle during the Great Depression. How many had wandered beyond the point of saving, by 1939 psychiatric care standards, never to return? Could Stella overcome the battle in the back of her mind, unseen and unheard to those around her, but overwhelming to the wife and mother? A Humble Life: A Suspicious Death - 83 Years LaterIf you haven't already, you should read Part 1 and Part 2 of Stella's story first (just click the link and it will take you to it).
In Part 1, you met the Miller family: John & Lena, a couple living on their farm in Allegheny County, PA, and their nine children. The Millers laid their oldest son, Jacob, to rest when he was only 16. Less than a year later, John passed away, leaving Lena heavily pregnant with 7 children and a farm to take care of. One month after John's death, Lena gave birth to John Jr. In Part 2, Lena laid another son, Harry, to rest. Albert married and took over the family farm with his new wife. Gertie married and moved to Ohio, starting her own family. Lena moved to a newly built home in Emsworth with five of her children. Stella married and quickly started a family, having 4 children between 1922-1928. The Miller children lost their mother, Lena, in 1928. By 1929, William, Mary, and Ella had married. The Great Depression was just around the corner and Death was not yet finished with the Miller family. Stella Miller, now Stella O'Neill, had suffered unimaginable loss in her 32 years. She had buried two brothers and both of her parents, but could her past adversity prepare her for hardships to come? A Humble Life: A Suspicious Death - 83 Years LaterIn Part 1, I introduced you to the Miller family of Aleppo, PA. John and Lena Miller, hard-working parents to several growing children, were living on their family farm in the early 1900s. They had their faith, their family, and their farm. They found out, though, that nothing could shield them from that which comes for us all. The devout and the deviant, the ambitious and the apathetic, the wealthy and the working class; Death sees only the fire of life, tucked away behind each beating heart, that it will, inevitably, snuff out.
After suffering the loss of her oldest son, Jacob, followed by the loss of her husband, John, Lena gives birth to her ninth child. A widow, a farmer, a single mother to eight living children; where will life take her next? A Humble Life: A Suspicious Death - 83 years laterIt’s no secret that women have been overlooked, undervalued, and dismissed throughout history. Through the lens of 2023 knowledge and experience, deaths of women that were labeled as "accidental" or "self-inflicted" decades ago seem far more suspicious. Could the death of a Pennsylvania housewife in 1939 really be an accident? Or brought on by "temporary insanity"?
This story is not written for the purpose of suggesting that authorities mishandled the case, suggesting that the coroner did an inadequate examination, or accusing her husband of being involved. It is simply an examination of the disappearance and death of a woman that would likely be handled differently if it occurred today. We will likely never know what occurred that day in 1939. Files destroyed, memories lost, close relatives and friends have passed. A few archived newspaper articles, digitized vital records and a cemetery headstone are the only wisps of her existence that remain. I'd like to tell you her story, as best I can, rather than only sharing the final chapter. The following is primarily comprised of factual information with some speculative details for storytelling purposes. If you want more details about this Jane, there is a page for her in the Meet the Janes section, here. I've been meaning to sit down and write about this Jane for a while but, along with the usual chaotic life with kids, I've been working hard on this case. The process has been tedious and time-consuming, but I feel like it's going to be worth it in the end.
This Jane was only 14-17 years old, hitchhiking with a female companion who has never been identified, and police were able to speak with a man who gave the pair a ride several days before she died. The man told police that he thought she said her name was Sherry or Cheryl, but he wasn't completely sure. He also said that the pair were traveling from Minnesota, trying to get to Florida to see the companion's husband. With those names, her age range and possible residence state, I went for a deep dive into Minnesota's birth records. Alibis unconfirmed, stories jumbled, red flags littered along the investigative trail. If you've ever watched a show involving criminal investigations, you've heard the cliché detective phrase "their alibi checks out" or to the contrary "he/she has no alibi". An alibi is only as solid as the facts that back it up, but what if no one confirms those details? If police took everyone at their word and never checked into what they're told, the clearance rate of criminal cases would be miniscule. Take things with a grain of salt and verify every detail. When a man has disappeared, leaving everything behind, those details matter. Red Flag #1 – Date & Time Are Just Numbers How do we know when Brian really disappeared? According to his girlfriend, AW, she and Brian got into an argument on July 28th, following a welfare check that resulted in AW’s toddler being placed in a relative’s care. AW claimed that Brian contacted FM, a mutual friend, who then picked Brian up and took him to Boone County to purchase drugs. AW claims that this was the last time she saw or spoke to Brian. However, other statements given to police suggest that Brian was last seen some time on July 29th. As I said in Part 2, the times given in statements were conflicting. Did they leave Brian and AW’s residence in the late morning or mid-afternoon? Did they arrive at Carolyn’s residence around 2:30pm, like she claimed? Did FM pick his son up between 4:00-5:00pm? None of these details were definitively proven to be true.
Police in Oceana, WV received a report of a possible missing person on July 31, 2011. |
The summer of 2011 in West Virginia's Boone and Wyoming Counties was a busy one for law enforcement. Four missing people: two later found as likely victims of homicide, two still missing. One of the missing was/is Brian David Cook. A local with a deeply-rooted family tree, a veteran of the USMC, and a loving father. Typically, I focus on cases of missing and unidentified women, but this case is an exception. I didn't know how my research would go when I was first made aware of this case, but I realized quickly that I wouldn't be able to simply shrug and walk away like others seem to have done over the last decade. Thankfully, those who loved Brian kept his case alive through the years, determined to find answers. I'm grateful for the opportunity to get to know Brian through his loved ones. The good, the bad, the light-hearted and the heartbreaking. |
Emily
True crime, cold case, long-term missing/unidentified, and all things mystery. I've always been interested, but now I'm involved in the search.
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Jinx!, Damian Gadal