Classie May Ragland, a young mother with an easygoing personality, was stabbed to death at her Urbana home. Nearly 45 years later, law enforcement still is chasing leads. 'People talk. Somebody told somebody something. And my guess is that the offender who killed Classie May told somebody something at some point,' Urbana police Sgt. Mike Cervantes tells Carol Vorel in the 12th episode of her Cold Cases podcast series, 'And for whatever reason, that person has not come forward yet. I would hope that at some point somebody would share something for the sake of the family.'

Classie May Ragland, a young mother with an easygoing personality, was stabbed to death at her Urbana home. Nearly 45 years later, law enforcement still is chasing leads. 'People talk. Somebody told somebody something. And my guess is that the offender who killed Classie May told somebody something at some point,' Urbana police Sgt. Mike Cervantes tells Carol Vorel in the 12th episode of her Cold Cases podcast series, 'And for whatever reason, that person has not come forward yet. I would hope that at some point somebody would share something for the sake of the family.'

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 1974 murder of Classie May Ragland

It's been more than 13 years since the body of Emanuel Boyd Jr. was found in his home on Champaign’s north side. The 66-year-old man, police said, was killed by a blow to the head. 'I just have one question for whoever did this: Why?  There is no need for that whatever they did,' Boyd's brother, Charles Franklin, tells Carol Vorel in the 11th episode of her Cold Cases podcast series. 'If I knew who it was, I would be in prison right now.'

It's been more than 13 years since the body of Emanuel Boyd Jr. was found in his home on Champaign’s north side. The 66-year-old man, police said, was killed by a blow to the head. 'I just have one question for whoever did this: Why?  There is no need for that whatever they did,' Boyd's brother, Charles Franklin, tells Carol Vorel in the 11th episode of her Cold Cases podcast series. 'If I knew who it was, I would be in prison right now.'

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2006 murder of Emanuel Boyd Jr.

Robert Vaughn

It's known as the Burning Body case, a grisly murder of a young man from Sidney whose body was discovered smoldering on the side of the rural Champaign County road. Three-plus decades later, investigators remain stumped about who killed Robert Vaughn Wagner. 'We won't rest until we can provide some kind of closure for the family,' Champaign County Sheriff's Investigator Tim Beckett tells Carol Vorel in the 10th episode of her Cold Cases podcast series.

It's known as the Burning Body case, a grisly murder of a young man from Sidney whose body was discovered smoldering on the side of the rural Champaign County road. Three-plus decades later, investigators remain stumped about who killed Robert Vaughn Wagner. 'We won't rest until we can provide some kind of closure for the family,' Champaign County Sheriff's Investigator Tim Beckett tells Carol Vorel in the 10th episode of her Cold Cases podcast series.

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 1985 murder of Robert Vaughn Wagner

Jane Seneca Doe

Her body was found in a grassy patch just off U.S. 6 near Seneca in Grundy County in 1976. Unable to identify her, authorities gave her the name Jane Seneca Doe. More than 40 years later, little has changed. The challenge is twofold: ID the woman and find her killer. Maybe you can help. 'It’s going to feel amazing to solve this,” deputy corner Brandon Johnson tells Carol Vorel in the ninth episode of her Cold Cases podcast series, 'and to answer families and give them the answers that they need after all these years wondering where their loved one has been.'

Her body was found in a grassy patch just off U.S. 6 near Seneca in Grundy County in 1976. Unable to identify her, authorities gave her the name Jane Seneca Doe. More than 40 years later, little has changed. The challenge is twofold: ID the woman and find her killer. Maybe you can help. 'It’s going to feel amazing to solve this,” deputy corner Brandon Johnson tells Carol Vorel in the ninth episode of her Cold Cases podcast series, 'and to answer families and give them the answers that they need after all these years wondering where their loved one has been.'

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 1976 murder of Jane Seneca Doe

Paris Thompson

Just three days after his 35th birthday, Paris Thompson was gunned down inside his Urbana apartment. Police have a sketch of a suspect - and an idea why Thompson was murdered - but remained stumped 11 years later. Meanwhile, his mother grieves. 'I just want justice, that’s all,' Veronica Williams tells Carol Vorel in the eighth episode of her Cold Cases podcast series. 'I pray for the person who done this.'

Just three days after his 35th birthday, Paris Thompson was gunned down inside his Urbana apartment. Police have a sketch of a suspect - and an idea why Thompson was murdered - but remained stumped 11 years later. Meanwhile, his mother grieves. 'I just want justice, that’s all,' Veronica Williams tells Carol Vorel in the eighth episode of her Cold Cases podcast series. 'I pray for the person who done this.'

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2008 murder of Paris Thompson

Months apart in 2016, the same Urbana bank was knocked off by the same armed suspect. More than two years later, police are searching for clues to catch the culprit. In her seventh episode of her podcast series Cold Cases, N-G Media's Carol Vorel chats up the lead detective, a bank official and even a teller who was on duty during one of the incidents.

Months apart in 2016, the same Urbana bank was knocked off by the same armed suspect. More than two years later, police are searching for clues to catch the culprit. In her seventh episode of her podcast series Cold Cases, N-G Media's Carol Vorel chats up the lead detective, a bank official and even a teller who was on duty during one of the incidents.

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2016 Urbana bank robberies

Four years since Damien Henderson's murder in north Champaign, a grieving family and frustrated police continue to search for answers. 'I just know that somebody knows what happened to him,' his mother, Charlene Haynes-James tells Carol Vorel in the sixth epsiode of her podcast series Cold Cases. 'There are no words to explain the hurt, the void, the loss that I am feeling knowing that there are people out there that know what happened to my child and will not do the right thing.'

Four years since Damien Henderson's murder in north Champaign, a grieving family and frustrated police continue to search for answers. 'I just know that somebody knows what happened to him,' his mother, Charlene Haynes-James tells Carol Vorel in the sixth epsiode of her podcast series Cold Cases. 'There are no words to explain the hurt, the void, the loss that I am feeling knowing that there are people out there that know what happened to my child and will not do the right thing.'

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2014 murder of Damien Henderson

Linda Smith

It's been 17 years since Linda Smith was murdered in her Champaign home, yet family and police haven't given up on finding her killer. And when that happens? 'I'll be there to make sure you sit in prison for a long time, hopefully until you die,” Smith's daughter tells Carol Vorel in the fifth episode in her podcast series, Cold Cases. 

It's been 17 years since Linda Smith was murdered in her Champaign home, yet family and police haven't given up on finding her killer. And when that happens? 'I'll be there to make sure you sit in prison for a long time, hopefully until you die,” Smith's daughter tells Carol Vorel in the fifth episode in her podcast series, Cold Cases.

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2001 murder of Linda Smith

It's been more than a decade since 32-year-old friends Ryan Riddell and Mark Prasse were shot to death inside a rural Chrisman home. While state police continue to chase leads, family members are urging anyone with information to come forward. 'You wouldn’t believe how hard it is on the family,” said Riddell's stepfather, Terry Romine told News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel in the fourth installment of her new podcast series. 'There have not been a lot of fun holidays since then.'

It's been more than a decade since 32-year-old friends Ryan Riddell and Mark Prasse were shot to death inside a rural Chrisman home. While state police continue to chase leads, family members are urging anyone with information to come forward. 'You wouldn’t believe how hard it is on the family,” said Riddell's stepfather, Terry Romine told News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel in the fourth installment of her new podcast series. 'There have not been a lot of fun holidays since then.'

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2008 double homicide in Edgar County

Zachary Gray, police believe, was set up when he was gunned down outside an Urbana apartment in November 2016. Today, the search continues for his killers, a frustating wait for all involved. "My son needs justice," Melinda Ellis tells News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel in her third Cold Case episode. "And with no one talking, he’s not getting any."

Zachary Gray, police believe, was set up when he was gunned down outside an Urbana apartment in November 2016. Today, the search continues for his killers, a frustating wait for all involved. "My son needs justice," Melinda Ellis tells News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel in her third Cold Case episode. "And with no one talking, he’s not getting any."

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2016 murder of Zachary Gray

Longtime WDWS news director Carol Vorel chats with detectives working high-profile, unsolved crimes in the hopes of producing new leads.

Gus Edwards

It's been nearly a year since 53-year-old Gus Edwards was gunned down on a Champaign street. Police have made headway but no arrest. In the second of her new podcast series, News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel talks to those involved in a continuing search for clues. 'We would love closure,' Gus Edwards' brother, Richard, says.

It's been nearly a year since 53-year-old Gus Edwards was gunned down on a Champaign street. Police have made headway but no arrest. In the second of her new podcast series, News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel talks to those involved in a continuing search for clues. 'We would love closure,' Gus Edwards' brother, Richard, says.

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 2017 murder of Gus Edwards

As the first Farm Aid concert played out at Memorial Stadium in 1985, police were searching for Carle psychologist Barbara Bremer. Her body eventually was found in a cornfield near Champaign, a victim of what authorities said was foul play. Today, the case remains unsolved — haunting both family and investigators. In the first of her new podcast series, News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel talks to those involved in the search for clues, hoping to shed new light on a 33-year-old mystery.

As the first Farm Aid concert played out at Memorial Stadium in 1985, police were searching for Carle psychologist Barbara Bremer. Her body eventually was found in a cornfield near Champaign, a victim of what authorities said was foul play. Today, the case remains unsolved — haunting both family and investigators. In the first of her new podcast series, News-Gazette Media's Carol Vorel talks to those involved in the search for clues, hoping to shed new light on a 33-year-old mystery.

Cold Case with Carol Vorel: 1985 death of Barbara Bremer

I really enjoy listening to true crime podcasts. Some of them are not so good. I listened to your cold cases, and I had never heard of any of the cases. I like the way you interact with the families, you show respect to them. I have listened to podcasts with laughing and giggling and telling jokes. Your podcast is truly well done, if I could give you 100 stars I would!

Very Good Podcast!

I typically like longer episodes of podcasts but Carol’s style is so engaging that I’d listen to any length of story from her. The cold cases that are covered are all so diverse and fascinating I wish they’d all get solved. Her professionalism and compassion is infectious. It’s one of my favorite podcasts ever.

Carol Is The BEST

Cold Cases

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