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Forsaken Trust | FULL EPISODE | The New Detectives

The New Detectives・29 minutes read

A family vacation takes a tragic turn with a yacht fire in Alaska, leading to the arrest of Robert Meyer for murdering his wife and daughter. In Alabama, the disappearance of Candace Brown ends with Michael Land being linked to her murder through evidence like DNA, shoe prints, and ballistics tests.

Insights

  • The yacht fire near Sitka, Alaska, initially thought to be an accident, was revealed to be a deliberate act of murder by Robert Meyer, who attempted to cover up the crime by staging it as an accident.
  • In Alabama, the disappearance of Candace Brown led to the arrest of Michael Land for her murder, with evidence such as matching shoe prints, DNA analysis, and ballistics tests linking him conclusively to the crime, highlighting the importance of forensic investigations in solving complex cases.

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Recent questions

  • What happened during the family vacation in Alaska?

    A pleasure yacht caught fire, leading to tragic events.

  • Who was involved in the disappearance in Alabama?

    A single mother named Candace Brown went missing.

  • What did the certified fire investigator conclude?

    The fire likely did not start in the engine room.

  • How was the yacht wreckage salvaged?

    A crane barge and a remotely operated vehicle were used.

  • What happened to Robert Meyer before his trial?

    He was found dead in shallow water, likely by suicide.

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Summary

00:00

Tragic yacht fire leads to mysterious disappearances

  • A family vacation turns tragic as a pleasure yacht catches fire near the islands of southern Alaska.
  • Mother and daughter are missing after the yacht wreckage surfaces, suggesting the fire was deliberate.
  • In Alabama, a single mother disappears, leaving her child behind, prompting suspicions of foul play.
  • Killers who know their victims intimately use this knowledge for perfect crimes.
  • Sitka, Alaska, a serene fishing town, is disrupted by a yacht fire incident on June 4th, 1996.
  • Business owner Robert Meyer reports the accident to the U.S. Coast Guard, leading to a search and rescue operation.
  • Meyer recounts a perfect weekend cruise with his family before the fire broke out on the yacht.
  • Search and rescue efforts intensify as the missing mother and daughter are sought in the cold Alaskan waters.
  • Inconsistencies in Meyer's statements raise suspicions, leading to forensic examinations and investigations.
  • Despite circumstantial evidence pointing towards foul play, concrete proof remains elusive until the submerged yacht wreckage is discovered at a depth of 500 feet.

21:32

Salvage Operation Uncovers Murder Mystery in Alaska

  • Certified fire investigator George Barnes was contacted by the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms to salvage a boat based on footage from a submarine.
  • Barnes concluded that the boat could be salvaged by lifting it with its two diesel engines, but the operation had to wait until early spring due to the difficulty during an Alaskan winter.
  • The salvage operation was planned for March using a crane barge from Sitka and a remotely operated vehicle from the U.S. Navy.
  • Extensive corrosion and water damage had severely damaged the yacht, making it challenging to lift from the bottom.
  • The engines were intact, contradicting the theory that the fire started in the engine room as claimed by Mr. Meyer.
  • Investigator Barnes examined pieces of a swim step made of teak, indicating the fire started elsewhere due to the wood's slow burning nature.
  • DNA analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology revealed that the blood found on the skiff did not belong to Mr. Meyer or his daughter.
  • A reverse paternity test confirmed that the blood was likely Diana's, providing evidence for Robert Meyer's arrest for the murder of his wife and daughter.
  • Meyer was indicted on multiple charges, but before facing trial, he was found dead in shallow water, concluding that he had taken his own life.
  • In a separate case in Alabama, the disappearance of Candace Brown led investigators to suspect Michael Land, who eventually confessed to breaking into her house but denied harming her, leading to a search for her whereabouts.

42:51

Murder evidence points to Michael Land

  • Two boys hiking near a quarry discovered the body of Candace Brown, who had been shot in the head and possibly sexually assaulted.
  • Detectives gathered evidence linking Michael Land to the murder, including matching shoe prints, DNA from a semen stain on the victim's clothing, and ballistics tests confirming the gun found in Land's possession was used in the crime.
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