Unsolved

USA TODAY and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

More often than we’d like to believe, people get away with murder. As cases grow cold, cops retire. Witnesses die. Evidence disappears. Unsolved, a true crime podcast series from USA TODAY and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, guides listeners through these real-life mysteries, uncovering new clues along the way. Season four of Unsolved delves into the disappearance of Alexis Patterson, a 7-year-old girl who disappeared on her way to school in 2002. At first, there was a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday. Season three of Unsolved tells the story of Father Alfred Kunz, whose throat was slit inside St. Michael School in 1998. Some believe his death was linked to his battles against evil. Others believe his all-too-human flaws were to blame. Season two of Unsolved, released in 2017, examines the case of toddler Michelle Manders, who vanished from her bedroom in the middle of the night in 1981. Did she wander alone into the darkness? Or was she kidnapped? Season one of Unsolved, released in 2015, explores the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old John Zera, who disappeared from Franklin High School in 1976. The seven episodes follow investigators through decades of dead ends as they hold on to hope of finding the killer. Subscribe to Unsolved on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio or wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on the series, visit http://usatoday.com/unsolved. read less

Our Editor's Take

The Unsolved podcast tells mysterious stories of missing people. Each season focuses on a single case. Listeners hear what police and investigators know and what details remain unknown. The victims described have one thing in common-no one knows all the answers.

Journalist Gina Barton hosts the podcast. She's an investigative reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For over 20 years, Gina has written about criminal justice issues. She published the book Fatal Identity in 2009. Her journalism accolades include a George A. Polk Award and a Casey Medal. Gina brings her passion for justice to her role as host.

The fourth season of the podcast explores the case of Alexis Patterson. The young Black girl vanished on her way to school one morning. Her parents saw her for the last time on May 3, 2002. She was only one block from her Milwaukee home. Gina analyzes different theories. Did a serial killer take her? Did the missing girl run away? What happens when someone claims, fourteen years later, that they found Alexis in Ohio? Does the DNA discovery prove her identity?

In 1998, someone killed Father Alfred Kunz and left him for dead in the hallway of a school. The man seemed a fervent Catholic. His murder involves a suspicious altercation, a single mother, sexual misconduct, and exorcisms. Did he live a double life? One sheriff thinks Alfred's nephew murdered him. Is there merit to this theory? When a new suspect emerges, will the police find their answers? Listeners can visit podcast season three to find out.

In season two of Unsolved, listeners learn about the tragic death of Michelle Manders. She was two and a half years old. Police found her body in Watertown, Wisconsin. At first, law enforcement thought her death was an accident. Then complications arose in the case. There's Joe, a man with a criminal record and the husband of a new family friend. The story also involves a private investigator who explores the possibility of abduction.

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Play Trailer
S4: Coming May 3: Season 4
Apr 19 2023
S4: Coming May 3: Season 4
Alexis Patterson’s walk home from school was just 242 steps. But on May 3, 2002, the 7-year-old never made it. The story of Alexis’ disappearance started with a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday.

Episodes

S4 Ep8: Be careful what you wish for
Jun 21 2023
S4 Ep8: Be careful what you wish for
After more than 20 years of turning us down, the Milwaukee Police finally release more than 10,000 pages of records on their investigation of Alexis’ case. Some of the contents are completely unexpected.
S4 Ep7: A DNA discovery
Jun 14 2023
S4 Ep7: A DNA discovery
After a three-year delay in reporting due to the pandemic, we ask the experts to evaluate the DNA profiles of Alexis' mother and the woman in Ohio to figure out, once and for all, whether the two are related.
S4 Ep6: The road trip
Jun 7 2023
S4 Ep6: The road trip
Two reporters travel to Ohio to see if they can get to the bottom of the claims that a young woman there is Alexis Patterson.
S4 Ep5: A package from Ohio
May 31 2023
S4 Ep5: A package from Ohio
Fourteen years after Alexis disappeared, a man from Ohio comes forward to say he believes his estranged wife might be the missing girl.
S4 Ep4: A double life
May 24 2023
S4 Ep4: A double life
Some witnesses say they saw a red truck outside Alexis' school around the time she vanished. Could it have belonged to a serial killer?
S4 Ep3: Where would she have gone?
May 17 2023
S4 Ep3: Where would she have gone?
Police come up with the theory that Alexis ran away after her mom tells them about an argument over cupcakes.
S4 Ep2: A guilty man walked free
May 10 2023
S4 Ep2: A guilty man walked free
Alexis’ stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, has a troubled history with police. That is enough to raise their suspicions after she disappears.
S4 Ep1: She never made it to school
May 3 2023
S4 Ep1: She never made it to school
Despite Milwaukee’s history of segregation and distrust between Black residents and police, the whole city comes together to search for 7-year-old Alexis Patterson, who disappeared somewhere in the 242 steps between her home and school.
S4: Coming May 3: Season 4
Apr 19 2023
S4: Coming May 3: Season 4
Alexis Patterson’s walk home from school was just 242 steps. But on May 3, 2002, the 7-year-old never made it. The story of Alexis’ disappearance started with a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday.
S4: We're working on season 4
May 17 2022
S4: We're working on season 4
I’m working on a new investigation about missing children of color, and one of them is going to be the focus of Season 4.
S3 Ep11: Bonus episode: Unsolved Live
Apr 24 2019
S3 Ep11: Bonus episode: Unsolved Live
Still have questions about the murder of Father Alfred Kunz? Want to hear more about what was going on behind the scenes of the podcast and of the investigation? Kunz's good friend Peter Kelly and retired detective Dawn Johnson joined host Gina Barton at a live event, where they provided some answers.
S3 Ep10: 'Forgive offenses'
Mar 27 2019
S3 Ep10: 'Forgive offenses'
Twenty years after Kunz’s murder, members of his former parish gathered at Mass to pray for his soul. Police, who had launched a social media campaign in connection with the anniversary, scanned the crowd for their suspects.
S3 Ep9: 'Bear Wrongs Patiently'
Mar 20 2019
S3 Ep9: 'Bear Wrongs Patiently'
Detective Wayne Honer was among those who did not believe teacher Brian Jackson killed Father Kunz. While Detective Kevin Hughes was chasing Jackson, Honer focused on a different suspect.
S3 Ep8: 'Comfort the Sorrowful'
Mar 13 2019
S3 Ep8: 'Comfort the Sorrowful'
Immediately after Father Alfred Kunz’s death, St. Michael teacher Brian Jackson moved in with Kunz’s best friend, Father Charles Fiore. Detective Kevin Hughes was convinced Jackson was the killer. Support for this episode comes from Audible. Go to audible.com/un to listen to your favorite books.
Introducing: Case Closed
Mar 8 2019
Introducing: Case Closed
Here is another true crime podcast you might like. Season one of Case Closed tells the story of Erin Corwin, a young military wife who was murdered in 2014. She was living with her husband, Jon, a Marine corporal, when she left to scout hiking trails in Joshua Tree National Park. She never came back.
S3 Ep7: 'Shelter the Homeless'
Mar 6 2019
S3 Ep7: 'Shelter the Homeless'
A Dane County sheriff’s deputy came to believe his nephew, Joe Cavanaugh, was Father Kunz’s killer. The attack on Kunz was similar to one Cavanaugh was believed to have committed against his grandfather.
S3 Ep6: 'Counsel the Doubtful'
Feb 27 2019
S3 Ep6: 'Counsel the Doubtful'
St. Michael had been robbed in the months before Father Alfred Kunz’s death, and police believed the robbery and Kunz’s murder may have been connected.
S3 Ep5: 'Pray for the Living and the Dead '
Feb 20 2019
S3 Ep5: 'Pray for the Living and the Dead '
Police have evidence that Father Alfred Kunz had performed exorcisms without the support of the church hierarchy, which official Catholic exorcists characterize as risky and foolish. Support for this episode comes from Care/Of. For 50% off your first month of personalized Care/Of vitamins, visit takecareof.com and use promo code MJS50.
S3 Ep4: 'Admonish the Sinner'
Feb 13 2019
S3 Ep4: 'Admonish the Sinner'
Father Alfred Kunz and Father Charles Fiore had reportedly been investigating sexual misconduct by priests without authorization from church leadership. Their efforts crossed the state line into Illinois.
S3 Ep3: 'Feed the Hungry'
Feb 6 2019
S3 Ep3: 'Feed the Hungry'
Father Alfred Kunz met Mora Smith at Brian’s Diner, where she often served him breakfast. The two became close, with him helping her spiritually and financially. After Kunz’s death, police interrogated her and her two young sons. Support for this episode comes from Audible. Go to audible.com/un to listen to your favorite books.