Transcript
1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,780
The views and opinions expressed in Cold and Missing are exclusively those of the hosts.
2
00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:18,400
All parties mentioned are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
3
00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,160
Cold and Missing also contains adult themes and languages.
4
00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,560
Listener discretion is advised.
5
00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,280
I'm your host, Ali McLaughlin-Sulkowski.
6
00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,680
And I'm your co-host, Eli Sulkowski.
7
00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:34,960
And this is Cold and Missing, where we cover cold cases and missing person cases.
8
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,040
Hello and welcome back to Cold and Missing.
9
00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:38,320
I'm Ali.
10
00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:39,660
And I'm Eli.
11
00:00:39,660 --> 00:00:41,680
This is episode 95.
12
00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,360
If this is your first episode, welcome.
13
00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:46,960
If you've been with us for a while, welcome back.
14
00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,000
This is actually a first for us.
15
00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:57,520
Ali and I are currently on vacation and we are recording this episode in the back of
16
00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,620
our rental car.
17
00:00:59,620 --> 00:01:05,500
We built a little studio to, you know, keep doing what we do here at Cold and Missing.
18
00:01:05,500 --> 00:01:08,600
So it feels really cool to do this.
19
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:14,560
I love that Ali and I are committed to Cold and Missing as much as our listeners are.
20
00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:19,580
So if we sound a little different this week, that's why our setup is just slightly different.
21
00:01:19,580 --> 00:01:21,160
But we still wanted to bring you an episode.
22
00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,760
We are on a cold case this week.
23
00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:25,760
Episode 95.
24
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,800
Let's get to it.
25
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,720
So today we are covering the cold case of Julia Niswender.
26
00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:36,560
And this takes place in Ypsilanti, Michigan in December of 2012.
27
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:38,600
But first a little bit about Julia.
28
00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:44,920
Julia is 23 years old in 2012 and is a student at Eastern Michigan University.
29
00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,020
She is studying electronic media and film.
30
00:01:48,020 --> 00:01:49,980
She wanted to become a news anchor.
31
00:01:49,980 --> 00:01:55,520
She had recently transferred from a community college to finish up her degree at EMU.
32
00:01:55,520 --> 00:02:00,620
She lives in a ground level apartment that is technically off campus, but it sits just
33
00:02:00,620 --> 00:02:03,120
across the street from the campus.
34
00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,680
She has a part-time job at Walmart that she has had for some time and she enjoys working
35
00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:08,680
there.
36
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:14,360
At this time in December of 2012, it's approaching Christmas break and she's excited for the
37
00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:15,360
holiday.
38
00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,220
Her apartment is decorated with gel window clings and candy canes on the front door.
39
00:02:20,220 --> 00:02:25,160
She even asked her family to hold off decorating the Christmas tree until she got home.
40
00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,960
Julia is energetic and outgoing.
41
00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:32,240
She loved animals and her friends said that animals would approach her as if they were
42
00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,600
old friends.
43
00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,680
Julia is also a twin.
44
00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:41,040
Her sister Jennifer had recently just graduated from ESU this spring before.
45
00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,480
Her and her twin were very close.
46
00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,600
According to a high school friend, quote, those two were inseparable.
47
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,560
They could not get enough of being around each other.
48
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:51,560
End quote.
49
00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,800
Julia and Jennifer are also very close to their 10 year old sister.
50
00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,800
And now a timeline of events.
51
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:06,340
On Saturday, December 8th, during the morning hours, Julia works a shift at Walmart.
52
00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,620
Later that evening, she has a date.
53
00:03:08,620 --> 00:03:10,820
This was just a casual date.
54
00:03:10,820 --> 00:03:13,540
The two weren't considered a couple yet.
55
00:03:13,540 --> 00:03:19,280
The next day on Sunday, December 9th, for lunch, Julia meets up with her twin sister
56
00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,320
Jennifer and their younger sister.
57
00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,720
The three have a great afternoon talking about the upcoming holiday.
58
00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:32,360
After lunch, Julia walks her sisters to their car and says, quote, I love you.
59
00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:33,360
Goodbye.
60
00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:34,360
End quote.
61
00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,680
Julia also sends a happy birthday text to a friend.
62
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,560
That afternoon, she has another shift at Walmart.
63
00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:45,140
She ends up getting off at around 5pm and heads back to her apartment.
64
00:03:45,140 --> 00:03:49,440
During the evening hours, Julia is constantly chatting with her twin.
65
00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,000
They talk on the phone and text all evening.
66
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,480
Julia stops responding to texts at around 10.30pm.
67
00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:02,360
On Monday, December 10th, Julia's roommate had been out of town, but they returned home
68
00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,400
and Julia is not there to greet them.
69
00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,840
They do notice, however, that her car is in the parking lot, but she doesn't come home
70
00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,640
and nothing is heard from her room.
71
00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,720
Julia misses class that day and also misses a shift at Walmart.
72
00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:21,700
The next day, Tuesday, December 11th, Julia misses more classes.
73
00:04:21,700 --> 00:04:23,760
This is strange for her.
74
00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,400
Julia's roommate is also becoming worried that Julia hasn't been around the apartment.
75
00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:33,000
The way the college apartment is set up, the kitchen and living room are central and then
76
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:38,100
the rooms split off into their own sections with their own bathrooms.
77
00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:43,380
The roommate decided to notify apartment security, who in turn called the police.
78
00:04:43,380 --> 00:04:46,360
The police get a master key to enter Julia's room.
79
00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,960
The door is locked, but there are no signs of forced entry to the apartment or her room.
80
00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,880
When they enter, they find Julia's bedroom in disarray.
81
00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:00,780
All of her dresser drawers had been pulled out and her clothes dumped on the floor.
82
00:05:00,780 --> 00:05:05,880
She had some organizational plastic drawers that were all dumped out as well.
83
00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:11,480
Initially, police believe that a robbery could have happened, but they do notice that her
84
00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:18,760
computer, iPod, flat screen TV, and wrapped Christmas gifts were all left at her place.
85
00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,720
They also found her school lanyard with her ID and keys.
86
00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,760
It was on her bedroom floor.
87
00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,320
Only her apartment key was missing.
88
00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,960
Police also noticed that what seemed to be missing was a black and white zebra pillow
89
00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:33,640
case from her bed.
90
00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:38,080
Laying on the bedroom floor was a white pair of latex gloves.
91
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:42,900
Inside was a dark substance that was later confirmed to be Julia's blood.
92
00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:46,320
The gloves were in front of Julia's closed bathroom door.
93
00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,560
When police opened the bathroom door, they find Julia.
94
00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:55,720
She was, quote, face down, submerged in the bathtub filled with water, end quote.
95
00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:57,640
She was nude from the waist down.
96
00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,880
Her yoga pants had been cut away and were left on the bathroom floor.
97
00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,080
Her pink shirt had also mostly been cut away.
98
00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,840
Only her right sleeve remained on her arm.
99
00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:12,160
Underneath Julia in the water was her cell phone.
100
00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,680
At first, there were no obvious signs of trauma on Julia's body.
101
00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:21,520
There were a few small circular abrasions near her left elbow, and she seemed to have
102
00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,840
been bleeding from her mouth.
103
00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:27,760
Police also noticed ligature marks on her wrist and ankles.
104
00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:33,600
However, whatever had been used to bound or tie up Julia was taken from the scene, along
105
00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,000
with whatever was used to cut her clothes.
106
00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,800
Police are able to review security footage from the apartment.
107
00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:46,640
The video showed a black male pacing in front of the office at around 5.30 in the evening.
108
00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:51,280
Police however do not take the footage at this time, and when they return for it later,
109
00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:54,960
the tape is already taped over, so the footage is lost.
110
00:06:54,960 --> 00:07:00,680
Police have no idea if this man was connected or not connected to Julia's murder.
111
00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:06,920
The next day, Wednesday, December 12, Julia's autopsy is conducted.
112
00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:12,200
They find that she had a deep contusion on the right side of her tongue from biting it.
113
00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,400
Police hold off from publicly saying that this case is a homicide.
114
00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,640
They want to get the toxology report back, but they start investigating it like it's
115
00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,520
a homicide.
116
00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:29,200
On Thursday, December 13, Julia's twin sister Jennifer at around 3 a.m. posts a picture
117
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:36,480
of Julia smiling with the caption, quote, Julia was my twin, other half and best friend.
118
00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,320
No one will ever understand the bond we shared.
119
00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:43,000
I love her so much and just don't know how I can go on.
120
00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,880
My beautiful sister didn't deserve this.
121
00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,080
Justice will be served even if it's the last thing I do.
122
00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,320
For the rest of my life, I will be living for her, end quote.
123
00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:58,380
It's also around this time that Julia's death is reported in the media and a newspaper
124
00:07:58,380 --> 00:08:05,520
notes that on Julia's apartment door, somebody had clipped a note that said, RIP equals question
125
00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:06,520
mark.
126
00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,960
Love you, Julia, Larry, end quote.
127
00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,240
The college campus is shocked by the death of Julia.
128
00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,560
Normally, around this time, students would be cramming for finals, but instead they're
129
00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:21,200
talking with counselors and trying to process what has happened.
130
00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:25,920
Over 200 students and staff gather for a memorial in her honor.
131
00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:31,000
On Monday, December 17, it's been almost a week since Julia was found dead and she's
132
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,280
laid to rest in her hometown of Monroe Township, Michigan.
133
00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:41,160
On January 29, so now it's been over a month since Julia was found dead and her toxicology
134
00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,120
report comes back.
135
00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,800
There was no alcohol or drugs in her system when she died.
136
00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:52,960
Police officially rule her death as a homicide, noting that Julia died by asphyxiation by
137
00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:53,960
drowning.
138
00:08:53,960 --> 00:09:00,760
By April 2013, so it's been four months since Julia was murdered and police are offering
139
00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,800
a $10,000 reward for information.
140
00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,880
Julia's family remain confident that the police will be able to track down Julia's
141
00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:09,880
murderer.
142
00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,400
They talk with police at least once a week.
143
00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:17,800
Julia's mother Kim says, quote, I'm willing to be patient as long as it brings justice.
144
00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,840
She deserves that, end quote.
145
00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:26,800
Police have also been able to determine that while some things were missing from her room,
146
00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,680
police do not think that robbery was the motive.
147
00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:34,680
By this point, police have interviewed hundreds of people, her family, friends, classmates
148
00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:37,160
from both high school and college.
149
00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,820
Police have given polygraph tests and everyone has passed.
150
00:09:40,820 --> 00:09:43,560
Police are still working their way through the case.
151
00:09:43,560 --> 00:09:48,680
Detective Annette Kopek says, quote, we still have a current list of names that we need
152
00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:52,880
to look at and a to do list, end quote.
153
00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:57,080
Police do confirm that they have ruled out the guy that she went on a date with the weekend
154
00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,400
before she was found murdered.
155
00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:06,600
In December of 2013, just shy of the one year anniversary, Julia's family begs for the
156
00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,680
person or people involved in Julia's murder to please come forward.
157
00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:16,360
Her stepfather Jim, who raised her since she was a child, says, quote, for the persons
158
00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:21,200
that are responsible, I'm sorry that you didn't have the open mind to see who my daughter
159
00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:22,960
truly was.
160
00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,480
Maybe one day you will, end quote.
161
00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:30,640
They also announced that the reward has been increased to $15,000.
162
00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:35,240
The next time Julia's murder is in the media is at the two year anniversary in December
163
00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,600
of 2014.
164
00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:42,160
Julia's family hold a memorial service not only for Julia, but for other families as
165
00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,200
well that are seeking answers.
166
00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:50,840
Kim, Julia's mother says, quote, this night is about Julia and finding justice for Julia,
167
00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,160
but all of these cases have a common denominator.
168
00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:55,480
Someone knows something.
169
00:10:55,480 --> 00:11:01,080
If we can bring closure to any of these cases, we've done good here tonight, end quote.
170
00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,200
Police are a little more clear at this time in what they believe happened the night Julia
171
00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:06,200
was murdered.
172
00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:12,360
They believe that she was asphyxiated and then placed into the bathtub where she drowned.
173
00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:20,000
A few months later in February of 2015, Julia's stepdad, James Turnquist, is arrested for
174
00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:21,840
different charges.
175
00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:26,960
I'm not going to get into it since he was found not guilty and his wife and daughters
176
00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,200
stood by him throughout the entire ordeal.
177
00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,640
However, in that trial, additional details come out in Julia's case.
178
00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:40,760
He's also named a person of interest in her murder, but this will also fizzle out over
179
00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:41,760
time.
180
00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,280
A lot of the additional details I already went over in the timeline.
181
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,600
However, we also learned that seminal fluid was found on her body.
182
00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:54,280
It was male DNA and consistent with a man who had had a vasectomy.
183
00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:58,720
There were also two DNA profiles found in the latex glove.
184
00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:03,440
One DNA profile is weak and they're only able to determine that it's male.
185
00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:08,680
The other one, however, is stronger and would be good enough to make a comparison.
186
00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:14,360
It also comes out that police failed to collect a purple rug that sat outside the bathtub
187
00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,200
in Julia's bathroom.
188
00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,520
Police will later ask him for the rug so they can test it.
189
00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:24,000
When Kim takes police to the storage locker where they kept Julia's things, the rug
190
00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,920
was nowhere to be found.
191
00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,360
Some believe that the police had the rug the entire time.
192
00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,600
To date, no one knows what happened to the rug.
193
00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:40,120
In 2022, at the 10-year anniversary, Julia's family worked to keep her story in the media,
194
00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,560
but they're frustrated with the progress that police have made.
195
00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:48,320
Her sister says, quote, we're just frustrated and they need to hand it over.
196
00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,040
This is too big for them, end quote.
197
00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:55,760
The family has been advocating for the Ypsilanti police to hand the case over to the state
198
00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:57,040
police.
199
00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:02,480
The family don't trust the Ypsilanti police after what they put Julia's father through.
200
00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:07,680
The family has started working with retired detective Yuhas, who worked the case from
201
00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:09,920
the beginning initially.
202
00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:14,880
From him, the family have learned new details, one of them being that police haven't been
203
00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:20,320
able to rule out a serial killer, and that the killer also took his time.
204
00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,480
Previously, the family thought that the murder was quick.
205
00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:28,080
They think the killer might have followed Julia after she took the trash out at her
206
00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:29,080
apartment.
207
00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,880
But that is all we know about Julia Niswender’s case.
208
00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:39,720
So if you know anything about the murder of Julia in December of 2012, the family asked
209
00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:47,320
that you please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-2587.
210
00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,040
So that is the case of Julia Niswender.
211
00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:59,400
Not that I ever know what to expect when you are sharing a case with us, but I was just
212
00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:00,400
shocked.
213
00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:07,680
I was talking to myself a lot while I was listening to you, and just a very heartbreaking
214
00:14:07,680 --> 00:14:08,680
case.
215
00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:14,520
You know, like her going to school, kids going to school, just after they graduate, it's
216
00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:25,120
supposed to be a safe space to explore different interests and hobbies and meet new friends
217
00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,160
and a place to grow.
218
00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:33,640
And the fact that it was violated in such a violent way, it's just really heartbreaking.
219
00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:39,200
Yeah, this is a case that I also found really shocking while I was researching it.
220
00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,800
I didn't know much about it.
221
00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:45,600
It is a case that has been covered quite a bit out there, but it's one that I personally
222
00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:46,600
didn't know.
223
00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,840
So I wanted to get into it and uncover things for myself.
224
00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,880
And at each turn, I was very shocked.
225
00:14:53,880 --> 00:15:00,120
And yeah, I agree with you that it's always heartbreaking whenever we do one on a college
226
00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:04,880
campus just because that was such a sweet time in my life.
227
00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:09,240
And it feels like it should be like a sacred place where you are safe.
228
00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:13,960
But unfortunately, we find again and again that people are not.
229
00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:21,220
The first thing I just wanted to say about her, I immediately knew or could picture who
230
00:15:21,220 --> 00:15:28,360
she was based on her love of animals and their animals' reactions to her.
231
00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:34,180
Yeah, I always heard that if animals and babies like you, then you're a good person.
232
00:15:34,180 --> 00:15:40,880
So the fact that animals just approached her like old friends, I think speaks volumes about
233
00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,720
how good of a person she really was.
234
00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:52,720
Yeah, and her sisterly connection and bond with not just her twin, but her younger sister,
235
00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:53,800
like them meeting for lunch.
236
00:15:53,800 --> 00:16:02,220
I don't know, I have sisters and siblings and we are all close and meeting for lunch
237
00:16:02,220 --> 00:16:10,720
around a busy Christmas time is something we would do just to quickly check in and kind
238
00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:16,440
of de-stress in the middle of what could be a busy, frazzled time.
239
00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:23,960
Yeah, she was extremely close to her family and her family is still deeply advocating
240
00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,960
for her and fighting for her.
241
00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,360
So that bond is still so tight.
242
00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:37,220
Something else that I wrote down was that's a good roomie, that her roommate knew something
243
00:16:37,220 --> 00:16:42,400
was wrong and did something about it.
244
00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,680
We say it all the time, but that's a real one.
245
00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,960
That's a real friend, someone looking out for you.
246
00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,160
You know, obviously I would want someone to look for me.
247
00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,360
I'd want people like that to advocate for me.
248
00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:59,040
So I don't know if you could say who that name or what that person's name was, but yeah,
249
00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,040
you're a real one.
250
00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:04,520
Yeah, the roommate was actually never named in any of the research that I was looking
251
00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:11,140
at, but yeah, they immediately kind of knew something was off, like not sticking to the
252
00:17:11,140 --> 00:17:12,140
regular schedule.
253
00:17:12,140 --> 00:17:15,880
They really noticed that her car hadn't moved at all, so it's not like she was doing things
254
00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:17,880
and coming and getting her car, dropping it off.
255
00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:24,240
Like they took note and yeah, raised the alarm very quickly, which is what you want.
256
00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:32,520
This kind of segues us into the terrifying site that they found eventually when they
257
00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,600
opened that bathroom door.
258
00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:40,320
But first was, you know, just the mess in what could look like a robbery.
259
00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:48,160
But what I also wrote down was violation of space is, if you've experienced it before,
260
00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:53,280
you know, like been robbed, then maybe you know what I'm talking about or can relate.
261
00:17:53,280 --> 00:18:00,080
But it's a destabilizing experience to know that your space was violated like that, especially
262
00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:06,240
if you are someone who, you know, really curates your space and make it a safe and relaxing
263
00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:07,760
one for you to be in.
264
00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:12,160
But also, you know, that nothing was really taken.
265
00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:18,400
Yeah, police do believe that the rummaging of the drawers and like dumping everything
266
00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:24,120
was more of a decoy to try to make it look like a robbery gone wrong.
267
00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:28,120
But it doesn't seem like anything of value was really missing.
268
00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:31,000
We do know for sure that her apartment key was missing.
269
00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,680
So that's how her bedroom door was locked and the apartment was locked when the roommate
270
00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,660
got back.
271
00:18:37,660 --> 00:18:40,320
So they locked it on the way out.
272
00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,840
And the pillowcase was also missing and it seems like a pillow.
273
00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:51,520
We know ligatures are missing from the scene and something that was used to cut was removed
274
00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:52,720
from the scene.
275
00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,920
But there might be some other things missing, those things we don't know.
276
00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:59,560
But it's hard to know what the real motive is here.
277
00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:05,320
I mean, just recently the retired detective, you know, told the family that they think
278
00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:10,720
that the person just slipped in, followed Julia when she took the trash out from her
279
00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:12,960
apartment and followed her back.
280
00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,400
But there was no sign of forced entry.
281
00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,760
So maybe she knew the person.
282
00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:23,960
You know, there's a lot of things and police are also even saying like a serial killer.
283
00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,960
They don't mention a name or specifics in that.
284
00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:33,040
But it seems like nothing has really been ruled out here.
285
00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:41,840
I know with our podcast, we don't spend a ton of time on details of a murder, but this
286
00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,120
is for clarification's sake.
287
00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:50,000
I don't think I understood.
288
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:54,800
She asphyxiated and was then drowned.
289
00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,120
That's what I don't understand.
290
00:19:57,120 --> 00:20:04,960
Yeah, so police aren't very clear exactly on the details.
291
00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:10,540
But what I took kind of took it as, it does seem like it was two acts of like the asphyxiation
292
00:20:10,540 --> 00:20:15,000
is one and then the drowning was the final piece.
293
00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:21,400
Yeah, to me, and I'm just thinking of this in real time.
294
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,560
It's not something that I wrote down.
295
00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:31,440
To me that really does say that was someone who was taking their time.
296
00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:35,960
You know, it didn't even occur to me but like to take the time to, you know, draw the water
297
00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:40,960
unless it was already in there, but if she was talking to her sister and whatnot, it
298
00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,400
doesn't seem like that is what was happening.
299
00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:48,160
So oh, God, that's very terrifying to think about.
300
00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:53,760
Yeah, it's really scary to think about what this girl went through.
301
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,440
You know, police found ligature marks.
302
00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:00,680
So they do say she was tied up or bound.
303
00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:08,360
So it does seem like whoever committed this horrible act realized that he had the time
304
00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:09,640
to be there.
305
00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:15,880
I know you mentioned that the perpetrator was someone who had had a vasectomy, which
306
00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:22,560
to me, definitely like if I was, you know, investigating, I would think it was an older
307
00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,000
man.
308
00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:30,080
Those are my thoughts, at least on like profile that it was probably someone older.
309
00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:31,920
But I'm curious to know what you thought.
310
00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:38,760
I would agree with you that the vasectomy does point to somebody who is older.
311
00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:43,280
I wouldn't think that it would be typical of a college student.
312
00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:49,200
Another thing I just kind of wanted to point out is that there does seem to be two, possibly
313
00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:56,600
two DNA profiles from the latex gloves that police found in the bedroom floor.
314
00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:02,500
The FBI and police did talk about the latex gloves possibly being like a decoy or something
315
00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:04,420
to throw them off.
316
00:22:04,420 --> 00:22:09,680
So that is something but there did seem to be like two sets of DNA.
317
00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:11,060
One was pretty weak.
318
00:22:11,060 --> 00:22:15,960
So maybe that is just the other DNA profile, just a weaker pull of it.
319
00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:20,260
But there is a strong DNA profile that could be used in comparison.
320
00:22:20,260 --> 00:22:23,880
So I hope in the future, the family gets justice.
321
00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:27,160
They're fighting for it, they're advocating for it.
322
00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,240
They actively want this case worked.
323
00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:35,920
So I hope that they're able to get a profile to match to this DNA that they have.
324
00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,480
I do know it hasn't showed up in any systems like CODIS.
325
00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,760
So that is something that police have mentioned.
326
00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:51,560
Yeah, I think with cases like this, once there is a possible theory or speculation that a
327
00:22:51,560 --> 00:23:00,160
serial killer could possibly be involved, it becomes a case where a lot of people start
328
00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:06,600
speculating and the most important thing is honestly like just what you did brought this
329
00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,560
case to our attention.
330
00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:16,560
I feel sad that I didn't know about it because I originally am not too far from where she
331
00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:17,840
was from.
332
00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:20,320
I'm very interested in helping.
333
00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:26,440
Anyway, I can, especially because this case was so recent.
334
00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:31,840
It feels possible to me that there are answers out there, but you know, more than anything,
335
00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,680
just keep just continuing to talk about it.
336
00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:35,680
Absolutely.
337
00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:40,840
And again, if you know anything about Julia Niswender’s murder, please call Crimestoppers
338
00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:45,420
at 1-800-773-2587.
339
00:23:45,420 --> 00:23:50,100
And we'll of course have pictures of Julia on our Instagram at ColdandMissing.
340
00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:52,200
If you're not following us, please follow us there.
341
00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:56,400
We have updates in case we ever do need to miss a week of the podcast.
342
00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,240
We usually post about it there.
343
00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,240
So please follow us if you're not already.
344
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,560
Thank you if you've taken the time to rate and review us.
345
00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,640
If you haven't, today could be your day to do it.
346
00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,080
So please write us a written review.
347
00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:14,680
You can do it in Apple podcasts or at our website www.coldandmissing.com where we also
348
00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,140
have transcripts and all of our back catalogs.
349
00:24:17,140 --> 00:24:18,480
So go check it out.
350
00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,360
If you're new here, if you want to look at more cases, you can find all of them there.
351
00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:23,360
But that is all I have.
352
00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:25,880
Thank you so much for listening to Cold and Missing.
353
00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,160
I'm your host Allie.
354
00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:28,800
And I'm your co-host Eli.
355
00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:30,640
Have a good week and stay safe, y'all.
356
00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:49,560
Stay safe, y'all.
