Today is Tuesday, May 10th, 2022.

On this day in 1998, Kimberly Jo Dots was bullied and killed by her fellow group of runaways,

one of them being her own cousin.

Welcome to Today in True Crime, a Spotify original from Parcast. Due to the graphic nature of this crime, listener discretion is advised. This episode includes descriptions of violent

bullying, abuse, and murder. We advise extreme caution for children under 13. Today we're talking

about the murder of Kimberly Joe Dots, a 15-year-old girl who was tormented and then murdered by her peers.

Now let's go back to Shiloh, Pennsylvania on May 10, 1998.

That afternoon, a group of seven hitchhikers strolled through downtown. They were trying to make their way out of the state and into a new life in Florida.

The group, ranging from ages 14 to 24, had fantasized about escaping their boring Pennsylvania lives and starting

fresh somewhere sunny. They even had a nickname. They referred to themselves as the runaway gang.

Only there were issues between some of the members. Not all of them were close friends,

and 15-year-old Kimberly Joe Dots faced constant bullying from others.

That afternoon, Kimmy began to have second thoughts about running away from home.

When she expressed that to the others, they worried she might go back and expose their plan to her parents.

One of them was Kimmy's distant cousin, 24-year-old Tracy Lewis.

Some of the others laughed off the dispute, but 16-year-old Jessica Holmire had an idea.

She suggested they test Kimmy's loyalty to the group.

As the group waited for their ride out of town,

they noticed a wooded area nearby. They ventured in, arriving at a clearing not far off from the road.

They unwound some rope and tied a noose on one end. Then they placed it around Kimmy's neck.

Jessica took the rope and forced Kimmy to walk around like a dog on a

leash, which is when the group came up with a new plan. Perhaps they could use the rope to perform

...