Voices for Justice is a podcast that uses adult language and discusses sensitive and potentially triggering topics, including violence, abuse, and murder.

This podcast may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Some names have been changed or omitted per their request or for safety

purposes. Listener discretion is advised. My name is Sarah Turney and this is Voices for Justice.

Today, I'm discussing the case of Rachel Mellon Skemp.

In 1996, 13-year-old Rachel Marie Mellon Skempe stayed home sick from school.

By the end of the day, she, along with her blanket and two pillows from her bed,

had vanished into the freezing Illinois winter.

There were no witnesses and no trail leading to where Rachel may have gone. The only story we have comes from the last person to see her alive.

This is the case of Rachel Mellonskemp. It's Wednesday, January 31st, 1996, and it's a very cold day in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

It feels like about 20 degrees below zero with the wind chill.

It's one of those days where I have to imagine no one really wants to go outside unless they

absolutely have to.

If you're from a warmer climate like I am, I really want to give you some perspective on this weather,

because it becomes very important in Rachel's case. According to the National Weather Service,

a wind chill of minus 25 degrees, so just a five-degree difference from the day we're talking about,

can result in frostbite within 15 minutes. Again, you'd think that it's the kind of day

that no one would want to be outside voluntarily, or really at all, if they could avoid it,

especially if you weren't feeling well, like 13-year-old Rachel Mellonskamp. She was home sick from school that

day with a sore throat. Now, like I said, Rachel was 13. She was an honor student in the seventh grade

at Bernard J. Ward Middle School. She was a bright and responsible kid, with hobbies like science

...