Five Years and Counting: The Murder of Renee Pagel

It is difficult to imagine after 5 years the only suspect named by police, that this case is no further along then when the body of Renee Pagel stabbed to death (after donating a kidney to a complete stranger) in her home was discovered on August 5, 2006.

Renee, a nurse and grade school teacher was just days away from finalizing her divorce. The evening of August 5, 2006, her 3 children were in the care of her mother-in-law. There was no sign of a struggle, break-in or robbery. The weapon used to stab her to death has never been recovered. The suspect, her estranged husband, has yet to be interviewed by law enforcement. And during today's "Time's Up" radio show on this case, Holly Hughes a defense attorney out of Atlanta, explains he (the only suspect) has the right not to be questioned or cooperate with authorities. Perhaps if authorities actually did their jobs back in 2006, and worked the case, (now there is a concept) the only suspect would be arrested.

Now, it is being shipped to the Cold case unit. In my opinion, that is a slap in the face for this mother, sister, friend and victim of an intimate partner homicide who deserves justice. Not slammed in some cold case metal cabinet to be dusted off each time a reporter or anyone else makes an inquiry on the status of this no justice, no investigation, but plenty of invisible lip service case.

As always someone knows the truth. And perhaps in this case it's an "all in the family secret!"

Regardless, when law enforcement does not do their jobs in cases of intimate partner homicide, they are screaming out to the world that it is acceptable, in my opinion, to murder your wife in cold blood!

To listen to the show click the link below:

To download this podcast for use on your computer, mp3 player or any media device, right click Download Podcast and choose "Save link as"

Christine Otto Crandle in another interview with the media

****

Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is a specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies and high risk cases and available for personal consultations through the Institute.

Susan is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth and co-host of Crime Wire.

Intimate Partner Homicide Investigation Show Sponsored by Websleuths.com Monday July 19, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST

By Susan Murphy Milano and Sheryl McCollum


Date: Monday July 19, 2010

Time: 9PM EST/ 8PM Central / 6PM PST

Intimate Partner Homicide Investigation show: Tonight's Show The Case of Mother Susan Powell from Utah and the Unsolved Murder of Renee Pagel

To discuss the Susan Powell case: Reporter Isabelle Zehnder, Websleuths.com owner Tricia Griffith and Kiirsi Hellewell.

Guests for the Renee Pagel case: Christine Otto Crandell and Joyce Reid Schaner

Sheryl McCollum, Director of Cold Case Investigative Research Institute and Susan Murphy-Milano, Violence Expert and Author of the new book "Time's Up" have joined forces to bring new eyes to cases of intimate partner homicide. “DNA equals DOA (dead on arrival) with respect to intimate partner homicide crimes.” There is no voice or face, instead victim’s lives result in filling headstones and cemeteries; placed in the “unimportant” category box. Intimate Partner Homicide Investigation gives these cases a front and center seat instead of a back door crime occurring behind closed doors.

McCollum and Murphy-Milano are working proactively to reduce the number of deaths through several channels, saving not only lives, but taxpayer dollars, and utilizing unique procedures gleaned from their years of working on high risk and high profile cases. Combining their experience will help bring new possibilities and new clues to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across the country.

The show is sponsored by the interactive crime and news site Websleuths.com

To listen to the show live and participate in the chat room, the direct link for the show is HERE

We will take your call live. The number to call in with questions is:

(347) 326-9337

"Meet the Author-Save a Life"

Wednesday, April 14, 4pm Eastern, 3pm Central!

Today we are turning the tables on Susan Murphy Milano! "Meet the Author" will be an interview of Susan discussing the release of her new book, "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave an Abusive and Stalking Relationship."


“Imagine if Stacy Peterson, Lisa Stebic, Renee Pagel, Mary Jane Zich, Kelly Currin Morris, Mary Badaracco, Peggy Dianovsky, Kelliesue Ackernecht,Sandra Travis, Rachel Conger,Theresa Parker, or Renee Pernice had the opportunity to complete the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit.....the offenders would be arrested and these cases would be resolved.”.


Please feel free to call in with questions, comments and best wishes for the success that this book so deserves. If used in abuse and stalking cases, it WILL save lives.


Sorry, to find out who will be the host for this entire hour of power you will just have to tune-in!


If you would like to email questions or comments, you may email to murphymilano@gmail.com


The direct link to the show is HERE

The call in number is:

(347) 326-9337

Charging Ahead or Failing to Charge

After a family discovers a crime scene or reports a loved missing in cases where the spouse or former boyfriend is the likely the individual responsible for the murder or vanishing act it often creates an additional burden on law enforcement to follow through and properly investigate the case as a possible homicide.

In the case of Kelly Currin Morris, the 28-year-old mother of two, missing since September 3, 2008, police located her remains in a heavily wooded area last week. William "Scott" Morris (the husband)has been charged with first-degree murder and for burning a dwelling, shared by the couple and their children. It was burned down the day after Kelly was reported missing. He is being held without bond and likely will remain where he belongs, behind bars.

The law enforcement community did a remarkable job, otherwise William Scott Morris would still be a free man as we have often seen in other cases. It is not easy to investigate a case involving "intimate homicide."

Renee Pagel Case Still Unsolved

Still unresolved, and frankly outrageous, is the unsolved murder of Renee Pagel ,found stabbed to death in her bed recovering from surgery, (after donating aa kidney to a complete stranger) just days away from her divorce being finalized. According to close friends and relatives the grade school teacher and a registered nurse told others she was in "fear for her life." A week before her murder she changed the beneficiary of her life insurance policy from her estranged husband to a close family friend.

Her estranged husband, Michael Pagel, is the only person who has not voluntarily cooperated with police, nor has he provided an alibi to police for the night of Renee's murder. He retains custody of the couple's children.

As many women say when they are married to an abusive spouse, "if something happens to me, make sure people know it was not an accident." And, yet, in Rockford, Michigan detectives assigned to the case, in "name only," appear to have dropped the ball and the case file is sitting in a drawer collecting spiders, cob webs and dust.

Are cases like this more difficult because they already have the body, it's not that important, and no one is around to put pressure on investigating and ultimately charge the person responsible?

I realize a good defense attorney would attempt to kick a case like this to the curb. There would be media and a lot of mud slinging. But, a seasoned prosecutor would be able to win such a case and get a conviction.

Isn't the prosecutor the one who represents justice for the victim?

A Walk For A Life Lost!

This October it will be 2 years since the 23 year old mother of two, Stacy Peterson vanished. While friends and family continue to look for her remains there are others out there alive whom desperately need our assistance. Funds are being cut for children, legal and shelter services for woman across the country. Agencies whom provide these vital and life saving services now depend on every penny to help its' victims.

Last week on The Susan Murphy Milano show we had as a guest Amy Leichtenberg. She is the mother of Duncan and Jack whom were assassinated last year by their father while on an unsupervised visatation. Allowed by our court system to slaughter innocent children. On the show Amy talked about what got her through the court system while her children were still alive she said it was the programs provided by the agency in her area. She talked about the counseling for her and the therapy and children's programs for her kids. "They looked forward to going each week and healing."

Whether you live in Kansas or California we all saw the news coverage for some 18 months before my least favorite cowardly"dickless wonder" was arrested for the murder of Kathleen Savio. I realize we cannot bring these women or their children back among the living, but, we can take action and support services that are providing a life line for victims of violence and their children.

We all watched the news coverage on MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CNN, HLN, our local stations as they brought the horrific plight of two women's lives across our television and Internet screens Kathleen Savio and Stacy Peterson as their abuser strutted on screen saying "Stacy took off with $25,000 and a red bikini or she left with another man."

We need to send a message of hope to the surviving children of Stacy Peterson whom will never see their mother again by either participating in the event below or making a monetary contribution in honor of Stacy Ann Peterson. The information is below, please a moment to donate whatever you can.

Angels For Stacy

Angels Against Abuse Walk Time: October 24, 2009 from 8am to 7pm

Location: Hammel Woods Street: Crumby Recreation AreaCity/Town: Shorewood, IL

On Saturday, October 24, several local area people will be partnering with Guardian Angel Community Services for a 5K walk to raise funds to continue their services to victims and families of domestic violence.

They have set up a team, "Angels For Stacy" partnering with Peace4 the Missing to give everyone an opportunity to participate.If you are nearby, we hope you will walk, if you aren't, we hope you will help with support, sponsorship, or donations, if you can. Please join our Team and show your support for Stacy Peterson, ALL missing persons, and the victims of domestic abuse. It's FREE to join and be a member! sponsored by Guardian Angels Community Services, 501c3 organization.For more info on how you can change a life and donate CLICK HERE

Tragedy In Tin Can Holler

Tragedy in Tin Can Holler" is a captivating important true story of a family's past transgressions revealing a family member who was a serial killer that got away with murder during the great depression, incest and child abuse, lies and betrayals and domestic violence buried for decades! The vicious murder of the author's mother haunted her for 48 years, but discovering the truth about her mother's murder was just the tip of the iceberg. Her story and the murder of her mother is spell-bounding as she unveils the hidden secrets that shocked the residents of three counties in southeast Tennessee.

It is about a subject caught up in a place and time where the issue of domestic violence has for far too long been swept with the broom in an epidemic that has plaged our nation since the begining of time. It wil move the reader to tears and applaud the author for a tear moving page turner.

About The Author: Rozetta Mowery is an activist and advocate against domestic violence and child abuse. She is a spokesperson for CASA and the Holston United Methodist Home for Children. She assists with fundraisers that support domestic violence shelters and programs. Visit her website for more information and check her schedule over at http://www.tincanholler.com/

It can be found here in this link at Amazon.com

In case you missed the rivting one hour interview on the Susan Murphy Milano show with Amy Leichtenberg turn up your computer volume and the show will play automatically on this site. If you are a mother without custody or in the midst of divorce this show is a must listen!

Dysfunctional Legal System Leads To Murder

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that Drew Peterson's strategy from my favorite legal marshmallow defense team was going to be to file a motion in court asking for the removal of the Illinois Heresay law before a trial begins sometime in 2010.

And we can all be sure, similar to toilet paper out of a bathroom stall, that Peterson's defense team, if the motion is denied, will roll it all the way to the supreme court. They do not want the testimony of Kathleen's Savio's divorce attorney Harry Smith or the conversation between Pastor Neil Schori and Stacy Peterson among others to be allowed as Hearsay testimony under the new Illiniois law because the defense is claiming it is unconstitutional. I saw bravo to this ridiculous tactic that only makes the prosecutions case stronger. Consider the documentation by Kathleen Savio up to the date of her death. The order of protection, although granted and eventually dropped, was in fact initially given to Kathleen by a judge after she provided sworn testimony as to the abuse suffered during her marriage to Peterson. The defense cannot declare that the photo's of the beatings, hospital reports and letters sent by Kathleen to the Will County State's Attorney's office as inadmissible, but don't be surprised if they attempt to file a motion against that too.

This case is about a legal system that is as dysfunctional and dangerous for all women married to abusive and psychopathic men. This is one woman out of millions similar to Kathleen Savio who happen to be married to a violent offender with a badge to whom in my opinion, lost her life. A woman whose cries for help fell on deaf ears when she called the police for help from inside her home to the courthouse steps where she was turned away and then at her very own botched crime scene.

Be Aware of Danger: The Susan Murphy Milano Show : Wednesday August 5, 2009 at 3:00 PM Central Time

One of my favorite shows as a kid was lost in space. I always believed that the Robot in the show was more like a character created to be used as a type of human safety intuition created out of metal. It was a fantastic way to show intuition.

Every week the robot would light up and yell "danger, danger approaching." Sometimes the other members in cast would attempt to dismiss the robot, but never young Will Robinson he would always follow the warnings signs ultimately saving his family from unknown dangers.

Today on the Susan Murphy Milano show join us as we highlight the murder of Renee Pagel and what went wrong the night of her death, the mistakes she made and information on what you can do when met with unseen danger.

And, Jillian Maas-Backman works with those individuals, friends and family involved or affected by violent crimes. As an Intuitive Life and Safety Professional guiding you through life changing events to achieve a peaceful way of life. Her Website is: Jillian Maas-Backman

Date : 8/05/2009

Time: 4:00 PM EST 3:00 PM CST 1:00 PM PST

Call-in Number: (347) 326-9337Show Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanmurphymilano

"Death in Their Eyes"

Mary is a 51 year- old mother of 3 who will be officially divorced this week after 22 years of marriage.

Her road to life without abuse similar to millions of others in her situation will continue to be difficult. This morning as she was moving into her new home, Mary felt uneasy about her safety. "He's not done with me. I know he will kill me or make it look like an accident. I am terrified." While waiting for the alarm company installer to arrive Mary and I went over safety issues to implement and watch for in her new home.

We walked around the outside of the house with a handyman she hired to secure the windows by placing hinges on the inside removing all the screens replacing then with storm windows. We marked all the doors to be replaced with deadbolts not only on each door but included the screen storm doors, and side door of the garage. Once the alarm company arrived we strategically discussed the placement of the wireless system. In Mary's situation because her husband is angry and violent and has thtretened to take her life the alarm company also wired the garage and extra windows leading into the basement. It cost several hundred dollars extra but it was well worth it.

The alarm company installer suggested that the entire landscape of bushes, or large plants near any of the widows be either cut very low or removed entirely. So that no one could hide. Then Mary and I went to Menards and bought motions lights for the outside of the home and various timers for lights inside the house.

Her husband was scheduled to pick up their son for dinner after I left. I received a text message from Mary, "when he got here he came after me and I had to call the police-they refused to arrest him and I insisted a report be made-Susan he had the look of death in his eyes and he told me I'll never make it to court alive on thursday-he said if I drop divorce he'll forgive me and we can stay married. "

The safety strategies I have implemented for Mary are specific to her abuser and how handy he is at breaking and entering into places always without anyone seeing him. His anger is at a very dangerous level and Mary has a 50/50 chance at staying alive if she remains calm and on guard at all times. And it is a lot of work, but it is possible.

Often a woman is killed because she was not prepared to defend herself. Or the courts refuse to issue an order of protection or police do not feel they have enough to make an arrest. Regardless, a woman fights for the system to do its' job and to basically while continuing to fight the abuser when no one is looking , then fight for her kids and her life. I think about women like Kathleen Savio, the third wife of Drew Peterson. Was there an alarm in the home? If yes why wasn't it activated? Drew Peterson is not only a trained police officer but a skilled locksmith. Did he sneak in while she was sleeping? Did Peterson catch Kathleen off guard at a time of night when it was least expected? Did he sneak into the house and pull a gun on her? Did Kathleen and Drew Peterson struggle? In my opinion like criminal profilers, these are cases that I study in hopes of keeping other women alive.

As a society we have a long way to go before we treat domestic violence in the home as a crime. And then just maybe in high school classrooms we can replace how to correctly use a condom with how to know the signs of an abuser and how to stay safe and what to do if you are in an abusive relationship.

If you have ended a relationship, change those locks, immediately! And do a walk around your home. Remove any ladders, make sure the garage is locked, put away any tools. And yes, even rearrange your living space.What about your windows and sliding glass doors? Get yourself over to the hardware store and find the best cost effective method to bars and locks for these areas.

What about a Do? Don't have a dog? Go ahead and buy or make a Dog Beware sign and put it in your windows.Another great tip is to record the sound of a barking dog. If you don't have a dog, take a recorder and head to the nearest dog shelter and tape the barking sounds. Go ahead and even record your phone voice and message right there on the spot, at the dog shelter. Say something like" Okay Sparky, I'm on the phone, that's enough, be quiet, sorry can't come to the phone please leave a message .Then head home and play it into your phone message system. Then strangers and others you are trying to keep away will think you have dogs and that may deter them. You can also play a recoding each time you answer your telephone with just the sounds of a barking dog. What about a basic home security system? This goes hand in hand with the other security solutions above. To learn more about systems here is an alarm link:http://www.homeimprovementmag.com/Articles/2006/06May_safe_@_home.html If you keep a spare key outside someplace-stop it now! Never leave a key anywhere outside your home.If you are not expecting anyone or anything to arrive at your door, do not open the door. If the bell continues to ring waiting for you to answer the door and you do not know who it is, call 911.And never, ever leave any type of note on your door or mail box for anyone. Either text message them, send an email or do it the old fashioned way and call them.

If you would like to email me please know that everything sent is read only by me and is kept in strict confidence. Again, the email address is contact@movingoutmovingon.com

Tonight On The Levi Page Show with criminal profiler and author Pat Brown, Investigator and Author Vito Colucci, Jr., and myself we will discuss the Kathleen Savio murder.

The Levi Page Show airs Sunday night at 10 PM EST / 9 CST / 8 MST / 7 PST on BlogTalkRadio at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/levipage The "Levi Page Show" is a listener interactive, call-in, true crime and justice show, for those interested in the hot true crime cases in the headlines and the crime victims often ignored by the mainstream media.

Safety and Personal Protection

It is rare when we see a hostage situation conclude without the loss of lives. Last week Nancy Tyler was taken at gunpoint from her place of employment. Her estranged husband ordered her to drive to the couple's former home with a gun pointed at her from the back seat.

Nancy Tyler had filed for divorce and her violent, controlling husband was not going to allow her to end the divorce with her life. There is a lot to be learned from what Nancy Tyler did that day for 12 hours.

First, she remained calm. She followed his orders. She didn't raise her voice or try and argue with him. What she did do was continue talking about anything and everything. Police and the swat team were outside and he was also speaking with a news reporter by telephone demanding police stay away from the home.

During those 12 terrifying hours, he handcuffed Nancy Tyler to an eyebolt in a basement wall; told her the house was rigged to explode, and repeatedly held a gun to her head while he recited countdowns to what was to be her death. Nancy took the split second when he was distracted and ran out a small door down in the basement to safety.

Nancy Tyler's quick thinking during the entire ordeal and many prayers to God is what saved her from being killed. In many cases where were read news stories of tragedies it is difficult for victims to remain calm. A technique not often taught or used in one's self defense of their lives.

Thinking like the offender, abuser, and criminal is often an important technique that either buys time or as in Nancy Tyler case saves lives.

Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to several 911 tapes of abuse victims who ultimately lost their lives. In those calls while the phone was on as the woman was running for her life you could hear the chaos and fear just before shots were fired. In a few of the calls perhaps if they had been calmer or been able to divert the shooter the outcome might have been different. I am not suggesting one method or another would have changed the tragedies. I am asking that we look at applying self defense training and strategies using words as an additional way to remain alive.
In cases where you are going through a divorce and the children is in the home what safety techniques have you considered practicing? Maybe the person has threatened to kill you and believe he won't hurt me with his kids in the house. Think Again!

A person who has threatened your life for ending the relationship or marriage has no problem taking everyone out with them.

Hostage negotiators are often successful at getting people to surrender because they have been trained. And in my 20 years as a trainer I implement various techniques that have kept a woman and her children alive. If you are in an abusive relationship it is time that you begin to implement and practice strategies to keep you safe. Listen weekly to the Susan Murphy Milano Show or send in suggestions on what you would like to know and we will feature you and or the information on the show. Email address is contact@movingoutmovingon.com

And as my colleague Anny Jacoby teaches: PERSONAL SAFETY/SELF-DEFENSE IS NOT USED TO FIGHT........IT'S USED TO DEFENDNo excuses, Time's UP!

Where Is The Asylum For American Women?

Apparently, our government is seriously considering granting asylum for battered women from other countries. Now there is a concept! Curious, I contacted a church that helps those granted asylum and learned when our government provides assistance, the person is given housing, placed on public aide amounting to approximately $2,000 a month and in many cases a second hand vehicle so they can get around. And other perks depending on the individual’s needs. We cannot take care of victims of abuse in our own country. Why are we extending a hand to foreigners? Is the abuse different or more life threatening from the women in our own country?

Women whom are born in United States are living in the same conditions as those the government has offered to help with little to no options for safety and proper services to escape their abusers. I personally know several hundred women whom are beaten, raped, kept like prisoners in their own homes and forced to deal with their abusers one way or the other or else they will be killed, identical life threatening situations as the women in the New York Times article. Where is the asylum for American women?

If our government can come up with a way to house, educate and find jobs for battered women from other countries in this economy, we should first have a system in place for American women before we start offering a safe haven to immigrants.

Do not misunderstand. I am about helping battered women, but let us help those where we have the greatest need, and the highest mortality rate, right here in the good old United States.

Justice Interrupted Investigates Murder-Tuesday May 26, 2009- At 11:00PM EST

Justice Interrupted Show airs every Tuesday night @ 11 PM ET/ 10 CT / 9 MT/ 8 PTGuests:

Steph Watts and his investigative work with Mark Fuhrman for OTR at FOX News on the disappearance of Stacy Peterson was seminal. She was the fourth wife of Bolingbrook Police Officer Drew Peterson, and prime suspect in her disappearance. This work led to the reclassification of the death of Peterson’s third wife Kathleen Savio, from an accident to a homicide.In addition to producing on such as Good Morning American and Greta, Watts has captured breaking new and exclusive video from the scene of many national news stories; from inside the tragedy at Virginia Tech and the raids on the FLDS compound in Texas, to recently locating and shooting an exclusive interview with Joran van Der Sloot in Thailand. (see photos), He combine’s the latest technology with my years of experience to bring first hand accounts from the people closest to the stories.

"Renee Pagel was stabbed to death in her own home, while recovering from donating a kidney to the father of one of her students...just days before her divorce was to be finalized. She was a mother of three young children; a nurse and teacher; and had a passion for third world medical missions. Her estranged husband, Michael Pagel, is the ONLY person who has not voluntarily cooperated with police, nor has he provided an alibi to police for the night of Renee's murder. He retains custody of the couple's children, and remains the ONLY suspect in this case. Click here for more information on The ONLY Suspect

Kellisue Ackernecht was a 36 year-old mother was last seen at approximately 9:35pm, in Amsterdam, N.Y. She was leaving her job at Rite Aid Pharmacy. She has not been seen or heard from since. Her brother will be our guest discussing the disturbing details of this unsolved case.

Join Hosts:Robin Sax Prosecutor and Author, Author Stacy Dittrich, Advocate and Author Susan Murphy-Milano as they provide justice for those whose lives have been interrupted by rape, murder, child sexual predators, strange and unexplained disappearances............Predators and Child Molesters by Robin Sax is the first book to be awarded Amber Alert Book of the Year Award.

To listen live go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/justiceinterrupted and click on the "Click To Listen" icon.

You might want to refresh your page because the icon will not show until the show starts.Call in live at: 914-338-0663 to participate in the show !

Who Killed Renee Pagel?

The question is not that Renee Pagel was found stabbed to death in the former marital residence while recovering after donating a kidney to one of her students parents.

The question is why haven't police arrested the person responsible for Renee's murder?

Renee Pagel was killed on August 5, 2006. She was a grade school teacher and a registered nurse. According to friends, Renee feared for her safety from her estranged husband. As many women say when they are married to an abusive spouse "if somethings happens to me, make sure people know it was not an accident."

Renee also changed the beneficiary to her life insurance police, removing her husbands name and changing it to a close friend.

We will discuss this case on Justice Interrupted and other women who have lost their lives in the name of power and control, on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.