CITIZEN DETECTIVE
Danielle Burch is a citizen detective living in Arizona.
Originally from Wisconsin, Danielle went to Southeastern Academy in Orlando, Florida to pursue a career in travel and hospitality. She spent some time working at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios then returned to Wisconsin to be closer to family and became a travel agent. She started a career in Ophthalmology and Optometry and has been a licensed optician and ophthalmic technician for over 20 years.
Danielle relocated to Phoenix in 2006 to escape those Wisconsin winters, but has remained a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan. She and her husband have a passion for travel, and their favorite shared travel memory is taking a cooking class in Florence, Italy. They are raising three furry felines named Stuart, Fergie and Carl.
Danielle enjoys podcasts including Without Warning, To Live and Die in L.A., Culpable and Missing Maura Murray, to name a few! Her favorite true crime shows include Dateline, 48 Hours, Snapped and The Jinx. Her favorite book about true crime is I’ll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara.
Unsolved Magazine: What attracted you to true crime and cold cases?
Danielle Burch: My earliest memory of my interest in true crime was in 1980 when I was nine years old. There were the sounds of helicopters above and when I inquired the reason my parents told me they were searching for some missing teenagers. I stayed up at night, bothered by the sounds of the helicopters. I was intrigued yet worried of the reason as it wasn’t a common occurrence in our small town. The teens (Kelly Drew and Timothy Hack, the case was known as the “Sweetheart Murders”) were later found murdered, and their killings went unsolved for almost 30 years. They later convicted Edward Wayne Edwards after his daughter tipped off law enforcement about the possibility her father committed the crimes and DNA linked him to the killings. It was later established he was a serial killer convicted of five murders, but possibly responsible for more. The minds of those who perpetrate these awful acts intrigue me, yet I also have overwhelming compassion for those left behind who often get forgotten. I choose to remember the victim instead of celebrating the awful acts of those that took their life away.
UN: Who inspires you related to investigating true crime cases?
DB: There is always a family behind the victim. Someone that is missing the life that was tragically cut short or affected by violence. One of the mothers in a case that I am passionate about getting justice for literally prays every evening on the doorstep outside the police department that is handling her son’s case. She still believes that, while mistakes were made and situations overlooked, there will come a day that her son will have justice. She is the epitome of grace. That is what inspires me.
I am extremely grateful to CrimeCon for having an event that brings together those of us that have passion for crime solving—an event that celebrates the lives of those taken from us too soon and brings awareness to victims’ plight for justice. For giving a citizen detective like me an outlet for my investigative mind and the opportunity to meet with professionals dedicated to justice for others.
Private Detective Sheila Wysocki, who specializes in unsolved and cold cases, has been a great inspiration to me. I never could have imagined that after attending her first PI Experience event in Nashville I would not only forge lifelong relationships with others, but ignite a fire in me that I didn’t think could burn higher. She constantly pushes me to a greater potential the way she fights tirelessly for the families she is working for 24 hours a day. Yet she takes the time to answer calls, emails and texts from amateur detectives like me who just want to run an idea past her, and I am grateful to call her my friend.
UN: How long have you been investigating cold cases?
DB: Over 20 years, since a young woman named Laurie Depies went missing in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1992. We worked at the same mall and sadly she has never been found.
UN: What unique skills do you bring to cold case investigations?
DB: Probably not always a good quality, but I am suspicious by nature. I love to dig into the backgrounds of people and explore everything from behavior, their family, the friends they surround themselves with and the career path they choose. While not always easy, I can spend an entire day just researching a single phone number or an old text message that doesn’t sound like the vernacular used by a suspect. Contributing my ideas, solving puzzles and applying my instincts while collaborating with others that have similar minds can aid in solving a mystery, which can be so fulfilling! I have daily chats with others that follow the same cases and we run ideas past each other. It’s amazing how a group of people can look at a crime scene and all come up with different ideas on what happened. Sometimes the littlest detail can make a difference and could be something no one else has even thought of.
UN: What groups or organizations do you belong to?
DB: I am a member of Websleuths and recent crowdsourcing groups including the cases of Jonathan Crews, Lauren Agee and Christian Andreacchio.
UN: What is the first case you investigated?
DB: While I have been researching many cases, one of the first I have really dug my heels into was the disappearance of Maura Murray. My mind has changed over the years about what I really think happened to her, but it is such a hollow feeling when someone just goes missing and is never found. There are always clues left behind, and I still have a firm belief that one day it will be solved. I am so inspired by Maggie Freleng, Tim Pilleri and Lance Reenstierna for their continued passion, dedication and involvement in her case.
UN: What case(s) are you investigating now?
DB: I am emotionally charged by the case of Jonathan Crews from Coppell, Texas. This one has gripped my heart and mind and not a day goes by that I don’t think of his family and friends that have had to live without this remarkable young man for the past five years. He was killed in his apartment, yet it was ruled “undetermined” with fingers mistakenly pointing toward suicide. Jonathan was a light in the sky and adored by many. He had a stable job, many friends, adored his little sister and recently moved into a new apartment. Jonathan was not suicidal but had a toxic relationship that he was about to end. I believe newly sourced evidence will soon come to light, and I live for the day his family can rest at night knowing justice is coming.
Recently I have been made aware of a 25-year-cold case of Tina Heins from Jacksonville, Florida, who was murdered in bed with her unborn baby. I also assist in research for Lauren Agee, the subject of the remarkable podcast called Without Warning and the case of Christian Andreacchio, which was featured at the PI Experience at CrimeCon 2019 and subject of the podcast Culpable. Rebecca Zahau, Maura Murray, Smiley Face Killer and Delphi are a few others I often delve into.
UN: What are your ambitions as a citizen detective?
DB: Thankfully, I have met a fantastic private investigator named Sheila Wysocki, who has really promoted the idea of crowdsourcing. Before I met her, I would be hesitant to reach out to anyone with my thoughts and ideas about a case. She has given me the power to dig deeper and has given me the confidence to pursue these cases further than I ever would have without her constant support. She continually makes me think harder and doesn’t discourage me if an idea is way off base.
I firmly believe if old school detectives would take a chance on crowdsourcing as a viable alternative, many unsolved cases could turn into solved cases. I recently spoke to a detective that asked why I was interested in a cold case of his that I recently began researching. I asked him if he believes in crowdsourcing, podcasts or YouTube shows that dedicate episodes to unsolved cases, and I offered to get him in touch with them. He said, “I don’t see what they would be able to do since the case is so old.” I was mistaken and disappointed when I thought he would be invigorated by the idea that his cold case could attract a fresh set of eyes and entice an audience to renew interest. I will not let it deter me; it just nudges me further to give these unsolved cases the attention they deserve.
UN: What advice can you give to others interested in investigating cold cases?
DB: Attend the wonderful CrimeCon! The annual event brings together like-minded people with a passion for investigation, crime solving and interest in the world of true crime. Where else can you rub shoulders with FBI investigators, podcasters, television personalities, authors, victims and survivors? I have made so many wonderful friends since my first CrimeCon in 2018, and we reunited at the 2019 event as we’ve become one big family. Don’t be afraid to chat with investigators, former detectives, cold case researchers or forensic scientists who have a wealth of knowledge and are eager to share their expertise in their profession. Not a day goes by that I’m not communicating with someone that I have met at CrimeCon! Also, never give up. There are many windy roads and dead ends while investigating, but that only means you find an alternate route. Sometimes it’s the detour that makes the journey more satisfying.
UN: Do you want to share anything else with our readers?
DB: I would like to close by referencing a famous quote: “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” I believe that the tireless efforts by private detectives like Sheila Wysocki and the many citizen detectives like myself are the “the world” to the families of the many cold, unsolved and missing person cases.
