Knife Freak

This episode started as an anthology. Three seemingly connected cases told together. Then I got into this case and realized, as usual, there was much more there than it seemed. Shellie Szabo was just a teenager when she was murdered. In her young years, she had been trafficked into sex work, had lost a child, and was struggling to get her life back on track. Her killer was caught, but was justice served? And did he learn his lesson? You probably already know the answers to those questions…

To get started on your own newspapers.com journey, Go to Newspapers.com/Crime. When you sign up, use discount code MurderInTheRain to get 20% off!

Visit justaddBUOY.com/MITR to get started with some Buoy drops focused on Hydration, digestion, brain health, Immunity, rescue, or energy!

Oregon Journal Nov 28 1978 Murdered prostitute "needed help" - The Daily Astorian Nov 29 1978- Prostitute's mother tells of death - East Oregonian May 14 1973 - Circuit Court - Shellie R. Szabo (1959-1978) - Find a Grave Memorial - Oregon Journal May 11 1979 Prostitute murder jury hears of night of terror - Been Verified- Dennis Dean Kersting - State v. Kersting :: 1981 :: Oregon Court of Appeals Decisions - Oregon Journal Nov 27 1978- Clues Hunted in Woman's Murder - Oregon Journal Dec 11 1978- Police Probe Death of Woman Found Nude in West Linn Park - State v. Kersting :: 1982 :: Oregon Supreme Court Decisions - The Oregonian Nov 27 1978- Stab-victim's body found near railyard - The Daily Astorian Nov 27 1978- Body Discovered - The Oregon Daily Journal June 26 1969- 5 indicted - The Oregonian Jan 27 1979- Man indicted for murder - The Oregonian Dec 8 1978- Second prostitute slain in 11 days - Sandy man pleads guilty to sexually abusing homeless woman | Clackamas County - Convicted killer nicknamed 'Lurch' sexually abused homeless Portland woman - State v. Kersting :: 1982 :: Oregon Supreme Court Decisions - The Oregon Daily Journal  June 16 1969- Five Indicted - The Oregon Daily Journal July 24 1969- 2 Men Sentenced - The Oregonian Jan 27 1979- Man indicted for murder - The Oregonian Jan 30 1979- Man Denies Murder Guilt - Oregon Journal Jan 30 1979- Murder tiral set March 21 - The Oregonian May 9 1979- Prosecutor ties victim to defendant in murder - Oregon Journal May 16 1979 - On trial for murder Defendant admits prostitute was in his truck - Oregon Journal- Kersting guilty of killing prostitute

Shellie's mother, who did all she could to get her daughter help

Dennis "Lurch" Dean Kersting- The tow truck driver arrested for Shellie's murder

Dennis "Lurch" Dean Kersting when he was booked in Clackamas County after attacking a houseless woman.