Chapter 75: A Mother's Fight for Answers-The Murder of Deverrie Schiller

Today, in collaboration with Debi Fones, we bring you the story of her daughter, Deverrie Schiller. Deverrie was murdered in June of 2016, and, since then, Debi has been fighting for answers as to what happened. With a lack of suspects and a police...
Today, in collaboration with Debi Fones, we bring you the story of her daughter, Deverrie Schiller. Deverrie was murdered in June of 2016, and, since then, Debi has been fighting for answers as to what happened. With a lack of suspects and a police force with even fewer resources, it has been an up hill battle, but Debi won't stop until she sees someone arrested for her daughter's murder. We share this story in the hopes that this will happen, because whether the DA wants to move forward or not, Debi is sure she knows who killed Deverrie.
If you know anything about Deverrie Schiller’s case, please call Cal City PD at (760)-373-8606 or Secret Witness 661-322-4040
Connect with us on Social Media!
You can find us at:
Instagram: @bookofthedeadpod
X: @bkofthedeadpod
Facebook: The Book of the Dead Podcast
TikTok: Bookofthedeadpod
Or visit our website at www.botdpod.com
Don't forget to Rate, Review, & Share with someone who would like the Podcast
Featuring a Promo for Missing Magnolias:
Missing Magnolias tells the stories of the murdered or missing but certainly not forgotten. Too often we sensationalize the offender and undermine the victim. This true crime podcast combats the norm by offering a curation of interviews with victims, criminologists, experts, and truth- seekers who begin the dialogue: what is the "real true crime experience?"
Listen Here
23abc, S. V. (2023, September 16). CITIZEN SERVICE: The Cal City Police Department is seeking civilian volunteers. KERO 23 ABC News Bakersfield. https://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/citizen-service-the-cal-city-police-department-is-seeking-civilian-volunteersBennett, J. (2019, October 13). Eight unsolved California City cases featured on Dateline. Desert News. http://www.desertnews.com/news/article_a0a6b0a6-eddd-11e9-8a3d-6bf1228573f7.htmlCalifornia City. (n.d.). https://www.california.com/city/california-cityCalifornia City, CA Violent Crime Rates and Maps. (n.d.). Crime Grade. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://crimegrade.org/violent-crime-california-city-ca/KGET. (2018, April 30). Three Billboards outside California City, California. Kron4. https://www.kron4.com/news/three-billboards-outside-california-city-california/#:~:text=It's%20been%20nearly%20two%20years,she%20saw%20when%20she%20died.LaVoice, K. |. O. (2018, May 10). Three billboards outside of California City. NBC Los Angeles. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/three-billboards-movie-real-life-california-city-murder-mom/2039621/Orr, P. (2022, October 7). California City area Arrests for Sept. Desert News. http://www.desertnews.com/news/article_fd20bbea-4331-11ed-994b-dff0ebf813fb.htmlProject Cold case database. (n.d.). https://database.projectcoldcase.org/?name=Deverrie+Schiller&gender=female&race=&age=23&city=California+City&state=&zip=&county=Kern&weapon=&offense=&status=&year=&lea=&reported_min=&reported_max=&more=Stockton, R. (2023, June 7). California City, the ghost town that was meant to rival L.A. All That’s Interesting....
1
00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:04.839
Hi guys. I'm Courtney and I'm
Lisa, and welcome to the next chapter
2
00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:08.720
in the Book of the Dead.
Brought to you by Dark Cast Network indie
3
00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:33.560
podcasts with a twist, The Missing
Magnolia's podcast tells the stories of the missing
4
00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:38.240
and murdered. Ultimately, these kids
went to stay hussy and they never came
5
00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:42.640
out. Together with Missing Persons expert
doctor Michelle Johnnie's we uncover the real true
6
00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:46.159
crime experience. Every time we do
another interview, I'm like, how do
7
00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:49.399
we find so many badass women?
We hear from victims who turn their pain
8
00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:52.960
into something positive. We didn't find
out two we're eleven or twelve years old
9
00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:56.399
that our mom was murdered in Times
Square. It said Mickey Schunich fought for
10
00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:00.679
her life. An expert who think
outside the box to sell cases. Nice
11
00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:04.560
scour missing Person's database is like namous
to see if they're uploaded to that database.
12
00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:08.079
Subscribe to Missing Magnolia's on Apple,
Spotify, or wherever you get your
13
00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:14.200
podcasts today. Hello, Hello,
Welcome to the next chapter. Prior to
14
00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:18.400
our break, I was put in
contact with a woman named Debbie Fons who
15
00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:22.680
has been waiting for a resolution in
her daughter's murder. As you all know,
16
00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:26.959
working with family members is something that
we take very seriously and means a
17
00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:30.319
lot that family members would put their
trust in us to tell their loved one
18
00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.680
story. Well, this is happening
a lot later than I thought it would.
19
00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:38.920
All cases deserve to be told correctly
and with care and thought put behind
20
00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.719
it, and I won't put out
an episode unless it's told the way it's
21
00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:47.159
deserved to be told. Debbie said
to me during our phone conversation that she
22
00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:49.719
was not looking for justice, as
justice would be getting her daughter back.
23
00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:55.079
Since that is impossible. The one
thing she can hope for is an arrest
24
00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:57.359
to be made, and she is
adamant she knows who killed her baby.
25
00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:01.840
Today, i'll tell you about the
murder of Devere Schiller. Before we get
26
00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:06.159
into the case, I want to
tell you a little bit about where the
27
00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:08.879
case takes place, since I think
it shed some light on why this case
28
00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:15.319
is still unsolved. According to California
dot Com, California City, or Calcity
29
00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:20.280
as it is known to some,
is one of the most interesting cities in
30
00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:24.120
the state and is located in the
northern Antelope Valley in Kern County. It's
31
00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:29.960
an hour outside of Los Angeles and
was established in nineteen sixty five. It's
32
00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:34.919
a collection of empty streets and land
waiting for development that never actually happened.
33
00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:39.919
According to All That's Interesting. The
eighty two thousand square foot area was purchased
34
00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:46.240
by sociology professor Nat Mendelssohn as a
way to make money off the California housing
35
00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:51.080
market during the post war real estate
boom. Housing prizes were through the roof,
36
00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.800
and an uptick in the population drove
it even higher, with not enough
37
00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:59.280
homes to accommodate all of the people
waiting to live there. Nat had already
38
00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:02.800
had experienced developing a smaller town called
Arlanza Village that was thriving, so a
39
00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:08.319
city was NAT's next step. However, things didn't go well. California City
40
00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.560
was in the desert, far from
most of the places people would want to
41
00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:16.000
go, and with only one thousand
residents, Mendelssohn gave up and by nineteen
42
00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:21.639
sixty nine sold his share and abandoned
his dream. However, even though he
43
00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.680
had given up, cal City did
start to grow, but as the population
44
00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:29.159
increased, the wells that fed water
to the city that never seemed to run
45
00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:34.759
out of water finally started to and
population growth crawled, and by twenty twenty
46
00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:38.759
there were fewer than fifteen thousand residents
living there. Now, for a city
47
00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.840
with such a small population, you
would almost think that crime in this area
48
00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:46.599
would be pretty low, but on
the contrary, it's rather high for its
49
00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:52.080
size. According to crimegrad dot org, the crime rate in cal City is
50
00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:55.759
actually higher than the average US city, and its filing crime rate is around
51
00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:00.759
eight per one thousand residents a year. While violent and property crime rates are
52
00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:04.680
quite high, murder is not.
The north side of the city has a
53
00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:09.080
murder rate of one in eleven thousand, while the south side has a rate
54
00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:14.280
of one in thirty three thousand.
While statistics suggests it's not that common,
55
00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.079
murder does happen, and in a
city as small as this, the resources
56
00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:23.040
to solve them really aren't there.
In twenty twenty three, CCPD chief Jesse
57
00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:26.800
high Tower, according to an article
for turn to twenty three dot com,
58
00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.519
said that he was about six officers
short of what an ideal staffing number should
59
00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:34.639
be and was looking for about fifteen
cities and volunteers to help fill that gap.
60
00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:40.560
These volunteers would do non threatening duties
like checking on homes while residents were
61
00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:44.759
on vacation, traffic duties and running
the lobby at the station so that officers
62
00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:48.720
could go out and work on various
cases. But lack of officers, budget
63
00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:53.279
cuts, and few resources has been
an ongoing problem in cal City, and
64
00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:57.600
its residents are suffering as a result. That's not to say that law enforcement
65
00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.800
doesn't care, but they aren't equipped
with the thing it's necessary to solve cases,
66
00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:04.879
and Debrie's is one of them.
In fact, her case is one
67
00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:10.399
of eight unsolved crimes in kel City. Five of them are homicides and three
68
00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:15.519
of them are missing persons. So
the resources are not there. They don't
69
00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:21.240
have enough people to work these cases, you know what I mean? Yes,
70
00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:28.160
I do it because it's a small
police force. They don't have the
71
00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:32.560
manpower. They don't at all.
And you know, if there's fifteen thousand
72
00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:38.279
residents and they're say twenty police officers, I don't know how many there are,
73
00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:43.199
but if they're say twenty on the
police force, that's not even one
74
00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:47.120
police officer per resident. No,
not even close. Now, when you
75
00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:51.519
ask Debbie to describe her daughter,
Debris, she'll tell you how Debris was
76
00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:58.600
funny, beautiful, and she was
absolutely stonied, gorgeous girl, protective of
77
00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:02.399
her mother and her family, Intelligent, and an asshole. Not one to
78
00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.639
Min's words. Debbie told me that
while she could sing her daughter's praises,
79
00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:11.879
it was unrealistic to say she was
perfect, because Debry could absolutely be an
80
00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:17.480
asshole. She was also tough as
nails. When Debry was a baby,
81
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:20.439
she came up behind one of their
dogs, and the dog, thinking the
82
00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:25.759
baby was their other dog, whipped
around and bit Debris like on the face.
83
00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:29.560
No, she wasn't hurt badly,
just like a small cut on the
84
00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:36.000
nose. But instead of crying,
Devery reprimanded the dog. This like little
85
00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:40.360
one looked at that dog and said, no wolf, wolf, no bite
86
00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:47.199
bad wafers Like this little toddler is
reprimanding the dog. Well, she's she
87
00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:51.680
knows what's right and what's wrong.
Like give her that. Even as a
88
00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:57.560
toddler. Yeah, she took no
shit from anyone as a baby, and
89
00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:00.240
she was not going to take it
from anyone as an adult. Growing up,
90
00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:04.000
Debris was as feisty as ever,
not afraid to stand up to anyone
91
00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:08.959
for anything she believed in. Debbie
told me how before she was born,
92
00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:15.120
Debry's older sister was obsessed with Full
House and her favorite character was DJ,
93
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:18.079
and she desperately wanted her baby sister
to be DJ too, which is how
94
00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:23.600
Debray got her name, Debory Janet. But the nickname DJ never took.
95
00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.000
In fact, most of her nicknames
didn't as she grew up and expressed that
96
00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:31.519
she didn't like the nicknames that she
would be given. But one finally did,
97
00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:35.120
and that was Boo. Because Debriy, with her fiery spirit, was
98
00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:40.759
reminiscent of a grown man twice her
size that probably went by the nickname Boo.
99
00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:46.120
Okay, that works. Yep,
It's like it's funny. It's so
100
00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:49.800
funny to me, and I think
the nickname definitely suited her, So DeVry
101
00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:55.120
was Boo. As Debray got older
and Debbie battled with her health, Debrie
102
00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:58.800
stood by her mom and helped take
care of her. They were so close
103
00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:03.920
and their relationship or mind me of
ours, Debbie told her daughter similar things
104
00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.439
that you've told me growing up,
like how if I were at a party
105
00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:09.439
and drinking to call you, you
would come get me, no questions asked.
106
00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:15.600
And that was how Debbie was with
her daughters to mom after my own
107
00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:20.720
life. It's all about keeping you
guys safe, exactly. And she told
108
00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:22.680
him that they could be honest with
her and tell her anything, no matter
109
00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:26.879
what. And I honestly, I
wish I could play the entire hour long
110
00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:31.360
phone call I had with Debbie,
because she just regaled me with stories of
111
00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:35.320
debriis. And not only did Deburie
sound like a riot, but Debbie is
112
00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:39.080
a riot as well. Now,
Debbie, while having grown up in cal
113
00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:43.879
City herself, actually raised her daughters
in Montana. And she told me how
114
00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:48.000
about eight years ago she and her
family moved back to cal City. Now,
115
00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.240
they were only supposed to be there
for about six months fixing up the
116
00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:54.879
house and then they were gonna move
on, But they were still there,
117
00:08:56.120 --> 00:09:00.440
and Debbie is still there even now. But they were still there in June
118
00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:05.279
of twenty sixteen when Devery was killed. Now, on the evening of June
119
00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:09.159
twenty fifth, twenty sixteen, Debry
was twenty three years old, and she
120
00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:11.519
was leaving the house to go to
the store with the front of hers She
121
00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:15.919
had asked Debbie if when she returned, she could take the car to grab
122
00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:20.480
some food at Taco Bell, which
was about two towns over Now, that
123
00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:24.120
night, Debbie was exhausted. She
told me that the truck had broken down
124
00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.639
earlier in the day and they were
stuck in one hundred plus degree weather in
125
00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:31.759
the desert for hours before they got
home. So soon after Debray left to
126
00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:35.399
go to the store with her friend, Debbie fell asleep. So the next
127
00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:41.480
morning, around nine to thirty ish
in the morning, Debbie's mom texted Debbie
128
00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:46.720
after receiving a NIXEL alert. Now, next, alerts are an alert you
129
00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:50.440
can receive on your phone for different
things in your area, sep your weather,
130
00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:54.279
criminal activity, missing persons alerts,
things like that. And the police
131
00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:58.639
or whoever sends out these alerts to
whoever subscribed, and you'll get them right
132
00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:03.759
on your So, Debbie's mother had
gotten an alert about a body that had
133
00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:07.799
been found in a park across the
street from where Debbie lived. Now,
134
00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.840
prior to getting this message, Debbie
was not concerned so that Debris wasn't home.
135
00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:16.360
She was an adult, She was
a badass, and Debbie knew that
136
00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:20.879
Debry could handle herself. However,
after getting this message, Debbie tried to
137
00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:26.720
get in contact with her daughter,
calling and texting Debrie demanding she called back.
138
00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:30.240
This was in sos, you need
to get back to me, but
139
00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:35.440
Debury never answered. So Debbie got
in the car and drove around to the
140
00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:39.200
houses of Debrie's friends looking for her, but no one had seen her.
141
00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:45.759
Debbie returned home around four o'clock and
soon after was told by her roommate that
142
00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:50.799
the police were at the door,
and Debbie just knew. The police confirmed
143
00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:54.360
her worst fear that the body found
across the street was that of her daughter
144
00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:58.519
and that she had been murdered,
she was strangled. But didn't she go
145
00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:03.440
to the store with her friend,
like where was her friend? Or to
146
00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:07.279
get into the investigation. But that
was where my thought process was as well,
147
00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:11.720
what about her friend? Now?
They actually couldn't determine a time of
148
00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:15.639
death for Debris as it took so
long for the coroner to get there to
149
00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:22.720
do a preliminary examination due to a
devastating fire with many casualties that had happened
150
00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:24.360
farther away. I think it was
like sixty miles away or something, so
151
00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:30.320
the corner was there, okay.
So by the time the coroner arrived,
152
00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:33.320
Debry had been in the sun all
day. And if you're curious, there
153
00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:37.720
is actually a law in most states
that a body cannot be moved from where
154
00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:41.120
they have died until a coroner arrives
to do this preliminary examination and make a
155
00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:46.360
pronunciation of death, which would be
why she was not moved, even though
156
00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:50.039
they had to wait so long.
Now, Debry's body had been discovered that
157
00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:54.320
morning by a few children, and
they called over one of the mothers,
158
00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:58.480
who called the police. They had
gone to believe there was an apartment complex
159
00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:01.799
nearby, and they ran home,
got one of the mombs and came back.
160
00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:07.120
So she calls the police. And
this part it makes my blood boil.
161
00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:13.159
While waiting for the police to arrive, something possessed this woman to photograph
162
00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:20.159
debris and post the images to social
media. Why in the hell would you
163
00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:24.240
do that? I don't, I
can't, like I can't wrap my brain
164
00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:26.720
around it. And even when I
was talking to Debbie about it, I
165
00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:35.159
was flabbergasted. What would possess a
person to do that. This is someone's
166
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:43.200
child, this is someone's loved one, sister and wife. I mean,
167
00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:46.240
she was old enough, she was
an adult, she could have had children.
168
00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:50.960
Why would you do that? I
have no idea, I have no
169
00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:56.759
idea. I mean the pictures were
taken down almost immediately. But from what
170
00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:00.720
Debbie told me, this woman tried
to say that the police told her to
171
00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:05.360
take the pictures, which is obviously
not true, and no law enforcement officer
172
00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:11.039
ever anywhere would be like, yeah, take pictures and post them online of
173
00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:16.679
this decedent. Never, absolutely never, And in fact, Debrie's time of
174
00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.120
death is actually listed as when the
woman called the police, which is interesting
175
00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:24.080
to me because the woman, as
Debbie rightly told me, was not qualified
176
00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:28.120
to make that determination, nor did
she have the right to do so.
177
00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:31.440
But that is when Debries's time of
death is listed, is when this woman
178
00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:37.120
found her. And we'll come back
to that, because just talking about it
179
00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:43.039
now is just it makes me see
like it. In terms of the investigation,
180
00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:48.159
Debrie's was more involved than the other
cases that are unsolved in Kal's city,
181
00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:54.960
and that primarily is because of Debbie
taking the investigation into her own hands.
182
00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:58.480
And that's not to say that the
police weren't doing their jobs. They
183
00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:03.360
were, and Debbie was very She
told me she absolutely appreciated the police and
184
00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:07.720
the detectives working on her daughter's case, but a lot of the investigating they
185
00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:11.440
were able to do was due to
the leads that Debbie herself was following up
186
00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:16.600
on Debbie had told me that she
put herself in a lot of dangerous situations
187
00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:24.320
getting information. I'm sure she did, because there's nothing that a mom or
188
00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:28.399
a father, you know, dad, would not do. They would walk
189
00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:33.000
through the fires of hell for their
children. It's point blank walk through the
190
00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:41.000
fires of hell, no questions asked. So I can one percent see Debbie
191
00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:52.200
doing whatever it took and whatever it
takes to help the police arrest the person
192
00:14:52.320 --> 00:15:00.840
or persons that committed this heinous crime. Absolutely. Now for our For an
193
00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:03.799
example, the friend that Debry went
to the store with that night wasn't even
194
00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.919
questioned for the first six months,
as he had just like fallen off the
195
00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:13.120
face of the earth, until Debbie
had heard that moving vans were outside of
196
00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:16.480
his house and she alerted the police
that he was apparently going to move.
197
00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:18.519
She's like, you need to go
talk to him now, he's going to
198
00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:22.600
leave. So they did manage to
catch him before he left town. It
199
00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:28.960
was I think by the time they
got like all the paperwork in order,
200
00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:31.360
he was like almost at city limits
when they caught up to him. But
201
00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:35.799
they caught up to him and they
interviewed him and this friend was ultimately cleared
202
00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.279
his DNA was not a match to
the DNA collected from Debury, and so
203
00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:48.120
it was pretty definitive that he wasn't
the one responsible for Debry's murder, even
204
00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.919
though him falling off the face of
the planet was, you know, kind
205
00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:56.240
of suspicious. Well, I wasn't
saying anything about the friend. I just
206
00:15:56.360 --> 00:16:02.080
thought if they were together, maybe
this person, this friend, would have
207
00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:07.919
had information. Oh no, absolutely
absolutely, but he so it wasn't you
208
00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:11.039
know, it wasn't a slam to
the friend. Do not get me wrong,
209
00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:14.440
people, It was not a slam. It was just if they had
210
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:18.000
gone together, maybe he had information. Oh, she met somebody, she
211
00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:23.720
you know, she decided to go
with them to wherever. You know,
212
00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:29.120
they were the last ones that saw
her. No. Absolutely, but he,
213
00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:33.279
at least from what I can tell, didn't really have any helpful information
214
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:38.639
for police, and he was cleared
as being not being involved. Additionally,
215
00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:44.840
none of the children that were there
when Debray was found wherever interviewed, and
216
00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:47.960
these children were all under the age
of eighteen, so the parents had to
217
00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.799
consent for them to be interviewed,
and none of the parents agreed to it,
218
00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:53.919
which is just astounding to me.
And I had said this to Debbie,
219
00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:59.200
this is this is one of those
situations where I don't have to imagine
220
00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:03.440
what I would do, Like I
know I would be consenting because my thought
221
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.319
process would be as a mother,
if my child could potentially give information to
222
00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:14.319
help get answers for another mother's murdered
child, my kids would absolutely be at
223
00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:19.279
the police station talking to police.
Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that exactly.
224
00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:23.480
Like I'm sure there's gonna be people
out there that disagree, but well,
225
00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:29.200
it's not like you're talking to a
toddler exactly. These were I mean,
226
00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.480
they were children. I don't I
don't know what their age range was.
227
00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:33.640
I just know they were, you
know, they were old enough to
228
00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.039
be playing in the park like by
themselves. So it's not like they were
229
00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:40.039
like four or five years old.
Well that's what I mean. They're They're
230
00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:44.880
not little little children where you know
it might be or I'm sure it would
231
00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:49.279
be very traumatizing. And I'm not
saying that it would be not traumatizing for
232
00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:56.799
an older child, don't get me
wrong, but you know, if they
233
00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:02.799
they could potentially have information, yeah, it was more or less. You
234
00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:06.359
know, maybe they saw someone in
the park that they didn't recognize, or
235
00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:08.880
someone that they did recognize, you
know, that kind of thing. So
236
00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:14.759
I am fully under the belief that
they should have been interviewed. And that's
237
00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:17.039
not even on the police. That's
on the parents, you know, because
238
00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.880
they can't do anything without that consent. And it's ridiculous to me that none
239
00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:25.359
of the parents said, yes,
you can talk to my child. I
240
00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:30.039
agree with you. Now. Unfortunately, Debrie's case went cold pretty quickly,
241
00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:33.720
and a lot of that had to
do with the lack of police resources I
242
00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:37.039
mentioned in the beginning. But while
the police may have been unable to really
243
00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:41.920
work on Debrie's case the way it
should be worked on Debbie was not giving
244
00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:47.039
up. Remember those pictures that the
woman took, How could I forget?
245
00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:52.160
Well, two years after Debris was
murdered, Debbie had them reenacted. Sergeant
246
00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:56.960
Shannon Hayes, who is working on
Debrie's case and who Debbie commended for his
247
00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:02.880
work and for putting up with her
quote, it was rather shocking to see
248
00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:06.720
the recreation she had with her friend
laying as we had found every that day.
249
00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:11.119
It's kind of hard to look at, which was the point in that
250
00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.519
same article Debbie had said, quote, I want everyone to see what I
251
00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:17.680
see in my head every day.
I don't know what else to do to
252
00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:22.440
get somebody's attention. Somebody somewhere knows
something. Nobody can tell me that that's
253
00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:26.359
not true. Somebody probably has kids, and maybe if they see their kid
254
00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:29.759
laying there, I just need someone
to do the right thing and help me.
255
00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:33.839
The whole reenactment is honestly powerful to
me. First of all, I
256
00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.200
hope that the woman that took the
picture saw the reenactment and knows that what
257
00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:42.680
she did was horrific and disgusting.
And second of all, I hope that
258
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:48.279
the person who did this saw that
and the gravity of what they did punsies
259
00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:52.000
them in the face. Like I
hope it haunts them. I would hope
260
00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:56.599
it would haunt them too. But
there's a lot of people out there that
261
00:19:56.720 --> 00:20:02.960
I wish their actions would haunt them, some of these cases that we've covered.
262
00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:07.599
That same year. Inspired by the
movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,
263
00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.880
Debbie put up her own billboards.
Now. In the movie, a
264
00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:14.480
mother puts the billboards where her daughter
was killed, urging police to solve her
265
00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:18.559
daughter's murder, and Debbie did the
same thing. She placed three billboards on
266
00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:23.200
California City Boulevard. That's say quote, bust and grow houses is good,
267
00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:30.440
Busting killers is better. DeBie Schiller, October ninety two, June sixteen,
268
00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:34.759
Murder Unsolved. This was in response
to the fact that while Debbie understands resources
269
00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:38.960
for police are limited, it seems
as if the resources they do have are
270
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.640
being used to bust marijuana growers instead
of solving the cold cases that are haunting
271
00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:49.400
Cow City. According to kron four, California City had seen a mass amount
272
00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:55.559
of marijuana aids in twenty eighteen,
which is frustrating because, as confirmed by
273
00:20:55.559 --> 00:21:02.160
Sergeant Hayes, it was absolutely taking
resources away from these murder investigations. As
274
00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.599
Debbie told me, the focus was
put on these busts because medical marijuana had
275
00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:10.799
been legalized and these illegal growers were
taking the profit, which absolutely makes sense
276
00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.680
as to why there was a focus, like, of course they were going
277
00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:18.720
to bust the growers because they and
by day I need the government wasn't making
278
00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:22.200
money on the medical marijuana if people
were going out and buying it from other
279
00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:26.119
people. But all of their focus
was on that, and that should not
280
00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:32.079
have been the priority. No,
absolutely not. Now, I will say,
281
00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:37.519
well, there may not be an
official suspect. Debbie firmly believes she
282
00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:41.920
knows who is responsible for Debris's murder. Now, I obviously cannot say absolutely
283
00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:47.240
that this is the case, and
that's for legal reasons. But I can
284
00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:51.400
tell you that Debris had a boyfriend
by the name of Jerome Williams at the
285
00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:53.680
time of her death. Now,
Jerome, needless to say, is not
286
00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:59.559
what I would call an upstanding member
of society. He has a track record
287
00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:03.200
as long as is my arm,
for various things, and was arrested in
288
00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:07.920
September of twenty twenty two according to
the Desert News for quote suspicion of attempted,
289
00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:14.039
wilful, deliberate or premeditated murder,
suspicion of assault with a firearm on
290
00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:19.000
a person, shooting at an inhabited
dwelling or vehicle, et cetera, attempted,
291
00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:23.000
willful, deliberate or premeditated murder,
driving without a license, hid and
292
00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:27.559
run resulting in property damage, discharging
a firearm in a negligent manner, addict
293
00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:33.519
in possession of firearms, and violation
of probation. Just in one month.
294
00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:41.359
That seems a little bit much,
meaning I don't understand how this person was
295
00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:51.759
still walking around free with this laundry
list of crimes that they have either committed
296
00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:59.759
or they were suspected of committing.
And you know, if you break pro
297
00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:06.240
probation, that's kind of a it's
not a get out of jail free card,
298
00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:12.400
that's a go right back into jail
card. That's what I'm saying now.
299
00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:18.240
Debbie told me that she knew that
Debry wanted to break up with Jerome.
300
00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:22.359
Devery was sick of the bullshit.
And what Debbie thinks may have happened
301
00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:26.480
again this is not confirmed, is
that on the night of Debrie's murder,
302
00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.079
Jerome and Debry were in the park. Jerome must have met up with her
303
00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:34.920
at some point after she got back
from the store, and she tried to
304
00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.519
break up with him, and things
got hostile, and Devere, being someone
305
00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:42.160
who was not afraid to stand up
to anyone, didn't back down and things
306
00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:49.440
turned violent. Was there any I
want to say, forensic evidence either on
307
00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:56.119
her body or near her body,
or were they you know, bruising.
308
00:23:56.920 --> 00:24:03.480
I'm trying to, you know,
understand the I want to say, what
309
00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:11.039
she had gone through that night that
she was murdered. And why he wasn't
310
00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:18.519
looked into. So there is DNA
evidence in Debry's case. The problem is
311
00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:23.519
that this evidence is circumstantial. If
Jeram's DNA was on Devery's person, say,
312
00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:30.680
under her fingernails, that doesn't necessarily
prove anything. And Debbie had described
313
00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:33.680
it very accurately because I didn't I
didn't think of it at the time,
314
00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:37.799
and I asked her this question,
if I scratch her back, your DNA
315
00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:40.920
is under my fingernails. No,
that I that I fully understood. So,
316
00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:45.279
but if something were to have happened
to you, your DNA is under
317
00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:49.400
my fingernails. But they can't say
I did anything because it's circumstantial. I
318
00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:53.039
scratched her back. You know,
she's my mom. You know, if
319
00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:56.079
the police talked to him, it
could be the same thing where we found
320
00:24:56.119 --> 00:25:03.480
your DNA under her fingernails while we
were in a relationship. No, I
321
00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:11.240
fully get all of that. But
all you've told us so far is that
322
00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:21.559
she was found in the park.
No, nothing else was related. No,
323
00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.279
absolutely, and I understand what you're
saying. Unfortunately, there's not a
324
00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:27.599
lot of evidence, at least evidence
that I'm pretty to because it's still an
325
00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:34.160
ongoing investigation. Again, there is
DNA evidence, DNA evidence that I am
326
00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:41.559
assuming is linking back to Jerome,
but without any thing concrete, the DA
327
00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:47.400
will not move forward even if he
is absolutely responsible for Debrite's murder, because
328
00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.680
they, in their mind, I
guess, do not have a strong enough
329
00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:56.400
case against him, even though he
is a career criminal and has been arrested
330
00:25:56.039 --> 00:26:00.759
for attempted murder at least once,
if not more than ones. Well,
331
00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:08.559
let me let me play. Let
me pose this question that if the only
332
00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:18.839
DNA that was found on her under
her fingernails, on you know, on
333
00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:26.359
her hand, if the only DNA
is one person's DNA, then wouldn't that
334
00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:33.640
one person have at least some explaining
to do. I agree. Have they
335
00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:37.000
talked to him in regards to her
murder? I don't know. They have
336
00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:40.680
no idea. Well, as you
said, they found DNA, yes,
337
00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:47.319
so if it's not his DNA,
then they need to look for the DNA
338
00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:51.400
match. You know, they have
all of these these brand new things,
339
00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:57.240
not really codis, and you know, all these different databases. Now,
340
00:26:57.319 --> 00:27:02.960
I'm not saying this person has a
record or anything like that. They may
341
00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:08.559
not be in any of these databases, but at least one person is in
342
00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:15.200
this it's in this database, which
would be her boyfriend or ex boyfriend or
343
00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:19.079
whatever you want to term him.
You already know he's in the database.
344
00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:26.200
So if the only DNA that is
found on her matches him, I would
345
00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:30.880
at least think there was some major
explaining to Dick. I agree, and
346
00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.880
I hope that they did talk to
him. Maybe they did talk to him
347
00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:41.400
and they have something, but not
enough. I I don't know. And
348
00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:47.240
she's frustrated with the DA as well. Ge I wonder why. I'd probably
349
00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:52.279
be camped outside of their office on
what you know, what are you doing
350
00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:56.200
for me today? What are you
doing for my daughter today? Because you
351
00:27:56.279 --> 00:28:00.960
haven't done much so far. So
yeah, I'd be camped out. And
352
00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:06.359
Debbie pretty much has been good for
her, absolutely good for her. She
353
00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:11.119
pretty much has been now. Unfortunately, as of today, Debie's case is
354
00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:15.319
still at a standstill and the cal
City Police still really don't have the resources
355
00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:19.000
to solve her case. And it's
not for lack of trying, but as
356
00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:22.839
I mentioned before, it's very difficult
to work a case when you really don't
357
00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:27.519
have very many people even working at
the police station. In fact, Debbie
358
00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:32.319
told me. There is currently only
one person going over the on solved cases
359
00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:36.599
right now, just one, because
that's all that can be afforded right now.
360
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:41.119
And this is an older gentleman.
I believe he's retired, Like one
361
00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:47.119
person eight cases. Well, wouldn't
it be time for the cal City Police
362
00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:55.279
Department to hire more police officers that
have the correct and adequate training to do
363
00:28:55.319 --> 00:29:00.039
this? Didn't we go over another
case where there was actually a group of
364
00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:07.759
former detectives and FBI whatnot that they
look at cold cases? Is that not?
365
00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:11.920
Was that not one of the cases
that you covered? If I'm from
366
00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:18.720
my round correctly, it's Elizabeth Salgato
and the Utah Cold Case Coalition headed by
367
00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:26.759
Jason Jensen. But wasn't there another
like almost I know you just mentioned Utah,
368
00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:33.559
but wasn't there one that If anybody
can answer this question, I would
369
00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:37.880
very much like the answer to this
one, please. I thought there was
370
00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:42.160
one that was more or they handle
cases from all oh, all over,
371
00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:49.960
and I'm thinking of California and Shara
Resmusem's case where they had detectives specifically working
372
00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:56.119
on cold cases in California. Well, this would be a perfect case for
373
00:29:56.160 --> 00:30:00.519
them to investigate yes, I agree
it would be and part of the reason
374
00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:06.240
that there aren't enough police officers is
that cal City doesn't have the budget for
375
00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:10.680
more. I'm not gonna say anything
for that one. I just can't because
376
00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:15.640
I'll get on a soapbox and it
will be another hour or two before I
377
00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:21.440
get off. Since soapbox, Debbie
has been waiting almost eight years for answers
378
00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:25.880
in Debry's case, and frankly,
that's eight years too long. She is
379
00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:30.039
a woman fighting for an arrest to
be made, and she has worked tirelessly
380
00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:33.960
to get these answers. But it
has been a long fight with a lot
381
00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:38.200
of roadblocks. It is exhausting.
She is not in the best of health
382
00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:44.440
and it's a lot of work,
but she will not give up. She
383
00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:48.640
will continue to fight and call the
police every week to discuss the case and
384
00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:52.839
make as much noise as she can
raising hell until someone is named responsible for
385
00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:57.839
her daughter's murder. She calls every
Tuesday. Good for her, You go,
386
00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:04.400
girl, absolutely. Deburie was a
vibrant, beautiful, sassy woman who
387
00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:10.279
is dearely missed and her family deserves
answers. Debbie, I know you're listening,
388
00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:12.519
and I hope you get these answers, because I know you won't stop
389
00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:18.400
until you get them. If anyone
out there knows anything about Deborie Schiller's murder,
390
00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:25.119
please call Cal CITYPD at seven six
zero three seven three eight six zero
391
00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:30.880
six or secret Witness at six six' one three two two four zero four
392
00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:40.160
zero. I am fully on Debbie's
side. She is a mom that,
393
00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:45.319
as you said, will not stop. I fully am on her side with
394
00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:53.920
the fact that there is somebody out
there that knows something and they need to
395
00:31:55.000 --> 00:32:00.680
come forward. There should be no
fear in coming forward and do the right
396
00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:07.519
thing. I mean, it has
to haunt the person that knows something because
397
00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:12.319
they've kept silent for all of these
years. Knowing that you know this,
398
00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:15.759
this family is suffering, It would
certainly haunt me. I absolutely agree.
399
00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:20.680
I absolutely agree. It's frustrating,
and as I was researching this case,
400
00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:27.720
it was frustrating because there's there's still
no answers, and as Debbie said,
401
00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:31.480
you know, there's no there's no
just real justice because she won't ever get
402
00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:36.799
every back, but she at the
very least can see an arrest be made
403
00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:42.559
and someone be held accountable. Absolutely
with that, I hope someone out there
404
00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:47.359
hears this and can come forward with
any sort of information. And to Debbie,
405
00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:52.720
I hope and hope and hope and
pray that you get those answers and
406
00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:57.920
you an arrest is made because it's
been too long with that one. But
407
00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:00.599
with that, we will see you
guys in the next chapter. Have a
408
00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:05.839
lovely rest of your week. Bye, guys, thank you so much for
409
00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:08.160
listening to this chapter of the Book
of the Dead. As always, check
410
00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:13.079
the source notes for resources used in
this chapter, and don't forget that you
411
00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:15.839
could follow us on Instagram at Book
of the Dead Pod or shoot us an
412
00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:22.599
email with ak suggestion at bookofthedeadpodat gmail
dot com. We just hope that you
413
00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:28.359
have a wonderful rest of your week. We will be back next week with
414
00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:34.880
another chapter of the Book of the
Dead and always remember to stay curious,
415
00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:39.720
stay safe, and stay vigilant.
Bye guys, Bye,









