The Strange Death of Cindy James (Part 2)
Morbid
09/19/24
•77m
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After opening an investigation into Cindy’s death, investigators learned that, for nearly a decade leading up to her death, Cindy James had repeatedly reported to Richmond Police that she was a victim of harassment, stalking, and assault, and had even turned over threatening letters and answering machine messages as evidence of the harassment; yet local police were unable to verify her story or intervene to protect her.
At first, Cindy’s death appeared to be the inevitable and tragic conclusion of a years’-long campaign of harassment and terror by an unknown stalker; however, when investigators began digging into Cindy’s personal history, they discovered evidence that contradicted their initial assumptions and pointed towards a far stranger explanation for her death.
Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for research and writing support!
References
Graham, Patracia. 1989. "We could have done better for Cindy." The Province, June 16: 37.
Hall, Neal. 1989. "Body believed to be missing nurse's." Vancouver Sun, June 9: 1.
—. 1990. "Ex-spouse angrily denied woman's lurid charge." Vancouver Sun, March 7: A12.
—. 1990. "James' ex-husband tells of fear police would frame him." Vancouver Sun, March 8: 19.
—. 1990. "James felt abandoned, ex-husband testifies ." Vancouver Sun, May 8: 16.
—. 1990. "James inquest hears of 1984 kidnap claim." Vancouver Sun, March 2: 15.
—. 1990. "James recalled bloody tale." Vancouver Sun, March 6: 19.
—. 1990. "Under siege." Vancouver Sun, March 24: A9.
Horwood, Holly. 1990. "James inquest a strain for jurors." The Province, May 31: 4.
—. 1990. "Nurse changed her story." The Province, February 28: 6.
—. 1990. "Threats, attacks preceded death." The Province, February 27: 2.
Jiwa, Salim. 1989. "Body is nurse's." The Province , June 9: 5.
—. 1989. "Somebody tailed Cindy." The Province, June 1: 4.
Mulgrew, Ian. 1991. Who Killed Cindy James? Seal Press: New York, NY.
Pemberton, Kim. 1989. "Strange ordeal of Cindy James." Vancouver Sun, July 13: 17.
Vancouver Sun. 1989. "Abduction feared by nurse's dad." Vancouver Sun, June 2: 37.
—. 1990. "Conflicting evidence fabricated tangled puzzle for inquest." Vancouver Sun, May 29: 9.
—. 1990. "Coroner's jury to hear of mysterious incidents." Vancouver Sun, February 26: 21.
—. 1989. "Police ask help in locating missing nurse." Vancouver Sun, May 30: 33.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Previous Episode
The Strange Death of Cindy James
September 16, 2024
•52m
On June 8, 1989, a municipal worker discovered the body of forty-four-year-old Cindy James in the backyard of an abandoned home in Richmond, British Columbia, hogtied and with a woman’s stocking wrapped around her neck. Two weeks earlier, friends had reported Cindy missing when she failed to show up for a game of cards and when the authorities searched Cindy’s car, they discovered blood and other signs that indicated she may have met with foul play.
After opening an investigation into Cindy’s death, investigators learned that, for nearly a decade leading up to her death, Cindy James had repeatedly reported to Richmond Police that she was a victim of harassment, stalking, and assault, and had even turned over threatening letters and answering machine messages as evidence of the harassment; yet local police were unable to verify her story or intervene to protect her.
At first, Cindy’s death appeared to be the inevitable and tragic conclusion of a years’-long campaign of harassment and terror by an unknown stalker; however, when investigators began digging into Cindy’s personal history, they discovered evidence that contradicted their initial assumptions and pointed towards a far stranger explanation for her death.
Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for research and writing support!
References
Graham, Patracia. 1989. "We could have done better for Cindy." The Province, June 16: 37.
Hall, Neal. 1989. "Body believed to be missing nurse's." Vancouver Sun, June 9: 1.
—. 1990. "Ex-spouse angrily denied woman's lurid charge." Vancouver Sun, March 7: A12.
—. 1990. "James' ex-husband tells of fear police would frame him." Vancouver Sun, March 8: 19.
—. 1990. "James felt abandoned, ex-husband testifies ." Vancouver Sun, May 8: 16.
—. 1990. "James inquest hears of 1984 kidnap claim." Vancouver Sun, March 2: 15.
—. 1990. "James recalled bloody tale." Vancouver Sun, March 6: 19.
—. 1990. "Under siege." Vancouver Sun, March 24: A9.
Horwood, Holly. 1990. "James inquest a strain for jurors." The Province, May 31: 4.
—. 1990. "Nurse changed her story." The Province, February 28: 6.
—. 1990. "Threats, attacks preceded death." The Province, February 27: 2.
Jiwa, Salim. 1989. "Body is nurse's." The Province , June 9: 5.
—. 1989. "Somebody tailed Cindy." The Province, June 1: 4.
Mulgrew, Ian. 1991. Who Killed Cindy James? Seal Press: New York, NY.
Pemberton, Kim. 1989. "Strange ordeal of Cindy James." Vancouver Sun, July 13: 17.
Vancouver Sun. 1989. "Abduction feared by nurse's dad." Vancouver Sun, June 2: 37.
—. 1990. "Conflicting evidence fabricated tangled puzzle for inquest." Vancouver Sun, May 29: 9.
—. 1990. "Coroner's jury to hear of mysterious incidents." Vancouver Sun, February 26: 21.
—. 1989. "Police ask help in locating missing nurse." Vancouver Sun, May 30: 33.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Next Episode
The Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valiante
September 23, 2024
•65m
When eighteen-year-old recent high school graduate Tiffany Valiante was struck and killed by a train in July 2015, the news came as a shock to friends and family, who couldn’t fathom why the teenager had been out walking the tracks that night. Their shock and confusion quickly turned to outrage and disbelief when, less than twenty-four hours later, Tiffany’s death was ruled a suicide by the New Jersey Transit Police, who were tasked with investigating the incident. As far as everyone knew, Tiffany was a happy, outgoing girl with a bright future and a sports scholarship to Mercy College in the fall—they couldn’t think of a single reason why she would have wanted to end her life.
Despite the official conclusions about her death, the Valiante family have never believed Tiffany intentionally stepped in front of the train that night, and in the months and years that have passed since her death, many other people have come to a similar conclusion. In fact, they’re confident the evidence and numerous unanswered questions suggest Tiffany had not gone into the woods voluntarily and that her death is at best suspicious, and at worst a murder.
Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for research and writing support!
References
Conklin, Eric. 2023. "Family of Tiffany Valiante marks 8 years since teen's death with 2nd docuseries in the works." Press of Atlantic City, July 24.
Daily Beast. 2022. "Was high school grad being chased before grisly train death?" Daily Beast, July 16.
D'Amato Law. 2017. "“It’s just not the Tiffany I knew,” said Allison Walker, head women’s volleyball coach at Stockton University who coached Valiante in the East Coast Crush Volleyball Club, a junior travel volleyball team. “The time of night really didn’t sit right with me." D'Amato Law. July 17. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://damatolawfirm.com/in-the-news/who-killed-tiffany-valiante-questions-persist-as-family-marks-the-third-anniversary-of-her-mysterious-death/.
—. 2022. Mishandling Key Evidence In 2015 Tiffany Valiante Suspicious Death Case Impeded Independent Forensic DNA Analysis, Reports Renowned Lab. March 29. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://damatolawfirm.com/in-the-news/mishandling-key-evidence-in-2015-tiffany-valiante-suspicious-death-case/.
DeAngelis, Martin. 2016. "Death of teen not suicide, suit says." Press of Atlantic City, July 20: 3.
DiFilippo, Dana, and Joe Hernandez. 2017. Family of N.J. teen killed by train disputes suicide ruling, sues to prove kidnap-murder plot. July 19. Accessed August 19, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/family-of-nj-teen-killed-by-train-disputes-suicide-ruling-sues-to-prove-kidnap-murder-plot/.
Houseman, H. Louise. 2017. Investigative report submitted by H. Louise Hoiusman, Senior Medical Investigator. Investigative Report, Egg Harbor, NJ: D'Amato Law.
Huba, Nicholas. 2015. "Suicides shock, sadden teens." Press of Atlantic City, July 19: 1.
Jason, Dr. Donald. 2018. Re: Death of Tiffany Valiante. Forensic evaluation, Egg Harbor, NJ: D'Amato Law.
Low, Claire. 2018. "A walk thgrough hell." Press of Atlantic City, December 16: 1.
Morgan, Kate. 2022. Tiffany Valiante's last night. November. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://sjmagazine.net/featured/tiffany-valiantes-last-night.
Stephen F. Valiante and Diane F. Valiante v. Does et al. 2017. ATL-L-1411-17 (Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, July 18).
Sterling, Stephen, and S.P. Sullivan. 2017. Death and dysfunction: HGow N.J. fails the dead, betrays the living and is a national disgrace. December 14. Accessed August 19, 2024. https://death.nj.com/.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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