He said he came home during a break from work and asked Rachanda if she wanted to go for a ride with him. Rachanda Pickles mother and stepfather waited 24 hours to report the girls disappearance to 911. Ackroyd had been the lone suspect in his stepdaughter's mysterious disappearance from the home she shared with her mother and Ackroyd at a state highway compound at Santiam Junction. Ackroyd drove by the woman twice that morning. The sheriff's office would eventually reach out to the FBI the following January (1991), asking for the Criminal Investigative Analysis Team from Portland to help. On Tuesday, April 2, John Ackroyd was arrested and transported to the Linn County Jail for the homicide of Rachanda Pickle. While his marriage to Linda was rather unusual - the couple divorced after a year, but continued to live together and were still technically a "couple" in every sense of the word - the family seemed to have become accustomed to this quiet little corner of the world. He was convicted in Jefferson County of two counts of aggravated murder and three counts of murder in Turner's death. Early on, police looked into the possibility of Rachanda Pickle running away from home. While Rachanda was home alone during this period, someone else would claim to see her a few hours after this. She said no and he left. He was indicted on a single count of murder. Missing Date: Tue, Jul 10 1990. Detectives moved on. Later, the men told her that theyd mistaken Kaye for a deer and fatally shot her. Born on March 15th, 1977, Rachanda Lea Pickle (commonly called "Chandy" by her loved ones) was the second child born to her parents, Steven and Linda, who split up and divorced when the children were quite young. John would later pick up Linda from work, and when the two returned home, they discovered that Rachanda was not there waiting for them. Ghosts of Highway 20 A forensic examination of the available evidence proved that's actually what happened, and that Ackroyd - who had little in the way of an imagination - had basically confessed to investigators when he expressed these guesses. Somebody could have just come in, he said, knocked her over the head, throw her over the shoulders and just walk out without anybody seeing her. Unfortunately, police had been unable to uncover any evidence of the teenager's current whereabouts, so they couldn't speak beyond these generalities without mucking up their ongoing investigation. John Ackroyd, a longtime state highway worker, died alone in his prison celllate last year while serving a life sentence in another murder. Looking over their notes from years earlier, investigators were disturbed by how close Ackroyd's involvement in Kaye Turner's case mirrored his involvement in Rachanda Pickle's disappearance. While John had been married to and/or living with Rachanda's mother for approximately six years, he seemed to know very little personal information about the missing girl: he was unable to recall her birthday or other details like that. Byron was Rachandas companion and playground protector. It was great, Ackroyd would later tell detectives. The family lived at the state highway division compound at Santiam Junction, where U.S. 20 and Oregon 22 meet. There had still been no sign of the girl - who would have been a woman at this point - since July of 1990. The family had lived at the state highway compound for six years. He said he came home during a break from work and asked Rachanda if she wanted to go for a ride with him. In addition to some bone fragments, police were able to uncover the underpants, running shoes, and wristwatch she had been wearing at the time of her disappearance, in addition to pieces of her sweatshirt (which appeared to have been partially destroyed). Oregonian/OregonLive fought to unseal secret deal in Rachanda Pickle's John then reportedly left the home by himself, and wouldn't return until approximately 12:30 PM (roughly three hours later). He would check on her at recess, recalled Mandy Cook, a childhood friend and classmate who now lives in Amarillo, Texas. If that would have happened, I would not have any of my kids stay there any longer. But Rachandas distress was clear. When asked what had inspired this change, after so many years of inactivity, officials would state that advancements in DNA testing led to this decision, although they would not speak in any specifics ahead of the expected trial date. for Oregon's Jefferson County, would tell reporters that November: "He was trying to go for the reward money. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Story by Noelle Crombie Photography by Beth Nakamura Video by Dave KillenTHE OREGONIAN | OREGONLIVE. On 10 July 1990, 13-year-old Rachanda Pickle was last seen inside her mother and stepfather's home in Santiam Junction, Oregon. Bill Hanlon, the district attorney in Jefferson County, wasnt surprised when the call came from a prosecutor in Linn County, where Ackroyd lived. He wouldnt leave her for nothing.. The resolution, in this case, would allow closure for the loved ones of Kaye Turner but was little solace for the friends and family of Rachanda Pickle, who had been missing for approximately four years at the time of sentencing. Then he said he left. Since investigators had not yet uncovered any physical trace of Rachanda, they (along with prosecutors) were prepared to seek a case centered around a "no-body" homicide, which would require proof that the victim was no longer alive. Jim Salsbery was instrumental in the investigation that culminated with Ackroyds conviction in the death of Kaye Jean Turner. In 2010, Linn County sheriff's. Rachanda Pickle's brother, Byron Pickle, was consulted during the state's negotiations with Ackroyd, Marteeny said. Rachanda was a good kid, helping around the house and taking care not to stray far. Ackroyd told authorities Rachanda was watching cartoons when he asked her if she wanted to go for a ride. Take hot dogs out of the freezer. Middle Name: Lea. During the ensuing court case, defense attorneys would argue that John Arthur Ackroyd was slow-witted and mentally deficient, to the point of him being unaware of specific questions asked by investigators. In interviews, Ackroyd dwelled on how the teen had gotten her period and had begun to develop. Then, in the waning days of December 2016, it was announced that 67-year-old John Arthur Ackroyd, who had long been suffering from numerous health issues, had passed away from heart disease inside of his prison cell. Brown hair; brown eyes. The highway worker had hurt Rachanda, stuffed her into a garbage bag and hauled her away, Linn County Sheriffs Detective Jim Salsbery said during one of their interviews. If he could have kept his mouth shut, this case would have gone nowhere.". Based on the information being given to them by Rachanda's family members, investigators began to believe that the 13-year-old might have been abducted from her home. Her stepdad., Ackroyds grim speculation about the harm that had likely come to Rachanda echoed gory stories like the ones hed replay over and over in Friday the 13th and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.. It was definitely in the middle of nowhere, said her brother, Byron. The more that investigators spoke with John Ackroyd, the more troubled they became. Ackroyd had driven to a state highway office in Bend, but returned home after only about an hour. Martinak told a Democrat-Herald reporter at the time that despite the rough conditions, mounted posses and search teams on foot were attacking the terrain. Occasionally, Ackroyd would reach for one of the Fireball candies he carried in his pocket. They continued to live together, though, raising Linda's two kids, Rachanda and her older brother, Byron. Rachanda had gone to visit him shortly before her disappearance, and it was initially theorized that she might have gone out to see him. In fall 2013, according to the unsealed court records, Ackroyd agreed not to seek parole and to decline release even if he became eligible in exchange for his no contest plea in his stepdaughter's death. Brown hair, brown eyes. Due to the three decades that have passed since, however, there are fewer people left to ask those questions many of Rachanda's relatives have passed on, and the ones that live on only have faded memories and mementos to remember her by. 'The most difficult part is keeping it in people's minds' | KVAL After his stepdaughter went missing, investigators reopened the Turner case and charged Ackroyd. You should know. His Stepdaughter Vanished. What He Said Was Disturbing The Oregonian/OregonLives five-part series on John Ackroyd details crimes that include sexual abuse, rape and murder. However, he would transfer away from the Santiam Junction location - where he had worked and lived for more than a decade - to a state highway shop near Corvallis. However, most are reasonably certain that the man who caused her disappearance - her stepfather, John Arthur Ackroyd - was thankfully taken off the streets a short time after her disappearance. John Arthur Ackroyd would remain one of investigators' top suspects in this case, and as a result, would be questioned several times alongside a friend of his (whom police considered a potential accomplice). Linn County Detectives Arrest Suspect for 1990 Murder of Rachanda Pickle As part of their negotiations, prosecutors pressed Ackroyd to disclose her whereabouts; he refused to say. Linda Monville, Rachanda's mother, keeps this photo of Rachanda and Byron on a shelf in her home. However, following the disappearance of John's stepdaughter, investigators had begun looking into the dormant case of Kaye Turner. The couple ate; then they had sex, significant because they almost never did. The Oregonian/OregonLive went to court to lift a judge's order that had kept secret for years John Ackroyd's unusual plea deal in the death of his 13-year-old stepdaughter Rachanda Pickle. By his account, Rachanda was gone when he returned a couple of hours later. Missing person Rachanda Lea Pickle missingpersonpsychic.com Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). This was unusual and definitely out of the ordinary, but it wasn't enough for John to take notice at the time, it seems. 'Ghosts of Highway 20': Reader questions answered - oregonlive Detective Mike Harmon with the Linn County Sheriff's Office told reporters: "It's difficult to prove that a 13-year-old doesn't exist. I asked her what happened, Cook said, and she said, My stepdad did this. Cook is shown here with her two daughters. While Kaye and her husband's marriage had been deteriorating, he was incredibly helpful with investigators who attempted to find out what had happened to the missing woman (and provided a definitive alibi). Former Detective Sgt. 5,000-foot mountain pass in the southern reaches of the Cascade Mountains). Uniformed deputies, mounted posses, and members of the Explorer Post (a search and rescue group) would search the ground level of the neighboring woods, while a Linn County helicopter searched above them. Detective Jim Salsbery, who oversaw the case, later said that he believed he knew what happened to the missing girl, but he just didn't have the evidence to prove it. The Oregonian/OregonLive filed a motion in February asking that all documents in the case be unsealed. The whereabouts of Rachanda Pickle have never been determined, with none of her friends, family members, or acquaintances having seen her after July 10th, 1990. Details of plea deal in 1990 cold case killing finally revealed She lives in San Bernardino, California, where she works at a medical supply company. Linn County Sheriffs detectives Mike Harmon, left, and Paul Timm talk about the arrest of John Akroyd on murder charges. If she had run away, she had not done so with any of her clothing or makeup. However, police were able to quickly eliminate this possibility - that she had run away to her father's home - and would eventually rule out Rachanda as a possible runaway entirely. It was even alleged that John had been molesting Rachanda, although that remains mostly-unconfirmed years later. ", Rachanda and Byron Pickle were close. Her parents reported her missing the next day. Although her body never has been found, Pickles stepfather, John Arthur Ackroyd, 63, was charged Wednesday with her murder. Once, he invited neighbors over to watch horror movies, becoming so animated over scenes of women being chopped up that hed hit rewind again and again. She was 13. She spotted two young women she knew. In class, she counted down the minutes, a sense of dread rising as the end of the school day approached. The men drove by Santiam Junction, slowing as they passed the eastern edge of the highway compound where Ackroyds manufactured home backed up to the woods. He told Linda to wait until the next day to call police. And he wouldnt leave her either. For a man suspected of murder, Ackroyd was impassive under intense grilling by Salsbery and McAnulty. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. During their digging into this case, they would uncover a plea deal agreed upon by both prosecutors and John Ackroyd, which had been agreed upon back in 2013, after charges had been filed in Rachanda's murder. Linda, meanwhile, would attempt to defend her husband from accusations that she deemed unfounded, telling reporters that: "John ain't a violent man; he don't even beat the kids. He didn't seem upset that Rachanda was missing, and police were suspicious because he knew her weight and her bra size but not her birthday. Photos of Ackroyd are posted with this case summary. They kept their exasperation in check, rarely raising their voices as they combed fine details for any new revelation. She asked if she could sleep over. That friend was Roger Dale Beck. Detectives dug into Kayes killing once more and soon stumbled on their biggest breakthrough. After Rachandas disappearance, Ackroyd was transferred out of Santiam Junction, where his connection to the case and his behavior made women uncomfortable. Yet even in those types of cases, the terms of a plea agreement aren't generally secret. Where is she? Linda asked Ackroyd as darkness enveloped the highway compound. Rachanda Pickle loved her brother, going to school, playing on the playground and helping around the house. Hanlon, whod spent his career practicing law in rural Oregon, knew of Ackroyd from reading a slim three-ring binder stashed in a cardboard box left behind by his predecessor. At other times, friends saw her with a black eye and a wound from where hed ripped out a patch of her hair. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "It was the best resolution for him, for the case, at the time," Barnett said. A lot of them are awful weird, but a lot are as nice as you can imagine.". They would end up attending a family reunion along the Oregon coast, but in the middle of July, Rachanda started to feel a bit homesick. *Wiem, e le wymawiaam imi Rachandy, ale niestety musicie mi wybaczy*13-letnia Rachanda Pickle zagina ze swojego domu w Oregonie w 1990 roku. The photograph also shows the girls suitcase hadnt been unpacked after a recent trip to see her father. When youre a young kid used to living in Springfield and you go to the Santiam Junction, its like this is a desolate area.. 41-year-old John Arthur Ackroyd was suspected of involvement in this case very early on, simply because he was the last person to have seen Rachanda Pickle before she went missing. She had double pierced ears and a scar on her forehead. Lt. Darrel James would later tell reporters with the Albany Democrat-Herald: "You think you're going to find some clothing, a shoe. The two often went to school with bruises, which they attributed to John's abuse. In signing onto this plea deal, John Ackroyd pleaded no contest to Rachanda's murder and agreed to not seek parole for Kaye Turner's murder and decline release even if he were to become eligible. Also, it was determined that John's accomplice, Roger Dale Beck, had told friends and family about the killing and had threatened them never to tell or they would suffer the same fate. In 1990, Rachanda Pickle lived with her mother, brother and stepfather, John Ackroyd. Who was the last person that saw her, do you know?the dispatcher asked the girl's mother. Eventually, this small group would be joined by members from neighboring police stations and sheriff's departments, with Linn County Sheriff Art Martinak telling reporters a week after the teenage girl's disappearance: "We're going back to the area around the residence We're going to do a pretty extensive search of the roads in the immediate area.". He refused to disclose the location of Rachanda's body and his plea didn't require him to. Ackroyd spun the same story from then on. Ackroyd was charged in Rachanda's murder in April 2013. They were restless and broke, living an itinerant existence, drinking too much and keeping dangerous company. John Arthur Ackroyd was questioned extensively in the days and weeks after Rachanda's disappearance and would be asked to perform a polygraph test by authorities early on. She didn't even have a telephone in their home.". He stated that a black duffel bag filled with clothes - which he had seen with Rachanda just days before her disappearance - was missing from her belongings at the time. However, the information that he was able to recall - such as her weight and bra size, as well as when she had started getting periods - didn't paint him in the most flattering light. OSP inmate faces Linn County murder charge - Albany Democrat Herald The night of RachandaPickles disappearance, John Ackroydinitiated sex with Linda Ackroyd. The family had lived at the state highway compound for six years. Three years would pass, in which this case seemed to just fade from the headlines. Over the next several months, several court hearings would be adjourned to get rolling on the trial itself. Rachanda Pickle, the 13-year-old daughter of his ex-wife Linda, went missing from her Santiam Junction home. Writing, research, hosting, and production by Micheal Whelan, Producers: Roberta Janson, Ben Krokum, Gabriella Bromley, Steven Wilson, Quil Carter, Travis Scsepko, Laura Hannan, Bryan Hall, Damion Moore, Scott Meesey, Amy Hampton, Scott Patzold, Marie Vanglund, Astrid Kneier, Aimee McGregor, Jo Wong, Sara Moscaritolo, Sydney Scotton, Thomas Ahearn, Marion Welsh, Patrick Laakso, Rebecca O'Sullivan, Meadow Landry, Tatum Bautista, Sally Ranford, Kevin McCracken, Ruth Durbin, Michele Watson, Jared Midwood, Teunia Elzinga, Ryan Green, Jacinda C., Stephanie Joyner, Cherish Brady, and Lauren, Original music created by Micheal Whelan through Amper Music, Theme music created and composed by Ailsa Traves, The Charley Project - Rachanda Lea Pickle, Albany Democrat-Herald - Search continues for teen, Statesman Journal - Linn County teams continue search for missing girl, 13, Statesman Journal - Team extends Santiam hunt for lost girl, Albany Democrat-Herald - Search for girl enters fifth day, Corvallis Gazette-Times - Search for girl continues, Albany Democrat-Herald - Search will extend for missing Linn girl, Statesman Journal - Searchers find no sign of missing 13-year-old, Albany Democrat-Herald - Authorities fear missing girl likely victim of foul play, Spokane Chronicle - Girl, 13, still missing; foul play suspected, Statesman Journal - County will expand search for missing girl, Albany Democrat-Herald - Searchers comb harsh terrain for girl, Statesman Journal - Hunt for Linn teen expands (1), Statesman Journal - Hunt for Linn teen expands (2), Albany Democrat-Herald - Search ends with no trace of girl, Longview Daily News - Searchers give up on missing girl, Albany Democrat-Herald - Search for teen-ager again proves fruitless, Statesman Journal - Clothing discovery spurs new search for Linn teen-ager, Albany Democrat-Herald - Sweatpants found on trail may have belonged to girl, Spokane Chronicle - Pants found; search for girl resumes, Albany Democrat-Herald - Sheriff doubts pants belong to missing girl, Statesman Journal - Search for girl renewed, Corvallis Gazette-Times - Dad thinks missing girl ran away, Statesman Journal - Father of missing Santiam Junction girl says she ran away, Albany Democrat-Herald - Sheriffs office: Nothing new in case of missing girl, The Lebanon Express - Linn girl still gone, Albany Democrat-Herald - Posse to renew search for girl, Corvallis Gazette-Times - FBI joins search for missing girl, Statesman Journal - Linn County seeks FBI help in finding teen-ager, Albany Democrat-Herald - 2 men charged with killing woman in 1978, Statesman Journal - Pair charged with murder of woman 13 years ago, Albany Democrat-Herald - SH man arraigned on murder charges, Albany Democrat-Herald - Detective still looking for missing girl, Albany Democrat-Herald - Sweet Home man on trial, Albany Democrat-Herald - Man convicted in 1978 murder, Statesman Journal - Canyon man guilty in 78 death of jogger, Statesman Journal - Convictions solve 1978 murder, Albany Democrat-Herald - Six years later, search for daughter continues, Albany Democrat-Herald - Skull continues to be puzzle, Albany Democrat-Herald - Skull site searched, Albany Democrat-Herald - Crawfordsville skull sent for DNA testing, Albany Democrat-Herald - Scientists cant get DNA from Crawfordsville skull (1), Albany Democrat-Herald - Scientists cant get DNA from Crawfordsville skull (2), Albany Democrat-Herald - New tip sparks another look into missing girl case, Albany Democrat-Herald - Case of missing Linn girl unsolved (1), Albany Democrat-Herald - Case of missing Linn girl unsolved (2), Albany Democrat-Herald - Stepfather charged in murder of girl in 1990 (1), Albany Democrat-Herald - Stepfather charged in murder of girl in 1990 (2), Albany Democrat-Herald - Ackroyd defense team gets discovery material from DA, Albany Democrat-Herald - Murder suspect wants quick trial, The Nugget Newspaper - Hearing digs up Camp Sherman murder case, Corvallis Gazette-Times - Murder suspect Ackroyd found dead in Salem prison cell, The New Era - Accused murderer of 13-year-old missing girl dies in prison, OregonLive/Oregonian - Oregonian/OregonLive fought to unseal secret deal in Rachanda Pickles killing, Kimberly Riley & Jeremy Britt-Bayinthavong, Paul Skiba, Sarah Skiba, and Lorenzo Chivers, June & Jennifer Gibbons (The Silent Twins). Rachanda's brother, Byron, would move to the nearby town of Sweet Home to live with some relatives, while her father, Steve, would eventually move away to Alaska to rid himself of the area. Because of the time she had been gone - weeks, almost a month now - authorities were fairly certain that even if she was out in the woods somewhere, they were unlikely to save her. In August of 1979, a man that lived in the region - named John Arthur Ackroyd - came forward with information. Investigators were already familiar with John because of his history; in particular, his connection to the still-unsolved case of Kaye Turner, the jogger that had gone missing on Christmas Eve back in 1978. Rachanda Pickle's brother, Byron Pickle, was consulted during the state's negotiations with Ackroyd, Marteeny said. Speaking to the Albany Democrat-Herald, in a few words, he stated: John Arthur Ackroyd, Rachanda's stepfather, had been the last person to see her on the morning of July 10th, 1990. Linda Monville said she believes her daughter is dead, but shes still not convinced her former husband is responsible. Chandy remains missing. There are lots of nooks and crannies that you cant see by air, Martinak said, adding that a helicopter search was especially useful for steep areas where someone on foot or horseback couldnt effectively search. He had his sisters image tattooed on his arm last year. She was afraid to go home from school; as a result, she often spent the night at friends' homes. A tipster had claimed that Rachanda was still alive, and residing in eastern Linn County. Within months, without a body or physical evidence implicating Ackroyd, so did the investigation. You could tell they were both being physically abused, said Seiber, who now lives outside Houston. On Tuesday, July 10th, 1990 - just two days after returning home - Rachanda was woken up at about 5:00 AM by her mother. Rachanda Lea "Chandy" Pickle was a girl who went missing in 1990 in Oregon. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Linn County Sheriff's Office Investigators had learned that while John had gone to work on the day of Rachanda's disappearance, driving out to Bend, he had only been there for about an hour before deciding to take the rest of the day off. One of Rachanda's dolls sits atop a shelf in the tidy manufactured home in California where her mother now lives. The responsibility of speaking for Rachanda rested with her brother, Byron Pickle. On Christmas Eve morning, Ackroyd showed up at the house. The familys kittens were curled up on the girls lap, he said. A police photo taken inside the Ackroyd home. This is a police photo of the Ackroyd home at the time of Rachanda's disappearance on July 10, 1990. Linda and John Ackroyd left for work, she as a housekeeper at Black Butte Ranch, a resort community about 30 minutes away, and he as a highway mechanic. "The settlement reached a point where we were able to have the certainty that he would be in prison forever," Marteeny told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Ackroyd "found" her body eight months later and was under suspicion in her case for many years, but he wasn't convicted in her death until 1994. These searches would continue over the next two weeks, but authorities were unable to uncover any trace of the missing 13-year-old. This skull would be sent off for analysis in May of 1996, but months would pass before it was announced that scientists from Pennsylvania State University had been unable to extract DNA from the partial pieces of bone. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Hed planned to fix snowplows but decided to take the day off after learning parts hadnt arrived, a claim that baffled his supervisor, who said there was plenty of work to keep Ackroyd busy.
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