Human Wreckage True Crime
Join us as we navigate the wreckage left behind by humanity’s darkest instincts.
Disturbing True Crime Stories, These include, murderers, kidnappings, serial killers. Solved and unsolved.
Human Wreckage True Crime
Small Town, Big Heartbreak: The Last Day of Katie
The 25th of January 2005, started out just like any other day for 10-year-old Catlin Katie Kullman. She woke up, had breakfast with her family and then her father, john Neese, drove her to school. Katie was excited about the pajama party that was scheduled for the following day at Crothersville Elementary School in Indiana, where she was a student. Katie arrived home from school that afternoon at around 3 pm. By this point John was at work and Katie's mother, angie, was busy preparing dinner. Wanting to help her mother, katie volunteered to walk to the nearby dollar store and pick up some toilet paper rolls. As the house was running low, Angie agreed and handed Katie money. The store was only around a block and a half away from their home and Katie had made the trek numerous times. When Katie didn't return home, initially Angie wasn't worried. Katie was a popular girl with numerous friends living along the route she would have taken to walk back home. Angie started to call around the locals to see if anybody knew where Katie was. When it became evident that nobody had seen Katie, angie became concerned. She searched the street on foot before calling police at around 7.30pm to report her daughter missing.
Speaker 1:Welcome to this episode of Human Wreckage. Today we are going to be discussing a case that, for many, is a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerability of children and the profound impact of loss on a community. It's the tragic story of 10-year-old Katlyn Katie Coleman, a young girl whose life was taken in a way that left a family and an entire town shattered. Katie, known for her bright smile, boundless energy and a heart full of dreams, lived in a small community where everyone knew each other. Her family, her friends and even those who had only met her once saw her as a beacon of innocence. She had a promising future ahead of her, filled with possibilities, from her love of reading to her passion for making people laugh. But on one fateful day in insert year, everything changed. The life of this sweet, vibrant little girl was violently and inexplicably cut short. The case has left many unanswered questions and a deep sense of grief that still lingers to this day. Who would harm such a young child? What could have driven someone to commit such an unthinkable act, and why was Katie, who had so much life ahead of her, taken from those who loved her most?
Speaker 1:In the following episode, we will delve into the timeline of the events leading up to Katie's tragic death, the investigation that followed and the ripple effect this crime had on the community. We will also reflect on the emotional toll it has taken on those closest to her, her family, her friends and the entire town that held her dear. The murder of a child is one of the most difficult things for any parent or community to endure, but it's important to remember that behind every headline is a real person, a real life and real people who continue to grieve. As we move through this case today, we ask for respect and sensitivity when discussing the details. This is not just a story. This is a tragedy that has touched countless lives. So stay with us as we walk through this case, remembering Katlyn Katie Coleman and the legacy of love she leaves behind. Let's get into it, thank you.
Speaker 1:By the time police arrived on the scene, there were already around 125 locals assisting in the search. They searched throughout the night and on to the next day. They searched throughout the night and on to the next day. A helicopter hovered overhead while sniffer dogs picked up Katie's scent and followed it to a nearby set of railroad tracks before losing it. A neighbor told Katie's family that on the day she disappeared she had come to their house to inform them that their dog had been killed near the railroad tracks. Since there was no evidence of an abduction, an Amber Alert was not initially issued. Missing person posters described Katie as four feet six inches tall, with chin-length brown hair and brown eyes. She was last spotted wearing a red shirt, black sweatpants with a stripe down the leg, black tennis shoes and a medium-light blue winter coat. They also described Katie as having a lazy eye. Several days later, an Amber Alert was finally issued.
Speaker 1:On the 29th of January, a composite sketch of a man believed to have abducted Katie was released to the public. The man was described as being very thin and white, around 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, 18 to 20 years old, with dark hair and pale skin. The composite sketch was created after a witness told police they were certain that they had seen Katie in his truck just a short time after she disappeared. The witness said that the truck was a white Ford F-150 pickup truck around 15 years old that appeared to be clean and well manicured. Angie and John issued a written statement appealing for their daughter's safe return. Please do not harm her. We ask that you just drop her off anywhere so that she may return to a family and community that loves her very much and misses her dearly, the statement said. On the fifth day of the search, katie's parents received the crushing news that her body had been found in a creek by an Indiana State Police trooper. The creek was in the Cypress Lake area, around 19 miles away from her home. Her hands were bound behind her back and she had been raped and then drowned.
Speaker 1:Shortly after the discovery, charles Hickman was arrested and charged with Katie's murder. Hickman lived just yards from the dollar store and other locals always considered him a bit of an oddball. Neighbors recollected that he often just stood out in his yard gazing at nothing and would throw parties nightly. Hickman claimed that Katie had witnessed some methamphetamine activity at the Penn Villa apartments and that he dragged her into his trailer. He claimed he had wanted to scare her into silence and took her to the creek in the middle of the night. He said that she accidentally drowned and he fled from the scene. It appeared to be an open and closed case. However, police soon noticed that Hickman's story as to what happened to Katie kept changing. His inconsistencies led to further investigation, during which police retrieved DNA evidence from the crime scene. The DNA was found on Katie's body and a discarded cigarette nearby. When the DNA sample was run through the database, there was a match, but not to Hickman. The DNA belonged to a man named Anthony Ray Stockleman, a local father of three.
Speaker 1:Following his arrest, stockleman pleaded guilty in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table. Prosecutor Steven Pearson announced that he would instead be pushing for life without parole and the sentencing was scheduled for the 17th of April 2005. As Stockleman was being led out of court, his wife Tabitha shouted Why'd you do it? Tony Stockleman was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was sentenced to an additional 30 years for molesting Katie.
Speaker 1:There were mixed emotions in Crothersville. While many were pleased that the grisly details surrounding Katie's death wouldn't be played over in court during a trial, many felt as though Stockleman should have been sentenced to death. I'd rather see him get the death penalty for what he did to the little girl, but at least he's going to be punished, said local Marsha Fink. Stockleman was sent to Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. Unbeknownst to him, katie's cousin, jared Harris, was also incarcerated there. On the 22nd of September 26, harris slipped into Stockleman's cell and lay in wait. When Stockleman entered the cell, harris slammed the locked door behind him, trapping Stockleman. He then held Stockleman down and tattooed Katie's Revenge on his forehead as a daily reminder of his crime.
Speaker 1:As we come to the end of today's episode, the tragedy of Catlin Katie Coleman's murder remains a stark reminder of the fragility of life, particularly the lives of children who should be safe in the world. While justice has been pursued, the void left by Katie's death is something no legal outcome can ever truly fill. Her family, her friends and the community she left behind continue to carry the weight of this loss each day, trying to heal in their own way, but always with a piece of their hearts missing. Katie's story, as devastating as it is, serves as a call to action, one to cherish the loved ones around us, to stay vigilant and protect the vulnerable, and to never forget the impact one life, no matter how young, can have on the world. It's a reminder to speak out when we see injustice, to support those affected by violence and to always prioritize the safety of our children In the wake of such tragedy.
Speaker 1:We can also honor her by keeping her memory alive in positive ways, whether that's through charity, community outreach or simply remembering the joy and laughter she brought to those who knew her. Though the case may have been resolved, the emotional aftermath continues for those who loved her, and while justice may never bring Katie back, we can hope that the lessons from her short, bright life will inspire others to protect and uplift those who are most vulnerable. Thank you for joining us. As we remember Katie, our thoughts continue to be with her family and with everyone whose life she touched. Stay safe, take care of one another and never forget the power of love in the face of tragedy. The Thank you you.