Who Killed Brienne Cross?

THE SHOP Contest Winners Announced

OTT — Sat, 14 May 2011 17:34:38 +0000

We have the winners of the The Shop “Who Killed Brienne Cross?” Contest. The first ten entries that correctly answered the question, “Who was the very last victim of the Aspen Murders?” each won a Kindle Edition of J. Carson Black’s Darkness on the Edge of Town. Thanks to all who entered.
The winners are:
Frances L.
Chuck S.
Dave D.
Janet B.
Mark D.
Glenda M.
Michelle K.
Ray C.
David G.
Jimmy S.

UPDATE: HUMAN BONES FOUND NEAR SCENE OF 2009 ASPEN MURDERS

J. Carson Black — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:25:04 +0000

Crime scene where human remains were found near Aspen Murders house

April 3, 2011
Special to the Denver Sentinel-Herald
by Mounir Ayache

A man hiking along Castle Creek made a grisly discovery Friday, when his dog uncovered a human femur in a pile of debris left by the 2009 flood.

According to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, William Simon and his black Labrador, Harley, discovered the femur a hundred yards downriver from the site of one of Colorado’s most notorious and bloody crimes—the Aspen Murders, which took the lives of actress-singer Brienne Cross and five other people.

Brienne Cross was in the process of wrapping up her reality show, “Soul Mate,” when unknown assailants broke into the Castle Creek house and killed everyone inside.

No one has been charged with the crime to date.

Internationally-known Denver forensic anthropologist Jill McCarron has been dispatched to the scene. Authorities are not talking, other than to confirm that the skeletal remains are human.

Speculation is rampant that the bones are related in some way to the Aspen Murders. An unnamed source has confirmed to this reporter that the remains were partially encased in plastic sheeting, a “painter’s ground cloth,” indicating a possible homicide. “Hard to believe the bones aren’t from the house, but at this point, there’s no real evidence to say they are.”

That’s the story so far.

Two years after the Aspen Murders, the house on Castle Creek has been rebuilt by its new owner, Swedish entrepreneur and film-maker Lars Alsvik, who specializes in horror films and the macabre. Alsvik built an exact replica of the Aspen Murder House, as it has come to be known, and has termed it his “Museum of Murder.”

The museum is not open to the public. Alsvik has not commented on the discovery near his house.

Brienne Cross Received Threatening Letters Days before her Death

OTT — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:31:28 +0000

By Tamara Hagethorn

Reprinted with permission from Celebrity Now! Magazine.

When Brienne Cross broke off her engagement with professional bull rider Cody Tiller, he became despondent and, according to at least one person who knew him, suicidal. People close to him are convinced that this depression led to his death under the hooves of the bucking bull, Barnbuster. “He was in a terrible state of mind,” his sister Neela Griffin told “Celebrity Now! Magazine.” “You had to see him, how much he changed. The heart went straight out of him.” Cody had always been “happy-go-lucky” and “kind of a jokester,” but all that changed when Brienne Cross called off the wedding only two months away. “He was devastated,” said his mother, Kathy Tiller.

Cody’s older brother, Rory, was in Afghanistan at the time. “He was very upset,” Neela said. “But I know my brother. He would never do anything to hurt Brienne Cross. He’d know Cody wouldn’t have wanted him to.”

Some friends of the couple think otherwise. Tiller spent two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, surviving a harrowing firefight that left everyone else in his squad dead. “It changed him,” said his best friend, who also fought in Afghanistan. “He wasn’t the same person. He was angry. He put his wife in the hospital and she’s scared to death of him now.”

Rory Tiller always took care of his little brother, friends say. And when he learned about Cody’s death, he became livid. “He was looking to blame someone. I think he blamed Brienne,” said a friend close to the family.

Rory Tiller was honorably discharged in January, 2009. Following his divorce, he sold everything he owned and decided to “see the country.” Nobody knew where he went.

“He had a big hole inside he needed to fill. He kept one thing, his ’09 Dodge Ram, and just took off.”

Some think he landed in Aspen in the summer of 2009.

It’s no secret that Brienne Cross was receiving menacing letters in the form of hard-to-trace emails from someone calling himself “The Great Leveler.” Her manager, Jay Lysle, was increasingly disturbed by the emails, which showed a pattern of escalation. “It was more than anger. These posts were … graphic.”

The long, rambling emails, sent over a two-month period, ended with the words, “Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.”

While in Iraq, Rory Tiller turned to religion. “He was always talking about God. But it wasn’t God loves you. It was more like God’s anger and God’s willingness to smite his foes,” said Tiller’s closest boyhood friend. “He wasn’t the same guy I knew at all.”

We may never know if Rory Tiller threatened Brienne Cross. But the execution-style murders point to someone with a military background—an efficient killer.

And Rory Tiller certainly fit that description.

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political crime thriller by J. Carson Black.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.

Aspen Murders Suspect Donny Lee Odell Still at Large

J. Carson Black — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00:57 +0000

Fugitive from Justice?

Walt Njorgen, The Aspen News

March 8, 2010

ASPEN. Donny Lee Odell is still at large, despite law enforcement efforts to find him.

“He’s probably in Canada,” said one source, who wishes to remain anonymous. “He used to live in Hayden Lake and Wellfield, and there are plenty of folks up there who would hide him. They’d sure as hell help him get into Canada.”

Wellfield is known for harboring groups with anti-government sentiment, including the white supremacist/secessionist militia group, Defeat Tyranny! Both Donny Lee Odell and Ray Arquette belonged to the militia, although it is unclear whether or not they were in the group at the same time.

Sheriff David Blenman, Sheriff Johnsons’ successor, gave a press conference earlier today, holding aloft a plastic bag containing a Bowie hunting knife which had been found buried in the carport of the house Donny Lee Odell rented.

Initial indications are that the knife could have caused the wounds to the victims. “We are now awaiting DNA results,” said Blenman. “We’re optimistic about the outcome.”

Luck played a part. Early last week, the water main to the guest house belonging to Doris Clarkson broke, flooding the house. During the ensuing repair, plumbers discovered the knife wrapped in burlap buried in a shallow hole beside one of the carport posts.

“It’s amazing we didn’t find it before,” said an unidentified source with the Sheriff’s Office. “It was only buried about two inches deep. If he’d wanted someone to find it, he couldn’t have found a more obvious place.”

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political crime thriller by J. Carson Black.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.

BREAKING! Arrest Warrant Issued in Aspen Murders Case

M.J. Hawk — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:37:50 +0000

Happier times: Donny Lee Odell, singing “Sweet Home Alabama” at the Clayton Bigsby Memorial Concert, Picnic, and Car Show (photo: Marcus Jamsen)

Arrest Warrant Issued for Donny Lee Odell – Whereabouts Unknown

Walt Njorgen, The Aspen News

March 6, 2010

SALIDA. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for Donny Lee Odell in connection with the murders of Brienne Cross, Justin Balough, Connor Fallon, Tanya Williams, Amber Redmond, and Brendan Shayles, Sheriff David Blenman said in a press conference today.

“We think we will now be able to bring this case to a successful conclusion,” Blenman said. When pressed, he refused to elaborate.

Late yesterday, police investigators appeared at the home of Doris Clarkson, Odell’s former landlady. Video from KMYZ News shows investigators converging in the carport area.

Followers of the case will recall that both Donny Lee Odell and Ray Arquette were released due to lack of evidence in October of last year. A hunting knife belonging to Odell, thought to be the murder weapon, did not match the wounds to the victims and the blood residue on the knife turned out to be animal, not human.

Donny Odell’s whereabouts are currently unknown.

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political crime thriller by J. Carson Black.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.

Breaking! The Yellow Lamborghini Lives!

M.J. Hawk — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:48:57 +0000

A yellow Lamborghini parked outside an Aspen cafe - was this the one?

The Galena Weekly
February 25, 2010
Keith Deloach

ASPEN. The woman whose car was nearly wiped out by a speeding Lamborghini the night of the Aspen Massacre has come forward.

I’ll call her “Pat,” because she wishes to remain anonymous. As the sole witness, Pat fears for her life. “If the person in the car was the killer, he might come after me.”

This is the reason she has finally broken her silence. She wants it known that she did not see the driver of the car, nor did she get the license plate. “It happened so fast. I could see him speeding up to the circle and I thought, ‘He has to stop,’ but he didn’t. He blew right through and even though I stomped on the brakes, he missed me by inches.”

The incident occurred at the junction of Highway 82 and Castle Creek Road.

The Lamborghini “spun around facing the other direction, seemed to stall, then rocketed out of there toward Snowmass.”

When asked if she reported the near-collision to the police, she said she did. Shaken and in shock, she parked by the side of the road and called the Aspen Police Department. They took a brief report over the phone.

And that was the end of it, as far as she was concerned. “I did my duty as a citizen. Of course, I didn’t know about the murders then.”

Singer and actress Brienne Cross, her producer, and the four remaining contestants of her new reality TV show, “Soul Mate,” were found dead in a house on Castle Creek Road the following morning. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office has been close-mouthed about the details, but a week later, two men were arrested for the crime.

They were later released.

According to Pat, the incident took place “a little after midnight,” shortly after she got off-shift at Mercy Hospital near Snowmass.

“Pat” recognized the make of the car because her husband is a sports car buff. “It’s hard to mistake one of those,” she said. “They’re so unusual.”

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political crime thriller by J. Carson Black.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.

NEW! Profiles of the Dead

M.J. Hawk — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:01:56 +0000

Justin Balough, producer, 32
Married, one child, a three-year-old boy, Drew.
Producer of Soul Mate.
Formerly assistant producer for World’s Most Deadly Professions.
Grew up in Port St. Joe, FL, moved to LA after high school.
Graduate UCLA; screenwriter, producer, commercials and shorts, indie prod, came to attention on Short Shorts, a reality TV show which showcased young directors. Justin was involved in a tragic drag-racing accident when he was 17. His passenger, Todd Hubbard (whose father later became Attorney General of the United States), died at the scene. Justin was charged as an adult and served a three-year prison sentence.

Where found: in bed with Tanya Williams, throat slit, mutilated after death

Brendan Shayles, 22
Openly gay and proud of it
Worked as a professional model and actor in Los Angeles
Signed with Dara Maralee Talent Agency
Waiter at Fractures
Loved his dog, Rowf, a mutt
Hobbies: singer in a boy’s band (when younger), modeling, acting, Graphic novels Volunteered at animal shelter

Where found: near the long bar separating the kitchen from the living area, throat slashed.

Amber Redmond, 24
Born: Rapid City, South Dakota
Majored in Music Education at the University of Arizona
Sang quasi-professionally
Fan of rodeo, particularly bull riding
Wedding to fiancé, Shane Clark, planned for September
She was homesick for her fiancé and her big family – two brothers and a sister
Was planning to be a music teacher in the schools

Where found: on Zebra-skin rug near fireplace in living room, alongside Connor Fallon. Throat slashed.

Connor Fallon, 21
From Star Prairie, Wisconsin
Lives in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Attended the University of Minnesota, Major in Business
“Single and looking”
Downhill skiing (competitively), ice hockey, used to sing in a band
Recently broke up with his girlfriend

Where found: on Zebra-skin rug alongside Amber Redmond. Throat slashed.

Tanya Williams, 26
Born in Atlanta
Owned a dress boutique called Shapes.
Bachelors Degree in Modern Dance from Georgia State
Masters in Business Administration
Divorced, mother of six-year-old Shanaia
Sang back-up for well-known recording artists in the Atlanta music scene, including L’Oiseau
Had affair with producer Justin Balough

Where found: in bed beside producer Justin Balough in upstairs front bedroom, died of slit throat. Her body was mutilated and two eights were painted on the wall of the bedroom with her blood.

Brienne Cross was found lying on couch. Cause of death exsanguination due to slit throat.

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political thriller by M.J. Hawk.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.

Hot, Spicy Salsa–Brienne Cross’s Secret Passion

M.J. Hawk — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:31:09 +0000

Note: this article appeared a couple of months before Brienne Cross’s death.

By Trent Chilcott, March 27, 2009, The Malibu Dawn Patrol, “Your Weekly Entertainment Magazine”

MALIBU, CA. How much do you love salsa? Brienne Cross loves her cousin Lindy Spencer’s Sassy Salsa so much she has containers of it sent to her when she’s on the road and to her home in Malibu when she isn’t.

She even makes it a requirement that the salsa, along with her favorite baked blue corn tortilla chips, be provided in her dressing room for each concert.

The cousins first met six years ago when Brienne Cross was starting up her country music career and briefly lived in Nashville.

“We have a lot of fun,” said Lindy when I caught up with her last week at her home near Oklahoma City. “I go to her concerts and even spent a week on the bus when she was on tour.”

Lindy knows a thing or two about the musician’s life. She’s married to John Spencer, who plays drums every week with the classic rock/red dirt country band, “Mitch Cason and the Big Idea.”

Having been to one of Brienne’s parties, I know firsthand what great salsa this is. Lindy gave me permission to share the recipe, below:

LINDY’S SASSY SALSA

6 Roma Tomatoes, top ends cut off
1 slice medium onion
6 rounds sliced jarred jalapenos, or 4 rounds fresh sliced jalapeno
1/3 cup chopped Cilantro
Salt to taste
1 pinch Garlic Powder

Chop by hand or use an electric chopper. By hand, chop all the ingredients very small and toss together in bowl.

If using an electric chopper, toss in the onion, jalapeno slices, cilantro, salt, and garlic powder. Chop until it’s fine and mixed well, and pour into bowl.

Cut tomatoes into chunks separately, toss in and chop, then add to onion mixture in bowl.

Lindy says, “Dip a chip in for a taste test. Add more salt and garlic powder if necessary. Do this taste test until you’re not hungry anymore!”

It’s easy to see why Brienne Cross spends two hours every day in the gym.

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political crime thriller by J. Carson Black.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.

Mystery Man at the Aspen Murder House?

M.J. Hawk — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:34:49 +0000

According to one account, a mystery man attended the party on the night of the Aspen murders. One of the contestants, Jillian Garceau, did not make it to the Final Four, but was there. She noticed a young man talking to Nick Holloway out on the deck and asked about him, but nobody seemed to know who he was. One of the crew members told Jillian he thought Nick Holloway brought him, and that his name was “Mars.”

Did Mars crash the party? Was he a friend of Nick Holloway—the sole survivor?

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political crime thriller by J. Carson Black.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.

Looking for a Soul Mate: Compatibility, Job One

M.J. Hawk — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:42:52 +0000

In Brienne Cross’s Reality TV Show, “Soul Mate,” Compatibility is Key

Reprinted with permission from the blog, Briennecross.com

How do you become someone’s Best Friend Forever, after a few short weeks together in a houseful of competitors? With nineteen other people vying for the honor?

Sure, there was the talent portion of the program, but everyone there had the chops; they’d already proven their mettle as backup singers, even lead singers. (Trent Sligo, cut early on, had his own band and some success.)

So how did Brienne Cross cut her potential Best Friend Forever and sometime-backup singer from a herd of attractive, eager, talented and hungry individuals vying for the appellation, “Soul Mate?” Compatibility? Or was this all scripted, the outcome never in doubt?

Sources close to the show say Brienne made the decision. She narrowed it down to the last four contestants—two male and two female—and kept mum about the possible outcome.

Because no video of the Reality TV show’s taping has been released, and will likely never be released, all we have to go on is the four people who were left. The four people who died with her.

Sadly, instead of one contestant, all four of these beautiful young people will forever be linked to Brienne Cross.

* * *

THE SHOP is a work of fiction, a political crime thriller by J. Carson Black.
People, places, and events portrayed on whokilledbriennecross.com
and associated Web sites are drawn from THE SHOP.