1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,680 Mountain State Mysteries contains a doc content that may not be suitable for all audiences. 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,080 Listener discretion is advised. 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:09,200 I'm your host Mark. 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,400 And I'm Courtney. 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:40,240 And this is Mountain State Mysteries. 6 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:54,320 The case we have for you today is about a girl who had her whole life ahead of her. 7 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,800 This is the story of Nicole Don Markely. 8 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:05,760 Nicole was last seen by her family on January 17, 2003, when she left her home in the four 9 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,180 states area of West Virginia. 10 00:01:08,180 --> 00:01:12,440 She was walking over to her grandmother's house, something that she did often, but 11 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,520 this time it was different. 12 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,960 She didn't make it to her grandmother's house. 13 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:19,520 Nicole never returned home that evening. 14 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,800 When her mother, Sherry, realized she never got a call from Nicole during the day, she 15 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,000 started to get concerned. 16 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:31,000 Sherry said in an interview that, quote, she was a good kid and would always check in with 17 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:32,000 me. 18 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,280 I thought maybe she was with the new guy she was dating, but she wasn't. 19 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:37,280 End quote. 20 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:42,520 Sherry told 8line, she had a bad feeling and wasn't taking any chances. 21 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:47,560 So she called the Marion County Sheriff's Department and reported her missing. 22 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:52,520 Family and friends immediately started searching the hills in the four states area of Fairmont, 23 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:59,080 West Virginia, looking in sheds, backyards, ditches and walking through the woods trying 24 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:00,080 to find Nicole. 25 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,920 But sadly, there was no trace of her. 26 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:08,400 Sherry Harris, Nicole's cousin said, quote, I remember just all of us being in the back 27 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:16,560 of trucks, looking for her in ditches up along streets anywhere we could go walking the hills. 28 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:17,560 End quote. 29 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,760 Nicole's 17th birthday came and gone. 30 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:26,000 Her family was still searching for the answer of where Nicole was. 31 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:31,560 Nicole's mother, Sherry told 8line, she'll always remember the day Nicole was born because 32 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:39,040 it was the aftermath of the fatal space shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28th, 1986. 33 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,080 The search for Nicole never stopped. 34 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:49,520 About two weeks later, on February 1st, 2003, a hunter found her body laying face down in 35 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,900 the Teberbock Creek in the four states area of Marion County. 36 00:02:53,900 --> 00:02:58,520 The day Nicole's body was found was also marked by another disaster. 37 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:04,640 It was the day of the space shuttle Columbia explosion that killed all seven crew members. 38 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:07,880 Sherry said, quote, it's just something I'll never forget. 39 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:08,880 End quote. 40 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:15,120 Sheriff Jimmy Rifle was a roadway deputy at the time, but remembers the impact the case 41 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:16,880 had on the community. 42 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,600 What they initially thought was that Nicole was another runaway juvenile quickly turned 43 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,800 into a homicide investigation. 44 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:30,120 He told 8line that the medical examiner concluded that Nicole's death was a homicide, which 45 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,960 jumped started the investigation. 46 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:39,080 12 news reported that the autopsy results revealed her cause of death was drowning. 47 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:43,800 Deputies were confident that they knew who her murderer was. 48 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:51,080 Two years later, in July of 2003, 20 year old William Hammond of four states was charged 49 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,520 with the first degree murder in connection with Nicole's death. 50 00:03:54,520 --> 00:04:00,200 Sheriff Rifle did not get into specifics on what led investigators to Hammond or whether 51 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,800 or not the two knew each other. 52 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,960 Five months later, prosecutors dropped the charges against Hammond. 53 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:14,680 According to NBC affiliate WBOY for Marion County prosecuting attorney Susan Rifle said 54 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:20,760 in December 2003, quote, we felt the case needed more investigation. 55 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,400 We felt the best thing for the victim and for justice was to dismiss the indictment 56 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:26,720 without prejudice. 57 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,880 Christine Hall, Nicole's on said, quote, I flipped out. 58 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,200 I can't believe it. 59 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:37,000 In quote, no further charges have been filed in the case. 60 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,400 Sherry told 8line, quote, it's not fair and it's not right. 61 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,880 The one who took my child's life is out there running around free. 62 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:47,400 It's not fair for her. 63 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,080 Not fair for her family. 64 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,520 Not fair for her son. 65 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:56,800 In quote, Detective Kevin Alkir said people in the community of four states are staying 66 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:57,800 tight leapt. 67 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,880 Quote, I would say probably someone in four states or more than one individual probably 68 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:09,000 has information about this case and we can just hope one day they will come forward. 69 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:14,880 In quote, Nicole's son Jeremiah was just one month away from turning two years old when 70 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:16,160 his mother was killed. 71 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,840 He was raised by Sherry and her husband Jeff. 72 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:24,560 When he graduated high school in 2020, he said it was in honor of his mother who wasn't 73 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,280 able to graduate before she was killed. 74 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:30,080 Sherry said, quote, she'd be so proud of him. 75 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:35,720 In quote, she also said that he's a spitting image of Nicole from her bright smile to her 76 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,200 spunky attitude. 77 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:45,720 Sherry said, quote, we keep her memory alive for him and for us every holiday, every birthday, 78 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,760 every day of our lives. 79 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:49,400 We talk about her. 80 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:55,600 In quote, Nicole's family hopes that keeping her memory alive will feel their never ending 81 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,960 fight for justice. 82 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,960 She believes the person who killed her daughter was infected with her and that the charges 83 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,680 should never have been dropped. 84 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:10,560 Sherry said, quote, he continues to be free while our family mourns. 85 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,240 It's like a nightmare that never ends. 86 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:19,920 Share a frightful told Dateline that he understands that the family is frustrated over the lack 87 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:24,400 of closure and stressed that they haven't given up on her case. 88 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:30,160 Quote, throughout the years, the investigation slowed down as we exhausted all of our leads 89 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,520 and tips stop coming in. 90 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,720 In quote, share frightful added that the case is cold. 91 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,520 But as detectives, I have time. 92 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:40,520 They work on it. 93 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,640 For now, Nicole's family visits her memorial. 94 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,960 Sherry said that her daughter's death will always haunt her. 95 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:53,200 Family members have mixed emotions about whether the case will ever be closed. 96 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:58,680 For now, they keep her memory alive by sharing her story with the community and online with 97 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,760 the Facebook group in memory and Nicole Don Markely. 98 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:08,800 Anyone with any information regarding Nicole's case is asked to contact the Marion County 99 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:18,440 Sheriff's Department at 304-367-5300. 100 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,000 Courtney, do you have any final thoughts on this case? 101 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:31,320 I just think it's really sad that this case hasn't garnered much attention. 102 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:38,520 I feel that is sad that the police have failed her. 103 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:42,080 I think that's the biggest thing. 104 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:49,560 One of my biggest questions is I wonder if the sheriff and the prosecuting attorney work 105 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:50,560 in. 106 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:57,120 I just want to know what led them to think that there was a lack of evidence. 107 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:02,040 What made them think other things of this nature? 108 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:07,120 I want to know what else happened to her. 109 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:19,560 I know people can drown in few inches of water and everything, but it just makes me wonder 110 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:20,560 how this happened. 111 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:21,720 Was there anything else? 112 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,920 Was there stuff that they missed? 113 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,960 Things of that nature. 114 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:32,600 I'm sad that this son never got the chance to really know his mother. 115 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:39,120 He never got to experience a lot of memories with his mother, but I'm happy that his family 116 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,320 is keeping the memory of her alive for him. 117 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,560 Mark, do you have any final thoughts on this? 118 00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:48,400 Like you, I really hate this case. 119 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,720 It hasn't got the light that it should. 120 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:57,760 I honestly feel like it could be solved if the pieces were there. 121 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:04,680 I want to know like you, you know, if there was more than just drowning because I just 122 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:12,400 I feel like I'm not sure how deep the river is if she was on the bank of it or what, but 123 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:18,600 I feel like there is definitely more to it than just drowning. 124 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,960 I wonder why they let William Hammond go free. 125 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:29,360 I wonder what evidence was lacking, what evidence they did have on him and why he's only been 126 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:34,680 really the only suspect in this case that I was able to find. 127 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:41,560 Seeing pictures of Jeremiah on Facebook, on the Facebook page with her family, it honestly 128 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:47,880 broke my heart doing the research for this case, but it also kind of made me smile because 129 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:56,720 you can see him and his family smiling through the paint celebrating the cold to this day. 130 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:02,120 And I honestly just cannot imagine what they've gone through throughout these years, knowing 131 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,600 how easily her case could be solved. 132 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,920 Stay tuned for the next episode where we will be telling you the story of a Marshall student 133 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:16,000 whose case has left everyone scratching their heads. 134 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,480 If you find yourself enjoying Mountain State Mysteries, give us a five star review and leave 135 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,400 a comment wherever you listen to podcasts. 136 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,920 Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 137 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,400 I love Mountain State Mysteries. 138 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:39,000 If you have a case you want us to cover, send us an email at www.mallonstatemysteries304.com. 139 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:46,000 For the show notes, check out our website, MountStateMysteriesPodcast.com. 140 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:16,000 Thank you.