This episode may contain unsettling material or subject matter.

Listener discretion is advised. Thanks for

episode 9 of the murder of my family.

I need to warn you up front

that although every murder case I've covered to this point is uniquely awful for the victims and their families,

this episode deals with an especially difficult subject. That just may be too hard for some listeners to hear.

It deals with the unsolved murder of a three-year-old

child named Rachel Runyon. As a parent myself, I can fully understand one's reluctance

to listen to this episode. But I also feel it's important to share this story,

especially because this episode will air one day before the 36 year anniversary of

Rachel's murder. If you feel that you need to hit stop and abandon this episode, now's the time to do it.

No hard feelings.

If you're ready to dive into one of the most heartbreaking cases I've ever dug into. Let's move forward.

I was 17 years old in 1989 and unlike most teenagers my age I was totally obsessed with the

true crime television show Unsolved Mysteries. I was fascinated by the mysteries they presented each

week but it was on November 8th of that year when I watched an episode of the show that taught me that evil truly did exist in this world.

That's when I first learned about the Rachel Runyon case and it left an indelible impression on me

On August 26th

1982

Three-year-old Rachel Runyon played outside of her house only 15 feet away from where her mother Elaine prepared

lunch.

Rachel along with her two older brothers, were lucky enough to live right next to a school

...