As Riley investigates, there’s no DNA or physical evidence, so she must rely on her investigative prowess, gut instinct and blind luck to break the 30-year code of silence. James is assigned Nina’s case and eager for her big break. Most importantly, I always seek to honor the real victims.”Ĭut to the present: Newly-minted Detroit cold case detective Riley St. “I like to use real places in my mind to help with world-building, although the names and details often change. “I sometimes base my characters off of real people but always give them different names, personality traits and visual descriptions,” said Dornbush. Police believe Nina’s friends know more than they’re saying, but a code of silence prevails. A witch hunt by local law enforcement brings several suspects to the forefront, but there isn’t enough evidence to make an arrest. Her remains are found by a hunter three months later. In “Hole,” 18-year-old Nina Laramie is brutally raped and murdered three decades ago. We wanted good to win over evil for her.” We wanted her story to be complete and her family to have catharsis. “We all wanted to believe that someday her killers would be found and put away. “I desired justice for Shannon just as much as anyone in my county,” said Dornbush. Siders’ case was featured on an episode of Investigation Discovery’s “On the Case with Paula Zahn.” Matthew was convicted of first-degree murder and Paul was convicted of second-degree murder in 2015. As a result, brothers Matthew Jones and Paul Jones were arrested in 2014.
She was also raped.Ī cold case taskforce composed of the Michigan State Police, the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies was formed in 2011 to investigate Siders’ murder. She was killed by a blow that crushed the back of her head and suffered many other injuries to her face and body. 15, 1989, in the Manistee National Forest in Brooks Township. A hunter found her badly decomposed body Oct. Siders disappeared July 18, 1989, after partying with friends.
#Cold case files shannon siders trial#
I kept up with the case as it unfolded in little layers for 25 years… through newspaper stories, documentaries, and finally attending the three-week trial in the spring of 2015,” explained Dornbush. And that’s why it stuck with me all these decades. This was, of course, a shocking event for our rural, tight-knit community and it cast a dark cloud on our rural county. “He determined… Shannon suffered a brutal death, disturbing details that I wouldn’t find out until sitting in on the trial some 25 years later.
Dornbush’s father performed Siders’ autopsy. The case wasn’t solved until 25 years later. In fact, “Hole” is based on the case of Shannon Siders, who was found murdered in Newaygo County in 1989. Her latest novel, “Hole in the Woods” (Ally Press $17.99) – released Tuesday – is no exception. Emily Hartford and set in western Michigan. Her father’s work profoundly impacted her two mystery novels in “The Coroner” series, featuring Dr. Additionally, she has certificates from the Forensic Science Academy in L.A.
She earned her undergraduate degree in English and communication arts from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois, as well as a graduate degree in rhetoric from DePaul University in Chicago. As we grew older, there were certain tasks we’d help him with – paperwork, putting everything on microfiche."Ī Grand Rapids native who grew up in Fremont, Dornbush graduated from Western Michigan Christian High School in Muskegon. It was an anatomy lesson more than anything. He was like, ‘Look on the ground and tell me if you see anything unusual.’ He explained to us what the brain does. “We ended up finding some brain matter and pieces of skull. The next day, (my sister Melanie and I) went with our dad out in the field and he wanted to make sure his office didn’t miss anything since it was bright and sunny,” recalled Dornbush, who lives in Los Angeles. “There was an airplane fatality where three people died. The eldest of three, Dornbush assisted him on his cases. Ronald Graeser, was the medical examiner for Newaygo County. Author Jennifer Graeser Dornbush grew up around death.
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