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This episode covers the 2014 disappearance and murder of 33-year-old Roxanne Houston, who had recently relocated from Colorado to a remote area of Taos, New Mexico. Living in a half-buried school bus and earth-ship dwelling with her current boyfriend, her ex-boyfriend, and various housemates, Roxanne vanished after walking away on foot. Months later, hikers discovered her remains in a shallow grave in the Two Peaks area, and investigators determined she had been shot in the head. The hosts examine the rapid investigation that led to the arrest of homeless drifter Ivan Cales, who prosecutors argued murdered Roxanne because he believed she was a witch who had cast a spell on him. The hosts break down the complex web of relationships, the physical evidence including ballistics and a suspicious vehicle sale, and Cales's eventual conviction and life sentence despite defense claims pointing toward alternative suspects and serial killers.
The episode opens with a promotional ad for DraftKings Casino before the hosts introduce themselves.
Hosts transition to the main subject, announcing they will discuss the disappearance and murder of Roxanne Houston.
They describe the unusual communal living arrangement in a half‑buried school bus and the people who lived there.
Details of the trial, including ballistics, witness testimony, and the witchcraft defense argument, are covered.
The timeline of Roxanne’s last sighting, the missing person report, and the discovery of her remains is outlined.
Investigators identify key suspects, including Ivan Cales, and discuss evidence such as the vehicle and gun.
The episode concludes with the guilty verdict, sentencing, and reflections on the case’s unresolved questions.
The defense’s focus on Ivan’s mental health, evidence tampering, and appeals process is explained.
Unusual Living Situation in New Mexicostory
Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson discuss how Roxanne Houston and her companions lived in a half-buried school bus and earth-ship structure in the Two Peaks area west of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.
A Delayed Missing Persons Reportinsight
Roxanne's boyfriend Johnny Hanson reported her missing over a month after she was last seen walking away from their residence on foot, raising immediate red flags for investigators.
Discovery of Human Remainsstory
Hikers found a femur on Christmas Day in 2014 in a remote area near Taos, leading investigators to exhume nearly an entire human body that was later identified as Roxanne Houston.
Identifying Persons of Intereststrategy
Investigators quickly developed three persons of interest and seized a vehicle that had been sold right after Roxanne's disappearance, suspecting it was used to transport her body.
The Witchcraft Motive Theoryinsight
Prosecutors argued that Ivan Cales killed Roxanne because he believed she was a witch who had cast a spell on him, supporting this with drawings and statements made to cellmates.
Guilty Verdict and Sentencingdata
After a trial featuring contested ballistics and witness testimonies, a jury found Ivan Cales guilty of first-degree murder and evidence tampering, leading to a sentence of life plus three years.
“Roxanne disappeared while walking away from home on foot.”
“Her body was later found in a shallow grave in a remote area.”
“She was only 33 years old at the time of her death.”
“The court heard that during questioning, Ivan blamed inconsistencies and lapses in his memory on schizophrenia.”
“The defense argued that the drawing on the map was a note about a dream Ivan had.”
In 2014, 33-year-old Roxanne Houston was trying to build a new life in the rugged outskirts of Taos, New Mexico. Known for her compassion and intelligence, Roxanne had become part of the local community while hoping to eventually return to Colorado and reunite with her children. On June 13th, she was spotted walking down a dirt road with her backpack and told a neighbor she would be back. She was never seen alive again. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the murder of Roxanne Houston. Months later, hikers discovered human remains in a remote area west of Taos, and investigators confirmed they belonged to Roxanne. She had been shot in the head. As detectives examined the people closest to her, they uncovered complicated relationships, conflicting accounts, unusual behavior, and disturbing evidence that would lead the investigation in an unexpected direction. You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetime Visit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation information An Emash Digital production See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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