The Land of the Unsolved

How the overuse of an obscure death classifciaton may have covered up a murder

Pete Peltsmese was home in 2011 when a group of intruders burst open his door and attacked. The successful businessman had a massive stroke and died. But his assialints were never charged with murder because the Maryland Medical Examiner would not rule his case a homicide. As part of our five part series we are exploring unsolved mysteries and questionable death rulings which occurred uder the tenure of Dr. David Fowler, a cotroversial pathologist whose tenure has been under intense scrutiny.

The shadow behind the scenes: How one man impacted two decades of mysteries death investigations. Part One: Rey Rivera

The death of Rey Rivera made national headlines. The filmmaker allegedly jumped off the roof of the Belvedere Hotel. Police said he committed suicide. But family and friends argued Rey had everything to live for. He just married the love of his life, Alison, and was planing to move from Baltimore to Los Angeles to pursue a career in cinema. Now for the first time the role of a little discussed pathologist is in the spotlight. A doctor who had a major impact on the case behind the scenes. Investigative reporters Stephen Janis and Taya Graham discuss the evidence, circumstance that raise news questions about the mysterious death of Rey Rivera, and others. This is the first part of a five part series on how the Maryland Office of The Chief Medical Examiner had outsized influence of mysterious deaths across the state.

The Long Drive Into Darkness: New Clues in the Death of federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna

More than twenty years after federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna was found dead in a Pennsylvania creek with more than 30 stab wounds, new evidence is finally shedding light on one of the most baffling unsolved cases in the region. Luna, a rising attorney in Baltimore’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, disappeared after a late-night departure from a downtown parking garage and embarked on a strange, circuitous drive across multiple states. His body was discovered hours later, submerged beside his car, in what the coroner ruled a homicide—yet no suspects were ever identified, and early attempts to frame his death as self-inflicted only deepened public skepticism. This episode examines the newly released autopsy report—kept secret for over two decades and obtained only after a long legal battle by Lancaster Online—and what it reveals about Luna’s final hours. We also revisit Stephen Janis’s original reporting on the case during his years at The Baltimore Examiner, exploring how these new findings align with or challenge what he uncovered at the time. Together, we break down the facts, the unanswered questions, and why this mysterious death still haunts the corridors of federal law enforcement today.

A famous scientist was murdered walking her dogs, her killer is still at large

Molly Macauley was famous and pioneering scientist in the field of space economics. But in July uff 2016, someone stabbed her to death outside of her Roland Park home while she was walking her dogs. The Land of the Unsolved investigative team of Jayne Miller, Stephen Janis and Taya Graham examine the evidence and speak to a friend to try to uncover clues about what might have happened to Molly, and what police are doing to try to solve the case.

Two murders reveal how Baltimore's obsession with managing the perception of crime can be deadly

The recent killing of local tech executive Pava LaPerre revealed many uncomfortable truths about Baltimore's struggle with crime. After BPD Police Commissioner Worsley admitted the department withheld the identity of LaPere's killer Jason Billingsley after he was suspected in crime before her murder, police came under scrutiny for not being forthcoming. Host Taya Graham and Stephen Janis are joined by legendary investigative reporter Jayne Miller to explore how the breakdown in communication is actually part of deeper problem cause by how the city approaches violent crime.