Gone Cold - Texas True Crime

The Murders of Giti Harari & Wendy Aldrich Part One

In the 1980s, Texas was expanding fast, and real estate agents were often left working alone, opening doors for strangers in empty homes. Across the state, a quiet pattern began to form: women in the industry attacked and killed during routine showings, each case treated as isolated, none connected in time. From the brutal 1981 murder of Virginia “Ginger” Freeman in Brazos County to the 1983 execution-style killings at a Houston real estate office, to the 1987 murder of Betty Jo Hudson in Galveston and the stabbing of Esther Darlene Collins in west Harris County, the list of victims continued to grow. By the end of the decade, another name was added. Giti Hariri, a 27-year-old Iranian immigrant and chemical engineering graduate, was working alone in a model home in northwest Harris County when she was stabbed to death on May 11, 1988. The scene showed no forced entry, no clear motive, and only a missing purse. Despite early investigative efforts, her case quickly went cold. At the center of Giti’s life was her closest friend, Wendy Aldrich, a bond that began as college roommates and endured through years of change, relocation, and adulthood. In the aftermath of Giti’s murder, Wendy’s grief became all-consuming, pulling her deeper into the place where her friend had died. What began as loss would soon become something far more unsettling. Because Giti’s story doesn’t end with her death.  And neither does Wendy’s. Part 1 of 2. If you have any information about the murder of Giti Harari, please contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-8477. You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast Find us at https://www.gonecold.com For Gone Cold merch, visit https://gonecold.dashery.com Follow gone cold on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Search @gonecoldpodcast at all or just click https://linknbio.com/gonecoldpodcast #JusticeForGitiHarari #Houston #HarrisCounty #TX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #MissingPerson #Missing #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

The Kidnapping & Killing of Kim Nguyen Part 2: Nightmares

As the search for 8-year-old Kim Nguyen continued a week after his disappearance, the Garland Police still coordinated the efforts but had begun concentrating on the investigation. After releasing a lead that likely would have borne better results had it been released the day Kim went missing, the very day the information was made public in fact, the unthinkable happened. The boy’s body was found many miles away in the neighboring city of Mesquite. The cops never got close to making an arrest. Part 2 of 2.  If you have any information about the 1993 kidnapping and murder of 8-year-old Kim Nguyen, please call the Garland Police at (972) 485-4840  You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast [https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast]  Find us at https://www.gonecold.com [https://www.gonecold.com/]  For Gone Cold merch, visit https://gonecold.dashery.com [https://gonecold.dashery.com/]  Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using @gonecoldpodcast and on YouTube at: youtube.com/c/gonecoldpodcast  Dallas Morning News, and WFAA Channel 8 News were used as sources for this episode.  #JusticeForKimNuyen #Garland #GarlandTX #Dallas #DallasTX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #GoneCold #GoneColdPodcast #ColdCase #Kidnapping #Abduction #Unsolved #Murder #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurder  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

The Kidnapping & Killing of Kim Nguyen Part 1: Without a Trace

On July 18th, 1993, 8-year-old Kim Nguyen woke up in a good, particularly playful mood. After wrestling around with his older brother some, Kim entered the living room of the Nguyen Family home in Garland, Texas and flipped on the television. When his father came to check on him at about 7 AM, however, there was no trace of the little boy, not inside the house or outside. They called the police and informed them that Kim was gone and that there was a detail that might make finding him more difficult than a lot of children. Kim was autistic and chose not to verbally communicate the vast majority of the time. Word got around the boy’s working-class neighborhood fast, and lots of folks showed up to help search. But after the first several days, no sign of the boy could be found. Almost no sign.  If you have any information about the 1993 kidnapping and murder of 8-year-old Kim Nguyen, please call the Garland Police at (972) 485-4840  Find us at https://www.gonecold.com [https://www.gonecold.com/]  For Gone Cold merch, visit https://gonecold.dashery.com [https://gonecold.dashery.com/]  Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using @gonecoldpodcast and on YouTube at: youtube.com/c/gonecoldpodcast  Dallas Morning News, and WFAA Channel 8 News were used as sources for this episode.  #JusticeForKimNguyen #Garland #GarlandTX #Dallas #DallasTX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #GoneCold #GoneColdPodcast #ColdCase #Kidnapping #Abduction #Unsolved #Murder #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurder  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

The Abduction & Murder of Ashley Estell Part 3: Ashley’s Laws

The 1994 trial of Michael Nawee Blair for the abduction and murder of 7-year-old Ashley Nicole Estell was fought hard by both sides. Though the prosecution came out victorious, and justice seemed to have been served upon Blair’s conviction, it was stripped away years later, when the decision was overturned. Is Michael Blair truly innocent and one of the other two strong suspects responsible for the heinous and unforgivable act? Or did Blair get away with Ashley’s slaying? Even though justice has yet to be realized, Ashley’s legacy had undoubtedly lived on and helped prevent pother children from falling victim to depraved people who might mean them harm.  If you have any information about the abduction and murder of Ashley Nicole Estell, please contact Texas Crime stoppers by calling 713-222-TIPS, that’s 713-222-8477. You can remain completely anonymous  You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast [https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast]  Find us at https://www.gonecold.com [https://www.gonecold.com/]  For Gone Cold merch, visit https://gonecold.dashery.com [https://gonecold.dashery.com/]  Follow gone cold on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Search @gonecoldpodcast at all or just click https://linknbio.com/gonecoldpodcast [https://linknbio.com/gonecoldpodcast]    CrimeInCharlotte.com, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Observer, D Magazine, and The Plano Star-Courier were used as sources for this episode.  #JusticeForAshleyEstell #TrueCrime #Plano #PlanoTX #Dallas #DallasTX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #GoneCold #GoneColdPodcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurder  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

The Abduction & Murder of Ashley Estell Part 2: Candy Man

While the Plano Police investigated the abduction and death of 7-year-old Ashley Estell, a strange man with a pertinent criminal history made himself a suspect. Unbeknownst to the grieving and angry residents of the suburb city, along with the rest of North Texas, the cops were building a case against 23-year-old Dallas carpet cleaner and convicted child molester Michael Nawee Blair. When the arrest came 6 days after Ashley was slain, residents were shocked – but upon learning of the man’s disturbing criminal past and his early release from prison, the public’s shock turned to outrage and a campaign against the practices of the Texas justice system got underway. Part 2 of 3.    If you have any information about the abduction and murder of Ashley Nicole Estell, please contact Texas Crime stoppers by calling 713-222-TIPS, that’s 713-222-8477. You can remain completely anonymous  You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast [https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast]  Find us at https://www.gonecold.com [https://www.gonecold.com/]  For Gone Cold merch, visit https://gonecold.dashery.com [https://gonecold.dashery.com/]  Follow gone cold on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Search @gonecoldpodcast at all or just click https://linknbio.com/gonecoldpodcast [https://linknbio.com/gonecoldpodcast]  The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Observer, KXAS TV, and Robert Riggs’ WFAA Channel 8 News Reporting were used as sources for this episode.  #JusticeForAshleyEstell #TrueCrime #Plano #PlanoTX #Dallas #DallasTX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #GoneCold #GoneColdPodcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurder  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].