Cases with Major Updates in 2023, Part One.
Many cases featured on this page had major updates during 2023. While these cases still aren't resolved, these updates created movement in their investigations and more awareness to the case overall. Here's part one of the list of cases with major updates this year. Lots of you are already familiar with them so I provided a brief TL;DR description with each, but links to the full case write-up are there as well! Part two will be posted at a later date.
The Disappearance & Death of Cheyann Klus. TL;DR update: The remains of Cheyann Klus were identified in January 2023. Cheyann had been missing since December 2017; she vanished at the age of 22 from Chicago, Illinois. Her remains were reportedly found in 2020 but remained unidentified until January 2023.
The Disappearance & Murder of Katelyn Markham. TL;DR update: In March 2023, John Carter was charged with Katelyn's murder. Weeks earlier, Jonathan Palmerton was charged with perjury in relation to Katelyn's murder. Katelyn originally vanished in Fairfield, Ohio at the age of 21 during 2011. Her remains were found in 2013. Carter was Katelyn's fiancé and he had been a person of interest in the case since her disappearance. The cases against both men are currently pending.
The Murder of Courtney Phillips. TL;DR update: Isaac Estrada was finally charged with Courtney Phillips' murder after being captured by authorities in Eagle Pass, Texas. Courtney was found stabbed to death at a residence in San Antonio, Texas in April 2015. Estrada was a suspect early into the investigation, but police were unable to locate him. After 8 years on the run, Estrada was finally captured in March 2023. He is currently facing charges for evading arrest, first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree murder.
The Disappearance of Irene Gakwa. TL;DR update: During March 2023, Nathan Hightman was sentenced to six years in prison for using Irene Gakwa's credit cards, bank accounts, and Facebook/email accounts after she went missing in February 2022. Irene is still missing, and Hightman still denies knowledge of her whereabouts.
The Disappearance & Death of Madison Scott. TL;DR update: The remains of Madison Scott were found on a rural property east of Vanderhoof during May 2023. Madison vanished at the age of 20 nearly 12 years earlier during a party at Hogsback Lake. Since the discovery of her remains, detectives have remained quiet about the state of the investigation.











