The Murder of Lori Ann Slesinski: A Conviction Without a Body

In June 2006, 24 year old Lori Ann Slesinski left an Auburn Walmart to pick up drink mixes before a night at her best friend’s house. She never arrived. Days later, her Yorkshire Terrier, Peanut, was found safe in her mobile home, but Lori was gone. Her kitchen rugs and telephone cord were missing, the answering machine messages had disappeared, and her Mazda was later found burned on a secluded Auburn street. Lori’s friend Derrill Richard Ennis, known as Rick, was the last person known to be with her. He claimed she had left to make a drug deal, but police found nothing to support that story. The case went cold for years, even as questions remained about the evidence inside Lori’s home and near her burned vehicle. Sixteen years later, investigators rebuilt the case without Lori’s body. A jury ultimately found Derrill guilty of capital murder, but Lori’s remains have never been recovered. We cover Lori’s disappearance, the cold case investigation, and the trial that brought her family a measure of justice. Thank you to this week's sponsors! And right now, IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text MOMS to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/moms. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices