When Melissa Howard was found dead in her Crestview, FL home on January 6th, 2006, the case left investigators stumped. There was no shortage of possible suspects with motive to kill her. But there was a near total lack of physical evidence. Melissa would wait over a decade for justice, as her case proved impossible to solve until investigators used technology that wouldn’t be developed until long after her murder.

Written by Angela Jorgensen, Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. 



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Visit Invisible Choir on the web: 
Patreon - Invisible Choir Premium:  https://www.patreon.com/InvisibleChoir
Website:  https://www.invisiblechoir.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/InvisibleChoirPodcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisiblechoir/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InvisibleChoir



Written/Audio Sources: 
Prosecution presents case
David Russell Holbrook Murder Trial Watch Live | Law & Crime
Accused Melissa Howard killer offers an alibi
David Russell Holbrook Found Guilty in 2006 Murder of Melissa Howard
1 arrested following threat to kill girlfriend & family, another arrested for handgun: OCSO | WKRG
Holbrook guilty of murder
Alabama Man Charged in 2006 Crestview Murder Case
Okaloosa County man convicted of killing nurse requests new trial | WEAR
Suspect on trial 13 years after stabbing murder of Crestview woman | WEAR
Jury finds Okaloosa man guilty of killing Crestview nurse
Melissa Howard murder trial begins
Melissa Lynn Soldatek Howard (1972-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial
Man charged with killing Melissa Howard was family friend
David Russell Holbrook vs State of Florida
Melissa Howard's lawyer testifies in murder trial | WEAR
Deputies: Crestview man stalks, threatens girlfriend and her family | WEAR
Crestview Area Man Faces Aggravated Stalking Charge | Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
Pensacola News Journal 08 January 2006 
Tallahassee Democrat 10 January 2006
More people are getting away with murder. Unsolved killings reach a record high
Cold Case Homicide Stats - Project
The Crisis of Cold Cases | Office of Justice Programs
Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Instructions
Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Opening Statement
Russell Holbrook Trial Defense Opening Statement
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 1 Victim's Daughter Keri Winkler Testifies
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 2 Victims Daughter Keri Winkler Daniel Brethauer & Chris Cadenhead
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 3 Sherri Cadenhead William Welch & Haley Hill Testify
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 4 CSI Haley Hill & Vaughn Porter Testify
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 1 Former Forensic Manager Amanda Julian Testifies
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 2 Dr Cameron Snider Victims Son Taylor Howard & Correna Schiltz
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 3 Tyler Schiltz Jared Jones Nicole Walden Alison Fox
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 4 Janice Burke Testifies
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 1 Proffer of Janice Burke
Russell  Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 3 Chris Cadenhead & Jon Cook Testify
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 4 Fmr Officer James Land Holbrook Jr & Police Interview
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 5 Inv Kenneth Pinkard & Holbrook Police Interrogation
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 1 Jenny Tomalin William Bullough Jennifer Hatler Testify
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 2 DNA Expert  Jennifer Hatler Testifies
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 3 DNA Expert  Jennifer Hatler Testifies
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 1 Jennifer Hatler Sukhan Warf Testify
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 2 Sukhan Warf  Curtis Browning Testify
Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 3 Robert Davis & Meagan Palumbo Testify
Russell Holbrook Day 6 Part 1 Agnt Meagan Palumbo Inv Dennis Haley Inv Gregory Grover Testify
Russell Holbrook Day 6 Part 2 DNA Exprt Candy Zuleger Darlene Cooper Danielle Holbrook Vicky Zapata
Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Instructions
Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Closing Argument
Russell Holbrook Trial Defense Closing Argument
Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Rebuttal Closing Argument
Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Charged & Alternates Chosen
Russell Holbrook Trial Verdict Sentencing & Victim Impact



Music & Sound Effect Sources
Opening Track: “Blood Money” by Hampus Naeselius
Closing Track: “Glimmering Galaxy” by Eniede



Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at info@invisiblechoir.com

When Melissa Howard was found dead in her Crestview, FL home on January 6th, 2006, the case left investigators stumped. There was no shortage of possible suspects with motive to kill her. But there was a near total lack of physical evidence. Melissa would wait over a decade for justice, as her case proved impossible to solve until investigators used technology that wouldn’t be developed until long after her murder.
Written by Angela Jorgensen, Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. 
 
Support Our Sponsors: 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Fabric by Gerber Life: Protect your family today with Fabric by Gerber Life by applying at <a href="https://www.meetfabric.com/invisible">https://www.meetfabric.com/invisible</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Rocket Money: Cancel unwanted subscriptions and manage your expenses the easy way by going to <a href="https://www.rocketmoney.com/invisible">https://www.rocketmoney.com/invisible</a> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">StoryWorth: Go to <a href="https://www.storyworth.com/invisible">https://www.storyworth.com/invisible</a> to save $10 on your first purchase!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">WildGrain: Go to <a href="https://wildgrain.com/choir">https://wildgrain.com/choir</a> or use code “CHOIR” at checkout to get $30 off the first box, PLUS free Croissants in every box!  </li>
</ul>
 
Visit Invisible Choir on the web: 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Patreon - Invisible Choir Premium:  <a href="https://www.patreon.com/InvisibleChoir">https://www.patreon.com/InvisibleChoir</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1">Website:  <a href="https://www.invisiblechoir.com/">https://www.invisiblechoir.com/</a> </li>
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<li aria-level="1">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/InvisibleChoir">https://twitter.com/InvisibleChoir</a></li>
</ul>
 
Written/Audio Sources: 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/special/special-sections/2019/02/20/holbrook-trial-prosecution-presents-case/5891617007/">Prosecution presents case</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/david-russell-holbrook/watch-live-david-russell-holbrook-murder-trial/">David Russell Holbrook Murder Trial Watch Live | Law &amp; Crime</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/2018/12/25/accused-melissa-howard-killer-offers-alibi/6394798007/">Accused Melissa Howard killer offers an alibi</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/david-russell-holbrook/breaking-david-russell-holbrook-found-guilty-of-2006-murder-of-melissa-howard/">David Russell Holbrook Found Guilty in 2006 Murder of Melissa Howard</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.wkrg.com/northwest-florida/okaloosa-county/1-arrested-following-threat-to-kill-girlfriend-family-another-arrested-for-handgun-ocso/">1 arrested following threat to kill girlfriend &amp; family, another arrested for handgun: OCSO | WKRG</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/crime/2019/02/28/holbrook-guilty-of-murder/5760268007/">Holbrook guilty of murder</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/alabama-man-charged-in-2006-crestview-murder-case/">Alabama Man Charged in 2006 Crestview Murder Case</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://weartv.com/news/local/okaloosa-county-man-convicted-of-killing-nurse-requests-new-trial">Okaloosa County man convicted of killing nurse requests new trial | WEAR</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://weartv.com/news/local/suspect-on-trial-13-years-after-stabbing-murder-of-crestview-woman">Suspect on trial 13 years after stabbing murder of Crestview woman | WEAR</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://weartv.com/news/local/breaking-jury-finds-holbrook-guilty?fbclid=IwAR3VLKfBhUc-bWYGcbv32OOQbbNpprseGG9kppmp3dEo6Yn5D8ZgzyM8Fe0">Jury finds Okaloosa man guilty of killing Crestview nurse</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/2019/02/20/melissa-howard-murder-trial-begins/5915154007/">Melissa Howard murder trial begins</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23467445/melissa-lynn-howard">Melissa Lynn Soldatek Howard (1972-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/crime/2016/11/09/man-charged-with-killing-melissa-howard-was-family-friend/24582610007/">Man charged with killing Melissa Howard was family friend</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/first-district-court-of-appeal/2020/19-1279.html">David Russell Holbrook vs State of Florida</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://weartv.com/news/local/melissa-howards-lawyer-testifies-in-murder-trial">Melissa Howard's lawyer testifies in murder trial | WEAR</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://weartv.com/news/local/deputies-08-24-2022">Deputies: Crestview man stalks, threatens girlfriend and her family | WEAR</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.sheriff-okaloosa.org/crestview-area-man-faces-aggravated-stalking-charge/">Crestview Area Man Faces Aggravated Stalking Charge | Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/269783769/?terms=%22Melissa%20Howard%22&amp;match=1">Pensacola News Journal 08 January 2006 </a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/250414903/?terms=%22Melissa%20Howard%22&amp;match=1">Tallahassee Democrat 10 January 2006</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/04/29/1172775448/people-murder-unsolved-killings-record-high">More people are getting away with murder. Unsolved killings reach a record high</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://projectcoldcase.org/cold-case-homicide-stats/">Cold Case Homicide Stats - Project</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ojp.gov/archives/ojp-blogs/2019/crisis-cold-cases">The Crisis of Cold Cases | Office of Justice Programs</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3j8rQtAEfA&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=1&amp;pp=iAQB">Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Instructions</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UByTqX4062I&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=2">Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Opening Statement</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GfoPtJfMaw&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=4">Russell Holbrook Trial Defense Opening Statement</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWA99H03LRQ&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=5">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 1 Victim's Daughter Keri Winkler Testifies</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdA2U5EThT0&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=7">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 2 Victims Daughter Keri Winkler Daniel Brethauer &amp; Chris Cadenhead</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT37-z8D1Do&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=8">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 3 Sherri Cadenhead William Welch &amp; Haley Hill Testify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb14oA5uqA0&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=8">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 4 CSI Haley Hill &amp; Vaughn Porter Testify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-728mFs-bo0&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=9">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 1 Former Forensic Manager Amanda Julian Testifies</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1HwruOoSxg&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=9">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 2 Dr Cameron Snider Victims Son Taylor Howard &amp; Correna Schiltz</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf_p-rIz41o&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=11">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 3 Tyler Schiltz Jared Jones Nicole Walden Alison Fox</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFgGgHclxXw&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=12">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 4 Janice Burke Testifies</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbH03yxAIyw&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=13">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 1 Proffer of Janice Burke</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLaVhnvC0-A&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=14">Russell  Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 3 Chris Cadenhead &amp; Jon Cook Testify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA-2QtErj8Y&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=16">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 4 Fmr Officer James Land Holbrook Jr &amp; Police Interview</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WAkSsoeYxo&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=16">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 5 Inv Kenneth Pinkard &amp; Holbrook Police Interrogation</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmpN-ipjX10&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=17">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 1 Jenny Tomalin William Bullough Jennifer Hatler Testify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H82Rkf1dRLk&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=18">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 2 DNA Expert  Jennifer Hatler Testifies</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y60-nL9KGYU&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=19">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 3 DNA Expert  Jennifer Hatler Testifies</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fktvrg64sT4&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=21">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 1 Jennifer Hatler Sukhan Warf Testify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv6adHc5P3k&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=20">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 2 Sukhan Warf  Curtis Browning Testify</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaj_C4DyCAw&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=21">Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 3 Robert Davis &amp; Meagan Palumbo Testify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZo0uu-TUBk&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=23">Russell Holbrook Day 6 Part 1 Agnt Meagan Palumbo Inv Dennis Haley Inv Gregory Grover Testify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiA8HfCPiQc&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=24">Russell Holbrook Day 6 Part 2 DNA Exprt Candy Zuleger Darlene Cooper Danielle Holbrook Vicky Zapata</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFG7hVIp1K0&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=25">Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Instructions</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iMvn6csFOA&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=26">Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Closing Argument</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6-Pu5ctyTI&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=27">Russell Holbrook Trial Defense Closing Argument</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVyOpPtySLQ&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=28">Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Rebuttal Closing Argument</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJWhGoCQt50&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=29">Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Charged &amp; Alternates Chosen</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNNkB7U0W9A&amp;list=PLoW1SIeAWaWYSnAvV0IeY8YCMzzMs49ST&amp;index=29">Russell Holbrook Trial Verdict Sentencing &amp; Victim Impact</a></li>
</ul>
 
Music &amp; Sound Effect Sources
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Opening Track: “Blood Money” by Hampus Naeselius</li>
<li aria-level="1">Closing Track: “Glimmering Galaxy” by Eniede</li>
</ul>
 
Music &amp; Sound Effect Sources
All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at <a href="mailto:info@invisiblechoir.com">info@invisiblechoir.com</a>

The Invisible Choir true crime podcast examines the most heinous murders through investigative storytelling, primary source audio, and victim testimonials. We aim to bring voice to the voiceless, and visibility to the invisible. Independently recorded and produced by Michael Ojibway and Reach Freaks, LLC. 

The Invisible Choir true crime podcast examines the most heinous murders through investigative storytelling, primary source audio, and victim testimonials. We aim to bring voice to the voiceless, and visibility to the invisible. Independently recorded and produced by Michael Ojibway and Reach Freaks, LLC.

Invisible Choir

The Invisible Choir true crime podcast examines the most heinous murders through investigative storytelling, primary source audio, and victim testimonials. We aim to bring voice to the voiceless, and visibility to the invisible.

The Invisible Choir true crime podcast examines the most heinous murders through investigative storytelling, primary source audio, and victim testimonials. We aim to bring voice to the voiceless, and visibility to the invisible.

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