Dog Days of Murder — Episode Summary

When a duck repeatedly disappeared beneath a trailer in Candler, North Carolina, renters eventually followed it underneath the home to see what kept drawing it there.

Hidden beneath the trailer was something investigators had been searching for since 2020: 90-year-old Nellie Sullivan.

As detectives worked to unravel Nellie’s disappearance, the investigation widened into allegations involving fraud, drug charges, animal cruelty, and a disturbing possibility involving the people Nellie had trusted most — including her own granddaughter.

What began as a missing persons case would eventually become a homicide investigation unlike anything investigators in Buncombe County had ever seen.

Sources:

• WRAL News
• WLOS ABC 13
• FOX Carolina
• Law & Crime
• CBS 17
• Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office press releases
• United States Department of Justice records
• Federal court filings
• Social Security fraud case records
• Interviews and statements from neighbors reported by local media outlets

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

In the early hours of May 31, 2024, a violent collision on England’s A1(M) left two people dead.

Investigators believed the driver responsible might walk away without enough evidence… until a rescue police dog named Louie found the one missing thing that changed everything.

🎧 Episode 6 — Source List

📰 Primary News Sources

• BBC News
  “Hero dog found vital evidence in baby crash death”
  By Jonny Manning (Sept 25, 2025)
  • Core facts of the case
  • Victims identified
  • Phone evidence (141 mph photo)
  • Cuthbertson quotes
  • Confirmation of Louie’s role

• Chronicle Live
  “Cop tells why he had to help search for evidence…”
  By Sophie Doughty
  • Confirms 3x legal alcohol limit
  • Details Anderson’s hitchhiker alibi
  • Strong Cuthbertson quotes
  • Emotional context + personal connection
  • Confirms phone as key evidence

• The Thin Blue Paw Foundation (via coverage & statements)
  • Award details (Rising Star Award)
  • Recognition of Louie & handler
  • Context on police dog work

• Durham Constabulary (referenced in reporting)
  • Official case involvement
  • Dog unit + digital detection role
  • Investigation confirmation

📰 Supplementary News Source

• The News (UK)
  “Abandoned rescue dog finds crucial evidence in car crash case…”
  By Jack Marshall
  • Louie’s rescue background (Gateshead)
  • Training as digital detection dog
  • Details of search (150m stretch, undergrowth)
  • Confirmation of phone discovery and its role

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder

Episode 5: Found in the Ditch

Some mornings begin like any other.

Until something shifts.

In Rapid River, Michigan, a dog named Peanut refused to settle—and what she led her owner to find in a nearby field would uncover a situation far more serious than anyone expected.

This is the story of instinct, intervention, and a moment that changed everything.

Sources

This episode is based on official law enforcement statements, news reporting, and follow-up coverage related to a 2017 child neglect investigation in Delta County, Michigan, and the role a rescue dog named Peanut played in bringing the situation to light.

• Delta County Sheriff’s Office (Facebook Statement, March 20, 2017)
  – Official timeline of events, including the discovery of the three-year-old child, environmental conditions (approximately 32°F), and initial response by deputies
  – Confirmation of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions and involvement of Child Protective Services
• CBS News (March 21, 2017)
  “Former shelter dog hailed as a hero for finding 3-year-old girl curled up in ditch” (Jennifer Earl)
  – Narrative account of Peanut alerting her owner and leading him to the child
  – Details of the rescue, emergency response, and early investigation
• The Daily Press (August 2, 2025)
  “Peanut, the dog that saved three-year-old, dies at age 9” (R. R. Branstrom)
  – Peanut’s background, rescue, and adoption by Kathryn and Kyle Frisk
  – Additional reporting on the condition of the children and statements made during legal proceedings
  – Details surrounding Peanut’s later life and passing
• Supplemental reporting and case details
  – Publicly available information regarding child welfare findings, medical and developmental concerns, and judicial statements indicating the child was unlikely to have exited the home on her own

Key Takeaway

Not every case is solved by training or investigation.

Sometimes, it’s instinct.

In this case, a dog who had once needed saving refused to ignore what she found—and in doing so, brought attention to two children who needed it most.

Follow along and stay connected:

📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder
📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com

If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder