40: Mary Ellen Deener

In this episode, we explore the chilling tale of Mary Ellen Deener, a 14-year-old girl who was brutally murdered in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1965. Mary, described as a bright and kind-hearted teen, was completing a simple errand when she encountered her killer, Lester Eubanks, a convicted sexual offender. After confessing to the crime, Eubanks was sentenced to death. However, in December 1973, he was allowed to leave prison for a day of Christmas shopping and subsequently vanished without a trace.

Mary’s family endured the pain of her murder and the subsequent trial, where Eubanks showed no remorse even as he confessed to the horrific details of his actions. The situation took an even more tragic turn when Eubanks' death sentence was later converted to life imprisonment. Following a series of questionable decisions by the prison system that granted Eubanks a day-release, he managed to escape and remains a fugitive.

The episode further details the extensive manhunt that ensued, including features on America's Most Wanted, but Eubanks evaded capture and lived under false identities for decades. Despite being added to the US Marshal Service's Most Wanted list with a significant reward for information leading to his capture, his whereabouts remain unknown. The episode highlights the ongoing impact of Mary’s murder on her family and the community, as well as the systemic failures that allowed her killer to escape justice.