Share

MURDERED: Daisy Shelton

When a fisherman pulled a human arm from an Ohio fishing spot in 1964, it marked the beginning of a gruesome mystery that would remain unsolved for decades. More than fifty years later, a shocking confession pointed investigators toward Daisy Shelton’s killer…but by then, time had stolen any chance at a trial, leaving behind unanswered questions and a family determined to reclaim Daisy’s story.

Listen in the Crime Junkie Fan Club

Crime Junkie Fan Club members get access to exclusive episodes and content. Join today to listen to this episode and many more!

Join Now

Daisy Shelton

Courtesy: Maria Walling

An aerial photo of the popular fishing spot in Tipp City, where a human arm was caught in 1964.

Courtesy: Miami County Sheriff’s Office

The night-time search efforts at the fishing spot

Courtesy: Miami County Sheriff’s Office

The day-time search efforts of the fishing spot

Courtesy: Miami County Sheriff’s Office

The canal in Tipp City, where more human remains were found

Courtesy: Miami County Sheriff’s Office

Daisy Shelton

Courtesy: Maria Walling

Daisy holding her son, Rodney

Courtesy: Maria Walling

Buster Hale

Courtesy: Maria Walling

Elijah Murphy

Courtesy: Maria Walling

Episode Source Material

Original reporting by Taylor Day.
Records from Miami County Sheriff’s Office.
Fox, Bill. “Severed Arms of Woman Fished From Gravel Pit.” Dayton Daily News. 9 Jun 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404252370. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Donahue, Jessie. “FBI Joins Hunt For Identity In Torso Slaying.” The Journal Herald. 19 Jun 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/394073987/. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Fox, Bill. “Woman’s Head Found In Canal Near Tipp City.” Dayton Daily News. 22 Jun 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404220362. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Donahue, Jessie. “Torso Slaying Victim Strangled?.” The Journal Herald. 24 Jun 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/394074179. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Fox, Bill. “Tipp City Dismembered Torso Victim Identified As Missing Dayton Woman.” Dayton Daily News. 14 Aug 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404228963. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Schroeder, Dan. “Valley’s Torso Murder Probe Shifts Into Hunt For Killer.” The Journal Herald. 15 Aug 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/394351572. Accessed 17 February 2026.
“Torso Victim’s Husband In Jail for Questioning.” Dayton Daily News. 25 Aug 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404522747. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
“Shelton Free to Leave, Miami authorities Say.” Dayton Daily News. 26 Aug 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404526660. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
“Police Find New Lead In Torso Case.” The Journal Herald. 26 Sep 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/394619315. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Fox, Bill. “Suspected Torso Murder Victims Safe, Sound.” Dayton Daily News. 24 Sep 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404408506/. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Fox, Bill. “Daisy Shelton’s 1963 Butcher Slaying Still a Mystery.” Dayton Daily News. 20 Aug 1973. https://www.newspapers.com/image/405363520/. Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
McHenry, Cheryl. “New Development in Decades Old Cold Case Murder.” WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio, 3 Jul 2017, www.whio.com/news/new-development-decades-old-cold-case-murder/xSDUSCkvgE0exiSpOfJ8dO/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
McHenry, Cheryl. “Key clue found in 53-year-old case.” Dayton Daily News, 9 Jul 2017, https://www.newspapers.com/image/422560090/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
WHIO Staff. “‘What kind of animal are they?;’ Cold case solved 60 years after grisly murder of Dayton mother.” WHIO TV 7, 29 Mar 2024, www.whio.com/news/new-development-decades-old-cold-case-murder/xSDUSCkvgE0exiSpOfJ8dO/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Balduf, Jen. “Cold Case Homicide of Dayton Woman Solved; Suspect Died at Age 92.” Dayton Daily News, Dayton Daily News, 29 Mar. 2024, www.daytondailynews.com/crime/cold-case-homicide-of-dayton-woman-solved-suspect-died-at-age-92/DJFR5XDEOFDCLLMNOQXFCAFCHE/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Ohio Public Defender. “Conspiracy.” Ohio Public Defender Law Library: Criminal Law Casebook, Ohio Public Defender, https://opd.ohio.gov/law-library/criminal-law-casebook/conspiracy. Accessed 5 April 2026.
Associated Press. “Ohio authorities close 1964 homicide case of dismembered woman found in gravel pit and a canal channel.” NBC News, 1 April 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-authorities-close-1964-homicide-case-dismembered-woman-found-grav-rcna145814 Accessed 17 Feb 2026.
Bowman, Nancy. “Decades old cold case solved, homicide investigation closed.” The Tippecanoe Gazette, 4 Apr 2024. https://www.tippgazette.com/news/2024/4/decades-old-cold-case-solved-homicide-investigation-closed Accessed 17 Feb 2026.

← Previous Episode Next Episode →

Suggested Episodes

MURDERED: Bill & Peggy Stephenson

Aug 10, 2026 | Episode, Murdered

In 2011, 74-year-old high school sweethearts Bill and Peggy Stephenson were found murdered inside their Kentucky condo on Memorial Day weekend. Nothing valuable appeared to be missing, but the crime scene was so strange that detectives wondered whether the killer was trying to leave a message.

MURDERED: Joyce LePage Part 2

Jul 27, 2026 | Episode, Murdered

In part two of Joyce’s story, we dig deep into the case file and letters left behind by Joyce herself, which reveal even more suspects, including the roommate she’d been avoiding that summer.

MURDERED: Joyce LePage Part 1

Jul 20, 2026 | Episode, Murdered

In the summer of 1971, 21-year-old Joyce LePage disappears after a skydiving lesson followed by a beer with friends. In the beginning, the only clue is a piece of missing carpet that was cut out from a vacant dorm on the campus of Washington State University where Joyce had been secretly squatting. Her belongings, her car and her body would all be found in different places, and they all point to different suspects.