MURDERED: Sue Gunderson Higgins
The last moments of Sue Higgins’ life were ordinary for the 27-year-old mom. She had just put her toddler down for a nap, opened a can of Diet Pepsi and turned on the TV. The evidence in her living room-turned-crime scene was scarce and in the absence of answers, questions were hurled at her spouse. When the truth finally presented itself almost two decades after her murder, it was almost too weird to believe.
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Sue Gunderson Higgins
Courtesy: Shelly Ellis
Sue holding her son, Tate
Courtesy: Shelly Ellis
Sue Gunderson Higgins
Courtesy: Shelly Ellis
A blanket with Sean and Sue’s wedding anniversary date on a couch in the house.
Courtesy: Evanston Police Department
The can of Diet Pepsi near Sue
Courtesy: Evanston Police Department
Sue (left) and her twin sister, Shelly
Courtesy: Shelly Ellis
A childhood photo of Sue and her twin sister, Shelly
Courtesy: Shelly Ellis
County Prosecutor Loretta Howieson Kallas
Courtesy: Loretta Howieson Kallas
Mark Douglas Burns in 2003
Courtesy: Clearfield Police Department
Mark Douglas Burns in 1996
Courtesy: Clearfield Police Department
Tonya Teske’s cold case playing card
Courtesy: Idaho Cold Cases
Additional Information:
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Episode Source Material
- Original reporting by Emily Mieure
- Uinta County Prosecutor’s Office
- Evanston, Wyoming Police Department via FOIA
- Clearfield, Utah Police Department via FOIA
- Davis County, Utah Sheriff’s Office via FOIA
- “Evanson police report no clues in murder.” The Billings Gazette, 26 Jul. 2001. Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/413382672. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
- “Cops charge man in shooting.” Casper Star-Tribune, 20 Jul. 2005. Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/468172722. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
- “Arrest made in murder of Rangely woman.” Vernal Express, 27 Jul. 2005. Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/281420694. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
- Saunders, Rhys. “Hearing set for man who may have led double life.” Farmington Daily Times, 6 Aug. 2005. Newspaperarchives.com, https://newspaperarchive.com/farmington-daily-times-aug-06-2005-p-1/ & https://newspaperarchive.com/farmington-daily-times-aug-06-2005-p-6/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
- Herald Times Staff. “Higgins murder trial set for Nov. 22 in Wyoming.” Rio Blanco Herald Times, 10 Nov. 2005. Newslibrary.com, https://www.newslibrary.com/newspapers/news/10E1298012AE2678. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
- Saunders, Rhys. “Murder charges against Aztec man dismissed.” Farmington Daily Times, 11 Mar. 2006. Newspaperarchives.com, https://newspaperarchive.com/farmington-daily-times-mar-11-2006-p-1/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
- Reavy, Pat. “Suspect in multiple Utah rapes tied to Wyoming killing, police say.” KSL, 30 Jan. 2020. https://oilcity.news/crime/2020/01/30/charges-possible-in-19-year-old-wyoming-cold-case/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
- McGuire, Sheila. “Cold case may be solved: Utah man implicated in 2001 Evanston murder.” Uinta County Herald, 3 Feb. 2020. https://www.uintacountyherald.com/stories/cold-case-may-be-solved-utah-man-implicated-in-2001-evanston-murder,11171. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
- “FOX 13 Investigates: The rapist who beat death row.” FOX 13, 11 Feb. 2020. https://www.fox13now.com/fox-13-investigates-the-rapist-who-beat-death-row. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
- Wells, David. “‘Clearfield Rapist’ Mark Burs sentenced to 242 years to life in prison.” FOX 13, 6 Apr. 2020. https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/clearfield-rapist-mark-burns-due-for-sentencing-monday. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
- Stauffer, McKenzie. “Serial rapist pleads guilty to 2001 murder of Wyoming woman.” KUTV, 22 Sept. 2020. https://kutv.com/news/local/serial-rapist-pleads-guilty-to-2001-murder-of-wyoming-woman. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
- McGuire, Sheila. “Man sentenced for 20-year-old Evanston murder.” Buffalo Bulletin, 9 Dec. 2020. https://www.buffalobulletin.com/news/state/article_f47c85de-3a35-11eb-87ed-c36d79f89264.html. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
- Patton, Wimberly. “Serial killer & rapist lived undercover as working truck driver for 30 years – now awaiting sentencing.” CDLLIFE, 4 Dec. 2020. https://cdllife.com/2020/serial-killer-rapist-lived-undercover-as-working-truck-driver-for-30-years-now-awaiting-sentencing/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
- “’Clearfield Rapist’ avoids death penalty in new murder case, receives life in prison. FOX 13, 4 Dec. 2020. https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/clearfield-rapist-avoids-death-penalty-in-new-murder-case-receives-life-in-prison. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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