Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The 25th of January 2005, started out just like any
other day for 10-year-old CatlinKatie Kullman.
She woke up, had breakfast withher family and then her father,
john Neese, drove her to school.
Katie was excited about thepajama party that was scheduled
for the following day atCrothersville Elementary School
in Indiana, where she was astudent.
Katie arrived home from schoolthat afternoon at around 3 pm.
(00:23):
By this point John was at workand Katie's mother, angie, was
busy preparing dinner.
Wanting to help her mother,katie volunteered to walk to the
nearby dollar store and pick upsome toilet paper rolls.
As the house was running low,Angie agreed and handed Katie
money.
The store was only around ablock and a half away from their
home and Katie had made thetrek numerous times.
(00:44):
When Katie didn't return home,initially Angie wasn't worried.
Katie was a popular girl withnumerous friends living along
the route she would have takento walk back home.
Angie started to call aroundthe locals to see if anybody
knew where Katie was.
When it became evident thatnobody had seen Katie, angie
became concerned.
She searched the street on footbefore calling police at around
(01:06):
7.30pm to report her daughtermissing.
Welcome to this episode of HumanWreckage.
Today we are going to bediscussing a case that, for many
, is a heartbreaking reminder ofthe vulnerability of children
and the profound impact of losson a community.
It's the tragic story of10-year-old Katlyn Katie Coleman
, a young girl whose life wastaken in a way that left a
(01:27):
family and an entire townshattered.
Katie, known for her brightsmile, boundless energy and a
heart full of dreams, lived in asmall community where everyone
knew each other.
Her family, her friends andeven those who had only met her
once saw her as a beacon ofinnocence.
She had a promising futureahead of her, filled with
possibilities, from her love ofreading to her passion for
(01:49):
making people laugh.
But on one fateful day ininsert year, everything changed.
The life of this sweet, vibrantlittle girl was violently and
inexplicably cut short.
The case has left manyunanswered questions and a deep
sense of grief that stilllingers to this day.
Who would harm such a youngchild?
What could have driven someoneto commit such an unthinkable
(02:10):
act, and why was Katie, who hadso much life ahead of her, taken
from those who loved her most?
In the following episode, wewill delve into the timeline of
the events leading up to Katie'stragic death, the investigation
that followed and the rippleeffect this crime had on the
community.
We will also reflect on theemotional toll it has taken on
those closest to her, her family, her friends and the entire
(02:32):
town that held her dear.
The murder of a child is one ofthe most difficult things for
any parent or community toendure, but it's important to
remember that behind everyheadline is a real person, a
real life and real people whocontinue to grieve.
As we move through this casetoday, we ask for respect and
sensitivity when discussing thedetails.
This is not just a story.
(02:53):
This is a tragedy that hastouched countless lives.
So stay with us as we walkthrough this case, remembering
Katlyn Katie Coleman and thelegacy of love she leaves behind
.
Let's get into it, thank you.
(03:40):
By the time police arrived onthe scene, there were already
around 125 locals assisting inthe search.
They searched throughout thenight and on to the next day.
They searched throughout thenight and on to the next day.
A helicopter hovered overheadwhile sniffer dogs picked up
Katie's scent and followed it toa nearby set of railroad tracks
before losing it.
A neighbor told Katie's familythat on the day she disappeared
(04:00):
she had come to their house toinform them that their dog had
been killed near the railroadtracks.
Since there was no evidence ofan abduction, an Amber Alert was
not initially issued.
Missing person postersdescribed Katie as four feet six
inches tall, with chin-lengthbrown hair and brown eyes.
She was last spotted wearing ared shirt, black sweatpants with
a stripe down the leg, blacktennis shoes and a medium-light
(04:23):
blue winter coat.
They also described Katie ashaving a lazy eye.
Several days later, an AmberAlert was finally issued.
On the 29th of January, acomposite sketch of a man
believed to have abducted Katiewas released to the public.
The man was described as beingvery thin and white, around 5
feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, 18to 20 years old, with dark hair
(04:45):
and pale skin.
The composite sketch wascreated after a witness told
police they were certain thatthey had seen Katie in his truck
just a short time after shedisappeared.
The witness said that the truckwas a white Ford F-150 pickup
truck around 15 years old thatappeared to be clean and well
manicured.
Angie and John issued a writtenstatement appealing for their
(05:06):
daughter's safe return.
Please do not harm her.
We ask that you just drop heroff anywhere so that she may
return to a family and communitythat loves her very much and
misses her dearly, the statementsaid.
On the fifth day of the search,katie's parents received the
crushing news that her body hadbeen found in a creek by an
Indiana State Police trooper.
The creek was in the CypressLake area, around 19 miles away
(05:29):
from her home.
Her hands were bound behind herback and she had been raped and
then drowned.
Shortly after the discovery,charles Hickman was arrested and
charged with Katie's murder.
Hickman lived just yards fromthe dollar store and other
locals always considered him abit of an oddball.
Neighbors recollected that heoften just stood out in his yard
gazing at nothing and wouldthrow parties nightly.
(05:51):
Hickman claimed that Katie hadwitnessed some methamphetamine
activity at the Penn Villaapartments and that he dragged
her into his trailer.
He claimed he had wanted toscare her into silence and took
her to the creek in the middleof the night.
He said that she accidentallydrowned and he fled from the
scene.
It appeared to be an open andclosed case.
However, police soon noticedthat Hickman's story as to what
(06:14):
happened to Katie kept changing.
His inconsistencies led tofurther investigation, during
which police retrieved DNAevidence from the crime scene.
The DNA was found on Katie'sbody and a discarded cigarette
nearby.
When the DNA sample was runthrough the database, there was
a match, but not to Hickman.
The DNA belonged to a man namedAnthony Ray Stockleman, a local
(06:36):
father of three.
Following his arrest, stocklemanpleaded guilty in exchange for
the death penalty being takenoff the table.
Prosecutor Steven Pearsonannounced that he would instead
be pushing for life withoutparole and the sentencing was
scheduled for the 17th of April2005.
As Stockleman was being led outof court, his wife Tabitha
shouted Why'd you do it?
(06:57):
Tony Stockleman was sentencedto life imprisonment.
He was sentenced to anadditional 30 years for
molesting Katie.
There were mixed emotions inCrothersville.
While many were pleased thatthe grisly details surrounding
Katie's death wouldn't be playedover in court during a trial,
many felt as though Stocklemanshould have been sentenced to
death.
I'd rather see him get thedeath penalty for what he did to
(07:19):
the little girl, but at leasthe's going to be punished, said
local Marsha Fink.
Stockleman was sent to WabashValley Correctional Facility.
Unbeknownst to him, katie'scousin, jared Harris, was also
incarcerated there.
On the 22nd of September 26,harris slipped into Stockleman's
cell and lay in wait.
When Stockleman entered thecell, harris slammed the locked
(07:41):
door behind him, trappingStockleman.
He then held Stockleman downand tattooed Katie's Revenge on
his forehead as a daily reminderof his crime.
As we come to the end of today'sepisode, the tragedy of Catlin
Katie Coleman's murder remains astark reminder of the fragility
of life, particularly the livesof children who should be safe
in the world.
While justice has been pursued,the void left by Katie's death
(08:05):
is something no legal outcomecan ever truly fill.
Her family, her friends and thecommunity she left behind
continue to carry the weight ofthis loss each day, trying to
heal in their own way, butalways with a piece of their
hearts missing.
Katie's story, as devastatingas it is, serves as a call to
action, one to cherish the lovedones around us, to stay
(08:25):
vigilant and protect thevulnerable, and to never forget
the impact one life, no matterhow young, can have on the world
.
It's a reminder to speak outwhen we see injustice, to
support those affected byviolence and to always
prioritize the safety of ourchildren In the wake of such
tragedy.
We can also honor her by keepingher memory alive in positive
ways, whether that's throughcharity, community outreach or
(08:48):
simply remembering the joy andlaughter she brought to those
who knew her.
Though the case may have beenresolved, the emotional
aftermath continues for thosewho loved her, and while justice
may never bring Katie back, wecan hope that the lessons from
her short, bright life willinspire others to protect and
uplift those who are mostvulnerable.
Thank you for joining us.
As we remember Katie, ourthoughts continue to be with her
(09:10):
family and with everyone whoselife she touched.
Stay safe, take care of oneanother and never forget the
power of love in the face oftragedy.
The Thank you you.
The 25th of January 2005, started out just like any
other day for 10-year-old CatlinKatie Kullman.
She woke up, had breakfast withher family and then her father,
john Neese, drove her to school.
Katie was excited about thepajama party that was scheduled
for the following day atCrothersville Elementary School
in Indiana, where she was astudent.
Katie arrived home from schoolthat afternoon at around 3 pm.
(00:23):
By this point John was at workand Katie's mother, angie, was
busy preparing dinner.
Wanting to help her mother,katie volunteered to walk to the
nearby dollar store and pick upsome toilet paper rolls.
As the house was running low,Angie agreed and handed Katie
money.
The store was only around ablock and a half away from their
home and Katie had made thetrek numerous times.
(00:44):
When Katie didn't return home,initially Angie wasn't worried.
Katie was a popular girl withnumerous friends living along
the route she would have takento walk back home.
Angie started to call aroundthe locals to see if anybody
knew where Katie was.
When it became evident thatnobody had seen Katie, angie
became concerned.
She searched the street on footbefore calling police at around
(01:06):
7.30pm to report her daughtermissing.
Welcome to this episode of HumanWreckage.
Today we are going to bediscussing a case that, for many
, is a heartbreaking reminder ofthe vulnerability of children
and the profound impact of losson a community.
It's the tragic story of10-year-old Katlyn Katie Coleman
, a young girl whose life wastaken in a way that left a
(01:27):
family and an entire townshattered.
Katie, known for her brightsmile, boundless energy and a
heart full of dreams, lived in asmall community where everyone
knew each other.
Her family, her friends andeven those who had only met her
once saw her as a beacon ofinnocence.
She had a promising futureahead of her, filled with
possibilities, from her love ofreading to her passion for
(01:49):
making people laugh.
But on one fateful day ininsert year, everything changed.
The life of this sweet, vibrantlittle girl was violently and
inexplicably cut short.
The case has left manyunanswered questions and a deep
sense of grief that stilllingers to this day.
Who would harm such a youngchild?
What could have driven someoneto commit such an unthinkable
(02:10):
act, and why was Katie, who hadso much life ahead of her, taken
from those who loved her most?
In the following episode, wewill delve into the timeline of
the events leading up to Katie'stragic death, the investigation
that followed and the rippleeffect this crime had on the
community.
We will also reflect on theemotional toll it has taken on
those closest to her, her family, her friends and the entire
(02:32):
town that held her dear.
The murder of a child is one ofthe most difficult things for
any parent or community toendure, but it's important to
remember that behind everyheadline is a real person, a
real life and real people whocontinue to grieve.
As we move through this casetoday, we ask for respect and
sensitivity when discussing thedetails.
This is not just a story.
(02:53):
This is a tragedy that hastouched countless lives.
So stay with us as we walkthrough this case, remembering
Katlyn Katie Coleman and thelegacy of love she leaves behind
.
Let's get into it, thank you.
(03:40):
By the time police arrived onthe scene, there were already
around 125 locals assisting inthe search.
They searched throughout thenight and on to the next day.
They searched throughout thenight and on to the next day.
A helicopter hovered overheadwhile sniffer dogs picked up
Katie's scent and followed it toa nearby set of railroad tracks
before losing it.
A neighbor told Katie's familythat on the day she disappeared
(04:00):
she had come to their house toinform them that their dog had
been killed near the railroadtracks.
Since there was no evidence ofan abduction, an Amber Alert was
not initially issued.
Missing person postersdescribed Katie as four feet six
inches tall, with chin-lengthbrown hair and brown eyes.
She was last spotted wearing ared shirt, black sweatpants with
a stripe down the leg, blacktennis shoes and a medium-light
(04:23):
blue winter coat.
They also described Katie ashaving a lazy eye.
Several days later, an AmberAlert was finally issued.
On the 29th of January, acomposite sketch of a man
believed to have abducted Katiewas released to the public.
The man was described as beingvery thin and white, around 5
feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, 18to 20 years old, with dark hair
(04:45):
and pale skin.
The composite sketch wascreated after a witness told
police they were certain thatthey had seen Katie in his truck
just a short time after shedisappeared.
The witness said that the truckwas a white Ford F-150 pickup
truck around 15 years old thatappeared to be clean and well
manicured.
Angie and John issued a writtenstatement appealing for their
(05:06):
daughter's safe return.
Please do not harm her.
We ask that you just drop heroff anywhere so that she may
return to a family and communitythat loves her very much and
misses her dearly, the statementsaid.
On the fifth day of the search,katie's parents received the
crushing news that her body hadbeen found in a creek by an
Indiana State Police trooper.
The creek was in the CypressLake area, around 19 miles away
(05:29):
from her home.
Her hands were bound behind herback and she had been raped and
then drowned.
Shortly after the discovery,charles Hickman was arrested and
charged with Katie's murder.
Hickman lived just yards fromthe dollar store and other
locals always considered him abit of an oddball.
Neighbors recollected that heoften just stood out in his yard
gazing at nothing and wouldthrow parties nightly.
(05:51):
Hickman claimed that Katie hadwitnessed some methamphetamine
activity at the Penn Villaapartments and that he dragged
her into his trailer.
He claimed he had wanted toscare her into silence and took
her to the creek in the middleof the night.
He said that she accidentallydrowned and he fled from the
scene.
It appeared to be an open andclosed case.
However, police soon noticedthat Hickman's story as to what
(06:14):
happened to Katie kept changing.
His inconsistencies led tofurther investigation, during
which police retrieved DNAevidence from the crime scene.
The DNA was found on Katie'sbody and a discarded cigarette
nearby.
When the DNA sample was runthrough the database, there was
a match, but not to Hickman.
The DNA belonged to a man namedAnthony Ray Stockleman, a local
(06:36):
father of three.
Following his arrest, stocklemanpleaded guilty in exchange for
the death penalty being takenoff the table.
Prosecutor Steven Pearsonannounced that he would instead
be pushing for life withoutparole and the sentencing was
scheduled for the 17th of April2005.
As Stockleman was being led outof court, his wife Tabitha
shouted Why'd you do it?
(06:57):
Tony Stockleman was sentencedto life imprisonment.
He was sentenced to anadditional 30 years for
molesting Katie.
There were mixed emotions inCrothersville.
While many were pleased thatthe grisly details surrounding
Katie's death wouldn't be playedover in court during a trial,
many felt as though Stocklemanshould have been sentenced to
death.
I'd rather see him get thedeath penalty for what he did to
(07:19):
the little girl, but at leasthe's going to be punished, said
local Marsha Fink.
Stockleman was sent to WabashValley Correctional Facility.
Unbeknownst to him, katie'scousin, jared Harris, was also
incarcerated there.
On the 22nd of September 26,harris slipped into Stockleman's
cell and lay in wait.
When Stockleman entered thecell, harris slammed the locked
(07:41):
door behind him, trappingStockleman.
He then held Stockleman downand tattooed Katie's Revenge on
his forehead as a daily reminderof his crime.
As we come to the end of today'sepisode, the tragedy of Catlin
Katie Coleman's murder remains astark reminder of the fragility
of life, particularly the livesof children who should be safe
in the world.
While justice has been pursued,the void left by Katie's death
(08:05):
is something no legal outcomecan ever truly fill.
Her family, her friends and thecommunity she left behind
continue to carry the weight ofthis loss each day, trying to
heal in their own way, butalways with a piece of their
hearts missing.
Katie's story, as devastatingas it is, serves as a call to
action, one to cherish the lovedones around us, to stay
(08:25):
vigilant and protect thevulnerable, and to never forget
the impact one life, no matterhow young, can have on the world
.
It's a reminder to speak outwhen we see injustice, to
support those affected byviolence and to always
prioritize the safety of ourchildren In the wake of such
tragedy.
We can also honor her by keepingher memory alive in positive
ways, whether that's throughcharity, community outreach or
(08:48):
simply remembering the joy andlaughter she brought to those
who knew her.
Though the case may have beenresolved, the emotional
aftermath continues for thosewho loved her, and while justice
may never bring Katie back, wecan hope that the lessons from
her short, bright life willinspire others to protect and
uplift those who are mostvulnerable.
Thank you for joining us.
As we remember Katie, ourthoughts continue to be with her
(09:10):
family and with everyone whoselife she touched.
Stay safe, take care of oneanother and never forget the
power of love in the face oftragedy.
The Thank you you.
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