Cop Runs Into Secret Killer Dumping Body Parts In River
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Patrick Shelton's disappearance was reported by his adoptive mother, Helen, who immediately implicated Alan Bruce due to ongoing disputes.
- ❖During an initial police interview, Alan Bruce was evasive and his body language suggested he was hiding something, focusing on barrels containing Patrick's remains.
- ❖Patrick's dog, Ryder, was found alive but dehydrated in Patrick's abandoned truck, which also contained bloodstains and Alan Bruce's mail.
- ❖Alan Bruce was intercepted by a deputy late at night near Patrick's truck, attempting to destroy evidence he hadn't managed to dispose of earlier.
- ❖A cadaver dog, K9 Spy, located human remains and bone fragments in barrels on Alan Bruce's property.
- ❖Alan Bruce confessed to shooting Patrick, dismembering him with a chainsaw, burning the body, and scattering the remains in the Salmon River.
- ❖Critical evidence included hostile text messages between Alan and Patrick, and a photo Alan took of Patrick's dead body in his truck, found on Alan's phone.
- ❖Alan Bruce received a 20-year prison sentence for second-degree murder and destruction of evidence after an Alford plea.
Insights
1Initial Encounter with the Killer
An Idaho state officer unknowingly encountered 70-year-old Alan Bruce in the middle of dumping human body parts into the Salmon River after murdering and dismembering Patrick Shelton. Bruce feigned innocence, claiming a 'thieving problem' and was allowed to leave, delaying the discovery of the crime.
The podcast opens with the officer's interaction with Alan Bruce near the river, unaware of the crime in progress. ()
2Suspect Identified Early Through Disputes
Patrick Shelton's adoptive mother, Helen, immediately pointed investigators to Alan Bruce, citing a recent conflict where Alan had moved Patrick's motor homes with a bulldozer, damaging them. This established a clear motive and connection for police.
Helen's statement to officers detailed Patrick's conflict with Alan Bruce over property. ()
3Ryder the Dog and Truck Evidence
Patrick's dog, Ryder, was found alive but severely dehydrated in Patrick's abandoned pickup truck. The truck's interior showed dark red staining, blood-soaked towels, and a discarded mail letter addressed to Alan Bruce, strongly indicating a violent event and connecting Bruce to the scene.
Deputies found Ryder in the truck and observed suspicious bloodstains and Alan Bruce's mail. (, )
4Alan Bruce's Failed Cover-up Attempts
Alan Bruce was caught by a deputy patrolling near Patrick's abandoned truck in the middle of the night, claiming he was protecting the property from theft. In reality, he was attempting to destroy evidence he hadn't had time to deal with earlier, a critical mistake that accelerated the investigation.
Deputy Mike's encounter with Alan Bruce near Patrick's truck at midnight revealed his suspicious behavior. ()
5Cadaver Dog Locates Remains on Property
Despite Alan's efforts to clean his property, deputies detected a smell of burnt meat. A police K9, Spy, was brought in and alerted to the presence of human remains inside barrels, leading to the discovery of bone fragments, Patrick's bloody baseball cap, and other incriminating items.
Deputies smelled burnt meat, and K9 Spy alerted to barrels containing bone fragments and Patrick's belongings. (, )
6Confession and Details of Dismemberment
Confronted with the evidence on his property, Alan Bruce confessed to shooting Patrick, dismembering him with a chainsaw, burning the body, and disposing of the remains in the river. He claimed self-defense but provided gruesome details of the concealment.
Alan's confession: 'Yeah, I did. I chopped him up. I took the chainsaw to him.' ()
7Digital Evidence Confirms Crime and Motive
A search of Alan's phone uncovered hostile text messages between him and Patrick, including Patrick's 'You will be seeing me soon. Make your peace.' and Alan's 'Never be at my place after dark or else.' Most critically, a photo of Patrick dead in his truck with his pistol next to him, taken by Alan, provided irrefutable proof.
Phone evidence revealed texts from May 7th and a photo taken by Alan on May 8th of Patrick's body. ()
Quotes
"You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your family."
"There's signs of Shelton, just not living signs of Shelton."
"Yeah, I did. And you didn't tell anybody. So, like, look at it from from from our point of view. You know, we got to do the right thing for for Patrick's family. You know what I mean? We got to try to find that body. You know, we got to do the right thing for his family."
"There is no body for him. He was reduced down to nothing."
"Yeah, I chopped him up. I took the chainsaw to him."
Q&A
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