In July 2014, the life of 25-year-old Charles 'Charlie' Oppenneer of Wyoming, Michigan, came to a tragic and horrifying end. He and his 18-year-old, eight-month-pregnant girlfriend, Brooke Slocum, vanished after arranging to meet a man through a Craigslist ad for a sexual encounter. The agreement, confirmed through emails, was for Slocum to engage in a sexual act with the man, Brady Oestrike, for money, with Oppenneer present. The meeting was set for the night of July 12, 2014, at a local park. This online arrangement would unfortunately lead to a series of devastating events that would end three lives and that of an unborn child.
Days after the planned meeting, on July 16, police discovered Charles Oppenneer's body in a wooded area in Gezon Park. The scene was disturbing, as Oppenneer had been decapitated, and his head was missing. This discovery immediately launched a search for the missing and pregnant Brooke Slocum.
The investigation quickly led them to 31-year-old Brady Oestrike. As police were preparing to execute a search warrant at his home, Oestrike fled in his car, leading to a police chase. The pursuit ended when Oestrike crashed his vehicle and took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Inside the trunk of his car, authorities made the grim discovery of Brooke Slocum's body; she had been held captive and was ultimately strangled to death.
The investigation into Oestrike's home revealed a horrifying collection of over 400 items, including numerous firearms, ammunition, knives, and restraints, suggesting Slocum had been held captive there for a period before her murder. For years, a crucial piece of the case remained missing. In March 2019, nearly five years after the murders, a human skull was discovered in Alpine Township, miles from where Oppenneer's body was found. Using dental records, the skull was positively identified as belonging to Charles Oppenneer. Forensic analysis of the skull indicated that he had likely died from a gunshot wound to the head before he was decapitated. The case, often referred to as the 'Craigslist Killer Case,' concluded with the deaths of Oppenneer, Slocum, her unborn baby, and the perpetrator, Oestrike, leaving a tragic mark on the community.Last Seen: Jul 12, 2014
