Lori Ann Slesinski was a 24-year-old recent graduate of Auburn University, holding degrees in psychology and criminology, and was employed at the East Alabama Mental Health Center. She was in close contact with her family and friends, and by all accounts, was a responsible and caring individual who would never abandon her beloved dog. The last time she was confirmed to be seen was on June 10, 2006, in Auburn, Alabama. On that day, she had plans to watch a movie with her best friend.
She spoke to her friend around 6:30 p.m., telling her she was on her way over after a quick stop at Walmart, an errand confirmed by security footage. However, Lori never arrived at her friend's house. Her friend's subsequent calls and messages over the next day went unanswered. Concern grew when Lori, who was known for her reliability, failed to show up for work.
The situation took a more alarming turn when Lori's mother, Arlene Slesinski, unable to reach her, went to her daughter's mobile home a few days after she was last heard from. She discovered a disturbing scene that immediately suggested something was wrong. Inside the home, the thermostat was set to an unusually low temperature. There were signs of a struggle, including a splintered front door and scuff marks on the walls. Several items were conspicuously missing: rugs from the kitchen floor, an outdoor trash can, and the cord from the landline phone in the bedroom. The absence of these items, along with the fact that Lori's dog had been left unattended, prompted her mother to report her missing on June 13, 2006. The following morning, in the early hours of June 14, Lori's recently purchased Mazda Tribute was discovered engulfed in flames on a dead-end street, not far from her home. The fire was so intense it destroyed much of the potential evidence within the vehicle, though investigators were later able to find a small amount of Lori's blood on the door.
The investigation quickly focused on a friend of Lori's, Derrill Richard 'Rick' Ennis. Ennis admitted to being with Lori on the day she vanished but claimed she left to meet a drug dealer, a story police found no evidence to support. Investigators noted that Ennis had fresh scratches on his hands and arms, which he attributed to his dog. A search of his vehicle revealed cleaning supplies, handcuffs, and a knife. Friends told police that Ennis had developed romantic feelings for Lori, which she did not reciprocate, and that she had planned to talk to him about wanting to remain just friends. As the years passed with no sign of Lori, the case went cold. However, in 2016, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation's cold case unit reopened Lori's case, making it their top priority. Advances in forensic science allowed for re-testing of evidence. DNA from semen found on bedding in Lori's home and DNA from a hand-rolled cigarette found near her burned-out car were matched to Rick Ennis. In August 2018, twelve years after Lori's disappearance, Ennis was arrested in Virginia and charged with her murder.
In April 2022, Rick Ennis stood trial for the capital murder of Lori Slesinski. The prosecution presented a case built on the mounting circumstantial and forensic evidence, arguing that Ennis had killed Lori after she rejected his romantic advances. A former coworker of Ennis testified that Ennis had told him he had to leave Auburn because he had gotten into trouble and had strangled a woman who only wanted to be friends. Ennis maintained his innocence throughout the trial, testifying that his sexual encounter with Lori was consensual and repeating his claim that she had left to meet a drug dealer. After ten days of testimony and a full day of deliberations, the jury found Derrill Richard Ennis guilty of capital murder during the commission of a burglary and kidnapping. He was sentenced to life in prison. Lori Ann Slesinski's body has never been recovered, and the case, while legally closed with a conviction, remains a source of deep sorrow for her loved ones, who continue to hope for the day she can be brought home for a final rest.Last Seen: Jun 10, 2006
