One of the fastest-solved murders (9 photos)

This story took place in 1987 from a leading 2WD-FM radio station in Hampton, Virginia. The girl's name was Debbie Daicos, she was 31 years old at that time and she hosted a nightly radio show where anyone could call, ask a question or pour out their soul. Debbie was very loved by her listeners for her ability to find an approach to everyone.





Daikos rented a small plot of land with a house because she loved gardening and always wanted to spend time there in her free time. After work, which was quite difficult for her psychologically, Debbie found peace there.

May, as you know, is the busiest time for any gardener, and Debbie came to her plot every day.



Debbie Daicos

On May 9, a worried hunter called Hampton police and said he had found the body of a woman. It was Debbie Daicos. The unfortunate woman was beaten, strangled, and despite the fact that some of her clothes were torn off, Debbie was not raped. However, John Spencer, the investigator, was sure that sex crime was the original motive for the crime. But since Debbie had many defensive wounds on her body, this indicated that she fought off her attacker to the very end, despite all the terrible blows inflicted on her. Apparently, the killer, at some point, realized that he could not cope with Debbie and began to strangle her. The woman tried to save herself until the very end, but, unfortunately, she could not.



A couple of tens of meters from the place where Daikos’ body was found was her car. She was covered in blood, and there was also blood and Debbie's things scattered around. A small piece of black plastic was found among them and the police could not immediately understand its origin.

While investigating the crime scene, a car drove up to him. In it was William Campbell, Debbie's boyfriend and part-time colleague. He was driving to his girlfriend and saw police cars blocking the road. When William came out to find out what was going on, the police immediately began asking him who he was. William said that Debbie was supposed to come to him a few hours ago, he became alarmed and went to her. The police began asking him questions, because the first circle of suspects is always partners and relatives.



During the conversation, it turned out that Daikos was always afraid that one of the regular fans of her program would be able to track her down. Stories about deranged fans are known, and if anyone considered Debbie’s words to be hypochondriac nonsense, now they did not seem so.

Several lacerations were found on Debbie's body - on the back of her neck, on the back of her head, on her forehead. There was an unusual bruise on the girl’s back, as if the imprint of something incomprehensible. Death occurred as a result of asphyxia and less than a couple of hours before the arrival of the police. Not far from where Debbie's body was found, a hoe with a wooden handle broken in half was found in a pool of blood. It was with this that the blows were struck on the head, and the woman’s hair was found on the blade.

In the meantime, William was checked, his alibi was confirmed and all suspicions were removed from him. They were also removed from a suspicious young man who had been hanging around nearby for several days.



Rody von Branick

The police were waiting for the arrival of the best and irreplaceable employee named Rody von Brannick. He was an experienced tracker who served as a K-9. Rody was a German shepherd and was considered the sharpest nose in the history of the city police and Nell Fullman, a dog handler and detective, led her “colleague” to the main evidence - the handle of a hoe.

Rody sniffed the object carefully for a few seconds, after which he slowly began to move towards the police officers standing in a crowd near Debbie's car. At that moment they were interviewing people and workers at a cemetery located nearby. Rody confidently walked past the car, past the things, and Nell told everyone to freeze and be silent for a moment so as not to distract the dog. The dog moved towards a man standing in the crowd, ran his nose over him and sat down. Rody did not plan to move further - he found the criminal. Yes, in a crowd of people, just a few meters from the crime scene.



His name was Ronald Blanchard. He was a hunter, it was he who found Debbie's body and called the police. Ronald looked at Rody and did not understand that his song was over. The hunter came asHe was not a witness and willingly talked to the police; no suspicion fell on him. It’s just that Rody’s reputation preceded him and they took hold of Ronald tightly.

Blanchard was only 21 years old, already married, and he had no idea who Debbie Daicos was, had not heard her programs on the radio, and was not a fan. A bloody T-shirt was found in Ronald's trailer and the guy tried to explain that it was because he was trying to check the deceased's pulse.

Blanchard's T-shirt and gun were sent for examination. The rifle had a bent barrel and a piece was broken off on the side of the bolt. Just the same piece of black plastic found by the police.



William, Debbie's boyfriend, later remembered that Daicos told him about a heated argument with a hunter who lived not far from her property. The girl didn’t like the fact that he was just shooting birds and doing it dangerously close to people. And when development threatened to crowd out the forest next to the trailer park, Blanchard simply set one of the houses on fire. For this he was given a suspended sentence.

The vengeful guy harbored a grudge against Debbie and began to watch over her. Having waited until she was left alone, he ran up to her and began to beat Debbie with such terrifying force that the rifle was even bent. As she collapsed to the ground, Blanchard began tearing her clothes off as Debbie continued to fight with all her might. She screamed so much that the rapist was simply afraid that she would attract attention and strangled Debbie.



Dog working in the K-9 unit

What remained unclear was why he, like the last idiot, called 911? Conscience tormented? No. It’s just that when Blanchard came home and his wife saw that he was covered in blood, she asked, where was the killed game? Confused, Ronald mumbled that he accidentally found the body and his wife said that if he didn’t call the police, she would. It didn’t even occur to him to at least hide the evidence.

The court sentenced him to two life sentences on April 8, 1988. Ronald did not even think of regretting or repenting of his crime, but continued to babble on that he was not guilty of anything. But the evidence and the dog Rody proved otherwise.



Rody von Branick died at the age of 9. He truly was the best in his craft and it is unlikely that anyone can surpass him. Unfortunately, at the end of 1986, a tumor was found in the dog and it was no longer possible to operate on it. He was sent to a well-deserved rest, but a miracle happened and Rody was able to defeat cancer on his own. It took him a lot of effort and the shepherd officially retired shortly after the brilliant discovery of Dobby Dyson's killer.

All day long, happy Rody ran near his house and swam in the river with his friend, a golden retriever.

The happiness was short-lived. Rodi was unable to survive the intestinal infection and died on May 25, 1988. Hampton Police's best nose.