Elizabeth Reiser homicide took place in May 2000 in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Following this, her acquaintance, Brandi Hicks, approached the authorities and recounted a gruesome tale.
Informing the authorities that a man with a firearm abducted her and Elizabeth Reiser, Brandi managed to escape from the abductor. Tragically, the man took Elizabeth to a secluded field, where he ended her life by slashing her throat.
The TV show ‘Dead Silent: Strange Passenger’ on Investigation Discovery delves into this tragic homicide and the diligent efforts of law enforcement to apprehend the perpetrator.
What transpired with her?
Elizabeth Reiser passed away in a tragic and devastating incident. She was noted as an affectionate and compassionate individual.
Furthermore, at the time of her assassination, she was a mere 17 years old.
According to sources, she had grand aspirations for her future and was deeply cherished by her family and friends.
She was gregarious, and her relatives portrayed her as someone who was always prepared to assist others.
Unfortunately, her benevolence led to her premature demise.
On May 24, 2000, Elizabeth and her friend Brandi Hicks were looking forward to the imminent summer break.
They visited a video store in New Philadelphia to rent some movies.
While there, a mysterious man approached them and claimed he was unable to return home.
Upon witnessing two young girls unaccompanied with a vehicle in their possession, the man requested a ride in exchange for money.
Elizabeth and her friend hesitated to get into a car with a stranger at that moment.
Nonetheless, Elizabeth, believing in aiding those in need, convinced Brandi to give him a ride.
The man appeared ordinary initially, but later started giving them perplexing directions, arousing suspicion.
Upon realizing something was amiss, the girls asked the stranger to exit the car. Unfortunately, at that moment, things took a sinister turn.
Swiftly, the assailant brandished a firearm and coerced Elizabeth’s friend, Brandi, to continue driving.
They ended up in a remote field outside the town.
The man bound Brandi’s hands to the steering wheel with shoelaces and dragged Elizabeth out of the car.
Powerless, Brandi could only watch in horror as the man repeatedly stabbed and slashed Elizabeth’s throat, resulting in her immediate demise.
Upon the arrival of the authorities on the scene, they discovered that the myriad cuts on Elizabeth’s throat were so deep that her decapitation seemed highly likely.
Reports also disclosed that she had been stabbed multiple times in her back and scalp.
Who was the culprit in Elizabeth Reiser’s murder?
Following Elizabeth’s brutal slaying, the man returned to the car and compelled Brandi Hicks to proceed to a railroad track near the Tuscarawas River.
He took her into an antiquated train car and attempted to harm her.
The murderer’s knife shattered during Elizabeth’s killing, so he attempted to strangle Brandi using a shoelace.
However, Brandi cleverly feigned death, and, remarkably, it worked.
The assailant believed he had successfully dispatched Brandi.
Subsequently, he disposed of Brandi’s body into the river, but she managed to escape and seek assistance at a hospital.
She promptly contacted the police and provided a detailed account of the entire ordeal, including the attack on them and the murder of her friend Elizabeth.
Astoundingly, another woman named Sheila Davis notified the police nearly simultaneously, asserting that her son was involved in a homicide.
She directed them to a man named Jeff Mulinix, who stated that Matthew Vaca had discussed killing a young girl.
Subsequently, Matthew escorted Jeff to the location where he killed Elizabeth and showed him her lifeless body.
As the authorities delved deeper into the investigation, they discerned that Brandi’s description perfectly matched that of Matthew Vaca.
Where is Matthew Vaca presently?
Upon Matthew’s apprehension by the authorities in connection with the Elizabeth Reiser homicide, he opted for a course of action to circumvent the death penalty.
The assailant admitted to his culpability for various offenses, including forgery, aggravated homicide, attempted aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and sexual assault.
For the homicide charge, he was handed a life sentence in 2000, and additional prison terms were imposed for the other crimes.
The show also revealed that Matthew had previously been on parole for a separate conviction in 1996.
However, his parole was revoked by the authorities owing to his myriad offenses.
The judge elected to extend his sentence by an additional 22 and a half years.
At present, the culprit, Matthew Vaca, is serving his sentence at the Mansfield Correctional Institution in Mansfield, Ohio.
The Elizabeth Reiser murder case serves as a solemn reminder of the perils of placing trust in a complete stranger.
