Can a ghost solve its own murder? - Murder Case retrospective by Josh
Hey everyone—Josh from the Bros here. I want to share a case that is both strange and fascinating. The idea may sound unbelievable, but this story is often cited as an example of a murder investigation that took a bizarre turn when a supposed message from beyond the grave pointed police toward a suspect.
Background of the Case
In the 1970s, Teresita, a doctor, was murdered in her Chicago apartment, and very little evidence was left behind. One of the only clues was a note she had written to herself that appeared to reference the initials “A.S.” Firefighters were called to the building after smoke and flames began spreading through her unit. When they forced the door open, they found her body with a stab wound to the chest. Investigators believed the fire had been set to destroy evidence. Although the scene initially suggested a sexual assault, the autopsy found no signs of one. With few leads and almost no physical evidence, the case seemed likely to go cold. Friends and coworkers described Teresita as well liked, hardworking, and unlikely to have enemies, which only deepened the mystery surrounding her death.
The Alleged Break in the Case
About six months later, the case took an unusual turn. According to the story, Remy Chua—the wife of Dr. Jose Chua, another hospital employee—began speaking as if she were possessed by Teresita’s spirit. Through Remy, Teresita allegedly identified her killer as Alan Showery and said he had come to her apartment under the pretense of fixing her television.
Dr. Jose Chua was skeptical at first and did not immediately go to police. He reportedly wanted stronger proof before taking such an extraordinary claim seriously. According to the account, Remy later provided additional details, including information about stolen family jewelry and the names and phone numbers of four people who could identify it. Because neither Remy nor Jose knew those people personally, the information appeared difficult to explain.
How Investigators Followed the Lead
Despite how unusual the story sounded, investigators treated it as a possible lead. They questioned the suspect about his whereabouts on the night of the murder. He initially denied killing Teresita but admitted he had been at her apartment to look at the television. He claimed he left because he did not have the right tools and later said he was unable to return.
Police then checked his explanation and spoke with his wife, who contradicted parts of his story. During the investigation, detectives also found jewelry in her possession that matched the items described earlier. The four people connected to Teresita were contacted and helped identify the jewelry as hers.
Once confronted with the growing evidence, Alan admitted that he had killed Teresita during a robbery. According to his confession, he stabbed her, searched the apartment for money, and took the jewelry after finding very little cash. Investigators concluded that the fire had been set in an effort to cover up the crime.
Key Details That Keep the Case Memorable
The murder details were not publicly released, which made the suspect’s knowledge of certain facts especially significant.
Alan Showery worked in a different department and reportedly had only limited interaction with Teresita.
Remy Chua and Teresita had met only once before these events, even though they worked at the same hospital.
The trial later became known as the “voice from the grave” case.