Kelly Dee Wilson (10 of Spades, Ohio)

Summary of Kelly Dee Wilson (10 of Spades, Ohio)

by Audiochuck

34m•January 27, 2026
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Overview of Kelly Dee Wilson (10 of Spades, Ohio)

This episode (a Deck segment re-shared on Crime Junkie) recounts the unsolved 2000 murder of Kelly D. Wilson — a popular Dayton, Ohio radio personality who used the on-air name Nikki Brooks. The episode summarizes the timeline, crime-scene findings, investigative steps taken over two decades, key leads (and lack thereof), and what investigators still need to solve the case.

Key facts and short timeline

  • Victim: Kelly D. Wilson (on-air name Nikki Brooks), late 20s, popular DJ at U92/WROU in Dayton, Ohio.
  • Timeframe: late March 2000 (she worked March 24; the incident was discovered the following days).
  • Last confirmed alive: shortly after midnight Saturday → Sunday (friends/co‑workers and a co-worker named Tammy spoke with her at/after midnight at nearby clubs). Two men had dropped Kelly at her apartment around 11:00 p.m. that night.
  • Body discovered: when a station VP, Stan Boston, who lived in the same apartment complex, went to check on her after she missed a shift; police performed a welfare check and found her deceased in her apartment bathroom.
  • Official cause/manner of death: homicide; cause listed as asphyxiation (investigators believe strangulation with hands).
  • Case status: unsolved; investigators continue to re-test DNA evidence and pursue tips.

Victim background

  • Kelly was a rising on-air radio personality hosting an evening show (“Jammin’ 8 at 8”) and well-liked in the Dayton community.
  • Close to her family (mother Charlene and brother Craig) and colleagues; memorial services and public mourning followed her death.

Crime scene & physical evidence

  • Location: one-bedroom apartment in The Meadows, Harrison Township (Dayton area). Bathroom accessible through bedroom.
  • Position: Kelly was found partly in the bathroom, face-down about half off the bathtub, wearing a robe, bra, and t-shirt — nothing below the waist.
  • Visible injuries: blunt-force trauma injuries documented (bruises on face/temple, bruising/red marks on the back of the neck, bitten cheek). Coroner and investigators believed strangulation by hands.
  • Forensic clues: fecal matter present on the body, in the bathroom, and on the bed; residues of cleaning supplies suggesting attempted cleanup; fingerprints lifted from areas in the apartment.
  • No signs of forced entry, no ransacking, valuables intact, one cabinet open, purse shaken with coins scattered. Door was locked from the outside — investigators concluded either Kelly let someone in or the killer had a key. Kelly’s keys were not found in the apartment.
  • Clothing preserved for testing: robe, t-shirt, bra.

Investigation & forensic testing

  • Early steps: interviews with family, friends, coworkers; canvass of partygoers and club patrons; collection of fingerprints and DNA evidence.
  • Two men who dropped Kelly at her apartment (one a casual boyfriend, referred to in records as “Joe”) cooperated, provided alibis backed by witnesses, and were not ultimately charged. Tammy (co-worker) had last spoken to Kelly by phone after midnight. There is a gap in the timeline after about 12:30 a.m. that has not been resolved.
  • DNA results: initial DNA comparisons did not produce unknown/extra profiles that pointed to an unknown perpetrator. No clear DNA match to a suspect from the samples reported publicly. Investigators later pursued a 2004 warrant for a man in Georgia — no match.
  • Cold-case work: since 2012 Detective Melanie Phelps has prioritized the case and has re-submitted old evidence for modern DNA testing as technology advances. She believes new testing or a community tip is the most likely path to a breakthrough.

Suspects and prevailing theories

  • Investigators lean toward the perpetrator being male and someone familiar to Kelly (or at least someone she trusted enough to let inside late at night while wearing a robe).
  • Stalker theory has been considered by the public, but police favored the idea the killer was someone she knew, since there was no forced entry and the door was locked from the outside. Maintenance staff were cleared early on.
  • No definitive motive established — the sexual nature and circumstances point investigators toward a personal/sexual motive, but conclusive evidence about sexual assault was not determined by the coroner.

Impact, obstacles, and continuing work

  • The case devastated Kelly’s family and the Dayton community; memorial services and local media attention followed the murder.
  • Major obstacles: limited or inconclusive forensic hits in early testing, archive gaps (many of Kelly’s radio recordings were reportedly wiped when the station changed ownership), and fading memories/witness availability over time.
  • Detective Phelps continues to review photos and evidence, resubmitting items to labs with newer testing methods and hoping a tip or technological advance will produce a match.

Unanswered questions (high value for investigators)

  • Who visited Kelly’s apartment after she was dropped off around 11:00 p.m., and what happened between ~12:30 a.m. and when she was killed?
  • Who has (or had) Kelly’s missing keys? Did the killer take and keep them?
  • Does fecal matter or other biological evidence link to anyone other than Kelly with modern testing?
  • Are there neighbors, patrons, or employees from the apartment complex or local bars who saw suspicious activity or a vehicle that night?

How to help / contact information

If you have information about Kelly D. Wilson’s death, contact:

Notable quotes / investigator mindset

  • Detective Melanie Phelps: “You just got to keep trying. Somebody’s crying, somebody’s upset, somebody lost a loved one.” — reflects ongoing cold-case persistence.
  • The episode emphasizes that new DNA technology and a single overlooked tip (someone seeing a car or person in the parking lot) could still solve the case.

Recommended related listening (from episode)

  • The Deck — original, full-length coverage of Kelly’s case.
  • Crime Junkie episode on Nikki McCown (mentioned because the same apartment complex appears in that later case).
  • Other Audiochuck shows noted in the episode: Park Predators and 13th Juror.

Main takeaway: Kelly D. Wilson’s murder remains unsolved after two decades. Investigators continue to re-test preserved evidence and seek community tips — even small, specific memories related to the apartment complex or late-night activity could be critical.