Overview of The Unspeakable (Park Predators — Audiochuck)
This episode recounts the 2014 disappearance and murder of 19‑year‑old Erin Corwin in and around Joshua Tree National Park, California. Host Delia D’Ambra draws on reporting (notably Shanna Hogan’s book Secrets of a Marine’s Wife), interviews with Erin’s mother Laura (Lore) Heavlin, police records, and trial testimony to outline the timeline, investigation, physical evidence, motive, trial, and the aftermath that left multiple families devastated.
Key timeline (concise)
- June 28, 2014 (Saturday): Erin leaves the Corwin apartment at the Marine base in 29 Palms to visit Joshua Tree; last spoke to a friend just after 7:00 a.m. Planned return by 4:00 p.m., never came back. Husband John Corwin repeatedly tries to contact her that afternoon/night.
- June 29, 2014 (Sunday): John reports Erin missing to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office; searches launched.
- June 30, 2014 (Monday): Erin’s blue 2013 Toyota Corolla found parked ~5 miles outside the park boundary; single set of shoe prints leading away and tire tracks from another vehicle observed.
- July 1, 2014 onward: Investigators search apartments, seize items, interview neighbors; focus narrows on neighbor Chris Lee (admitted affair with Erin).
- August 16, 2014: Erin’s body discovered in a 140‑foot abandoned mineshaft near Joshua Tree by cave/technical rescue teams. Cause of death listed as homicide — strangulation and possible blunt force trauma.
- July 4, 2014: Chris Lee arrested on unrelated weapons/destructive-device charge (potato launcher); later leaves for Alaska after discharge from Marines.
- April 2015: Chris extradited to California; preliminary hearing finds probable cause.
- October 2016: Trial — Chris Lee convicted of first‑degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.
People involved (profiles)
- Erin Corwin — 19, second youngest of seven, adopted from early infancy, loved animals and horses; married to John. Had experienced a miscarriage earlier in 2014 and was reportedly pregnant again (Erin privately suspected the baby might be Chris’s).
- John Corwin — 21, Erin’s husband, Marine stationed at 29 Palms. Reported Erin missing and participated in searches; cleared as a suspect by investigators.
- Chris Lee — neighbor and fellow Marine who had an extramarital affair with Erin. Described as having an obsession with weapons and death by some acquaintances; had a history of risky behavior. Ultimately charged, tried, and convicted for Erin’s murder.
- Nicole Lee — Chris’s wife; discovered the affair and confronted Erin. Was present in the case but did not testify at trial.
- Laura (Lore) Heavlin — Erin’s mother, actively involved in preserving her daughter’s legacy and supportive of the family’s stance against seeking the death penalty.
Evidence & investigative highlights
- Vehicle: Erin’s Corolla located near the park with single shoe prints and separate tire tracks nearby, suggesting she entered another vehicle.
- Items recovered from the mineshaft (crime scene): Sprite bottle (Erin’s favorite soda), two water jugs, a propane tank (with blood), zip ties, black electrical tape, climbing rope tethered to the propane tank, makeshift torch made from a t‑shirt, black plastic—many items smelled of accelerant.
- Forensic links:
- Erin’s and Chris’s DNA found on the Sprite bottle.
- Chris’s DNA on the t‑shirt used as the torch.
- Rope and twine in the shaft matched rope/twine seized from Chris’s vehicle.
- Love note in Erin’s jewelry box traced to Chris.
- Cell‑phone data: Erin’s phone went offline at 8:04 a.m.; Chris’s phone at 8:22 a.m.; later location data placed their devices moving together on the morning of June 28.
- Autopsy: Homicide by strangulation; braided nylon garrote found around Erin’s neck; possible blunt‑force trauma to the head. Decomposition prevented uterine DNA testing, so fetal paternity remained unproven.
Motive and prosecution theory
- Prosecution: Chris lured Erin to the desert under the guise of a special trip, killed her to conceal the affair and her pregnancy, then disposed of her body in the mine shaft and attempted to burn evidence.
- Defense/testimony: Chris admitted the affair and later testified that an argument led him to strangling Erin in a rage after accusing her of molesting his daughter (an allegation never reported to police or substantiated). He attempted to frame the killing as a crime of passion to reduce culpability.
- Jury result: Found guilty of first‑degree murder; sentenced to life without parole.
Notable quotes / insights
- From Chris’s testimony: “Every ounce of love I had for her turned into hate. I felt justified in a way because of how angry I was.”
- From Erin’s mother Lore: “Having an affair was not right. But it didn't deserve death… just because someone's made a wrong choice doesn't mean that they're an evil, horrible person.”
- Host recommendation: Shanna Hogan’s Secrets of a Marine’s Wife as a detailed resource on the case.
Aftermath and legacy
- Memorial: A small garden near Joshua Tree stands as a remembrance; mementos and purple cacti have been left there (some were later eaten by native jackrabbits).
- Family advocacy: Erin’s mother became a grief‑share facilitator and works to ensure Erin’s legacy isn’t forgotten.
- Community: Facebook groups/pages—Remembering Erin Corwin and Justice for Erin—were created to share memories and updates (links provided in the episode notes).
Recommended resources
- Shanna Hogan, Secrets of a Marine’s Wife (book) — in‑depth reporting and sources used for the episode.
- Park Predators episode page and show notes — source list and links to the Remembering Erin Corwin and Justice for Erin Facebook pages.
Main takeaways
- The case combined circumstantial investigation with strong forensic links (DNA on scene items, matching rope/twine, phone data) that established Chris Lee’s involvement and led to a conviction.
- Motive centered on concealing an affair and a pregnancy that threatened Chris’s family life; attempts to deflect blame with unproven accusations against the victim were not substantiated.
- The tragedy left no solid “winners”: Erin lost her life, John lost his wife, Chris’s family lost him to prison, and Erin’s family continues to grieve while working to preserve her memory.
If you want to dive deeper: read Shanna Hogan’s book and consult the episode’s show notes at parkpredators.com for source documents and links to memorial pages.