Overview of Daphne Hope (8 of Spades, Colorado)
This episode of The Deck (Audiochuck, hosted by Ashley Flowers) revisits the disappearance of Daphne Hope, a 34-year-old woman who vanished from the Aurora/Denver, Colorado area in August 2001. Her case languished in a sparse two‑page file at Denver PD, was transferred to Aurora PD, investigated intermittently (notably in 2008), then largely went cold—until a 2025 re‑review prompted new follow‑up, search work and cadaver‑dog alerts. The episode summarizes the timeline, people of interest, gaps in the original investigation, family perspectives, and current leads police are pursuing.
Key timeline and facts
- August 2001: Daphne Hope is reported missing by cousin Maureen after failing to show up for an August 10 hair appointment. Maureen finds Brian at Daphne’s residence; Brian and then‑boyfriend Gary say they haven’t seen her. Gary claims a confrontation tied to a “drug deal gone bad.”
- Aug 16, 2001: Missing-person entry placed with Denver Police (after an Aurora welfare check). The original Denver file forwarded to Aurora was only a couple of pages.
- 2008: Aurora PD assigns Detective Stephen Connor to investigate. He interviews family and Gary Sterling, conducts a search of Gary’s house using ground‑penetrating radar (GPR); no remains found. A purse is recovered but not conclusively linked to Daphne.
- Dec 29, 2008: Convicted killer Richard Paul White, suggested as a possible suspect, replies in writing denying involvement.
- 2025: Detective Jason McDonald reopens work after The Deck highlights the case. He confirms no social security activity for Daphne since 2001, checks federal/state protective/case records (none found), adds DNA profiles (son and brother) to CODIS (no matches), and conducts cadaver-dog searches that hit two locations at Gary’s former property.
People of interest and key witnesses
- Daphne Hope: missing person, mother (son named “Awesome” living separately), licensed hairstylist who had history of drug use and occasional sex work per family accounts.
- Gary Sterling: live‑in boyfriend at time of disappearance; last person to report seeing Daphne (he says he drove a woman named Sadie home, returned, and Daphne was gone). Consented to search of his home in 2008; currently a person of interest (no arrest). Moved out of state by 2025.
- Brian Wilson: friend who was at the house when Maureen visited Aug 10, 2001. He died before investigators could interview him.
- Sadie: woman Gary says he drove home the night Daphne disappeared. Full name and whereabouts remain unknown — a critical potential witness.
- Pablo and Jackie: people named in Gary’s statement and family rumors (linked to sex‑work/drug world); no last names or solid leads to identify them.
- Preston (Daphne’s brother): provided DNA to investigators; denied claims that Daphne was placed in protective custody.
- Richard Paul White: convicted serial killer arrested in 2003; investigated as a potential suspect because of his MO and operating area, but he denied involvement in a December 2008 letter.
Evidence, investigative steps and gaps
- Records: Denver PD produced a minimal file; Aurora’s 2008 investigation relied heavily on limited documentation. Denver later reported no further records available.
- Phone/financial activity: Social security check showed no activity since disappearance; an outstanding warrant remained in the system (supporting no known contact with law enforcement).
- 2008 search: Ground‑penetrating radar used inside and outside Gary’s home; search complicated by hoarding conditions indoors and snow outside. No remains recovered; a purse was found but not definitively linked to Daphne.
- 2008 follow‑up: Detectives did not run cadaver dogs on the property then.
- 2025 follow‑up: Cadaver dogs alerted to two spots (backyard; inside near kitchen/stairs to basement). Detective McDonald plans further GPR on those hits.
- Forensics/genetics: DNA from Daphne’s son and brother entered into CODIS and state systems—no matches to unidentified remains.
Family perspective and context
- Family portraits Daphne as a devoted mother who loved her son and had professional skill as a hairstylist. They acknowledge drug use and sex work later in her life.
- Cousin Michelle emphasizes how exploitation and trafficking can be misrecognized, and voices frustration over perceived disparities in investigative urgency (quote paraphrase: “If she were a white woman, it would not have taken this long”).
- Daphne’s mother reported an unexplained telephone call years later where she briefly heard someone say “Mama” before the line went dead; the family did not report that call to police.
Current status and open questions
- Case status: Unsolved and open. No arrests. Gary Sterling is a person of interest but not charged.
- Recent developments: Cadaver dogs (2025) produced alerts at two locations at Gary’s former house; further GPR/investigative work planned.
- Outstanding investigative needs:
- Identify and locate “Sadie,” plus any contact information or witnesses who remember her.
- Identify “Pablo” and “Jackie” named in early statements and rumors.
- Clarify Brian Wilson’s role via any surviving acquaintances or records.
- Follow up on cadaver‑dog hits with additional forensic searches (GPR, excavation as warranted).
- Continue outreach to community and any potential witnesses from Aurora/Colfax corridor in 2001.
Notable quotes and themes
- Detective McDonald: “I wouldn’t rule him [anyone] out… If we find Daphne, my gut tells me that she’s the victim of a homicide.”
- Family frustrations about investigative neglect and the intersection of race, sex work and victim status were emphasized by relatives, particularly Michelle.
- Richard White’s terse denial: “I did not kidnap or kill anyone in 2001. I have no information concerning this or any other missing persons case. Happy hunting, R.P. White.”
How to help / contact information
If you have information about Daphne Hope, or know who Sadie, Pablo or Jackie might be, contact:
- Detective Jason McDonald, Aurora Police Department — 303‑739‑6013 (the episode also lists his email in show notes). Provide any relevant details: whereabouts in Aurora/Denver (Aug 2001), witness memories, contact records, or connections to the named people.
Bottom line / takeaways
- Daphne Hope disappeared in August 2001 under unclear circumstances; investigation was hampered by missing/incomplete records and limited early follow‑up.
- Key witnesses remain unidentified or deceased; the primary person connected to the last sighting (Gary) is a person of interest but not charged.
- New investigative work in 2025 (cadaver dogs, renewed interviews and DNA checks) produced potential leads but no resolution; the case remains open and investigators are seeking public tips.