When four mothers in Southern California finally had the chance to send their kids to school full time, they didn’t dive into yoga or sports. Instead, they took on a mission—solving a murder.
In his latest book, *The Carpool Detectives: A Prue Story of Four Moms, The True Story of Two Body and One Mystical Cold Case*, Chuck Hogan recounts how these friends tackled the chilling double homicide of a 15-year-old that had baffled seasoned investigators.
Hogan reflects that, “Their ability to trust and confide in each other was key to breaking the case.” He suggests that their identity as mothers was just one aspect of who they are.
The unfortunate event involved the bodies of a businessman in his sixties and his wife, who vanished in 2005. Their remains were discovered near a crashed SUV in a canyon in Los Angeles County. Initially, there were no leads, and the case faded from public memory.
Marissa Pianco, one of the mothers, stumbled upon this case while studying broadcast journalism at UCLA in 2020. During a class, she saw footage of where the couple was found, igniting her interest.
Along with her friends—Samira Poulos, a digital advertising project manager, and Jeannie Wilkinson, a freelance writer—Marissa became consumed by this unresolved cold case. At that time, authorities had even offered a $5,000 reward for information.
The women pursued the victim’s family, requesting police records and interviewing detectives who had worked on the case.
They learned from a neighbor who heard a disturbing scream on the night of the couple’s disappearance. Days before vanishing, the husband had also been in talks with someone interested in buying his business.
Marissa found multiple red flags indicating that the deaths were suspicious. Just a week after the couple went missing, their son closed his father’s multimillion-dollar company, and a lawsuit was filed against the couple’s business for fraud.
She discovered that documents had been forged, and their deaths surprisingly relieved financial burdens for their son and son-in-law.
Marissa and her friends pieced together a theory: the couple’s demise wasn’t random; it was part of something much more sinister.
The couple’s daughter expressed her concerns about her siblings and step-siblings possibly being involved. She teamed up with Marissa’s group, providing cell phone records to search for clues.
While Hogan’s book is based on true events, he constructed much of the narrative with pseudonyms and altered details to protect the families involved.
Marissa mentioned, “We were focused on keeping the victims’ families’ identities safe. They wanted privacy, and we were grateful for their willingness to share their stories.”
The investigation unveiled that the couple’s deaths were not accidental; they were part of a calculated mob hit tied to organized crime seizing control of the business.
With substantial evidence, Marissa reached out to a retired district attorney to discuss the case and was reminded, “Remember, you’re dealing with a murderer.”
The team analyzed all available case data, uncovering the gangs involved in the financial fraud against the company.
Marissa recalled a chilling moment: while making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for her kids, the main suspect called her. She felt a rush of fear when he questioned why she was investigating him.
Currently, the women have turned their attention to another cold case involving about 20 women murdered in the 70s and 80s, potentially linked to a serial killer. Regardless of what they uncover, Marissa appreciates the opportunity to revisit these forgotten histories.
It’s clear that their first case struck a nerve; the tension was palpable.
“When that main suspect called, I really felt it—my heart raced as I spoke,” Marissa admitted.
