Pregnant teen murdered, boyfriend decapitated when Craigslist meeting went wrong

An eight-months pregnant Michigan woman and her boyfriend were brutally murdered upon meeting a man they connected with via Craigslist. According to MLive, authorities describe the scenes are “hellish.”

The investigation began last week when the decapitated body of Charles Oppenneer, 25, was found in a park in Wyoming, Mich. The family of Charles’ 18-year-old girlfriend, Brooke Slocum, were initially hopeful she and her unborn child would be found alive.

During their search for Brooke, police zeroed in on 31-year-old Brady Oestrike after learning Brooke and Charles connected with him on Craigslist and were expecting to be paid for a “sexual encounter.” Officers obtained a search warrant for Brady’s home, but he drove off in his Chevy Colbalt when the police arrived. After a chase, he crashed the car and committed suicide before police were able to apprehend him.

Officers then made the gruesome discovery of Brooke’s body in the trunk of Brady’s car. A later examination showed she was likely held captive before being strangled to death. Her unborn daughter was also killed.

The victims: Brooke Slocum and Charles Oppenneer.

Officers later collected more than 400 items from Brady’s home, including a number of “assault-type” guns and knives. The investigation continues as Charles’ head hasn’t been located.

During a press conference this week, Brooke’s family encouraged others to look at the tragedy as a learning opportunity and placed blame on the “disturbing and unfathomable laws that govern the lives of teenagers” in Michigan.

“The family tried to curtail, inform, protect and advise against the evils that this tragedy has brought forward… As fate would have it, the same evil forces that pulled her away from our family had once again pulled her away recently,” her great-uncle said. “Don’t let society make you feel insecure and guilty about what you filter from your children.”