The Mystery of the Boy in the Barrel: How a Sister Tracked Down Her Brother’s Killer | The Case of Alicia Villegas | UNSEEN

I'm Harvey Guillen and this is Killer Stories. Every Monday I'm cutting the lights and telling you a bedtime story. Except these stories are all real. We're talking brazen heists, devastating cons, serial murders, and cases that defy tidy categories. So join me for new episodes of Killer Stories with Harvey Guillen every Monday. This barrel hides a disturbing secret. It was found floating off the coast of California in 2017. A man in a hazmat suit carefully opens the sealed drum. Inside, he discovers decomposing human remains, but there is no way of identifying the body. Two weeks earlier, just five miles away from where the barrel was found, a woman named Alicia calls the police after her little brother, Omar, goes missing. When the police arrive at the brother's residence, his landlord shows them around the property. But strangely, all of Omar's stuff is gone and the place looks as if no one has ever lived there. Alicia is told that there isn't enough evidence to open a case into Omar's disappearance, and even the landlord tells her that he hasn't seen her little brother in weeks. The problem is, the landlord is lying. The circumstances surrounding Omar Medina's disappearance would have remained a mystery if it wasn't for Alicia. Who would stop at nothing to find her little brother and uncover the terrifying truth, hiding in plain sight. The year is 2017. Off the coast of California, in the San Diego Bay, there's a marine worker out on the water, going through his usual routine. On this particular day, everything appears normal, until something catches his eye. Floating in the distance is a large, gray object. As he moves closer, he realizes it's a metal barrel. Steel cables have been drilled into the base, with cinder blocks attached, clearly meant to weigh it down. But instead of sinking, it's floating near the surface. Seeing it as a potential hazard for other boats, the worker calls the San Diego Harbor Police Department to report it. At that moment, he has no idea what's inside. Five miles away from where the barrel is found, a woman named Alicia Villegas is desperately searching for her younger brother. For over two weeks, she's been calling the police, reaching out to friends, knocking on doors, asking anyone if they've seen him. But there's been no sign of him anywhere. Her little brother Omar means everything in the world to Alicia. We grew up in a single-family home, and me being the oldest, I have a middle brother, and then he was a baby. She's been like my second mother. She's been there through thick and thin. She's awesome. Alicia and Omar are not only brother and sister, they are the best of friends. When Alicia started a family of her own, Omar became involved and a loving uncle to Alicia's children. They are a close, connected family. Omar and I would talk consistently, like multiple times a day. So we knew pretty much where Omar was at all the time. If not, we would check in with each other. But on September 30th, 2017, everything changes. After a day out with friends, Alicia heads home, expecting to find Omar at their mother's house, as they had plans to see each other later that evening. But when she walks in, her little brother is nowhere to be found. I'm like, okay, where's he at? So I sent him a message, and I saw that in Messenger that he received it. So I'm like, okay, his phone's on. He received my message. He'll answer me later. October 12th, 2017. Five miles from where Alicia and Omar live, the harbor police respond to the report about the floating barrel in San Diego Bay. When they arrive, they pull the barrel from the water. They notice that, strangely, several cinder blocks have been affixed to the base. Clearly, whoever disposed of this barrel did not want it to resurface. An officer in a hazmat suit carefully begins opening it, as he removes the lid, he is visibly taken aback. Inside is a partially decomposed body, and the story behind the body in the barrel is even more disturbing than they could have ever imagined. It's the evening of September 30th, 2017. Shaq here. What's it like to buy a car from Carvana 100% online and get it delivered to your door? Let me tell you. Your car is here, Mr. Shaq. Thank you, Mr. Carvana guy. Can't wait to take it for a spin. Only the best for you, Mr. Shaq. Hey, have you always been so big, tall, and handsome? Not always. I was 6'10" once. Seven days to love it or return it, Mr. Shaq. Not that I would. You never do. No, I never do. So buy your car today on Carvana. Delivery fees may apply. See our seven-day return policy at carvana.com. Alicia, back at her own house, tries to contact her brother. But as the hours go by, Omar still hasn't answered any texts or calls. That's when I started getting a little bit worried. But then I'm like, "Okay." He went out with some friends or I don't know. Alicia goes to bed that night, concerned, trying not to overthink the situation. It could just have easily been that Omar forgot to charge his phone or that he lost cell service. The next morning, though, my mom calls me and she tells me, "Have you spoken with Omar?" And that's when I started to get a little bit worried. The next person Alicia contacts is Omar's landlord, a man named Timothy Cook. Omar had been subletting a room from him in a house not far away from Alicia. Hoping he might have some answers, Alicia calls him. Cook tells her he has no idea where Omar is. He mentions that, the night before, Omar had been drinking and didn't seem to be in a good headspace. And that was the last he'd seen of him. Hearing this doesn't make sense to Alicia. She decides to contact the police for help. I told them that my brother was missing and just some things were not adding up. We needed help to locate him. But Alicia doesn't get the help she needs. When she reports her little brother missing, she is told there isn't enough evidence to prove that Omar didn't disappear willingly. And until there is more to go on, cops won't open an investigation. If somebody is over the age of 18, and unless they have a medical condition, they will not go look for them. That's, you know, what I was told. When you're an adult, you can go missing. People do go missing of their own volition. Alicia knows her brother would never just leave without telling her first. She needs answers. But without support from the police, finding Omar will be an uphill battle. When somebody is missing, it's like the worst feeling you could possibly feel. Are they in danger? Are they in danger? Do they need help? The desperation of somebody missing is just horrible. In a situation like this, time is of the essence. Alicia begins calling any place she can think of to help her find out what happened to Omar. She calls hospitals, local jails, friends, and family. But no one has any lead on where Omar might be. She requests access to his phone records in an attempt to track his location and see who he was in contact with before he vanished. But Omar hasn't used his phone since September 30th, the last day Alicia spoke to him. It's now been 48 hours since Omar's disappearance. And at this point, Alicia feels like she's no closer to figuring out where he is. Undeterred, Alicia shifts her focus, this time trying to find some sort of physical clue that might indicate his whereabouts. Something that might pick up the trail from where his phone records left off. She gathers friends and organizes a search. Wanting as many eyes on the case as possible. Together, they begin combing through the neighborhood, looking for anything, no matter how small, that could lead them to Omar. October 7th, eight days since Omar's disappearance. Finally, a break in the case. Alicia's search party has finally found their first piece of real evidence. - I get a call. "Hey, we found your brother's car. "You need to come down here, like, right now." It was only, like, two minutes. It was only, like, two, three blocks away from where Omar lived. I'm looking at it. All his stuff is in the car. I had a lot of emotions going on because we finally found something. It had been a week. Omar's car had been left behind in an unusual spot, and the fact that it's there at all doesn't make any sense. If Omar had chosen to leave, why abandon his car like this? It's sitting alone just a few blocks from his apartment, and through the windows, Alicia can see it is packed full of his belongings. Alicia then calls 911. She finally has proof that Omar didn't leave under normal circumstances. She hopes the cops will finally believe her and take the situation seriously. - His car was parked several blocks away from where he actually lived. It was unlocked. It was stacked with a bunch of property inside of it. - There's actually things, computers. There's guitars. There's really nice clothing. Considering the neighborhood that it was parked in, that's not very normal to leave your vehicle unlocked with all that property just being visible. To me, those were red flags. that there was something more to this this is something more suspicious is more than just a missing person who just hasn't contacted their family in a few days it's been a week since omar went missing and police finally start listening to alicia and agree that something ominous must have happened to her little brother alicia pleads with officers to check omar's place it's only four blocks from where the car was seemingly abandoned she believes that there has to be a clue somewhere in the house i asked the officer if she could please go to the house and see if they could find any indication of what could have happened officers from the chula vista county police department walk up to the front door omar's landlord tim cook answers the door i asked if he had seen omar tim told me he had not seen omar for six or seven days the officers ask cook if they can enter the residence and take a look at omar's room he is cooperative and friendly inviting them inside and i wondered where omar's room was and he said it was out back and when he set out back i didn't realize it was a house actually in the backyard as they approach the small unit something immediately feels off the small house in the backyard where omar had been living has been stripped down to the stunts drywall removed flooring torn out there's debris everywhere it looks like the carpet has been recently pulled up and there's what looks like water pooled in an area on the ground alicia and the police are left with more questions than answers there's nothing left in his room no trace that omar had even been living there at all the situation feels unsettling at first glance it seems possible that omar packed up and left on his own putting all his belongings in his car and driving off but then where did he go after that with no warrant to allow them to investigate further the police are forced to leave the property without getting any closer to the truth but alicia won't give up hope she begins going through everything found in omar's car trying to find another clue and that's when she finds something something that might just lead her to her little brother she finds several receipts one of them is from a nearby pharmacy and another from a fast food restaurant both are dated september 30th the night he disappeared i took the receipts to the police station and i told the detective these are the last places that my brother was at you could go and get the surveillance footage thanks to alicia investigators pull surveillance footage from the places omar visited piece by piece omar's last known movements are revealed he's seen browsing the aisles making a few purchases and eventually stopping to get food he's also seen looking for food he's also seen looking for food that final stop is just around the corner from his home omar doesn't appear to be in distress he isn't being followed he seems calm going about his day like normal there's no sign of anything unusual that same night after returning home omar's phone goes offline and never comes back on and his cell phone appears to be the only thing missing from his car according to his landlord september 30th was the day omar loaded all of his belongings into his car and left but alicia and the cops know that his car was found only a few blocks away with no trace of omar after september 30th there are no further bank transactions no phone activity no purchases alicia knows something doesn't add up and the question remains where did he go and where is he now back off the coast of california in san diego bay an investigative team and forensic specialists begin examining what's inside the barrel the harbor patrol opened up the lid and they could see a brown blanket and what was a human hand sticking out from the blanket so then in fact we knew we had a human body and it was a homicide investigation began at that point after collecting evidence at the scene the body is transported to the medical examiner's office where an autopsy is performed the ocean water has sped up the decomposition of the body and washed away much of the evidence because of this there's no immediate way to identify the body but what is clear to see are the victim's injuries there are approximately 66 stab wounds across his face neck and back this man whoever he was has been brutally murdered given the way that the victim was disposed of it was someone who really would go to any lengths to make sure that this victim was never found again clearly the killer was counting on the cops either never finding the body or being unable to identify it but that's when investigators notice one detail that will change everything on the body there is a small tattoo located on the victim's ankle as investigators review missing person reports they begin reaching out to families in the area asking a specific question then alicia gets a phone call one she had hoped to never receive alicia confirms with the officers that in fact omar did have the exact same tattoo omar's case is officially ruled a homicide alicia's little brother has been murdered i don't know if you've ever heard the cry of a mother when her son has been taken it is the worst cry you will ever hear i mean it breaks your soul he wanted to have a wife and he wanted to have kids and you know and i would tell him like i can't wait you know to be an aunt to your kids and love on them and have that experience now that has been taken away from me because i'm never gonna get to experience it or see him that way i'm never gonna get to experience that or see him that way as strong as i try to be in front of my mom in my times alone i would break down and just cry and just sob desperation that i'm never gonna see him like if i think about it a little bit too hard i'll go crazy omar medina's family and friends are left grieving the loss of a young man whose life was taken far too soon the entire community is shaken struggling to understand how this could have happened but whoever killed omar is still out there free to attack again alicia and her family need the police to find omar's killer before it's too late we really had to work backwards and figure out what happened to omar investigators start with what they do know the location of the barrel and omar's body first they need to find out exactly how it ended up in the bay a logical starting point was video surveillance from the marina and the bay area that area the marina is controlled by the port of san diego harbor authority and there's cameras that cover different parts of the bay they scan through hours of video from the days leading up to october 12th the day the barrel was found on the footage dated from november 11th they suddenly see something strange from a camera overlooking the jetty of the chula vista marina you can see what looked like a ford f-150 picture of the chula vista marina you can see what looked like a ford f-150 pickup truck attached to it was smaller boat sort of looked like something you would take out on the lake those are fresh water boats are designed for fresh water fishing and here it is going out in a saltwater pacific ocean that boat didn't belong in that kind of water security camera captures the truck backing up to the water as the footage continues the boat is launched and heads to the marina as the footage continues the boat is launched and heads to the marina as the footage continues the boat is launched and heads to the marina as the footage continues the boat is launched and heads out past the jetty moving into the bay from a distance it's hard to make out clearly but it's seen heading out into the harbor before disappearing from view but strangely the boat returns in less than one hour not long enough for a typical fishing trip and as the police look at the boat more closely they notice that it doesn't look the same as it did in the earlier footage in fact when comparing the before and after it's clear that when the boat returns it's sitting significantly higher up in the water it became quite apparent that there had been something very heavy in the boat when it first went out that was no longer there when it returned the footage shows two people one on the boat and another standing by the green pickup truck but the camera quality isn't good enough investigators can't make out any identifying features on either the boat the truck or either individual still it's clear that whoever these individuals are they have quickly become the investigation's prime suspects with a date and time frame established detectives then begin collecting surveillance footage from the surrounding buildings hoping to spot the vehicle and boat as it leaves the marina if they can track where it heads to next they might be able to identify the owner after reviewing hours of footage from businesses within a five mile radius of the marina and following every possible route that could have been taken they finally spot the truck and boat again the pickup had gotten on the highway moving away from the harbor further along the route that the gas station security camera captures the same green truck towing the boat and this time the vehicle's details are more clearly visible the driver exits the truck walks around the front of the truck and enters the front door of the convenience store The driver of the truck walks in, and we can see he's wearing shorts, a maroon-colored shirt and a green hat, and he walks up to the cash register and purchases some items. That's when investigators notice something. As they zoom in on the footage, they see a tattoo on the back of the man's leg. It stands out, because they've seen it before. Two weeks earlier, they had visited Omar's home, and the landlord, Timothy Cook, answered the door. Body cam from officers at the scene shows Cook walking through the house, with his leg tattoo visible. Same placement, same design. It's clear that he is the same man as the one seen in the gas station footage. At that moment, Omar's landlord becomes the primary suspect. Whatever his involvement, he is directly linked to his disappearance. Investigators begin round-the-clock surveillance on Timothy. They look into his home and his movements, searching for anything that can tie him to Omar's murder. They saw Tim Cook out in front of the residence, packing up a lot of stuff in trash bags, loading these trash bags into his vehicle that was parked in the driveway. As Cook leaves his residence, police tail his vehicle. Moments later, officers move in and initiate a traffic stop, beginning a thorough search of his car. Inside the bags, there was various wet rags. Random clothing, and there was a distinct smell of bleach. Police seize the contents of his vehicle, collecting as much evidence as possible. Cops also locate the green pickup truck from the marina and bring it in for forensic testing. As investigators dig deeper, they search Cook's computer, discovering he had access to Omar's full banking details, social security number, and other personal information. Now, a motive begins to emerge: money. But more disturbingly, investigators learn Cook had previously served 17 years in state prison for attempted murder, and only recently got out. That's when detectives begin piecing everything together, and Alicia finally learns what really happened to her brother on the night of September 30th. That night, Omar had returned to the house. Once inside, the ex-convict confronted his tenant with a knife and attacked Omar, stabbing him over 60 times. The only way for Cook to fully cope with Omar is to kill him. The only way to uncover Omar's violent murder was to strip the place down and scrub everything with bleach. That way, there would be no evidence or DNA left behind, and this plan nearly worked if Alicia hadn't intervened, fighting to uncover the truth. Cook then enlisted the help of a friend with a boat, the other man seen in the footage. The next morning, the pair placed Omar's body inside a barrel, loaded it onto the boat, and took it out into the bay, where they dumped it into the water. Later that evening, bank records also showed Tim Cook made a suspicious deposit into his own account from a nearby ATM. The evidence is overwhelming. Cops know they have the right man. I remember getting a call that they had made an arrest that morning, and that it was Tim, and I just remember sobbing. I was so shocked. I was shocked. I was just sobbing uncontrollably. It was a special moment. At the sentencing, Alicia finally had the chance to confront the man who took her brother from her. Standing at the podium, she speaks, not just as a witness, but as a sister, giving the court a glimpse into the depth of her love for Omar. Giving the news to my kids was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. As hard as that was, it was not easy. It was nothing compared to what I had to see my mom go through. I thought that all of this was going to be overwhelming, too overwhelming for me, and that I was going to lose all hope in humanity. I thought that I would be filled with hatred and anger and bitterness. My brother would encourage me to not give up and to strive for better. He would say, "Don't give up, Alice. We're going to be okay." I miss him telling me that. Because no matter how upset I was, I knew I was going to lose hope. I was going to lose hope. I knew how upset I was. That always gave me hope and something to look forward to. Not all is lost. Fight for what is right, and keep fighting for a better tomorrow. Cook is convicted of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 56 years to life in state prison. At last, the person responsible is being held accountable. And throughout it all, Alicia's determination is what made the difference. Her persistence played a crucial role. Alicia was really involved, and she really got the initial part of the investigation going. Her support and her fight for her brother, her dedication to her family and her brother was vital. Omar's life may have been cut short, but his legacy lives on through his family. Alicia's story proves that with the courage and determination to do what is right in the face of adversity. This can be achieved. Even when no one believed her, she never stopped fighting for the truth, and for her brother. 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