Ronda Taylor and Bonnie Ryther – King of Clubs and 9 of Diamonds, Florida

There is a man serving a life sentence in a Florida prison for his part in the 1989 murder of a 29-year-old pregnant woman named Donna Callahan. Two brothers were ultimately convicted for her abduction – and each of them pointed to the other as the ultimate preparator. But only one of them would go on to confess to over a dozen other murders. That man is now considered, by some, to be one of the deadliest killers on Florida’s Gulf Coast.  And if his original confessions are to be believed, then not one, but two Fort Walton Beach cases could be closed. Right now, one detective is making it his mission to find out once and for all: Can he prove Mark Riebe is the serial killer everyone thinks he is? And was he–or someone else entirely–responsible for the murders of Ronda Taylor and Bonnie Ryther?

Ronda Taylor Playing Card

Courtesy of the Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers

Bonnie Ryther Playing Card

Courtesy of the Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers

Episode Info

If you know anything about the murders of Ronda Taylor or Bonnie Ryther in Florida’s Gulf Coast, you can contact Detective Wilson directly at 850-797-2458. You can also call the Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS.

The Deck podcast on Andrea Durham, the Ace of Clubs, who was mentioned in this episode.

A photo of Ronda Taylor.

A photo of Ronda Taylor. Courtesy of the Fort Walton Police Department.

A photo of Ronda Taylor on the beach.

A photo of Ronda Taylor on the beach. Courtesy of the Fort Walton Police Department.
A photo of Detective Michael Wilson speaking with our reporter, Annie Roderique-Jones in front of the retirement home where Ronda’s car was found.

A photo of Detective Michael Wilson speaking with our reporter, Annie Roderique-Jones in front of the retirement home where Ronda’s car was found. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
A photo of the Fort Walton Beach Police station, where our interview took place.

A photo of the Fort Walton Beach Police station, where our interview took place. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
A photo of the intersection where Ronda’s car was found.

A photo of the intersection where Ronda’s car was found. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
A photo of Bonnie Ryther with her birthday cake.

A photo of Bonnie Ryther with her birthday cake. Courtesy of the Fort Walton Police Department.
Project Cold Case flyer of Bonnie Ryther.

Project Cold Case flyer of Bonnie Ryther. Courtesy of the Fort Walton Police Department.

A photo of the Ferry Park, where Bonnie’s body was found.

A photo of the Ferry Park, where Bonnie’s body was found. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
A photo of Detective Michael Wilson speaking with our reporter, Annie Roderique-Jones, close to where Bonnie’s body was found.

A photo of Detective Michael Wilson speaking with our reporter, Annie Roderique-Jones, close to where Bonnie’s body was found. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.

Episode Source Material

Original reporting by Annie Roderique-Jones