This week, we’re resurfacing an important old episode for you because we just learned more information about a person of interest who’s never been ruled out. His name is Mark Douglas Burns, and he’s a terrifying individual. He came up in a Crime Junkie episode we dropped in the fan club in which Burns confessed to murdering a young mom in her home back in 2001. And the overlaps between him and Tonya’s last known movements cannot be ignored.
Re-listen to today’s episode closely… and then go check out the episode on Sue Gunderson Higgins in the Crime Junkie Fan club and tell me what you think. Could Mark be the missing link?
Tonya Teske was a free-spirited 18-year-old who chose to live her life on the open road by hitchhiking around the mountain west. On August 13, 1997, she was last seen in Montana at a truck stop before her body was discovered two days later on the side of a highway in Idaho.
Courtesy of Idaho Cold Cases
Episode Info
If you have any information about Tonya’s murder, you’re asked to call the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office at 208-529-1200.
To listen to the Crime Junkie episode we mentioned on Sue Gunderson Higgins, join the Fan Club.
The area near Ucon, Idaho pictured on the day Tonya’s body was found. Courtesy: Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office
A photo of the response in Ucon, Idaho after Tonya’s body was taken by the coroner. Courtesy: Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office
A photo of the crime scene of an officer measuring the distance of possible tire tracks to the shoelaces that were found. Courtesy: Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office
A photo from the crime scene the day Tonya’s body was found. Courtesy: Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office
The poster on the right was distributed in August 1997 when police were trying to identify Tonya. The photo of the left was all they had to go on – a ’97 mugshot of Tonya in Utah after a forgery charge. Courtesy: Idaho Cold Cases
This map shows the route police believe Tonya and her killer took in August 1997. After her body was left in Ucon, Idaho, police think the perpetrator drove to Utah and left some of her belongings. Courtesy: Google Maps
This photo shows the Island Park, Idaho cabin that police believe Tonya may have been killed in. The hot tub is on the far left side of the photo. Courtesy: Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office
The denim jacket that police believe belonged to Tonya that became part of the investigation in 1999. Courtesy: Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office
A weaving made by artist Lily Lee to honor Tonya Teske was placed at the crime scene 24 years to the day after her body was found. Courtesy: Lily Lee and photographer Connie Quinney
A photo of Tonya as a child. Courtesy: Kelly Garza, Tonya’s cousin
A photo of Tonya, third from left, with her family in 1990. Courtesy: Kelly Garza, Tonya’s cousin
Tonya pictured with family in 1991. Courtesy: Kelly Garza, Tonya’s cousin
Episode Source Material
Original reporting by Emily Mieure
- Information and photos courtesy of Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and Tonya Teske’s family
