WHO KILLED KENT LEPPINK?

In 1996 Kent Leppink was found dead on a small trail 90 miles south of Anchorage. He was shot three times at point blank range, no evidence how he got there or who killed him. But as police looked into his private life they found a tangled web. His fiance, Mechele Hughes, an exotic dancer at the Alaskan Bush Company, seemed to be engaged to two other men, at least the men thought so. At times Mechele lived in the same house with two of them, although not always the same two.

Police soon found a million dollar insurance policy on Kent's life naming Mechele as the beneficiary. And a strange letter written by Mechele and John Carlin, one of her other fiances, appeared to have lured Kent to the small town in which he died.

But with no physical evidence connecting anyone to the crime, it sat unsolved for 11 long years.

Since then Mechele has become a model PTA mom. She got a masters degree, married a doctor in Olympia, Washington, and has an eight-year old daughter. She is active in her school and church. She adamantly maintains her innocence and claims she has done nothing by try to help the investigation.

But Alaska's new cold case division is still gunning for Mechele and with new computer forensics and shocking new testimony they believe they finally have a case.

Love and Death in the Wild.
A 48 Hours Mystery

VIETNAM CULTURE BY THE GLASS

Over the last few years Vietnam has exploded as a serious foodie destination. From savory noodle broths to French infused pastries, the national cuisine seems to have it all. But for all good food there must be drink. And for the thirsty traveler, open to a few strange pit stops and the occasional tingling lips, a journey into Vietnam’s heart through its high-octane elixirs will not disappoint. It is this promise that recently drew my wife and me on a two week journey from the nation’s southern canals to its frigid northern mountains.

Most Emailed New York Times Travel Story Week of March 8th.

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