The Murder of Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Monkman (Copy)
For this case, I watched an episode of American Monster. It’s season 9 episode 4, titled ‘Brothers and Sisters.’
A woman is reported missing on Christmas Eve.
Background
Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Monkman was born on September 16, 1958. Cindy was born in Pensacola, Florida, and spent most of her young childhood there. After Cindy’s mother passed away from cancer, her family moved to Champaign, Illinois.
In 1982, Cindy followed her sister, Kathy, to Arizona, and earned her Masters degree in community health education. She would move to Minneapolis for her job heading a wellness program, but moved back to Arizona. Cindy felt as if Arizona was a better fit for her.
Cindy was described as being the life of the party, and the center of attention. She had an obsession with The Price is Right, and had once appeared on the show.
Cindy Monkman
Cindy with her grandmother and sister, Kathy
A New Relationship
In 1986, after moving back from Minneapolis, Cindy began dating a man named Mark. Mark was the night DJ for KDKB, and was nicknamed Mark After Dark. Mark was well known in the area, which became too much for Cindy.
Cindy had also learned that Mark’s previous girlfriend had been murdered, and the case was never solved. After about a year of dating, Mark and Cindy broke up. The love they had for each other never went away, and they stayed in touch.
The break up was really hard on Cindy. Cindy’s sister, Kathy, said she watched Cindy become a different person after the break up. Cindy tried to be happy, but Kathy could see right through the facade.
In October 1988, Cindy met a new man named Michael Apelt. Cindy and Kathy had been invited out, and met Michael and his brother, Rudi. The Apelt’s were from Germany, and appeared to be very wealthy. They said they were there on business, and staying at the Holiday Inn in Mesa.
The Secret
Cindy became suspicious of Michael after they went out. Michael didn’t invite her up to his hotel room, and was just kind of hanging out in the lobby.
Cindy and her friend decided to watch Michael and Rudi. They watched as the brothers left out a different door, and walk to a low budget motel. Cindy had somehow convinced the front desk to give her a key to the room. Cindy knocked on the door, and a woman with a German accent answered the door. The Apelt brothers weren't there, but their clothes and jewelry were.
The next day, Cindy confronted Michael at the motel. Michael had claimed that the woman staying with them was named Anke Dorn, and that they had lost their jobs due to her spying. It would later be revealed that Anke was actually one of Michael’s exes. Michael and Rudi said they weren’t able to access their money or their high security clearance from their jobs.
It was clear that Cindy was smitten with Michael. Michael had told Cindy she wanted to marry her. On October 28, 1988, the two married in a secret ceremony in Las Vegas. Cindy told her sister and family in December 1988. Kathy said she tried to accept Michael because she was seeing the old Cindy come back.
The Disappearance
Kathy and Cindy had spoken about going home to Illinois for the holidays, and had planned to leave together on December 24.
On December 21, Kathy learned that Cindy was speaking to her ex-boyfriend, Mark again. Cindy told Kathy that she didn’t realize she still had feelings for him.
On December 23, Cindy had planned a holiday get together with her friends. Kathy called Cindy to check up on her, and finalize their plans for leaving the next day. Cindy never answered, and Kathy left several messages on her machine. Kathy also learned from Cindy’s friend that Cindy hadn’t shown up to their get together.
At 1:30am, Michael contacted Kathy, but was clearly very wasted. Kathy asked where Cindy was, but Michael said she left with an angry man. Kathy believed that Cindy could’ve just run off with Mark, and was off partying somewhere.
Kathy flew home to Illinois that morning, and reported Cindy missing on December 24, 1988. The Mesa police took the case very seriously from the beginning.
The Motive
Around 8:45am on December 24, Detective Ron Davis went to speak to Michael. Michael only opened the door after several knocks. Det. Davis introduced himself in German, which surprised Michael.
Michael told the police the same story he had told Kathy, that Cindy left with some guy after receiving a phone call. Michael said he went to dinner with his brother at Bobby McGee’s, and had a receipt to prove it. Cindy was supposed to meet them, but had never shown up.
In the living room, the police found a life insurance policy for $400,000, but it was a double indemnity, so it would be doubled if Cindy’s death was an accident. There was also a second double indemnity policy for $100,000.
At 2pm, Cindy’s body was discovered at the Superstition Mountain Range. A father and son had been driving, and saw her body in the road. Cindy’s death had been very brutal. She had been stabbed in the back about 3 times, with one of the stab wounds penetrating her heart. Her throat had been cut, and there was a shoe print on her forehead.
There was one other shoe print and tire impressions found at the crime scene.
Superstition Mountains in Arizona
The Suspects
Mark was the first suspect that the police had looked into. Kathy was very suspicious of him. She said that he might’ve been the only guy Cindy would have run out the house for. Mark had also left Cindy a message on December 24, and said he had seen on the news that she was missing.
One of the detectives flew out to Los Angeles to interview Mark. Mark had rented a car to drive out to be with his mom and sister in Palm Springs, and was nowhere near Arizona. He was eliminated as a suspect.
The police turned back to Michael and Rudi. On January 3, 1989, Michael contacted the police. Michael said he had received a threatening message, and agreed to let Det. Davis hear it.
On the message, the person said they had to stab Cindy and cut her throat. The person then told Michael that he and his brother were next. Det. Davis was suspicious of the call, and learned that it had been translated from German to English.
A surveillance team was tasked with watching Michael and Rudi. Michael contacted Det. Davis again, and said that two men had come to his door demanding their drugs and money. Michael agreed to come to the police station to create a composite sketch. Michael had described the men as being black males wearing suits and sunglasses. The surveillance team said no one had come to Michael’s door.
The Con
Anke had also been at the police station with the Apelt brothers, and it was clear that she was uncomfortable about something.
Anke was shown pictures of Cindy and the crime scene, which made her crack. Anke said that Michael had shown up at the motel where she and Rudi were staying on December 23. They then drove out separately to the desert, but Anke said she had no idea Cindy was in the other car.
Anke said she waited in the car, and knew that Michael and Rudi had killed Cindy when they returned with bloody clothes. They went back to the motel, discarded their bloody clothes, and went out to dinner to establish their alibi.
Anke said Michael had become paranoid about the tire tracks and any other evidence they might have left behind. Anke said Michael had driven to the desert to destroy the tire impressions. Anke’s story matched what the rental car place had told the police about to having to change the tires.
Anke, Michael and Rudi had traveled to Los Angeles, and paid a homeless person $20 to read the threatening message. Anke had written the message out after Michael created it in German.
Michael and Rudi had planned to con someone, and that person was Cindy, after they met her out partying.
On January 6, 1989, Michael and Rudi were both arrested and charged with murder.
The Convictions
Anke was offered immunity if she agreed to testify at both trials, which she agreed to.
Before the trials began, the police found one more piece of evidence. The police hadn’t found any tennis shoes at Michael’s apartment when they searched it. They had found a roll of film, which had a picture of Michael wearing Reebok shoes. The brand of Reebok shoes matched the shoe prints on Cindy’s head and at the crime scene.
Michael was convicted of first degree murder. On August 13, 1990, Michael Apelt was sentenced to death.
Rudi Apelt was also convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to death. His sentenced was later changed to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years. He had filed an appeal, and said he was mentally incompetent to receive the death penalty.
Michael and Rudi Apelt, and Anke Dorn
FINAL THOUGHTS
Michael and Rudi had planned to come to the U.S. to con women. They pretended to be rich men with high security clearance jobs. However, they were nothing but poor lowlifes who took advantage of people. I hope they never get out of prison. My heart breaks for Cindy’s family, especially Kathy, who was so close to her sister.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/cynthia-monkman-murder-where-are-michael-and-rudi-apelt-now/
https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/5-chilling-details-cindy-monkman-s-murder
