The 911 dispatcher recognized the voice instantly.
It was Richie Minton, one of her own — a Carbondale police dispatcher who never called in unless there was a problem at work. But this time, his tone was different. Flat. Controlled. And the first thing he said to his coworker on the other end of the line was not a location, not a panic-stricken plea for help.
“Amber… this is Richie. My girlfriend just committed suicide. Can you send an ambulance and… can you send a car over?”
It was 9:02 a.m. on March 24, 2012.
Within minutes, Carbondale officers were racing toward Richie’s apartment. But by the time they arrived, 21-year-old Molly Young was already gone — a gunshot wound to the head, blood pooling on the bedroom floor.
And just like that, the explanation of what happened had already been spoken aloud: suicide.
Almost too neatly. Almost too quickly.
From that moment on, nothing about the scene — or the timeline — would ever fully make sense.
The Morning That Started With a Lie
Before police even stepped foot inside the apartment, a crucial detail lingered over the call: Richie hadn’t originally said anything about a gunshot.
When first asked what happened, he didn’t mention a gun or an injury. He told the dispatcher:
“She overdosed. She bled out through the nose.”
Only later — after several minutes — did he update the story to include a gun.
A .45 caliber handgun. His gun. Lying next to her body.
To investigators, it was a red flag. To Richie, it was just him remembering things “as he woke up.” He claimed he had been passed out drunk and didn’t realize what happened until he found Molly on the floor.
But what he never explained — and still hasn’t explained — is why he waited nearly six hours after Molly’s estimated time of death to call for help.
A .45 caliber gunshot.
In a bedroom.
Beside him.
And he somehow slept through it.
That was the first crack in the narrative. And it was only the beginning.
Who Was Molly Young Before That Night?
Before she became a headline, a Facebook campaign, and the namesake of a state law, Molly Young was a vibrant 21-year-old with dark hair and a spark for art and photography.
She was:
- A creative soul
- A high achiever who won national recognition for her photography
- Kind, empathetic, and deeply loyal to the people she cared about
But she also struggled — with anxiety, depression, and a stormy on-again-off-again relationship with Richie Minton. Their relationship was intense, emotional, and sometimes volatile. One of those bonds that pulls you in even when you know it might break you.
On the night she died, Richie called her at 3 a.m., heavily intoxicated, asking her to come over. Molly, being Molly — the “rescuer,” the caretaker — went.
She drove to his apartment.
She walked into the darkness of that bedroom.
The last time she would ever be seen alive.
When the Scene Doesn’t Match the Story
The moment investigators stepped into the apartment, the inconsistencies began stacking up:
- No fingerprints on the gun
- No gunshot residue (GSR) on Molly
- No GSR on Richie
- No GSR on the roommate
- Richie had two fresh, six-inch scratches on his torso
- Estimated time of death: 4:45 a.m.
- 911 wasn’t called until after 9 a.m.
A crime scene that should have been rich with forensic information was almost unnaturally clean.
A detail that infuriated investigators later:
Richie had showered and changed clothes before officers arrived.
Depending on which version of the story you believe:
- Police allowed him to clean up at the scene (family’s allegation)
- He cleaned up before calling 911
- Or he showered on his own and police didn’t stop him
Either way — the chance to test his body and clothing properly for gunshot residue was gone forever.
Accident?
Incompetence?
Cover-up?
The answer depends on who you ask.
The Inquest: Four Words That Changed Everything
Ten months later, jurors sat inside the Jackson County Coroner’s inquest reviewing the evidence.
They heard about:
- The texts where Molly said she didn’t want to live anymore
- Her journal entries about depression
- The .45 caliber handgun Richie owned
- The scratches on Richie’s body
- The delayed 911 call
- The fact that Richie — a police dispatcher — instantly said “suicide” before investigators examined the body
A suicide verdict was expected.
But after hours of testimony, the jurors said four words that would reshape the case:
“Manner of death: Undetermined.”
Not suicide.
Not homicide.
Not accident.
Undetermined — the limbo category that means something doesn’t add up, and we cannot say what happened.
It cracked the story wide open.
A Father Turned Investigator
When the legal system did not protect Molly, her father, Larry Young, took over.
He became:
- An investigator
- A records expert
- A legal researcher
- A FOIA bulldog
- And the most relentless voice in the story
He filed public records requests for:
- Police reports
- Crime scene photos
- Interview transcripts
- Dispatch logs
- Autopsy documentation
- Phone records
Both Carbondale Police and Illinois State Police refused or delayed records.
Larry fought them, appealed, and forced release of evidence after years of pressure.
The result:
More than 700 photos and hours of video documenting the investigation — and the mistakes.
That fight eventually ignited legislative reform.
In 2016, Illinois passed Molly’s Law, extending the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits and strengthening FOIA enforcement — ensuring families can access records even when agencies try to keep them hidden.
Molly’s legacy changed state law.
But her case remains unsolved.
Theories That Continue to Divide
The public, the investigators, and the family fall into two opposing camps — with little room in between.
Theory 1: Suicide
Supporters point to:
- Past mental health struggles
- The reported suicide-themed texts
- The contact gunshot wound
If this theory is true, everything else was just tragic chaos.
Theory 2: Homicide
Supporters point to:
- Fresh scratches on Richie
- No GSR anywhere
- No fingerprints on the gun
- Six-hour delay before calling 911
- A gunshot no one “heard”
- A crime scene that looks cleaned
- DNA under Molly’s fingernails
If this theory is true, someone staged a suicide before calling police — and got away with it.
Even investigators disagree.
Even experts disagree.
And until new evidence emerges, the case remains frozen in uncertainty.
Where the Case Stands Today
As of 2025:
- The case is still open
- The manner of death is still listed as undetermined
- Molly’s family continues to fight
- A cold case review with outside forensic experts is underway
- Supporters still believe the truth will surface
State’s Attorney Joe Cervantez has publicly stated his goal:
“This case needs resolution — for the family, and for the public.”
Whether that resolution comes through charges, a confession, or a final statement of findings remains to be seen.
A Story That Refuses to Fade
Thirteen years after she died, the questions still echo:
Why did Molly go to Richie’s apartment that night?
How did a .45 caliber gunshot go unheard?
Who scrubbed the scene clean?
Why did it take six hours to call for help?
Did Molly end her own life — or did someone else take it from her?
Until those answers come, Molly’s name remains tied to one word:
Undetermined.
And her father remains the voice reminding us that silence is not the same as peace — that unanswered questions are, themselves, a form of injustice.
If you have information about the death of Molly Young
You can contact:
- Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office (Illinois)
- Illinois State Police
- Or submit an anonymous tip online through Crime Stoppers
For Molly’s family, the smallest lead could be the missing piece.
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Resources:
ABC News. (2013, August 13). Father believes police botched investigation into daughter’s death case.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/father-believes-police-botched-investigation-daughters-death-case/story?id=19912346
Illinois State Bar Association. (2016, September). Molly’s Law gives some wrongful death claimants more time to sue.
Molly’s Law gives some wrongful death claimants more time to sue | Illinois State Bar Association
KBSI News. (n.d.). New developments in Molly Young murder case.
New Developments in Molly Young case – Closer to the Truth
KFVS12 News. (2013). I-Team reports on the Molly Young death investigation.
I-Team reports on the Molly Young Death investigation
KFVS12 News. (2024, April 29). Renewed hope in Molly Young investigation.
Renewed hope in Molly Young investigation
The Cinemaholic. (2022). How did Molly Young die?
How Did Molly Young Die? Was it a Murder or Suicide?
True Crime News. (2017, November 7). Crime Watch Daily investigates the controversial death of Molly Young.
Crime Watch Daily investigates the controversial death of Molly Young
Daily Egyptian. (2015). Charges dismissed in Molly Young case; father still left in the dark.
Charges dismissed in Molly Young case, father still left in the dark – The Daily Egyptian
CNN. (2013, August 13). Jane Velez-Mitchell show transcript discussing Molly Young case.
https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ijvm/date/2013-08-13/segment/01
WSIU Public Radio. (2016, February 12). ISP required to release photos related to Molly Young’s death.
ISP Required To Release Photos Related To Molly Young’s Death | WSIU
The Southern. (2022). 10 years later, the Molly Young case remains open as family grieves and seeks justice.
10 years later: The Molly Young case remains open as family grieves, seeks justice | Crime | thesouthern.com
The Southern. (2013). Timeline: The Molly Young case.
TIMELINE: Molly Young case | | thesouthern.com
Daily Crime. (n.d.). Was Molly Young a victim of murder or suicide?
https://www.dailycrime.com/was-molly-young-a-victim-of-murder-or-suicide-crime-junkie-investigates/
WPSD Local 6. (2022). Justice for Molly: Family still searching for answers ten years after daughter’s death.
Justice For Molly: Family still searching for answers ten years after daughter’s death
Investigation Discovery. (n.d.). Molly Young: Does the boyfriend know more? [Video]. Facebook.
The conflicting 911 calls continue to prompt heated debate. What really happened to Molly Young? Follow Still A Mystery for new episodes every Thursday. | Investigation Discovery | Facebook
Springfield State Journal-Register. (2015). Families seek answers after suspicious deaths.
Families seek answers after 2 student deaths in Carbondale
