Episode 7-MURDER: The alleged “Wiccan” Murder
EPISODE 7-MURDER: The alleged “Wiccan” Murder of Air Force TSgt Curtis Eccleston
In 2011, Air Force Technical Sergeant Curtis Eccleston was found murdered in his off-base apartment in Okinawa, Japan. But who wanted this soon to be father dead? Was he involved in the rising illegal activities of drug smugglers or was the murder a result of a wiccan spell gone wrong? Dig in with Margot as she discusses the 2012 murder case against Air Force Staff Sergeant Nicholas Cron and Brazilian national, Barbara Kiki Nicandakari.
After TSgt Eccleston was murdered, the Japanese authorities together with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) worked together to find the perpetrator. TSgt Eccleston left behind his wife. But his wife was nowhere to be found. Investigators feared the worst, so they made it a priority to find Barbara Kiki Nicandakari. A Security Forces member knew that Barbara and Air Force Staff Sergeant Nicolas Cron were good friends, so he immediately contacted Nick to come talk to the police. Nick arrived at the scene of the crime and disclosed that Barbara was house-sitting for a friend. The investigators found Barbara and told her about her husband and she showed little emotion. She informed investigations that (1) Curtis was involved in some drug dealing and (2) he was physically abusive to her in the past.
AFOSI brought in the Navy Criminal Investigators (NCIS) since NCIS is the expert agency in the drug scene in Japan. NCIS quickly realized that this was not a drug-related crime. It is discovered that Barbara and Nick were having an affair and the investigators took a closer look at Nick. Nick had already given a lengthy statement and provided investigators with his cell phone, a computer, and they checked his car.
When investigators brought in Nick for further questioning he began to change his story. Eventually he told a chilling tale of adultery and murder plotting. Listen to Episode 7 of Military Murder as Margot digs deep into this case that resulted in an Air Force court-martial and a Japanese criminal trial.
*All of the images are from the CBS special. Please click the image to be taken directly to the picture’s source.*
TSgt Curtis Eccleston when he first joined the Air Force
TSgt Eccleston
Barbara Kiki Nicandakari & Curtis Eccleston
SSgt Nicolas Cron & Kiki Nicandakari
A picture of the crime scene from the street
Episode 7 Resources:
- Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, United States v. Cron, 27 June 2014, https://afcca.law.af.mil/content/afcca_opinions/cp/cron-38138.pub.pdf (last accessed on 14 August 2019)
- Goldfarb, Matt, “NCIS; The Enemy Within — Investigation of Airman’s Brutal Murder in Japan Uncovers Deception, Fraud, and Witchcraft.” 20 June 2019, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ncis-osi-investigation-of-airmans-brutal-murder-in-japan-uncovers-deception-fraud-and-witchcraft/ (last accessed on 14 August 2019)
- Tritten, Travis, Stars and Stripes, “Kadena Airman Gets Life Without Parole For Killing Girlfriend’s Husband.” 9 February 2012, https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/okinawa/kadena-airman-gets-life-without-parole-for-killing-girlfriend-s-husband-1.168082 (last accessed on 14 August 2019).
- 18th Wing Public Affairs, Kadena Air Base, “Kadena Airman Sentenced to Life Without Parole.” 10 February 2012, https://www.kadena.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/417917/kadena-airman-sentenced-to-life-without-parole/ (last accessed on 14 August 2019).
- Tritten, Travis, & Sumida, Chiyomi, Stars and Stripes, “Woman Gets 20 Years’ Hard Labor For Role in AF Husband’s Murder.” 27 April 2012, https://www.stripes.com/news/woman-gets-20-years-hard-labor-for-role-in-af-husband-s-murder-1.175693?localLinksEnabled=false (last accessed on 14 August 2019).
- Rice, Sarah, “Devil Raiders Honor Fallen Comrades.” 17 May 2019, https://www.dvidshub.net/news/323962/devil-raiders-honor-fallen-comrades (last accessed on 14 August 2019).
- https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/curtis-eccleston-obituary?pid=148497079&page=3
- https://www.1stmaw.marines.mil/Portals/65/Docs/MACG18/Newcomers/Okinawa%20Information.pdf
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