Unforgotten CasebookThe cases. The books. The screen stories.
The case library /

Michigan, United States · 1995

Tina Biggar

Book cover: The Co-ed Call Girl Murder — Fannie Weinstein & Melinda Wilson
Book coverThe Co-ed Call Girl MurderFannie Weinstein & Melinda WilsonBook cover via Google Books

The story behind The Co-ed Call Girl Murder

Michigan college student Tina Biggar disappeared in 1995 while keeping her work as an escort secret from people close to her. Investigators discovered that she had been murdered. The search exposed the hidden part of her life and the circumstances that brought her into contact with her killer, devastating her family and friends.

Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.

Roads Traveled

Open case map →

Michigan, United States. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.

Map sources checked September 14, 2026. No case-specific Odd Stops location was found in this review.

See this case’s source review
Odd Stops
No verified match found. Source imagery is linked; only separately licensed photos are reproduced.
MurderData
No verified match found.
ArcGIS essay
Not included in this essay.
Reddit map
Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.

“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.

See the full case checklist →

The map shows regional context for this case. No individually sourced historical place is included below.

Explore outside maps & location guides →

Fiction Work

Browse all →

Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.

No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.

01Books

1 items

Fannie Weinstein & Melinda Wilson

The Co-ed Call Girl Murder

A nonfiction account of this case. See the linked edition for publication details and available formats.

Explore this book

02Movies

0 items

Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.

A verified movie listing has not been added yet.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

03TV & documentaries

2 items

Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.

IMDb · TV episode

City Confidential — Detroit: A Co-ed's Secret (2001)

IMDb episode reference connected to the Tina Biggar case. Listed release: 2001. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.

Credits & title details on IMDb

04Newspaper clippings

2 items

Original newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.

Featured newspaper clipping

Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.

Detroit Free Press · 1996-04-25 · Page 28

The Search for Tina: the investigation’s breakthrough

Part five of a newspaper series reconstructs the search for Tina Biggar and the discovery by detectives.

A section of a longer series; contains distressing detail.

Open full clipping at Newspapers.com

More from the newspaper archive

Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.

Detroit Free Press · 1996-05-04 · Page 1

Biggar’s killer receives two life terms

A sentencing report describes Kenneth Tranchida’s unsuccessful attempt to withdraw his guilty plea.

Historical sentencing and parole discussion refer to 1996.

Read this article on Newspapers.com

Keep following the newspaper trail.

Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.

Explore more on Newspapers.com

Newspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.

05News & reporting

0 items

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

06Podcasts

2 items

Direct links open the selected episode in Apple Podcasts or on its publisher’s site. Some editions may require a subscription.

Spotify

Claw & Order — The Tragic Murder of Tina Biggar (Episode 59)

Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.

Listen to the episode

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

277 - Live at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI (2019)

Podcast coverage of the Tina Biggar case. Released June 3, 2021. About 85 minutes. This episode covers more than one subject.

Listen to the episode

07Social Media

2 items

Case videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.

FilmRise True Crime

Forensic Files - Season 5, Episode 19 - Deadly Knowledge - Full Episode

Full episode or film as labeled by the publisher from FilmRise True Crime covering the Tina Biggar case. Length: 22:34.

Watch on YouTube

YouTube Movies & TV

Forensic Files

Video from YouTube Movies & TV covering the Tina Biggar case. Length: 22:34.

Watch on YouTube

08Blogs & essays

0 items

Outside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

09Internet Archive

0 items

Individual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

10From the journal

0 articles

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

11Court records & documents

1 items

Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.

Court opinionArchive copy

People v. Tranchida — guilty-plea appeal

A Michigan appellate opinion reviewing Kenneth Tranchida’s plea-related challenge in the prosecution for Tina Biggar’s murder.

Court / agency
Michigan Court of Appeals
Document date
July 6, 1999
Case / citation
201445
Hosted by
Justia

12Nicknames & media names

0 items

No sourced nickname has been added for this case.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

13Where are they now?

0 items

The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.

A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

14Positive Outcome

0 items

Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.

No case-specific law, reform, or advocacy initiative has been verified for this collection yet. This does not mean that none exists.

New material will appear here after editorial review.