PHI Case reference - AM1102-769

Background note:

Arlene Melton approached the offices of PHI following her interview with Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's department about the death of Wenzel Hitzig. She wants PHI to help clear her name.

PHI investigators have put together this guide to people whose names have come to light during the course of this investigation to date and who seem to have some relevance to the case. More names will be added as they arise during further inquiries.

Wenzel Hitzig: Murder victim, found shot dead in Avent Park on November 4, 2002. Worked in the computer business, involved in a computer games project called TINAG (This is not a game). Known relationship with Arlene Melton. Resident of Atlanta, GA.

Arlene Melton: Former exotic dancer who has done some modeling and photographic work for Wenzel Hitzig as part of the TINAG game. Was with victim when he was killed and received injuries from being shot herself. Lives in Oxford, MS but formerly resident of Atlanta. Known relationships with: JP Wallace, Tate Moore, Wenzel Hitzig, Achim Michaelis

Achim Michaelis: German national, former business partner of Wenzel Hitzig, and the real driving force behind the TINAG project. Wrote a lot of the code for the game and did the design and planning. Achim also responsible for setting up websites and using various friends and contacts around the world to play a part in his computer game. Achim was found dead in Oxford, MS in April 2001 and an Oxford groundskeeper, Cal Swinney, was arrested for his murder. Known relationships with Arlene Melton, Magdalena Holm and Elena Weiss.

Magdalena Holm: German national who both worked with and had a relationship with Achim Michaelis. Through Achim, she came to know Wenzel Hitzig. Visited victim Wenzel Hitzig in October 2002 and stayed in regular touch via email.

John W. Parker: Resident of New Orleans and played a role in the TINAG game as devised by Achim Michaelis. Parker had the answer to a puzzle that was used in the TINAG game and could be contacted by email. Parker had little contact with Wenzel Hitzig.

Gideon Shapiro: Diving instructor and former friend of Achim Michaelis. He met Achim while working on Koh Tao in Thailand. Last known whereabouts is Egypt. No evidence to suggest he shared friendship with Wenzel Hitzig, but they had been in touch by email. Gideon Shapiro was another friend who Achim Michaelis asked to play an email role within TINAG.

Elena Weiss: Once married to Achim Michaelis and knew victim Wenzel Hitzig. Not a great deal known about Elena, but she dislikes Magdalena Holm intensely.

Katja Boyle: Wenzel Hitzig's sister. Married and lives in United Kingdom. According to Arlene Melton, Katja had not seen her brother for some time before his death, but had been in contact with him.

Juan Massip: Friend of Achim Michaelis and resident of Spain. Achim gave him a TINAG game part, knowing he was not on the internet and that anyone who wanted to find the game part would have to visit Spain and find Juan from the clues given. Wenzel Hitzig visited Juan Massip this year and got the TINAG game part.

Christopher Davenport: A journalist who has been trying to make a documentary about the life of Achim Michaelis for some time. Davenport wrote and phoned a number of people who knew both Achim Michaelis and Wenzel Hitzig.

JP Wallace: Resident of Oxford, MS, who reportedly dabbles occasionally in some semi-legal and illegal activities and is known to local law enforcement because of that. Former boyfriend of Arlene Melton and knew victim Wenzel Hitzig. Played a role in finding Hitzig a loan through a local loan shark, Vincent Spinelli.

Kevin Travers: Resident of Oxford, MS. Photographer who offered room and shelter to Arlene Melton after she split up with her boyfriend, JP Wallace. According to Melton, she and Travers have never had a relationship beyond platonic friendship.

Tate Moore: Found Wenzel Hitzig shot and Arlene Melton injured in Avent Park. Part-time groundskeeper at Rowan Oak, and a musician with a successful band, the Kudzu Kings. Had a relationship with Arlene Melton when she first visited Oxford in April 2001.

Vincent Spinelli: Oxford, MS-based loan shark and wanna-be wise guy. Arranged $20,000 loan for victim, Wenzel Hitzig. Started his career in debt collection.

Carol Flynn: Resident of Oxford, MS and employed by the Museum at Ole Miss. Spoke with Wenzel Hitzig during his November 3 visit to the museum and, in response to Hitzig's request, provided contact information for Dora Donahue.

Dora Donahue: Resident of Oxford, MS and spent a large part of her career working for Professor David Robinson at the University of Mississippi. Victim Wenzel Hitzig is known to have inquired about her address while visiting the Museum at Ole Miss.

James Donahue: Resident of Jackson and Oxford, MS, and son of Dora Donahue. Member of the Mississippi State Senate.