On the evening of February 21, 1977, firefighters responded to a blaze in a high-rise apartment on Pine Grove Avenue in Chicago. After extinguishing the flames in one unit, they made a grim discovery beneath an overturned, burning mattress: the unclothed body of a woman with a butcher knife plunged into her chest. The victim was identified as Teresita Basa, a 48-year-old respiratory therapist originally from the Philippines.

Teresita, born in 1929 to a wealthy family, was the epitome of gentle diligence. A graduate of Assumption University in Manila, she moved to the US in the 1960s, initially pursuing music before finding her calling in healthcare. She worked at Edgewater Hospital, known for her kindness and dedication to patients.

She was also pursuing a doctorate in music education at Loyola University, offered free piano lessons to children, and was writing a book. Described as quiet, reserved, and deeply principled—never drinking, smoking, or engaging in nightlife—her violent end left colleagues and friends baffled.

The initial investigation yielded few clues. The autopsy confirmed the single stab wound pierced her heart, causing immediate de@th. There were no signs of sexual assault. The intense fire, likely set by the perpetrator to destroy evidence, had consumed much of the apartment.

The only potential lead was a note found at the scene reading “Get theater tickets for A.S.” However, no one in Teresita’s circle knew anyone with those initials.

Her co-worker and friend, Ruth, provided a timeline. Teresita called her around 7:00 p.m. after arriving home from her 5:00 p.m. hospital shift. They chatted for about 30 minutes before Teresita abruptly ended the call, stating a male visitor had just arrived. Ruth didn’t catch the man’s name. With no CCTV footage and most physical evidence destroyed, the case quickly went cold, resembling, as investigators noted, “finding a needle in a haystack.”

Months passed. Then, in August 1977, the investigation took a bizarre and unprecedented turn. Detective Joseph Stachula received a note to contact another Chicago police officer, who directed him to Dr. Jose Chua, a surgeon living in the suburb of Skokie. Intrigued, Stachula and his partner visited the Chua residence.

Dr. Chua and his wife, Remibias “Remy” Chua, both originally from the Philippines, seemed hesitant but eventually shared an incredible story. Dr. Chua explained that weeks earlier, Remy had suddenly fallen ill, lying down in bed but remaining awake, staring blankly. When he asked if she was alright, she responded in Tagalog—a language she rarely, if ever, used with him despite their shared heritage—telling him not to worry. Her voice and accent were strangely different.

Suspicious, Dr. Chua asked, “Who are you?” The voice claiming to be Remy responded, “I am Teresita Basa.” She stated she had been the victim of a crime and repeatedly asked for help. Dr. Chua, unfamiliar with the name, initially dismissed the episode as possibly a dream or hallucination, especially since Remy had no memory of it afterward.

However, two days later, it happened again. The voice, again identifying itself as Teresita Basa, returned through Remy. This time, it provided a name: “Allan Showery.” A third episode followed, with “Teresita” becoming more insistent, pleading with Dr. Chua to go to the police. Dr. Chua explained he couldn’t act on just a name; he needed evidence.

“Teresita” then provided crucial details. She stated that on the night she met her end, Allan Showery stole her jewelry—specifically, a pearl cocktail ring and a jade pendant—which he subsequently gave to his girlfriend.

She provided the names and even a phone number of relatives and friends who could identify the unique pieces as hers. Before the “possession” ended, “Teresita” added that Showery had come to her apartment ostensibly to fix her television but instead attacked her, ultimately setting the fire.

Stunned but duty-bound, the detectives investigated this spectral lead. They confirmed Remy Chua did work in the same department as Teresita Basa at Edgewater Hospital, but they weren’t close friends and often worked different shifts, making it unlikely Remy would know intimate details of Teresita’s life or possessions.

They then checked police records for Allan Showery. The name immediately raised red flags. Showery also worked at Edgewater Hospital, lived near Teresita’s apartment building, and had a criminal record involving theft and burglary, though no prior convictions for violent crime.

Detectives went to Showery’s apartment, finding him with his girlfriend. Showery voluntarily accompanied them to the station. He admitted knowing Teresita and confirmed he was supposed to fix her TV on February 21 but claimed he never went, stating he and his girlfriend had dinner and then visited a friend’s house. He agreed to provide fingerprints but then nervously changed his story.

He admitted he might have been in Teresita’s apartment weeks before the incident, potentially explaining any fingerprints found. Sensing his discomfort, detectives pressed him. Showery changed his story again: he did go to Teresita’s apartment on February 21 to fix the TV but left after a few minutes because he lacked the right tools. Despite the inconsistencies, police released him due to lack of concrete evidence.

Their next step was interviewing Showery’s girlfriend, Yanka Kamluk. Her testimony shattered Showery’s alibi. She confirmed she was not with him on the evening of February 21; she recalled the date specifically because of the numerous fire trucks responding to Teresita’s building while she was out grocery shopping alone. Showery had stayed home, claiming tiredness. She also stated he knew nothing about fixing TVs.

When asked about jewelry, Yanka confirmed Showery had gifted her several pieces around February, including a pearl ring and a jade pendant. Detectives asked her to bring the items to the station. Upon her return, Teresita Basa’s relatives positively identified the jewelry as belonging to the victim.

Allan Showery was brought back in for interrogation. Confronted with his girlfriend’s statement and the identified jewelry, he initially insisted he bought the items at a pawn shop but couldn’t produce receipts.

He then asked to speak privately with Yanka. Detectives allowed the meeting but overheard Showery apologizing, breaking up with her, and confessing to the crime, telling her not to wait for him.

Back in the interrogation room, Showery provided a full confession. He admitted going to Teresita’s apartment on February 21, intending to rob her. He believed she kept cash, recalling a generous tip she once gave him for minor help.

After she let him in under the pretense of fixing the TV, he strangled her until she lost consciousness as she closed the door.

He then retrieved a knife from her kitchen, stabbed her in the chest, and moved her body to the bedroom, placing the mattress over her before setting it ablaze. He claimed he removed her clothes to stage a sexual assault scene. He ransacked the apartment but found only the two pieces of jewelry and $30.

Despite his detailed confession, at the preliminary hearing, Showery pleaded not guilty, claiming the confession was coerced. He alleged detectives threatened to implicate his pregnant girlfriend if he didn’t cooperate. His defense team moved to suppress the evidence derived from Remy Chua’s “channeling,” arguing it was inadmissible supernatural hearsay.

The prosecution countered that while the initial tip was bizarre, all subsequent evidence—the girlfriend’s testimony, the jewelry identification, Showery’s lies, and his ultimate confession—was obtained through standard police work. The judge agreed, allowing the case to proceed while acknowledging the unusual origin of the investigation’s key breakthrough.

The trial, however, ended in a hung jury. While prosecutors presented 33 witnesses over eight days, half the jury remained unconvinced, citing the lack of physical evidence directly linking Showery to the scene (due to the fire) and harboring doubts sown by the defense regarding the “supernatural” lead.

Facing a mistrial, but before a second trial could commence, Allan Showery abruptly changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with the possibility of parole.

Skeptics, including Showery’s defense team, offered an alternative explanation for Remy Chua’s “visions.” They revealed Remy and Showery had a contentious working relationship; Showery had reportedly complained about Remy’s job performance to their supervisor.

Coincidentally, Remy’s alleged possessions began the same day her supervisor reprimanded her based on Showery’s complaints. The defense argued Remy, fueled by resentment, gathered details about Teresita’s possessions from mutual acquaintances over the six months following the incident and fabricated the channeling story to frame her workplace enemy.

Lead Detective Stachula himself remained agnostic about the paranormal aspect, stating he didn’t necessarily believe the possession story but firmly believed the independently gathered evidence proved Showery’s guilt.

Others, like author Carol Mercado who wrote a book on the case, remain convinced of the supernatural intervention, citing strange occurrences during her writing process.

Ultimately, whether Teresita Basa’s spirit truly reached out through Remy Chua, or if Remy orchestrated an elaborate revenge plot, the bizarre tip undeniably led investigators down the right path, bringing Allan Showery to justice for his crime.