Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

In the second episode of Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien, investigators begin piecing together the first hours after Joel was found beaten outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Episode 2, The Clown, the Cowboy, and the Hunter, unpacks the chaos of witness statements and the many reasons the investigation got off to a confusing start. With costumed figures swirling around the crime scene, detectives struggled to separate fact from distraction in this unresolved North Dakota homicide. Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On October 27, 2007, Joel Lovelien was beaten to death outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota, during a night of Halloween costumes and heavy drinking. Episode 1, Halloween at The Broken Drum, revisits that chaotic night, when Joel was discovered unconscious in the parking lot and later died despite fast medical response. This episode begins Dakota Spotlight’s reexamination of the unsolved homicide, raising the enduring question: Who killed Joel Lovelien? Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A sneak peak at Season 8 coming March 1st and titled Unresolved - The Murder of Joel Lovelien. Also part 2 of Trisha Taurinska's investigation into the death of Refugio Rodriguez in Montevideo, Minnesota. https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/investigator-into-refugio-rodriguezs-death-had-other-case-thrown-out-due-to-bad-police-work See a video trailer of season 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wbrHX48Xkw To contact me: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Dakota Spotlight followers: I have a bit of a holiday treat for you today, which I am very excited to share with you. A few weeks ago, I traveled to the town of Montevideo, Minnesota. I was there to take part in a meeting with three of my colleagues to plan and discuss work for The Vault - which is Forum Communication’s online catalog of great stories about Midwest history, mysteries and, of course, true crime. Why did we convene in Montevideo, Minnesota? Montevideo was purely a logistical destination as we all live in different places; 3 of us drove to Montevideo where a 4th colleague lives. Her name is Trisha Taurinskas. Over coffee we asked Trisha if there were any local stories that she had considered for The Vault. It turns out there was one story that Trisha had on her mind–in fact, to me, it seemed to be stuck in her mind. I could tell right then and there, this story was not gonna to just go away for her—she was in the early phases of experiencing a nagging feeling that I know very well myself–I would describe it as an almost uncomfortable sense of ‘calling’ … a somewhat involuntary compulsion to act and go look for and find answers–all in the name of justice and the truth. And that’s exactly what she did–exactly what she is currently in the middle of doing... Fast forward a few months and now my holiday treat for you then, coming up right here, right now, is the full first episode of Trisha Taurinskas’ reporting on the death of Refugio Rodriquez. A Minnesota man found dead on a walking path – a man who had just told his family his life was in danger after he was outed as a confidential informant for law enforcement. Yet despite the suspicious death, his case was closed, the death ruled a suicide. But as you might imagine, and as Trisha sensed all along, there is a lot more to the story than that. / James Wolner email: [email protected] More Dakota Spotlight https://www.inforum.com/dakotaspotlight Sign up for Dakota Spotlight's newsletter https://www.grandforksherald.com/newsletter (consider signing up for The Vault newsletter too) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight/ The Vault TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimevault Support Dakota Spotlight - Become a member https://inforum.com/subscribe Staying in touch with your community through local news and information is the gift that keeps giving all year long. Subscribe to inforum.com now and get 50 percent off an annual subscription for you or anyone on your list. Just call 833-248-7801. That’s 833-248-7801. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 10, Follow the Red Dirt Road, asks whether the unusual red dirt on Shelly Julson’s car is a key clue in her 1994 disappearance. By connecting details in her cold case file to this overlooked evidence, host James Wolner questions if investigators missed a lead that could shed light on The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9, Frightened, Followed, Harassed, digs into the harassment Shelly Julson faced before her disappearance in 1994 Bismarck. She reported being followed, receiving hang-up calls, and named Bismarck police officer Donald Schaffer as a harasser. This episode examines Schaffer’s past and addresses listener questions in The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this stand-alone episode we do a follow up interview with Alison Sandy, journalist and producer of the Australian podcast The Lady Vanishes about the fascinating and captivating news being uncovered in the investigation into Marion Barter's disappearance. To date The Lady Vanishes podcast has had 13 million downloads and has helped bring many answers into whatever happened to Marion Barter who vanished after embarking on an international trip in 1997. Was Marion Barter a victim of a con-man with a history of deceiving single women and stealing their money? What happened to Marion Barter? Thanks to The Lady Vanishes podcast the world may soon know. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 8, A Missing Mother’s Son, introduces Jaden Julson, who grew up without his mother after her disappearance in 1994 Bismarck. He reflects on the impact of loss, the role of his father and grandfather, and how Shelly’s case shaped his life. The episode also debunks a claim made by Bismarck PD investigators, shedding new light on The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7, Interview with Tony, centers on Tony Hulm, Shelly Julson’s boyfriend and Burnt Creek Club bartender. He recalls their turbulent relationship, the harassment Shelly reported, and considers whether she may have left to start a new life. His voice adds complexity to The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 6, Vacation Update, shares a season break during The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Listeners hear a preview of an interview with Tony Hulm, Shelly’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, and the full theme song Magelena by Wowza in Kalamazoo. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Family and investigation collide in Episode 5, Don’t Give Up. Shelly Julson’s parents, Wes and Linda, share their memories, while retired officer Rob Carvell recalls responding to the 1994 missing person report and reopening the case in 2016. A close friend and the “forty-year-old guy” Shelly planned to go camping with also add insight into The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retired Bismarck detective Bill Connor, who worked Shelly Julson’s case from 2005–2010, revisits The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Episode 4, Stones Unturned, highlights the We Fest sighting, the discovery of Shelly’s car at the Comfort Inn, and suspects Rick Snell, Tony Hulm, and Kevin Woodworth. With archival audio from the State Historical Society of North Dakota, this episode connects past investigative threads in a decades-old mystery. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rumors and leads clouded the case of Shelly Julson after she disappeared in 1994. Episode 3, Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe, asks: Was Shelly partying with railroad workers at the Comfort Inn? Why did another Burnt Creek Bar patron vanish? And what was she really doing on the Sunday night before she disappeared? This episode highlights the rabbit holes investigators fell into while pursuing The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Officer Cliff Emmert searched Shelly Julson’s world of bingo halls, bowling alleys, and bars after her 1994 disappearance in Bismarck, North Dakota. Episode 2, In Shelly’s Shadows, uncovers disturbing reports that she was being harassed and followed, possibly by multiple men — including a Bismarck police officer. This episode deepens the questions surrounding The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1994 disappearance of Michele “Shelly” Julson in Bismarck, North Dakota, begins in Episode 1, Fly on the Wall. With unprecedented access to her cold case file, host James Wolner examines the early investigation and the troubling events leading up to her vanishing — harassment, vandalism, and mystery men. Featuring new interviews with law enforcement, family, and friends, this episode launches Dakota Spotlight’s search for answers in The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Cotton’s 1981 disappearance remains a haunting North Dakota cold case. Episode 21, But, I Saw Barb Cotton!, features Jeri Martinez-Kueffler, who recounts spotting Barbara in broad daylight the year she vanished. When she reported the sighting to local authorities, their response was far from what she expected. A Better Search for Barbara continues to bring forward overlooked voices, small town testimony, and rural crime investigations tied to one of the Midwest’s most enduring unsolved murders. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 11 closes the season with a focus on the human cost of the 1993 disappearance of Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson. For decades, their families and friends have lived with grief, uncertainty, and silence, carrying unanswered questions about what happened in North Dakota that August. This episode of Vanishing Act pulls back the curtain on the enduring impact of loss in one of the region’s most haunting cold cases. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 10 shifts from facts to theories in the unsolved 1993 disappearance of Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson. Four working theories about what may have happened are presented to retired North Dakota homicide detective Bob Haas, who hears the case details in depth for the first time. Haas weighs in on which explanations he finds most plausible and why, decades later, nobody has been arrested or charged. This pivotal episode of Vanishing Act examines the possibilities behind one of North Dakota’s most enduring mysteries. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9 presents the complete conversation with Clyde Diede, a chiropractor from Winner, South Dakota, and Kristin Joy Diede’s husband at the time of her 1993 disappearance with Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson. Clyde encountered Kristin at the Diede family farm near Wishek the same weekend she and Bob vanished. In the years that followed, law enforcement closely scrutinized Clyde, at one point even jailing him to compel a hair sample. This episode includes our full interview with Clyde, additional attempts to reach him, and the behind-the-scenes considerations of how to use his words in Vanishing Act. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 8 uncovers new layers in the disappearance of Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson. Former Minnesota TV reporter Dan MacDonald recalls his chilling 1995 trip to Wishek, North Dakota, where he tried to ask questions about the case. This episode also explores a claim that North Dakota BCI made a curious discovery at the Diede family farmstead, as well as an incident where Clyde Diede clashed with the Logan County Sheriff. These stories highlight overlooked details and raise deeper questions in Vanishing Act. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7, How Two People Vanish, asks why the 1993 disappearance of Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson from Wishek, North Dakota, never triggered a massive manhunt or widespread media coverage. Was it about who they were — or who they weren’t? This episode explores the cracks and blind spots that allowed their case to fade from view, leaving questions unanswered for decades. Alongside these insights, listeners will also catch a surprise note tucked in at the episode’s opening. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 6 uncovers a critical clue in the 1993 disappearance of Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson. Days after they were last seen in Wishek, North Dakota, Bob’s 1979 Dodge B200 van turned up abandoned in a Burlington Northern railroad yard in Aberdeen, South Dakota — 100 miles away. Today, that same van is still held as evidence in Logan County, North Dakota. How did it get there, and what can it reveal about the couple’s fate? This episode examines the events of the week following Kristin and Bob’s last sighting, a pivotal chapter in Vanishing Act. Watch a 1979 Dodge van TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywx0PmnQris If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 5, Secrets of Storytelling: Interview with James Wolner, pauses the live investigation into The Untold Story of Kristin Joy Diede and Bob Anderson for an update and behind-the-scenes conversation. Jeremy Fugleberg interviews Dakota Spotlight creator and host James Wolner about his approach to true crime reporting, storytelling, and music, while also sharing important clarifications about Seasons 5 and 6 and dates for upcoming developments. Featuring music by SleepyDriver (https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com) and James’s personal playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0VCLKw-qRZlrHlD82bhhWxjB3mP4GdtV). If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 4, Looking Over Her Shoulder, explores the danger Kristin Joy Diede faced before her disappearance in 1993. Her marriage to Clyde Diede had collapsed, and after a domestic assault conviction, a judge issued a two-year no-contact order. But friends say Kristin still lived in fear. When she set out on a trip to Wishek, North Dakota, with her boyfriend Robert “Bob” Anderson, they hoped she would finally feel safe. Instead, Kristin and Bob vanished and have never been found. This chapter of Vanishing Act highlights the escalating threats and the shadow of domestic violence that preceded their disappearance. Content Warning: This episode includes mentions of domestic violence. If you’ve been a victim or know someone who has, please take care. For help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 3 examines who Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson were before they vanished in 1993. Their personal histories and complicated relationship provide vital context for understanding why they traveled from Minnesota to Wishek, North Dakota, that summer. This chapter of Vanishing Act offers deeper insight into their lives while continuing the search for answers in one of North Dakota’s most haunting unsolved mysteries. Content Warnings: This episode includes mentions of domestic violence and abuse, as well as a single reference to suicide.If you’ve been a victim of domestic violence or know someone who has, please take care. For help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788. If you’ve had thoughts of suicide or know someone who has, support is available 24/7. Call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (formerly 800-273-8255) or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2, Last Days, traces the final movements of Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson before their 1993 disappearance in North Dakota. Host James Wolner and co-producer Jeremy Fugleberg speak with the last people to see and talk with Kristin and Bob, asking why they traveled together, what they were trying to accomplish, and the conflict they faced on the day they vanished. This chapter of Vanishing Act confronts troubling questions about domestic violence and the moments leading up to a mystery that has gone unsolved for decades. Content Warning: This episode discusses domestic violence. If you’ve been a victim of domestic violence or know someone who has, please take care. For help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1993 vanishing of Kristin Joy Diede and Robert Michael “Bob” Anderson begins with Episode 1, Surprised By Secrets. The two set out on a North Dakota road trip and were never seen again. Authorities believe Kristin and Bob were murdered, yet decades later, no one has been held accountable. Host James Wolner teams up with journalist Jeremy Fugleberg to reexamine this cold case, uncovering hidden details and raising new questions about what really happened. If you know what happened to Kristin and Bob or have information for law enforcement, call the Logan County, ND Sheriff’s Office: (701) 754-2495. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Louise Cotton’s disappearance in 1981 remains one of North Dakota’s most troubling cold cases. Episode 20, Lost Suicide Note, brings forward two powerful perspectives: Sandee Evanson, Barbara’s childhood friend, reflects on her enduring search for answers, while Stacey Werder’s sister in California shares insight into his death and the note tied to his suicide. A Better Search for Barbara weaves together community memory, investigative journalism, and real crime investigations into an unsolved murder still seeking resolution. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of 2 - Host James Wolner and his daughter head to a small apartment in Sweden to learn more about the lives and deaths of Sajid Hussain and Karima Baloch. Music by Väsen Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 1 of 2 - What do these things have in common: missing Barbara Cotton from Williston, ND, a hitman in Italy, secret agents, international crime and 3,300 pounds of heroin seized in a Dutch port city? I’ll tell you. They are all included in this 2-part story about how my Scandinavian vacation became sidetracked by a mysterious drowning and sent me looking for international secrets. Music by Väsen Dakota Spotlight The Vault FaceBook Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Cotton’s 1981 disappearance remains unsolved, but for the first time, Red Sullivan shares his account publicly. Episode 19, Red Sullivan Speaks Out, includes an exclusive interview with Sullivan, who was with person of interest Stacey Werder the night Barbara vanished. Red describes Stacey’s behavior leading up to his jailhouse suicide, providing details never revealed before. A Better Search for Barbara continues to confront small town murder, overlooked testimony, and unsolved mysteries that still haunt North Dakota true crime. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Barbara Cotton cold case continues to raise difficult questions about persons of interest. Episode 18, The Inquest, examines the coroner’s hearing into Stacey Demarr Werder, who died by suicide three months after Barbara vanished. His associate, C.E. “Red” Sullivan, also emerges as a key figure, with the #FindBarbCotton movement asking the public for help in locating him. A Better Search for Barbara underscores the role of investigative journalism and community involvement in solving unsolved mysteries. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Louise Cotton’s 1981 disappearance in Williston, North Dakota, remains an unsolved murder, but a grassroots movement is keeping her memory alive. Episode 17, The FindBarbCotton Movement, features Lisa Jo Schiele, Diane (Cotton) Schiele, and Kathy (Cotton) Nulph discussing their activism, while new details surface about Barbara’s older brother Frank as a person of interest. Updates include a community billboard and the launch of a new website. A Better Search for Barbara shows how family and public efforts sustain awareness in this decades-old unsolved mystery. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Feist, one of three men convicted for the murders of Wade and Ellen Zick in 1976 is scheduled to be released after serving 45 years in federal prison. David Feist is the third and last of the three to be released from prison. His younger brother, Sebastian Feist was released last year in Texas and the third man, Gregory Huber was released over ten years ago and lives in North Dakota. Full story at The Vault: https://www.inforum.com/the-vault/7093169-Killed-in-their-pajamas-Listen-to-the-story-of-Wade-and-Ellen-Zick-murdered-45-years-ago-this-weekend Contact me [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deon Wiggett woke up one day in 2017 with a startling realization. He had blocked out a traumatic experience from his past; he had been sexually abused as a teen by a schoolteacher. Anger turned to action and the result is a beautifully produced podcast about justice, activism and revenge, told in the most artful way. Dakota Spotlight spoke with him in August of 2021 to talk about his podcast My Only Story Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In South Africa a school teacher was assassinated in front of her class by hit-men. Who would take out a contract on a school teacher? That's what Paul McNally wanted to find out with Season 2 of his gripping podcast Alibi. Dakota Spotlight spoke with Paul from his home in South Africa. Listen to the Alibi podcast https://shows.acast.com/alibi Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get episodes 1 week early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Support the show on PayPal https://bit.ly/3wDhonM Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview with crime reporter Dan Box about his podcast Bowraville. Three aboriginal children were murdered in a small Australian town. All three vanished from the same street. With his podcast Bowraville, Dan Box teamed up with The Australian went looking for answers. Bowraville Podcast Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview with Eric Carter-Landin of True Consequences podcast. Eric's brother Jacob was murdered over 30 years ago and justice has not been served. I talk with Eric about the ethics of creating true crime content in this very popular yet problematic genre. True Consequences Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotligh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Kirra McLoughlin died her boyfriend said she must have overdosed on prescription drugs. That didn't explain the over one hundred bruises on her body however. And yet, nobody has been charged with Kirra's death. That didn't sit well with Jamie Pultz. He had met Kirra once at his former job, back when he was a police officer in Queensland Australia. When he heard that Kirra had died and nobody had been held accountable, he decided to do something about it. This is the third installment of our summer series about mysterious crimes and disappearances from around the globe and the people who fight to get justice for victims and their families. Jamie Pultz's media company Six 10 Media Beenham Valley Road podcast on Spotify Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotligh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When an innocent teenager is murdered, family members are left devastated and heartbroken. The closest these loved-ones can get to some kind of closure is when the person or persons responsible are apprehended and convicted of the crime. Sometimes that just never happens, even when we know who did it. In 1992, 13-year-old Brandy Myers left her home in Phoenix, Arizona to walk door-to-door and collect money for a book-a-thon. She never returned home. Police know who did it, but they won't be prosecuting him. This is the second installment of our summer series about mysterious crimes and disappearances from around the globe and the people who fight to get justice for victims and their families. In this episode Dakota Spotlight speaks with Erin Reed, victims advocate and producer/host of Sipping on Some Crime podcast. Justice for Brandy Myers Facebook page Sipping on Some crime Podcast Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotligh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first installment of our summer series about mysterious crimes and disappearances from around the globe and the people who fight to get justice for victims and their families. Marion Barter, aged 51, boarded a plane in Australia in 1997 to embark on a trip of a lifetime and has never been seen again. When her family went to the police they were told that Marion had been located and was safe and sound. But it wasn't that simple. 22 years later Marion's daughter Sally Leydon teamed up with Seven News in Australia and produced a podcast The Lady Vanishes. After two long years of hard work, the team may finally be close to answers about what happened to Marion Barter. Dakota Spotlight speaks with producer and host Alison Sandy to learn more about this surreal and very puzzling case om Australia. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotligh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there, This is James, host and producer of Dakota Spotlight podcast. This is just a quick update on what's going on with the podcast this summer. I have some important dates to tell you about and some other news. You can reach me at [email protected] Thank you so much for listening to Dakota Spotlight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1981 disappearance of Barbara Louise Cotton is one of North Dakota’s longest-running cold cases. Episode 16, Open Records, explains the role of public records in advancing true crime investigations and how they matter in unsolved murder cases like Barbara’s. This update also introduces a new Facebook group — Find Barb Cotton (https://www.facebook.com/FindBarbCotton) — dedicated to sharing information and keeping her case alive. A Better Search for Barbara continues to blend investigative journalism with real crime investigations into one of the Midwest’s most enduring unsolved mysteries. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Louise Cotton’s 1981 disappearance in Williston remains an unsolved murder that continues to spark theories both local and far-reaching. Episode 15, Kidnappings and Cults, Falcons and Dogs, investigates claims of cult activity, kidnapping, and even unusual international links. Alongside these theories, parallels are drawn to The Mailman Who Disappeared (Brevbäraren som försvann). A Better Search for Barbara continues this real crime investigation into one of the Midwest’s most perplexing unsolved mysteries. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Cotton’s 1981 disappearance has influenced culture and investigation alike. Episode 14, Beach Bunny’s Lili Trifilio, Isaac Turner and Thousands of Documents, features conversations about missing persons with musicians Lili Trifilio and Isaac Turner, whose music runs throughout the season. The episode also explores research at the North Dakota State Archives and why Dakota Spotlight will be preserved there. A Better Search for Barbara weaves together documentary style true crime storytelling, investigative journalism, and community memory into one of North Dakota’s most haunting unsolved mysteries. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Barbara Cotton cold case has generated unusual leads since her 1981 disappearance in Williston, North Dakota. Episode 13, Juarez to Williston, explores a rumored skull on a shelf in Williston, tracks down a friend of Frank J. Delapena, and examines the role of C.E. “Red” Sullivan and his ties to person of interest Stacey Werder. A Better Search for Barbara continues this investigative journalism project into an unsolved murder that remains one of the Midwest’s most baffling true crime mysteries. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Louise Cotton’s 1981 disappearance in Williston, North Dakota, remains an unsolved murder and one of the state’s most haunting cold cases. Episode 12, Love Doesn’t Die, revisits the night Barbara vanished through new witness testimony, memories of local landmarks like the Plainsman and Cakes and Cones, and a possible new lead. This true crime story blends missing persons reports with investigative journalism, continuing the push for answers in a decades-old unsolved mystery. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Louise Cotton’s 1981 disappearance remains one of North Dakota’s longest-running cold cases. Episode 11, Facebook Group Update, explains why the Dakota Spotlight Facebook group has been temporarily suspended, limiting discussion and shared content about Barbara’s case. Even with social media obstacles, this true crime investigation into an unsolved mystery continues across other platforms and through ongoing reporting. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Cotton’s 1981 disappearance at age 15 remains an unsolved murder that haunts North Dakota. Episode 10, For the Love of Our Daughters, highlights a 2021 memorial in Williston’s Recreation Park while reflecting on the responsibility of speaking openly about her story. Four decades later, Barbara’s case is a reminder that rural crime and small town murder still carry painful truths. A Better Search for Barbara blends remembrance with investigative journalism in this decades-old unsolved mystery. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1981 disappearance of Barbara Cotton remains unsolved, but the violent history of Frank J. Delapena raises chilling questions. Episode 9, The Evil That Lurks, investigates Delapena, who murdered two young girls just a month after Barbara vanished. Could he also have harmed Barbara? Like person of interest Stacey Werder, Delapena died by suicide in jail. A Better Search for Barbara continues its real crime investigation into one of North Dakota’s darkest unsolved mysteries. Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices