S9 E15 - The Vanishing of Khristine Smith

In Kalamazoo, 1994, a wife vanished — and a husband had an answer too convenient to be true. Four years later, detectives opened the bathroom wall and found the first crack in his story.

A companion research document for this episode is available for listeners who want to go deeper.
Link below:

https://tracypreston4.gumroad.com/l/ujbny

Theme song written and recorded by Alan Hunt

Story from Angela Hoefler additional research and writing by Tracy Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Additional music, and sound effects from Uppbeat:  wind-rustling-leaves-in-winter-ivo=vicic-1-00-47.mp3 / Old-lock-ticking-in-museum-loop-ivo-vicic-1-00-17.mp3 / scary-piano-music-intro-soundroll-1-00-17.mp3 / starting-car-engine-going-for-a-drive-fascinatedsound-1-00-06.mp3 / paper-shuffle-long-om-fx-2-2-00-03.mp3 / bass-deep-long-jeff-kaale-1-00-06.mp3 / garage-door-opening-electric-chain-pull-jeff-kaale-1-00-06.mp3 / pen-writes-on-paper-gfx-sounds-1-00-04.mp3 / scared-heartbeat-ringing-in-ears-jam-fx-1-00-12(1).mp3 / tap-dripping-water-in-bathroom-joshua-chivers-1-00-34.mp3 / warehouse-shutter-door-pulled-closed-joshua-chivers-1-00-05.mp3 / sour-days-tragic-music-brukowskij1-00-28.mp3 / footsteps-walking-on-wood-boots-gfx-sounds-2-2-00-17.mp3 / cicades-crickets-in-african-bush-at-night-smartsound-fx-1-03-00-mp3 / fishing-boat-leaving-harbor-ftus-1-00-54(1).mp3 / tragic-violin-piano-music-soundroll-melody-1-1-00-15.mp3 / tragic-strings-meme-music-om-fx-1-00-31-.mp3 

Sources: 

1. CBS News – “Deadly Secret”
2. CBS News – “Police Close In”
3. WBXX-FM – Portage Cold Case: The Disappearance of Khristine Smith
4. Michigan Department of Corrections – Offender Tracking Information System (Russ Smith, MDOC #282885)
5. Local reporting archives (1994–1999): Kalamazoo Gazette, Detroit Free Press, and CBS affiliate coverage
6. Interview transcripts and public statements via 48 Hours and Michigan Cold Case Unit (public record)