The Trail Went Cold

May 5, 1996. Tijuana, Mexico. A young man is struck by a motorcycle while running across the highway and dies in hospital six days later. Three weeks pass before he is identified as Patrick Sean Kelly, a 22-year old Canadian film student who had gone missing from the University of Southern California. There are a number of suspicious discrepancies to suggest there is more to Patrick’s death than a simple accident, as his ATM card is used and his vehicle is driven after he is hospitalized. The evidence also shows that Patrick may have travelled to Mexico with another young man, but this person is never identified. What compelled Patrick to make this trip? If he travelled with someone else, what happened to them? Was Patrick’s death really caused by the motorcycle accident, or did the local authorities orchestrate a cover-up? These are just some of the unanswered questions in this week’s baffling episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, which chronicles an unexplained death which turned into a nightmare of jurisdictional red tape. Additional Reading: http://unsolved.com/gallery/patrick-sean-kelly/ http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Patrick_Kelly http://articles.latimes.com/1996-07-22/news/mn-26754_1_terri-kelly https://web.archive.org/web/20041224153241/http://www.thepacc.org:80/Kelly.html We would like to thank our sponsor, Winc, for support this week’s episode. To receive a $20 credit and free shipping on 4 bottles of wine on your first order, go to trywinc.com/cold. “The Trail Went Cold” will be appearing on podcast row at CrimeCon 2018 from May 4th-6th at the Gaylord Opryland hotel in Nashville. Listeners can receive a 10% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC”. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

July 5, 1965. Lexington, Kentucky. After a night of heavy drinking with her husband and another couple, 39-year old Mary Marrs Cawein returns home. When morning hits, Mary is found dead in her bedroom chair and an autopsy would reveal she was murdered after ingesting carbolic acid. Suspicion immediately falls upon Mary’s husband, Dr. Madison Cawein, who had conducted affairs with two other women during their marriage. However, the case is further complicated by strange actions from Madison’s former mistress and the jealous husband of his current mistress, causing them to also become potential suspects. So who was actually responsible for the death of Mary Marrs Cawein? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” almost resembles a soap opera, as we chronicle a very bizarre whodunit which has been dubbed the “Carbolic Acid Cocktail Murder”. Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting our podcast. Go to www.HelloFresh.com and use the code cold30 to get $30 off your first week of deliveries. Additional Reading: http://www.kyforward.com/mary-cawein’s-murderer-was-‘clever’-smart-and—so-far—has-eluded-justice-for-46-years/ http://www.kyforward.com/part-two-mary-cawein’s-unsolved-murder-has-all-the-juicy-elements-of-a-mystery-novel/ http://www.kyforward.com/mary-cawein’s-murderer-was-‘clever’-smart-and—so-far—has-eluded-justice-for-46-years/ https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/justice-story-hed-article-1.2456294 The Reading Eagle (Sep. 4, 1966) The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

January 12, 1984. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Seven-year old Gary Grant Jr., the son of a local police detective, leaves his home after telling his mother he is meeting someone for an appointment. Two days later, Gary’s body is discovered in a vacant lot after he has been bludgeoned to death with a pipe. A 12-year old friend of Gary’s named Carl “Boo” Mason soon confesses to the murder and is charged with the crime, but since Boo has a mental disability and a low IQ, his confession is thrown out and the charges are dropped. Over the next three decades, Gary’s father would be taunted by cryptic graffiti and also uncover a recording of an anonymous 911 caller confessing to the crime. Was Boo Mason involved in the murder of Gary Grant Jr. or was someone else responsible? On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we examine the incredibly tragic unsolved murder of a police officer’s son. This episode of The Trail Went Cold is brought to you by Zola. Zola is reinventing the wedding registry and planning process to make the happiest moment in couples’ lives even happier. To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, visit zola.com/cold. This episode is also brought to you by Aaptiv. Aaptiv produces audio-based workouts created by certified personal trainers available through a mobile app. New members get 50% off an annual membership, so please visit aaptiv.com/COLD. Additional Reading: https://unsolved.com/gallery/gary-grant-jr/ http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/audiotape-offers-clue-in-gary-grant-jr-s-atlantic-city/article_284556fe-adc6-11e5-b17b-7b445d3715ea.html http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic_city/retired-a-c-officer-goes-online-to-find-son-s/article_a8b09dfc-93c8-5552-a1ce-bd7d2d5887f6.html http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/12/30/long-forgotten-tape-could-provide-clue-in-1984-cold-case-murder-new-jersey-boy.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

January 5, 1992. Gilmer, Texas. After finishing the night shift at a local video store, 17-year old Kelly Dae Wilson vanishes without explanation and her car is found in the parking lot with one of its tires slashed. Two years later, eight suspects, one of them a police officer investigating the case, are indicted for Kelly’s abduction and murder and accused of being members of a Satanic cult. However, after the Satanic cult story is completely debunked, the charges against the suspects are dropped, but the exact circumstances of Kelly Dae Wilson’s disappearance remain unknown. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we chronicle an unsolved missing persons case whose investigation was derailed by a truly outrageous epidemic of “Satanic Panic”. This episode is brought to you by Aaptiv. Aaptiv produces audio-based workouts created by certified personal trainers available through a mobile app. New members get 50% off an annual membership, so please visit aaptiv.com/COLD. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Kelly_Dae_Wilson http://charleyproject.org/case/kelly-dae-wilson http://findingkellydaewilson20yearslater.webstarts.com http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-06-07/features/9406070116_1_murdering-poice-blotter-kelly-wilson http://gilmermirror.com/bookmark/17031413-Kelly-Wilson-case-remains-unsolved The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

November 27, 1970. Ventura County, California. While representing Leslie Van Houten during the Manson Family’s murder trial, 35-year old attorney Ronald Hughes leaves to go on a camping trip. He never returns and his decomposed body is found wedged between two boulders in a gorge four months later. While the actual cause of death cannot be determined, rumours circulate about foul play, as Charles Manson had grown angry at Hughes and allegedly threatened him. Was Ronald Hughes’ death nothing more than a tragic accident, or was he an unconfirmed murder victim of the Manson Family? The first “Trail Went Cold” episode of 2018 chronicles the unexplained death of an aspiring attorney whose first and last case turned out to be one of the most famous murder trials of all time. Special thanks to listener Andrew Dodge for providing the opening narration for today’s episode. This episode is brought to you by Aaptiv. Aaptiv produces audio-based workouts created by certified personal trainers available through a mobile app. New members get 50% off an annual membership, so please visit aaptiv.com/COLD. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Hughes http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/01/local/la-me-manson-tapes-20120601/2 http://www.famous-trials.com/manson/250-keyfigures “Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders” by Vincent Bugliosi & Curt Gentry The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

April 20, 1989. Circle, Montana. While driving on the wrong side of a rural highway, 37-year old Patricia Meehan gets into a collision with another car. After staring blankly at the vehicle’s driver, Patricia walks out onto the prairie and disappears. During the next few months, there would be numerous sightings of a disoriented-woman resembling Patricia. This leads to speculation that the trauma of the car crash caused Patricia to develop amnesia and forget who she was, but she is ultimately never found. April 5, 1985. Great Falls, Montana. After an order is placed to a pizza parlour from a residential house, 23-year old driver Morris Davis delivers the pizza to that address. Morris is fatally shot eight times and his delivery wallet is stolen. It would turn out the house was vacant and that the killer had broken inside to wait for Morris to arrive. The case would feature some odd twists and turns, including an unlikely series of events involving the potential murder weapon, but the identity of Morris’ killer remains unknown. For this year’s final episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we will be doing a special double feature and chronicling two cold cases from Montana which were featured on “Unsolved Mysteries”. This episode of The Trail Went Cold is brought to you by Zola. Zola is reinventing the wedding registry and planning process to make the happiest moment in couples’ lives even happier. To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, visit zola.com/cold and use the promo code “cold” at checkout. This episode is also brought to you by Aaptiv. Aaptiv produces audio-based workouts created by certified personal trainers available through a mobile app. New members get 50% off an annual membership, so please visit aaptiv.com/COLD. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Patricia_Meehan http://charleyproject.org/case/patricia-bernadette-meehan https://unsolved.com/gallery/patricia-meehan/ http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19900902&slug=1091004 https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Morris_Davis https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/05/06/sister-slain-teen-forgave-killer-death-prison/84047018/ https://billingsgazette.com/morris-davis-jr/article_1ec72c7b-3708-57ad-b29a-6b8c00d91af7.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

Christmas Eve 1931. Superior, Arizona. While driving through the desert, a couple named Ed and Julia Stewart experience a flat tire and pull over to a remote spot. They soon discover an abandoned newborn baby girl inside a hatbox and turn her over to the authorities. While the story of the “Hatbox Baby” becomes a media sensation, the child’s family cannot be located, so she is adopted out to a couple, whose identities are kept secret from the public. Over 50 years later, a woman named Sharon Elliott is shocked to learn that she was the mysterious Hatbox Baby. Even though Sharon attempts to uncover the truth about her past and finds some promising leads, she does not receive any conclusive answers about the identity of her family or how she wound up in the desert. Was the discovery of the Hatbox Baby a genuine Christmas miracle, or an elaborate set-up orchestrated to protect someone? For our final Christmas-themed of “The Trail Went Cold”, we will be shying away from violent crime and chronicling a much more unique mystery than usual. Special thanks to listener Jonathan Burroughs for providing the opening narration for today’s episode. Also, a big thanks to Esther Gamez for providing us with another terrific piece of cover art for this episode. Be sure to check out Esther’s Facebook and Tumblr pages to see more of her artwork. We would like to thank Sock Club for sponsoring the Trail Went Cold. To earn 15 % off your next order of socks, visit sockclub.com/cold and use the discount code “cold”. Additional Reading: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/The_Hatbox_Baby http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2011/12/19/20111219hatbox-baby-mystery-still-lingers.html Spokane Chronicle (Dec. 26, 1988) The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

Christmas Eve, 1973. New London, Connecticut. While changing a tire, 20-year old Kevin Showalter is struck by a passing vehicle and killed in a hit-and-run. When the local police botch the investigation and make no effort to solve the case, Kevin’s mother is forced to fight for answers on her own. Years later, a grand jury investigation is launched and the town’s former mayor is named as the probable driver of the vehicle. However, further complications ensue when another man comes forward and confesses to the crime, creating debate about who was actually responsible for Kevin’s death. This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” will be examining what is perhaps the most extensive and controversial hit-and-run case in the history of the United States, which has still not found a conclusive resolution after four decades. We would like to thank Sock Club for sponsoring the Trail Went Cold. To earn 15 % off your next order of socks, visit sockclub.com/cold and use the discount code “cold”. Additional Reading: http://people.com/archive/a-mothers-anguish-kept-alive-a-sons-memory-and-her-lonely-search-for-his-hit-and-run-killer-vol-10-no-3/ http://articles.courant.com/2005-12-12/news/0512120514_1_grand-jury-mr-hansen-case http://cooljustice.blogspot.ca/2013/02/this-is-what-grand-jury-report-looks.html http://cooljustice.blogspot.ca/2016/09/hit-and-run-chronology-grand-jury.html The Day (Dec. 25, 1983) The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

December 22, 1967. Chicago, Illinois. After leaving work and picking up his son from school, Dr. John Branion, a prominent African-American physician who treated Martin Luther King Jr., returns home to discover that his wife, Donna Branion, has been shot to death. Police become suspicious of Dr. Branion’s behaviour and eventually charge him with the murder after discovering that the likely murder weapon, a Walther PPK, and four shells are missing from his home. Even though Branion appears to have a solid alibi and his defense team argues there was not enough time for him to commit the crime, he is found guilty at trial. While free on bond to appeal the verdict, Branion flees the country, but is recaptured years later and dies in 1990. However, questions remain about the validity of the original conviction. Was Donna Branion actually murdered by her husband? Was an innocent man wrongfully convicted? Or is the real answer a lot more complex? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” examines a very controversial murder case which is still debated 50 years later. We would like to thank Sock Club for sponsoring the Trail Went Cold. To earn 15 % off your next order of socks, visit sockclub.com/cold and use the discount code “cold”. Additional Reading: http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/John_Branion http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-08-25/features/9103030674_1_prominent-chicago-police-cmdr-apartment http://law.jrank.org/pages/3172/John-Marshall-Branion-Trial-1968.html https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/supreme-court/1970/41622-6.html https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/855/1256/372355/ “The Doctor, The Murder, The Mystery” by Barbara D’Amato The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

February 24, 1978. Chico, California. After embarking on a road trip to attend a basketball game, five mentally disabled young men – 24-year old Jackie Huett, 29-year old Bill Sterling, 30-year old Jack Madruga, 32-year old Ted Weiher, and 25-year old Gary Mathias – begin the 50-mile drive back to their homes in Yuba County, but never arrive. Four days later, their abandoned car is found in some snow on an isolated mountain road, but the five men, a.k.a. “The Yuba County Five”, have gone missing. After the spring thaw hits, the remains of four of the victims are discovered at different locations throughout the area, but Gary Mathias is never found. While the cause of death is determined to be exposure, there are many unanswered questions. Why did they drive over 35 miles off the highway to such an isolated location? What prompted them to abandon their vehicle? Did an eyewitness see other people with the five men on the road that night? This week’s episode about the Yuba County Five is one of the most bizarre mysteries we’ve ever covered, and is considered by some to be an American version of the infamous Dyatlov Pass incident. Special thanks to the Unresolved Mysteries subrebbit for bringing this story out into the open. We would like to thank Sock Club for sponsoring the Trail Went Cold. To earn 15 % off your next order of socks, visit sockclub.com/cold and use the discount code “cold”. Additional Reading: http://charleyproject.org/case/gary-dale-mathias https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1978/07/06/5-boys-who-never-come-back/f8b30b11-baeb-4351-89f3-26456a76a4fb The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

November 30, 1963. West Hollywood, California. After not being heard from for over two days, the nude body of 22-year actress Karyn Kupcinet is discovered on the couch inside her apartment. Her death is initially suspected of being a drug overdose, but when the coroner discovers a broken hyoid bone in Karyn’s throat, he rules that she was a victim of strangulation. Years later, Karyn’s death is unexpectedly linked to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy with allegations that she was murdered because she attempted to make an anonymous phone call and prevent the assassination minutes before it happened. Was Karyn Kupcinet a victim of foul play or was her death simply the result of a tragic accident? In this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a case which is one of Hollywood’s most baffling unsolved mysteries and the source of an unlikely conspiracy theory surrounding the Kennedy assassination. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karyn_Kupcinet http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/kupcinet.htm http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-per-flash-karyn-kupcinet-1124-20131124-story.html “Crime Wave: Reportage and Fiction from the Underside of L.A.” by James Ellroy The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

May 19, 2004. New York City. After leaving her apartment, 21-year old Julliard student Sarah Fox does not return and is found strangled to death in a wooded area at Inwood Hill Park six days later. Her nude body is posed in a ritualistic fashion and surrounded by two dozen tulip petals. A suspect named Dimitry Sheinman eventually pops up on the radar and claims that he had visions of the murder. As the years pass by, Sheinman starts claiming that Sarah is communicating with him from beyond the grave, but no evidence connects him to the crime. Did Dimitry Sheinman actually murder Sarah Fox, or is he nothing more than an attention-seeking glory hound? We attempt to answer that question on what will be our last official minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Additional Reading: http://nypost.com/2014/05/11/juilliard-murder-suspect-claims-victim-talks-to-him/ http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2014/05/10_years_after_sarah_foxs_murder_gifted_south_jersey_actress_still_inspires.html https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-fox-case-dna-match-linking-2004-julliard-student-murder-scene-to-occupy-wall-street-protest-a-lab-error-official-says/ Thanks to Winc for supporting our podcast. Get $22 and free shipping on your first order of wine at http://trywinc.com/cold. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

December 1, 1991. Herndon, Virginia. The parents of 21-year old Tommy Burkett return home to find him dead in his bedroom, the apparent victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. When the authorities arrive, Tommy’s parents are immediately taken aback by their suspicious behaviour and notice strange discrepancies to make them believe their son did not commit suicide. Upon further investigation, they find evidence to suggest Tommy might have been murdered for doing undercover work with the Drug Enforcement Administration on his university campus and that a massive cover-up surrounds his death. Did Tommy Burkett actually take his own life, or did many people conspire to have him killed? On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we tackle one of the most suspicious suicide cases you’ll ever come across. Special thanks to listener Eve Davis for providing the opening narration for today’s episode. Additional Reading: https://unsolved.com/gallery/tommy-burkett/ http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Thomas_Burkett http://www.dcdave.com/article4/020704.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20051105020746/http://thepacc.org:80/ The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

June 15, 1998. Bloomington, Illinois. Three-year old Christina McNeil is discovered dead inside her bedroom and small cuts can be found in her window screen. The investigation soon focuses on Christina’s father, Barton McNeil, who is eventually convicted of his daughter’s murder and receives a life sentence. However, Barton continually maintains his innocence and points the finger at another suspect, who winds up going to prison for another brutal murder years later. This controversial case is the subject of the second season of the true crime podcast, “Suspect Convictions”. The podcast is produced by veteran investigative journalist Scott Reeder, who appeared on “The Trail Went Cold” earlier this year to discuss the first season, and has joined us again to talk to us about this new season of “Suspect Convictions”. Click here to visit the “Suspect Convictions” website and download the podcast. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

September 7, 2015. Fridley, Minnesota. After spending the evening at a nightclub, 32-year old Henry McCabe is dropped off at a gas station by an acquaintance sometime after 2:00 AM. Shortly thereafter, Henry’s wife receives a phone call in which he sounds like he’s moaning in pain and claiming he’s been shot, and she winds up recording an odd voicemail containing unexplained growling noises. Henry’s body is found in Rush Lake nearly two months later and since there are no noticeable signs of foul play, the cause of death is determined to be drowning. But how did Henry wind up in the lake, and what was going on during his bizarre phone call? In this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we cover a truly baffling unexplained death based around one of the strangest voicemails you’ll ever hear. Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting our podcast. Go to www.HelloFresh.com and use the code cold30 to get $30 off your first week of deliveries. Additional Reading: http://abcnews.go.com/US/disturbing-voicemail-woman-missing-husbands-phone-hold-clues/story?id=34177863 http://www.startribune.com/body-found-in-lake-is-missing-mounds-view-man-henry-mccabe/339975911/ http://spokesman-recorder.com/2016/03/30/vanished-without-trace-really-happened-henry-t-mccabe/ http://www.twincities.com/2015/10/06/in-case-of-missing-mounds-view-man-friends-story-questioned/ http://www.fox9.com/news/surveillance-video-uncovers-new-details-in-search-for-henry-mccabe Click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. Click here to listen to the podcast on Stitcher. Click here to subscribe to the podcast on Google Play Music. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

Happy Halloween, everyone! As a special piece of bonus content this month, “The Trail Went Cold” has participated in a joint collaboration with over a dozen podcasters in which each of us share our own scary Halloween-themed story. Hosted by Tyler from The Minds of Madness, the end result is the spookiest Halloween podcast episode you’ve ever heard. Contributing Podcasts: Creepy Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children The Murder Road Trip Podcast Evil Podcast The Trail Went Cold American Crimecast 36 Times Moms & Murder True Crime Island Cold Case Notes There Might Be Cupcakes Bless This Mess The Mad Scientist Podcast The Minds Of Madness Music Credits: Kevin McLeod – Nightmare Machine Kevin McLeod – Classic Horror 1 Kevin McLeod – Intrepid Kevin McLeod – Devastation and Revenge Kevin McLeod – Evening of Chaos Kevin McLeod – Unnatural Situation Kevin McLeod – Private Reflection Kevin McLeod – The House of Leaves Kevin McLeod – Unpromised Kevin McLeod – Private Reflection Kevin McLeod – Vanishing Kevin McLeod – Impromptu in Blue Kevin McLeod – Tenebrous Brothers Carnival – Intermission Kevin McLeod – Thunder Dreams Kevin McLeod – Blue Sizzle Kevin McLeod – The Dread Kevin McLeod – Unrelenting Kevin McLeod – Arcadia Kevin McLeod – Ghostpocalypse – 6 Crossing the Threshold Kevin McLeod – Long Note Four Kevin McLeod – Pop Goes the Weasel Kevin McLeod – Dark Walk Kevin McLeod – Tenebrous Brothers Carnival – Mermaid Kevin McLeod – Darkest Child Kevin McLeod – Night Break Kevin McLeod – Crypto Kevin McLeod – Come Play with Me Kevin McLeod – Quinns Song-First Night Kevin McLeod – Mirage Kevin McLeod – Lightless Dawn Kevin McLeod – Unseen Horrors Kevin McLeod – Bump in the Night Kevin McLeod – Chase Pulse Faster Kevin McLeod – Classic Horror 3 Kevin McLeod – Malicious Kevin McLeod – Bent and Broken Kevin McLeod – Gloom Horizon Kevin McLeod – Ice Demon Kevin McLeod – Blue Sizzle Kevin McLeod – Chase Pulse Faster Kevin McLeod – Quinn’s Song: First Night Kevin McLeod – Seven March Kevin McLeod – Killers Aesis – Black Angel Surrain – Fade Paolo MessereKiddycar – You Save Me From Understanding More All music is used under an Attribution License – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/

October 21, 1978. Cape Otway, Australia. After leaving on a seemingly routine training flight in a Cessna 182 aircraft, 20-year old pilot Frederick Valentich vanishes without explanation over Bass Strait. During a radio transmission, Valentich describes seeing an unidentified flying object and his final words are: “It’s hovering and it’s not an aircraft”. When eyewitnesses report seeing strange things in the sky that night, speculation mounts that Valentich’s disappearance might have been the result of an alien encounter. For our final Halloween-themed episode of “The Trail Went Cold” this month, we will be covering our very first story involving potential UFO involvement and explore whether this caused a pilot to vanish forever. Special thanks to Cambo, host of the True Crime Island podcast for providing the voice of Frederick Valentich in this episode. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Frederick_Valentich https://unsolved.com/gallery/ufo-disappearance/ http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/truth-was-out-there-after-all/news-story/2973bd131c27da0a31f4a7b8eba643fe http://www.mufon.com/valentich-disappearance—1978.html Thanks to Winc for supporting our podcast. Get $22 and free shipping on your first order of wine at http://trywinc.com/cold. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

May 14, 2008. Marshall, Minnesota. The parents of 19-year old Brandon Swanson receive a late-night phone call from their son, who claims that his car has become stuck in a ditch in the middle of nowhere. The Swansons leave to go pick Brandon up, but have trouble finding him. At one point, Brandon’s father hears him shout a swear word over the phone before the call abruptly cuts off, and there is no answer to repeated attempts to phone him back. Even though his abandoned car is eventually found on a rural road, Brandon himself is never heard from again. What happened to Brandon Swanson, and what could have prompted his final reaction during his final phone call? In our latest Halloween-themed extended minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we tackle one of the scariest, most baffling missing persons cases of the past decade. Special thanks to Joe from Thinking Sideways Podcast for popping in to share a theory. Be sure to check out their episode about this case. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Brandon_Swanson http://charleyproject.org/case/brandon-victor-swanson https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/User:Jeff_Hasse/Missing_Person_Case_Study_–_Brandon_Swanson http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/18/grace.coldcase.swanson/index.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

October 27, 2007. Grand Forks, North Dakota. 38-year old Joel Lovelien and his fiancée attend a Halloween party at a local bar. When Joel takes a moment to step outside, he is beaten to death in the parking lot. The investigation leads to a suspect named Travis Stay, who was so intoxicated that night that he cannot even remember what happened. Travis goes on trial for Joel’s murder, but his defence team manages to generate reasonable doubt by diverting attention towards a group of costumed suspects from a party bus. Did Travis Stay commit this crime or have others managed to get away with it? We look at both sides of this case in another Halloween-themed episode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Special thanks to listener Scott Owings for providing the opening narration for today’s episode. Additional Reading: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/halloween-murder-mystery-who-killed-man-hockey-costume-f8C11470596 http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/2086041-taxi-driver-tells-jurors-ride-travis-stay http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/2086010-party-bus-riders-testify-lovelien-murder-trial The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

October 31, 1986. Long Beach, New York. Chaim Weiss, a 15-year old Orthodox Jewish rabbinical student, returns to his dormitory after attending Shabbat services at his yeshiva high school. The following morning, Chaim’s body is found on his dorm room floor. At some point during the night, an unknown individual entered his room and brutally murdered him while he slept. Police conduct an extensive investigation and interview students and faculty members from the yeshiva, but are unable to uncover a solid suspect or any discernible motive for Chaim’s murder. We examine a very perplexing cold case on this month’s first Halloween-themed minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Additional Reading: https://unsolved.com/gallery/chaim-weiss/ http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/chaim-weiss-brutally-murdered-1986-article-1.2417684 http://m.nydailynews.com/new-york/investigation-continues-1986-halloween-murder-article-1.2417285 The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

October 24, 1961. Lincoln, Massachusetts. 30-year old housewife and mother Joan Risch vanishes from her home and the evidence at the scene suggests a violent abduction. Witnesses report seeing a bloody, disoriented woman matching Joan’s description walking down the road that day, but this woman is never found. Over one year later, evidence is uncovered to suggest Joan might have decided to stage her own disappearance. Was Joan Risch abducted, did she disappear voluntarily, or is there an altogether different explanation for what happened? We shall explore all the different angles of one of our most baffling and requested cases on this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Joan_Risch http://charleyproject.org/case/joan-carolyn-risch http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/1996/08/28/8_28_96_spatterd_blood_and_speculation/ “The Search for Joan Risch: Presented by New England’s Untold Stories” Thanks to Winc for supporting our podcast. Get $22 and free shipping on your first order of wine at http://trywinc.com/cold. Please take a moment to complete a listener survey on behalf of our sponsors. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

June 4, 1999. Wasilla, Alaska. While spending the night at a friend’s house, 15-year old Michael Palmer slips out to attend a graduation party. While biking home with friends, Michael vanishes without a trace, but his bicycle and sneakers are soon discovered at separate locations. In April 2010, Michael’s older brother, Chucky, disappears while riding a snow machine in the Talkeetna Mountains. Even though his snow machine is recovered, Chucky himself is never found. This week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold” is one of the most tragic stories we’ve ever covered, as two brothers from the same family go missing under mysterious circumstances over a decade apart. Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting our podcast. Go to www.HelloFresh.com and use the code cold30 to get $30 off your first week of deliveries. Additional Reading: http://charleyproject.org/case/michael-timothy-palmer http://charleyproject.org/case/charles-edwin-palmer-v http://www.akfatal.net/Palmer%2006-04-97.htm http://www.frontiersman.com/news/youth-still-missing-after-seven-years/article_4778a9bd-9231-5e38-bf8a-d2aa21a7fba1.html https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/last-brother/2010/04/16/ The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

September 13, 1992. Boston, Massachusetts. While working as the ramp supervisor for Northwest Airlines at Logan International Airport, 27-year old Susan “Su” Taraskiewicz leaves in the middle of her shift to purchase food for her crew. She never returns and is not reported missing by her co-workers before she is found murdered inside the trunk of her car the following morning. One year later, Su’s mother finds her diary and is shocked to read that Su was the victim of non-stop sexual harassment at her workplace. In addition, some of her harassers would be indicted in a credit card theft ring. Could any of these revelations have played a role in Su’s death? Our latest episode of “The Trail Went Cold” has been released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Su Taraskiewicz’s unsolved murder. Special thanks to listener Casey James for providing the opening narration for today’s episode. At her request, we will also briefly discuss the unsolved murder of Donna Hart, which took place on August 8, 1968 in Dolgeville, New York. Additional Reading: https://unsolved.com/gallery/su-taraskiewicz/ http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/cold_case_murder_of_susan_tara.html https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/09/14/mother-susan-taraskiewicz-still-seeking-justice-for-daughter-murdered/AJz9ePz8O0ozcxSGlmUR9J/story.html http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/13/mother_holds_hope_she_can_help_solve_daughters_killing/ http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-1st-circuit/1010974.html Thanks to Winc for supporting our podcast. Get $22 and free shipping on your first order of wine at http://trywinc.com/cold. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

May 22, 1982. Hamersville, Ohio. 46-year old appliance repairman Permon Gilbert leaves his family’s home to perform some service calls. He never returns and his nude body is found in a ditch the following day. Investigators fail to turn up any strong leads, but numerous theories surround Permon’s murder. Was his death connected to drug trafficking? Was he killed because of his brother’s recent testimony in an organized crime case? Or could his murder have been the result of a secret affair gone wrong? We explore each of these possibilities on our newest minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Additional Reading: https://unsolved.com/gallery/permon-gilbert/ http://www.maysville-online.com/news/local/year-old-murder-case-investigated/article_7fe31cc0-93ef-5368-a534-ffeb277f87d6.html http://www.maysville-online.com/news/local/murder-case-getting-fresh-attention/article_f073c630-0f73-53cd-b489-0e8fc016c46e.html Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting our podcast. Go to www.HelloFresh.com and use the code cold30 to get $30 off your first week of deliveries. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

May 15, 1930. Chicago, Illinois. After a newspaper ad seeks assistance for the poverty-stricken family of two-year old Mary Agnes Moroney, a woman calling herself Julia Otis shows up at their home to help. She offers to take Mary Agnes shopping to buy her new clothes, but they never return. 22 years later, a woman named Mary McClelland comes forward after suspecting she might be Mary Agnes and experts conclude that she is probably the missing child. However, after Mary McClelland passes away in 2005, DNA testing shows no genetic connection between her and the Moroney family. So what happened to the real Mary Agnes Moroney? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” features the oldest cold case we’ve ever covered, which has gone from solved to unsolved again over the course of several decades. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Agnes_Moroney http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/moroney_mary.html LIFE Magazine (Sep. 22, 1952) The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

November 30, 1990. Parma, Ohio. 41-year old Elaine Johnson vanishes without explanation from her apartment complex. She leaves behind her car and wallet, along with clothes in the laundry room dryer, and is officially reported missing three days later. A series of strange cryptic notes are found in Elaine’s apartment, leading to much speculation about her mental state at the time she went missing. However, suspicion also mounts against Elaine’s boyfriend, who changes his story about the last time he saw her. Did Elaine Johnson disappear voluntarily or did she meet with foul play? We explore each possible scenario on this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Special thanks to Elaine’s daughter, Jodi, whose Facebook page, “Missing Person Elaine Benich Johnson”, is the source for much of the information on this minisode. Additional Reading: http://charleyproject.org/case/elaine-johnson https://www.cleveland.com/parmasunpost/2011/11/parma_police_seeking_informati.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

December 4, 1982. Boise, Idaho. A stranger enters the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and takes his own life by swallowing a cyanide capsule. He carries a suicide note signed “William L. Toomey”, but this turns out to be a false name and the man is never identified. Years later, investigators explore a theory that Toomey’s suicide might be connected to the murders of two Catholic priests, Father Patrick Ryan and Father Benjamin Carrier. To further complicate matters, a suspect was arrested for Father Ryan’s murder only weeks before Toomey’s death, even though the evidence strongly suggested he was innocent of the crime. Who was the mysterious “William L. Toomey” and what compelled him to take his own life? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” is a very deep rabbit hole which explores multiple cold cases involving the Catholic Church and the possibility that they are related. Additional Reading: http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/William_L._Toomey https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2005-06-17/275319/ http://podles.org/case-studies/Rev-Patrick-Ryan-Case-Study-page1.htm http://kyma.dgt.me/father-benjamin-j-carriers-murder-remains-unsolved/ The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

April 4, 1991. Clinton, Missouri. While driving home, 20-year old Angela Hammond stops at a phone booth to call her fiancee, Rob Shafer, and describes a suspicious-looking man in a pickup truck in the parking lot. Rob suddenly hears Angela scream and drives into town to check on her. He passes by a pick-up truck and sees Angela struggling with an unidentified man, but after attempting a pursuit, the transmission on Rob’s truck gives out and this is the last anyone ever sees of Angela. But who was Angela Hammond’s kidnapper and could this person have been responsible for other unsolved crimes which took place in the area during this time period? On this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we chronicle one of the most terrifying unsolved abductions you’ll ever hear about. Additional Reading: http://www.unsolved.com/gallery/angela-hammond http://charleyproject.org/case/angela-marie-hammond “Missing or Murdered in Missouri: Unsolved and Solved Cases” by Barbara Kemm-Highton The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

December 27, 1993. Lockhart, Texas. The body of 38-year old Latricia White is discovered in her bed after having been shot six times. Latricia’s live-in boyfriend, Lee “Dub” Wackerhagen, has vanished from their home, alongside his nine-year son, Chance. Three days later, Dub’s abandoned pick-up truck is discovered, containing many of his personal items and blood which does not belong to Latricia. Since Dub was known for having a volatile temper, he becomes the prime suspect in the murder and a warrant is issued for his arrest. However, over two decades later, the authorities announce that new evidence suggests Latricia, Dub and Chance were all victims of foul play. But who could have been responsible? Today’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” examines a baffling unsolved case which was voted on by our listeners in a Facebook poll. Also, please check out the Charley Project profile pages for Lee “Dub” Wackerhagen and Chance Wackerhagen for more information. Additional Reading: http://unsolved.com/gallery/chance-wackerhagen/ http://archive.caller.com/news/local/crime/dps-looking-for-suspects-in-1993-murder-missing-persons-case-involving-kingsville-boy-33386e34-526b–380185871.html http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Investigators-reopen-1993-Texas-murder-disappearance-case-379961121.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

July 13, 2007. Nannup, Australia. 27-year old Chantelle McDougall lives with her six-year old daughter, Leela, Leela’s 45-year old father, Simon Kadwell, and their 40-year old friend, Tony Popic. Chantelle tells her parents that they are all taking a trip to Brazil together, but the group never returns and no paper trail can be found to suggest they left the country. It turns out that Simon Kadwell has been living under a stolen identity for years and is the leader of a doomsday cult called The Truth Fellowship. Did Simon convince his family to disappear with him in order to prepare for an impending apocalypse… or could something far more sinister have happened? This week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold” chronicles the story of a bizarre cult and four people who seemingly vanished into thin air. Additional Reading: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/baffling-mystery-of-a-cult-and-a-wa-family-who-vanished-10-years-ago/news-story/a941ec7b534905e59c7ec6f6b2997e36 http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/fate-of-australian-doomsday-internet-cult-family-from-nannup-western-australia-remains-mystery/news-story/838f1baa6a6d069e3033df8b57ce88ee http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-13/police-say-new-lead-on-disappearance-of-family/4884546 The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

October 14, 1965. Atlanta, Georgia. After having dinner with a friend, 25-year old bank secretary Mary Shotwell Little vanishes without explanation. The following day, her abandoned vehicle is discovered with traces of blood and Mary’s neatly folded undergarments inside. Mary’s gasoline card is also used at two separate service stations in North Carolina by a woman matching her description and two unidentified male companions. The case would contain a number of bizarre developments, including an odd kidnapping story from a prison inmate, allegations of a scandal at Mary’s workplace, and the subsequent unsolved murder of the woman who took over Mary’s job. Was Mary Shotwell Little abducted and murdered… or could she have actually staged her own disappearance? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” is undoubtedly one of the strangest, most convoluted missing persons cases we’ve ever covered. This episode also contains a promo for “The Fall Line”, a new investigative true crime podcast on the disappearances of Jeannette and Dannette Milbrook. Additional Reading: http://charleyproject.org/case/mary-shotwell-little http://www.buckhead.net/history/mystery/msl_a.html http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1102670/posts http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article9204080.html http://maryshotwelllittle.blogspot.ca/2010/06/mary-shotwell-little-and-diane-shields.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

February 25, 2014. Perranporth, England. The nude body of an unidentified male is discovered after washing up on Perranporth Beach. The victim has a sock stuffed in his mouth, which has been tied in place by headphones. He is soon identified as Alan Jeal, a 64-year old loner from the town of Wadebridge. Investigators use CCTV footage to track Alan’s movements on the night before he was found and learn that he travelled to two other nearby towns before he went to Perranporth. The footage opens up a lot of perplexing questions, but no answers about how Alan wound up dead. Did Alan commit a very bizarre suicide or was he a victim of foul play? We look at both angles on this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Special thanks to Casper for supporting our podcast. In order to save $50 on a mattress, please visit http://www.casper.com/cold and enter the promo code “cold”. Additional Reading: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-27505054 http://www.cornwalllive.com/police-reveal-information-case-wadebridge-man/story-21119561-detail/story.html http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-26674176 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-27678525 The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

July 1, 1974. Beirut, Lebanon. Bashir Kouchacji is kidnapped by a group of unidentified men who spend the next five days interrogating and torturing him for reasons he doesn’t understand. Nine years later, after Bashir has moved to Washington, D.C. and become a successful restaurateur, he finds himself being tormented by a non-stop series of threatening phone calls from a mysterious figure known only as “L’Enfant”. The calls continue for an entire decade and take a toll on Bashir’s mental health, but even after they come to an end, there are still no answers about why they happened. Who was “L’Enfant” and were the phone calls somehow connected to Bashir’s unexplained kidnapping ordeal in Beirut? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” might be the most bizarre story we’ve ever featured, as it covers one of the relentless harassment campaigns imaginable. Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting our podcast. Go to www.HelloFresh.com and use the code cold30 to get $30 off your first week of deliveries. Additional Reading: http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Bashir_Kouchacji http://articles.latimes.com/1992-08-19/news/vw-5724_1_phone-call https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/07/11/the-reliable-source/b457913c-d84c-4b3d-8926-15fb01be78e6/?utm_term=.cb72eb2396f0 The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

May 24, 1990. Livingston County, Michigan. After dropping her mother off at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and spending the afternoon with a friend, 30-year old Paige Renkoski starts driving home. That evening, her abandoned vehicle is discovered with the engine running on the shoulder of Interstate 96, but Paige has vanished without a trace. Before she went missing, witnesses recalled seeing Paige speak with a man outside her vehicle at that location, but he is never identified and Paige is never found. In addition to Paige Renkoski’s story, this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold” will also be covering the recent unsolved disappearance of 28-year old Danielle Stislicki, who vanished after leaving her workplace on December 2, 2016. Her Jeep was later found parked outside her apartment in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more details about this case, please visit the website, finddani.org, and if you have any information, contact the Farmington Hills Police Department at 248-871-2610. Be sure to check out Nina Innsted’s episode about Dani’s disappearance on the “Already Gone” podcast. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Paige_Renkoski http://charleyproject.org/case/paige-marie-renkoski https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2015/05/24/mom-hope-can-bring-little-girl-home/27845653 https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/05/31/new-search-in-the-case-of-paige-renkoski-missing-for-over-20-years/ https://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/2011/11/cadaver_dogs_find_potential_bu.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

November 18, 1970. Nashville, Indiana. A barn located on the property of 52-year old Clarence Roberts burns to the ground and a charred body is found in the rubble. Clarence’s family assume the body is him, but since he was experiencing serious financial problems at the time, the authorities suspect that Clarence faked his own death, so that his wife, Geneva, could collect on some substantial life insurance policies. Ten years later, Geneva Roberts is killed in a mysterious house fire… alongside a man who is identified as her supposedly deceased husband, Clarence! But what caused the couple’s deaths and whose body was burned in 1970? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” chronicles the incredibly bizarre tale of a man who supposedly died in two different fires ten years apart. Additional Reading: http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Clarence_and_Geneva_Roberts “Notorious 92: Indiana’s Most Notorious Murders in All 92 Counties” by Andrew E. Stoner https://www.leagle.com/decision/19801787410ne2d137711761 The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

August 29, 1943. Indianapolis, Indiana. 33-year old Maoma Ridings is serving as a corporal in the Women’s Army Corps at Camp Atterbury and checks into a room at the Claypool Hotel. Later that evening, Corporal Ridings is found murdered on her bed. She has been beaten and slashed with a whiskey bottle and is nude from the waist down. Less than two hours earlier, a bellboy had seen a woman dressed in black inside Ridings’ room. Who was this mysterious woman in black and was she responsible for Ridings’ murder? This week, “The Trail Went Cold” tackles an unsolved World War II-era murder of a servicewoman who once worked as a physical therapist for Franklin D. Roosevelt. Additional Reading: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2013/10/01/indiana-unsolved-the-1943-murder-of-cpl-maoma-ridings-at-the-upscale-claypool-hotel-remains-a-mystery/2901193/ “The Mammoth Book of Killers at Large” by Nigel Clawthorne A huge thank you to Audible for supporting our podcast. To thank you for your support, we’d like to invite you to get a free audiobook with a free 30 day trial at audible.com/cold. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

August 4, 1981. Toledo, Ohio. 20-year old Cindy Anderson shows up for her job as a legal secretary at a law firm. Later that morning, Cindy’s co-workers arrive at the locked office and are surprised to discover that she has vanished. A romance novel is lying on Cindy’s desk and is open to a page describing a scene where a woman is abducted. This would only be one of many bizarre clues in a missing persons case which includes some haunting graffiti, a pair of chilling anonymous phone calls describing Cindy’s abduction, and a drug trafficking ring involving one of the lawyers at the firm. In this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we chronicle the baffling unsolved disappearance of Cindy Anderson. Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting our podcast. Go to www.HelloFresh.com and use the code cold30 to get $30 off your first week of deliveries. Additional Reading: http://www.unsolved.com/gallery/cynthia-anderson/ http://charleyproject.org/case/cynthia-jane-anderson http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2011/08/04/Woman-s-disappearance-a-mystery-after-30-years.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

August 27, 1992. Tupelo, Mississippi. While Hurricane Andrew moves over the area, 13-year old Leigh Occhi is left home alone for the day by her mother, Vickie Felton. When Vickie fails to reach her daughter from work, she rushes home to discover that Leigh is missing and the presence of blood in the house suggests foul play. Weeks later, Vickie is mailed an envelope containing Leigh’s glasses. Was Leigh abducted and murdered by an unknown intruder… or could her own mother have been responsible for her disappearance and fabricated an elaborate cover story? In this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we analyze a very disturbing and bizarre missing persons case. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Leigh_Occhi http://charleyproject.org/case/leigh-marine-occhi https://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/13/grace.coldcase.occhi/index.html http://web.archive.org/web/20090803091158/http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/2009/07/leigh-marine-occhi.html#more http://web.archive.org/web/20090803103803/http://blogs.discovery.com:80/criminal_report/2009/07/leigh-marine-occhi-2.html http://web.archive.org/web/20090803103803/http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/2009/07/leigh-marine-occhi-3.html http://web.archive.org/web/20090803091153/http://blogs.discovery.com:80/criminal_report/2009/07/leigh-marine-occhi-4.html Listeners attending CrimeCon 2017 from June 9th-11th at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis can receive a 20% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC20” The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

December 17, 1967. The skeletal remains of an unidentified male are found in Balsam Lake Provincial Park near Coboconk, Ontario, Canada. Five months later, the decomposing body of another unidentified male is discovered in a field near the village of Schomberg, and the similarities between the two scenes suggest that both victims were murdered by the same killer. The victims go unidentified for 40 years until clay busts of their heads are constructed and shown on television. They are both eventually recognized and identified by their families as Richard “Dickie” Hovey and Eric Jones. However, the exact circumstances of their murders are still unknown. This week, “The Trail Went Cold” will be venturing back to its native country for an episode about two young men who may have been victims of Canada’s first known serial killer. Additional Reading: “Unsolved: True Canadian Cold Cases” by Robert J. Hoshowsky http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/body-found-in-68-identified-as-new-brunswick-youth-1.615309 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-shattering-conclusion-to-42-year-old-mystery/article17940176/ Listeners attending CrimeCon 2017 from June 9th-11th at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis can receive a 20% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC20” The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

Back in January, we released a minisode about the disappearance of 47-year old Pamela Butler, who vanished from her Washington, D.C. home in February 2009. Even though Pam’s house was covered by security cameras, none of the surveillance footage showed her leaving, but her boyfriend, Jose Rodriguez-Cruz, was seen entering and exiting the home on multiple occasions in the days following her disappearance. On April 8, 2017, Jose was finally arrested and charged with Pam’s murder. Incredibly, it has now been revealed that Jose is also the prime suspect in the unsolved 1989 disappearance of his estranged wife! For the first time, “The Trail Went Cold” is presenting a bonus update minisode about one of the cases featured on our podcast, as we reveal what finally led to Jose Rodriguez-Cruz being charged with Pamela Butler’s murder and some shocking secrets which have emerged about his past. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

June 6, 1991. Greenford, England. While leaving her family’s home, 43-year old Penny Bell tells a group of builders that she is running late for an appointment. Later that morning, Penny is discovered dead inside her vehicle after being brutally stabbed 50 times. Three days before her death, Penny had withdrawn £8,500 from her bank account without telling anybody, but the money is never recovered and no one uncovers the reason for the mysterious appointment which led to Penny’s death. “The Trail Went Cold” will be travelling back to the United Kingdom for this week’s minisode, as we chronicle one of the country’s most baffling unsolved murders. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Penny_Bell http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4233444.stm http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3199425/My-precious-Penny-baby-s-helped-reclaim-mother-murder-Daughter-woman-stabbed-50-times-horrific-unsolved-killing-parent-herself.html https://www.thefreelibrary.com/WHAT+DROVE+PENNY+TO+MAKE+A+DATE+WITH+DEATH%3F%3B+Wealthy+career+woman…-a061177067 Listeners attending CrimeCon 2017 from June 9th-11th at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis can receive a 20% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC20” The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

January 6, 1982. Breckenridge, Colorado. After finishing her shift at work, 29-year old Bobbie Oberholtzer phones her husband to say she is going out for drinks with friends. Bobbie never returns home and is found shot to death the following day. Strangely, an orange sock which does not belong to Bobbie is found at the murder scene. Six months later, the body of a 21-year old missing woman named Annette Schnee is found and she is wearing the matching orange sock. This piece of evidence suggests that both victims were murdered on the same night by the same perpetrator at different locations. But who could have been responsible for such a brazen crime, and was there more than one person involved? On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we examine the infamous unsolved case known as the “Orange Sock Murders”. Special thanks to Casper for supporting our podcast. In order to save $50 on a mattress, please visit http://www.casper.com/cold and enter the promo code “cold”. Also, a big thanks to Esther Gamez for providing us with another terrific piece of cover art for this episode. Be sure to check out Esther’s Facebook and Tumblr pages to see more of her artwork. Additional Reading: http://unsolved.com/archives/bobbie-jo-oberholzer-annette-kay-schnee http://blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases/2014/12/06/breckenridge/9583/ http://www.rockymountaincoldcase.com/ “Monster” by Steve Jackson Listeners attending CrimeCon 2017 from June 9th-11th at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis can receive a 20% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC20” Click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. Click here to listen to the podcast on Stitcher. Click here to subscribe to the podcast on Google Play Music. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

May 9, 1994. Pine Bluff, Arkansas. 18-year old Cleashindra Hall phones her mother from her workplace to say she will be working late and might be calling again once her shift ends. Cleashindra never phones back and does not return home. Cleashindra’s boss, Dr. Larry Amos, tells police that an unknown individual picked her up that night, but troubling holes open up in his story and he displays some suspicious behavior. Even after a search is conducted of his home 18 years later, no hard evidence is found to incriminate Amos and the case remains at a standstill. In this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we examine the frustrating unsolved disappearance of Cleashindra Hall, a case which might only need that one crucial piece of evidence to blow it wide open. For more information about this case and the Cleashindra Hall Foundation, please visit this website… http://findcleashindra.blogspot.ca/ Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting our podcast. Go to www.HelloFresh.com and use the code cold30 to get $30 off your first week of deliveries. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Cleashindra_Hall http://charleyproject.org/case/cleashindra-denise-hall http://www.pbcommercial.com/sections/news/local/police-take-new-look-cleashindra-hall-disappearance.html Listeners attending CrimeCon 2017 from June 9th-11th at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis can receive a 20% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC20” The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

January 14, 1983. 62-year old Terri McClure travels from her hometown of Reno, Nevada to attend the wedding of her son, Tim, in Lake Tahoe. After leaving the reception that night, Terri does not return home. Three days later, she is found shot to death inside her vehicle in the parking lot of a Carson City casino. Due to some suspicious behaviour and strange inconsistencies in his story, the investigation soon zeroes in on Tim McClure as the prime suspect. Tim is charged with his mother’s murder in 1992, but the surprising end result only opens up more unanswered questions. Was Terri McClure murdered by her own son or was someone else responsible? This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” analyzes one of the most controversial and heavily discussed cases ever featured on “Unsolved Mysteries”. Additional Reading: https://unsolved.com/gallery/terri-mcclure/ https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Terri_McClure https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-04-me-6296-story.html http://articles.latimes.com/1992-11-10/local/me-55_1_court-hears-mother-killing-case Listeners attending CrimeCon 2017 from June 9th-11th at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis can receive a 20% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC20” The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

April 25, 1988. Copperas Cove, Texas. After an argument with her boyfriend, 20-year old college student Elizabeth Campbell storms out of his house and receives a ride to a convenience store. After phoning her boyfriend and making an unsuccessful attempt to convince him to pick her up, Elizabeth vanishes without a trace. Over the next few weeks, there would be multiple sightings of a woman resembling Elizabeth in the company of a possessive man, leading to speculation that she was being controlled by a pimp. Was Elizabeth abducted and murdered, or was she actually kept alive and forced into prostitution? We explore both possibilities on this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Additional Reading: http://unsolved.com/archives/elizabeth-campbell http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/campbell_elizabeth.html https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Elizabeth_Campbell Listeners attending CrimeCon 2017 from June 9th-11th at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis can receive a 20% discount on their ticket purchase by using the code “TTWC20” The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

August 17, 1992. Waukegan, Illinois. While babysitting two children, 11-year old Holly Staker is sexually assaulted and brutally murdered inside their apartment. Two months later, a suspect named Juan Rivera is brought in for questioning and confesses to the murder after four straight days of interrogation. He is subsequently convicted and receives a life sentence, but no physical evidence links Rivera to the crime and the veracity of his confession is called into question. After Rivera serves 19 years in prison, DNA evidence eventually links Holly’s death to another murder… but could another innocent person also be serving time in prison for that particular crime? This week, we present one of our most shocking episodes of “The Trail Went Cold”, which examines a truly egregious wrongful conviction and two brutal murders committed by an unknown perpetrator who has yet to be identified. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Rivera_(wrongful_conviction) https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3850 https://courts.illinois.gov/opinions/AppellateCourt/2011/2ndDistrict/December/2091060.pdf http://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/documents/rivera_brief.pdf http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-06-10/news/chi-dna-links-murder-and-rape-of-holly-staker-11-to-second-murder-8-years-later-20140610_1_holly-staker-dna-evidence-dna-match The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

January 6, 1994. Ylenia Carrisi, the 23-year old daughter of the famous Italian singing duo, Al Bano and Romina Power, and a minor celebrity in her native country, has embarked on a solo trip around the world. Shortly after arriving in New Orleans, Ylenia vanishes without explanation. Her disappearance would generate a few leads, including a suspicious street musician who attempted to use Ylenia’s passport and traveler’s checks, and a witness who may have seen her jump into the Mississippi River. Did Ylenia Carrisi drown, disappear to start a new life, or was she was a victim of foul play? We explore each possibility in this week’s minisode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ylenia_Carrisi http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/carrisi_ylenia.html http://people.com/archive/seeking-ylenia-vol-41-no-12/ http://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/28/us/woman-s-vanishing-engrosses-a-city-redolent-of-mystery.html The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

October 23, 1981. Newburgh Heights, Ohio. 17-year old Kurt Sova goes out to spend the evening with friends, but does not return home. When Kurt’s parents go searching for him, they learn that he vanished after getting drunk at a party. Five days after his disappearance, Kurt’s body is discovered in a ravine, but the coroner’s office cannot figure out his exact cause of death and determine that he died only a day or two before he was found. The confusion is heightened by suspicious behavior from the host of the party, an unexplained eyewitness sighting of Kurt, and a mysterious stranger who accurately predicted the discovery of Kurt’s body two days beforehand. By popular demand, this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” will be chronicling one of the most memorable cases ever featured on “Unsolved Mysteries” Additional Reading: http://www.unsolved.com/gallery/kurt-sova “The Plain Dealer” (October 27, 1991) The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

March 24, 1994. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Matt Flores begins a new job at a computer company called Applied Materials, Inc.. One morning, Matt shows up for a training session at their headquarters in Silicon Valley, but after parking his car, an unknown assailant shoots him in the back of the head. Even though there were more than twenty people in the parking lot and it was covered by security cameras, the killer manages to escape without being seen and the only clue turns out to be surveillance footage of a suspicious-looking Ford Explorer. The investigation fails to uncover anything in Matt’s background to suggest why he was killed. Was Matt deliberately targeted or was he a victim of mistaken identity? Our latest minisode of “The Trail Went Cold” examines a seemingly motiveless murder which is about as close to a perfect crime as you can get. Additional Reading: http://unsolved.com/archives/matt-flores http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/05/16/matt-flores-killing-a-22-year-old-santa-clara-mystery/ http://www.mercurynews.com/2009/03/24/march-2009-santa-clara-murder-still-haunts-family-15-years-later/ http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160516/from-archives-murder-of-matthew-flores-part-1-mystery-killing-leaves-scars-from-ri-to-silicon-valley The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.

June 1, 1948. Denton, Texas. 21-year old Virginia Carpenter takes a train trip from her hometown of Texarkana to enrol at the Texas State College for Women. That evening, Virginia is dropped off at her dorm by a cab driver, who claims he last saw her speaking with two unidentified males. Virginia is never seen again and it would be three days before she is reported missing. Over the next several years, there would be numerous twists and turns, including alleged sightings of Virginia and suspicions about her cab driver. It is even theorized that Virginia’s disappearance might be connected to the infamous Texarkana Moonlight Murders, which took place in her hometown two years earlier. In this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we chronicle one of the most baffling missing persons cases in the history of Texas. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Virginia_Carpenter http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/carpenter_virginia.html http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/story/2013/may/01/vanished-1948-case-remains-unsolved/314009/ “In the Line of Duty: Reflections of a Texas Ranger Private” by Lewis C. Rigler & Judyth Wagner Rigler The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.