The Trail Went Cold

March 31, 1922. Waidhofen, Germany. Four victims are bludgeoned to death with a mattock inside a barn at the Hinterkaifeck farmstead: 63-year old Andreas Gruber, his 72-year old wife Cazilia Gruber, their 35-year old daughter Viktoria Gabriel, and Viktoria’s seven-year old daughter, Cazilia Gabriel. Two additional victims - Viktoria’s two-year old son, Josef Gabriel, and the family’s 45-year old maid, Maria Baumgartner - are fatally bludgeoned inside the farmstead’s residence and the victims’ bodies are not discovered until four days later. Over the next several decades, a number of individuals are looked at as potential suspects, but there is not enough evidence to implicate any of them, so the crime has gone unsolved for an entire century. For this year’s final Halloween-themed episode, “The Trail Went Cold” is releasing a two-part series on the Hinterkaifeck Murders, which involves the deaths of six people and remains one of the most notorious cold cases in the history of Germany. Part Two of this series…

October 31, 2009. Washington D.C.. After spending Halloween night frequenting some nightclubs, 38-year old Nori Amaya takes a taxi back to her apartment complex during the early morning hours. After not hearing from her for nearly two days, Nori’s siblings visit her apartment and discover that she has been strangled to death on her bed and the perpetrator has cut off her fingernails in an apparent effort to dispose of DNA evidence. While a male DNA profile is recovered from Nori’s body and used to exclude a number of men from her personal life, it cannot be matched with anyone and the crime remains unsolved. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the bizarre death of restauranteur and salsa dancer Nori Amaya, which has become known as “The Salsa Queen Murder”. If you have any information about this case, please contact the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch at (202) 645-9600. Join us on Saturday, October 24 at 8:00pm ET for an online streaming marathon where we will be…

December 16, 1979. West Paterson, New Jersey. The bodies of 51-year old Howard Green and his 33-year old girlfriend, Carol Marron, are discovered next to a road and they have been bound, mutilated and bludgeoned to death. The couple lived in a basement apartment in Brooklyn and were believed to have been murdered less than 24 hours before they were found and it’s alleged that someone used a veterinary syringe to drain most of the blood from their bodies. Investigators express their belief that the murders are connected to Satanism and the occult and at one point, the crime is unexpectedly linked to the infamous “Son of Sam” killer, David Berkowitz. While one of the couple’s former neighbours is looked at as a potential suspect, there is no evidence to implicate anyone and the crime remains unsolved. This week, “The Trail Went Cold” presents our first Halloween-themed episode of the year, as we explore the bizarre murders of Howard Green and Carol Marron. Additional Reading:…

November 12, 1988. Chandler, Oklahoma. While transporting a shipment to Oklahoma City, 27-year old truck driver Dwayne McCorkendale pulls over at a rest area to phone his wife, but he is fatally shot in the back before he is robbed. During this time period, numerous truck drivers report being harassed by the occupants of a brown Ford Pinto, who allegedly made remarks over their CB radio about having killed a trucker. Three decades later, investigators explore the possibility that a deceased woman known only as the “El Dorado Jane Doe” was involved in Dwayne’s murder, but even though she is eventually identified, this crime is never solved. September 22, 2000. Primm, Nevada. While transporting a shipment from Los Angeles to Alberta, 28-year old Canadian truck driver Trevor Angell stops at Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino, but he vanishes without a trace and his abandoned truck is discovered in the parking lot. Prior to his disappearance, Trevor’s ATM card was used to make nine withdrawals from his bank account…

October 7, 2015. La Grange, California. After he fails to return to his home in San Jose from a motorcycle trip to Oroville, 53-year old Robert Kope is found dead by the side of a remote country road. Robert has been strangled to death with a zip tie, but there are no apparent signs of struggle and his motorcycle is located down the road a quarter-mile away from his body. Seven years earlier, Robert had been engaged to be married to a woman who died after being strangled with a zip tie, but her death was ruled to be a suicide and investigators are unable to uncover a connection between the two deaths or a logical motive for Robert’s murder. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a perplexing crime known as “The Zip Tie Murder” which has gone unsolved for over a decade. Special thanks to listener Phoebe Holmes for narrating the opening of this episode. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department at (209) 525-7080. Additional…

April 9, 2008. Gastonia, North Carolina. After having spent the previous day suffering from a stomach virus, 22-year old Jamie Fraley speaks to a friend on the phone from her apartment during the early morning hours. She says that someone has shown up to give her a ride to the hospital, but after the call ends, Jamie is never heard from again. Suspicion turns towards her fiancée’s father, Ricky Simonds Sr., who lived at Jamie’s apartment complex and had allegedly displayed inappropriate behavior towards her. Two months later, Ricky Sr. is found dead after trapping himself inside the trunk of his estranged ex-girlfriend’s car and succumbing to heat stroke, but even though he is investigated for potential involvement in Jamie’s disappearance, there is not enough evidence to implicate him and Jamie is never found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the unsolved disappearance of Jamie Fraley. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Gaston County Police Department…

March 18, 1981. Springfield, Illinois. An unknown assailant walks into the Lauterbach Cottage Hardware Store to commit a robbery and grabs an axe from the shelf to bludgeon three victims: the 48-year old co-owner, Yvonne Lauterbach; a 37-year old sewing machine repair shop owner, Floyd Giddings; and a 64-year old customer, John Ewing. While John is pronounced dead at the scene, Yvonne and Floyd manage to survive, but are left with debilitating injuries. Numerous witnesses describe seeing a light-skinned man leaving the store right before the bodies were discovered, but even though a psychiatric patient and a convicted robber are each looked at as potential suspects, there is not enough evidence to implicate anyone and the Lauterbach Hardware Axe Attacks remain unsolved. November 10, 1993. Warminster, Pennsylvania. 20-year old Seann Campbell and his 20-year old friend, Bryan Benson, show up to work the closing shift together at a West Coast Video store, but when the owner arrives the following morning, he…

June 17, 1969. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 12-year-old Patty Chesher leaves her residence in order to go door-to-door and sell some raffle tickets, but after her next-door neighbour purchases a ticket, she vanishes without a trace. While the police initially suspect that Patty ran away voluntarily, her family does not believe this and when she fails to resurface, investigators start exploring the possibility that she was the victim of foul play. Four decades later, it is announced that no less than four persons of interest popped up on the radar after drawing suspicion with some questionable behaviour after Patty went missing, but there is no conclusive evidence to implicate any of them and Patty is never found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we travel to Albuquerque in order to explore a missing children’s case which has gone unsolved for over 57 years. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Albuquerque Police Department at (505) 242-2677. Additional Reading:…

October 27, 2006. Sacramento County, California. While performing his overnight patrol duty for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, 38-year old Deputy Sheriff Jeffrey Mitchell sends a message to dispatch that he has pulled over a white Chevrolet van with no plates in a rural area. Minutes later, a clicking noise is heard on the radio and Jeffrey is soon found dead on the ground behind his patrol car, as it turns out he had gotten into a violent struggle before he was shot in the head with his own service revolver. Twelve hours later, a white Chevrolet van containing the bodies of 43-year old Allan Shubert and 28-year old Nicole Welch is found in the Cosumnes River over 20 miles away and it is determined that they succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Over the years, law enforcement explores the possibility that Allan and Nicole’s deaths are connected to Jeffrey’s murder, but no conclusive answers can be found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the bizarre murder of a…

October 8, 1976. Benton County, Indiana. A farmer discovers a large cardboard shipping box in his cornfield which contains the body of an elderly woman who has been shot through the head. Since the victim cannot be identified, she remains a Jane Doe and is nicknamed “The Box Lady of Benton County”. Nearly 50 years later, genetic genealogy finally identifies the victim as 69-year old Jane Hart, who lived in Chicago around the time of her death, but the identity of her killer and the motive for the crime remain unknown. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the unsolved murder of Jane Hart, a former Jane Doe whose recent identification has also brought up more questions than answers. In addition, this episode will also explore the story of a Jane Doe from Benton County, Arkansas who was found murdered in 1990, but was identified three decades later as a 28-year old victim named Donna Sue Nelton. Special thanks to listener Shane Beneke for narrating the opening of this episode. if you have…

January 26, 1980. Nantucket, Massachusetts. The brother of 49-year old Margaret Kilcoyne wakes up and discovers that she is missing from her vacation home, even though her car, coat and winter boots have been left behind. Prior to her disappearance, Margaret had completed a scientific research breakthrough at her job in New York City, but was also displaying erratic behaviour to suggest she was suffering from mental health issues. Over one week later, some of Margaret’s personal items, including her wallet and passport, are discovered in a swamp area about a mile from her residence, though the authorities suspect the items may have been planted there following the original search effort for her. While Margaret’s brother believes that she chose to end her own life by walking to a nearby beach and drowning herself in the Atlantic Ocean, other people associated with the case suspect that something else happened, but no trace of Margaret is ever found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we travel…

April 26, 1970. East Pikeland Township, Pennsylvania. While on a weekend camping trip with his Boy Scout troop, eleven-year old Terry Bowers is discovered dead inside his sleeping bag after having been stabbed four times during the early morning hours. Even though Terry was sleeping outside and there were nearly 30 other people at the campsite, no one reported seeing or hearing anything unusual and the murder weapon cannot be found. An extensive investigation turns up some leads, but no solid suspects, so Terry’s murder is never solved and the motive for the crime remains unclear. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the death of Terry Bowers, one of the most perplexing child murders you’ll ever find. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Embreeville station of the Pennsylvania State Police at (610) 486-6280 or Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (1-800-472-8477). Additional Reading:…

June 6, 1993. Windsor, North Carolina. After a Be-Lo supermarket closes for the night, a gunman emerges from a hiding spot and forces the two employees - 47-year old manager Grover “Bud” Cecil and 36-year old casher Joyce Coburn Reason - to hand over $3,000 from the safe. The gunman then orders the employees and four members of an after-hours cleaning crew - 48-year old Johnnie Rankins, 40-year old Sylvester “Tony” Welch”, 48-year old Thomas Hardy and his 50-year old brother Jasper Hardy - to the back of the store, where they are bound and stacked on top of each other before they are shot. While Bud, Joyce and Johnnie are killed, the other three victims survive and provide a description of the perpetrator, but he is never tracked down or identified. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore an horrific and baffling crime known as the “Be-Lo Murders”, which has gone unsolved for over 30 years. If you have information about this case, please contact the Windsor Police Department at (252)…

June 24, 1974. Burlington, New Jersey. 14-year old Margaret Ellen Fox boards a bus to travel to the nearby township of Mount Holly in order to meet a man named John Marshall and never returns home. Days earlier, Margaret had placed an ad in the newspaper offering her services as a babysitter and received a phone call from Marshall, who offered her a job babysitting his son, but it seems apparent this was a set-up. Margaret’s family receives a phone call and a pair of letters demanding a $10,000 ransom for her safe return, but the kidnapper eventually ceases all communication and Margaret is never found. October 9, 1984. Mercedes, Texas. 21-year old Kim Leggett disappears while working a shift at her workplace, the Ross Gin Company. Witnesses report having last seen Kim speaking with a pair of unidentified men, so there is fear that she was the victim of an abduction. Kim’s family receives a phone call from an anonymous man demanding money for her safe return and they soon receive a ransom letter for $250,000…

August 25, 1973 Adelaide, Australia. While attending a football match at the Adelaide Oval stadium alongside their respective families, 11-year old Joanne Ratcliffe and four-year old Kirste Gordon leave their seats to go to the toilet together, but never return. After Joanne and Kirste are reported missing, numerous eyewitnesses report having seen them in the company of a middle-aged man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and since the two girls appeared to be in distress, they were likely the victims of an abduction. Over the years, a number of known pedophiles are looked at as potential suspects in the case, but there is not enough evidence to implicate any of them, so Joanne and Kirste are never found. On last week’s episode, we presented Part One of our series about the 1966 disappearance of the Beaumont children. This week, we will not only conclude our series about the Beaumont case, but also explore another unsolved Australian mystery known as the “Adelaide Oval Abductions” and look into the possibility that…

January 26, 1966. Adelaide, Australia. Three children from the Beaumont family – nine-year old Jane, seven-year old Arnna and four-year old Grant – leave their residence in order to travel to the beach in the suburb of Glenelg, but they never return home. A number of eyewitnesses report having seen the children in the company of an unidentified man before they went missing and this person is believed to be responsible for their disappearances. Over the years, investigators explore a number of potential suspects and perform excavations at various locations, but no trace of Jane, Arnna or Grant is ever found. This week, “The Trail Went Cold” will be releasing the first part of a special two-part episode about one of the famous mysteries in the history of Australia: the disappearance of the Beaumont children. Special thanks to listener Kristen Rodway for narrating the opening of this episode. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_the_Beaumont_children…

May 24, 2012. Dickinson, North Dakota. After making a 100-mile commute to a worksite alongside a construction crew from Cofell’s Plumbing & Heating, 30-year old Eric Haider disappears in the middle of his shift and his crew returns back home without him. Nearly three years later, Eric’s remains are found buried at the former construction site in Dickinson inside a trench where he had last been seen working on a pipeline during his final shift. While it is suspected that Eric’s co-workers buried him alive and orchestrated a cover-up, the authorities do not believe they have the necessary evidence to file charges against anyone, so Eric’s death remains shrouded in mystery. At the direct request of the victim’s family, this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” will explore the suspicious death of Eric Haider. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Dickinson Police Department at (701) 456-7759. Additional Reading:…

August 1, 1989. Prince George, British Columbia. After meeting an unidentified bearded man at a local pub, 26-year old Ronnie Jack is supposedly offered a temporary job at a remote logging camp located about 40 kilometres away. Later that night, Ronnie, his 26-year old spouse Doreen Jack, and their two children – nine-year old Russell and four-year old Ryan – are seen climbing into this man’s pick-up truck, but after they drive away, the family is never heard from again. Over the years, investigators explore some leads, including an anonymous phone tip about the victims’ remains being buried on a ranch, but no trace of the Jack family is ever found. To commemorate Canada Day, this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” explores the unsolved disappearance of an Indigenous family, which is considered to be one of the most baffling mysteries in the history of the country. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Prince George detachment of the RCMP at (250) 561-3300 or Northern B.C.…

June 28, 2004. Newberry Springs, California. After experiencing a rough six months living in California, 30-year old April Pitzer makes plans to return to her home state of Arkansas to live with her mother, but before she can make the trip, she vanishes without explanation. Shortly before she went missing, April had crossed paths with the wife of a man who had gone to prison years earlier after she testified as an informant in a federal drug case, leading April to fear that her life might be in danger. A year-and-a-half later, some of April’s personal belongings are found scattered in a remote mining area of the Mojave Desert, but even though a number of abandoned mine shafts are searched and some sketchy local residents are looked at as potential suspects, no trace of April is ever found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the tragic story of April Pitzer, who went missing after finding herself trapped in a dangerous situation. If you have any information about this case, please…

May 9, 2013. Bowling Green, Ohio. The body of 66-year old Dawn Glanz, a retired art professor from Bowling Green State University, is discovered inside her bathroom by her husband, Bob Brown, and the authorities initially believe that she suffered a fatal stroke and died of natural causes. However, before Dawn’s body can be cremated, police receive an anonymous tip expressing concern that Bob may have killed Dawn in order to inherit her $2 million estate and a new autopsy reveals that she received a stab wound to the head and the shock caused her to succumb to a heart attack. After Dawn’s death is reclassified as a homicide, investigators uncover some troubling holes in Bob’s original story, but there is not enough evidence to file charges and her murder officially remains unsolved. November 22, 2009. Bowling Green, Kentucky. 54-year old Bettina Richmond, a mathematics professor at Western Kentucky University, leaves her home to play racquetball at the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation facility. When she…

March 21, 2008. Cowan, Indiana. After leaving his job at Ball State University, 48-year old Garth Rector returns to his rented farmhouse before he is shot five times inside the kitchen by an intruder who presumably broke into the residence. While there is initial speculation that the crime was a burglary gone wrong, the only item which appears to be stolen is Garth’s wedding ring. At the time of the murder, Garth was separated from his wife and had conducted affairs with some other women who had spouses of their own, but while there are a number of persons of interest, investigators do not have enough evidence to implicate any of them. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the unsolved murder of Garth Rector. So if you happen to have any information about this case, please contact the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at (765) 747-7878. Additional Reading: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Garth_Rector https://unsolved.com/podcasts/silent-witness/…

May 20, 2005. North Charleston, South Carolina. After returning to her apartment from work, 32-year old Brandy Hanna vanishes without a trace and after she fails to answer repeated calls to her cell phone over the course of the weekend, she is officially reported missing. One of Brandy’s neighbours report having seen her climbing into a red truck on the night she vanished and while it happens to match the description of trucks which are owned by two of Brandy’s ex-boyfriends, there is no evidence to implicate either of them. Eleven years later, one of Brandy’s former boyfriends is charged with obstruction of justice for having lied to police during the original investigation, but she continues to remain a missing person. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the unsolved disappearance of Brandy Hanna, who went missing after being involved in a love triangle with two men. If you have any information about this cae, please contact the North Charleston Police Department at (843) 740-2800.…

February 26, 2010. Broome, Australia. After spending the night out drinking with friends, 21-year old Josh Warneke starts to walk home, but he is soon found dead by the side of the road with a fatal head injury. Two-and-a-half years later, a young Aboriginal man named Gene Gibson is charged with Josh’s murder after confessing that he bludgeoned him to death with a metal pole, but since his confession is thrown out before trial, Gene winds up pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and is sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. However, since the police used a number of questionable tactics, the Western Australia Court of Appeal quashes Gene’s conviction in 2017 and he is released from prison, but there are no conclusive answers about who was responsible for Josh’s death. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we travel down under to Australia to explore one of their most controversial cases in recent memory. Special thanks to listener Kristy Ward for narrating the opening of…

March 14, 1988. Union Township, Ohio. 18-year old Scott Hilbert leaves a note on his parents’ refrigerator to say that he is borrowing the family car to go visit a friend at Ohio State University, but he never returns and vanishes without a trace. Three-and-a-half weeks later, the abandoned car is discovered 1,700 miles away on the slope of a remote canyon in Mohave County, Arizona and while some of Scott’s belongings are missing, others are scattered outside the vehicle. The odometer shows an additional 2,000 miles which cannot be accounted for and while it seems apparent that someone made a failed attempt to dispose of the car, no one knows why it wound up at this location and Scott is never found. February 13, 1998. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. 20-year old Steven Mylan drives away from his family’s residence and never returns, but while there is a record of his car crossing the border into New York state the following day, no one can be certain if Steven was actually driving it. Nearly four months later,…

June 4, 2019. Fairview Park, Ohio. 40-year old Carnell Sledge and his 33-year old friend, Kate Brown, agree to meet up at the Rocky River Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks and they each drive there in their respective vehicles. Within 15 minutes of their arrival, Carnell and Kate are both fatally shot in the head near a park bench and the perpetrator manages to flee the scene without anyone seeing or hearing anything. Investigators look into the backgrounds of both victims to see if anyone had a motive to harm them, but are unable to turn up any evidence to implicate anyone and the crime remains unsolved. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a baffling double homicide known as the “Park Bench Murders”. If you have information about this case, please contact Cleveland Metroparks Police Department at (440) 331-5219, the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office at (216) 622-6842, or the Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County at (216) 252-7463. Additional Reading:…

July 11, 2006. Snohomish County, Washington. 56-year old Mary Cooper and her 27-year old daughter, Susanna Stodden, leave their homes in Seattle in order to go hiking on the Pinnacle Lake Trail over 60 miles away. Later that day, Mary and Susanna’s bodies are found alongside the trail after they have both been shot in the head and even though some of their clothing was removed, neither of them were sexually assaulted. For years, Mary’s husband is looked at as a potential suspect before he is officially ruled out, but even though a partial male DNA profile is eventually found under Susanna’s fingernails, it has not been matched to anyone. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a double homicide known as the “Pinnacle Lake Murders” which has gone unsolved for nearly 20 years. In addition, we’ll also discuss the unsolved murders of 25-year old Patricia Dixon and her five-year old daughter, Amanda Dixon, who also lived in the Seattle area and were both shot to death inside their motel room…

July 26, 1988. Jackson, Mississippi. After getting into an argument with her mother, seven-year old Daffany Tullos leaves her grandparents’ residence and is last seen walking down the street by neighbours before she disappears. Suspicion turns towards Ernest Lee Epps, the boyfriend of Daffany’s mother, who was charged with sexual battery for allegedly molesting Daffany and released from jail on bond the same day she went missing. However, there is no evidence to implicate Ernest and even though a shirt belonging to Daffany is found in a neighbour’s yard a year-and-a-half later, no trace of her is ever found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a missing children’s case which has gone unsolved for nearly 38 years. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1234. Additional Reading: https://charleyproject.org/case/daffany-sherika-tullos https://www.newspapers.com/image/184041774/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/184088100/…

December 13, 1976. Fairfield, Maine. The daughter of 31-year old Pauline Rourke kisses her sleeping mother goodbye before leaving for school, but when she returns home later that day, Pauline has vanished without a trace. Suspicion turns towards Pauline’s live-in friend, Albert Pat Cochran, who frequently fought with her and had developed an odd obsession with the recent murder of another woman from the area named Janet Baxter. Two decades later, Pat is charged and convicted of Janet’s murder, but even though he is suspected of being responsible for Pauline’s disappearance, there is not enough evidence to implicate him and Pauline is never found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore an unsolved missing persons case involving a victim who has not been seen in nearly 50 years. If you happen to have any information about this case, please contact the Maine State Police at (207) 624-7143. Additional Reading: https://charleyproject.org/case/pauline-rourke…

July 29, 1965. Gothenburg, Sweden. After meeting together at a café, 21-year old Jan Olof Dahlsjo, 22-year old Gay Roger Karlsson and 16-year old Kjell-Ake Johansson all climb into a Volvo belonging to Jan Olof’s brother, but the three men and the car soon vanish without a trace. That very same day, 18-year old Hubner “Hymme” Lundquist also disappears after travelling from his family’s cottage in Torekov to Gothenburg Central Station. There is speculation that the two cases might be connected to each other, as well as a bank robbery which also took place in Gothenburg that same afternoon, but this is never conclusively proven and none of the four missing victims are ever found. For the first time ever, “The Trail Went Cold” will be travelling to Sweden to explore a mystery known as “The Dahlsjo Case”. Be sure to check out the podcast, "Global True Crime", on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahlsj%C3%B6_Case https://www.sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/589089…

May 29, 2011. Florence, Kentucky. After missing their morning church service, 74-year old Bill Stephenson and his 74-year old wife, Peggy Stephenson, are found murdered inside their condo. Their causes of death are listed as blunt force trauma and sharp force trauma and while few details about the crime scene are released to the public, it’s reported that the victims’ bodies and a number of items in the condo were moved around and staged in a specific fashion in order to send some sort of message. It’s believed that the killer remained at the scene for hours after committing the murders and even though an unidentified DNA profile is found there, it is never matched to anyone and the crime remains unsolved. July 30, 2011. Norwalk, Iowa. A fire breaks out at the rural home of 79-year old Bill Wood and his 72-year old wife, Kay Wood, and burns their residence to the ground. After the fire is put out, Bill’s charred body is found at the scene and it turned out he was shot to death, but there is no sign of Kay…

August 7, 1973. Fontana, California. A CB radio operator hears a broadcast from a crying boy calling himself “Larry”, who claims that his father is dead and he needs help. Other CB operators throughout the United States start receiving broadcasts from Larry on their radios and he eventually reveals that he was involved in an accident in a remote part of New Mexico and is trapped inside an overturned pick-up truck alongside his father’s body. While Larry claims that he is using the truck’s CB radio to communicate, he fails to provide many specific details about his location or his background. Even though a massive search operation is launched, no trace of Larry or his truck can be found, leading to speculation that the whole incident was an elaborate hoax, but the mysterious broadcaster known only as “Lost Boy Larry” is never identified. To commemorate our episode’s release date of April 1, we will be doing something a little differently from the norm this week by chronicling the saga of “Lost Boy Larry”.…

December 14, 2000. Callahan, Florida. After picking up a prescription from a pharmacy, 51-year old Jackie Markham returns home from work, but she soon vanishes without a trace and the prescription is found on the front seat of her car inside the garage. Jackie’s boyfriend, Archie Carroll, claims she phoned him to say that a drunk man named “Richard” had unexpectedly shown up at her house, but by the time Archie drove over there to check on her, Jackie was gone. Investigators explore a number of different leads, including the possibility that Jackie was harmed by a suspected serial killer or that Archie himself could have been responsible for her disappearance, but there is no evidence of what happened. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the disappearance of Jackie Markham, which has gone unsolved for 25 years. Special thanks to listener Ryan Sheesley for narrating the opening of this episode. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Nassau County Sheriff’s…

March 16, 1990. San Francisco County, California. 17-year old Toni Clark, who happens to be two months pregnant, leaves her cousin’s residence in Oakland to drive back to her apartment in San Bruno in her boyfriend’s Chevrolet Camaro. Shortly thereafter, the stalled Camaro is discovered on the Bay Bridge and after another motorist crashes into it, investigators conclude that Toni was likely propelled off the bridge into San Francisco Bay. However, Toni’s body is never recovered and there are a number of odd discrepancies, such as reported sightings of a black male next to the Camaro shortly before the accident and a bizarre anonymous phone call to Toni’s mother, which cause speculation that Toni was abducted. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we will explore whether Toni Clark was actually the victim of a tragic accident or if something much more sinister happened. In addition, we’ll also discuss the unsolved disappearances of 28-year old Diego Garcia, 41-year old Carmen Burhans Garcia and…

March 1, 1932. East Amwell Township, New Jersey. 20-month old Charles Lindbergh Jr., the son of renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh, is abducted from his crib in the nursery of his home and a note is left behind demanding a $50,000 ransom for the baby’s safe return. Even though the ransom is eventually paid out to an unidentified man at a cemetery in the Bronx, the child is not returned and his body is found in a wooded area located just over four miles from the Lindbergh residence. His cause of death is a fractured skull and it is believed that he was killed on the very same night he was kidnapped. Over two years later, a suspect named Bruno Richard Hauptmann is charged, convicted and executed for the child’s murder. However, some people believe that Hauptmann was railroaded and even though nearly a century has passed, there is still a lot of controversy and debate surrounding one of the most famous cases of all time. To commemorate the milestone of our ten-year anniversary as a podcast, “The Trail Went…

March 1, 1932. East Amwell Township, New Jersey. 20-month old Charles Lindbergh Jr., the son of renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh, is abducted from his crib in the nursery of his home and a note is left behind demanding a $50,000 ransom for the baby’s safe return. Even though the ransom is eventually paid out to an unidentified man at a cemetery in the Bronx, the child is not returned and his body is found in a wooded area located just over four miles from the Lindbergh residence. His cause of death is a fractured skull and it is believed that he was killed on the very same night he was kidnapped. Over two years later, a suspect named Bruno Richard Hauptmann is charged, convicted and executed for the child’s murder. However, some people believe that Hauptmann was railroaded and even though nearly a century has passed, there is still a lot of controversy and debate surrounding one of the most famous cases of all time. To commemorate the milestone of our ten-year anniversary as a podcast, “The Trail Went…

March 1, 1932. East Amwell Township, New Jersey. 20-month old Charles Lindbergh Jr., the son of renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh, is abducted from his crib in the nursery of his home and a note is left behind demanding a $50,000 ransom for the baby’s safe return. Even though the ransom is eventually paid out to an unidentified man at a cemetery in the Bronx, the child is not returned and his body is found in a wooded area located just over four miles from the Lindbergh residence. His cause of death is a fractured skull and it is believed that he was killed on the very same night he was kidnapped. Over two years later, a suspect named Bruno Richard Hauptmann is charged, convicted and executed for the child’s murder. However, some people believe that Hauptmann was railroaded and even though nearly a century has passed, there is still a lot of controversy and debate surrounding one of the most famous cases of all time. To commemorate the milestone of our ten-year anniversary as a podcast, “The Trail Went…

March 1, 1932. East Amwell Township, New Jersey. 20-month old Charles Lindbergh Jr., the son of renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh, is abducted from his crib in the nursery of his home and a note is left behind demanding a $50,000 ransom for the baby’s safe return. Even though the ransom is eventually paid out to an unidentified man at a cemetery in the Bronx, the child is not returned and his body is found in a wooded area located just over four miles from the Lindbergh residence. His cause of death is a fractured skull and it is believed that he was killed on the very same night he was kidnapped. Over two years later, a suspect named Bruno Richard Hauptmann is charged, convicted and executed for the child’s murder. However, some people believe that Hauptmann was railroaded and even though nearly a century has passed, there is still a lot of controversy and debate surrounding one of the most famous cases of all time. To commemorate the milestone of our ten-year anniversary as a podcast, “The Trail Went…

September 23, 2012. Unionville, Tennessee. A fire breaks out at the farmhouse of 69-year old Molli McClaran and her 72-year old husband, Leon “Bubba” McClaran, which burns the whole residence to the ground. At the time, the couple had been taking care of two of their grandchildren - nine-year old Chloie Leverette and seven-year old Gage Daniel - but even though the burnt remains of Molli, Bubba and their two pets are recovered from the rubble, the children’s remains cannot found. While the authorities are unable to conclusively determine what started the fire, there is speculation that it was an act of arson and Chloie and Gage could have been abducted by an unknown party. Were the two children the tragic victims of an accidental fire or did something more nefarious happen? On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a bizarre missing children’s case which does not have any definitive answers. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at…

January 15, 1991. Kingston, Tennessee. 35-year old Karen Farmer Beard, who happens to be seven-and-a-half months pregnant, drops off her two daughters at the residence of the parents of her ex-husband, Reece Beard. Hours later, Karen’s abandoned car is found next to a bridge located a quarter-mile away and while a woman claiming to be Karen had phoned a towing service and asked them to pick up her car, investigators believe the caller may have been an impostor. Since Karen was engaged in a heated child custody battle with Reece and alleged that he was the father of her unborn child, there is speculation that this may have been connected to her disappearance and multiple people were involved in covering the whole thing up, but no trace of Karen is ever found. November 12, 1987. Phillips, Wisconsin. After finishing her shift at a factory, 23-year old Marchelle “Shelly” Hansen vanishes without a trace and her abandoned car is found in the parking lot of a resort over ten miles away. Shelly had recently told her…

September 24, 1963. Opa-locka, Florida. 29-year old pilot Geoffrey Sullivan takes off in a twin-engine Beechcraft Travel Air plane from Opa-locka Airport and is accompanied by 37-year old freelance journalist Alex Rorke, as well as a passenger believed to be a Cuban exile named Enrique Molina Garcia. Over the next several hours, Sullivan flies through the Caribbean and changes his flight plan several times, but after stopping to refuel on the island of Cozumel, the plane and its passengers vanish without a trace. Since Sullivan and Rorke were heavily involved in anti-communist missions against Fidel Castro, it is rumoured that they may have been captured and held prisoner in Cuba for years. Even though Sullivan’s daughter eventually files a wrongful death lawsuit against the Cuban government, she receives no conclusive answers about what happened. On this week’s episode, we explore a Cold War era mystery about a missing aircraft and two American men. Additional Reading:…

June 27, 2000. Warren, Massachusetts. After showing up at Comins Pond to work her shift as a lifeguard, 16-year old Molly Bish vanishes without a trace and leaves all of her personal belongings behind on the beach. The previous day, Molly’s mother had dropped her off and noticed a suspicious-looking man inside a white car in the beach’s parking lot and numerous witnesses report seeing a white car in the area on the morning of Molly’s disappearance. Nearly three years later, Molly’s remains are discovered in a wooded area five miles from Comins Pond and it is believed that she was the victim of an abduction and a homicide. Over the years, a number of different individuals are looked at as persons of interest, but there is not enough conclusive evidence to implicate any of them, so the crime remains unsolved. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the disappearance and murder of Molly Bish, as well as its potential connections to the case featured on last week’s episode: the 1993 murder of…

August 5, 1993. Sturbridge, Massachusetts. After leaving her grandparents’ cottage to view some puppies at a neighbour’s farm, ten-year old Holly Piirainen disappears and one of her shoes is found next to the road. Over two months later, Holly’s skeletal remains are discovered in a wooded area five miles away and it is believed that she was the victim of an abduction and a homicide. Over the years, investigators look at a number of different persons of interest, including a man in a pick-up truck who was supposedly seen in the area right before Holly went missing. They also explore the possibility that the case might be connected to the 2000 disappearance and murder of 16-year old Molly Bish, which took place in the nearby town of Warren, but neither crime is ever solved. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the tragic abduction and murder of Holly Piirainen. if you have any information about this case, please call a tip line which has been set up at (413) 426-3507. Additional Reading:…

May 6, 2014. Putnam County, Georgia. After he is not heard from for over four days, the beheaded body of 88-year old Russell Dermond is discovered inside his garage and his 87-year old wife, Shirley Dermond, is missing. Ten days later, Shirley’s body is discovered five miles away in Lake Oconee after she was weighed down in the water with some cinder blocks. Her cause of death is determined to blunt force trauma, but Russell’s head is never recovered. Investigators are unable to uncover any strong suspects and there is nothing in the Dermonds’ background to indicate why they would be the victims of such a brutal crime. In recent years, traces of unidentified touch DNA has been found on Russell’s clothing, but the murders continue to remain unsolved. For our first episode of 2026, “The Trail Went Cold” explores the unsolved double homicide of an elderly couple, which is considered to be one of the most baffling cold cases of the modern era. If you have any information about this case, please contact the…

“Below the Surface” is a true crime podcast covering a variety of strange and bizarre cases with one common theme; a water connection. The show features both solved and unsolved cases, some of which are well known, while others have received little attention. In this special preview of Episode 1, we explore the puzzling case of journalist Kim Wall who was best known for her articles in the Guardian, New York Times, and Vice. She disappeared in a submarine beneath the Oresund Strait after interviewing inventor Peter Madsen on August 10, 2017. We can only speculate on what exactly happened below the surface, but upon the submarine’s resurface, Kim was missing, but Peter Madsen was not. Below the Surface is hosted by Olivia McKenzie (co-host of True Crime Society). It's produced by Mike Morford of AbJack Entertainment (co-host of Criminology). Research and writing by Abagail Belcastro (Campus Killings). You can find Below the Surface on your favourite social media outlets.

Since “The Trail Went Cold” originally launched in February 2016, we have featured over 500 cold cases on the podcast, a number of which have wound up being solved or experienced major developments. As a result, we have now released a total of seven special “update” episodes. In this particular episode, we’ll share a number of major updates which occurred in 2025, such as a resolution in the 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders, Tommy Zeigler’s most recent attempts to overturn his conviction for the 1975 Winter Garden Furniture Store Murders, the potential discovery of three missing victims from the 1958 Martin Family Disappearance, and the identification of a 1971 murder victim formerly known as “Little Miss Panasoffkee”. These are just some of the cases we’ll be discussing on our most recent “update” episode of “The Trail Went Cold”. Here are the links to our six previous “update” episodes: https://trailwentcold.podbean.com/e/the-trail-went-cold-episode-155-update/…

For the month of December, True Crime creators are getting together for a series titled “True Crime Convos” in which we have conversations about podcasting, true crime, and the nexus between the two. We discuss creating our shows, behind-the-scenes moments, fears and hopes, the cases that have gripped us, and more. In this episode, I will be joined by Nina Innsted from “Already Gone” and John from “Sins & Survivors”, as we discuss how we got into podcasting, our passion projects, what we have in store for 2026, our favourite holiday traditions, and also things you might not know about us! Enjoy this conversation and be sure to check out the rest of the “True Crime Convos” series: • Jessie (Love Murder), Bob (Buried), Joshua (Somewhere in the Pines)• Javier (Pretend), Kristen (Murder, She Told), Shaun (Sins & Survivors)• Patrick (True Crime Obsessed), Josh (True Crime Bullshit), Eric (True Consequences)• Gillian (True Crime Obsessed), Alvin (Affirmative Murder), Lanie (True Crime Cases with Lanie)• Aaron…

Christmas Eve 1963. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 34-year old Lucille Rinaldi, who happens to be five months pregnant, is bludgeoned and suffocated to death inside an apartment belonging to her husband, Frank Rinaldi. Even though Frank was supposedly out Christmas shopping when the crime took place, he is charged and convicted of Lucille’s murder after investigators learn that Frank took out a life insurance policy on his wife and there are also allegations surface that he was a closeted gay man. However, after the Supreme Court of North Carolina rules that the jury was unfairly prejudiced at Frank’s trial, his conviction is overturned and he is acquitted at his retrial. Was Lucille Rinaldi actually murdered by her husband or did the real killer manage to get away with it? On this week’s holiday-themed episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a controversial and sensationalist Christmas Eve murder case. Join us on Saturday, December 20 at 8:00pm ET for an online streaming marathon where we will be…

January 18, 2001. Miami, Florida. Geralyn Graham, the foster mother of four-year old Rilya Wilson, claims that a female caseworker from the Florida Department of Children and Families took Rilya from her residence for a medical evaluation, but never returned. Rilya is not officially reported missing until 15 months later, but the authorities become convinced that Geralyn fabricated her story and is personally responsible for Rilya’s disappearance. Geralyn is eventually charged with numerous crimes and receives a lengthy prison sentence after she is convicted of kidnapping and child abuse at her trial. Since the jury is unable to convict Geralyn of murder and Rilya’s remains are never found, there are a lot of unanswered questions about what actually happened. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore a heartbreaking and controversial missing children’s case which came about as the result of a major scandal within Florida’s foster care system. Special thanks to listener Jaclyn Collins for…

January 31, 1985. West Seneca, New York. 21-year old Leichia Reilly spends the night hanging out at a nightclub called the Pierce Arrow, but she never returns home and vanishes without a trace. Numerous witnesses recall having seen Leichia leaving the club during the early morning hours with an off-duty state trooper named Daniel Rose, but he denies this and stops cooperating with the investigation. Even though Rose is soon fired by the New York State Police and there appear to be some holes in his story, there is no evidence to implicate him in Leichia’s disappearance and she is never found. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the controversial disappearance of Leichia Reilly, which has gone unsolved for more than 40 years. In addition, we will also discuss the unsolved 1982 murder of James Adamski, who went missing during the early morning hours of Halloween after leaving a bar in the nearby village of Depew before he was found in a shallow grave in a wooded area just under two…

September 17, 1954. Salt Lake City, Utah. Five-year old Gregory MaComb is abducted from his apartment and found dead in a creek bed after he has been sexually assaulted, strangled and bludgeoned to death. A witness reports having seen a man carrying Gregory out of the apartment house and placing him inside his car and he seems to match the description of Norman Ash Fackrell, a friend of Gregory’s mother. Nearly three years later, Fackrell is charged with Gregory’s murder, but winds up being acquitted at trial, so the truth about who was responsible for the crime remains shrouded in mystery. Was Norman Ash Fackrell the right perpetrator all along or did someone else kill Gregory? On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we look at both sides of this controversial case. Special thanks to listener Fran Krause for narrating the opening of the episode. Additional Reading: https://www.newspapers.com/image/595549367/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/599289443/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/599195293/…