United States Episodes

Postulant nun Sister Robin Elam (full name: Roberta Elam) was spending time at her convent for an 8 day silent retreat. Her time was spent praying and meditating and those that knew her assumed she was also using the time to wrestle with her decision to take her vows. On June 13th, 1977 Sister Robin was sitting on the convent grounds with her prayer book when she was attacked and murdered by an unknown man. Her body is found hours after the attack and police start to investigate immediately. Despite several leads over the years none have lead to the killer of Sister Robin. Who killed this woman while she sat and prayed? Join Ali and Eli this week as we go over the details of the heinous cold case.

A hot August day in 1985 was sitting heavy that evening in the Bronx where 8 year old Equilla Hodrick was sitting with her mother on the front steps. It was in that moment that Equilla heard the song from the ice cream truck and knew it was exactly what she needed to beat the heat. She asked her mother for money but she said ‘No’. Undeterred, Equilla set off towards the truck in hopes she could still get something. As Equilla rounded the corner towards the truck this would be the last time that her mother saw her. The NYPD take her case seriously from the start but despite a quick response no sign of Equilla was ever found. Join Ali and Eli as we dig in into this unresolved missing person case.

Chance Smith was a recent ‘Student of the Week’ for his kindergarten class and said one of his favorite things was playing outside. In December of 2003 Chance was doing just that, playing outside, while his grandfather worked on an engine nearby. His grandfather stepped inside for a minute to grab something to continue his work. A neighbor saw Chance follow the family dog into the woods. When his grandfather comes back outside and hollers for him there’s no response. Quickly, family and friends are in the woods searching for him. After an hour the police are called and a huge search effort is launched to find Chance. That night Chance is found in a horse pasture less than a mile from the home and police will declare it a homicide. To date there has never been an arrest in the murder of Chance Smith. Join Ali and Eli and we review this heartbreaking cold case.

Leona Kinsey ran into a friend while grocery shopping in October of 1999 and told her that she would swing by later that evening after she met a man named ‘John’ at a different store. Leona never made it to her friends house and was never heard from again, Leona had being missing for several days when her car turned up abandoned at the store that she had told her friend she planned to meet John at. According to the store manager it had not been there in the days before. To date no trace of Leona has ever been found. Join Ali and Eli as we go over this missing person case and touch on the work of Leona’s daughter- Carolyn DeFord- who has changed the national conversation around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Sarah Greenhalgh updated her facebook status at 11:00 pm on July 8th, 2012. It said “Going to be sleeping with the window wide open…:-) Now if batsh** crazy-boy would just leave me alone…will get some much needed rest because tomorrow is Monday and I got a ton of work to do”. The next morning, just after 8am, smoke is seen billowing out of Sarah’s home. When firefighters extinguish the flames they find Sarah inside her bedroom. Police arrive and they quickly rule it a homicide. Sarah was murdered before the fire was set. Join Ali as she goes through the timeline of this intense cold case.

Jason Jolkowski was 19 years old when he seemingly vanished into thin air. Jason was called into work early on June 13th, 2001. Since his car was in the body shop he told his work that he would have to walk the 4 miles to get there. As he was getting ready to leave a coworker called back and said she would come pick him up. They agreed to meet at Benson High School which was 8 blocks from Jason’s home. At 10:45 in the morning Jason was last seen by his brother and a neighbor pulling the trash cans up from the curb and then heading in the direction of the school. When his coworker arrives to pick him up, Jason is no where to be found. She waits a half hour before driving back to work to call his home again. It’s here that they discover that Jason is missing. Join Ali and Eli as we go over this tragic missing person case.

In March of 1991 Luther Meshell, who used a wheelchair and crutches in his day to day, was found brutally murdered in his home. He had been stabbed in his back, chest, and had his throat cut. Several items were taken from the home- most notably his 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88. However, the next day police find the car parked in an apartment complex. To date no suspect has ever been named in the case and his children are desperate for answers. Join Ali on Cold and Missing while she goes over what is known about this 32 year old cold case.

In the early morning hours of June 30th, 2014 Nefertiti ‘Neffie’ Trader made an early morning run to 7-Eleven for a pack of cigarettes, two coffees, and a loaf of bread. When she returned home around 4am a neighbor, who happened to be up, looked outside his window when Neffie’s porch light turned on. He saw Neffie being forced into the back of her own car. When Neffie’s family come to her home later that day they find a loaf of bread on the front lawn that had been stepped on, an unwrapped condom on the porch, and Neffie’s shoes kicked off by the front door. They call police to report Neffie as missing and to date no trace of Nefertiti or her vehicle have been found. Listen this week as Ali and Eli go over this baffling missing person case.

Earl and Clarissa Gonzales were a father daughter duo well known in their small town of Questa, New Mexico. The entire town was shocked when Earl and Clarissa were both found murdered on September 2nd, 1999. Earl had been shot in the head while he slept and Clarissa died from a ligature strangulation. Despite confidence in the beginning of the case that it would soon be solved as of 2023 the case is cold. Join Ali and Eli as we go over the facts and rumors in this tragic cold case.

On this episode of Cold and Missing we look into the baffling missing person case of Brandon Swanson. After finishing his freshman year of college Brandon spent the day celebrating with friends, but on his drive home his car got stuck in a ditch. He called his parents and told them where he was. Brandon stayed on the phone with his parents the entire time but when they arrived to where Brandon said he was - he was nowhere to be found. Growing frustrated Brandon told his parents he was going to start walking towards the lights of the nearby town and they could pick him up there. Brandon’s parents stayed on the phone with him for another 47 minutes while he walked until they heard Brandon say “oh, shit” and the phone call ended. The next day Brandon’s car was found about 25 miles away from where he said he was. Join Ali and Eli as we review this case.

In the early morning hours of April 1, 2005 fifteen year old Aaron Dowdle was found behind a vacant warehouse beaten into a coma and stabbed. A few hours earlier Aaron’s best friend had been found in the same condition a few hours earlier and just blocks away. Both boys are rushed to the hospital and begin to recover. Tragically, Aaron will pass away from his injuries 37 days after the attack. His best friend will recover but his last memory will be from 2 days before the attack. He can’t remember anything from the day or the event itself. To date Aaron’s attacker or attackers have never been found. Join Ali and Eli as we go over this tragic cold case.

On December 20th, 2021 three year old Lina was playing with dozens of other children at the playground in her apartment complex in San Antonio, Texas. In the span of minutes Lina disappeared without a trace despite lots of parents and children nearby. Police searched every apartment in the complex and to date no sign of Lina has ever been found. Join us as Ali and Eli talk about this heartbreaking case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli look into the 2018 cold case of Kenneth Charlot. Kenneth was proud of his family and his home in Pass Christian, Mississippi reflected the love he had for all his nieces and nephews. When family couldn’t get ahold of Kenneth on Feb 1st, 2018 they knew something was immediately wrong. That evening family reported him missing after finding his home left in a suspicious manner. The next day Kenneth is found dead. Despite his family raising the alarm quickly when Kenneth disappeared this case has gone cold. Join us as we go through the timeline of events around this senseless cold case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli look into the 1983 missing person case of 2 year old Jason Cannon. Jason was playing under the watchful eye of his mother on a brisk March afternoon. Jason’s mother decided he needed a jacket and left him playing on the porch while she fetched it for him. When she returned a few minutes later Jason was gone. Within minutes the police are notified and people begin searching around the home - including a creek that ran through the backyard. The next day police will call off the search since they believed Jason was abducted. Within days police will begin to walk back this theory with no evidence to support it. Join us as we go through this baffling unresolved missing person case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli to look into the 1990 cold case of Shirley McAvoy. In August of 1990 Shirley was living in Pittsfield, Maine when she disappeared. Family and friends thought that she was taking some time to herself to process her recent separation from her husband. When family and friends go to her home to winterize it for when she returned they found a large blood stain under a couch. Months later in November a deer hunter will find the skeletal remains of Shirley in Spotsylvania, Virginia. Police quickly zero in a suspect they believed is called ‘Jerry’ but they were never able to track him down. Join us as we go through the timeline of this horrible cold case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli look into the baffling unresolved missing person case of Teekah Lewis. In 1999 Teekah was at a bowling alley with her family in Tacoma, Washington. Teekah was playing on an arcade game when her family turned around for a moment to watch someone throw a ball. When they turned back around Teekah was gone. Police immediately begin scouring the area looking for any sign of the little girl but to date no trace of Teekah has ever been found. Join Ali and Eli as we go through the timeline of events in this real life nightmare.

This week on Cold and Missing we look into the 2003 cold case of April Marie Sanchez in San Jose, CA. April was a vivacious 16 year old who was spending time with friends and her boyfriend late Friday night. When she left a little after midnight to walk home it should have taken her 25 minutes but she’ll never arrive home. Instead a man walking his dog will find her in the early morning hours the next day. To date April’s murder has never been solved. Join us as we go through the timeline of events of this tragic story

On this episode of Cold and Missing Ali and Eli review the 1998 unresolved missing person case of Dorien Thomas in Amarillo, TX. In October of 1998 Dorien was last seen riding his aqua bike to a near by truck stop to grab a snack but he was never heard from again. Police comb the area he was last seen but can’t find any trace of Dorien. Join us as we go over this important unresolved missing person case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli look into the 1986 cold case out of Fairfield, CT of an infant known as Baby Victor. Hours after being born baby Victor is found dead near Lake Mohegan. Three conservation workers were emptying trash cans when they found a newborn lying on the ground and wrapped in women’s pajamas. Surrounding the baby were coins, fruit, food, and other trinkets that police immediately label as part of a ritual. Join us as we go over this heartbreaking cold case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli take a look at the 1981 unresolved missing person case of Regina McCorkle. Regina went missing from the home she shared with her mother and her young son. When Regina’s mother came home from work she found the house locked from the inside, Regina’s son alone and locked in a bedroom, and Regina was no where to be found. The only items missing from the home was the nightgown she was last seen wearing that morning. Her clothes, shoes, car, purse, and wallet were all accounted for. To date there has been no word from Regina. Join us as we go through the timeline of this missing person case

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli look into the 1973 cold case of Sherri Swalley. Sherri was 8 years old when her father decided to take her and her little brother to Walt Disney World as a Christmas treat. Traveling from Columbus, OH to Orlando, FL Sherri’s father decided to spend Sunday Dec. 23rd in Atlanta, GA before continuing on the next day. Sherri spent the day playing with children in the apartment complex and was last seen leaving the apartment of Carolyn Ellis to go invite her father over for dinner. Later that evening police receive a call that there’s a dead girl at the apartment complex. When they arrive they don’t find anything but the next morning Sherri’s body will be found in full view of the apartments.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli look into the 2000 unresolved missing person case of Aesha Muhammad. In Nov. of 2000 Aesha was having issues with her landlord and had made plans to move in with her sister. When family suddenly stopped being able to reach Aesha they became increasingly worried not only for her, but also for her 2 1/2 year old Amaru. A few days later Amaru turns up at the front door of a church during their Sunday service. He is unharmed but Aesha is no where to be found. Once Amaru is reunited with his family he begins to tell them what he knows. That his mommy is dead and she was hit on the head. Join us as we go over this tragic unresolved missing person case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali and Eli look into the chilling cold case of Keisha Murray. In July of 2013 in Jacksonville, Fl Keisha’s body was found sitting under a tree in the Restlawn Cemetery. Police quickly conclude that it is a homicide and reveal that Keisha was bathed and dressed after her murder before being staged in the cemetery. Join Ali and Eli as they go over the details of this shocking cold case.

This week on Cold and Missing Ali looks into an unresolved missing person case. In 1947 the deadliest tornado in Oklahoma history hit Woodward, OK where 4 year old Joan Gay Croft and her family lived. Her mother was killed and her father was critically injured but Joan Gay and her sister survived the tornado and were taken to the local hospital. In the chaos that followed that evening two men entered the hospital and asked for the Croft children specifically and took Joan Gay away from her sister. Joan Gay has never been heard from since.