Episodes

Jeffrey Lynn Smith’s mother was a housekeeper for Bill Clinton’s family and was named after Virginia Clinton Kelley’s husband at the time - Jeff Dwire. She never loved the name so she went by Lynn, Lynn went missing on December 4, 1985, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was walking home with her boyfriend and a friend from school during the festive season. Lynn's boyfriend claims they parted ways, but she never made it home. The police initially treated her disappearance as a runaway case and did no...

Sigrid Stevenson, a 25-year-old graduate student at Trenton State College in New Jersey, was found brutally beaten to death on September 4, 1977. She had returned to campus after hitchhiking through Canada and New England and planned to spend the night in Kendall Hall to practice the piano. Her body was discovered by a security guard, naked and covered with a piano cover, with her wrists tied behind her back. The police ruled out robbery as a motive, as her wallet and money were found, and she w...

Michael John Olson, a 20-year-old man who had moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, went missing on December 1st, 1979. He was last seen leaving a bar at around 4:30 am driving his maroon 1979 Grand Prix. Michael had spent the day playing golf, going to a dog track, and bar hopping with friends. Despite staying out late, his friends noted that he didn't drink much. When Michael didn't show up for work the next day, his friends went to his hotel but couldn't find his car. The hotel clerk believed Mi...

Stella and JJ were roommates and close friends who lived in a working-class neighborhood in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Stella was known for her kindness and generosity towards her neighbors, while JJ was a veteran with a love for cars. On February 17, 1991, a fire broke out in their home, and the bodies of Stella and JJ were found inside. Autopsy results revealed that they had been stabbed multiple times before the fire was set. The case remains unsolved, but in recent years, Detective Rochelle ...

Christine Cole, a 10-year-old girl from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, went missing on January 6, 1988. She was last seen at a market buying gum balls and milk. Despite extensive searches and investigations, Christine's body was not found until February 28, 1988, when it was discovered near a riverbank. The autopsy revealed that she died from asphyxiation, but it was unclear whether it occurred before or after she was placed in the water. The case was initially treated as a suspicious death, but later...

Phyllis Berry, a 21-year-old Chickasaw woman, went missing on Halloween night in 1975 during the World Championship Chili Cook-off in Terlingua, Texas. She was last seen at a dance party and was later seen sitting by a campfire before disappearing. Despite extensive searches by the police, including ground searches and the involvement of the Texas Rangers, no trace of Phyllis has ever been found. There have been rumors and false reports, but her case remains unsolved, and her family believes fou...

An early morning driver notices a brush fire in a wooded area in the outskirts of Colombia, S.C and calls for help. As firefighters respond to the call and get to work extinguishing the blaze they make the gruesome discovery of 15 year-old Silene ‘Erica’ Eaddy. She had been badly beaten, set on fire, and left for dead. In the beginning, police seemed to be closing in on the people responsible, but after 19 years there has never been an arrest and no suspects have been named. Join Ali as she goes...

In the summer of 1984 Sherry Lynn Marler was riding into town with her stepdad after a morning of working on the family farm. When they arrive at the bank Sherry’s stepdad gives her a dollar to run across the street and get a soda while he goes inside to take care of business. What should have been a short and sweet errand quickly turns into a nightmare. When her stepdad returns to the truck 15 minutes later Sherry is no where to be seen. Sherry’s family, police, and the FBI will all look for he...

In 1962, fourteen year-old Larry Jo Phebus was new in North Dakota when he found himself alone on a Saturday night. His brother, who he lived with, had a double date and Larry Jo was told to stay at their hotel. When his brother returns home that evening Larry Jo is gone. Months later a farmer will find the body of a partially nude teenage boy in his field. Quickly, police realize its the missing boy Larry Jo Phebus. Police will talk to several people in the case but to date no suspect has ever ...

During a stormy August night in Tacoma, Washington 8 year-old Ann Marie Burr got up with her crying sister. After waking her mom up to help with her little sister Ann is sent back to bed. But by 5:15am Ann had vanished without a trace from her bed. The front door and a window were open but otherwise nothing was out of place. Hundreds of people will search for Ann and they’ll never find a trace of her. Years later, after Ted Bundy was arrested, police in Ann’s case wondered if a 14 year-old Bundy...

The space between the bus stop and Charles and Jennifer Chia’s apartment is 100 feet. Somewhere in that 100 feet Charles and Jennifer vanish without a trace in the middle of the day on October 18th, 1989. Quickly, everyone in the city of Reno knows Charles and Jennifer’s face and name but no leads emerge. Despite the community response weeks will go by without any sign of the children. Finally, months later, a highway worker taking a lunch break notices a human skull in an embankment. When polic...

In 1993 Hang Lee was a high school senior looking for a second job to save for college and be able to continue to give money to her parents. Her friend, Nikki, told her that her boss was looking for some extra help. Nikki did think it strange that her boss- Mark Steven Wallace - was looking for help since she had never seen any customers the entire time she worked there. Hang left for the job interview on a snowy night in January of 1993 and never returned home. Police wrote her off as a runaway...

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.