Among the Dirt and Trees

Fariba Amani was experiencing difficulties in her relationship. She suspected her boyfriend, Ramiz Golshani, was cheating on her, and she consulted a private investigator to get to the bottom of it. At the last second, she backed out, afraid of what her boyfriend would think—afraid he would get mad. They went on a cruise together, where Fariba was committed to deciding if she would stay with Golsh...

When local children stumbled across a skull on the shore of a river, police weren’t too worried. When a second skull showed up soon after, they decided to do a more thorough search just to be safe. Their search went on to reveal over 500 pieces of human bone—and a twisted killer who they knew all too well. A Note I didn’t cover this in the episode, but here is some additional reading on the media...

Rachel Cooke was visiting her hometown on winter break when she decided to go for a jog along her old path. She never came back home. Several suspects were named, but in the end, no one knew what truly happened to Rachel. Even a confession couldn’t be taken at face value—though some believe it is the absolute truth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...

In 1970, three Oklahoma teens went missing on their way to a football game. Over forty years later, a routine training exercise led police to the car they were driving—and three bodies inside. What happened to these teens? Was it an accident—or is an anonymous tip proof that there is more to this story? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19....

Lake Bodom is a lake in Finland where teens, adults, and families often go to hang out. In 1960, four teens went to camp by the lake. By morning, three of them were dead. Who is responsible for these horrible crimes? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States, but this lake is more than just drinking water. In recent months, Lake Mead’s depths have dropped to historic lows, revealing land that was previously under water. While this land does mean there are more places to put your beach chair, it also means that some of the lake’s secrets are making an appearance. Already, several bodies have been...

Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation spot, but there is more to this lake than just crystal blue waters. Deep beneath the surface of Lake Tahoe, many people believe that hundreds of perfectly preserved bodies are lying in wait. How many crimes have happened out on these waters—and what kind of evidence will we find when we take a look? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...

Bobby Dunbar was four years old when he disappeared while on a vacation with his family at the lake. Bruce Anderson was on a vacation with his mother’s employer when police arrested the man for the kidnapping of Bobby Dunbar. A short while later, Bruce Anderson was told that he was Bobby Dunbar and would be reunited with his family. He was raised as Bobby Dunbar and lived a long and happy life. Hi...

Julia Martha Thomas gets more than she bargained for when she unknowingly hires criminal Kate Webster to help her around the house. Many disputes later, Webster gets fired—but she refuses to accept it. Instead, she murders Julia Martha Thomas and chucks her her into the river before taking over her identity. It doesn’t end well. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac...

Ted Binion was a troubled heir to a casino empire who found himself participating in the local drug scene. Forced out of the casino, he ended up needing a new place to hide his immense wealth—and decided burying it on his property was the way to go. When he was found dead from an overdose and suspected suicide, police didn’t read too much into it. At least not until they found one of his former as...

Jason Sweeney was sixteen when he was killed by his best friend, two former friends, and a new romantic partner. These four murderers were all legally children, but their levels of depravity went well beyond their years. They made several plans to kill Jason and finally succeeded after luring him into the woods one Friday evening. 
The killers claimed that they did it for his paycheck–but it seems...

Nikole “Niki” Bakoles was twenty years old when she disappeared after an argument with her boyfriend. Less than a year later, parts of her body were found in the Great Salt Lake—but no one knew it was her. Dubbed “Saltair Sally” by the public, Niki was considered a Jane Doe for twelve full years with no hope of her identity ever being uncovered. Despite pushback from police, her mother insisted th...

Edith McLeroy grew up in Alabama with strict parents, a fact which created quite a bit of tension during her teen years. After sending her to live in a group home with a local pastor, Edith finds herself kicked out on the streets. She disappeared for a year before surfacing again—but she wasn’t alone. A short while later, she was married to Archie West, a leader of a local biker gang. At the age o...

Two newlyweds, Bruce and Janice Dodson, went out for a hunting trip when tragedy struck and Bruce was shot dead. Police considered it a normal hunting accident until the autopsy came back to reveal that Bruce was actually shot three times—not just once. The case quickly turned into a murder investigation when it became clear that Janice Dodson’s ex-husband was camping nearby. He was an expert hunt...

When a family consisting of two young girls, two parents, and two grandparents went out for a camping trip, they expected only joy and laughter. What they did not know was that their vehicle was spotted by a dangerous local predator, leading him right to their campsite. He stalked the family, focusing on the two young daughters. There was only one problem–the adults in his way. The Johnson family...

Moll Dyer was believed to be the inspiration for The Blair Witch Project. In her time, she was thought to have been an evil witch who cursed her town. But, some believe she was an ordinary woman who was hunted down and killed by her superstitious neighbors. The most important question is: was Moll Dyer real? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...

Mincho Donchev was serving a sentence for murder in a Bulgarian prison when he escaped. He found his way to the United States where he met his now ex-girlfriend. When they had a dispute, he tried to blow up her home. This would precede over twelve years spent hiding in the woods in Washington, robbing vacation homes and cabins to survive. No one could predict how his arrest would go down. See Priv...

Near Mexico City, you can visit la Isla de las Muñecas—the Island of the Dolls. This unsettling plot of land is covered in a collection of disembodied dolls rescued from surrounding areas and put on display, but this is no ordinary collection. The collection is meant to appease, honor, or entertain the ghost of a little girl who was found drowned in the nearby canal. Don Julian Santana Barrera col...

When a member of a logging crew goes missing in the middle of a forest, suspicion falls to his coworkers. The accused men told police that Travis Walton was taken—but police were convinced that these men murdered Travis and dumped his body somewhere in the woods. When Travis Walton showed up five days later, their theories were thrown out the window. His story was even more unbelievable than the o...

In the 1500s and 1600s, Denmark experienced its own witch craze—a period that led to the unjust execution of hundreds of accused witches. In this episode, we will explore the different tales of witches in Denmark who were accused of unimaginable crimes and the fates that they met. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell...

George Bass planned to be a wealthy private trader by transporting cargo with his new business. When the promise of riches suddenly looked to be out of reach, George made a bold move—at least that’s what the stories say. Was George Bass an honest businessman? A smuggler? A victim of the ocean? We may never know. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...

In 2007, a feral young woman was found stealing food from a village before scurrying back into the jungle where it is presumed she lived. Local villagers caught her, wanting to understand what was going on. Shortly after, a man claiming to be her father said that she was his long-lost daughter and took her home to his family. Everyone thought that was the conclusion to the story—until another fami...

Tara Calico was nineteen years old when she left for her daily bike ride and never returned. A search would ensue, but police only found proof of where she was, not where she went. When disturbing photos started popping up, police began to speculate that she might have been abducted or trafficked. Was she taken by the stalker her mother was so worried about? We may never know. See Privacy Policy a...

When a family of four traveled from Germany to the United States, they expected to make lasting memories. Unfortunately, they entered Death Valley National Park, and life had other plans. Within days, they disappeared. Within weeks, the search was given up. Within years, they were found. Kind of. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri...

When a group of 21 sailors set out to transport wheat in1902, they thought it was just another job. Within nine days, the search would be abandoned—and the crew would still be missing. Now, their tale lives on as the ghostly tale of The Flying Dutchman of the Inland Seas. What happened to them? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priva...