Among the Dirt and Trees

When five men drove to a college basketball game, their families believed they would be home as soon as the game was over. But when the men never returned, their families began to worry. Their car would be found abandoned on a winding mountain road that was surrounded by a snowy and unforgiving forest. The snow stopped search efforts shortly after, but four months later, a collection of disturbing...

Rebecca Aylward was fifteen years old when her ex-boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Joshua Davies, asked her to meet in the forest to talk. In Rebecca’s mind, the two were going to get back together. What she didn’t know was that Davies had spent recent weeks hyping himself up to kill her and actually had three separate murder plans to get the job done. While people were searching for Rebecca, Davies be...

Rebecca Aylward was fifteen years old when her ex-boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Joshua Davies, asked her to meet in the forest to talk. In Rebecca’s mind, the two were going to get back together. What she didn’t know was that Davies had spent recent weeks hyping himself up to kill her and actually had three separate murder plans to get the job done. While people were searching for Rebecca, Davies be...

Connie Smith was ten years old when she went to summer camp, and when she begged her mother to let her stay, it seemed like she was having a great time. Unfortunately, that would change almost entirely overnight. Following an altercation with a few of her fellow campers, Connie made the decision to leave camp and hitchhike home. Witnesses reported her whereabouts for a while—but then she disappear...

Daniel Slater was a man who, like many, had an ex-girlfriend. Unlike many, Slater was fixated on his ex, a young woman who was doing her best to move on with her life. She met someone new, and things were looking up. Or, they would have been—if she wasn’t being stalked. Slater was obsessed with Brianna, so obsessed that he decided that he wanted her, her new husband, her sister, and her brother-in...

Daniel Slater was a man who, like many, had an ex-girlfriend. Unlike many, Slater was fixated on his ex, a young woman who was doing her best to move on with her life. She met someone new, and things were looking up. Or, they would have been—if she wasn’t being stalked. Slater was obsessed with Brianna, so obsessed that he decided that he wanted her, her new husband, her sister, and her brother-in...

Owen Parfitt lived a life that few truly believed. He told tales of his time spent sailing as a pirate, fighting in brutal battles, and running wild with beautiful women. Most people thought his stories were fake, and by his sixties, he found himself living a new life—one with paralysis that left him entirely immobile. One day, he would ask to go sit outside. He would never be seen again. See Priv...

Maureen “Anu” Kelly was nineteen years old when she walked out into the forest on a spiritual quest. By midnight, her friends would realize that something was wrong. She left naked, only taking along a fanny pack with a knife, compass, and matches. Anu was never seen again. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

Jaryd Atadero was three years old when he and his six-year-old sister, Josallyn, went for a hike with a group of adults from their family’s resort. Along the way, Jaryd ran up ahead of the group, and a short while later, they realized that he was gone. The search for Jaryd began immediately, but the evidence turned up by the search efforts was anything but comforting. What happened to Jaryd? Was i...

Molly and Geoff decided to take on the Appalachian Trail in a six-month long adventure. These trained outdoor experts would go on to have a lovely time—until they ended up being hunted out in the wilderness by a dangerous predator with a history of crime. This is part two. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

Molly and Geoff decided to take on the Appalachian Trail in a six-month long adventure. These trained outdoor experts would go on to have a lovely time—until they ended up being hunted out in the wilderness by a dangerous predator with a history of crime. This is part one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

In 1984, Greg Jones and Fiona Slade were walking through the forest when they discovered what appeared to be bones from a deer. A few short steps later, they would realize that the bones were not from a deer at all. They were human. For decades, people would speculate about the identity and cause of death behind the Cinderford Man mystery to no avail. We still don’t know what happened to him, but...

Riverdale Road is a famous haunted location in Thornton, Colorado that runs for eleven miles in total. Local legends say that it is a dangerous road with a bloody history—a space where several people have been murdered, leaving ghosts wandering the street. This is part two. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

Riverdale Road is a famous haunted location in Thornton, Colorado that runs for eleven miles in total. Local legends say that it is a dangerous road with a bloody history—a space where several people have been murdered, leaving ghosts wandering the street. This is part one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

Serial sexual predator and murderer David Leonard Wood, also known as The Desert Killer, turned El Paso into his hunting ground back in the eighties. Women were disappearing left and right, but no one really knew what to make of it all until one woman finally managed to escape. The investigation would reveal that David L. Wood was more terrible than anyone could imagine. This is part two. See Priv...

Serial sexual predator and murderer David Leonard Wood, also known as The Desert Killer, turned El Paso into his hunting grounds back in the eighties. Women were disappearing left and right, but no one really knew what to make of it all until one woman finally managed to escape. The investigation would reveal that David L. Wood was more terrible than anyone could imagine. This is part one. See Pri...

Three friends were traveling to Finland when they boarded the Viking Sally cruise ship. A short while later, one would be dead and another would be in critical condition. Who attacked this young couple? Their traveling companion? The new friend they made that showed up covered in blood? The Boy Scout that called for help? Let’s find out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ...

Madame Mertens was a young widow looking to make an investment with her fortune. Unwittingly paired with a destitute woman called Madame Frigard who was looking to make a fortune of her own, Madame Mertens believed that she found a proper friend. Unfortunately, Madame Frigard was more interested in her money than anything else. This is part two. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

Madame Mertens was a young widow looking to make an investment with her fortune. Unwittingly paired with a destitute woman called Madame Frigard who was looking to make a fortune of her own, Madame Mertens believed that she found a proper friend. Unfortunately, Madame Frigard was more interested in her money than anything else. This is part one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

Oscar Zeta Acosta was a prominent lawyer, politician, and activist known for ruffling feathers. He wrote books. He criticized the police. He was the inspiration for Dr. Gonzo in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. And, one day, he went missing. Known for his loud personality and love of recreational drugs, countless theories have emerged throughout the years to explain his disappearance. Was his disap...

Charley Ross was only four years old when he and his brother, Walter, were abducted from their front yard while out enjoying the weather. Their abductors released Walter, but Charley never surfaced. When a ransom note arrived, his parents were horrified—and they didn’t have the money to meet the list of demands. Charley’s story was a media sensation that shook the nation. This is part two. See Pri...

Charley Ross was only four years old when he and his brother, Walter, were abducted from their front yard while out enjoying the weather. Their abductors released Walter, but Charley never surfaced. When a ransom note arrived, demanding $20,000, his parents were horrified—and worse, they didn’t have the money to meet the list of demands. Charley’s story was a media sensation that shook the nation....

Robyn Gardner went on a trip to Aruba—and though she told her boyfriend that she was with family, the truth was a different story. In reality, Robyn was with a man that she met online. Two days into their trip, she disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Though she was never found, police received a call that would blow the case wide open and place all of the suspicion on her secret love inter...

Anne Marie Fahey was a young woman who was working to build a career that would change her life, but everything shifted when she met Tom Capano. As powerful as he was wealthy, Capano added Anne Marie to his long list of mistresses. She was one of many women in his life, but when she announced her plan to leave him for another man, Capano wouldn’t allow it. This is part two of her story. See Privac...

Anne Marie Fahey was a young woman who was working to build a career that would change her life, but everything changed when she met Tom Capano. As powerful as he was wealthy, Capano added Anne Marie to his long list of mistresses. She was one of many women in his life, but when she announced her plan to leave him for another man, Capano wouldn’t allow it. This is part one of her story. See Privac...