Among the Dirt and Trees

Edward Phalen and John Hays met in the Army during the 1800s and decided to go into farming after they served. The two men claimed two pieces of land and settled into their new lives as farmers. Everything was going fine until John Hays was found dead—and all of the clues pointed to Phalen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...

Eleven women with shared characteristics were found dead in a mass grave. What happened to them? Let’s explore their story—and the circumstances surrounding their disappearances. 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 California Privacy Notice at https://art1...

Late 1500s rumors about a robber and murderer in Germany kept people on edge, but the story seems too big to be true. Did one man really kill just under 1000 people before being betrayed by his kidnapping victim and slave—or are these tales just made up to explain away countless disappearances at the time? Let’s discuss this killer and his bitter end. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privac...

Georgianna Lovering was 14 when her former uncle, Franklin Evans, came to live with her family in their boarding house. Early on, Evans seemed to develop a disturbing infatuation with his niece—but the family seemed to move on from it. What they didn’t know that Evans was playing a long game and never intended to let Georgianna get away. Her disappearance and murder would come as a shock, but not...

Eric Rudolph was a wanted serial bomber being hunted by the FBI when he vanished into the woods of North Carolina. Five years later, an everyday police officer caught him behind a local store. He claims he lived in the nearby woods, but not everyone believes that is true. Some people think that there is more to this story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

Dorothy Stang was a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and she had one goal: to protect Brazilian farmers and the rainforest that gives so much to our planet. At the age of 73, she was brutally murdered by two local criminals at the command of another—but this is just one indication of a much bigger problem. Dorothy gave everything that she had, spending decades trying to preserve the A...

On Wednesday, Raymond Naatz began to act strangely, telling his parents that something bad was going to happen—that a shadow was stalking him. On Thursday, Raymond disappeared while playing outside. On Friday, Herman and Lillian Naatz watched, heartbroken, as police pulled their son from the bottom of a local lake. Did Raymond predict his own murder, or was his death a tragic accident brought on b...

Barbara Nantais and Claire Hough were both found dead at Torrey Pines Beach six years apart. The state of the two girls pointed to a serial killer, but police were slow to catch on to the similarities. Decades later, new DNA evidence would bring some truly disturbing suspects to light—and the knowledge that Barbara and Claire might not be the only victims. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...

In 2004, Jackie and Tom Hawks made the decision to sell their live-in yacht and move to Arizona so that they could be closer to their family. When a couple composed of a childhood star and his pregnant wife reached out to show interest in their lovely floating home, they were ready to make the sale. Unfortunately, not everyone is who they claim to be. Unwittingly, these two doting grandparents wer...

Ronald “Ron” Sanchez and fellow traveler Kirby Morrill were taking on the Appalachian Trail when their group of trail-made traveling companions ran into a man going by the name of Sovereign. In reality, Sovereign was actually James L. Jordan, a man with a long history of extreme mental health disorders who was about to commit unspeakable violence. This is their story. See Privacy Policy at https:/...

In the summer of 2000, 15 backpackers burned to death in a hostel with 69 survivors barely escaping the flames—but this fire was no accident. These travelers were murdered with great intent by arsonist Robert Long when he became fed up with the hostel staff and the backpackers within. Robert Long is officially eligible for parole, but his ex and the families of his victims are convinced that he wi...

Henry Hudson was a talented explorer in the 1600s known as the name behind multiple bodies of water. While we may honor him geographically, few know about the trials he faced or his untimely death. Let’s explore why his crew eventually turned on him. 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...

When Annette wins a cruise trip in a contest, it seems like her luck is finally turning around, but when she suddenly vanishes on the last day of the cruise, her family is shocked. Something happened to Annette on her way to play bingo, but international investigators can’t seem to find out what happened. Who covered the camera on the deck where Annette went missing? Was it really just lovers look...

When a bag with a female torso is fished out of the river, police have questions. As more bags with more body parts begin to show up, their need for answers becomes more urgent. Who is this mutilated Jane Doe? Who killed her? More importantly, how come the evidence mysteriously disappeared? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...

George E. Bailey was a man of many talents who knew what he wanted—but that wasn’t a good thing. When he ran away with his wife’s sister, leaving six children behind, people were angry. A short while later, George would be dead for completely different reasons. Episode Correction Early in the episode, I recommend that you should all read A Good Marriage, believing it was the same as the movie, 192...

Leanne Tiernan was sixteen when she disappeared after shopping with a friend. Almost a year later, her body is discovered. The quest to find her killer will require a sales history, DNA testing, and a few ex-girlfriends that are willing to spill the tea about the disturbing habits of a less-than-pleasant ex. In the end, Leanne’s case helps police solve a few others. See Privacy Policy at https://a...

Steven Stayner, brother of notorious serial killer, Cary Stayner, was seven years old when he was abducted. Despite being held in captivity for seven years while attending school under a fake name, he thrived and went on to live a happy life until him untimely death. Steven never went out of his way to save himself, but when the pedophile that abducted him snatched up another little boy named Timo...

When two women and two teenage girls are killed in a grisly set of murders near Yosemite National Park, police want answers. Their trail led them to Cary Stayner, who was quickly labeled as a serial killer for his crimes—but there is more to the story than you might expect. Before Cary Stayner was a serial killer, he was the older brother of seven-year-old Steven Stayner, a child who was abducted...

In the middle of the night, three people are killed in a crowded family home—and a twelve-year-old girl disappears, only to turn up dead later.   Three little boys are spared during the violent attack, but two families will never be the same again.   Who killed Sue Sharp, two of her children, and a family friend?   An abusive ex? An enraged neighbor? A deranged admirer with a crush on a preteen gi...

Nyleen Marshall was four when she disappeared while on a camping trip with her parents. Less than two years later, letters and calls started coming in from someone who claimed that they had Nyleen—and that they loved her too much to let her go. Nyleen was never found, but that isn’t the end of her story. In her absence, her family suffered another tragic loss, and another girl was saved. See Priva...

Paula Welden was eighteen years old when she decided to head out for a hike in the Bennington Triangle, an area known for countless disappearances. When none of her friends could make it, she made the choice to go out and have the experience for herself. After walking and hitchhiking, she found her way to the trailhead—but then she suddenly disappeared without a trace. Rumors began swirling around...

Bobby Panknin was four years old when he disappeared while on a camping trip with his family. When his brothers ran off to find a creek, he was left behind—and less than five minutes later, he was gone. His family, locals, and police all searched the woods, but no sign of Bobby was ever found. Learn the amazing ways that his family has coped with this loss. Link to the interview: https://www.spoke...

When eleven-year-old Terri Lynn goes out for a bike ride before Thanksgiving dinner and doesn’t return, her parents call the police because they are afraid that something happened to her. The next day, she is found dead—cast over the side of a bridge to the ocean and sharp rocks below. Decades later, police finally get a break in the case, offering her remaining family a small piece of closure. Se...

Rebecca Coriam was twenty-four when she disappeared from the Disney Wonder cruise ship while working as a crewmember. Despite the fact that the ship was covered in cameras, Rebecca’s last moments were somehow missed. Was this an accident, a murder, or a suicide? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. See Priva...

A newly wed couple is offered the chance of a lifetime when someone decides to pay them for breaking a record on a local river. All they have to do is make it—but for Bessie, the bride who has never been on the river—it’s a much bigger challenge. Her husband is convinced that they can make it, but when the boat shows up and they don’t, investigators wonder if there might be more to their disappear...