Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

Episode 6, the finale of You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice, brings together reflections on Linda’s unwavering determination to solve the 1968 murder of Christine Rothschild. Others weigh in on her theories and persistence, while a chilling phone conversation captures a college student directly confronting Niels Jorgensen, accusing him of being Christine’s killer and a serial murderer....

In this episode, James previews the upcoming Spotlight PLUS Bonus Episode. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get episodes 1 week early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Support the show on PayPal https://bit.ly/3wDhonM Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter https://dakotaspotlight.c...

Episode 5 of You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice explores Linda’s deepening investigation into Niels Jorgensen. Becoming an expert on his family history, she exposes long-standing lies and contradictions. On the 40th anniversary of Christine Rothschild’s death, Linda organizes a memorial service at the University of Wisconsin, with Niels himself invited as the keynote speaker. In her on...

Episode 4 of You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice follows the police effort to seek public assistance in solving Christine Rothschild’s 1968 murder. Investigators interview surgeon Niels Jorgensen, the man Linda had reported for harassing Christine. Determined to uncover the truth, Linda discreetly contacts hospital staff and members of Jorgensen’s family. Through these conversations, co...

Episode 3 of You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice recounts the morning of Christine Rothschild’s murder. After taking her usual walk, Christine’s body is discovered in the bushes near Sterling Hall on the UW–Madison campus. As police launch their investigation, the case quickly grows cold. Linda, however, brings forward critical information: an older man had been harassing Christine, som...

In this episode, James shares what it is like to be an independent podcaster and a preview of the upcoming Spotlight PLUS Bonus Episode with Mari Zoerb Hansen. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get episodes 1 week early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Support the show on PayPal https:/...

Episode 2 of You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice offers a closer look at Christine Rothschild’s life on campus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Friends share memories of dorm life at Ann Emery Hall and Christine’s personal struggles, while Linda recalls the days leading up to Christine’s death. Against this backdrop, the campus is roiled by the Dow Day protest, a defining moment...

Episode 1 of You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice begins with the shocking and unsolved 1968 murder of 18-year-old freshman Christine Rothschild outside Sterling Hall on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Journalist James Wolner introduces listeners to Christine’s classmate and friend Linda, whose memories reflect on their friendship, the promise of youth, and the upheaval of ca...

Season 10 of Dakota Spotlight, You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice, revisits one of Madison, Wisconsin’s most haunting cold cases: the unsolved 1968 murder of 18-year-old college freshman Christine Rothschild. Hosted by James Wolner, this season explores the turbulent 1960s counterculture, shifting societal norms, and the impact of violence on the University of Wisconsin–Madison communi...

In this episode, James interviews Trisha Taurinskas, creator and host of "The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith"; a podcast detailing the events surrounding the 1974 cold case in Eagle Lake, MN. Trisha's investigation into Belinda's disappearance exposed significant early investigative failures and missed opportunities to probe the main suspect. Check out "The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith", b...

Originally broadcast Summer 2021. When Kirra McLoughlin died her boyfriend said she must have overdosed on prescription drugs. That didn't explain the over one hundred bruises on her body however. And yet, nobody has been charged with Kirra's death.   That didn't sit well with Jamie Pultz. He had met Kirra once at his former job, back when he was a police officer in Queensland Australia.  When he...

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick shocked the small town of Zeeland, North Dakota, and remain one of the region’s most disturbing true crime cases. Episode 9, Sebastian Speaks Out, features a telephone interview with Sebastian Feist from federal prison. After years of silence, Feist discusses his time in Zeeland, the crime, and his perspective on why the Zicks were killed. This rare conversa...

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick devastated the small town of Zeeland, North Dakota, leaving behind one of the region’s most haunting true crime cases. Episode 7, Crossing the Street, examines chapters Guns and Piggy Banks, California Dreaming, No Different Than You, and Crossing the Street. These stories reveal the pressures, choices, and shifting realities faced by those connected to the...

In this episode James interviews Lee Strubinger, creator of "Short Walk", a nine-episode podcast, detailing the events surrounding former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. The story covers the period from when Ravnsborg struck and killed pedestrian Joe Boever in September 2020, through the investigations, public reactions, and political ramifications, leading to Ravnsborg's impeachmen...

The 1976 Zeeland murders of Wade and Ellen Zick remain one of North Dakota’s most disturbing cold cases. Episode 6, Flip a Coin, explores the events that followed with chapters including Valentine’s Day, County Jail, Strong Coffee and Nazis, Worse than Death, and David Feist. These moments reveal surprising conversations, community dynamics, and the people whose actions reshaped the investigation....

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick remain one of North Dakota’s most haunting true crime cases. Episode 5, Caramel Rolls, continues the story with chapters Caramel Rolls, Say Something, and It’s About Time. These moments reveal the community’s uneasy conversations, shifting loyalties, and the long silence that often surrounds small town murder. Zeeland blends investigative journalism and docu...

The brutal 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick in Zeeland, North Dakota left investigators and neighbors chasing every possible lead. Episode 4, Pink Slip, moves deeper into the story with chapters including Sunland, The House on Third Street, Sour Cream and Salsa, Standing Room Only, Pink Slip, and Two Brothers and a Friend. These moments reveal the shifting suspicions, whispered rumors, and grow...

In this episode we recap the Zeeland Rebroadcast and provide sneak-peaks of exclusive content available to Spotlight PLUS subscribers. Permission to use the music in this episode kindly granted by Sleepy Driver https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the...

On July 11, 1976, Wade and Ellen Zick were murdered in their Zeeland, North Dakota home, leaving a community devastated. Episode 3, Z is for Zick, revisits that night with chapters including Until Dawn, Z is for Zick, First Daylight, Hitchhiker, and Windows of Darkness. These accounts paint a chilling picture of fear, suspicion, and shock as neighbors and investigators confronted the brutal crime....

Valentines special episode: Interview with singer/songwriter Bruce Blackman, the musician behind the 1976 hit Moonlight Feels Right, heard right here in Season 4.  Bruce shares thoughts about his life, his music and recalls almost freezing his fingers off in Fargo during a tour back in 77. https://bruceblackman.com Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakot...

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick left Zeeland, North Dakota shaken and desperate for answers. Episode 2, No Banker Tomorrow, continues the investigation with chapters including Party Line, We Think We Found Something, No Banker Tomorrow, and Ellen Thompson. These moments reveal how neighbors, police, and community members pieced together new details about what happened that night. Zeeland i...

In this bonus episode of the 2024 rebroadcast of Zeeland, a present-day interview with Peter Hicks. Peter is the singer and songwriter for the band Sleepy Driver. Their amazing music is sprinkled throughout the season. Peter looks back on the collaboration between Dakota Spotlight and Sleepy Driver and shares news about the future, which includes a new album. Check out their music at https://sleep...

On July 11, 1976, Wade and Ellen Zick were murdered in their home in Zeeland, North Dakota, leaving the small town reeling. Episode 1, A Deed Without a Name, begins the investigation into this shocking crime. Chapters include Sunday Morning Sidewalks, Unmade Beds, and Search Party, recounting the first clues that emerged after the murders. Through eyewitness accounts, law enforcement records, and...

In this brief announcement, James explains the leap he is taking in January of 2024. He has returned to producing the show 100% independently, has created The PorchLight Podcast Network, and plans to create brand new shows (not just True Crime). Also announcing Spotlight PLUS, a tier-based subscription offering for fans, loaded with exclusive access and content. Check out the full catalog of Dakot...

Episode 9 gives new perspective on the 2019 RJR murders in Mandan, North Dakota, as Chad Isaak’s mother and two of his sisters speak publicly for the first time in four and a half years. Who was Isaak as a child, as a man, and what warning signs did his family see? The episode also asks what Isaak’s actions at RJR reveal about his intended target, while a sheriff’s deputy recalls two encounters wi...