Extinguished

In December 2005, nineteen-year-old college student Nona Dirksmeyer was found brutally murdered inside her apartment in Russellville, Arkansas. What followed was one of the most controversial and debated homicide investigations in Arkansas history. In this episode of Extinguished, David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey examine the life of Nona Dirksmeyer, the events leading up to her murder, and the ye...

On April 20, 1990, seventeen-year-old Christopher Kerze woke up with a headache and asked to stay home from school. His mother agreed, gave him medication, and left for work expecting to see her son later that evening. Instead, when she returned home, Christopher was gone. What began as an ordinary Friday in Eagan, Minnesota, quickly transformed into one of the most baffling missing-person cases i...

In August 1976, ten-year-old Angelo “Andy” Puglisi walked into Higgins Memorial Pool in Lawrence, Massachusetts, just like countless other children on a hot summer afternoon. He never came home. Nearly fifty years later, Andy's disappearance remains one of New England's most haunting unsolved mysteries. Despite one of the largest search efforts in Lawrence history involving thousands of vo...

Episode Show Notes: Between 1976 and 1977, four children vanished from suburban communities in Oakland County, Michigan. They were not taken from isolated roads or dangerous neighborhoods. They disappeared while doing ordinary things that millions of American children did every day—walking home, riding a skateboard, visiting a convenience store, or running a simple errand. Nearly fifty years later...

Episode Show Notes: For decades, Americans were taught that danger came from strangers lurking in the shadows. Children were warned about suspicious vans, unknown faces, and threats that existed somewhere outside their trusted circles. But the reality revealed by decades of abuse investigations tells a very different story. In this powerful season premiere of The Extinguished Podcast , hosts LaDon...

After a period of reflection and reevaluation, The Extinguished Podcast returns with a renewed purpose and a deeper mission. In this special relaunch episode, hosts LaDonna Humphrey and David McClam discuss why they stepped away from the microphone, what they learned during their hiatus, and why they believe true crime must evolve beyond sensational headlines, viral theories, and performative outr...

This episode revisits the unsettling disappearance of Teresa Beer, a 16-year-old whose case became a bizarre Bigfoot myth. David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey explore the failed investigation, the man last seen with Teresa, and how a fantastical story overshadowed a tragic reality, nearly 40 years later. Take Aways Investigate  the breakdown of the initial legal proceedings against the man last seen...

Teresa Bier vanished almost four decades ago, leaving behind a chilling mystery overshadowed by an unbelievable tale of Bigfoot. This episode unravels the disturbing reality behind the myth, exposing a troubled man, a botched investigation, and the enduring questions that haunt her family. Takeaways “We’re here to dig up the truth, case by case, victim by victim.” – David McLam “When you strip awa...

This episode of Extinguished revisits the strange disappearance of Teresa Ann Beer, a 16-year-old girl who vanished during a 1987 camping trip. David McCLam and LaDonna Humphrey examine the bizarre Bigfoot story given by Russell Skip Welch and how it overshadowed the search for truth, hindering justice for Teresa. Takeaways Examine the impact of sensationalized media on missing persons cases. Disc...

This episode pulls back the curtain on the disappearance of Teresa Ann Bier, a vulnerable 16-year-old whose life was marked by instability and abuse. Her story culminates in a mysterious camping trip with an older man and a bizarre claim of a Bigfoot encounter, leaving her family with an enduring mystery and no justice. Featured Quotes: “We’re here to dig up the truth, case by case, Victim by vict...

This episode of Extinguished confronts the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW), calling it a modern genocide. David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey discuss the systemic failures, jurisdictional complexities, and historical oppression that allow this crisis to continue across the United States, particularly in states like Oklahoma. They advocate for urgent action and awareness. TimeL...

In this compelling episode of Extinguished, hosts David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey explore the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). They delve into the historical and systemic roots of the issue, discuss the fragmented jurisdictional responsibilities, and highlight the grassroots efforts by Indigenous communities to seek justice. Through personal stories and expert insi...

In this episode of Extinguished, hosts David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey delve into the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), highlighting the often-overlooked urban aspect of this issue. They discuss alarming statistics, systemic failures in data collection, and the urgent need for community action and advocacy to address these injustices. The conversation emphasizes the importa...

This episode of Extinguished delves into the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW), exploring the historical, legal, and social structures that have perpetuated this tragedy. Hosts David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey honor the story of Misty Rainey Bedoni, a Navajo woman who disappeared in 2016, and discuss the systemic issues that allow such violence to continue. Time Line 00:00:01...

The “Missing in Iowa” series reaches its conclusion, pulling together the tragic stories of Johnny Gosch, Eugene Martin, and Mark James Warren Allen. Listen as LaDonna Humphrey and David McClam examine disturbing patterns, numerous attempted abductions, and the haunting question of whether a serial predator or a pedophile ring shattered the innocence of Iowa in the 1980s. Time Line 00:00 Missing i...

The summer of '84 held a dark secret as another young paperboy vanished in Iowa, echoing the nightmare of Johnny Gosh’s disappearance and igniting a firestorm of fear and suspicion. 💔 Was it a tragic coincidence, or was something far more sinister lurking in the heartland? Time Line 00:00 Introduction: Eugene Martin’s Disappearance This segment introduces the podcast and the focus of episode...

In this episode of Extinguished, David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey delve into the haunting disappearance of 12-year-old Johnny Gosch in 1982, a case that reshaped America’s approach to missing children and sparked national conversations about child safety and abduction protocols. They explore the initial investigation, the impact on law enforcement procedures, and the lingering questions surroundi...

In the first episode of “Missing in Iowa,” Extinguished podcast delves into the unsolved disappearance of 13-year-old Mark Allen in 1986, while also exploring the earlier case of Johnny Gosh, highlighting the chilling similarities and potential connections between these missing children’s cases that shook Iowa. Join David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey as they begin to dig into the cold cases. TIMELI...

In this episode of Extinguished, hosts LaDonna Humphrey and David McClam delve into the disappearance of Tricia Reitler, a 19-year-old student who vanished in 1993, and explore the potential connection to Larry Hall, a convicted kidnapper suspected of multiple murders. They dissect Hall’s confessions, contradictions, and the lingering impact on the victims’ families. This episode urges listeners t...

In this episode of Extinguished, David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey delve into the controversial conviction of Larry Hall in the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Roach, questioning whether a coerced confession and excluded expert testimony impacted the trial’s outcome. The hosts explore the complexities of false confessions, the role of the justice system, and the lingering questions surrounding ot...

In this episode of Extinguished, David McClam and LaDonna Humphrey continue their exploration into the suspected crimes of Larry Hall, focusing on the cases of several missing and murdered women potentially connected to him. The hosts discuss the heartbreaking details and the frustrating lack of justice surrounding these unsolved cases, highlighting the lasting impact on the victims’ families. TIM...

In this gripping episode of Extinguished, David McClam and Ladonna Humphrey 🎙️ start a deep investigation into the chilling story of Larry Hall, suspected of involvement in numerous abductions and murders across the United States. The hosts shift the focus to the victims, seeking to remember their names and stories, and expose the failures of the systems designed to protect them. TIMELINE [00:00:0...

In this final episode of the Jason Lierl series on Extinguished, David McClam and Ladonna Humphrey dissect the ongoing investigation into his disappearance, the frustrating lack of public updates, and potential scenarios that could explain the case’s stagnation. They emphasize the need for continued public pressure and new witnesses to come forward to finally bring justice for Jason and closure fo...

In this episode of Extinguished, David McClam and Ladonna Humphrey investigate the disappearance of Jason Lierl, focusing on the key people in his life and the unanswered questions surrounding his case. They analyze possible motives, discuss the investigation’s progress, and urge anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the need for justice and closure for Jason’s family. TIMELINE 00:0...

In this episode of Extinguished, David McClam and Ladonna Humphrey meticulously trace the last known movements of Jason Lirrell, who disappeared in northwest Arkansas, examining key locations and uncovering inconsistencies in the timeline to seek answers and bring attention to the unsolved missing person case. They dissect the significance of his abandoned car, motorcycle, and scattered belongings...