Going West: True Crime

In 1988, a 19-year-old woman went missing while a Minnesota blizzard hit her small lakeside city. Between her talking to stranger boys on party lines, a helpful gas station attendant’s account of his sightings, and a potential break-in a week after her disappearance, this case is full of bizarre clues. This is the story of Susan Swedell. This episode is sponsored by: Eaze Click the following link...

In January of 2019, a 22-year-old woman headed out to a bar with a couple friends in Lexington, Kentucky. But after being seen on surveillance footage leaving with 3 men, she disappeared. An extensive search was done to find out what happened to her, and when her remains were eventually found, it was clear who was behind her murder. This is the story of Savannah Spurlock. BONUS EPISODES patreon.co...

In 1993, a 20-year-old university student in Alaska was hanging out with her friends in the dorms, when she stepped out for a smoke. When she never returned and then missed an important appointment the following day, her loved ones grew concerned. But it all took a horrific turn when he body was found in the dorm bathroom. And after years a searching, genealogical DNA testing finally brought answe...

In early January of 2000, an 18 year old boy living in Asheville, North Carolina, disappeared one night after his work shift. Weeks later, his car was discovered in parking lot and the contents inside only left police more confused. Between suspicious phone calls, a jealous boyfriend, and strange clues, this case proves to be one of the most bizarre we have covered. This is the story of Zebb Quinn...

In 2002, a 24-year-old pregnant woman vanished after a normal day in her home of San Francisco just days before her due date. When her body washed up in the Bay months later, her family desperately searched for any trace of her son, as well as answers regarding who murdered their beloved sister and daughter. This is the story of Evelyn Hernandez, as well as Alex and Fernando Hernandez. BONUS EPISO...

In 2002, a 19-year-old woman was visiting her family's home in Georgetown, Texas when she headed out for a morning run. When she didn’t return home, her family desperately reported her missing. But despite massive searches, numerous composite sketches, and even a gruesome confession, it’s still unclear what exactly happened to her. This is the story of Rachel Cooke. BONUS EPISODES patreon.com/goin...

In 2006, a 19-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri headed off to Chicago with a group of fellow college students to attend a mock United Nations convention. But after a long day of conferences and a night of fun with peers, he disappeared. When he didn’t show up on surveillance cameras leaving the hotel, and a massive search turned up nothing, family, friends, and investigators seriously ponder...

In March of 1993, a 16-year-old girl in Indiana closed up the animal hospital she worked at in preparation for a date with her boyfriend. But when she didn’t come home that night or show up for her date, her family reported her missing. After her body was discovered and investigators uncovered numerous suspects with potential motives, an eventual confession would put all the pieces of the puzzle t...

In January of 2021, a 39-year-old mother of 3 in Chula Vista, California went missing right before her daughters birthday trip. Between cryptic conversations with spell casters, lying about an alibi, and talks of a “safe house”, investigators narrowed in on one person in the woman’s life. This is the story of Maya Millete. BONUS EPISODES patreon.com/goingwestpodcast CASE SOURCES https://www.dailym...

When a young Texas couple was attacked in their car after a high school Valentine’s Day dance, the teenage girl was abducted. And after her body was discovered days later, an investigation into her murder began. But it wasn’t until new DNA technology brought real answers to the case. This is the story of Carla Walker. BONUS EPISODES patreon.com/goingwestpodcast CASE SOURCES https://www.newspapers....

In January of 2019, a mother and her two daughters were found dead inside their home in San Antonio, Texas. They all appeared to be shot, and an autopsy revealed that a murder-suicide had occurred. But with the local Sheriff putting the mothers autopsy into question, an investigation into what could have really happened began. This is the story of the Anaqua Springs Murders and the deaths of Nicho...

One morning in January of 1974, a young schoolteacher didn’t show up to her rural Montana classroom for the day, and the police were called to investigate. When her body was found in a field nearby, police arrested a new town resident, and it was quickly suspected that he was involved in another murder in a neighboring state. This is the story of Lana Harding, as well as Debra Prety. BONUS EPISODE...

In June of 2021, a 5-year-old girl living in rural Tennessee disappeared one afternoon while allegedly playing with her toys in the basement of her family home. Her parents believe that she was abducted in broad daylight, but after an extensive investigation, no evidence suggested she had been taken. There was, however, suspicion that pointed closer to home. This is the story of Summer Wells.  BON...

Last week, we broke down the ever-haunting Ruth Price 911 Call that has stumped the internet for nearly 20 years. But with new information, this mystery has finally been solved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In December of 2021, a 23-year-old woman headed off to meet an older man for a Bumble date, but by nights end, she would be dead. With an unclear cause of death and lack of cooperation from law enforcement, the family is desperate for answers. This is the story of Lauren Smith-Fields. LAUREN'S GOFUNDME Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collecti...

Towards the end of 1988, a recently blended family in Florida received a threatening letter in the mail, and within a few months, they all became incredibly ill. When 2 doctors concluded that they had been poisoned, an investigation into who was behind it began. Between a murder mystery weekend event, to a killing that was literally inspired by an Agatha Christie detective novel, this story really...

In 1988, a woman called 911 to report a strange man outside her house. After a brief moment of silence, she screamed before the phone got disconnected. Ever since the call surfaced on the internet in 2002, it’s been picked apart by internet sleuths, and has left people everywhere wondering: Is the call a hoax? Or is it a 30-year-old murder mystery waiting to be solved? This is the story of the Rut...

On New Years Eve, 2002, an inspiring 19-year-old woman celebrated at a friends house party in Fillmore, California before becoming the designated driver for the night. But after taking some partygoers home, she disappeared. When her body was found the following morning in a nearby drainage pipe, the investigation into her murder began. This is the story of Valerie Zavala. BONUS EPISODES patreon.co...

In January of 1982, two beautiful young women seemingly vanished in Breckenridge, Colorado during a relentless snow storm. But the next day, one would be found dead, and several months later, the other’s body would turn up as well. As police struggled to find the identity of a cold blooded killer, the investigation would take a number of unexpected turns that would last almost 40 years. This is th...

Between 1979 and 1981, a handful of girls and young women disappeared around the jolly small town of North Pole, Alaska, only for their remains to show up later. When their cause of deaths matched up, local State Troopers knew they had a serial killer on their hands. And eventually, they flew out of state to track down the man behind it all. This is the story of Glinda Sodemann, Doris Oehring, Wen...

In December of 1989, a 22-year-old woman was doing some Christmas shopping in Connecticut when a “good samaritan” helped change her flat tire, and then she went missing. On Christmas Day, her body was found in an icy pond, and her death was ruled a homicide. This is the story of Julia Ashe. BONUS EPISODES patreon.com/goingwestpodcast CASE SOURCES https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ct-supreme-court/113198...

In November of 1969, a 22-year-old Penn State student studying English had been in the basement of the campus library when she was attacked. One single stab wound penetrating her heart was discovered, but somehow, amongst all commotion of the crime scene, the killer was able to escape. This is the story of Betsy Aardsma. BONUS EPISODES patreon.com/goingwestpodcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

In October of 2009, a 25-year-old Florida woman was reported missing when she failed to show up for work the morning after an important conversation. But when her body washed up in a duffel bag at a local bayou days later, the investigation into her murder began. From an eerily accurate psychic reading to a web of suspects and lies, tensions ran high during the search for this woman’s killer. This...

In November of 2017, a 24-year-old Nebraska woman matched with another woman on Tinder, and the pair hit it off. But after a second date, she disappeared without a trace. Massive searches took place, but it wasn’t until a friend of the missing woman catfished a suspect on Tinder for information that the details started to come to light. Between witchcraft sex cults, a spree of crimes that weaved t...

In December of 1986, a 20-year-old women left her boyfriends house and headed home to be with family after the holiday, but she never arrived. After her family searched for her all night, her car was found in a secluded area off the I-15 freeway. And with the discovery of her body, an incredibly rare and specific fiber was found on her sweatshirt that lead police to one particular suspect. This is...