Red String Theory

For more than 14 years, the death of Jaleayah Davis has been debated across true-crime forums, with one central question never going away: was it a tragic accident, or was there something more going on? While preparing this episode, I spent a lot of time digging through the police reports, crash-scene photos, witness statements, phone records, forensic evidence, and the autopsy report. My goal her...

For more than 14 years, the death of Jaleayah Davis has been debated across true-crime forums, with one central question never going away: was it a tragic accident, or was there something more going on? While preparing this episode, I spent a lot of time digging through the police reports, crash-scene photos, witness statements, phone records, forensic evidence, and the autopsy report. My goal her...

In June 1992, the quiet city of Springfield, Missouri, was rocked by a mystery that still haunts investigators and its residents. Three women vanished without a trace in the middle of the night. Their cars, purses, keys, clothing—and even their dog—were all left behind. There were no signs of a struggle, no credible clues, and no evidence to explain their disappearance. The case became known as Th...

In June 1992, the quiet city of Springfield, Missouri, was rocked by a mystery that still haunts investigators and its residents. Three women vanished without a trace in the middle of the night. Their cars, purses, keys, clothing—and even their dog—were all left behind. There were no signs of a struggle, no credible clues, and no evidence to explain their disappearance. The case became known as Th...

One cold January night, a suburban mother disappears after attending church—only to be found dead months later, floating in a river 35 miles away. Authorities called it suicide. Her family says otherwise. What do you think happened? Welcome back to Red String Theory. In today’s episode, we’re diving into Joann Matouk Romain’s suspicious disappearance and the tangled web of unanswered questions tha...

One cold January night, a suburban mother disappears after attending church—only to be found dead months later, floating in a river 35 miles away. Authorities called it suicide. Her family says otherwise. What do you think happened? Welcome back to Red String Theory. In today’s episode, we’re diving into Joann Matouk Romain’s suspicious disappearance and the tangled web of unanswered questions tha...

Imagine you're on the phone with your child when suddenly, you hear a startled yell—then silence. No goodbye, no explanation. Just… gone. And despite your desperate attempts to call back, you never hear their voice again. This unimaginable nightmare became a reality for Annette and Brian Swanson.  In today’s episode, we dive into the chilling details of Brandon Swanson’s disappearance and the...

On the night of March 31, 2006, 27-year-old Ohio State University medical student Brian Shaffer walked into the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a popular Columbus bar, with friends. By the early hours of April 1, he had vanished without a trace. Despite extensive surveillance footage, no images show him leaving the bar. Brian’s disappearance remains one of Ohio’s most puzzling mysteries, sparking countless the...

The case we're diving into today dates back to 2011, but the fight to determine the true cause of death is still ongoing in the courts. This is Part 1 of the perplexing and heartbreaking case of Ellen Greenberg. Ellen was a 27-year-old first-grade teacher found dead in her apartment on a snowy evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2011. She had been stabbed 20 times, and her d...

The case we're diving into today dates back to 2011, but the fight to determine the true cause of death is still ongoing in the courts. This is Part 1 of the perplexing and heartbreaking case of Ellen Greenberg. Ellen was a 27-year-old first-grade teacher found dead in her apartment on a snowy evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2011. She had been stabbed 20 times, and her d...

Today, we’re diving into the unsolved murder of John O’Keefe and the subsequent trial of his girlfriend, Karen Read, who was accused of his death. O’Keefe died during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, under suspicious circumstances. He was found outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, with significant injuries and signs of exposure to harsh weather conditions. The central question in the Karen Rea...

For this episode, we're delving into the disappearance of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old college student who vanished under mysterious circumstances in February 2004, in a secluded region of New Hampshire. If you have any information about Maura Murray’s disappearance, please reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit: Phone Number: 603-223-3648 Email: Coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov Source Material:...

For this episode, we're delving into the disappearance of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old college student who vanished under mysterious circumstances in February 2004, in a secluded region of New Hampshire. If you have any information about Maura Murray’s disappearance, please reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit: Phone Number: 603-223-3648 Email: Coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov Source Material:...

This cold case has remained unsolved for over 21 years as of this recording. Join us as we delve into the mysterious disappearance of Josh Guimond from the St. Johns University in Collegeville, Minnesota, on the night of November 9, 2002. Source Material: Josh Newville, Season 1; Episodes 1-8 (Simply Vanished Podcast, 2022)  A Netflix Documentary Series, What Happened to Josh? (Unsolved Mysteries...

In this episode, we will be discussing the case of the Idaho College Murders. During our time together, we’ll go through a timeline of events, review all the evidence that is currently available, and provide an update on the current state of the case. Then we’ll switch gears and go into what I like to call red string mode - We’ll ask the questions and talk through the pieces of the case that don’t...