In May 2008, a college student in rural Minnesota called his parents for help after driving into a ditch. He was calm, clear-headed, and chatting with his dad while walking toward what he believed was the nearest town. Then, mid-conversation, Brandon Swanson suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, shit”—and was never heard from again. What followed is one of the most baffling and frustrating missing persons cases in recent history, raising questions about search efforts, rural landscapes, and how someone can vanish without a trace… even while on the phone.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/1hmvopc/brandon_lawsons_dna_has_confirmed_his_remains/

https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/the-vault/rural-roads-of-minnesota-remain-last-known-location-of-19-year-old-brandon-swanson-1

https://medium.com/the-shadow/vanished-in-the-dark-where-is-brandon-swanson-d5d99bfde9a7

https://kroc.com/brandon-swanson-minnesota-missing/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Brandon_Swanson

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/1d5zq8v/disappearance_of_brandon_swanson/?rdt=61686

https://allthatsinteresting.com/history-uncovered/brandon-swanson

https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/Missing-Since-2008-Brandon-Swanson

In 2016, a man’s luxury car gets banged up in a bizarre accident—and what starts as a dispute over repair costs spirals into one of the most disturbing criminal conspiracies we’ve ever covered. This episode dives into an unhinged scheme involving revenge, deception, and a plot so twisted it sounds like a TV crime drama. But it’s all real. And it all happened in a small town in Mississippi. Buckle up.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ms-court-of-appeals/2118244.html

https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/crime/2019/09/24/trial-begins-man-accused-plot-kill-mississippi-billionaire/2427209001/

https://www.wdam.com/story/34032730/court-files-plans-to-kidnap-rape-and-kill-ihl-board-member/

https://www.columbianprogress.com/local-news/trial-set-duff-case

https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/crime/2019/09/26/man-guilty-all-charges-plot-against-mississippi-businessman/2439069001/

https://themississippilink.com/news/3-charged-with-plotting-death-of-mississippi-businessman/

https://www.wdam.com/2019/09/26/suspect-plot-kidnap-extort-prominent-businessman-found-guilty/

In 2002, 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck vanished while biking to a friend’s house in rural Missouri, triggering a desperate, years-long search. Four years later, a break in an unrelated case led authorities to a shocking discovery—Shawn was alive. This episode unpacks the chilling details of his abduction, the incredible rescue sparked by another boy’s kidnapping, and the dark truth about Michael Devlin, the man behind both crimes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Hornbeck_Foundation

https://fox2now.com/news/15-years-since-the-missouri-miracle-how-two-kidnapped-boys-were-found/

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna26876426

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a32945636/michelle-mcnamara-shawn-hornbeck-kidnapping-case-true-story/

https://people.com/crime/shawn-hornbeck-ben-ownby-today-anniversary-abduction-confession/

https://www.thenortherner.com/news/2007/01/17/kidnapped-mo-boy-apparently-posted-photos-of-himself-online-contacted-his-parents-site/

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16632968

https://www.newsweek.com/what-shawn-went-through-98799

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3711106&page=1

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/6898805?ft=nprml&f=6898805

https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/missouri-miracle-today-marks-14-years-since-shawn-hornbeck-and-ben-ownby-found-46988.cfm

In 1996, 15-year-old Danielle “Danni” Houchins was found murdered near the Gallatin River in Montana. For nearly 30 years, her case remained unsolved—until a renewed investigation and advances in DNA technology brought a breakthrough. In this episode, we explore the long journey to uncover the truth behind Danni’s tragic death.

Sources

https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/28-year-old-cold-case-finally-solved-who-killed-danielle-houchins-at-cameron-bridge

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/danielle-houchins-cold-case-killer-suicide-b2593949.html

https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-idd-teens-1996-murder-dies-suicide-hours/story?id=112710822

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/danielle-houchins-cold-case-murder-dna-suspect-paul-hutchinson-found-dead-after-interview/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/montana/articles/2024-08-08/montana-sheriff-says-28-year-old-cold-case-slaying-solved

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0G2RhKidnJ2wPWWAPaJrJ3?si=M-3xS22zSwGDk0lyVmm3Dw

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1co2W0sPVe5GpHoIlIDO9K?si=UnrVR9iySfiBadx6ZSQJ7Q

https://www.kpax.com/news/montana-news/28-year-old-montana-cold-case-solved-who-killed-danni-at-cameron-bridge

On June 13, 2001, 19-year-old Jason Jolkowski vanished while walking to meet a coworker for a ride to work. Despite a delayed police response and no solid leads, his case remains unsolved. In this episode, we explore the mysterious disappearance and the theories surrounding it.

Sources:

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/zyc9u1/what_happened_to_jason_jolkowski/?rdt=44405

https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/The-Bizarre-Disappearance-of-Jason-Jolkowski

https://medium.com/the-history-insider/what-happened-to-jason-jolkowski-a158e891c349

In this episode of Are They There Yet?, we take a deep dive into the mysterious heist pulled off by Bill Brennan at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas on September 22, 1992. A humble and unassuming cashier, Brennan vanished with half a million dollars in cash and chips, leaving behind a trail of questions. Was he the mastermind behind the perfect crime, or was he just a pawn in a much bigger operation? As we unpack Brennan’s quiet personality, his shady associations, and the casino’s mob connections, we explore whether Brennan is alive or dead, and if the mob had anything to do with his disappearance. Tune in to find out what really happened—and why this case remains unsolved.

Sources:

https://www.providentmetals.com/nevada/nevada-facts.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+skimming+at+a+casino&rlz=1C1MMCH_enUS1130US1130&oq=what+is+skimming+at+a+casino&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyCggFEAAYogQYiQXSAQg1NzA0ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsbook#:~:text=A%20sportsbook%20is%20a%20venue,boxing%2C%20and%20mixed%20martial%20arts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardust_Resort_and_Casino

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/nevada/true-story-unsolved-nevada-casino-heist

https://www.spadepoker.tv/en/news/detail/the-most-interesting-robbery-in-las-vegas-that-is-still-unsolved

https://news3lv.com/news/local/how-did-a-man-rob-a-las-vegas-casino-for-500k-and-get-away-with-it

https://www.gamblingsites.com/info/famous-gamblers/bill-brennan/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/bill-brennan-robbery

In this episode, we dive into the chilling story of the Dartmouth Professor Murders. In 2001, Dartmouth College professors Half and his wife Susanne were brutally murdered in their home. The case shocked the small New Hampshire town and sparked a complex investigation that uncovered dark secrets, leading to a shocking conclusion. Join us as we explore the details of the crime, the investigation, and the eerie twists that turned this tragedy into a notorious case.

Sources:

https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/man-convicted-in-2001-double-murder-of-dartmouth-professors-released-from-prison/article_66014a04-268d-11ef-8356-8f554ecd1500.html

https://apnews.com/article/dartmouth-college-zantop-james-parker-murders-parole-1d7cb695a780f08d79bb1b26ec0359a1

https://www.wmur.com/article/resentencing-robert-tulloch-murder-dartmouth-92524/62371329

https://dartreview.com/the-dartmouth-murders-twenty-years-later/

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/us/teenagers-are-sentenced-for-killing-two-professors.html

https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2001/04/murders-of-dartmouth-professors-shock-community

https://azdailysun.com/dartmouth-professors-anti-nazi-beliefs-may-have-got-them-killed/article_48baebba-4d9f-58ba-8c48-2bd8cd7757e6.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/20/us/arrests-made-in-dartmouth-killings-but-mystery-thickens.html?searchResultPosition=18

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/18/us/youths-dreamed-of-adventure-but-settled-for-killing-a-couple.html?searchResultPosition=15

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/20/us/indictment-in-dartmouth-case-outlines-robbery-killing-plan.html?ref=topics

In this chilling episode, we dive into the unsettling case of "The Watcher," a mysterious figure who terrorized a New Jersey family by sending a series of ominous letters after they purchased their dream home. As the letters grew increasingly threatening and personal, the family was left to question who was watching them—and why. Was it a prank, a vendetta, or something darker? Tune in to explore the twisted mystery that has haunted the town of Westfield.

Sources:

ARTICLE Stigmatized property :

https://www.omegahome.com/blog/stigmatized-property/

ARTICLE the cut: https://www.thecut.com/article/the-haunting-of-657-boulevard-in-westfield-new-jersey.html

ARTICLE weird nj:

https://weirdnj.com/stories/local-legends/westfield-watcher/

ARTICLE the independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/the-watcher-house-owner-true-story-netflix-b2219719.html

Watcher:

https://youtu.be/xBoKesAQFHU?si=l5wxKkSavSwVyka0

The Conspirators podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4w2DfUugRGrGnLH1yOn2Tx?si=fpsaaSgFQqCpmqQFp9oddg

Inhuman: a true crime podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hElr92q3pBQJhKjKI5YJH?si=WHXZaQvhS0Sca1QYiRpg-A

Generation Why: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0W9fkrj3YAHD7Gn8NeDvBO?si=1toEmzOeT0Gz_Rm_czsHYw

A trial by podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ajNdwnxjgn2bSl5McBIPF?si=oK2fYmkzQry2TYUraZY5CA