Smoke: The Disappearance of Damien Sharp

You would think a confession would be the end of the whole story. Unfortunately, it's only the end of this chapter. And this chapter is the end of this era.  Hear all about that in this final episode of Damien's story.  #letsfinddamien

Barb Ruhlman has been training dogs to sniff out everything, from bombs to cadavers, for 50 years. Listen in, as Barb gives us the scoop on the interpersonal drama of the k-9 world, the science of how cadaver dogs work their magic, and her memories (as well as some speculation and commentary) about Damien's case, and the searches for him that she participated in.  Sponsors: MILLER'S MOBILE NOTARY

This episode focuses on documentation that led John Herzog to the areas of Jakes Rocks and Devil's Elbow, going so far as to reboot a 2002 canine search of several areas of the ANF at Devil's Elbow. For both those searches, in 2002 and 2003, Barb Ruhlman, of Cornplanter K-9 Team, was present. Barb sat down with me last Friday, and gave me a little more information on those early searches, and describes being pulled from the search for Damien to prove that her dogs weren't alerting to dead dear carcasses in the search area.  Barb also heard a rumor, all the way back in 2003, that got me to Jake's Rocks and Devil's Elbow, thanks to the City of Warren Police Department's cooperation and the efforts of Northwest Pennsylvania K-9 Search and Rescue, last Memorial Day. For the third dog search of that area so far.  I'm gonna tell you that rumor, at the end of this episode.  Also, stay tuned at the end of this episode for a special announcement about Two Moms Media's next project. It's pretty wicked.  This Episode's Sponsors: MILLER'S MOBILE NOTARY

Spring of 2003, in Warren Pa., and I hear a division bell ringing - a call to choose sides. Inside the police department, it was a changeover of the officers leading Damien's investigation. Outside, it was Damien's family, picketing the police department. Winter had passed, but the ice was getting thicker.  This Weeks Sponsor: Miller’s Mobile Notary in Warren. 

In this episode, we're dealing with some heavy allegations. Jim Sarver claims Warren County District Attorney Rick Hernan, in 2002 and 2003, tried to set him up to take the wrap for Damien's murder, after he was arrested on unrelated charges.  Sounds crazy, right? Well, first let's talk to Rick, and then Sarver, and then let's see what happened in an interstate case involving Warren County, Pa., and Chautauqua County, N.Y., in the late 1980s - the murder of Kathy Wilson. Hernan and Det. John Herzog both participated in that case as well.  What's the thing we learned a few episodes about lessons? When we don't learn them we're destined to repeat them....

John Herzog talked to Damien's best friend since high school, Dave. I talked to Dave too, but I also talked with someone who was willing to give me an interview on tape last year. Her name is Danica, and she met Damien when she moved to Warren from Girard, Pa., in fifth grade.  Listen in on what Dave told Herzog back in Oct. 2002, and hear Danica add some highlights in her interview.  #letsfinddamien 

We've got Herzog's notes.  And a lot of what I found in there ticked me off you guys.  Let's talk about it.  This episode is a catch up, of everything we didn't know when press time came on the last episode.  You remember when your mom used to get mad? Like really, actually, mad mad, and you knew it was time for the nonsense to end?  Time for the nonsense to end, kids.  All of it.  Everyone is on my nerves this week, and I'm going to tell you why.   I swear to God it's going to be a bunch of fed up moms that find Damien, you guys. We're all just gonna have had enough by the end of this.  #letsfinddamien  Links:  FBI CDR Document  Vice Article

CLARIFICATION: I say in the first 15 minutes that Bryce Blackman’s dad, Jim, served as the county’s District Attorny. I misspoke. He was the Assistant District Attorney. Hey kids! So good news. The City of Warren Police Department has let me know that they'll be releasing Herzog's full report to Dana. When that happens, she'll be sharing it with me. That should happen within the next week - we see no reason it shouldn't be in Dana's hands - and, by extension, ours - this week. This is huge news for Damien's family. Enormous. Big freaking deal. I couldn't be more excited for them. But also for us. Everyone wins on this deal. Except if there's anyone in there who turns out to have accountability for Damien's extended absence. We don't know if there is nor not, but if so, it's a bad day for that person. To be sure to be sure. Anyhow. This episode starts off summarizing Steven, and his interview with Herzog, then swings around to deal with Herzog's questions after having spoken to some other folks.  Many of Herzog's questions were - and are to this day - my own. But he brings up the mother of all  silly ass nonsense in this case: If everyone was expecting Damien back at home, at a certain time, but no one was supposed to go get him, how did they figure he was getting there?

Private Investigator John Herzog was hired by Damien's mom, Janeane Shanahan, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002 to investigate Damien's disappearance.  Family has spoken at length about the multitude of feelings regarding the investigation done by law enforcement, and it's changed and flexed over the years to accommodate both their own personal growth and the growth of resources, technology, and opportunities to work toward its resolution. Today, their feelings remain largely within the realm of disappointment, and the dissatisfaction does remain. It's refined now, with a bit of empathy in places, but overall, the family remains unaware of what that PI they hired ever actually found out.  Here's what we know about the day he was hired, and our main question is this:  How did Damien's family's PI wind up interviewing Damien's family members alongside police?  That's this week.  Janeane's Video

We're recapping the highlights of Damien's story in this episode, reading through his DD214 to debunk the theory that Damien was a specialized soldier who disappeared into a secret military life (it's important to debunk everything you can, and to get documentation...two birds one stone, babies), and talking to his aunts Anziette and Dana about a report they commissioned from PI John Herzog in 2002.  Season Two begins here.  Thank you for supporting independent journalism. For real. Thank you. 

Season 2 kicks off on Dec. 28, 2022.  This season, I spoke with a lot of new folks, and have some new tips and information to unpack for you. But I want to jump into this season with Damien's aunt, Anziette Dipierro. Anziette has been instrumental in working between the family and organizations, like the Community United Effort (CUE) to get Damien's vital information into various databases and repositories as technology has advanced these past 20 years.  Her journals and memories of Damien and his life between coming home from military service and going missing are invaluable in helping us understand who Damien was. Anziette was only 10 when Damien was born, but they grew up together. Being 10 years older, Anziette said, she babysat him when the family moved to the west end of Warren, Pa., but they were really more like friends than they were aunt and nephew.  This is the first few minutes of Anziette's interview, including some of those deep memories. Tune in Dec. 28 to hear more. Until then, #letsfinddamien.

Listen. This is it.  Season two will be out at Christmas but I have a mission for every one of you listening: TALK ABOUT THIS SHIT.  Please. I'm asking you to introduce this information to anyone you know who will listen. If the rumor mill gonna do its thing, we're gonna hack it. We're injecting as many facts and pieces of evidence as we can to the public narrative, in order to get this case solved, and to bring answers to his family, who has waited way, way too long.  Discuss this information among yourselves. Brainstorm.  Any of you remember a person rolling around Warren County, Pa., on Saturday, May 25, 2002 in a 1993 maroon Cadillac de Ville? We want to hear from you. It's important.  Det. Tiffany Dyke (814) 723-2700 Warren County Crime Stoppers Inc. 1 (800) 832-7463 Stacey Gross (814) 230-5855 Texts I deal with in real time, calls when I can. Your best bet is to text me and say DAMIEN. I'll hit you up real quick. Right hand to God.

I'm the worst at keeping up with show notes.  Seasonal Break detention homework.  I'm exactly as ashamed as I should be about the show notes situation. Also.  I'm going to miss you until Christmas you guys!!

JANEANE SHANAHAN INTERVIEW

Warren County Crime Stoppers Inc Documentation.  I know this is weak sauce stuff you guys but I can't hold the story up while we wait for July 8, and that meeting, so just hit this real quick. I'll be back with more info. Things continue to develop, kids. Stay tuned.

Just wanted you guys to have a sense of Det. Tiffany Dyke, so if you're wondering who you're going to encounter if you do submit a tip to cops, it could be her. Tiffany's ready to get your tips and excited to cash in on the momentum you all are generating for Damien's case, so hit her up. (814) 723-2700 or tdyke@police.cityofwarrenpa.gov. 

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