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The Vanished Podcast

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The Vanished is a true crime podcast that explores the stories of those who have gone missing. The Vanished goes beyond conventional news reports to take a deep dive into the story of a different missing person each week. Host Marissa Jones brings you exclusive interviews with family members, friends, law enforcement and experts. What will The Vanished uncover next?

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525 Episodes
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Last week, you learned about Heather Caras’ life, her disappearance, and the trail of confusion that followed. On January 24, 2025, Heather had planned to take her younger son on a special outing after a minor disagreement the night before. According to him, that morning, Heather said she was going outside to start her vehicle, but she never returned. After waiting for some time, he walked to school to tell someone that something was wrong.What followed was a series of strange events. Instead of involving social services, local residents were called in to look after Heather’s children, a decision that struck her friends as deeply concerning. When photos of Heather’s home began circulating, they showed some rooms inside her home in disarray. Her friends weren’t sure whether Heather had made the mess herself, searching for something, or whether someone else had ransacked the house.The next day, one of Heather’s neighbors found her truck parked at Beaver Bay, miles west of her Linton, North Dakota home. The scene was baffling: a trail of footprints in the snow that ended abruptly, and a new pair of shoes, the same brand Heather always wore, left behind, but not a pair her friends recognized. To make matters worse, there were conflicting accounts about her phone. Some said it was found in the truck; others pointed to photos showing her purse and phone still sitting on a counter inside her home.Back home in North Carolina, Heather’s friends tried to make sense of it all. Locals seemed to be pointing fingers in every direction, and sometimes, back at Heather herself. Then came a press release from the Emmons County Sheriff’s Office that left them in shock. It said that Heather “may have previously reached out to an unknown prior acquaintance living out of state to assist in leaving the area and may have taken steps to avoid detection or being located.” To those who knew her best, that explanation wasn’t plausible. Heather was devoted to her sons. The idea that she would simply walk away from them, from everything, didn’t fit the person they knew.Months later, at the end of May, Heather’s remains were found in a field miles from where her truck had been parked. But finding Heather didn’t bring answers. It only deepened the mystery. How had she ended up there, in the freezing cold? Why would she have gone there at all? The medical examiner couldn’t determine the cause or manner of her death. There were no signs of trauma, and toxicology tests indicated that there were no drugs in her system that could have caused an overdose. Her death was ruled undetermined.Yet, despite that uncertainty, the Emmons County Sheriff’s Office publicly stated that the autopsy “confirmed what investigators had believed all along,” that there was no foul play, and that Heather had suffered a mental health crisis. For her friends, that statement felt like a rewriting of history. From the beginning, officials had said Heather left voluntarily with an unknown acquaintance. Now, they claimed this had been their belief all along. It felt like an easy way to close the book on a case that still didn’t make sense.Today, we’re going to explore where things stand now that Heather has been found, take a closer look at her life in the months before she vanished, and the questions that still linger today.If you have any information about the disappearance and death of Heather Caras, please contact the Emmons County Sheriff’s Office at 701-254-4411.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On the morning of January 24, 2025, 39-year-old Heather Caras disappeared from her home in Linton, North Dakota. When she stepped outside, her two teenage sons were still at home. One of her sons later recalled that Heather said she was going to start her vehicle, but she never came back. This was out of character for Heather, who was known to be a devoted and protective mother, given that both of her boys have special needs. When she didn’t return, one of the boys walked to school to sound the alarm that something was wrong. The next day, Heather’s truck was found at Beaver Bay, about fifteen miles west of Linton. The scene there was strange: a set of footprints leading away from the vehicle, then abruptly ending, and a pair of shoes neatly placed in the snow.In the days that followed, few clues emerged. Then came a statement from law enforcement claiming that Heather had “left her family and the area willingly with the assistance of an unknown acquaintance and was not known to be in any danger.” To those who knew Heather best, that theory wasn’t just out of character; it was unthinkable.As we were preparing to cover Heather’s disappearance, news broke in late May that human remains had been found not far from Beaver Bay. They were later confirmed to be Heather’s remains, but the autopsy results left those who knew and loved her with even more questions than answers. If you have any information about the disappearance or death of Heather Caras, please contact the Emmons County Sheriff’s Office at 701-254-4411.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode first aired on November 7, 2022. Last week, we shared the first part of Jarrod Green’s story. In September 1994, 20-year-old Jarrod disappeared from Searcy, Arkansas. In the days leading up to his disappearance, he seemed increasingly anxious and worried about his safety. During a call with his girlfriend, he was emotional but wouldn’t say what was wrong. Around the same time, he retrieved a gun from a friend, telling them he needed it for protection. Jarrod told his family he had plans to meet someone that night, but he never returned home. His car was found days later in a store parking lot in Searcy.In this episode, we will explore the people in Jarrod’s circle before he went missing and the possible roles they may have played in his disappearance.If you want to get involved, please join Shannon's group, Justice for Jarrod, on Facebook. If you have any information regarding Jarrod Green’s disappearance, please contact the Searcy Police Department at (501) 268-3531.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode first aired on October 31, 2022. On September 30, 1994, 20-year-old Jarrod Green disappeared from Searcy, Arkansas. That night, he told his family he had plans to meet someone. During a phone call with his girlfriend, he sounded upset but refused to explain what was wrong. Earlier that week, Jarrod had retrieved a gun he had previously loaned to a friend, saying he needed it for protection. He never made it home and was never seen or heard from again.A few days later, Jarrod’s car was found abandoned in the parking lot of a local store. The doors were unlocked, the windows were rolled down, and the keys were on the floor. His disappearance quickly went cold. His family heard little from law enforcement and felt as though the case had been forgotten.Over time, disturbing stories began to circulate. Less than a year later, another person connected to Jarrod vanished. Another reportedly took his own life after confessing to being involved in Jarrod’s death. Years later, a group of new detectives decided to reexamine the case, and for the first time in decades, there was movement.If you have any information about the disappearance of Jarrod Green, please contact the Searcy Police Department at (501) 268-3531.You can follow developments in Jarrod's case on Facebook at Justice for Jarrod. If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Whitney Wilken

Whitney Wilken

2025-10-2001:08:574

Whitney Wilken had always been known as a free spirit to those who loved her. She grew up in South Dakota but later moved west to Olympia, Washington. Life in Olympia wasn’t always easy for Whitney, and the distance made it hard for her family to know what was going on in her day-to-day life. Still, they stayed connected, and her family could always count on hearing from her.Then, in October of 2019, the calls from Whitney stopped. Her family reached out to friends in Olympia who went to look for her, but it was as if Whitney had vanished without a trace. No one seemed to know where she had gone or why. When Whitney was reported missing to the Olympia Police Department, their search yielded few answers, and the questions only grew heavier with time. In the years that followed, new information surfaced that raised even more concern. Other women in the same area, with circumstances similar to Whitney’s, had been victimized, leading investigators to consider whether her disappearance might be connected to something much darker.Six years later, Whitney’s loved ones are still waiting for answers. They hope that by sharing her story, someone out there might remember seeing or hearing something that could finally bring them closer to finding her.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Whitney Wilken, please contact the Olympia Police Department. For urgent or time-sensitive tips, call 911 or the non-emergency line at (360) 704-2740. For other information, please call (360) 753-8300 and ask to speak with the detective sergeant assigned to Whitney’s case.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Teekah Lewis

Teekah Lewis

2025-10-1301:08:564

On January 23, 1999, 2-year-old Teekah Lewis vanished from New Frontier Lanes bowling alley in Tacoma, Washington. That night, Teekah was there with her mother, Theresa, and several other relatives. She was playing in the arcade when her mother briefly looked away to bowl. When Theresa turned back, Teekah was gone. Panic set in as family members searched every corner of the building, hoping she had simply wandered out of sight, but Teekah was nowhere to be found. Police were called, and despite extensive searches, no trace of Teekah surfaced.Witnesses offered only fragments of clues. One recalled a maroon Pontiac speeding out of the parking lot around the time Teekah disappeared. Another described a suspicious man inside the bowling alley who had followed a child toward an exit that evening. He was able to give a detailed description of the man, including that he had a pockmarked face. Then, more accounts emerged of unsettling incidents involving children at or around New Frontier Lanes, raising the possibility that the bowling alley and the surrounding neighborhood may have been used as a hunting ground by a predator or predators. For decades, those scraps of information were all investigators and Teekah’s family had to go on, but in 2025, Teekah's case finally began to gain momentum. Through it all, Teekah’s mother has never stopped searching for answers. Theresa has worked tirelessly to keep her daughter’s story alive for nearly 27 years, clinging to the hope that someone may have taken Teekah to raise as their own, a far easier thought than the darker alternatives. Today, she wants what any mother in her position would: the truth about what happened to her little girl, and the chance to bring her home.If you have any information about the disappearance of Teekah Lewis, please contact the Tacoma Police Department at 253-287-4455 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Samantha Tolbert

Samantha Tolbert

2025-10-0601:10:585

In late February of 2024, 46-year-old Samantha Tolbert vanished from Carroll County, Georgia, a rural area in western Georgia, along the Alabama state line. At first, Samantha’s absence didn’t raise an alarm. She kept in touch with her daughter, but it wasn’t unusual for some time to pass between calls. That all changed on March 7, 2024, when deputies from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in Tyus, a small community in Carroll County. There, they discovered Samantha’s ex-husband was deceased. What stood out immediately was that the vehicle he had driven to the scene wasn’t his; it was Samantha’s truck, but she was nowhere to be found.Investigators attempted to contact Samantha because she was the registered owner of the vehicle, but all efforts to reach her were unsuccessful. Friends and family they contacted said they hadn’t heard from her either. In that moment, the troubling truth came into focus: not only was Samantha’s ex-husband dead, but Samantha herself was missing. Suddenly, two stories collided, one ending in death, the other vanished. With Samantha’s ex-husband no longer alive, investigators were left with a haunting mystery: what really happened in those final days, and what secrets did he take with him?If you have any information about the disappearance of Samantha Tolbert, please contact Investigator Amber Cardell with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office at 770-830-5916 or email acardell@carrollsheriffga.gov.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Joel Judd

Joel Judd

2025-09-2901:05:404

In the northern Alberta town of Slave Lake, the nights in late December are long and unforgiving. On December 28, 2019, 27-year-old Joel Judd was staying with a relative in town. By the end of that evening, he had set out for a night out. By the next morning, he was gone, and no one ever saw or heard from Joel again.That night in Slave Lake, Joel went to a local bar where he spent time with other patrons. As the night wore on, Joel left with a few of them. On their way to one person’s home, they stopped at a local inn to purchase alcohol. Joel phoned his uncle and told him he was with a friend. Eventually, the group arrived at the home, where the party continued late into the night. At some point in the early morning hours, according to those present, Joel got up and walked out. No one saw where he went, and he never came back.When Joel failed to return to his uncle's, his family grew concerned and later reported him missing. Investigators traced his steps, using banking records to confirm who he had been with that night, which led them to a house on Whitetail Way, a few miles west of Slave Lake’s city limits. Despite extensive searches of the property and the surrounding area, no sign of Joel has ever been found.Nearly six years later, his family is still searching for answers. Why did Joel leave that home in the middle of the night? Did something happen after he stepped outside? Is it even true that he walked out on his own? Or did something occur at that house party that has never been revealed? If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Joel Judd, please contact Slave Lake RCMP at 780-849-3045 and reference case#202015563. You may also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Conrad Jason Ducharme

Conrad Jason Ducharme

2025-09-2201:14:336

In northern Alberta, long roads cut through forest and farmland, connecting small, close-knit communities. It was along these highways in the summer of 2016 that 43-year-old Conrad Jason Ducharme, known to family and friends simply as Jason, was last seen.Jason was believed to be traveling on foot to Dixonville for a tent meeting. He made it there and was later spotted in Manning. But after that, his trail went cold. Known for walking long distances and sometimes catching rides, Jason often stayed with friends or relatives scattered along his route. At first, his family assumed he was with someone else. Only later did they realize no one had seen him, and by then, his trail was already fading.What alarmed them most was that Jason missed his son’s birthday at the end of July, something completely out of character. Nearly a decade later, no trace of Jason has ever been found. His family continues to hold onto hope that answers may still come, and that by sharing Jason's story, someone who remembers something might step forward.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Conrad Jason Ducharme, please contact the Manning RCMP at 780-836-3769 and reference case#: 2016-1416531. Or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at canadiancrimestoppers.org.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last week, we introduced you to the story of Blake Nex, who vanished from his home in Claremont, California, in March of 1993. At his house in Palmer Canyon, his family found groceries still sitting on the counter, his cats left inside, and no sign of Blake. Weeks later, his truck was discovered parked at Ontario International Airport, which led some to believe he had left willingly. But with no investigation opened by law enforcement at the time, the case quickly went cold and his family was left to search for answers on their own.In Part 2, we pick up decades later, when Blake’s brother Royse connected online with Andrea, a woman halfway across the world who had stumbled upon Blake’s case. Their connection reignited the search, and together they began piecing together fragments of memory, long-circulating rumors, and theories that had lingered for years. In this episode, we follow those threads to explore what people close to Blake remember, what they suspect, and the whispers of activities he may have been involved in before he disappeared.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Blake Nex, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (323) 890-5500.For more information, visit findblakenex.com.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Blake Nex Part 1: The Spark

Blake Nex Part 1: The Spark

2025-09-0801:02:36

In March of 1993, 37-year-old Blake Nex vanished from his home in Claremont, California. Blake’s family grew concerned when they couldn’t reach him, so a relative went to check his house. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. There were no signs of a struggle or forced entry, but the scene inside Blake’s home told an even stranger story. Groceries were still sitting on the counter, as if Blake had just come home from the store and been plucked out of his life in the middle of an ordinary day. His cats were left behind to fend for themselves, along with five hundred dollars in cash, but Blake himself was nowhere to be found.A couple of weeks later, Blake’s truck turned up in the parking lot of a local airport. No one could say when it had been left there or by whom. Then, after his disappearance, Blake’s home was broken into. An answering machine, toolbox, and several expensive bicycles were stolen, only adding to the mystery.When Blake’s family reported him missing, they felt the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department brushed off their concerns. At the time, department policies didn’t require them to take reports for missing adults, and they considered Blake to be voluntarily missing. Nearly two decades would slip by before law enforcement finally took up the case. By then, Blake’s trail had gone ice cold. Any evidence that could have revealed what happened to Blake was already gone, swallowed by time and by the investigation that never began.Now, decades later, Blake's loved ones are determined to reignite the search for answers, holding onto the hope that the truth about his disappearance can still be uncovered.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Blake Nex, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (323) 890-5500. For more information, visit https://www.findblakenex.com, where you can learn more about his case and reach out to his loved ones who are still searching for answers.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode originally aired on May 23, 2022. In the last two episodes, we shared Bill Jamison’s story. In Part 1, we walked through the night Bill disappeared and the early investigation into his case. In Part 2, we examined the unusual circumstances at Bill’s job and the people connected to his work who may have had motives to harm him.Today, in Part 3, we will explore other facets of this mystery and take a closer look at the many theories that have surfaced over the years.If you have any information about the disappearance of William Jamison, please contact the Roselle Park Police Department at (908) 245-2300 or the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form: http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/case-submission/.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode originally aired on May 17, 2022. In the early morning hours of March 27, 1981, Bill Jamison vanished after a night out. He had spent time at a bar before stopping for a quick bite at a diner. The waitress remembered nothing unusual. Bill ordered his usual late-night meal, finished eating, and walked out into the cool March night. That was the last time anyone ever saw him.Yesterday, you heard about the immediate search for Bill and how his family quickly realized law enforcement was not doing enough. They launched their own efforts, sometimes turning to unconventional methods like psychics. They pleaded with police for more action and spent years writing letters to anyone they thought could help. More than four decades later, his disappearance remains unsolved.Today, we will explore what was happening at Bill’s workplace in the days leading up to his disappearance. His family has always wondered if what was unfolding there could hold the key to what happened to Bill.If you have any information about the disappearance of William Jamison, please contact the Roselle Park Police Department at (908) 245-2300 or the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode originally aired on May 16, 2022. On March 26, 1981, 33-year-old William “Bill” Jamison followed his usual routine. He spent the day at Haug Die Casting Company in Kenilworth, New Jersey, where he worked as vice president of production. After work, he grabbed dinner at a restaurant, then stopped at the Chez Lounge inside the Linden Lanes Bowling Alley to enjoy drinks and conversation with friends. His last stop was the St. George Diner in Linden around 1 AM. He ate a quick meal, left about half an hour later, and was never seen again.When Bill failed to arrive at the office the next morning, something completely out of character, his coworkers grew alarmed. One even went to his apartment, but there was no sign of him. They contacted his sister, Katie, who immediately began calling hospitals and reached out to law enforcement.More than 40 years later, Bill’s disappearance remains a mystery. Over the years, there have been reported sightings of him in other states and whispers of a possible mob connection. To this day, his family is still searching for answers.If you have any information about the disappearance of William Jamison, please contact the Roselle Park Police Department at (908) 245-2300 or the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jami Lucas

Jami Lucas

2025-08-2501:13:04

On July 3, 2020, 38-year-old Jami Lucas was riding his motorcycle near Outing, Minnesota. According to official reports, a deputy recognized Jami and knew he didn’t have a valid license, which sparked a pursuit. However, Jami’s family was told something different: that an anonymous call had come in, leading deputies to pursue Jami. Either way, several deputies began chasing Jami, who turned off onto a dirt road.Police records state that the pursuit ended when Jami ditched his motorcycle and ran into the woods. A deputy drew his weapon and ordered him to stop, but Jami kept going, vanishing into the dense underbrush. From that moment forward, no one ever saw Jami Lucas again.More than five years have passed since that night, and Jami’s family believes far too little has been done to find him. They also question why a high-speed chase was initiated at all, especially over something as minor as a suspended license. Nationwide, pursuits like these have drawn heavy criticism for being unnecessarily dangerous, frequently ending in crashes that cause injuries and even deaths, not only to suspects but also officers and innocent bystanders.For Jami’s loved ones, the circumstances of that night remain unsettling. They can’t shake the uneasy feeling that the very agency tasked with finding him was also the last to see him alive. They've been left not only with their grief but also a growing list of contradictions, conflicts of interest, and unexplained gaps in the record.If you have any information about the disappearance of Jami Lucas, please contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at 218-547-1424, Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 651‑793‑7000.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Vickie Carriere

Vickie Carriere

2025-08-1801:08:321

On July 12, 1987, 18-year-old Vickie Carriere was spending time with her boyfriend. Vickie was eight and a half months pregnant and eagerly awaiting the arrival of her baby boy. That day, the couple was at his family’s fishing camp before starting the drive back to Vickie’s home in Waggaman, Louisiana.According to her boyfriend, who was also the baby’s father, they stopped at a local convenience store, just minutes from her home. He said he went inside to buy a soda for Vickie and chocolate milk for himself. When he returned to the car, Vickie and all of her belongings were gone.When she didn’t come home that night, her parents were immediately alarmed. It wasn’t like Vickie to disappear, especially so close to her due date. They feared for both their daughter and the grandson they were so ready to welcome. In the days that followed, those fears deepened. Vickie missed her baby shower, and then her due date came and went without a word. More than 38 years later, Vickie’s family is still searching for answers, and for the baby boy she never got to hold.If you have any information about the disappearance of Vickie Carriere and her unborn son, please contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 363-5500.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aaron Cody Fortner

Aaron Cody Fortner

2025-08-1101:19:521

On February 21, 2022, 25-year-old Aaron Cody Fortner disappeared from Jackson County, North Carolina. At the time, he was staying at a property owned by his grandparents. He made a couple of phone calls to his grandparents in the early morning hours that seemed off, but they weren’t sure what to make of it at the time. When Aaron’s sister, Kourtney, spoke to her grandparents later that morning, they asked her if she had heard from him. She said she hadn’t, and they proceeded to tell her about the phone calls. Kourtney was concerned enough to drive out and check on her brother. When she arrived, things didn’t feel right. A door Aaron always kept locked for safety reasons was unlocked. Kourntey went inside, and Aaron was gone. One thing that stood out was that it was a mess. Just the day prior, their mother had visited, and everything was tidy.That left his family to wonder what happened between the time Aaron's mother last saw him and when he disappeared. Where could he have gone, and why did it seem like something had disrupted his world overnight? His family began calling Aaron's name, searching the surrounding area, and quickly contacted law enforcement to report him missing.More than three years have passed, and Aaron’s loved ones are still searching. Along the way, they have uncovered strange and unsettling clues, but so far, none have led them to Aaron.If you have any information about the disappearance of Aaron Cody Fortner, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 586-8901 or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Western District at (828) 330-4700.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode originally aired on July 17, 2023. Jim Lewis was a decorated veteran who had recently retired after serving in the United States Army for 25 years. Jim and his wife, Patsy, purchased a home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which was intended to be their forever home, after having moved around the US and the world for many years. They were finally putting down their roots, and Patsy was able to start hanging those pictures on the walls. However, it didn't even last a year, as in October 1982, Jim pulled out of the driveway, headed to a job interview in Vero Beach, Florida, and never came home. The police were convinced that Jim had willingly abandoned his family, and they showed no interest in investigating. His family did what they could on their own, but that wasn't bringing them any solid answers. Then, Jim's car was found months later at the local airport in Fayetteville. It had been parked there since October 6, 1982, three days after Jim left, supposedly to drive to Florida. None of it seemed to make sense to his family. He always cared for them and wouldn't have left them this way. Over the years, some clues have been revealed that could point to an outcome no one ever saw coming.If you have any information about the disappearance of James Lewis, please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at (910) 323-1500.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode originally aired on July 10, 2023. On October 3, 1982, 42-year-old James Lewis left his home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jim told his family he planned to drive to Vero Beach, FL, for a job interview. Jim was a decorated veteran who had recently retired from the Army. He was a skilled pilot looking for something to do in the next phase of his life post-retirement. Jim was interviewing for a position ferrying airplanes from a dealer in Florida to buyers. After Jim left, his family never heard from him again, something that was very unusual for Jim. Months later, in January of 1983, Jim’s wife received a call from a local airport, stating that his car had been parked there since early October, just days after her husband had vanished. Had Jim actually driven to Florida? Had he taken a flight somewhere? Why was his car at the airport? These questions have haunted his family for more than 40 years.If you have any information about the disappearance of James Lewis, please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at (910) 323-1500.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In September 2023, 45-year-old Eleanore "Ellie" Halverson and her mother, Roxanne, drove to a mental health facility in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was planning to check in for treatment. Outside the entrance, Ellie said goodbye to her mother and daughter, as neither of them were allowed to accompany her inside.Roxanne expected she would hear from her daughter within a few days, once Ellie had settled in and was granted phone privileges. But as time passed with no word, a sense of unease set in. Then she learned that Ellie had never officially checked into the facility, and no one had seen or heard from her. Fearing the worst, Roxanne reported Ellie missing in Grand Rapids.Then, on November 4, Ellie was spotted on surveillance footage in Northhome, MN. Ellie's family believed she was likely with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Geno. Police eventually tracked Geno down in rural Itasca County. He told investigators they had argued one night in early November, and Ellie had stormed off into the freezing Minnesota darkness. That was the last time he claimed to have seen or heard from her.This November will mark two years since Ellie vanished. Her family is still searching, haunted by unanswered questions and desperate for the truth about what really happened that night.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Eleanor “Ellie” Halverson, please contact the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office at 218-326-3477. If you wish to remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit CrimeStoppersMN.org. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund tip program is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for confidential support 24/7.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Comments (1701)

Sharon Grant

This is so sad, to grow up with no love from her family, especially from your own father. This breaks my heart her her so I to have been in her shoes to have to prove people wrong.

Nov 10th
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Danielle B

Also, what made Clarence go out to that lake in the first place?

Nov 4th
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Danielle B

My feeling is Clarence resents Heather for all that he’s done for her and probably hasn’t gotten much in return ( whatever he thinks he should get). Clarence strikes me as somebody that gives and gives with strings attached somewhere somehow. He’s not just doing it to be nice. He has an ulterior motive.

Nov 4th
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Danielle B

I am so sorry for this family. I hope that someday they know where and what happened to Jarrod.

Oct 28th
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Danielle B

Does anybody know where you can go to see if any of these 500 plus missing persons on this podcast have been found???

Oct 27th
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Danielle B

sounds like my godmother‘s daughter. She was like a sister to me. It ran in her family. Her grandmother has schizophrenia, but it skipped her mother. She got schizophrenia. often people with mental illness deal with their mental illness with illicit drugs. It’s not surprising she started using heroin as a coping mechanism. Sadly it makes things a lot worse. I hope she will be found safe and can get the treatment she desperately needs. 

Oct 21st
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Jessie Collins

his remains have been found. 😞

Oct 17th
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Eden Artemisia

what the fuck is wrong with law enforcement oh my god I'm so full of rage listening to this. May they get what they deserve in life those absolute useless pieces of SHIT

Oct 8th
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Danielle B

Of course I don’t know this man, but from what I am hearing, he doesn’t sound like the type that would spontaneously pick up and go. He sounds like a planner. He’s organized. He loves his cats. As an animal lover myself, there is no way he would leave his cats to fend for themselves locked up. Something or someone interrupted him that day. He was going to come back and put everything away, but never did. I think it’s foul play. Probably has something to do with selling drugs of some kind. 

Sep 24th
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Gena Thoth

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Aug 13th
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Danielle B

James Lewis sounds like an amazing human being. He seems like he had a heart of gold and the way he treated the women in his family says so much about his character. I wish that he could be found one way or another to know what happened to him. 

Aug 5th
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Ruth Partridge

You might want to follow up with a report on a missing Trinidad woman. She was last seen getting into a white pick up truck. Christina Sanchez has been missing since 4/25/2025.

Jul 31st
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Danielle B

I don’t like to jump to conclusions or make assumptions, however due to the present state of our country, I am wondering if it’s because the family is a mixed race. I don’t understand why law enforcement  is not taking this seriously. Furthermore, the comments that law enforcement have made to the family is callous and inappropriate. I hope it’s not the case but I would not be surprised. 

Jul 23rd
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Jeri Olear

when we going to get part2

Jul 21st
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Danielle B

I also feel that Adderall may have something to do with all of this. It can be highly addictive and sought out by drug addicted people. I don’t think Jonathan was abusing this drug, don’t misunderstand me. I think it’s somebody that knows he takes it.

Jul 15th
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Danielle B

Jonathan sounds like a person I would’ve liked to have met. He sounds like a such a good person. I hope he’s found safe. I’m sure they’ve thought of this but it seems like he met somebody at school or somebody online that has been manipulating him. I feel they picked him up that night, but Jonathan wasn’t thinking he was going anywhere And that he would be back right away .

Jul 14th
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ID26984185

Wow, I think this case could be solved with some computer forensics! Good luck to the family.

Jul 14th
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Danielle B

I think Sarah took advantage of Sean because he would do anything for her. Sarah also seems to be someone who is dramatic, self-centered, and enjoys Sean‘s attention. She probably told Sean on numerous occasions that Brent was abusing her. I think Sean went over to Brents house to confront him and defend her and in the process killed Brent planned or not. Cleaned it up with his taxidermy equipment.  She had to look like the victim, so she went to the domestic abuse shelter to use as cover

Jun 7th
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Saffron_DE

That man who supposedly worked at that hospital where Richard was seems a little fishy. Has anyone verified that he worked there? I don't know why he would be in the room to decide whether Richard should be released. If he did work there, his notes in the chart would be there, but it seems odd that someone who was not a doctor, nurse, or on the board would be in the room. He could have gotten all of this information from the news.

May 21st
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Danielle B

This is what I suspected in episode one. Ladina’s  friend living in larry’s mother‘s farmhouse is the man that Larry spoke to before he disappeared. It seems so obvious. I hope they can find larry’s body . It’s interesting, Ladina was saying that Larry was going to go get money through a pawn shop or whatever That’s partially true. He was going to go get the rent money due to him,Money Larry probably needed like she claims.  I hope there is justice.

May 20th
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