Mountain State Mysteries

 For 32 years, this case has haunted a small West Virginia town — unanswered questions, lingering pain, and stories that never quite added up. We’ve told it before… but this time, we’re bringing you something new — straight from someone who’s carried the weight of this mystery for over three decades. This is the case of Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens. Tommy Gwinn is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the remains of Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens Tips can be sent to: P.O. Box 131 Glen Jean, WV 25846 Or call Crime Stoppers of West Virginia at (304) 255-7867 Sources - Family Member Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens – The Charley Project Missing Person Details Angela Cherice Gwinn-Stephens - 1993 — WV Missing Persons Project 927DFWV - Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

 The case we have for you today feels like something straight out of a Lifetime movie. It’s a story of a couple who seemed madly in love—until everything took a dark turn. This is the case of Jerry Ray Stone. If you have any information on the murder of Jerry Ray Stone. Please contact the West Virginia State Police at (304)872-0800 Sources - Beckley Register Herald Archives, May 4, 1999, p. 7 FEELGOOD CORP. in Beckley, WV | Company Information & Reviews MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

Today marks 32 years since Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens vanished without a trace. One month after her disappearance, her car mysteriously appeared at her husband’s workplace—keys hidden under the sun visor. For years, rumors swirled that she might be in a church septic tank. After relentless pleas from her family, the tank was finally searched—proving she wasn’t there. For more than three decades, Cherice’s disappearance has haunted her family and captured national attention. Still, the question remains: Where is Cherice? 🎧 In honor of her memory, we’re re-releasing our episode on Cherice’s case today. 💰 The Gwinn family is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the resolution of Angela Cherice Gwinn Stephens’ disappearance and murder. 📬 Tips can be sent to: P.O. Box 131 Glen Jean, WV 25846 📞 Or call Crime Stoppers of West Virginia at (304) 255-7867 Crime Stoppers of West Virginia (crimestopperswv.com)Website - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com)MUSIC - THE DETECTIVE - CHRISTOFFER MOE DITLEVSEN HARMONICS - HAMPUS NAESELIUS

When a young man is found dead in his truck, a search for his killer uncovered a love triangle twisted by the lies of a man who couldn't let go. But as the investigators dig deeper, the uncover that the killer isn't the only one who pretended to be someone he's not. The is the case of Talhotblond. Sources - Online Love Triangle, Deception End in Murder - ABC News Talhotblond : MSNBCW : May 5, 2012 2:00pm-3:00pm PDT : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive Thomas Montgomery – I Can't Believe It's NonFiction MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

One Monday morning 16 years ago, a restaurant employee arrived for work with no reason to expect anything but another day of preparing and serving pizza, pasta, and calzones, but a horrifying discovery brought squads of deputies and state troopers instead of customers. Soon a helicopter was flying over the business while investigates searched for evidence. This is the case of Harvey and Valarie Looney. Better known as the Pizza Plus Murders. Sources - Christopher Looney: Man Violently Kills Parents For $240K Life Insurance Harvey and Valerie Looney's Murder: Who Killed Them? Where Is Christopher Looney Now? Four years later, son arrested in‘Pizza Plus murders' The Reid Technique and Christopher Looney | John E. Reid and Associates, Inc. MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

 A few weeks ago, we got an email from a relative of the Sodder children — and what she had to say stopped us in our tracks. For decades, certain details about this case have been misreported, repeated so often they’ve become part of the story itself. But she told us there’s more… and it changes everything. This is the new information on the Sodder children. MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

 The case we have for you today is about a devoted mother who had plans to return to school and build a better future for herself and her children. But on what seemed like an ordinary day of running errands, she vanished without a trace. This is the case of Melanie Metheny. Sources - Melanie Renee Metheny – The Charley Project Cold Case Files: Kanawha County mother of three, Melanie Metheny, now missing 16 years Missing: Melanie Metheny | Belle, WV | Uncovered MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

In the summer of 1977, Sister Roberta Elam was enjoying a peaceful afternoon on the grounds of her convent in West Virginia - until her life was tragically cut short. She was found murdered, a crime that shocked both the religious community and the nation. Was this a random act of violence, or did someone closer to sister robin have a darker secret? Sources - Murdered: Roberta Elam | Wheeling, WV | Uncovered 'Sister Robin' - A Cold Case - Part 1 - Weelunk A nun’s murder, a silent hillside, and a DNA mystery—48 years later, a West Virginia case remains unsolved True Crime in the Ohio Valley: Seeking Justice for Sister Robin | News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

In this emotional episode of Mountain State Mysteries, Mark Covey sits down with Christy and Pat, the sisters of Brenda Gail Lambert, who vanished under mysterious circumstances. Together, they recount Brenda’s life, her disappearance, and the lingering questions that have haunted their family for decades. From sharing heartfelt memories to discussing the unanswered leads in the case, this candid interview sheds light on the enduring pain of losing a loved one and the resilience of those left behind. Join us as we delve deeper into Brenda’s story in hopes of keeping her memory alive and seeking the truth. 🔍 If you have any information regarding Brenda Gail Lambert’s disappearance, please contact the appropriate authorities. ✨ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on more episodes uncovering the mysteries of West Virginia.

The case we have for you today is about a mother who disappeared on the night of her son's birthday party in 1992. This is the case of Brenda Gail Lambert. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Brenda Gail Lambert, or know someone who might, please contact the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department at (304) 487-8364. SOURCES - Cold Justice Investigates Disappearance Of Brenda Lambert: Recap | Crime News A mother vanished without a trace 32 years ago— her sister still seeks answers | The Independent Missing: Brenda Lambert | Bluewell, WV | Uncovered BRENDA GAIL LAMBERT | Light the Way MOUNTAIN STATE MYSTERIES LINKS - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

The case we have for you today is one about a beloved small-town doctor who died in a mysterious house fire, suspicion quickly fell on his caretaker's son. He's arrested, convicted, and sent to prison. But years later, new evidence emerged - challenging everything the town thought they knew. Sources - Charles Jason Lively | WV Innocence Project | West Virginia University Ebb "Doc" Whitley Death: Where is Jason Lively Today? He was sentenced to life for murder. On Wednesday, after nearly 15 years, he regained his freedom - Mountain State Spotlight McDowell Man's Murder Conviction Vacated When The Smoke Clears | WVU Magazine Past Editions | West Virginia University MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

In 1972, a young man was found dead along route 19 outside of Beckley, Wv. No ID. No Family. Just a pair of jungle boots and a story about heading south to join the military. Over 50 years later, he's still known only as John Doe. Who was he-and why has no one came forward? If you have any information on the identity of John Doe please contact the West Virginia State Police at (304)872-0800 Sources - Unidentified Person: 1972 Raleigh County John Doe | Beckley, WV | Uncovered Raleigh County John Doe (1972) | Unidentified Wiki | Fandom Unidentified Persons - Veteran Doe WV - BECKLEY JOHN DOE: WM, 17-21, struck by car on US 19-21 in Beckley, WV - 23 Jul 1972 - Hitchhiking, maybe from Chicago | MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

The case we have for you today is one we've heard whispers about for years, but never truly dug into-until now. We're furious because an innocent woman lost her life, and the story that follows is as heartbreaking as it is enringing. This is the case of Blanche Dempsey. Sources - Blanche Loretta McClung Dempsey (1926-2001) - Find a Grave Memorial R:\Storage\P-T\State Farm Fire v. O'Hara (A)\order on summary judgment.wpd MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

The case we have for you today is as chilling as it is mysterious. Seven men vanished under separate circumstances - yet many believe they are all victims of the same brutal killer. Centered around the quiet town of Oak Hill, West Virginia, this story follows the trail of a figure known only as the mad butcher. Sources - The Mad Butcher of Fayette County – killerscrawlspace The Mad Fayette Butcher, Serial Killer https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=2465&q=mad+butcher+of+west+virginia&cvid=3577f04c7112419d9fa29bffa801ca33&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgYIABBFGDkyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQABhAMgYIAhAAGEAyBggDEAAYQDIGCAQQABhAMgYIBRAAGEAyBggGEAAYQDIGCAcQABhAMgYICBAAGEDSAQg0NzIxajBqMagCALACAA&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=EDGEDSE MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

The case we have for you today is the disturbing case of Randall Lee Smith, the infamous Appalachian Trail Killer. What Led him to murder two hikers? and why years later, did he return to the trail to kill again? Did it have something to do with a dark religion? join us while we get lost in the mystery of Randall Lee Smith. Sources - Randall Lee Smith - Wikipedia Randall Lee Smith: Is The Killer Dead or Alive? The Chilling Case of the Appalachian Trail Killer – The Fordham Ram Murder of Robert Mountford and Laura Ramsay by Randall Lee Smith investigated in Bodies In The Wilderness MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

This week Courtney takes you to the spring of 1964, a reporter in Grafton, West Virginia claimed to have seen a massive, headless creature lurking near the river. Soon, Sightings of the Grafton Monster spread like wildfire, drawing monster hunters and skeptics alike to the small Appalachian town. MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

In this special AMA episode, Mark and Courtney pull back the curtain and answer your burning questions-from behind-the-scenes secrets and favorite cases to chilling listeners theories and what keeps them up at night. Nothing's off-limits, so grab your flashlight and settle in. It's time to go off-script and into the unknown. MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

on December 7th, 1963, James Lee Haynes went missing after hitchhiking. some say he was a victim of the bad butcher others say he was killed by three men after a barroom fight. This is the true and updated story of James Lee Haynes. Sources - bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=021715d09f9dd15da10e908605e179e25a56db736930a7bf4f8d4727555f31feJmltdHM9MTc0NDg0ODAwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=3c627e34-fa65-673b-16dc-73e1fbcd66fe&psq=JAMES+LEE+HAYNES+DELCARED+DEAD&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly91bnNvbHZlZGFwcGFsYWNoaWEub3JnL2phbWVzLWxlZS1oYXluZXMv&ntb=1 James Lee “Jimmy” Haynes (1932-1963) - Find a Grave Memorial Linda & Brenda Haynes Glen Rogers High School Cook Interviews (witnesses & persons of interest) MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

The case we have for you today is about a three-year-old girl that seemingly vanishes from rural West Virginia in 2011, answers don't come quickly. But as the years pass, a witness comes forward with information that changes everything   If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, you can call or text the Childhelp-Hotline at 800-422-4453. They also have a live chat option on their website.  Links for non-profits  Homepage - Coburn Place Homepage - West Virginia Child Advocacy Network Child Advocates Sources - Aliayah Paige Lunsford – The Charley Project EXCLUSIVE: Sister who came forward in Aliayah Lunsford case shares her story Lunsford family marks 10 years since disappearance of 3 year old Aliayah - WV MetroNews Lunsford guilty of daughter's murder: 'Finally gives an innocent child justice' - WV MetroNews MSM links - WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius

In this episode of Mountain State Mysteries, we dive into the life and legacy of Sid Hatfield, the fearless police chief who became a symbol of resistance during the bloody labor wars of West Virginia. Nest known for his role in the 1920 Matewan Massacre, Hatfield stood against powerful coal companies and their hired enforcers, refusing to bow to corruption and intimidation. But his defiance came at a price. SOURCES - Sid Hatfield - Wikipedia Matewan Massacre (U.S. National Park Service)What Made the Battle of Blair Mountain the Largest Labor Uprising in American History | Smithsonian On This Day in Labor History, the year was 1921, Mingo County. — West Virginia Mine Wars Museum William Sidney “Sid” Hatfield (1893-1921) - Find a Grave Memorial e-WV - Sid Hatfield WEBSITE - Home | Mountainstatemysteri (mountainstatemysteriespodcast.com) INSTAGRAM - Mountain State Mysteries - A West Virginia True Crime Podcast (@mountainstatemysteries) • Instagram photos and videos FACEBOOK - Facebook TIKTOK - Mountain State Mysteries (@mountainstatemysteries) | TikTok Youtube - (2) Mountain State Mysteries - YouTube MUSIC - Intro Music - The Company HARMONICS - Hampus Naeselius