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Paper Ghosts: The Ozarks
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Paper Ghosts: The Ozarks

Author: iHeartPodcasts

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It’s the dead of summer, 1989, in the heart of the Ozarks. An 18-year-old woman goes missing from Bella Vista, Arkansas. As the search moves forward, several suspects emerge. Then… a body is found not far from the Missouri border, and a homicide investigation begins. Soon, a second body is discovered nearby. What was a mystery transforms into the hunt for a possible serial killer stalking young women throughout the Ozarks. M. William Phelps digs in nearly 35 years later and begins to understand that things aren’t always what they seem.
44 Episodes
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Introducing: White Eagle

Introducing: White Eagle

2022-03-2302:541

From the team behind Paper Ghosts, WHITE EAGLE is a six-part true crime series about a 1983 heist where a 25-year-old armored truck driver from West Hartford, Connecticut, tied up his co-workers, stuffed more than $7 million into a Buick LaSabre, and disappeared into the night. At the time, it was one of the largest cash heists in U.S. history. But that was just the beginning.   WHITE EAGLE launches April 7. Listen and subscribe on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The $7 Million Man

The $7 Million Man

2022-04-0738:13

The West Hartford Police Department springs into action after two Wells Fargo security guards reveal that a coworker, 25-year-old Victor Gerena, held them at gunpoint, drugged them, and drove off with more than $7 million in cash. Plus, a cryptic lead sends police to a local airport. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Be On The Lookout

Be On The Lookout

2022-04-1438:141

A nationwide manhunt takes a turn after police recover the car used in the heist. Then, law enforcement learns what a key witness knows about Victor Gerena’s movements the morning of the robbery. This, as Phelps digs into the 25-year-old security guard’s background and uncovers a potential motive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Epiphany

Epiphany

2022-04-2140:581

After Victor Gerena surfaces to take credit for the robbery, money starts showing up in the heart of Hartford’s Puerto Rican community. Then, a missile strike thousands of miles away reveals an unassuming piece of evidence that provides investigators with a huge break – and a new suspect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aguila Blanca

Aguila Blanca

2022-04-2839:491

A top Macheteros soldier explains exactly what happened the night of the Wells Fargo heist, including where Victor took the cash in the days that followed. Plus, internal dissent and hubris threatens to derail the entire operation, and we dive deep into a Cuban connection.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lawyers, Guns and Money

Lawyers, Guns and Money

2022-05-0542:081

A series of FBI raids send more than a dozen Macheteros back to Connecticut to stand trial in the Wells Fargo robbery case. Plus, an attorney for the group unpacks the government’s “sloppy” legal strategy, Juan’s former lover testifies in court, and a key player jumps bail and returns to clandestinity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the final episode, President Clinton’s decision to grant clemency to members of the Macheteros and the FALN ignites a firestorm on Capitol Hill and spells trouble for the First Lady’s Senate bid. A top Macheteros leader meets a violent end, Puerto Rico struggles under U.S. leadership, and Phelps completes his search for Victor Gerena.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summer 1989: in the heart of the Ozarks. A young woman goes missing before a body is found, not far from the Missouri border. Soon, a second body is discovered nearby. The hunt for a possible serial killer heats up as investigator M. William Phelps arrives on the scene to reinvestigate a once-cold case. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing Paper Ghosts

Introducing Paper Ghosts

2020-08-3102:303

Four girls go missing, all within miles from one another in neighboring New England towns. And not one arrest is made. Fifty years later, the search for answers is reignited when a call reveals new information that sets the investigation in motion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Dead Butterfly

The Dead Butterfly

2020-09-0938:305

Janice Pockett was only 7 years old when she went missing during the summer of 1973. She had been given permission for the first time to ride her bike alone, so she made her way down the dirt road near her family’s home. As she turned the corner, it was the last time anybody ever saw her again. For decades, the case has remained unsolved. It was not until recently, when a new piece of information turns the case upside down and shifts the investigation in an entirely new direction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
One year after Janice Pockett went missing in Tolland, CT, another young girl was abducted just a few miles from where Janice was last seen. Lisa Joy White was 13 when she suddenly vanished on her way home from a friend's house in 1974. Early belief was that Lisa ran away. Police believed her friend knew what happened. Now, for the first time, Lisa's friend is telling her side of the story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Hell House

A Hell House

2020-09-0934:093

Susan LaRosa was 20 years old and already a mom to three young children when she disappeared in 1975. She had dark black hair, cut just above her shoulders. She was petite, 95 pounds. Her husband said she left their apartment one evening to get diapers and baby formula and never returned. That’s the extent of what you’d know about Susan LaRosa if you read about her case in the newspapers. But after years of looking into her story, and speaking with family members who are finally ready to talk, the mystery takes a disturbing turn as a person of interest emerges. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
'Mommy, Wake Up'

'Mommy, Wake Up'

2020-09-1636:332

WARNING: This episode contains material that may be unsuitable and difficult for some to hear.The story has always been that Susan LaRosa left her apartment to pick up baby supplies and call her mother the night she disappeared. She did this just about every night at the same time at a nearby drug store. Her husband was considered a suspect immediately. More than 40 years later, an eyewitness has come forward with details about what happened the night Susan was murdered. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Dangerous Man

A Dangerous Man

2020-09-2342:442

All of the missing cases have become like the five points of a star—no matter how you draw it, each point shoots a dotted line back to one person of interest: Bob LaRosa. However, there are far more nefarious secrets buried deep within his family that could lead to another suspect and new answers—starting with yet another missing young woman Bob knew very well.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Grave For Many

A Grave For Many

2020-09-3039:061

A frantic call brings forward a new lead, with new clues and a new person of interest with connections to Bob LaRosa. As local authorities have been focused on a group of violent, sexually perverted men exploiting and violating young women in the area, a surprising connection links this new person of interest back to the water walls where police have been looking. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Runaway

The Runaway

2020-10-0733:472

The faces of Janice Pockett, Lisa White, and Debbie Spickler appear side by side on one missing persons flier that continues to be posted around town to this day. The public and media have always grouped these cases together. Three young girls, suddenly gone. Yet that is where the similarities stop. Recently uncovered documents help clear up the misinformation that’s been reported on 13-year-old Debbie Spickler’s case for over 50 years, and reveals a whole new web of mysteries that takes us in an entirely new direction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For just a moment in 2013, there was a glint of hope that the remains of one of the missing girls had been discovered. For their families, it was a discovery that finally felt like there would be answers. As the investigation heats up, a new source comes forward and flips the entire investigation upside down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Witness

The Witness

2020-10-2128:583

He was best friends with Bob LaRosa. His ex-wife has described him as violent. And he’s been talking about bodies being buried in local water wells. It’s time for the Witness to speak. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Last Remains

The Last Remains

2020-10-2829:42

As far as the investigation into the five cases has gone, a major piece of the puzzle always felt missing. The victims' families have long asked the State Police to bring search dogs out to the biggest points of interest where the bodies of the missing girls may be buried. Those requests have been ignored ... until now.If you have any information regarding the cases involving Janice Pockett, Lisa White, Debbie Spickler, Susan LaRosa, or Irene LaRosa, please contact the law enforcement hotline at 860-870-3228. Or, you can send a direct message to M. William Phelps on Facebook or email him personally at mwilliamphelps@comcast.net. Any tip or bit of information can be helpful and all of it is kept completely confidential.Thank you for listening to Paper Ghosts. Stay tuned and subscribed for season 2. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s been more than a year since season one aired, but the scores of tips regarding Janice Pockett, Lisa White, Debbie Spickler, Susan LaRosa, and Irene LaRosa have only continued. The Connecticut State Police have once again gone radio silent so we return to Crystal Lake with some new experts and equipment to search for more answers.For more true crime stories, listen to M. William Phelps' other podcast Crossing the Line and visit the CTL website. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Comments (93)

Charles White

Tammy Killer Dead!

Feb 9th
Reply

Chad Batts

I wish there were more ads 🤦🏻‍♂️

Jan 31st
Reply (1)

Chad Batts

I think Carol likes to elaborate while soaking up all of this attention.

Jan 31st
Reply

Catherine Jennette Blevins

oiku u

Apr 26th
Reply

lisa bradford

Am I the only listener to realize that the state patrolman telling about the crime kind of softly criticized family for not reporting her missing sooner? when it clearly described the family trying to report her missing and the response being she probably ran away!? And it's too soon to make a report?! bc we all know that is what they originally said.

Apr 15th
Reply

Ryan Phillips

this podcaster is always good at taking what would be maybe a two-episode podcast stretching it out to 10 by repeating the same things over and over and over again

Mar 19th
Reply

Jason Ramirez

why is the FBI trying to get back Federal Reserve money? they're not part of the American government.

Mar 8th
Reply

Jeri Olear

hey Phelps, you got Tammy's fb page buzzing lots of new members ,you rock anyway ,but u hit it out of the park picking Tammy's story. Love it.! Jeri olearl

Mar 5th
Reply

Colisha Simpkins

The stories are great if you can get through two things. 1. the insane amount of ads. it's crazy. little bit of story, 5 ads. I've never heard this many in anyone other podcast. and 2. how in love with himself this guy is. there is more "I, me and my" than any other podcast. he will make sure to remind you how many books he's written and how much of an expert he is MULTIPLE times But I stick through all that with an eye roll to find out what happens in the stories.

Mar 2nd
Reply (1)

Jason Ramirez

I love how people try to say that money is more valuable today than 30 years ago. LMAO 100 DOLLARS 30 YEARS AGO IS GUESS WHAT STILL JUST 100 DOLLARS TODAY IDIOTS.

Feb 23rd
Reply (1)

Jason Ramirez

Did they ever say how the fire was started or in which room did it start in?

Feb 23rd
Reply

Jason Ramirez

why does this guy keep saying she lost her whole family when that's not true. she called other family members to let them know what happened.

Feb 22nd
Reply

Jason Ramirez

This podcast is good, but these commercials are annoying. They make me want to stop listening to the show.

Feb 22nd
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aja

at 32:43 it skips to a completely different subject

Feb 15th
Reply

Jason Ramirez

There's NO such thing as a lie detector

Feb 15th
Reply

Jessica Salvia

I grew up Catholic and when it was mentioned that she was stabbed 7 times around the heart it made me think of Mary's 7 Sorrows. Maybe the killer is religious and was thinking of that iconography? Plus he removed the soccer patch of St. Giles soccer club from her shorts.

Feb 15th
Reply

Megan

not newsworthy? many young blond women go missing all the time? I hate how the media decides what is "newsworthy" when people's lives are on the line.

Feb 12th
Reply (1)

Megan

I sometimes wonder about law enforcement and the appearance of doing work on a case. How many times are the dogs they bring out actual certified cadaver or tracking dogs? how many times are the people handling GPR and other sensitive detection equipment actually trained in the use of that equipment? law enforcement tends to benefit from the blanket of complete trust from the public, and pacifying the public in this way would be very easy. pointless, I think, but easy.

Feb 6th
Reply

Megan

If kids and young women disappear from a particular location under seemingly similar circumstances, maybe there's a serial killer. but maybe not. the cases could be related but not necessarily because it is one guy doing it all. sometimes these adorable little rural towns are very slimy dangerous places, and maybe the local culture here is predatory and abusive, and enabling of abuse. so it could be more than one predator, operating on his own, living their best monster lives in a place that allows guys like that to thrive at the expense of the women and children. it, in fact, sounds like Sue was preyed on, abused, and exploited too. being a mother of three, plus however many abortions, by age twenty? "sleeping with" grown men "uncles" since age unknown? why do we always equate drugginess and self destructive behavior, and neglectful behavior, with being a "free spirit"? this twenty year old mother of three with these issues and coping mechanisms and responsibilities she could not hand

Feb 2nd
Reply

Jeri Olear

Great choice ,Tammy deserves the time and attention.Girnell is 40 minutes from Marshall town Iowa where I grew up .. Let's find Tammy's killer.

Jan 27th
Reply
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