The Toll

A brutal murder of a child has gone unsolved for 44 years. Join us in uncovering the untold stories, digging deep into the fullness of this cold case. Season 1 of The Toll is in final production, so listen to our trailer, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social to stay up-to-date with episode releases and exclusive content.

It began 44 years ago. October 17th marks the anniversary of the brutal murder of a 9 year-old girl that remains unsolved. The Toll Season 1: The Path Back Home is the story of Shirley Jane Rose told by true crime investigative journalist Nancy Simpson.

Nancy Simpson digs into the theories behind Shirley Jane Rose’s murder. A reporter who covered the case in 1975 recalls a midnight run with police and a satanic gathering; a neighbor is forever haunted by her decisions on that fateful day.

A judge writes an open letter to the killer. In it, he outlines what he believes are the nine-year-old’s last moments on Earth and vows to watch the killer as he dies in the gas chamber. Nancy walks the path Shirley Jane Rose took on October 17th, 1975.

The childhood home of Shirley Jane Rose is center stage as many locals believe the home to be haunted by the spirit of the murdered child. Nancy and Jay explore the home and listen to multiple ghostly claims.

A continuation of the paranormal investigation asks a critical question concerning Shirley Jane Rose's death. A new theory shifts us to believe the nine-year-old’s murder could be linked to a story surrounding Shirley’s mom and dangerous drug dealers.

Nancy reaches out to the Springfield, MO community and speaks with the daughter of Shirley’s Jane’s teacher. In her interview the daughter shares stories about the nine-year-old through the eyes of her heart-broken mother.

In this episode, Nancy Simpson tells the story of another Springfield girl abducted from the same area four decades later. Ten-year-old Hailey Owens was snatched off the street and murdered. Listen to The Toll another child loss has on this community.

Suspect or source; Nancy speaks with a man who is well-connected to the Shirley Jane Rose murder case and listens to his story about his encounter with the community’s main suspect. Will Springfield PD solve the cold case?

The Toll team discusses follow-up questions to "The Path Back Home” with expert murder investigator, Cloyd Steiger. Two new layers of this story are also revealed.

With the help of a private investigator, Nancy was able to track down one of two men arrested for the murder of Shirley Jane Rose in 1975. They were both released for lack of evidence. The case remains unsolved. Here's their conversation.

The house Shirley called home intrigues her cousin Kristi, who requests a tour of her own. What does Kristi see in the ghost video? What happens in the basement?

Nancy interviews a family member of Jim Sullivan, aka Snakeman, from episode 5. Sullivan was a drug manufacturer and dealer who was murdered in an ambush killing in 1986.

A bartender and mom of 3 went missing after closing up after work in Ava, Missouri. A newly elected sheriff picks up the case several years later, looking to find who murdered Rene Williams. What he uncovers is a suspected serial killer. Where was Rene buried? Who helped move her body? How many more victims are connected to Christopher Revak? Join us on our journey into a murder in the Ozarks. Part 1 of “The Toll: Unsettled”

A bartender and mom of 3 went missing after closing up after work in Ava, Missouri. A newly elected sheriff picks up the case several years later, looking to find who murdered Rene Williams. What he uncovers is a suspected serial killer. Where was Rene buried? Who helped move her body? How many more victims are connected to Christopher Revak? Join us on our journey into a murder in the Ozarks. Part 2 of “The Toll: Unsettled”

A woman's body was found on a truck stop parking lot in Springfield, Missouri in 1997 - far from her home near Memphis. Gloria Jean Barnes' body was discovered the day before her 36th birthday. No family gathering, no cake, no celebration. Gloria got an autopsy for her birthday. As police work on leads, all they find are dead ends. For the first time in over two decades, Gloria's sister and brother are speaking out about what they believe happened the night Gloria was taken from Joiner, Arkansas. A family's secret, a mother's crusade to catch a killer, and details in this case that have never been revealed. It's a cold case brought back to life by "The Toll: Hearts For Gloria."

A woman's body was found on a truck stop parking lot in Springfield, Missouri in 1997 - far from her home near Memphis. Gloria Jean Barnes' body was discovered the day before her 36th birthday. No family gathering, no cake, no celebration. Gloria got an autopsy for her birthday. As police work on leads, all they find are dead ends. For the first time in over two decades, Gloria's sister and brother are speaking out about what they believe happened the night Gloria was taken from Joiner, Arkansas. A family's secret, a mother's crusade to catch a killer, and details in this case that have never been revealed. It's a cold case brought back to life by "The Toll: Hearts For Gloria."

Nancy here... A pregnant teenager was murdered in the Ozarks in the 1970s. My mother married the girl's killer. So many lies. What was the truth? Eventually, I had to know more.