Last Seen Alive

This special 4th Anniversary episode of Last Seen Alive presents 4 lesser-known, unsolved small-town disappearances in critical need of tips from the public, including:   ·      The unsolved 1996 disappearance of 79-year-old Eva Hale from Greene County, Indiana ·      The unsolved 1998 disappearance of 8-year-old ShyShy Pate from Unadilla, Georgia ·      The unsolved 2003 disappearance of 42-year-old Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich from Belle Fourche, South Dakota ·      The unsolved 2014 disappearance of 33-year-old Nefertiri Trader from New Castle, Delaware  If you know anything about the disappearance of Eva Hale—or about the murders of Rita Buffington or Audra Page—please contact the Indiana State Police at (812)332-4411. If you have any information on the disappearance of Shy’Kemmia Pate, please call the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at (478) 987-4545. OR, if you wish to share your tip anonymously, you can call 1-(800) 597-8477. If you have any information on the disappearance of Beverly Ozuna-Ulrich, please call the Butte County Sheriff’s Office at (605) 892-3324 OR the state Department of Criminal Investigation at 605-773-3331. If you know anything about the disappearance or whereabouts of Nefertiri Trader, please contact the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office at (410) 265-8080, or submit an anonymous tip online at tips.fbi.gov/home. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/12/10/4-years-of-lsa-4-unsolved-disappearances/ Support LSA and the DNA Doe Project by getting a shirt or hoodie on our store: https://last-seen-alive.printify.me/products  

When a Pennsylvania woman goes missing, her loved ones must navigate the rocky truth that lies beneath a convicted criminal’s shifting stories. State investigators take over the case of a woman who was failed by small-town law enforcement in this episode of Last Seen Alive. If you know anything about the disappearance of Fawn Mountain, please call the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-472-8477, or submit a tip via their website, pacrimestoppers.org. Either way, you can remain anonymous if you wish. There’s another number I want to make sure you know about, too, and that’s the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you’re experiencing domestic violence, please give them a call—they’re available 24/7 to provide support, and a listening ear. You can reach them at 1-800-799-7233. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/12/04/unsolved-disappearance-fawn-mountain/ Support LSA and the DNA Doe Project by getting a shirt or hoodie on our store: https://last-seen-alive.printify.me/products

When a widowed Louisiana woman vanishes from her home in the middle of a rainstorm, the scant evidence left behind points to the unthinkable: an abduction. Investigators search for answers in a truly unlikely disappearance in this episode of Last Seen Alive. If you know anything about the disappearance of Barbara Blount, please call the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office at 225-686-2241. Or, use the tip form available on their website—the url is lpso.org/report-a-crime. You can remain anonymous if you wish. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/11/20/unsolved-disappearance-barbara-blount/ Support LSA and the DNA Doe Project by getting a shirt or hoodie on our store: https://last-seen-alive.printify.me/products  

When a well-liked South Carolina woman is murdered and left in the woods near her home, her family and friends are devastated. Investigators discover that the beloved mother and accomplished healthcare provider may have been stalked prior to her death in this episode of Last Seen Alive. If you know anything about the death of Janice Wessinger, please contact the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at  803-648-6811. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/ Support LSA and the DNA Doe Project by getting a shirt or hoodie on our store: https://last-seen-alive.printify.me/products

When a brutally murdered John Doe turns out to be a Catholic priest leading a double life, blame falls upon a young man who was in a different state at the time of the murder. A wrongful conviction paints a twisted picture—and is finally solved—in this episode of Last Seen Alive. This episode is a comprehensive update / follow-up to an episode we aired in 2020 on the then-unsolved homicide of Father Patrick Ryan / wrongful conviction of James Harry Reyos. After more than 40 years, James Reyos has finally been legally-declared innocent, and Father Patrick Ryan’s real killers have been identified. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/10/23/resolved-homicide-wrongful-conviction-james-harry-reyos-finally-declared-innocent-real-murder-suspects-identified/ These developments were made possible by The Innocence Project of Texas. Follow the link below to join the fight for innocence: https://innocencetexas.org/ Support LSA and the DNA Doe Project by getting a shirt or hoodie on our store: https://last-seen-alive.printify.me/products  

When a New York teen is murdered in his sleep on Halloween night, investigators encounter one of the most perplexing cases of their careers. A close-knit community grieves—and wonders whether one of their own might have been responsible—in this episode of Last Seen Alive. If you know anything about the death of Chaim Weiss, please contact the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-8477. You can remain completely anonymous if you wish. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/10/09/unsolved-homicide-chaim-weiss/ Support LSA and the DNA Doe Project by getting a shirt or hoodie on our store: https://last-seen-alive.printify.me/products

On September 26, 2023, prosecutors dropped the charges against Robert Rodway, one of two Michigan men accused of murdering avid hunter and beloved family man Chong Moua Yang in the fall of 2018. This development occurred less than 24 hours before the trial was scheduled to begin, following the presentation of exculpatory evidence that suggests the possible involvement of an entirely different suspect. In this breaking update episode of Last Seen Alive, we cover the most recent—and unexpected—developments in this ongoing case.

When a Las Vegas teen is abducted during a short walk, there’s no sign of her, despite her community’s search efforts. After her remains are found abandoned in the desert, investigators work to solve a seemingly-random murder that the victim had inexplicably predicted in this episode of Last Seen Alive.   If you know anything about the abduction or death of Kathy Hobbs, please contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Section at 702-828-3521.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/09/25/unsolved-homicide-kathy-hobbs/   Support LSA and the DNA Doe Project by getting a shirt or hoodie on our store: https://last-seen-alive.printify.me/products  

When a Wyoming teen vanishes during her morning walk to school, little evidence is left behind. Days later, her small town experiences a second disappearance and investigators explore the possible connection between the two cases in this episode of Last Seen Alive.   If you have any information on the disappearance of Amanda Gallion and / or Patrick Gehring, please contact the Gillette Police Department at 307-686-5250.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/09/11/unsolved-disappearance-amanda-gallion/

When a New York woman embarks upon a short walk in her own neighborhood, she’s abducted by an unfathomably-cruel killer. Investigators pursue answers in a case that has haunted them for years in this episode of Last Seen Alive.     If you have any information on the murder of Carol Ryan, please contact the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office tipline at 315-435-3051.   This episode was sponsored by Key to the Case Podcast. Find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/keytothecasepodcast/   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/08/28/unsolved-homicide-carol-ryan/        

When a young Arkansas woman is abducted in plain sight from a busy parking lot, she isn’t seen again until her remains are found in a remote corner of the Ozark National Forest. Investigators continue a decades-long search for a cruel killer in this episode of Last Seen Alive.   If you know anything about the murder of Melissa Witt, please contact the Fort Smith Police Department at 479-709-5000.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/08/14/unsolved-homicide-melissa-witt/  

When a Northern Kentucky couple are murdered in their own home, investigators discover the strangest crime scene of their careers. An active—but perplexing—investigation unfolds as investigators attempt to determine who ended the quiet, peaceful lives of two beloved grandparents in this episode of Last Seen Alive.   if you believe you may know anything at all about the deaths of Peggy and Bill Stephenson, please call the Boone County Sheriff’s office at 859-334-2175.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/07/31/unsolved-double-homicide-bill-and-peggy-stephenson/  

When a Missouri honor student decides to follow in her father’s footsteps by joining the Army after highschool, she’s soon deployed to Iraq, where her life ends under unthinkable circumstances. After receiving contradictory information regarding his daughter’s death, her father—a doctor of behavioral psychology—attempts to piece together what really happened in this episode of Last Seen Alive. If you have any information about the death of LaVena Johnson, please call report your tip to the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. You can submit a tip online at: https://www.cid.army.mil/Submit-a-Tip/   Also, in light of the subjects we’ve discussed in this episode, there are two resources we want to make sure you’re aware of: The National Sexual Assault Hotline, which can be reached at 1-800-656-4673, and the Suicide and Crisis Hotline, which can be reached by dialing 988. Both of these resources are available 24/7—you’re never alone. So please, if you’re struggling with trauma related to sexual assault, or suicidal thoughts—give them a call.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/07/17/unsolved-suspicious-death-lavena-johnson/  

When a young Little Rock, Arkansas woman discloses that she’s been the victim of a terrible crime, she disappears shortly thereafter. Several years later, the discovery of her hidden remains amplifies the unanswered questions her loved ones have been left to struggle with in this episode of Last Seen Alive.   If you know anything about the death of Ebby Steppach, please call the Little Rock Police Department at 501-371-4829.   And if you found this episode to be of special interest, you may want to check out our episode on the unsolved homicide of Julie Ferguson.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/07/03/unsolved-homicide-ebby-steppach/  

When a small-town Colorado man vanishes in the middle of his work day, no trace of him is found until his vehicle is pulled from a local river six weeks later. Virtually certain that foul play was involved, investigators attempt to determine who might’ve wanted to harm a well-liked family-man in this episode of Last Seen Alive. If you know anything about the disappearance of Dale Williams, please call the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office at 970-252-4023.  See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here: https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/06/19/unsolved-disappearance-dale-williams/ And if you found this episode to be of special interest, consider listening to our episode on the disappearance of another family man who has yet to be found, Mike Hearon.

When a hard-working Florida woman vanishes from behind the counter of her nightshift job at a convenience store, a massive search is launched. A series of chillingly similar disappearances suggests the possibility of a serial predator preying upon female cashiers in the Sunshine State in this episode of Last Seen Alive.  If you know anything about the disappearance of Deborah Poe, please contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 407-254-7000. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/06/05/unsolved-disappearance-deborah-poe/

When a young coastal North Carolina mother is brutally murdered in her own home, investigators determine that her killer was likely a man who had responded to a classified sale ad she’d placed in a local paper. Investigators continue to pursue a killer who’s managed to evade law enforcement for decades in this episode of Last Seen Alive. If you know anything about the murder of Beverly Jaye Potter-Mintz, please contact the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office at 910-253-2777 See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here:  https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/05/22/unsolved-homicide-beverly-jaye-potter-mintz/ If you're interested in hearing about more cases like Jaye's,  you may want to check out our episode on the homicide of young Michigan mom Cathy Swartz (which originally aired in February of 2022), and the recent update episode on her case. Cathy and Jaye's cases aren't related, but they share many similarities, and Cathy's case is an excellent example of how cases like these can be solved decades after the fact.    

When an Ohio man goes missing during his shift at a secretive nuclear weapons factory, his remains turn up in an unlikely location, shocking his family, co-workers and community. The untimely death of a devoted father is steeped in mystery—and radioactivity—in this episode of Last Seen Alive.   If you have any information about the death of Dave Bocks, please contact the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office at 513-825-1500.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here: https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/05/08/unsolved-suspicious-death-dave-bocks/   And if you found this episode particularly intriguing, we recommend that you listen to our episode on the unsolved disappearance of Dale Kerstetter, if you haven’t already. The two cases aren’t related, but they share a lot of similarities.

After 35 years, investigators arrested 53-year-old Robert Odell Waters of Beaufort, South Carolina in relation to the brutal 1988 murder of young mother Cathy Swartz. Waters was charged with Open Murder, and taken into custody. Waters was identified as a suspect through the use of familial DNA, cutting-edge DNA technology and the expertise of scientists at Othram Labs. The Three Rivers Police Department, Michigan State Police and Western Michigan State University’s Cold Case Program all worked hard to ID Cathy’s alleged murderer and bring him to justice. This breaking update episode is a follow-up to our original episode on Cathy's (then-unsolved) case, which aired in February of 2022. Additional update: suspect Robert Odell Waters was found deceased in his jail cell at Beaufort County Detention Center on May 6th, 2023, one week after his arrest. See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here: https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/05/04/breaking-update-arrest-made-in-the-1988-murder-of-cathy-swartz/ You can help solve a cold case like Cathy's! Check out DNAsolves.com, where you can contribute to fund testing for a cold case of your choosing.  

When a girl vanishes from California’s Bay Area while walking home from school, it quickly becomes apparent that she was likely abducted. Investigators explore a series of potential suspects, each stranger than the last, in this episode of Last Seen Alive.   If you know anything at all about the disappearance of Ilene Misheloff, please call the Dublin Police Department at 925-833-6670, or the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-553-7400. If you’d prefer to submit a tip online, you can do so at tips.fbi.gov.   See photos from this episode and check out the sources we used to research it here: https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2023/04/24/unsolved-disappearance-ilene-misheloff/