Digest

This episode of The Vanished delves into the perplexing disappearance of Jeffrey Spangler, a 33-year-old man from Las Cruces, New Mexico. Jeffrey, known for his intelligence and a talent for computers, had been battling mental health challenges, including bipolar disorder and later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Despite his struggles, he held a good job as a software engineer and maintained a close relationship with his mother, Tracy. The episode chronicles the events leading up to Jeffrey's disappearance, including his recent hospital stay and his plans for a trip to Rio Doso. Tracy's initial report to the police was met with skepticism, and the investigation was hampered by privacy laws and the lack of clear leads. The episode highlights the frustration Tracy experienced as she tried to get authorities to take her concerns seriously. A significant development occurred when Jeffrey's car was found abandoned in a remote area near El Paso, Texas, a month after his disappearance. The discovery of the car, along with receipts found inside, led to further investigation, including a focus on Jeffrey's visit to the White Sands Missile Range, a military facility in New Mexico. The episode explores the strange circumstances surrounding Jeffrey's visit to the missile range, including his interactions with a visitor center employee who helped him gain access to the bowling alley. The episode concludes with a discussion of the inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding Jeffrey's disappearance, leaving listeners with a sense of mystery and anticipation for the next episode.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the case of Jeffrey Spangler, a 33-year-old man who disappeared from Las Cruces, New Mexico in November 2021. The episode will explore the strange clues surrounding his disappearance and the challenges faced by his family and law enforcement in trying to find him.

00:22:52

Jeffrey's Disappearance

This Chapter details the events leading up to Jeffrey's disappearance, including his recent hospital stay for mental health issues and his plans for a trip to Rio Doso. Tracy, Jeffrey's mother, reports him missing to the police, but her concerns are initially dismissed due to Jeffrey's mental health history.

00:51:00

The Search for Jeffrey

This Chapter focuses on the investigation into Jeffrey's disappearance, including the challenges faced by law enforcement in obtaining information due to privacy laws. The episode highlights the frustration experienced by Tracy as she tries to get authorities to take her concerns seriously. A significant development occurs when Jeffrey's car is found abandoned in a remote area near El Paso, Texas, a month after his disappearance.

00:57:17

Clues from the Car

This Chapter examines the clues found inside Jeffrey's car, including receipts from the bowling alley at White Sands Missile Range and a convenience store in Oral Grande. The episode explores the inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding Jeffrey's visit to the missile range, including the time he spent there and the gate he exited from.

01:07:11

Unanswered Questions

This Chapter summarizes the strange clues and unanswered questions surrounding Jeffrey's disappearance, leaving listeners with a sense of mystery and anticipation for the next episode. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to contact the Las Cruces Police Department if they have any information regarding Jeffrey's disappearance.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Spangler's disappearance?

  Jeffrey Spangler, a 33-year-old man struggling with mental health issues, vanished from Las Cruces, New Mexico in November 2021. He had recently been hospitalized for his mental health and was planning a trip to Rio Doso, a mountain resort town. He left home on the morning of November 8th and told his mother he was going to Rio Doso, but he never checked into the cabin he had rented. His phone was dead, and he didn't respond to any of his mother's calls or texts. His car was later found abandoned in a remote area near El Paso, Texas, a month after his disappearance.

• What challenges did law enforcement face in investigating Jeffrey's disappearance?

  The investigation into Jeffrey's disappearance was hampered by privacy laws, which limited the ability of law enforcement to access his bank records, phone records, and other personal information. The police also faced skepticism from Tracy, Jeffrey's mother, who felt they were dismissive of her concerns. The fact that Jeffrey had been hospitalized for mental health issues also complicated the investigation, as authorities were hesitant to label him as a missing person due to his ability to function independently.

• What were the strange clues found in connection with Jeffrey's disappearance?

  One of the most perplexing clues was Jeffrey's visit to the White Sands Missile Range, a military facility in New Mexico. He obtained a visitor pass to go bowling there, but the circumstances surrounding his visit were strange. He was seen at the bowling alley around 1:30 p.m., but his car was gone by 6:15 p.m. The military police later confirmed that he left the base through the El Paso gate at 7:30 p.m., but they were unable to provide any footage of him driving his car. The receipts found in his car also raised questions, as they indicated that he had stopped at a convenience store in Oral Grande, which was out of the way of his intended destination in Rio Doso.

• What are the unanswered questions surrounding Jeffrey's disappearance?

  The episode concludes with a number of unanswered questions, including: Why did Jeffrey visit the White Sands Missile Range? What happened to him during the time he was at the missile range? Why did he stop at the convenience store in Oral Grande? How did his car end up in a remote area near El Paso? Did he get lost and turn around, or is there more to the story? The episode leaves listeners with a sense of mystery and anticipation for the next episode, which will hopefully provide more answers.

Show Notes