Beneath the Evergreens

In this episode, we explore the mysterious disappearance of Leah Roberts, a free-spirited young woman who set off on a solo journey to Washington State in 2000 after enduring immense personal loss and becoming inspired by The Dharma Bums. Days later, her abandoned Jeep was discovered at the bottom of an embankment in Whatcom County, but Leah had vanished, leaving behind eerie clues that led investigators to question whether the crash had been staged. More than two decades later, with evidence of possible foul play and no answers, Leah’s case remains one of the Pacific Northwest’s most haunting unsolved mysteries.

In this episode, we uncover the disturbing true story of Michelle “Shelly” Knotek, a woman once viewed as a caring and selfless pillar of the small town of Raymond, Washington, who was later accused of hiding unimaginable abuse behind closed doors. What began as a home that appeared to offer refuge to struggling friends, relatives, and vulnerable people slowly transformed into a place of fear, manipulation, and deadly control. Through survivor accounts, court records, and the testimony of Shelly’s daughters, Nikki, Sami, and Tori, we explore how years of violence and coercion remained hidden in plain sight until the family finally exposed the truth. This is the chilling story of how a woman known as Raymond’s “saint” became the center of one of Washington state’s most horrifying true crime cases.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

In this episode, we uncover one of the Tri Cities’ most terrifying legends, the mysterious Finley Ghost said to wander the dark roads and riverbanks outside of Kennewick. But this story becomes even more chilling as we investigate the real life disappearance of Toni Rae Atchley, a 54 year old woman who vanished without a trace in July 2022. Her abandoned 2017 Toyota Corolla was discovered near the Hanford Site along SR 240 with her phone, backpack, and wallet still inside, yet Toni herself was gone.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

In November 1987, young couple Jay Cook and Tanya Van Cuylenborg set out from British Columbia on a short trip to Washington, but after boarding a ferry to Seattle, they vanished without a trace. Days later, Tanya was found murdered in Skagit County and Jay was discovered in Snohomish County, revealing a brutal, calculated crime scene that spanned multiple locations. Despite decades of investigation, including taunting letters sent to the families and over 200 suspects, the case went cold until 2018 when genetic genealogy identified William Talbott II as the killer. His eventual conviction marked a breakthrough in forensic science, though ongoing legal challenges continue to leave parts of the case unresolved.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

A chance meeting at a Costco food court sparks a romance but quickly spirals into something far darker.
What begins with a Mariners date ends in a chilling chain of deception, disappearance, and violence.
Strange texts, a missing mother, and a terrifying attack on her son leave a family desperate for answers.
As investigators close in, the suspect’s shocking behavior only deepens the mystery.
This is the haunting real life case of Leticia “Leti” Martinez Cosman and it is one you will not forget.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

Deanne Hastings grew up in isolation in rural Nevada before moving to Spokane, where her life shifted after her parents’ divorce and the emergence of bipolar disorder. Despite the challenges, she fought to rebuild, becoming a devoted mother and starting over with new relationships and goals. In November 2015, after a day filled with promise and a fresh start at cosmetology school, she disappeared without a trace. Her final hours were marked by strange behavior, claims of being drugged, and unsettling encounters that only deepened the mystery. Deanne was never seen again, and the truth of what happened that night remains unknown.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

In 1947 Eugene, 23 year old Virginia Harington shot her husband, Gene Harington, in the quiet hours of the morning, insisting it was self defense. What led up to it was a long, suspicious night of drinking, unanswered questions, and a marriage that may not have been as stable as it appeared. Virginia claimed Gene threatened her with a gun, yet the scene told a different story, one that hinted he may have never seen it coming. With conflicting details and an eerily calm crime scene, the truth became harder to pin down than anyone expected. After just two hours, the jury set her free, but whether justice was served or something more unsettling slipped through remains a mystery.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

In 1903, a charismatic preacher named Edmund Creffield arrived in Corvallis and quickly drew followers into a secretive, emotionally intense movement that would soon be labeled the “Holy Rollers.” As devotion deepened, families were torn apart and shocking allegations of control, manipulation, and “spiritual purification” ignited fear across the community. The conflict reached a violent climax in 1906 when George Mitchell shot Creffield in Seattle, only to be killed days later by his own sister, Ruth Mitchell, in an act of revenge. What began as a search for faith ended in murder, madness, and tragedy, raising haunting questions about how far belief can go before it turns dangerous.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

In 1996, a father and son made a chilling discovery in the woods of rural Polk County, human bones bound, hidden, and forgotten beneath a tarp. For over two decades, the woman known only as the “Mill Creek Bones” remained a haunting mystery, her identity lost to time. Then, in 2019, a breakthrough led by Yolanda McClary and cutting edge genetic genealogy finally gave her a name: Kathy Thomas. But as her story unfolded, a darker truth emerged, one that pointed back to the man closest to her. In a case spanning 25 years, investigators would uncover a past filled with violence, secrets, and a long-overdue confession that finally brought justice to the silence.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.

In 1924, near Ape Canyon on the slopes of Mount St. Helens, a group of gold prospectors claimed they were attacked through the night by towering, ape-like figures that hurled rocks and battered their remote cabin, an incident that became one of the Pacific Northwest’s most enduring wilderness legends. Decades later in 1950, experienced skier Jim Carter vanished on the same mountain after leaving his climbing party to take a photograph; rescuers found only a film box and a set of frantic ski tracks plunging toward the canyon before disappearing without a trace. Could these incidents be connected?

Side quest - In 2018, another mystery unfolded when more than 100 massive trees were suddenly snapped and toppled near Lake Quinault in Olympic National Park, with no immediate clear cause. Was it a weather event, aliens, trolls? You tell us!

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

🎧 Enjoy the episode? Follow, share, and leave a review ! It helps more curious minds find us!

💌 Got theories or personal cult encounters? Email us at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @BTEPodcast

Full source list and supplemental materials are available on our website at Beneaththeevergreens.com.

💜If you’re struggling with mental illness, you are not alone

Episodes that touch on fear, mystery, or the unknown can sometimes stir up difficult feelings. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or any other mental health challenge, please know there is support available and people who want to help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States):
  Call or text 988 any time for free, confidential support from trained counselors.
• Crisis Text Line:
  Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor 24/7.
• NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
  Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for guidance, information, and emotional support.
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults):
  Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or use the online chat.
• Outside the U.S.:
  Visit www.iasp.info/crisis-centres to find mental health crisis lines in your area.

You deserve care, understanding, and support. Reaching out is a sign of strength.