On March 26, 1991, a public holiday in South Korea, five boys from Daegu—aged 9 to 13—went missing while searching for salamander eggs near Mount Waryong. After missing their taekwondo lesson, their parents initially searched for them, but eventually reported them missing. Unfortunately, police initially dismissed the boys as runaways. Media attention about the lost boys grew, dubbing them the "Frog Boys," and despite a massive search ordered by the president, no trace was found. Hoax calls and inadequate police efforts frustrated the parents. Eventually the boy's fathers even quit their jobs to search nationwide, eventually suspecting a Korean military cover-up as they were followed by intelligence agents.

In 2002, the skeletal remains of all five boys were found on Mount Waryong, showing bullet casings, blunt force injuries, and possible bullet holes, suggesting foul play. Police mishandled the scene and claimed hypothermia, a theory experts rejected. The nearby military base, linked to the casings, was never searched, fueling more theories of military involvement. No arrests have been made, and various lawsuits against the police have failed. In 2015, the statute of limitations was lifted, leaving the case open for new evidence. The parents,who buried their sons' ashes together, are still seeking justice. What happened to the Daegu Frog Boys?

Sources:

Paulo, D. A. (2020, December 22). Intrigue, scandal, heartbreak: The case of South Korea’s missing ‘frog boys.’ CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cnainsider/intrigue-scandal-heartbreak-case-south-korea-missing-frog-boys-774406

Banks, A. (2019, January 11). The Frog Boys of South Korea — criminally intrigued. Criminally Intrigued. https://www.criminallyintrigued.com/blog/2019/1/6/the-curious-case-of-the-frog-boys

KSIS : What happened to the Frog Boys? (2024, November 13). KSTATION TV. https://kstationtv.com/2024/11/13/ksis-what-happened-to-the-frog-boys/?lang=en

When Olivia Lone Bear went missing on October 24, 2017, her family was thrust into a search that would span years, uncovering a series of perplexing details that would leave them without answers. This episode delves into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Olivia's disappearance, from the cryptic final texts sent from her phone to the unexplainable discovery of the truck she had been driving being found just miles from her home. With no clear answers and the investigation stalled, the episode also explores the challenges faced by Indigenous families in the fight for justice, highlighting the systemic barriers that complicate the search for missing women like Olivia.

As we examine the key pieces of this case, we also ask: who might Olivia have been with on the night she disappeared? Was the truck's location an accident or something more sinister? Could the mysterious digital footprints left behind be part of a larger story, and why has no one come forward with answers?

This week’s case is presented in collaboration with The Dark Oak Podcast. Be sure to check them out HERE!

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Works Consulted Link for Research

Judy Smith had packed her bags, ready to join her new husband Jeffrey on a work trip to Philadelphia in April 1997. Since Jeffrey’s day was filled with conference meetings, she had decided to explore the city by herself. But she never returned to the hotel. Where did she go? What happened? And how could it be possible that this investigation would end up focused not in Philadelphia but 600 miles away in Asheville, North Carolina?

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January 6th, 1988 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island began like so many others for the Cole family. It was yet another frigid day but Christine, who had just turned 10, was excited to help by running some errands for her mom. Christine had clear directions on where to go and what to get. But, as dinnertime came and went without Christine returning from her errands, her mother knew something was wrong. And, weeks later, her worst fears were realized.

If you are interested in bonus content for our show or in getting some Coffee and Cases swag, please consider joining Patreon. There are various levels to fit your needs, all of which can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/coffeeandcases

January 6th, 1988 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island began like so many others for the Cole family. It was yet another frigid day but Christine, who had just turned 10, was excited to help by running some errands for her mom. Christine had clear directions on where to go and what to get. But, as dinnertime came and went without Christine returning from her errands, her mother knew something was wrong. And, weeks later, her worst fears were realized.

If you are interested in bonus content for our show or in getting some Coffee and Cases swag, please consider joining Patreon. There are various levels to fit your needs, all of which can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/coffeeandcases

Welcome, true-crime lovers, to New Year, New Binge 2025 Edition! What you’ll find included is your guide to an exciting lineup of podcasts that will make 2025 your best year for listening yet. New Years is a time for resolutions, and mine is simple: to share with you the most captivating, chilling, and downright binge-worthy true-crime podcasts. Whether you’re looking to uncover unsolved mysteries or dive into deep investigative storytelling, I’ve got you covered.

Be sure to follow all of the podcasts you enjoyed so you never miss a new episode. Podcasts are listed below in the order in which you will be introduced to them:

Episode 1:

Reverie True Crime  https://linktr.ee/paigeelmore

Fresh Hell Podcast  https://freshhellpodcast.com/

Malice  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/malice-a-true-crime-podcast/id1471251398

Women & Crime  https://www.womenandcrimepodcast.com

True Crimecast  https://linktr.ee/truecrimecast

The Dark Oak Podcast  thedarkoak.com

Episode 2:

Coffee and Cases Podcast https://linktr.ee/coffeeandcases

Heart Starts Pounding  https://www.heartstartspounding.com/

Mortal Musings Podcast  https://linktr.ee/mortalmusingspodcast

True Crime Creepers https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeCreepers

Private Dicks Podcast https://linktr.ee/privatedicks

Twisted Travel and True Crime  https://linktr.ee/twistedtraveltruecrimepodcast

Welcome, true-crime lovers, to New Year, New Binge 2025 Edition! What you’ll find included is your guide to an exciting lineup of podcasts that will make 2025 your best year for listening yet. New Years is a time for resolutions, and mine is simple: to share with you the most captivating, chilling, and downright binge-worthy true-crime podcasts. Whether you’re looking to uncover unsolved mysteries or dive into deep investigative storytelling, I’ve got you covered.

Be sure to follow all of the podcasts you enjoyed so you never miss a new episode. Podcasts are listed below in the order in which you will be introduced to them:

Episode 1:

Reverie True Crime  https://linktr.ee/paigeelmore

Fresh Hell Podcast  https://freshhellpodcast.com/

Malice  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/malice-a-true-crime-podcast/id1471251398

Women & Crime  https://www.womenandcrimepodcast.com

True Crimecast  https://linktr.ee/truecrimecast

The Dark Oak Podcast  thedarkoak.com

Episode 2:

Coffee and Cases Podcast https://linktr.ee/coffeeandcases

Heart Starts Pounding  https://www.heartstartspounding.com/

Mortal Musings Podcast  https://linktr.ee/mortalmusingspodcast

True Crime Creepers https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeCreepers

Private Dicks Podcast https://linktr.ee/privatedicks

Twisted Travel and True Crime  https://linktr.ee/twistedtraveltruecrimepodcast

Jim Kimball had faced loss as a child when his father passed away. When his siblings chose to talk about their feelings, Jim kept his bottled up instead-- until his emotions grew too large to be contained. Then, on April 13th, 1993, he disappeared.

If you are interested in bonus content for our show or in getting some Coffee and Cases swag, please consider joining Patreon. There are various levels to fit your needs, all of which can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/coffeeandcases

In the 1970s and 80s, the quiet towns of Weeki Wachee, Florida, and Watsonville, California, became the unlikely settings for a horrifying series of crimes. The story begins with Billy Mansfield, Jr., a convicted serial killer currently serving multiple life sentences, whose crimes shocked the nation. But Billy wasn’t alone; his father, William Mansfield Sr., a convicted child molester, and brother, Gary Mansfield, were also deeply entangled in the family’s dark history. The crimes discussed in this episode raise chilling questions about the full extent of their horrific actions as we explore the twisted family dynamics and shocking discoveries. This episode concludes with an exclusive interview with Warren Skeels, the director of the upcoming film The Man In The White Van, based upon Mansfield, Jr’s crimes and premiering December 13th, 2024.

If you are interested in bonus content for our show or in getting some Coffee and Cases swag, please consider joining Patreon. There are various levels to fit your needs, all of which can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/coffeeandcases

Angie Clinger and her friends would spend their summer days exploring the woods and hillsides near their homes in Monroe Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. But on July 22nd, 1990, the day before Angie's 8th birthday, a simple outing with friends took a dark and unexpected turn. While playing near a tunnel under a railroad trestle, the children stumbled upon a horrifying discovery that would forever alter their childhood memories. The joy and anticipation of Angie's birthday (then and in the future) were instantly replaced by fear, confusion, and a profound sense of loss. This is the case of Penny Doe.

Key sources:

“For 32 Years, Someone in Clarion County Has Kept a Horrifying Secret” Gavin Fish (9/21/22)

“New Information Uncovered in Penny Doe Case for the First Time in 30 Years” Gavin Fish (10/3/22)

“DNA and Genetic Genealogy May Unlock the Secret of Penny Doe’s Identity” Gavin Fish (11/25/22)

If you are interested in bonus content for our show or in getting some Coffee and Cases swag, please consider joining Patreon. There are various levels to fit your needs, all of which can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/coffeeandcases