Crimepedia

College years are typically a time of significant transformation. For many, it marks the initial taste of genuine autonomy, starting a path toward personal discovery. However, in 1976, this quest for self-understanding might have contributed to the disappearance of a college student.



Takeaways

• The old school thinking surrounding marijuana as a gateway drug may have hindered the private investigator's investigation into Brian's disappearance.
• The Salvation Army's Missing Person Department played a role in the search for Brian, but ultimately no new leads were uncovered.
• Speculation about Brian's relationship with Kim raises questions about possible shame and confusion surrounding his sexuality.
• The family's belief in Brian's eventual return and their ongoing search for answers highlight the emotional toll of a missing loved one.
• Investigating a cold case after many years presents significant challenges, including the difficulty of obtaining accurate information and the fading memories of witnesses.
• The case serves as a reminder to be compassionate and understanding towards individuals who may be struggling with their identity or facing societal pressures.
  Chapters
  
  00:00 Introduction
  
  01:24 The Under-Appreciated Crime of Stalking
  
  03:48 Acknowledging New Patreons
  
  05:03 Introduction to the Case of Brian Vargo
  
  08:02 Brian Vargo's Background and Personal Struggles
  
  09:03 Brian's Arrest and its Impact on Him
  
  10:09 Brian's Emotional State and Letters to Family
  
  11:07 Possible Reasons for Brian's Struggles
  
  14:51 Brian's Academic Decline and Decision to Drop Out
  
  19:18 Brian's Disappearance and Possible New Life
  
  26:31 Concerns and Efforts to Find Brian
  
  34:55 Private Investigator's Focus on Drug Involvement
  
  36:40 Old School Thinking
  
  37:09 Private Investigator Investigation
  
  37:41 Salvation Army's Investigation
  
  38:59 Speculation about Kim
  
  40:08 Possible Shame and Confusion
  
  42:52 Exploring Kim's Identity
  
  45:29 Family's Belief in Brian's Return
  
  49:46 Late Police Report
  
  50:23 Difficulty of Investigating After Many Years
  
  54:45 Hope for Brian's Well-being
  
  55:33 Contact Information for Tips
  
  56:05 Discussion on Privacy and Family's Need for Answers
  
  59:19 Hope for Brian's Message to His Family
  
  01:01:39 Dumb Criminal: Stolen ID
  
  Track: "Disappearing Memory", HUKU
  Music provided by https://slip.stream
  Free Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/cc98a64a-25c1-4f5c-899d-3cf5a67326e2?utm_source=attribution
  
  

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Summary

In this episode, Cherry and Morgan discuss the unsolved murder of Jean Townsend in 1954. They provide background information on Jean and her job as a manageress at a costume-making firm in London. The hosts also mention their plans for the year, including attending CrimeCon UK and True Crime Fest. They then delve into the details of Jean's murder, including her attendance at a pyramid party and her last moments before her body was discovered. The conversation covers witness accounts, similar cases in the area, and the investigation's focus on American servicemen. The hosts discuss the possibility of a cover-up and the involvement of a family member in the crimes. The episode concludes with the closure of the case and the mention of other unsolved murders in the same area. This episode discusses a series of unsolved murders in the same area, highlighting the need for further investigation. The conversation explores the possibility of a connection to Air Force bases in the vicinity and speculates on the killer's movements. The hosts discuss the challenges of tracing potential serial killers and the chilling thought of the killer's mobility across different countries. The episode concludes with a lighthearted segment on a dumb criminal who went skinny dipping in a store aquarium.

Takeaways

• The murder of Jean Townsend in 1954 remains unsolved, despite extensive investigations and witness accounts.
• Witnesses reported seeing men with American accents in the area, leading to speculation about the involvement of American servicemen stationed nearby.
• Similar cases of unsolved murders of women occurred in the same area during the same time period, raising questions about a potential serial killer.
• The case remains open, and the files have been reviewed multiple times, but no definitive suspects have been identified.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Plans for the Year
05:46 Background of Jean Townsend
06:34 Pyramid Party and Jean's Last Moments
10:15 Discovery of Jean's Body
11:43 Witness Accounts and Similar Cases
21:28 Bloodstained Clothing and Suspects
28:06 Vigilante Patrols and Speculation
32:47 Closure of the Case and Unsolved Murders
40:41 Unsolved Murders in the Same Area
41:19 Possible Connection to Air Force Bases
42:27 Speculating on the Killer's Movements
43:30 Tracing Potential Serial Killers
44:45 Possibility of Killings in Other Countries
45:51 Chilling Thought of the Killer's Mobility
46:35 Dumb Criminal: Naked Swim in a Store Aquarium

Music: Soft Whispers Of Love [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10945-soft-whispers-of-love-full-version
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license


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In December 1958, The Martin family left their home in Portland, Oregon to gather some greenery for Christmas crafts. They would never return home. It has now been over 65 years since the Martin family's mysterious disappearance from the Columbia River Gorge, marking it as one of Oregon's most perplexing unsolved cases.

Takeaways

• The disappearance of the Martin family remains an unsolved mystery.
• The Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is a challenging location for search and rescue operations.
• Conflicting reports and autopsy findings make it difficult to determine what happened to the Martin family.
• The discovery of the bodies of two of the Martin children raises more questions about their fate. The condition of the bodies and the presence of aluminium in their autopsy findings suggest they were in or around the river for a significant amount of time.
• The threatening phone calls received by Dr. Waterman and the unclaimed urns of Virginia and Susan raise suspicions of foul play.
• Donald Martin's suspicious behavior, including failing to attend memorial services and inheriting the entire Martin estate, makes him a prime suspect.
• The possible involvement of ex-convicts and the connection to Wayne, a close friend of Donald, further complicates the case.
• The opposition from law enforcement agencies and the mishandling of evidence hindered the investigation. The story of the helicopter heist involving Santa and Rudolph is a fascinating mystery.
• Santa's escape to Lapland and his possible involvement in the theft adds intrigue to the story.
• The motive behind the theft and the whereabouts of the stolen helicopter remain unknown.
• The podcast 'Santa May Be a Criminal' is recommended for those interested in satirical true crime stories.

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Teenage girls are full of mystery- hormones all over the place as they embark on the journey to adulthood. For one young woman, adulthood would never be a place shed reach. Her parents would never know what kind of adult life she would lead- what job shed have and if shed have a family of her own one day.

Someone took that away from them.

Music: Return Of The Hero (instrumental) by Sascha EndeFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/451-return-of-the-hero-instrumentalLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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For the initial three years of her life, Oakley Carlson was nurtured by caring foster parents, before eventually being reunited with her biological parents. In February 2021, Oakley went missing from Oakville, WA, a fact that unfortunately remained unreported for almost 10 months. Subsequent investigations into her disappearance uncovered a troubling situation in her biological parents' home, marked by child abuse, drug use, and the tragic turn of events leading to Oakley being a missing child.

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Adam Ellison was born on 7th Feb 1988, He worked at tesco in Prescot working through a management course and was described by colleagues and friends as a true gentleman. He was kind and loving and adored his family. They were a close family. Adam’s family clearly adored him.

November 2017 would be a month that the family would never forget, Adam was brutally murdered, his life stolen from him in a callous attack.

Music: Rising Hope [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11961-rising-hope-full-version
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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During the '70s and '80s, a shadow of terror loomed over Wichita, Kansas, as the community was rocked by a series of horrific crimes. Although the infamous BTK was responsible for many of these heinous acts, some remained unconnected to his reign of terror. Among these was a chilling case from 1987, where a father and his two daughters were brutally slain in their own home. The mystery that persists: Who was behind these murders, and what was the motive?

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This week we have two cases for you that involve Halloween. But one is a trick (fake) and one is a true crime. Can you figure out which one is which?

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On September 15, 1981, Ursula Herrmann, a 10-year-old girl, rode her bike home after visiting with a cousin. She would never make it. This event marked the beginning of one of Germany’s most debated and infamous criminal cases in modern history.

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