In this gripping update on the Barbara Cotton cold case, we delve into new testimony surrounding one of North Dakota's most enduring unsolved disappearances. Barbara Louise Cotton vanished from Williston in 1981, and after decades of silence, a man who worked with Stacey Werder in Montana shares critical insights about seeing him with Barb in Williston. This episode, hosted by James Wolner and Lisa Jo of #FindBarbCotton, explores the troubling behaviors of Stacey Werder, his movements across Scobey and Miles City, and his tragic suicide weeks after Barb's disappearance. With renewed investigative journalism and fresh leads, we aim to uncover answers in a haunting North Dakota true crime mystery that has persisted for over forty years. Join us as we shine a light on unresolved mysteries in rural crime and the ongoing search for justice.

Connect with Lisa Jo and the #FindBarbCotton Movement:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://findbarbcotton.com/

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In July of 2018, 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts went on a run in her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Something she’d done countless times before. But this time, she didn’t come home. What followed was a search unlike anything this town had ever seen. Neighbors combed the fields. Reporters camped out at the local diner. And as the weeks stretched on without answers, the questions only grew louder: How does someone vanish without a trace in a town this small? Who could have seen something and stayed silent? Once you've finished part 1, head over to the Truer Crime feed to listen to "Mollie Tibbetts Part 2". 

About Truer Crime: Vanished. Vilified. Voiceless. This season on Truer Crime, every story has something in common: it’s not what it seems.

What starts as a disappearance, a tragedy, or a headline quickly reveals something deeper—about power, about prejudice, about who gets to be heard and who gets written off.

We’re digging into six gripping cases. Some you might recognize. Others you’ve never heard before. But every one of them will leave you questioning the stories we’re told and the stories we choose to believe. Six months. Six cases. One show that digs deeper. Truer Crime is available now wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 

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What if 90% of Frank Abagnale’s claims are totally made up? In this special Dakota Spotlight episode, host James Wolner talks with Javier Leiva, creator of PRETEND, about his season The Real Catch Me If You Can. In this series, Javier debunks Abagnale’s extraordinary con-man story using court and prison records, while also bringing forward new victim testimonies. After the interview, hear the full Episode 1 as Leiva begins dismantling Abagnale’s legend and follows the trail all the way to Las Vegas, where he confronts Abagnale himself. This is the real-life Catch Me If You Can.

Listen to the full series and explore everything from PRETEND wherever you find podcasts and at pretendradio.org.

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In this Case Snapshot, Dakota Spotlight investigates the 1984 disappearance of 12-year-old Sharon Bald Eagle, who vanished while traveling from South Dakota to Idaho. This unsolved mystery devastated her family and community and led to the capture of Royal Russell Long, a predator who stalked rodeos, carnivals, and highways for years. Through careful research and respectful storytelling, investigative journalist James Wolner explores the lasting impact on those who knew Sharon and why her story remains a significant South Dakota cold case in the history of Midwest crime.

If you have any information related to the disappearance of Sharon Bald Eagle, please call the Fall River County Sheriff's Office at 605-745-4444.

Produced by James Wolner. Research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen.

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In September 1991, Joseph “Joe” Anderson, a millionaire cattleman, was found murdered under mysterious circumstances in Jamestown, North Dakota. His body was discovered in the trunk of his own Buick at the Gladstone Inn parking lot, sparking one of the city’s most troubling cold cases. More than three decades later, the murder of Joe Anderson remains unsolved, with lingering questions about who wanted him dead and why justice has never been served in this small town mystery.

If you have information about the murder of Joseph “Joe” Anderson, please contact the Jamestown Police Department at 701-252-2414 or the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 701-328-5500.

Produced by James Wolner. Research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen.

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In this update episode, we break down the North Dakota Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Brian Erickstad case. The court ruled that Erickstad’s sentence was improperly amended in 2022 without notice, and has sent the case back to the lower court for correction. While not a reversal of his conviction, the ruling could impact when he becomes eligible for parole.

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In 1995, 75-year-old retired truck driver Talmadge “Pat” Patton vanished from his home in the rural town of Alexander, North Dakota. When his daughter came to check on him, she found clues that pointed to a troubling disappearance but no clear answers. Nearly three decades later, the case of Pat Patton remains unsolved, raising lingering questions about what happened in those final days and why this North Dakota cold case continues to puzzle investigators and the community.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Talmadge “Pat” Patton, please contact the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Department at 701-444-3654 or the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 701-328-5500.

Produced by James Wolner. Research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen.

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In 1995, Mary K. Ross, a 25-year-old single mother and college student, was brutally stabbed to death in her Sioux Falls, South Dakota apartment while her baby watched. Her murder remains one of the city’s most haunting crimes, raising painful questions about how evil drifts from place to place, preying on the vulnerable and recruiting the unguarded. This essay reflects on violence, vulnerability, and how compassion can endure even in the face of unimaginable brutality.

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In July 2002, 19-year-old Russell Turcotte disappeared while hitchhiking home to Montana. Last seen at a truck stop in Grand Forks, his body was discovered months later near Devils Lake. Russell had been murdered, and two decades later his case remains one of North Dakota’s most haunting cold cases. This episode retraces his final steps and the tireless efforts of his family to seek justice, efforts that continue to this day.

If you have any information about the murder of Russell Turcotte, or if you were in Grand Forks in July 2002, especially near the Simonson truck stop, please contact the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department at 701-662-0700 or the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 701-328-5500.

Watch the 2002 Rainbow Gathering footage https://dakotaspotlight.com/rainbow/

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Part 5 (Chapters 23–27): As the story draws to a close, Doug Rolfstad faces the full weight of his choices, with each moment tightening the grip of consequences. What began with a mysterious manila envelope of cash now races toward a chaotic and unexpected conclusion, testing bonds of family, trust, and survival in North Dakota.

Dead Cold Drop by James Wolner is told across five gripping episodes in the signature Friday Night Fiction style.

About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights.

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Friday Night Fiction is written and produced by James Wolner. All stories, dialogue, and creative content are original works of authorship and are © James Wolner. Reproduction, redistribution, or adaptation of any part of this podcast without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Legal Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The author and publisher assume no responsibility for any perceived associations, misinterpretations, or unintended similarities. No real persons or groups should be inferred from this story.

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