When 13-year-old Heather Dawn Church vanished from her Black Forest, Colorado home in 1991, the investigation faltered. Evidence was mishandled. Theories went nowhere. The system stayed quiet.

But one man refused to let her be forgotten.

Retired Colorado Springs Police commander John Wesley Anderson watched from the sidelines as the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office stumbled—and decided that if they wouldn’t fix it, he would. His campaign for sheriff wasn’t about politics. It was about purpose. Winning meant the chance to rebuild a broken department, reopen cold cases, and demand justice for Heather.

In this episode of Dark Dialogue, we uncover:

How a failed investigation pushed Anderson to run for sheriff in 1994

The scandals, culture, and investigative breakdowns inside the sheriff’s office before his win

Why bringing in legendary detective Lou Smit was the key to changing everything

This is the story of how one election—and one determined cop—turned silence into action.

🎧 Listen now to discover how Heather’s case went from forgotten to front-page news—and the lengths one man would go to for justice.

Calls to Action (for show notes & platforms):

Thirteen-year-old Heather Dawn Church was supposed to be safe. She was home alone doing her homework in the quiet, wooded Black Forest of Colorado when she vanished without a trace. Her schoolbooks were still open. The lights were on. And her little brother was fast asleep. But Heather was gone—and no one heard a thing.

In this gripping first installment of our Heather Church series, John and Angela take you deep into the night of September 17, 1991, and into the heart of a case that was mishandled from the start. We explore the failings of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the assumptions that led investigators astray, and the evidence that was overlooked.

But this isn't just a story about a botched investigation. It's about the people who refused to let Heather’s name fade into cold case files. One man in particular—John Anderson—was so haunted by this case that he came out of retirement and ran for sheriff just to fix what others had broken. And he didn’t do it alone. Legendary detective Lou Smit, known for his later work on the JonBenét Ramsey case, would join the fight for justice.

We also shine a light on the haunting atmosphere of Black Forest itself—where ghost stories and real-life tragedy coexist.

This is not just the story of a crime.

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In this gripping final installment of our Brianna Maitland series, we confront the shadows one last time—and ask the questions that still haunt a community.

On March 19, 2004, 17-year-old Brianna Maitland vanished from a lonely Vermont road, leaving behind a mystery that has defied answers for two decades. Her car was found backed into an abandoned farmhouse, keys still in the ignition, personal belongings untouched—and no sign of Brianna.

Over the past five episodes, we've peeled back the layers: a dangerous drug scene, fractured friendships, and chilling serial killer speculation. But now, with new DNA evidence, a tip about a silver Honda Civic seen near the scene, and modern investigative tools, we bring you the most complete picture yet.

John and Angela examine every theory with brutal honesty—from unlikely serial predator scenarios to deeply personal betrayals. Was Brianna lured by someone she trusted? Silenced over a drug debt? Or taken by an unknown local whose secret has held for twenty years?

We weigh each theory, assign likelihood percentages, and shine a spotlight on the witness sightings, overlooked leads, and what we believe is the most probable scenario. This isn’t just a recap—it’s a reckoning.

👤 Victim Tribute Included: We honor Brianna's life, her family’s enduring fight for justice, and the friends who never stopped remembering her for who she truly was.

🎧 Calls to Action:

Share this episode to keep Brianna’s name alive

Visit darkdialogue.com/adopt-a-victim to join the search for answers

Submit tips to: [email protected] | [email protected] | 1-866-331-6660

Support our investigative work via Patreon or Ko-fi

Because someone knows what happened that night on Route 118—and we’re not done asking.

Listen now. Speak up. Stay vigilant. And keep the dialogue alive—always.

In this chilling installment of Dark Dialogue, we venture into the shadows that connect two of the most unsettling disappearances in New England: Brianna Maitland and Maura Murray.

Brianna vanished in 2004, her car discovered mysteriously backed into an abandoned farmhouse wall. Just six weeks earlier and 90 miles away, Maura Murray disappeared under eerily similar circumstances. No struggle. No trace. No goodbye.

In Episode 5: Crossroads of the Vanished, John and Angela unravel the speculative—and controversial—theory that these women may have crossed paths with a serial predator. We examine the known monsters lurking in the area at the time: Israel Keyes, Brian Rooney, Howard Godfrey, and the ever-present specter of the unknown serial killer. But with each theory, one unsettling question remains: Did a stranger really have the opportunity, or is the truth much closer to home?

Through expert analysis, known offender profiles, and hardline FBI findings, this episode lays out why the serial killer hypothesis might be less plausible than it first appears—and why Brianna likely knew the person she was meeting that night.

👉 Don’t miss this compelling deep dive into the darkest theories surrounding two of the Northeast’s most baffling mysteries.

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Because these stories deserve more than silence.

Dark Dialogue – The shadows speak. We listen.

In Part 4 of our Brianna Maitland series, Dark Dialogue dives into one of the most personal—and controversial—chapters yet: the brutal assault Brianna endured just weeks before she vanished.

Seventeen-year-old Brianna was punched in the face at a party by Keallie Lacross, a former friend, in what many describe as a jealousy-fueled attack. The injuries were severe: a broken nose, concussion, and long-lasting emotional fallout. Brianna filed charges—but they were dropped after she disappeared.

Was this just a teenage fight… or something deeper?

John and Angela dissect the personal turmoil Brianna faced in the weeks leading up to March 19, 2004—from shifting relationships and toxic friendships to signs of fear that hinted something wasn’t right. Was she being followed? Did someone she trusted turn on her?

We explore how interpersonal conflict, unresolved trauma, and a chaotic living situation might have created the perfect storm. And we confront the tough question: Could someone in Brianna’s inner circle be responsible?

If you believe the truth matters—listen, share, and join the mission.

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Because Brianna deserves more than silence.

On March 19, 2004, Brianna Maitland vanished after leaving her shift at the Black Lantern Inn in Montgomery, Vermont. Her car was discovered backed into an abandoned barn—with the engine running, her wallet and paychecks still inside, and no sign of Brianna. In this episode of Dark Dialogue, we dive deep into the theory that her disappearance was tied to Franklin County’s growing drug underworld.

Was Brianna caught in the crossfire of crack cocaine dealers and unpaid debts? Or was she silenced for knowing too much?

We investigate the individuals operating a shadowy drug network just 10 miles from the crime scene, including Ramon “Street” Ryans and Nathaniel “Low” Jackson—New York dealers running a farmhouse pipeline into rural Vermont. We break down the infamous April 2004 raid, explore rumors of hostage-taking, and examine an unverified affidavit that alleges Brianna was murdered and fed to pigs.

From disturbing connections to another Vermont murder—Ligia Rae Collins—to the strange disappearance of evidence and the chilling silence from key witnesses, this episode confronts the rot beneath a postcard-perfect town. These aren’t just whispers—they’re warnings.

🎧 Dark Dialogue: Brianna Maitland – Episode 3: Small Town Secrets: Drugs, Debt, and Disappearances is a fearless exploration of what lies beneath the surface.

💻 Explore the case deeper at: https://www.darkdialogue.com

Dark Dialogue is a true crime podcast that refuses to settle for easy answers. We dissect cold cases, missing persons, and systemic failures—one deep investigation at a time.

Every episode goes beyond the headlines, examining theories, timelines, forensic evidence, and law enforcement blind spots. We challenge official narratives and amplify the voices too often ignored.

If you’re tired of speculation and want real investigative storytelling, this is your show.

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Dark Dialogue: Because victims deserve better.

true crime podcast, cold cases, missing persons, unsolved mysteries, investigative journalism, forensic analysis, systemic failures, Maura Murray, Brianna Maitland, dark dialogue

In this gripping second installment of Dark Dialogue: Vermont’s Vanished, we return to March 20, 2004—the day Brianna Maitland’s abandoned green Oldsmobile was found backed into the side of the crumbling Old Dutchburn Barn. Inside the car? Two paychecks, her contact lenses, migraine meds, and the haunting sense that she meant to come back. Outside? A broken necklace. A wrecked investigation.

The scene looked staged. The FBI said as much. But Vermont State Police failed to treat it as a crime scene. No tape. No photographs. No urgency. Just a shrug—and a tow truck.

Join John and Angela as they dissect the bizarre positioning of Brianna’s car, the items left behind, and the avalanche of mistakes that followed. From missed evidence and delayed action to new details uncovered by private investigators and podcasts alike, this episode reveals how the first 48 hours didn’t just slip away—they were destroyed.

This is Episode 2: The House That Watched Her Disappear, a brutal look at what happens when the people tasked with solving a crime... might be the ones who let it vanish.

🎧 Subscribe and follow Dark Dialogue wherever you get your podcasts.

🕵️‍♀️ Learn more, explore case files, and join the investigation:

💌 Send tips, critiques, or kudos to: [email protected]

Until there are answers for Brianna—

Seventeen-year-old Brianna Maitland clocked out of her shift at the Black Lantern Inn on March 19, 2004… and vanished into the night.

In this first episode of a new series, John and Angela walk you through Brianna’s final known day—her interactions, her movements, the people she saw, and the moments that now feel like chilling premonitions. We examine the tension at home, the recent assault by a so-called friend, and the subtle signals that something may have already been unraveling.

Was she running from something—or someone? Was this a planned escape? Or did she cross paths with the wrong person at the worst possible time?

Join Dark Dialogue as we unravel the first layers of one of Vermont’s most disturbing and unresolved disappearances. This is not just a timeline—this is a breakdown of missed chances, overlooked behavior, and the haunting silence that followed.

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In the final installment of our Maura Murray arc, Dark Dialogue closes the casebook—without closing the case.

On February 9, 2004, Maura vanished on a rural stretch of Route 112 in New Hampshire. Now, we revisit every angle one last time. Host John breaks down the most credible theory: that Maura, intent on a weekend getaway, was picked up and killed by someone she trusted—or by a local predator who seized a vulnerable moment. We dissect key evidence: her MapQuest directions to Burlington, Vermont, the scent trail lost 100 yards from the scene, and the missing essentials she never left behind.

Angela challenges the investigation’s failings—no BOLO, unprocessed crash site, dispatch log inconsistencies—and highlights the systemic issues plaguing adult missing persons cases across the country. We trace Fred Murray’s relentless FOIA campaigns, Julie Murray’s viral advocacy, and how public pressure triggered renewed FBI and State Police efforts.

But this is more than a cold case review. It’s a tribute. To Maura’s ambition, her sharp wit, her loyalty, and the life stolen from her. It’s also a call to action—as we prepare to turn our focus to the eerie parallels in the case of Brianna Maitland.

Visit darkdialogue.com for research, timelines, and to join our Adopt-a-Victim program. Support our work on Patreon or Ko-fi, and send insights to [email protected].

Her name was Maura Murray. She was loved. She mattered.