It's Lissi's birthday week so today on the podcast our topic is one of our favorites: true crime!   We are keeping up with our tradition to give each other the gift of true crime stories on each other's birthdays, and this year is no different.

We hope you will enjoy puzzling out with us the case we are discussing today: the mysterious and tragic disappearance of Indiana University college student, Lauren Spierer.

If you have never heard of this case, that's ok!  Joy will reveal all the details, twists, and turns and she lays out the timeline of events and discusses the vast cast of people who were last seen with Lauren, as well as all the theories surrounding her disappearance.

This case is particularly near and dear to us as it is our 'hometown' crime and also because we both participated in the efforts to find Lauren.  It is an absolutely heartbreaking scenario and our families have prayed and hoped for closure for the Spierers for the past eight years.  We do not delight in the fact that she is missing or that her families have not found justice.  We remain hopeful that they will find a lead and be able to solve this crime.

We love hearing the hometown stories you share with us of crimes that have happened in the cities you live in.  Have you ever been a part of a search effort for a missing person?  Have you lived in a town that was completely turned upside down by a crime?  We want to hear all about your experiences.

Join in the conversation on instagram and let us know all your thoughts, whether it be on this case or on your own hometown case.

Thanks for listening!