A prison inmate named Maurice “Slab” Ferguson claims he can lead investigators to the body of missing candy heiress Helen Brach—sparking a nationally televised search that sends police and reporters racing to Minnesota. But investigators begin to question Ferguson’s motives—and the people who may have been influencing him.

That trail leads to one of the most feared figures in Chicago’s horse world: Silas Jayne. In this episode, the investigation dives into the violent history of the man at the center of the so-called “Horse Mafia”—a network of horse dealers, trainers, and middlemen accused of exploiting wealthy clients through fraud, intimidation, and worse.

From bombings and murder conspiracies to a decades-long feud that ended in assassination, Jayne’s criminal past reveals the kind of power and fear that surrounded the horse industry Helen Brach had entered. And as investigators begin connecting Jayne’s circle to people in Helen’s life—including horse dealer Richard Bailey—the case takes a darker turn.

The question now becomes: how deep did the Horse Mafia’s influence run—and what did they know about Helen Brach’s disappearance?

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The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.

Legal Disclaimer:  All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.