On June 6, 1972, the Gulf of Mexico gave back one of its secrets. The body of Randolph “Randy” Farenthold, 32 years old, oil money in his veins, and gambling smoke in his lungs, washed ashore on Mustang Island. His hands were bound, his body chained, his skull fractured. The brutal murder of the South Texas “sportsman” triggered one of the most intensive investigations in Nueces County history, pulling in local lawmen, Texas Rangers, and even the FBI.

But this was no simple killing. Randy had been scheduled to testify in a federal fraud case against men tied to shady financial schemes, leaving investigators to question whether his death was a mob-style hit meant to silence him. His movements in the final hours were traced from Corpus Christi’s nightlife to the waters he loved, yet every lead pointed to a tangle of gambling debts, betrayals, and organized crime connections.

Though suspects were named and one man, Bruce Lusk Bass III, eventually indicted and convicted, Randy’s murder remains clouded by unanswered questions. His violent end became one more curse in a dynasty already fractured by addiction, politics, and loss.

Randy’s death was only the beginning. Seventeen years later, the family would face another devastating silence—the disappearance of his younger brother, James Robert “Jimmy” Farenthold.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Jimmy Farenthold, please contact the San Antonio Police Department at (210) 207-8939.

Sources: The Corpus Christi Caller-Times, The Port Aransas South Jetty, The Houston Chronicle, The San Antonio Express-News, Texas Monthly, Texas Observer, texashistory.unt.edu, The Los Angeles Times

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#WhereIsJimmyFarenthold #CorpusChristi #CCTX #TX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast #TrueCrimeObsessed #CrimeDocs #InvestigationDiscovery #PodcastAddict #TrueCrimeFan #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles

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Texas dynasties are remembered for oil, ranching, and politics. Their names are carved into courthouses and campuses—but behind the polished legacy of the Farenthold family lies a darker story. In this first part of our multi-episode series, we trace the family’s rise from European aristocracy and South Texas oil wealth into political power, before unraveling the tragedies that shadowed their name.

From the sudden death of a child to the brutal gangland-style murder of 32-year-old Randy Farenthold, this episode examines the intersections of privilege, politics, and violence. As Frances “Sissy” Farenthold’s political star rose on reform and civil rights, her family life was shattered by a killing that sent shockwaves through Corpus Christi society.

But Randy’s murder was only the beginning. Another son, Jimmy, would one day vanish—without obituary, without a police report, without answers. Just silence.

This is Part One of Three of The Disappearance of Jimmy Farenthold: Oil, Power, and Secrets.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Jimmy Farenthold, please contact the San Antonio Police Department at (210) 207-8939.

Sources: The Corpus Christi Caller-Times, The Port Aransas South Jetty, The Houston Chronicle, The San Antonio Express-News, Texas Monthly, Texas Observer, texashistory.unt.edu, The Los Angeles Times,

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In October of 1989, ten-year-old Sheila Renae Finch left her grandmother’s home in South Waco, Texas, for what should have been a quick trip. She rode her pink-and-white bicycle to a corner grocery store to use the payphone and call her aunt for a ride to school. She made the call, hung up, and started the short ride home.

Sheila never made it back.

Two days later, her body was discovered on the banks of Lake Waco’s Speegleville Park.

The search for Sheila, the discovery of her body, and the haunting details revealed by her autopsy gripped Waco. Investigators pursued every lead, recovering her bicycle from a nearby creek, circulating a composite sketch of a possible suspect, and eventually arresting a man named Anthony Torres. But the case against him collapsed under the weight of shaky eyewitness accounts and the absence of physical evidence.

If you have any information about the murder of Sheila Renae Finch, please contact the Waco Police Department at (254) 750-7500, or search Waco Cold Cases on your web browser, look for Sheila’s case, and fill out the tip form.

Sources: The Waco Citizen, The Waco Tribune-Herald, KCENtv.com, KWTX.com, waco-texas.com/Departments/Police-Department/Cold-Cases/CC80s

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On a cold night in February 2013, 30-year-old Maegan Hembree left her home in Smyer, Texas, and set out for Lubbock. She never arrived. Days later, her red Saturn turned up at a Lubbock apartment complex — but Maegan was nowhere to be found. The man last seen with her, Michael Todd Ramsey, was eventually sentenced to 80 years in prison on unrelated charges. He remains a person of interest in Maegan’s disappearance but has never been charged. Over the years, Maegan’s family has held vigils, organized searches, and begged Ramsey to come forward. Investigators found a drop of blood in her car, but not enough evidence to prosecute. Eleven years later, Maegan’s family is still waiting for answers.

If you have information about the disappearance of Maegan Hembree, contact the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office at 806-775-1494 or Crime Line at 806-741-1000. Callers can remain anonymous, and a reward of up to $10,000 is available.

Sources: The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal archives, KCBD & EverythingLubbock.com reports, Dateline NBC, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Hockley County Sheriff’s Office 

#MaeganHembree #JusticeForMaeganHembree #FindMaegan #Lubbock #Smyer #MissingPersons #ColdCase #TexasCrime #PodcastCommunity #CrimeJunkie #ColdCaseFiles #CrimePodcast #JusticeMatters #DoYouKnowSomething #CrimeAwareness

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On November 10, 1984, six-year-old Bradley Eugene Gilbert was playing outside his aunt’s home in Chillicothe, Texas, with his three-year-old brother Jason. By early afternoon, Jason came running back to the house crying. Bradley had told him to run. When Jason turned back, his brother was gone. The search for Bradley was immediate and massive. Hundreds of volunteers joined law enforcement, Texas Rangers, and the FBI. Flyers, bloodhounds, hypnosis sessions, and even national campaigns followed. Bradley’s photo appeared on milk cartons and before movies in theaters across the country. Leads spanned from Amarillo to Florida, from New York to Oklahoma. For 141 days, Chillicothe searched and hoped. Then, in April 1985, the case changed from a missing person to the thing everyone feared: a homicide. Nearly four decades later, Bradley Gilbert’s murder remains unsolved.

If you have any information about the abduction and murder of Bradley Eugene Gilbert, please call the Hardeman County Sheriff’s office at (940) 663-5374, or Texas Crime Stoppers at 800-252-8477. _______________________________________________________________________________

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Sources: The Abilene Reporter-News, The Wichita Falls Times Record-News, The Quanah Tribune-Chief, The Bryan-College Station Eagle, The Houston Chronicle, dps.texas.gov, texomashomepage.com 

#JusticeForBradleyGilbert #TrueCrime #UnsolvedMysteries #UnsolvedCase #ColdCase #CrimePodcast #TexasTrueCrime #TexasHistory #HardemanCounty #ChillicotheTX #PeaseRiver #MissingChildren #NeverForget #ChildAbduction #1980sCases #TrueCrimePodcast #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #GoneCold

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In February 2001, 20-year-old Travoski Latraze Johnson vanished from Mount Enterprise, Texas. Two days later, his body was discovered in the trunk of his own car, parked on a desolate county road in rural Rusk County. The discovery sparked an investigation involving the Rusk County Sheriff's Office and the FBI—but despite the agencies involved, no one has ever been arrested. No one has been charged. And Travoski’s family is still waiting for answers. In this episode of Gone Cold: Texas True Crime, we walk through the events of that weekend. We trace the investigation, and we give voice to a mother’s relentless fight to make sure her son’s death is not forgotten. From a mysterious crime scene to two decades of silence, this case remains a haunting example of how quickly justice can slip through the cracks.

If you have any information about the murder of Travoski Latraze Johnson, contact the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 657-3581.

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Sources: The Longview News-Journal, The Tyler Morning-Telegraph, The Tyler Courier-Times, The Kilgore News-Herald, The Henderson Daily News, KETK.com, KLTV.com, and dps.texas.gov 

#JusticeForTravoskiJohnson #EastTexas  #ETX #TX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast #TrueCrimeObsessed #CrimeDocs #InvestigationDiscovery #PodcastAddict #TrueCrimeFan #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles

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Born into a tumultuous marriage between Emory and Elva Moad in the midst of the Great Depression, Neota Green’s childhood was marked by physical and emotional abuse. The shocking violence that Elva endured at the hands of her husband set the stage for the unraveling of the Moad family—and for the tragedy that would unfold years later.

The episode dives deep into the harrowing details of Neota’s death on March 24, 1963, a night that began with a social outing and ended in a devastating house fire. As investigators uncovered grisly evidence, including blunt-force trauma to Neota’s head and a suspicious blaze that may have been set to cover up a murder, all signs pointed to Neota's companion that night—Ronnie Blankenship, a married man with deep connections to Fort Worth’s elite circles.

Despite the mounting evidence, Blankenship was acquitted, leaving questions about Neota’s death unanswered. Was it a crime of passion, a tragic accident, or something darker, buried in mafia connections and buried secrets?

If you have any information about the death of Neota Moad Green, please contact the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office at 817-884-1213.

You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast

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Sources: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News, and The Tyler Morning Telegraph. 

#JusticeForNeotaGreen #Benbrook #FortWorth #TX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast #TrueCrimeObsessed #CrimeDocs #InvestigationDiscovery #PodcastAddict #TrueCrimeFan #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles

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One evening in May of 1978, Robert Pretty came home from work to a nearly silent house. Breakfast was still on the table, and all that could be heard was water dripping. As he looked for his family, he followed the drip. In the bathroom, Robert found his sons Mark and Scott deceased in the bathtub. In the master bedroom, he found his wife Karen also dead in the tub. Though the police tried to find evidence, they discovered almost nothing that pointed them in the direction of a strong lead. A motive was just as elusive, if not more so.  The case went cold fast. The following year, another family was murdered in their Houston home, prompting police to look for similarities.

If you have any information about the murders of Karen, Scott, and Mark Pretty, please contact the Homicide Unit at the Houston Police Department at 713-308-3600.

You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast

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Sources: The Houston Chronicle, The Houston Post, and The Austin American Statesman 

#JusticeForThePrettyFamily #Houston #TX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast #TrueCrimeObsessed #CrimeDocs #InvestigationDiscovery #PodcastAddict #TrueCrimeFan #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles

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In March of 2023, an investigation into the whereabouts of 6-year-old Noel Alvarez began. He’d already been missing for months. Noel had several siblings, but unlike them, he had special needs to attend to. His mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, told the Everman Police that Noel had gone to live with his father in Mexico. But when investigators with Child Protective Services checked that out, his father, who had been deported before Noel was even born, had never met the boy. Cindy told her family a conflicting story – that she’d sold Noel to a woman in a grocery store parking lot. Neither, it appears, is even close to the truth and Noel’s mother is alleged to have murdered him. She fled to India with her husband and other children to avoid prosecution.

If you have information about the whereabouts of Cindy Rodriguez Singh, please call the FBI Dallas Field Office at 972-559-5000. Tips outside of the US should be reported to a country’s US Embassy. If you have any information that might assist in the investigation of Noel’s case, please call the Everman Police Department at 817-293-2923.

You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast

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Sources: WFAA.com, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, KERAnews.org, fox4news.com, People.com, CBSnews.com, NBCdfw.com, and FBI.gov 

#JusticeForNoelAlvarez #WhereIsNoelAlvarez #FortWorth #TX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast #TrueCrimeObsessed #CrimeDocs #InvestigationDiscovery #PodcastAddict #TrueCrimeFan #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles

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In Houston, Texas, the 1970s was a decade marred by violent crime. From high-risk adults to completely innocent children, the era saw little mercy. When 15-year-old Patricia “Pat” Humphreys, her sister Deb, and friends went to the Thunderbird Twin Drive Inn, it was supposed to be a carefree night. It was the first night, in fact, that Pat and Deb were given the responsibility of taking the family car out. But during intermission, Pat parted ways from the group, and she was never seen alive again.

If you have any information about the murder of Patricia Kaye Humphreys, please contact the Homicide Unit at the Houston Police Department at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-8477. 

You can support gone cold and listen to the show ad-free at https://patreon.com/gonecoldpodcast

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Sources: The Houston Chronicle, The Houston Post, The Wichita Falls Record-News, ABC13.com, and Dateline NBC. 

#JusticeForPatHumphreys #Houston #HarrisCounty #TX #Texas #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #ColdCase #Unsolved #Murder #UnsolvedMurder #UnsolvedMysteries #Homicide #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast #TrueCrimeObsessed #CrimeDocs #InvestigationDiscovery #PodcastAddict #TrueCrimeFan #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles

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