One cold January night, a suburban mother disappears after attending church—only to be found dead months later, floating in a river 35 miles away. Authorities called it suicide. Her family says otherwise. What do you think happened?

Welcome back to Red String Theory.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into Joann Matouk Romain’s suspicious disappearance and the tangled web of unanswered questions that still surround her death.

Content Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics like mental health struggles and suicide, which may be upsetting to some listeners.

The National Suicide Prevention Talk Line
Offers help in over 150 languages.
Call 1-800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741741

Source Material:

• Unsolved Mysteries "Lady in the Lake" (TV Episode 2020) V2:E5
• THE ESTATE OF JOANN MATOUK ROMAIN v. CITY OF GROSSE POINTE FARMS Court Document (LINK)
• Civil Court Document (LINK)
• Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit Document (LINK)
• No One Knows Podcast, The Murder Coverup of Joann Matouk Romain (WEBSITE)

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based on the information available to me at the time of recording. While I strive for accuracy, I encourage listeners to do their own research and form their own conclusions.

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

Imagine you're on the phone with your child when suddenly, you hear a startled yell—then silence. No goodbye, no explanation. Just… gone. And despite your desperate attempts to call back, you never hear their voice again.

This unimaginable nightmare became a reality for Annette and Brian Swanson. 

In today’s episode, we dive into the chilling details of Brandon Swanson’s disappearance and the lingering mystery that has haunted his family for over 17 years as of 2025.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based on the information available to me at the time of recording. While I strive for accuracy, I encourage listeners to do their own research and form their own conclusions.

Source Material:

• Brandon Swanson Case Map. Google Maps (not created by me)
• Immelman, Aubrey. Brandon Swanson. ( site )
• Hasse, Jeff. “Missing Person Case Study -- Brandon Swanson.” Wikiversity 
• HLN. Brandon Swanson’s Mom Speaks Out on HLN. YouTube, 24 June 2021 ( video ) 
• "Brandon Victor Swanson: Missing Person Case.” Uncovered
• Grace, Nancy. “Cold Case: Brandon Swanson.” CNN, 18 Jan. 2010 ( site ) 
• "Brandon’s Law Aims to Help Families of Missing Adults.” Minnesota House of Representatives, 2009 ( site )
• “Missing in Minnesota: The Case of Brandon Swanson.” Lost Souls of America, 26 Jan. 2022 ( site )

If you or anyone you know has information that could help solve Brandon's case, please contact:

• Lincoln County Sherrif: 507-694-1664
• Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension: 651-793-7000

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Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

On the night of March 31, 2006, 27-year-old Ohio State University medical student Brian Shaffer walked into the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a popular Columbus bar, with friends. By the early hours of April 1, he had vanished without a trace. Despite extensive surveillance footage, no images show him leaving the bar.

Brian’s disappearance remains one of Ohio’s most puzzling mysteries, sparking countless theories, from foul play to voluntary disappearance. In this episode, we’ll explore the timeline, investigation, and theories surrounding this baffling case.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based on the information available to me at the time of recording. While I strive for accuracy, I encourage listeners to do their own research and form their own conclusions.

Support the show

Source Material:

• Kirk Pepi, A Guy Walks Into A Bar - and Is Never Seen Again (Mel Magazine, 2018)
• Ava Boldizar, Unsolved Ohio: Ohio State student who disappeared at bar still missing 18 years later (NBC News, 2024)
• The Brian Shaffer Mystery (The Ohio Missing Dispatch, 2015) MagCloud
• Brian Shaffer Missing Person Poster (FBI.gov)
• "Missing Medical Student" Dateline NBC Brian Shaffer reporting
• Kelly Bruce, Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive Chapter Three: The Inside Track (Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive Podcast, 2019)

If you or anyone you know has information that could help solve Brian’s case, please contact:

• Columbus Police Department: 614-645-4545
• Crime Stopper Anonymous Tip Line: 614-461-8477

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Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

The case we're diving into today dates back to 2011, but the fight to determine the true cause of death is still ongoing in the courts. This is Part 1 of the perplexing and heartbreaking case of Ellen Greenberg.

Ellen was a 27-year-old first-grade teacher found dead in her apartment on a snowy evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2011. She had been stabbed 20 times, and her death was shockingly ruled a suicide—despite the violent nature of her injuries. This ruling sparked a 13-year battle for her family, who have relentlessly fought to have her cause of death reclassified as a homicide.

Content Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics like suicide and domestic abuse, which may be upsetting to some listeners.

The National Suicide Prevention Talk Line
Offers help in over 150 languages.
Call 1- 800-273-8255or text HELLO to 741741

The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 800.799.SAFE (7233) or text STOP to connect with live advocates who can help you with domestic violence issues. You can also find local providers and resources on their website.

Source Material:

• Andrea Cavallier, She died from 20 stab wounds, but it was ruled a suicide. Ellen Greenberg’s parents are fighting for justice (Independent, 2023)
•  Stephanie Farr, Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office investigation report on Ellen Greenberg, DocumentCloud
• Leigh Egan, New information suggests young fiancée found stabbed 20 times did NOT search online for suicide (CrimeOnline, 2021)
• Gavin Fish Website
• Crime Timelines Website
• Joe Brandt, Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear arguments over 2011 death of Philadelphia teacher Ellen Greenberg (CBS News, 2024)
• Ashley Flowers, MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Ellen Greenberg (Crime Junkies Podcast) - 911 Audio Source

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based on the information available to me at the time of recording. While I strive for accuracy, I encourage listeners to do their own research and form their own conclusions.

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

The case we're diving into today dates back to 2011, but the fight to determine the true cause of death is still ongoing in the courts. This is Part 1 of the perplexing and heartbreaking case of Ellen Greenberg.

Ellen was a 27-year-old first-grade teacher found dead in her apartment on a snowy evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2011. She had been stabbed 20 times, and her death was shockingly ruled a suicide—despite the violent nature of her injuries. This ruling sparked a 13-year battle for her family, who have relentlessly fought to have her cause of death reclassified as a homicide.

Content Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics like suicide and domestic abuse, which may be upsetting to some listeners.

The National Suicide Prevention Talk Line
Offers help in over 150 languages.
Call 1- 800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741741

The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 800.799.SAFE (7233) or text STOP to connect with live advocates who can help you with domestic violence issues. You can also find local providers and resources on their website.

Source Material:

• Andrea Cavallier, She died from 20 stab wounds, but it was ruled a suicide. Ellen Greenberg’s parents are fighting for justice (Independent, 2023)
•  Stephanie Farr, Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office investigation report on Ellen Greenberg, DocumentCloud
• Leigh Egan, New information suggests young fiancée found stabbed 20 times did NOT search online for suicide (CrimeOnline, 2021)
• Gavin Fish Website
• Crime Timelines Website
• Joe Brandt, Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear arguments over 2011 death of Philadelphia teacher Ellen Greenberg (CBS News, 2024)
• Ashley Flowers, MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Ellen Greenberg (Crime Junkies Podcast) - 911 Audio Source

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based on the information available to me at the time of recording. While I strive for accuracy, I encourage listeners to do their own research and form their own conclusions. 

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

Today, we’re diving into the unsolved murder of John O’Keefe and the subsequent trial of his girlfriend, Karen Read, who was accused of his death.

O’Keefe died during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, under suspicious circumstances. He was found outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, with significant injuries and signs of exposure to harsh weather conditions. The central question in the Karen Read case is how he sustained those injuries.

Source Material:

• Your True Crime Library, 2022-2024, Commonwealth V Karen Read
• Tim Stelloh, Karen Read murder trial: Messy investigation exposes problems with police work that public rarely sees, experts say (NBC News, 2024)
• Frank O'Laughlin, See all the messages Karen Read and John O'Keefe exchanged before he died (Boston 25 News, 2024)
• Matt Schooley, A timeline of the Karen Read case and the story behind the high-profile Massachusetts murder trial (CBS News, 2024)

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

For this episode, we're delving into the disappearance of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old college student who vanished under mysterious circumstances in February 2004, in a secluded region of New Hampshire.

If you have any information about Maura Murray’s disappearance, please reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit:

• Phone Number: 603-223-3648
• Email: [email protected]

Source Material:

• Julie Murray, The Untold Story of Maura Murray (Media Pressure podcast, 2024)
• Maggie Freleng, The Disappearance of Maura Murray Documentary (Oxygen, 2017) 
• 107 ° Maura Murray, 2016, https://www.the107degree.com/

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

For this episode, we're delving into the disappearance of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old college student who vanished under mysterious circumstances in February 2004, in a secluded region of New Hampshire.

If you have any information about Maura Murray’s disappearance, please reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit:

• Phone Number: 603-223-3648
• Email: [email protected]

Source Material:

• Julie Murray, The Untold Story of Maura Murray (Media Pressure podcast, 2024)
• Maggie Freleng, The Disappearance of Maura Murray Documentary (Oxygen, 2017) 
• 107 ° Maura Murray, 2016, https://www.the107degree.com/

Support the Show.

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

This cold case has remained unsolved for over 21 years as of this recording. Join us as we delve into the mysterious disappearance of Josh Guimond from the St. Johns University in Collegeville, Minnesota, on the night of November 9, 2002.

Source Material:

• Josh Newville, Season 1; Episodes 1-8 (Simply Vanished Podcast, 2022) 
• A Netflix Documentary Series, What Happened to Josh? (Unsolved Mysteries V3: E6, 2022)
• ABC News, 4 College-Aged People Missing in Midwest (ABC News, 2002)
• Lou Raguse, Minnesota Unsolved: The star student who vanished from campus one night (Kare 11 News, 2022).

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.

In this episode, we will be discussing the case of the Idaho College Murders. During our time together, we’ll go through a timeline of events, review all the evidence that is currently available, and provide an update on the current state of the case.

Then we’ll switch gears and go into what I like to call red string mode - We’ll ask the questions and talk through the pieces of the case that don’t make sense to try to understand why this horrific event occurred. Finally, we’ll sign off with our theory on what happened and open it up to all of you to share your thoughts and theories too.

Source Materials:

• Io Doods, Timeline of the Idaho college murders (The Independent, 2023)
• Gina Jameson, The judge presiding over the Bryan Kohberger murder trial responds to the defense’s request to receive DNA records (KMTV, 2024)
• Matthew Impelli, Read Bryan Kohberger Affidavit: Details on Police Evidence in Idaho Murders (Newsweek, 2023).
• Anna Kaplan, Police release new info about U of Idaho murders, including who called 911 (Today, 2022)
• Aleks Phillips, Delayed Idaho Murders 911 Call Finally Explained (Newsweek, 2023)
• Stephanie Lydecker and Conor Powell, The Idaho Massacre (iHeart Podcast, A Discussion Part 1, 2023)

Support the show

Hey there weekend detectives - Share your thoughts and theories on this case with us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @redstringspod

Donate + support the podcast.