On May 14, 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson disappeared after calling his parents for help when his car became stuck on a rural Minnesota road. His last words — “Oh, shit” — still echo through one of America’s most haunting missing-person mysteries.

In this episode of Santana True Crime, I’m joined by Jeff Hasse, the Search Director who has led and continues to lead the search for Brandon. Jeff shares new insight into:

Why the original search area was too small

How Brandon’s final phone call changed the investigation

The challenges of finding remains after so many years

How “Brandon’s Law” came to be after the sheriff’s office initially refused to take a report

What the public can do to properly support search and rescue efforts

This is one of the most thorough looks yet at the ongoing effort to find Brandon Swanson — and the people still searching for answers.

🎧 Watch now on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify

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Author Tony Wright—whose book Things Aren’t Right re-examines the Yuba County Five—joins Santana True Crime for a no-fluff, evidence-first conversation about one of the most baffling cases in true crime.

We cover:

The final night: why the Oroville stop may be the turning point

The stuck car, unpaved mountain road, and how the search unfolded

Law enforcement response—including why the vehicle wasn’t found for 5 days

Theories on Gary Mathias: seeking help, dense brush, a mine shaft, or another hard-to-reach spot

Myths vs. facts: what the record actually supports

If you’re new here, welcome to Santana True Crime—long-form interviews with authors, investigators, and experts. Subscribe for more deep dives.

📕 Tony’s book: Things Aren’t Right

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In this episode of Santana True Crime, host Cameron Santana sits down with Lauren Samples—author of Through the Shadows: Unsolved Crimes and the Search for Truth, host of the podcast Paradise After Dark, and founder of The Florida Themis Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families of missing persons.

Lauren shares her journey through true crime storytelling, the importance of keeping victims’ memories alive, and the work she’s doing to give families hope, resources, and a voice. Her book, Through the Shadows, also features essays by Nic Edwards, Sharon Newman-Edwards, Robin Warder, and Kelli Brink, adding even more depth and perspective to the search for truth in unsolved cases.

From the hidden crimes of “paradise” towns to the enduring pain of unsolved disappearances, this conversation highlights why these stories matter and why they cannot be forgotten.

👉 Available now on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.

#LaurenSamples #ThroughTheShadows #ParadiseAfterDark #FloridaThemisProject #TrueCrimePodcast #SantanaTrueCrime #UnsolvedCrimes #MissingPersons #TrueCrimeCommunity #VictimsVoices

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In this episode of Santana True Crime, host Cameron Santana sits down with retired NYPD detective and author Vic Ferrari.

Vic shares jaw-dropping stories from his career in the NYPD—covering everything from organized crime investigations to the unforgettable moment he helped Mike Tyson recover his stolen motorcycle.

With decades of experience on the streets of New York City, Vic brings insider knowledge, humor, and raw detail to every story. If you love true crime, organized crime tales, and behind-the-scenes law enforcement stories, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🔔 Subscribe and follow Santana True Crime on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify for new episodes every Tuesday.

#VicFerrari #NYPD #TrueCrimePodcast #SantanaTrueCrime #MikeTyson #OrganizedCrime #CrimeStories #TrueCrimeCommunity #PodcastEpisode

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In this episode of Santana True Crime, I sit down with journalist, author, and podcaster Jayson Blair to discuss the haunting cold case of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, a young Native American woman who went missing from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

We explore the heartbreaking details of Ashley’s disappearance, the struggles her family continues to face, and the broader crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) across the United States. Jayson shares his “boots on the ground” approach to investigative journalism, including his powerful conversations with Ashley’s family and even the main suspect in her case.

This episode sheds light on a community often ignored by mainstream media and asks tough questions about justice, culture, and accountability.

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In this episode of Santana True Crime, host Cameron Santana is joined by Kait, a TikTok influencer who spent three years in a women’s prison after being convicted of selling drugs.

Kait opens up about what led her to prison, the realities of life behind bars, and the challenges she faced on the inside. She also shares how she rebuilt her life after release and found unexpected success as a TikTok creator, using her platform to tell her story and connect with others.

This conversation dives into choices, consequences, resilience, and how social media can be a powerful tool for change.

🔔 Subscribe for more true crime stories, interviews, and insights every week.

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In this episode of Santana True Crime, host Cameron Santana sits down with Troy Hillman — former detective, cold case homicide supervisor, and author of Chasing Down the Zombie Hunter.

Troy shares his journey from CPA to detective, his work leading a cold case homicide squad, and how his team collaborated with the Vidocq Society, the world’s foremost experts in solving unsolved murders. Together, they worked through thousands of names to track down one of the most chilling suspects: the so-called Zombie Hunter.

This conversation dives into cold case investigations, serial killer profiling, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with true crime authors, detectives, and experts every week.

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In 1967, Louisa Dunne was brutally murdered in England — a crime that went unsolved for nearly six decades.

In this episode of Santana True Crime, host Cameron Santana and guest host Mary Sinclair uncover the details of the case, the decades of silence, and the shocking recent arrest of 92-year-old Ryland Headley.

This breakthrough has been called the oldest cold case ever solved in England’s history, marking a milestone in forensic investigation and justice for Louisa Dunne’s family after 57 long years.

Join us as we retrace the investigation, examine how this case was finally cracked, and discuss what it means for cold cases around the world.

🔔 Subscribe for more in-depth true crime stories every week.

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This episode of Santana True Crime features Shannon Kavanaugh—former undercover officer and crime‑scene investigator—who left law enforcement after experiencing a toxic environment once she became pregnant. Shannon shares candid stories from her undercover days and CSI work, explaining how political and cultural pressures pushed her to walk away. Today she’s writing a book, launching a podcast, and running a yoga studio dedicated to helping officers manage mental health and PTSD. Her goal is to offer tools for healing and to remind first responders they’re not alone in their struggles. Tune in to hear how she’s transforming her own trauma into resources for others, and why conversations about wellness are as important as any investigation.

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Veteran officer Cameron Santana—an 18‑year law‑enforcement veteran welcomes a special guest host: Abby Ellsworth, creator of the “On Being a Police Officer” podcast. Ellsworth launched her show in 2020 to give officers a national platform to share raw stories from the field and to help civilians understand the people behind the badge. A civilian interviewer with more than 14 years of experience, she brings a unique perspective to the conversation.

Together they sit down with cop‑turned‑podcaster-author-comedian Eric Tansey to discuss his upcoming memoir Pig Latin: A Seriously Funny True Story of a Former Police Officer. Tansey joined the police force as an Army scout and Special Operations veteran but quickly discovered the gritty realities of policing. He shares unfiltered stories of everyday chaos—from tackling naked suspects and accidentally pepper‑spraying himself to confronting angry mobs and coaxing suicidal subjects off a bridge. Beyond the darkly funny anecdotes, Tansey explains how Pig Latin aims to build empathy for law‑enforcement professionals and remind officers they’re not alone in their fears and mistakes. Tune in for an insider’s ride‑along that will make you laugh, cringe and see policing in a new light.

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