In the summer of 1983, 27-year-old Teresa “Terry” Peroni disappeared from a remote counterculture community in rural Oregon. For years, rumors circulated about communes, drugs, and the controlling man she had last been seen with. Her family searched, asked questions, and followed every lead, but Terry’s trail went cold. Her name slowly faded from public memory.

In 1997, human remains were discovered in the Oregon wilderness, but they were never linked to Terry. It wasn’t until 2024, more than four decades after she vanished, that new forensic technology finally confirmed the truth. Her remains were identified. The case was reopened. And the man long suspected in her disappearance was arrested across state lines.

This episode follows Terry’s journey for independence, the dangerous world she stepped into, the failures that allowed her case to go cold, and the small group of people who refused to let her story be forgotten.

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Need help now? Call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

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Mortal Musings: Neil and Megan cover true crime every Wednesday with a thoughtful tone and a bit of natural humor to balance the heavy topics. If you’re looking for another well-told true crime show to add to your rotation, check out Mortal Musings wherever you listen!

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