The Dark Oak

By Just Us Gals ProductionsTrue Crime

The Dark Oak episodes

February 28, 2024 Episode 35: The Mysterious Death of Hugues de la Plaza
Hugues de la Plaza's death is quite the compelling mystery... a dead body, stabbed multiple times, behind a locked door with no evidence of an assailant and no potential suicide weapon. Security cameras did not pick up anyone other Hugues near his home on the early morning of his death. After being stabbed, why did 36-year-old Hugues de la Plaza walk around his apartment bleeding out instead of reaching for his nearby cell phone and calling for help?
This case is full of questions and contradictions. Listen to this episode and let us know what you think happened.

Sources:
Hugues de la Plaza. (n.d.). www.sfgate.com.
forensictales.com. (n.d.). forensictales.com Hugues De La Plaza.
Cbsnews.com Hugues de la Plaza. (n.d.). cbsnews.com.
48 Hours Mystery A case for murder. (n.d.). 48 Hours Mystery.

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

56 min
February 21, 2024 Episode 34: The DB Cooper Skyjacking
We cover details of DB Cooper’s 1971 plane hijacking and go into some of the more compelling theories and suspects including Richar Floyd McCoy, Dick Briggs, Robert Rackstraw, Sheridan Peterson, Vince Petersen and William Gossett.
This episode will be a great way to get caught up to speed on the latest and greatest in the land of the Cooperites.
**Correction to the episode: The amount of money requested and stolen by DB Cooper was mistakenly said to be $20,000, but it was in fact $200,000.
Source:
Oregonian/OregonLive, D. P. |. (2024, February 20). Favorite D.B. Cooper suspect resurfaces, leading to claim that FBI is reopening case. Oregonlive. https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2024/02/favorite-db-cooper-suspect-resurfaces-leading-to-claim-that-fbi-is-reopening-case.html
D.B. Cooper hijacking. (2022, May 10). Federal Bureau of Investigation. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/db-cooper-hijacking
Aitken, P. (2021, January 30). Longtime DB Cooper suspect dies at 94, once admitted FBI “had good reason to suspect me.” Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/us/db-cooper-suspect-dies-at-94
Mitchell, M. (2022, July 20). Who were the D.B. Cooper suspects? From Rob Rackstraw to Dick Briggs. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/db-cooper-suspects-identity-hijacking-rob-rackstraw-dick-briggs-1726313
Oregonian/OregonLive, D. P. |. (2021, September 3). ‘Charming’ D.B. Cooper suspect Sheridan Peterson dies at 94, spent years dedicated to political causes. Oregonlive. https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2021/01/charming-db-cooper-suspect-sheridan-peterson-dies-at-94-spent-years-dedicated-to-political-causes.html
Pearce, T. (2022, July 13). DB Cooper: Where Are You? The full list of suspects in the legendary airplane hijacking. Digital Spy. https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a40597759/db-cooper-suspects-true-story/
DB Cooper: Where are you? Netflix. Zenovich, Marina (Director), 2022. netflix.com
History's Greatest Mysteries: The Final Hunt for DB Cooper. History Channel. Twitch, Oliver; George, Simon; Leong; Evan Jackson (Directors), 2020. historychannel.com

The Cooper Vortex | Darren Schaefer and Russell Colbert. PodBean. https://thecoopervortex.podbean.com/

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

1 hr 5 min
February 14, 2024 Episode 33: The Disappearance of Jennifer Kesse
Almost exactly 18 years ago, a young professional woman seemingly disappeared without a trace. Few clues were ever found and the ones that were are more frustrating than helpful. From grainy security footage where any identifying characteristics of the person of interest were obscured to many potential witnesses never being interviewed, the Kesse family has found themselves in frustrating situation after frustrating situation.

In the wake of Jennifer's disappearance, her family not only led the charge to find her, but also helped to create the Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act which requires law enforcement agents to adopt written policies and procedures for investigating missing persons.

Anyone with information into Kesse’s disappearance can call the Kesse Family Tip Line at 941-201-4009, or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

The Branch of Hope:
Jennifer Kesse graduated from UCF with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2003. Family members decided to establish the scholarship following their experience working with law enforcement.

The new scholarship is the first to solely support students in UCF’s master’s degree program in Criminal Justice. Students in the program pursue one of two tracks. The Professional Track prepares participants for leadership roles in criminal justice organizations. The Research Track is for students who plan careers as criminal justice research analysts or who plan to pursue a doctorate in the field.

To contribute to the scholarship directly, please visit University of Central Florida Foundation (ucf.edu)
Please indicate in the comments section that your generosity is for The Jennifer Kesse Criminal Justice Endowed Scholarship!
Source: Kotala, Z. (2011, January 22). New scholarship to honor Jennifer Kesse. University of Central Florida News | UCF Today. https://www.ucf.edu/news/new-scholarship-to-honor-jennifer-kesse/

Source:
Jennifer Kesse. (n.d.). Orlando Sentinal.

Jennifer Kesse. (n.d.-b). [Video]. ID Discovery.

Jennifer Kesse - Please help find her. (n.d.). https://jenniferkesse.com/

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

59 min
February 07, 2024 Episode 32: The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
In honor of Black History Month, today we delve into the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
The 16th Street Baptist Church was a large and prominent church located downtown, just blocks from Birmingham's commercial district and City Hall. Just before 11 o'clock on September 15, 1963, instead of rising to begin prayers, the congregation was knocked to the ground. As a bomb exploded under the steps of the church, they sought safety under the pews and shielded each other from falling debris. Join us as we travel the decades it took to finally bring justice to the families of the four girls killed in the bombing.
Learn about the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Act passed in 2008 which allows prosecution of previously untried perpetrators of racial hate crimes, even if the statute of limitations have expired. And explore the unsolved case of Oneal Moore who was the first African-American deputy sheriff for the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office in Varnado, Louisiana. He was murdered on June 2, 1965, by alleged members of the Ku Klux Klan in a drive-by shooting, one year and a day after his landmark appointment as deputy sheriff. While there have been clear suspects, no one has ever been tried for his murder.
The Branch of Hope:
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (savingplaces.org) is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic sites while tell the full American story, build stronger communities, and invest in preservation’s future.
The 16th Street Baptist Church alone receives over 100,000 every year who come to witness the legacy of activism that has been cultivated by the congregation, with daily hour-long tours provided by church member volunteers. In addition to its tourism-related outreach, the church hosts numerous community events, and offers a Benevolence Ministry that provides emergency financial support to those in need, a Fatherhood Ministry to educate and mentor young fathers, and a Wall Builders program to help with addiction recovery.
The congregation has completed many critical and expensive repairs to its main building in recent years. A $250,000 National Fund grant with $500,000 in matching funds raised by the congregation supported critical work on the roof, foundation, and exterior of 16th Street Baptist’s adjacent parsonage, along with installation of a ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
By contributing to the National Trust for Historic Preservation we hope to propel their mission of telling the full American story including the diversity that has led to our multicultural nation.

Source:
16th Street Baptist Church bombing (1963) (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). https://www.nps.gov/articles/16thstreetbaptist.htm
Birmingham Church bombing - Alabama, civil rights movement, victims | HISTORY. (2010, January 27). HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/birmingham-church-bombing
Parrott-Sheffer, C. (2023, December 14). 16th Street Baptist Church bombing | History & Four Girls. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/16th-Street-Baptist-Church-bombing
Elliott, D. (2023, September 14). Lessons from Birmingham: 60 years after the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/14/1199312953/16th-street-baptist-church-bombing-60th-anniversary
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, December 2). Emmett till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Till_Unsolved_Civil_Rights_Crime_Act
Oneal Moore. (n.d.). Southern Poverty Law Center. https://www.splcenter.org/oneal-moore
Oneal Moore | Un(re)solved | FRONTLINE | PBS| Web Interactive. (n.d.). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interactive/unresolved/cases/oneal-moore
The unsolved murder of Oneal Moore, a Black deputy sheriff in 1960s Louisiana. (2021, October 15). A&E. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/oneal-moore

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep
48 min
January 31, 2024 Episode 31: The Disappearance of Cynthia Anderson - PATREON SNEAK PEEK
Cindy was last seen on August 4, 1981, at the law office where she worked on East Manhattan Boulevard in Toledo, Ohio. The law partners arrived back at the office after a meeting at noon to find the radio on and their desks prepared for the day. Cindy left her romance novel open on her desk to the only violent scene in the book, where the heroine was abducted at knifepoint.
Her disappearance occurred after a year of haunting nightmares and what appeared to be an amorous stalker. Was Cindy the victim of foul play or did she simply walk out of her own life?

Sources:
Unsolved Mysteries. (2020, September 4). Cynthia Anderson - Unsolved Mysteries. https://unsolved.com/gallery/cynthia-anderson/

Wiki, C. T. U. M. (n.d.). Cynthia Anderson. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki. https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Cynthia_Anderson

The abrupt disappearance of Cynthia Anderson. (2023, August 30). Cold Case Explorations. https://coldcaseexplorations.com/ohio-cold-or-unsolved-casesohio/the-abrupt-disappearance-of-cynthia-anderson/

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

1 hr 12 min
January 24, 2024 Episode 30: The Unsolved Murder of Dian Fossey
Thanks to lack of education and movies like King Kong, gorillas used to be considered ferocious man killers. It took a tenacious Dian Fossey moving to the jungles of Africa and living among the great apes, to change the public's mind about the gentle giants.

During the 1960s and 70s, when a poaching pandemic threatened the existence of the African Mountain Gorilla, Dian went to unimaginable lengths to save the animals she had come to know as family. Her conservation efforts were not without great sacrifice, and on an otherwise normal New Years Eve, she was ultimately brutally murdered by one of her many human enemies.

Dian's impact is still felt today as the number of Mountain Gorillas is finally on the rise and her legacy has inspired many to follow their dreams to make the planet a safer place for every living creature.

Sources:

Phelan, A. H. (1987a). Gorillas in the mist.

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

1 hr
January 17, 2024 Episode 29: The Lost Colony of Roanoke
The origins of one of America’s oldest unsolved mysteries can be traced to August 1587, when a group of about 115 English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island, off the coast of what is now North Carolina.
Later that year, it was decided that John White, governor of the new colony, would sail back to England in order to gather a fresh load of supplies. But just as he arrived, a major naval war broke out between England and Spain, and Queen Elizabeth I called on every available ship to confront the mighty Spanish Armada.
In August 1590, White finally returned to Roanoke, where he had left his wife and daughter, his infant granddaughter (Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas) and the other settlers three long years before. He found no trace of the colony or its inhabitants, and few clues to what might have happened, apart from a single word—“Croatoan”—carved into a wooden post.
Sources:
Cascone, S. (2021, December 9). Archaeologists May Have Finally Solved the Mystery of the Disappearance of Roanoke’s Lost Colony. Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-mystery-lost-roanoke-lost-colony-1921594
History.com Staff. (2023, June 20). What happened to the ‘Lost Colony’ of Roanoke? HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/what-happened-to-the-lost-colony-of-roanoke
Hogeback, J. (n.d.). The lost colony of Roanoke. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/the-lost-colony-of-roanoke
Roanoke Colony deserted. (2010, February 9). HISTORY. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roanoke-colony-deserted
American History Central. (2023, November 20). Lost Colony Roanoke, Summary, Facts, Significance, APUSH. https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/lost-colony-roanoke-island/
HISTORY. (2022, May 15). The Colony of Roanoke’s Mysterious Disappearance | The UnXplained (Season 3) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sckzQiXapk8

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

1 hr 12 min
January 10, 2024 Episode 28: The Brown Family Disappearance
When a Florida family went missing in 1985, local authorities were at a complete loss with absolutely no leads.
Nearly 6 weeks after James and Carolyn Brown and their three children were last heard from, the family was reported missing. Strange phone calls, a dead hamster and a wall that was freshly painted in an effort to cover blood stains, left more questions than answers.

After being recognized in Georgia several weeks later, James Brown confessed to killing his wife and children and disposing of their bodies in locations in both Florida and Georgia, however despite several searches, they were never found.

It quickly became clear that James was suffering from mental health issues and was ruled insane by three psychologists. Given the fact that no bodies were ever found, and James Brown has since recanted his confession, is it possible that he never murdered his family after all?

The Branch of Hope:
SafeSpace safespacefl.org
When SafeSpace was founded in Indian River County in October 1979, it was the beginning of an incredible journey to provide safety and support to thousands of domestic violence victims and their children. By 1988, SafeSpace had expanded to St. Lucie and Martin counties and secured its reputation as the local area experts in providing domestic violence services. For more than four decades, SafeSpace has provided nearly half a million safe nights of shelter to more than 40,000 victims and children throughout the Treasure Coast area.

In the past year, SafeSpace served 776 victims of domestic violence consisting of 623 adults and 153 children; and provided a total of 9,689 services.

To vote, head to our Twitter or Facebook page!

Sources:
Writer, T. S. (2020, January 4). Judge releases man who killed family. Tampa Bay Times. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/01/18/judge-releases-man-who-killed-family/
Scherrer, Y. (2022, November 2). Despite the murderer’s confession, he wasn’t convicted: the case of the Brown family. Medium. https://medium.com/@yasminscherrer/despite-the-murderers-confession-he-was-never-convicted-the-case-of-the-brown-family-da3645b83258
Marie, E. (2022, January 2). Sheketah Brown, 10: Father admitted to killing entire family in 1985. Our Black Girls. https://ourblackgirls.com/2021/09/20/sheketah-brown-10-father-admitted-to-killing-entire-family-in-1985/
Sheketah Michele Brown – The Charley Project. (n.d.). https://charleyproject.org/case/sheketah-michele-brown
Carolyn Denise Brown – The Charley Project. (n.d.). https://charleyproject.org/case/carolyn-denise-brown

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

48 min
January 03, 2024 Episode 27: The Mysterious Survival Story of Casey Hathaway
After three days in the unforgiving wilderness, three-year-old Casey Hathaway was miraculously found unharmed. He said a bear saved him from harm. Is it possible?
We will explore his story as well as five additional stories of children mysteriously surviving in the wilderness including that of Alice Rachel Peck and Ida Mae Curtis.
We conclude by exploring the Kickapoo Tribe cryptid tale of The Great Bear Man.

The Branch of Hope:
The Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Foundation (WORF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in North Carolina where Casey Hathaway lives. It was established to support charitable, scientific, educational, management and outreach activities that promote conservation, preservation, protection, and enhancement of outdoor and wildlife resources and related recreational opportunities in North Carolina.
They encourage scientific evaluation, research, and study of native wild fauna and their habitats.
To vote, head to our Twitter or Facebook page!
Check out our Bigfoot Episode Here

Sources:
3-year-old Casey Hathaway told authorities a bear kept him company while he was lost in the woods | CNN
Barnes, S. (2021, December 17). MISSING 3-Year-Old boy says a bear kept him safe while he was lost in the woods. My Modern Met. https://mymodernmet.com/casey-hathaway-kept-warm-by-bear/
Ingber, S. (2019, January 25). Missing 3-Year-Old boy is found alive in woods of North Carolina. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2019/01/25/688604712/missing-3-year-old-boy-is-found-alive-in-woods-of-north-carolina
Staff, K. C. J. O. B. a. W. (2019, January 25). Day 3: Searching for Casey Hathaway. WCTI. https://wcti12.com/news/local/day-two-searching-for-casey-hathaway
Milman, O. (2021, October 29). Bear in mind: lost boy’s tale of ursine guardian “likely to be fantasy.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/28/bear-lost-boy-casey-hathaway-experts-fantasy
Schweig, S. V. (2019, February 1). Little Boy says a bear saved him after he got lost in the woods. The Dodo. https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/little-boy-lost-in-the-woods-says-bear-helped-him-north-carolina
Missing Void. (2020, October 14). Taken by the Bear: The disappearance of Casey Hathaway [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKU6LrGO_Ms

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

47 min
December 27, 2023 Episode 26: Elizabeth Short AKA The Black Dahlia
We delve in to the most brutal, baffling, sensationalized, and shocking murders in American history. We will cover the life of Elizabeth short as well as details of the murder and several key suspects that may represent the faces of evil.

Sources:
The Murder of the Black Dahlia: The Ultimate Cold Case Crime magazine. (n.d.). https://crimemagazine.com/murder-black-dahlia-ultimate-cold-case
Hodel, S. (2019, October 2). Black Dahlia crime scene Photos: New Investigation-Hard Evidence and Forensics Revisited 2019 - Steve Hodel. Steve Hodel. https://stevehodel.com/2019/10/01/black-dahlia-crime-scene-photos-new-investigation-hard-evidence-and-forensics-revisited-2019/
Fitts, A. S. (2017, September 20). I know who killed the Black Dahlia: my own father. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/black-dahlia-murder-steve-hodel-elizabeth-short
Serena, K. (2023, June 7). The Black Dahlia: Inside the Gruesome Murder of Elizabeth Short. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/black-dahlia-elizabeth-short
Black Dahlia. (2022, September 28). Federal Bureau of Investigation. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/black-dahlia
Gilmore, J. (1998). Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder.

Join The Dark Oak discussion:
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Youtube

This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Holmes and Music by Ryan Creep

1 hr 10 min

About The Dark Oak

From the publisher's feed

Attention all shiver-seekers! The Dark Oak is a weekly thrill and chill inducing mystery podcast. Every Wednesday, Stefanie and Cynthia will present to you a true tale of the supernatural, the…