The Path Went Chilly

November 7, 1997. New York City. 54-year old Michael Sullivan and his 36-year old girlfriend, Camden Sylvia, vanish without explanation from their loft in Manhattan and are reported missing six days later. Suspicion falls upon the couple’s landlord, Robert Rodriguez, who was involved in a dispute with them prior to their disappearances and refuses to cooperate with the investigation. It turns out that Rodriguez is connected to the unsolved disappearance of another man named David King which took place six years earlier and he eventually winds up going to prison on fraud charges. What happened to Michael Sullivan and Camden Sylvia? Was Robert Rodriguez responsible for their disappearances? On this week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly”, we cover a puzzling case involving a missing couple who seemingly vanished into thin air in downtown Manhattan.If you have any information about this case, please call the New York Police Department at (646) 610-6914.

Support the Show: 

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Additional Reading:

https://charleyproject.org/case/camden-anne-sylvia

https://charleyproject.org/case/michael-sullivanhttps://charleyproject.org/case/david-king

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/15/nyregion/a-couple-are-missing-and-friends-are-baffled.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/18/nyregion/2-are-missing-now-landlord-is-also-gone.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/19/nyregion/police-copters-scan-property-of-landlord.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/20/nyregion/search-blocked-in-case-of-3-who-vanished.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/25/nyregion/in-disappearance-case-landlord-s-vehicle-is-found.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/12/nyregion/body-seen-as-potential-clue-to-missing-3.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/06/nyregion/missing-couple-s-landlord-arraigned-in-fraud-case.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/27/nyregion/landlord-of-missing-manhattan-couple-to-be-paroled-in-month.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/nyregion/for-camden-sylvia-and-michael-sullivan-who-disappeared-in-1997-still-some-hope.html

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/mom-still-wants-truth-about-mystery-of-missing-tenants-20-years-later/

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/12/08/housing-department

https://www.recordonline.com/article/20010217/news/302179983https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/decade-no-answers-camden-sylvia-disappearance-article-1.259577

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/archives-missing-manhattan-couple-article-1.259538

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Anatomy+of+a+building+in+distress.-a020189711

https://www.villagevoice.com/1998/08/04/birthday-wishes/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/709587296/https://www.newspapers.com/image/709587377/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/709587261/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/408784163/https://www.newspapers.com/image/408528760/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/485305814/

Back in 2013, Robin wrote a Listverse article profiling ten heartbreaking cases of unidentified people found under mysterious circumstances—Jane and John Does whose names seemed lost forever. At the time, they were buried under placeholder names like “Little Miss Panasoffkee,” “Lyle Stevik,” and “Beth Doe,” with investigators following dead-end leads and families never knowing what happened to their loved ones.

But here’s the incredible part: they’re not mysteries anymore. Thanks to groundbreaking advances in DNA technology, forensic genealogy, and tireless cold case investigators, several of these forgotten souls have finally gotten their names back. Over this three-episode series, we’ll revisit each case from Robin’s original article, share the haunting details that captivated true crime followers for decades, and reveal the remarkable breakthroughs that solved them.

You’ll hear about Little Miss Panasoffkee, identified in October 2025 after 54 years through cutting-edge fingerprint technology; Lyle Stevik, whose identity was uncovered by genetic genealogy but remains protected by his family’s wishes; Beth Doe, the brutally murdered pregnant teen who turned out to be 15-year-old Evelyn Colon; Baby Hope, identified as 4-year-old Anjelica Castillo after an anonymous tip; and the Grateful Dead fan finally named as Jason Callahan after Reddit sleuths and DNA testing brought him home. We’ll also cover El Dorado Jane Doe (now known as “Kelly”), Caledonia Jane Doe (Tammy Jo Alexander), and explore which cases still remain unsolved, waiting for that one crucial breakthrough.

Each episode will take you through the original mystery, the painstaking investigation, and the emotional moment when these unidentified people finally got their dignity—and their names—back.

Support the Show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Back in 2013, Robin wrote a Listverse article profiling ten heartbreaking cases of unidentified people found under mysterious circumstances—Jane and John Does whose names seemed lost forever. At the time, they were buried under placeholder names like “Little Miss Panasoffkee,” “Lyle Stevik,” and “Beth Doe,” with investigators following dead-end leads and families never knowing what happened to their loved ones.

But here’s the incredible part: they’re not mysteries anymore. Thanks to groundbreaking advances in DNA technology, forensic genealogy, and tireless cold case investigators, several of these forgotten souls have finally gotten their names back. Over this three-episode series, we’ll revisit each case from Robin’s original article, share the haunting details that captivated true crime followers for decades, and reveal the remarkable breakthroughs that solved them.

You’ll hear about Little Miss Panasoffkee, identified in October 2025 after 54 years through cutting-edge fingerprint technology; Lyle Stevik, whose identity was uncovered by genetic genealogy but remains protected by his family’s wishes; Beth Doe, the brutally murdered pregnant teen who turned out to be 15-year-old Evelyn Colon; Baby Hope, identified as 4-year-old Anjelica Castillo after an anonymous tip; and the Grateful Dead fan finally named as Jason Callahan after Reddit sleuths and DNA testing brought him home. We’ll also cover El Dorado Jane Doe (now known as “Kelly”), Caledonia Jane Doe (Tammy Jo Alexander), and explore which cases still remain unsolved, waiting for that one crucial breakthrough.

Each episode will take you through the original mystery, the painstaking investigation, and the emotional moment when these unidentified people finally got their dignity—and their names—back.

Support the Show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Back in 2013, Robin wrote a Listverse article profiling ten heartbreaking cases of unidentified people found under mysterious circumstances—Jane and John Does whose names seemed lost forever. At the time, they were buried under placeholder names like “Little Miss Panasoffkee,” “Lyle Stevik,” and “Beth Doe,” with investigators following dead-end leads and families never knowing what happened to their loved ones.

But here’s the incredible part: they’re not mysteries anymore. Thanks to groundbreaking advances in DNA technology, forensic genealogy, and tireless cold case investigators, several of these forgotten souls have finally gotten their names back. Over this three-episode series, we’ll revisit each case from Robin’s original article, share the haunting details that captivated true crime followers for decades, and reveal the remarkable breakthroughs that solved them.

You’ll hear about Little Miss Panasoffkee, identified in October 2025 after 54 years through cutting-edge fingerprint technology; Lyle Stevik, whose identity was uncovered by genetic genealogy but remains protected by his family’s wishes; Beth Doe, the brutally murdered pregnant teen who turned out to be 15-year-old Evelyn Colon; Baby Hope, identified as 4-year-old Anjelica Castillo after an anonymous tip; and the Grateful Dead fan finally named as Jason Callahan after Reddit sleuths and DNA testing brought him home. We’ll also cover El Dorado Jane Doe (now known as “Kelly”), Caledonia Jane Doe (Tammy Jo Alexander), and explore which cases still remain unsolved, waiting for that one crucial breakthrough.

Each episode will take you through the original mystery, the painstaking investigation, and the emotional moment when these unidentified people finally got their dignity—and their names—back.

Support the Show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

(Part 2) Today on the Path Went Chilly Robin and Jules will be covering the unsolved case of a bomber who used a homemade "zip gun" device in their attacks in the early 1980s and 1990s: the name 'bomber' is a bit of a misnomer, since there is technically no bomb but more likely a product of the time period. 

Here is a Google AI summary of the cases covered: 

• First Incident (1982): A package containing an explosive device was mailed to Joan Kipp in North Castle, New York. She opened the package, which was disguised as a cookbook, and was killed. The device contained a homemade firearm, or "zip gun", triggered by opening the package.
• Subsequent Incidents (1993): Eleven years later, the bomber struck again, sending more mail bombs to different individuals. One target, Anthony Lenza, was away on vacation, but the bomb shot and injured his children when they opened the package. Another bomb seriously injured Alice Caswell, who opened a package addressed to her brother, Richard McGarrel.
• Victims/Targets: The five intended victims were Joan Kipp (who died), Anthony Lenza, Richard McGarrel, a "Gilmore or Resident," and Richard Basile's wife. A potential link was that all targets might have been former government workers. 

Support the show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Today on the Path Went Chilly Robin and Jules will be covering the unsolved case of a bomber who used a homemade "zip gun" device in their attacks in the early 1980s and 1990s: the name 'bomber' is a bit of a misnomer, since there is technically no bomb but more likely a product of the time period. 

Here is a Google AI summary of the cases covered: 

• First Incident (1982): A package containing an explosive device was mailed to Joan Kipp in North Castle, New York. She opened the package, which was disguised as a cookbook, and was killed. The device contained a homemade firearm, or "zip gun", triggered by opening the package.
• Subsequent Incidents (1993): Eleven years later, the bomber struck again, sending more mail bombs to different individuals. One target, Anthony Lenza, was away on vacation, but the bomb shot and injured his children when they opened the package. Another bomb seriously injured Alice Caswell, who opened a package addressed to her brother, Richard McGarrel.
• Victims/Targets: The five intended victims were Joan Kipp (who died), Anthony Lenza, Richard McGarrel, a "Gilmore or Resident," and Richard Basile's wife. A potential link was that all targets might have been former government workers. 

Support the show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Join Robin as he tells Jules the details of the recently solved Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. (Ash is out this series of episodes but will be back when she is done her book tour). Part 3/3

Support the show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Join Robin as he tells Jules the details of the recently solved Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. (Ash is out this series of episodes but will be back when she is done her book tour). Part 2/3

Support the show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Join Robin as he tells Jules the details of the recently solved Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. (Ash is out this series of episodes but will be back when she is done her book tour). Part 1/3

Support the show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

December 13, 2009. Henderson, Nevada. A security camera captures 30-year old Steven Koecher arriving in a residential neighbourhood, where he parks his car and is seen walking down the sidewalk before he vanishes without a trace. Earlier that day, Steven had made a 135-mile trip to Henderson from his residence in St. George, Utah, but never told anyone why, and in the days prior to his disappearance, Steven also made multiple unexplained road trips through Utah and Nevada. Since Steven was struggling financially, it is theorized that he might have travelled to Henderson in order to seek employment or make a delivery to earn some money, but there is no conclusive evidence of what happened to him. Did Steven Koecher disappear voluntarily or end his own life somewhere or did he become the victim of foul play? On this week’s episode of “The Path Went Chilly”, we explore of the most perplexing missing persons case of the modern era.If you have any information about this case, please contact the St. George Police Department at (435) 627-4319, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department at (702) 229-2907 or the Henderson Police Department at (702) 267-2323.

Support the show: 

Patreon.com/julesandashley

Patreon.com/thetrailwentcold

Additional Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Steven_Koecher

http://charleyproject.org/case/steven-thell-koecher

https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/finding-steven-koecher-man-vanishes-from-las-vegas-valley-neighborhood-phone-pings-for-days-after-presumed-death/

https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/news/ci_14152619

https://fox13now.com/2015/05/15/new-theory-in-case-of-man-missing-since-2009-sparks-renewed-search-effort/https://sites.google.com/site/parallelcooler/home/koecher-html/timeline2009

https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/home2/53090169-183/steven-koecher-henderson-missing.html.csp

https://www.deseret.com/2010/1/6/20362964/about-utah-powell-isn-t-only-missing-utahn

https://www.deseret.com/2010/2/13/20096171/family-of-missing-st-george-man-steven-koecher-waits-and-hopes

https://news3lv.com/news/local/finding-steven-nine-years-after-his-disappearance-family-still-hopes-him

http://img.ksl.com/slc/2507/250737/25073705.pdfArron Stoner Youtube ChannelEyesOn Justice: A True Crime Podcast