The Red Dirt Missing

How far can a killer run when their only head start is time? On March 2nd, 1982, 22-year-old Donna Lee Newberry stepped out of her Duncan, Oklahoma home for a routine morning errand—to buy a newspaper. She never returned. The following day, her body was discovered bound with electrical cords inside the trunk of her own vehicle, abandoned in a grocery store parking lot in nearby Marlow, Oklahoma.

For over forty years, the case remained one of Stephens County’s most haunting mysteries. Detectives were forced to operate in an analogue world, chasing dead ends with nothing more than latent fingerprints, blood typing, and a hand-drawn composite sketch of a curly-haired stranger with a sparse mustache.

In this episode, we explore the agonizing reality of the "generational relay" as active case folders change hands over decades, losing institutional memory but gaining fresh perspectives. We dive into the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s (OSBI) multi-layered public media campaigns—from distributing custom cold case playing cards across state prison blocks to producing digital video mini-documentaries that keep historical victims under a modern spotlight. Finally, we trace the explosive 2025 breakthrough achieved by the OSBI Cold Case Unit using Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), mapping a million genetic markers to trace distant cousins, initiate covert surveillance, and extract a flawless 100% DNA match from discarded property.

On January 29, 2001, 18-year-old Jeffrey Lee Ben left his uncle’s house in Clayton, Oklahoma, after a Super Bowl party. He never made it home. Hours later, his white pickup truck was found wrecked against a tree on Nine Pines Road with minor damage, zero blood, and completely clean of fingerprints—but Jeffrey was gone. For five grueling years, his family searched for answers. Then, in 2006, loggers stumbled upon his remains deep in the mountainous Kiamichi terrain, just two miles from the crash site. His death was ruled a homicide, but the cause remains unknown. Why did his truck show no signs of injury? Who were the voices neighbors heard near the bridge that night? In this episode, we unpack a divided small town, changing family alibis, and the agonizing fight for justice. Read the foundational regional case summary on Oklahoma Cold Cases and review the ongoing state investigation file on the official Oklahoma.gov OSBI Portal.

On the morning of March 11, 2020, as the world began to shutter under the weight of a global pandemic, the body of 29-year-old Jennifer Janelle Jesse was discovered along a quiet rural road in Union City, Oklahoma. The devoted mother of three and proud member of the Seminole Nation had been shot multiple times. Four years later, her killer remains at large.

In this episode, we retrace Jennifer's final steps, analyzing the OSBI's primary lead: a mysterious individual caught on camera at an Oklahoma City Braum's wearing distinctive light blue sneakers with bright pink laces. We also pull back the curtain to look at this case through a trauma-informed, social work lens—examining the human cost of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis and the systemic cracks that allow cases like Jennifer's to go cold.

Two disappearances. One fractured household. Forty years of absolute silence.

On August 3, 1984, 36-year-old mother Nancy Jean Medina dropped her youngest children off with a babysitter in Choctaw, Oklahoma, intending to meet her eldest daughter for a movie night. She never arrived. Weeks later, her brown 1974 Chevrolet Impala was found stripped and abandoned near the old Springlake Amusement Park, with clear forensic evidence pointing to a violent struggle inside.

Exactly four and a half years later, the nightmare struck the exact same household again. On Valentine's Day 1989, Nancy's 16-year-old stepdaughter, Meredith Ann Medina, walked out of her Midwest City residence and vanished without a trace. Because authorities initially misclassified her as a routine "runaway," the critical first 48 hours of the investigation were permanently lost.

Are these two vanishings tragic coincidences, or does a dark family secret connect them? In this episode, we dive deep into the frozen timelines, analyze the grueling lack of physical evidence, and look through a systemic social work lens to expose how a cycle of trauma and a failed safety net left both Medina women entirely forgotten by history.

🔍 Case Details & Physical Profiles

Nancy Jean Medina

• Missing Since: August 3, 1984

• Location: Oklahoma City / Choctaw, OK

• Description: Caucasian female, 36 years old at the time of her disappearance. 5’5” tall, 120–125 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. She wore eyeglasses.

Meredith Ann Medina

• Missing Since: February 14, 1989

• Location: Midwest City, OK

• Description: Hispanic female, 16 years old at the time of her disappearance . 5’1”–5’3” tall, 110–115 lbs, with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes

• Distinguishing Marks: A highly distinct, visible scar on the left side of her forehead . Frequently went by the nickname "Mere" or "Merry."

☎️ Have Information? Submit an Anonymous Tip

A single memory, a neighbor's old observation, or a deathbed confession can break a forty-year silence. If you know anything regarding these cases, please contact law enforcement immediately:

• Nancy Medina's Case: Oklahoma City Police Department — (405) 232-5311

• Meredith Medina's Case: Midwest City Police Department — (405) 739-1388

On October 13, 2011, the quiet community of Bethany, Oklahoma, was shattered by a gruesome discovery in an overgrown field. This episode explores the tragic death of 19-year-old Carina Saunders, exposing a dark, hidden underworld of human trafficking, narcotics, and a strictly enforced wall of silence that remains unbroken to this day.

• A Condensed Overview: This 30-minute episode serves as an introductory, high-density overview of the timeline, the major suspects, and the systemic challenges that have left this case unresolved for over a decade.

• Deep Dive Resources: Because of the vast complexity, shifting witness statements, and years of investigative updates, this case features many layers. Listeners who want to deep dive into the exhaustive details, unsealed search warrants, and archival footage can find extensive coverage through investigative outlets like News 9 Oklahoma City, The Oklahoman, and official Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) press releases.

• How to Help: The OSBI continues to hunt for the truth. If you have any information, contact them anonymously at [email protected] or 1-800-522-8017.

Core Investigative Journalism Specials

• Lisa Monahan's Investigative Specials: News 9 reporter Lisa Monahan has tracked this case for over a decade. Her multi-part documentary and interview projects face the accused directly and reveal forensic updates.

• Read the background documents and article text at the News 9 Carina Saunders Hub.

• Watch the full video special and witness confrontational interviews on YouTube: My Daughter's Murder: Confronting the Accused.

• Review the critical breakdown of the evidentiary issues on YouTube: Dying for Answers: The Carina Saunders Investigation.

Deep-Dive Podcasts

• Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps: This episode features deep commentary from an expert investigative journalist regarding Carina's potential to carve out a better life right before the tragedy occurred. Listen to EP139 - Who Killed Carina Saunders? A Gruesome True Crime.

• Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan: This series specifically tracks the structural details behind the 2012 arrests, the subsequent 2013 dismissals, and the timeline transition over to state bureaus. Listen to Carina Saunders Case Turns Into A Homicide Investigation.

• Cup of Coffee and Crime: A deep narrative piece exploring the street rumors versus what could legally be proven. Listen to UNSOLVED: Queen of Spades - Carina Saunders.

Archival Evidence & Direct Case Overviews

• Oklahoma Cold Cases Organization: A fully written overview breaking down the specific, unsealed search warrant files regarding Kenny Richards, the Taco Bell timeline, and early suspect tracking. Review the written overview on the Oklahoma Cold Cases Database.

• Historical Reporting from News 9: Read the immediate aftermath coverage and follow the initial evidence discovery timelines on News 9: Documents Shed New Light On Carina Saunders' Murder.

On the early morning of Labor Day 2023, 19-year-old high school graduate Noah Presgrove was found dead on the side of Highway 81 in rural Terral, Oklahoma. He was entirely naked, except for a pair of mismatched shoes, curled in the fetal position. Scattered nearby lay a metal chain, a clump of hair, and several of his own teeth.

Just hours earlier, the beloved local star athlete had been celebrating with dozens of lifelong friends at a multi-day beach party. What happened in those final, dark hours remains a haunting mystery.

In this episode, we dissect the chilling anomalies of the case:

• The Autopsy Paradox: The medical examiner listed Noah's cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. However, the total absence of vehicle debris and long-bone fractures in his limbs has led authorities to rule out a standard hit-and-run.

• The Wall of Silence: Despite forty young people attending the party, phones were wiped, photos were deleted, and a tight-lipped silence fell over the small community.

• The Fight for Justice: We dive into the explosive wrongful death lawsuit filed by Noah's estate against seven individuals, alleging a brutal beating and a coordinated cover-up. Was Noah the victim of a tragic, freak accident, or was he dumped like trash by the people he trusted most?

Episode Resources & Show Notes

• Have a Tip? Anyone with information regarding the Labor Day weekend party or events on Highway 81 is urged to contact state authorities immediately.

On March 3, 2016, 60-year-old ranch hand Billy "Wild Bill" Lange followed his everyday morning routine in Hinton, Oklahoma. He bought his regular coffee, placed an order for new tires, and called his daughter to promise he would see her that evening. He was never seen again.

The very next day, his gold Chevy truck was found abandoned on the shoulder of eastbound Interstate 40 near the Calumet exit. The doors were unlocked, the gas tank was bone dry, and a driver's side window was damaged. Inside sat his keys, his wallet, his cigarettes on the dashboard, and the prescription eyeglasses he legally required to see. Bill hated driving at night and had no reason to be on that dark highway—yet his physical trail vanished into the thin air of the Oklahoma prairie.

In this episode, we dive deep into the multi-jurisdictional gridlock that stalled the early days of the hunt, the grueling volunteer sweeps through the dense salt cedar thickets of the North Canadian River basin, and the agonizing psychological toll of "ambiguous loss" endured by his family. With a active $7,500 reward and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation treating the case as a cold body recovery operation, we ask the burning question: Did Bill suffer a catastrophic roadside encounter, or was his truck staged to cover up a darker crime of opportunity?

On Mother’s Day morning—May 12, 2024—26-year-old Oklahoma cowboy and livestock transporter Austin Winn pulled into the Pilot Travel Center off I-20 and FM 1788 in Midland, Texas. Moments later, he was shot and killed next to his rig in broad daylight.

In today's episode of The Red Dirt Missing Podcast, host Candace uses her background as a Licensed Social Worker to look at the tragic, unsolved homicide of Austin Winn. Austin was a passionate, hardworking, third-generation horse and cattle hauler from Tecumseh, Oklahoma. At 9:35 AM, he texted his mother to wish her a happy Mother's Day and promise he would be home for dinner. By 10:30 AM, he was dead.

Despite taking place at an incredibly busy transit and oilfield artery on a holiday weekend, his killer has never been caught. We dive deep into the timeline, break down the geography of the Permian Basin escape routes, and examine the two primary vehicles of interest caught on surveillance: a white Ford Explorer and a dark-colored (possibly blue) Dodge single-cab dually pickup truck.

We also look at the secondary trauma facing the Winn family, whose truck and trailer remain held in a Texas impound yard, piling a massive financial burden onto an unimaginable grief.

There is currently a $9,250 cash reward for information leading to an arrest.

📞 HOW YOU CAN HELP:

If you were driving near I-20 and FM 1788 in Midland, Texas, on Sunday, May 12, 2024, between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, please review your logs and dashcam archives.

• Anonymous Tip Line: Crime Stoppers of Midland at 432-684-9884 (or 694-TIPS)

• Submit Online Securely: 694tips.com

• Mobile App: Download the P3 Tips App on iOS or Android

• Your tip is 100% anonymous. You will never have to testify or give your name.

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SHOW & CASE:

• Case Hashtag: #JusticeForAustinWinn

• Follow The Red Dirt Missing Podcast: [Insert Link to Podcast Site/Socials]

• Disclaimer: The insights shared on The Red Dirt Missing Podcast are for informational, investigative, and educational purposes only. They do not constitute therapy, professional mental health diagnosis, or legal advice.

The tragic, unsolved 2001 homicide of Sarah Ida Cox is a case filled with bizarre tips, systemic silence, and a family still desperate for justice 25 years later.

On the evening of Friday, April 6, 2001, 20-year-old mother Sarah Ida Cox wrapped up her shift at the 7-Eleven on Southwest 119th and May Avenue in Oklahoma City. She stepped out into the night, intending to head home to her children and her family in Newcastle. She never arrived. The very next day, her car was found abandoned directly across the street in Earlywine Park.

Five days later, a local resident spotted Sarah's body lying in a creek bed off a rural road in Tuttle, Oklahoma. She was fully clothed, but her garments were highly disarranged. The medical examiner delivered a chilling conclusion: Sarah had been suffocated.

What makes Sarah's case incredibly haunting are the bizarre events that unfolded during the days she was missing. Before her body was even discovered, her estranged husband contacted a family member with a strange claim, pointing authorities to a specific pond where he alleged her body could be found. When the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) rushed to the scene, they found no trace of Sarah—only an unrelated stolen vehicle. Though he was aggressively interviewed, her husband was ultimately released without charges, and evidence brought before a grand jury failed to secure a single indictment.

In this episode of The Red Dirt Missing Podcast, Candace explores the timeline of Sarah's final hours, the chilling "predictions" made before her discovery, and the painful silence that has kept this case cold for over two decades. Who was the mysterious man witnesses reported seeing bother Sarah at the convenience store right before she vanished? Why did the investigative trails go cold despite early, highly specific leads?

📞 Call to Action & Show Resources

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation refuses to let Sarah's file be forgotten. If you have any information regarding the kidnapping and murder of Sarah Ida Cox, please break the silence:

• OSBI Tip Line: Call 1-800-522-8017 or email [email protected].

• Case Profile: View official cold case documentation via the Oklahoma Cold Cases Registry and the OSBI Investigative Directory. 

• https://www.facebook.com/OSBI.OK/posts/somebodyknowssomethingon-this-day-19-years-ago-sarah-ida-cox-was-reported-missin/2802040399845132/

• https://kfor.com/news/newcastle-family-still-desperate-for-answers-in-daughters-2001-murder/

• Identity of body confirmed,  Cold Case Files C - D, https://www.facebook.com/OklahomaColdCases/photos/sarah-ida-cox-20-was-last-seen-alive-on-april-6-2001-in-oklahoma-city-when-she-l/520545656972232/,

• https://kfor.com/news/newcastle-family-still-desperate-for-answers-in-daughters-2001-murder/

• https://kfor.com/video/newcastle-family-still-desperate-for-answers-in-daughters-2001-murder/4724827

• Social Media Sharing: Help keep this story active online by using the hashtags #JusticeForSarah and #SilenceIsBetrayal.

Disclaimer: The insights shared on The Red Dirt Missing Podcast are for informational, investigative, and educational purposes only. They do not constitute therapy, professional mental health diagnosis, or legal advice.