In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Rowton, one of Hailey Athay’s closest friends, for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about who Hailey really is beyond the headlines.

Amanda shares what it was like to know Hailey as a friend—the kind of person she was, the memories they built together, and the bond they shared. But this story doesn’t stop at loss. It’s about what comes after.

Amanda opens up about the responsibility and love involved in helping care for one of Hailey’s children, and how this unimaginable situation has reshaped her life and the lives of those around her. Through grief, resilience, and unwavering loyalty, she offers a perspective rarely heard in missing person cases—the voice of the friend who steps in and never steps away.

This is a story about friendship, family, and the lasting impact of disappearance.

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Ashley Griggs joins us to discuss the disappearance of her sister, Hailey Athay, and the details she believes matter most. From her perspective on the events of that day to the lingering questions that continue to haunt the case, Ashley provides a candid and emotional account. She also shares what it means to raise Hailey’s daughter in the absence of answers—and how that responsibility fuels her pursuit of truth. 

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Behind every missing persons case is something we don’t always talk about enough—grief.

In this episode, we speak with Nick Gaylord, host of Grief Is Not a Dirty Word, about why grief deserves a louder voice and how his podcast is helping break the stigma around it. He shares his journey into podcasting, what drives his mission, and why these conversations matter.

We also explore how grief impacts families, communities, and even those telling these stories. Because at the heart of every case we cover… there are people carrying unimaginable weight.

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When someone goes missing, the world moves on—but families don’t.

In this episode, we speak with Nicole Brooks, the mother of Hailey Athay, who shares the reality of living in the unknown. Nicole walks us through the details she knows, the questions that still linger, and how Hailey’s disappearance has changed her life forever.

We also explore the importance of community support and advocacy in keeping cases like Hailey’s alive. This is a raw and powerful conversation about grief, strength, and a mother’s determination to find answers.

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For our 50th episode milestone, we sit down with Julia Cowley, a former profiler from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and host of the podcast The Consult.

In this conversation, we reflect on our first experience meeting Julia and how her philosophy and approach to investigative work helped shape the focus and mission behind our own podcast. Julia shares insights from her time working inside the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, discussing how profilers analyze behavior, develop offender profiles, and approach complex cases.

We also explore the human side of investigations—Julia’s perspective on working with families of the missing and murdered, the importance of empathy in investigative work, and how responsible true-crime platforms can help raise awareness, encourage community engagement, and potentially move cases forward.

This episode is both a look back at our journey to episode 50 and a powerful conversation about behavioral analysis, advocacy, and the role media can play in seeking answers.

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In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we speak with Shasta Ives, a close friend of Hailey Athay and a passionate advocate in the ongoing search for answers surrounding Hailey’s disappearance.

Hailey vanished while mushroom picking in Washington, and despite search efforts and years of unanswered questions, those closest to her have never stopped looking for the truth.

Shasta shares what Hailey was like as a person and the friendship they shared. She also gives a firsthand account of the search efforts, describing the terrain, the volunteers who came together to help, and the determination of those who refuse to let Hailey’s case fade into the background.

But this conversation goes beyond the search itself. Shasta opens up about how Hailey’s disappearance has deeply affected her life and why she continues to advocate for attention and answers in Hailey’s case.

Behind every missing person case is a community still searching, still hoping, and still fighting for justice.

If you have information regarding the disappearance of Hailey Athay, please contact local law enforcement.

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Hailey Athay went into the woods for a simple day of mushroom picking — and never came home.

In this episode, we break down the known timeline of Hailey’s disappearance, the location where she was last seen, and the search efforts that followed. What should have been an ordinary outing turned into a haunting mystery that still demands answers.

We walk through the facts, the unanswered questions, and the challenges that arise in wilderness disappearances. But this episode is more than a case summary — it’s also about advocacy. We discuss the growing call for increased attention, awareness, and media coverage surrounding Hailey’s case, and why keeping her name in the public conversation matters.

When someone vanishes in the woods, the clock starts ticking. But when public attention fades, families are left fighting for visibility. Tonight, we bring Hailey’s story back into focus.

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In this special roundtable episode, we sit down with members of the Cold Case Collective to take a deep, collaborative look at the disappearance of Audrey Herron. Together, we walk through the known timeline, key details of the case, and the evidence that has shaped the investigation over the years.

This conversation explores the many theories surrounding Audrey’s disappearance, from the most widely discussed possibilities to the questions that still linger without answers. We also examine the unique challenges investigators face in long-term missing person cases—aging evidence, shifting leads, limited resources, and the emotional toll on families and communities.

Through thoughtful discussion and shared expertise, this roundtable highlights why Audrey’s case still matters and what it takes to keep cold cases alive in the pursuit of truth and justice.

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In this deeply personal episode, we speak with Mitzie Wilson, one of Audrey Herron’s closest friends. Mitzie takes us back to the days when Audrey wasn’t a missing person case — she was a mother, a friend, a presence in the room.

Mitzie shares intimate memories of their time together, what made Audrey unique, and the moments that now carry a different weight in hindsight. We discuss Audrey’s disappearance, the shock that rippled through their community, Mitzie’s personal theories about what may have happened, and the lasting emotional impact of those first days without answers.

This conversation is raw, reflective, and a powerful reminder that behind every missing person case is a life deeply woven into others.

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In this special short-format update, we bring you a focused five-minute briefing on several cases that continue to weigh heavily on families and communities: Jody Kilgore, Ian Rogers, Cody Haney, Johnathan Hagans, and Michael John Olson. We share the latest developments, where each case stands today, and what listeners need to know right now.

We are also joined by Jeanne Turk, stepmother of Audrey Herron and the person who reported her missing. Jeanne reflects on the earliest moments of Audrey’s disappearance, the emotional toll of the search, and the years spent fighting to keep Audrey’s story alive. Her perspective offers a powerful reminder that behind every case is a family still searching for answers.

These updates may be brief—but the stories, the impact, and the hope for resolution remain as strong as ever.

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