This week, podcaster, producor, and founder, Jen Rivera comes on the show to talk about the disappearance of Bethany Markoswki and her work on Season 2 of Missing in Hushtown. 
This weeks episode only gives you a brief description because you absolutely need to go listen.

11 year old Bethany Markowski has been missing since March 4th, 2001 after a planned visit with her father Larry.  According to Larry the pair drove from Tennesee to Arkansas and that afternoon he stated he dropped Bethany off at the Old Hickory Mall.  He waited in the car while she presumably went inside.  The real kicker here, there is no security footage of Bethany ever entering the mall and she has not been seen or heard from since.  So what happened to Bethany?

Then we have a discussion about our missions in the true crime community with ethical story telling and the impacts of working with victims families. Jen has a unique perspective as someone that has been on both sides and continues to do a lot of good when it comes to supporting families of victims so be sure to watch out for her shows. 

Listen to Missing in Hushtown Season 2 here:
https://missinginhushtown.com/season-2-bethany-markowski

Follow Jen @jenriverainvestigates

Catch all of her shows and her work: 
https://jenriverainvestigates.com/

The Reginighted Project:
https://www.thereignitedproject.com/

Hi Twisted Family, as you are hearing this I am in New Orleans Lousisiana with my husband and best friend for a spooky couples trip but I would never leave you without an episode so please enjoy my guest appearance on Perplexity A Myserty Podcast (you made remember Kaydra from Episode 32 with the Black Dahlia.) I will be back next week with a new episode for you. 

In this episode Kaydra tells me about the Waco Siege in Texas and all about David Koresh. In 1993, the US Government served a search warrant against religious leader David Koresh. Koresh had been at the Mt Carmel Center in Waco, TX with a number of followers, including men, women, and children. The group had been stockpiling weapons and recently the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives known as the ATF had received a tip regarding illegal weapons on the premises.  The ATF would arrive guns blazing… leading to a 51 day stand off, the largest gunfight on US soil since the Civil War, and arguably one of the biggest news stories in the world. 

Follow Perplexity on Instagram and TikTok @PerplexityMysteryPodcast.
https://www.perplexitymysterypodcast.com/

Rescourses used in todays episode:
https://www.equip.org/articles/the-branch-davidians/
Wikipedia
Netflix’s docuseries “Waco: An American Apocalypse”
https://www.atf.gov/our-history/remembering-waco
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2023/04/19/449490/david-thibodeau-waco-siege-survivor-30th-anniversary-shares-story-book/
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/branch-davidians-compound-burns

On July 19th, 2016 20 year old Sierah Joughin and her longtime boyfriend decided to make the most of their summer night and go for a bike ride together. What began as a lovely evening quickly turned into a nightmare for the family and their entire community. As investigators worked to piece together what happened, a disturbing pattern began to emerge—one that revealed a predator hiding in plain sight, with a past that should have never been overlooked.

Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok. 
You can follow me personally @littleleesha 

Follow On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@itstrulytwisted

Todays episode is sponsored by Truly Lifestyle BrandUse code TRULYTWISTED at checkout for 15% off ALL orders. https://trulylifestylebrand.com/

Resources used in todays episode:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sierah_Joughin 
https://www.walkerfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/sierah-joughin
https://www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/2021/SCO/0701/180757.asp13abc.com/2025/05/20/execution-james-worley-halted/
https://justiceforsierah.org/about/sierahs-legacy/

On the evening of May 13th 2008, 19 year old Brandon Swanson made plans to celebrate getting his certificate in wind turbine technology and the start of a summer break.  On his drive home, his car ended up in the ditch leaving Brandon stranded on the phone with his parents.  While they desperately tried to find him in the dark Minnesota farmlands Brandon disappeared that night and has not been seen or heard from since leaving us all to wonder what happened to him?

If you have any information about Brandon Swanson please call the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office at 1507-694-1664 or 1800-843-5678. 

Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok. 
You can follow me personally @littleleesha 

Follow On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@itstrulytwisted

Todays episode is sponsored by Truly Lifestyle BrandUse code TRULYTWISTED at checkout for 15% off ALL orders. https://trulylifestylebrand.com/

Resources used in todays episode:
https://lostsoulsofamerica.wordpress.com/2022/01/26/missing-in-minnesota-the-case-of-brandonswanson/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Brandon_Swanson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdc54CIkKaM&t=435s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbIvQw6YsNg
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/1ihjafl/brandon_swanson_who_disappeared_almost_19_years/https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/brandon-victor-swanson

On October 7th 2025, Ashlee Buzzard set off on a roadtrip with her 9 year old daughter Melodee but returned home without her leaving her family and those of us in the true crime community to wonder what happened to the little girl and if she was even safe. Melodee's life came to a devastating end, and this should never have been the outcome. Buckle up twisted family, this is a tough one. 

Please note this story is still unfolding so stay tuned for updates!

Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok. 
You can follow me personally @littleleesha 

Follow On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@itstrulytwisted

Todays episode is sponsored by Truly Lifestyle BrandUse code TRULYTWISTED at checkout for 15% off ALL orders. https://trulylifestylebrand.com/

Resources used in todays episode:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/who-are-melodee-buzzards-parents-all-on-mother-ashlee-and-father-rubiell-meza-101766516746237
https://abcnews.com/US/man-ashlee-buzzard-armed-box-cutter-falsely-imprisoned/story?id=127461848
https://abcnews.com/US/melodee-buzzard-timeline-9-year-olds-puzzling-disappearance/story?id=127166746https://abcnews.com/US/mom-missing-girl-melodee-buzzard-switched-license-plates/story?id=127140684
https://people.com/melodee-buzzard-cause-of-death-mom-charged-murder-11875851
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6q544MVGDs
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/body-missing-california-girl-melodee-buzzard-found-2-month-search-sour-rcna245290

In the Spring of 1983 Debra Newton left her home in Kentucky for Altanta Georgia with her 3 year old daughter Michelle cutting off all ties with her husband and family.  For 42 years no one knew what happened to Debra and Michelle but in Novemeber of 2025, the truth would start to be revealed.   

Please note this story is still unfolding so stay tuned for updates!

Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok. 
You can follow me personally @littleleesha 

Follow On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@itstrulytwisted

Resources used in todays episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMQi9fk75bs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBIYw8zex4w
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_of_Michelle_Marie_Newton
https://www.wave3.com/2026/01/23/attorneys-wait-more-evidence-4-decade-old-parental-kidnapping-case/
http://news-journalonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/12/17/michelle-newton-found-kentucky-marion-florida/87808466007/
https://disappearedblog.com/eric-putnam/

Hello my twisted fam, I am so sorry I wont be able to bring you a new episode this week.  I have bronchitis and I cant get through a sentence without coughing right now.  I appreciate your understanding and I will see you next week for a new episode!


Check out the five years of Twisted and Uncorked episodes if you need more in the meantime:
http://pod.link/1517691373

OR

The first season of The Reel Verdict Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheReelVerdictPodcast

At 8PM on December 27th 1986, 20 year old Cara Knott called her dad to let him know she was heading home to their house in San Diego after visiting her boyfriend a short distance away.  He had been sick with the flu and she was going to take care of him for a few hours. At 10PM her parents knew that something had to be very wrong when she still had not arrived home and began to search for their daughter.  Sadly, her body would be found 70 below a nearby bridge, thankfully her killer is behind bars and you are going to love how he gets caught!

Come see me at Crimecon 2026 in Las Vegas!

Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok. 
You can follow me personally @littleleesha 

Follow On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@itstrulytwisted

Resources used in todays episode:
Forensic Files Episode 9, Season 18 “Badge of Betrayal”
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15891113/cara_evelyn-knott
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Cara_Knott

On December 13th 2009, 30 year old Steven Koecher was captured on a home security camera at a retirement community in the Henderson neighbourhood of Las Vegas Nevada. This was the last time anyone would ever see or hear from Steven again.  As far as anyone who knew him was concerned, Steven had never been there before and he didn't know anyone in the retirement community so it felt odd. To this day his family is left to wonder what happened to Steven that night?

Steven is described as 5ft 8 inches with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information about Steven Koecher is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

Come see me at Crimecon 2026 in Las Vegas!

Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok. 
You can follow me personally @littleleesha 

Follow On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@itstrulytwisted

Resources used in todays episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abSZetr42Gc
https://news3lv.com/news/local/utah-mans-disappearance-in-nevada-remains-a-mystery-15-years-later
https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/last-known-person-to-see-steven-koecher-alive-in-las-vegas-area-neighborhood-details-odd-conversation-moments-before-he-vanished/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Steven_Koecher

On June 1st, 2015, 29 year old Alicia Hummel was walking down to a dock along the Missouri River to indulge in a day of fishing and enjoy the first day of her summer vacation she had planned.  Sadly, she would never get the opportunity as an unknown person or persons cut her life short.  10 years later we are still left wondering who is responsible for murdering Alicia Hummel?

If you have any information or saw something that sticks out to you that day, please call the Clay Country Sheriffs office at 605-677-7100

Join me on social media @itstrulytwisted on Instagram and @trulytwisted on TikTok. 
You can follow me personally @littleleesha 

Follow On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@itstrulytwisted

Recourses used in todays episode:
https://www.christysmith.com/obituaries/alicia-hummel
https://www.facebook.com/fightingforaliciahummel
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2018/06/01/alicia-hummel-cold-case-haunts-clay-county-sheriffs-office-vermillion-sioux-city/659367002/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/1ls8ipk/29_year_old_preschool_teacher_alicia_hummel_of/
https://www.siouxfallslive.com/news/the-vault/they-discovered-this-preschool-teachers-body-floating-in-the-missouri-river-yet-the-case-is-far-from-cold
https://www.ktiv.com/2025/05/30/10-years-later-family-friends-honoring-alicia-hummel-by-committing-random-acts-kindness/
https://www.kcau9.com/news/local-news/timeline-a-walk-through-alicia-hummels-final-day/
https://www.exploreokoboji.com/news/authorities-in-clay-county-searching-for-missing-man/