And Then They Were Gone

A troubled marriage leads to divorce and a bitter custody battle, with two young children caught in the middle. In 2011 Julia Birukova and her two children, 4-year-old Maile and 2-year-old Sky were living in an apartment in Redmond, Washington. On November 6, 2011, Julia and her children were up early. Sky was sick, and she needed to take him to the hospital. She bundled the children into her brother’s car that she was borrowing, and headed to the Overlake Medical Center. But they never arrived. According to Julia, the car ran out of gas on the way. She left Sky strapped in his car seat as she and Maile went to go get help, but when she returned, her son was gone. Sky’s father, Solomon Metalwala was immediately suspicious of his estranged wife’s story, as were Bellevue Police. However, it’s been over a decade since Sky was last seen, and there have been no arrests in his case, or answers as to what happened to the little boy on that November morning.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

No new episode this week, so in celebration of the release of The Tortured Poet's Department, Taylor Swift's new album, and the song, "Florida," we're re-releasing the episode on Richard Hoagland, the Indianapolis family man who walked away from his wife and kids in 1993 and decided to re-invent himself in-- you guessed it-- Florida. ---Richard Hoagland was a successful family man who lived with his wife and two sons in a suburb outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. On February 10, 1993, he called his wife from work and told her he was sick and heading to the emergency room. He never came home again. For over 23 years, his wife Linda and their two sons wondered about his fate. But in 2016, a bizarre story emerged that proved Richard Hoagland wasn’t who they or anyone else thought he was.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

On December 17, 2022, 19-year-old Kadin Black had dinner with the family he was staying with, the Foust Family. Their son, Ethan, was one of Kadin’s best friends, and the family had taken him in after Kadin had a fight with his father. Though Kadin wasn’t living at his father’s house, he had plans the next day to go over and exercise his dogs. But Kadin never showed up. When Kadin’s father, Maurice, couldn’t get in touch with him, he called the Fousts. The father, Chris Foust, said that Kadin was probably still asleep. By Tuesday, the teenager was still gone. The months that followed brought an investigation with frustratingly few clues. Did Kadin decide to vanish without a trace? Or was his disappearance at the hands of someone else?GoFundMe for a private investigator in Kadin Black's caseBuy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

2022 was a rough year for Kadin Black. The popular high school athlete had moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland with his mother, but had recently moved back to his father’s house in Pennsylvania so that he could be closer to his friends. The move, however, came with its own set of challenges. Fights at school led to him being expelled, and a fight with his father led to an arrest, a psychiatric hold, and needing to find a new place to live. Thankfully, the family of one of his childhood friends, the Fousts, agreed to take him in. The arrangement seemed to work out for everyone, and the Foust family, especially the father, Chris, helped Kadin get back on track. But then in December 2022, Kadin mysteriously vanished. It took several days for his parents to find out that their son was missing, and when they did, there were questions surrounding when he was last seen. In modern missing persons cases, there are usually plenty of theories to be found on social media, and Kadin’s case is certainly no exception. Did the young man leave on his own to avoid his upcoming trial? Did he harm himself? Did the Foust family, who graciously took him in, actually have something to do with his disappearance? We’ll be talking about all of this and more, as we dig into the story of Kadin Black.GoFundMe for a private investigator in Kadin Black's caseBuy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

When 17-year-old Brianna Maitland didn’t make it home after her shift as a dishwasher at The Black Lantern Inn in Montgomery, Vermont, it took nearly a week before police started an investigation. While Brianna was initially dismissed as a troubled runaway, her family knew that something much worse had happened to her. Tips began pouring in, along with the rumors that you typically find in small towns. But one rumor in particular seemed to have some weight: that Brianna was being held against her will in a nearby farmhouse. This tip led to a police raid, but while arrests were made, Brianna remained missing. Was this tip a dead end, or, could it still hold some clues even 20 years later?The Hunt for Brianna Maitland: The Relentless Pursuit of Answers to One of Vermont’s Biggest MysteriesBuy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

It’s one of the most perplexing missing persons cases in Vermont’s history. On March 19, 2004, 17-year-old Brianna Maitland finished her shift as a dishwasher at the Black Lantern Inn, in Montgomery, Vermont. It was already after 11 pm, and Brianna told co-workers she needed to get home to get some sleep before her shift at a different restaurant the next morning. She only made it about a mile before something horrible happened.It was several days before people in Brianna’s life realized she was missing, even though her crashed and abandoned vehicle was found the morning after she was last seen. Despite this, police initially wrote Brianna off as a troubled runaway, though her family immediately knew that something much darker was behind their daughter’s vanishing. 20 years later, despite intense investigations, hundreds of tips, and even more rumors, Brianna Maitland has yet to be found. But police believe that there are people in that sleepy Vermont town who know exactly what happened to the teenager.The Hunt for Brianna Maitland: The Relentless Pursuit of Answers to One of Vermont’s Biggest MysteriesBuy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

When Cory Bigsby reported his 4-year-old son Codi missing on January 31, 2022, his story didn’t seem to add up. According to him, that morning he put Codi to bed around 1 am and checked in on him at 2, but when he woke up around 8:30 am, he found his son’s bed empty. Codi Bigsby was missing, along with his Spider-Man flip flops. Hampton Roads police took Cory down to the station for questioning and eventually arrested him on multiple charges of child neglect. Cory remained in jail for months, and went through several competency hearings. On June 5, 2023, a grand jury indicted Cory Bigsby for the murder of his son, Codi Bigsby. His trial began on March 4, 2024. This week, we’re updating you on the trial of Cory Bigsby.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

This is a re-release of our episode covering Cory Bigsby's Indictment. It was originally published in June 2023.4-year-old Codi Bigsby was reported missing on January 31, 2022, when his father, Cory Bigsby, said he woke up and found his son’s bed empty. A search immediately ensued, and police took Codi’s father, Cory, down to the station for questioning. This interview turned into an interrogation that spanned days and led to Cory being arrested on multiple charges of child neglect. Since then, Cory has remained in jail, and questions have been raised regarding his mental competency. After several hearings, a grand jury was convened and on June 5, 2023, Cory Bigsby was indicted for the murder of his son, Codi. This week, we’re updating you on the efforts to find Codi, and taking a look inside of this tragic case.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeSubmit a caseFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

This is a re-release of our original episode on Codi Bigsby from March 2023. 4-year-old Codi Bigsby was reported missing on January 31, 2022, when his father said he woke up and found his son’s bed empty. A search immediately ensued in their Hampton, Virginia neighborhood, and police took Codi’s father, Cory, down to the station for questioning. This interview turned into a brutal interrogation that spanned days and led to Cory being arrested on multiple charges.Are police correct in thinking that Cory had something to do with his son’s disappearance? Or has tunnel vision led to a terrified father being left in jail, unable to search for his son, who has yet to be found?Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

On the afternoon of January 16, 1973, five-year-old Anna Waters had just returned home from kindergarten. The storm that had wreaked havoc in her San Mateo, California town had finally stopped, and she wanted to go play in the backyard. Her mother, Michaele, gave her permission, and Anna pulled on her rain boots and went outside. After about 10 minutes, alarmed by the silence out back, Michaele went to check on her daughter. But little Anna was gone.An investigation quickly ensued, with everyone assuming that Anna had fallen into the nearby river. But when she wasn’t found, her family and investigators began to worry that she was abducted. But by whom? Was this a stranger abduction, or was the culprit closer to home? Anyone with information regarding Anna Waters disappearance is asked to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Missing Persons Unit at 1-650-364-1811Buy Michaele Benedict's book, "Searching for Anna"Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

After dealing with a breakup and the sudden loss of her mother, Gretchen Fleming found herself back in her hometown of Parkersburg, West Virginia. She was staying with family as she tried to get herself back together and figure out her next move. On December 3, 2022, Gretchen told her family that she wasn’t going to be home that night, and she headed out to a local bar. After going to a second bar with a friend, Gretchen walked out and was never seen again. Did the friend, who later turned in Gretchen’s purse and cell phone know something about her disappearance, or was it the man she was seen leaving the last bar with who had something to hide? For over a year, the small town of Parkersburg has been abuzz with theories of what happened that night, and continue to hold out hope that someday soon, they will find out who really knows what happened to Gretchen Fleming.Anyone with information regarding Gretchen Fleming’s disappearanc is asked to call lead Detective James Zimmerman at 304-424-1072 or the Police Department at 304-424-8444.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

On June 12, 2023, 13-year-old James Yoblonski packed three bags, took his father’s cell phone, and walked out of his home at 12:52 am. He put his belongings into his father’s van, got in, and drove away. The next morning, the van was found abandoned on the highway near Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin, over 25 miles from James’s Reedsburg home.A search of the state park immediately commenced, and clues that James left behind made many think that this missing person’s case would have a swift conclusion. But over eight months later, James still hasn’t been found. Online speculation has run rampant, with everyone in Wisconsin and beyond asking, what could have happened to James Yoblonski?Anyone with information regarding James Yoblonski’s disappearance can contact Bill Yoblonski at 920-292-0322 or at williamyoblonski@yahoo.com. You can also contact the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office at 608-355-4495 or Sauk County Crime Stoppers at 888-847-7285.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

Imagine your daughter stops responding to your calls. You know this isn’t like her. Your mother’s instinct knows that something is wrong. Your other daughter agrees that her sister would never just ignore them. You go to the police for help, but you receive none. This is the nightmare that Anita King has been livingOn March 24, 2020, Anita and her daughter, Pepita Redhair had lunch together before Anita dropped her off at the home she was sharing with her boyfriend, Nicholas Kaye. It was a completely normal afternoon, but it would prove to be the last time Anita would see Pepita. Pepita’s boyfriend claims that she walked out of their Albuquerque, New Mexico home on her own volition to be with another man, but could there be more to the story?Anyone with information regarding Pepita Redhair’s disappearance is asked to contact the New Mexico Attorney General’s office at mmiwr@nmag.gov.Pepita Redhair's Reward Fund: https://gofund.me/e1778e15Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

On Our Watch Season 2: New Folsom is a deeply-reported narrative podcast series from KQED. It follows the stories of two correctional officers in an elite unit who pay a high price for exposing corruption and abuse by their fellow officers. It’s a story about broken promises and unwritten rules. It’s a story about who gets hurt when the system that promises to keep us safe is bent on protecting itself. Host Sukey Lewis and co-reporter Julie Small piece together an explosive narrative through interrogation tapes, 911 audio, prison phone calls, personal audio recordings, and hours of emotional interviews. Our exclusive analysis of hundreds of previously secret documents—some only unsealed by lawsuits brought by KQED— sheds light on misconduct and abuse within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Listen and follow now.

Phoenix Coldon wanted to spread her wings. After being homeschooled for years, she was ready to be out on her own. After she turned 18, she entered college at the University of Missouri and moved out of her parents’ house. Her junior year found her back in her family’s deeply religious household, however, and Phoenix began to flounder. On December 18, 2011, she left home and got into the Chevy Blazer that she was sharing with her parents. She made a phone call, drove off, and never returned. After over a decade of Phoenix’s family trying to get law enforcement and media to pay attention to her case, all that has been uncovered is the fact that Phoenix was living a life that very few people knew about.Anyone with information regarding Phoenix Coldon is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at (636) 529-8210. Cualquier persona que tenga información sobre Phoenix Coldon debe comunicarse con el Departamento de Policía del Condado de St. Louis al (636) 529-8210.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

This week marks 18 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando, Florida. This week, we're re-releasing our 2022 episode on her case in hopes of helping her name stay out there. Jennifer's parents, Joyce and Drew Kesse also released a statement about their daughter and the current status of their investigation, which we are reading in full before the episode. If you would like to donate to the Kesse's GoFundMe to raise money for their investigation into their daughter's abduction, you can do so here. If you're not able to donate, a share will go a long way. ----Jennifer Kesse was in love. She and her boyfriend, Rob Allen had been together for over a year, and even though it was long-distance, they were making it work. They had just come back from a weekend getaway in St. Croix, and Jennifer was returning to a home in Orlando, Florida that she had just bought for herself and a job that she loved. But on Tuesday, January 24, 2006, Jennifer didn’t show up for work. Though her car was later found, the 24-year-old woman has yet to be found. But now, 16 years later, her parents, who have been searching for her relentlessly, believe they’re closer than ever to getting answers.Anyone with information on Jennifer Kesse’s disappearance is asked to call the Kesse family Tip Line at 941-201-4009.Cualquier persona que tenga información sobre la desaparición de Jennifer Kesse debe llamar a la línea de información de la familia Kesse al 941-201-4009. GoFundMe for the Kesse familyBuy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

On June 16, 1990, 52-year-old Trevaline Evans put a sign on the door of her antique shop saying, “be back in 2 minutes.” The Llangollen, Wales resident popped over to a nearby store and bought an apple and a banana, then disappeared. There were sightings of a woman matching her description around town at different points that afternoon and evening, including one that said she was speaking to a well-dressed man. But she never went back to re-open her store. As the investigation into Trevaline Evans’s disappearance got underway, it turned out that this unassuming mom and antique lover had some secrets. For over thirty years, police have been trying to figure out if Trevaline’s disappearance was related to what was actually happening in her personal life, or if it was because of a killer who happened to be nearby. Strange messages that have popped up in recent years indicate that there is a great deal in the Trevaline Evans case that lies just below the surface.Anyone with information regarding Trevaline Evans is asked to contact UK Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111. They also have an anonymous tip form available on their website.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

"While I am gone, remember – everyone is together in thoughts and prayers and time passes quickly. Have faith in me, yourself, everyone." That was just part of a cryptic note that 23-year-old Leah Roberts left her roommate before she packed up and headed out on a journey of self-discovery. On March 9, 2000, Leah set off from her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, and headed west, following in the footsteps of her literary hero, Jack Kerouac. The idea of a spontaneous trip fit in with Leah’s adventurous spirit, so no one was initially concerned, despite the fact that she hadn’t mentioned the trip to anyone.But as days passed without word, Leah’s family reported her missing. Five days later, her sister Kara got a shocking message: Leah’s Jeep Cherokee had been found wrecked at the bottom of a ravine in Whatcom County, Washington. All of Leah’s belongings were found at the accident scene, but Leah was nowhere to be found. Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Leah Roberts is asked to contact the Detective Sergeant of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office at 360-778-6600, or contact the Whatcom Communication Dispatch Center at 360-676-6711.Cualquier persona que tenga información sobre el paradero de Leah Roberts debe comunicarse con el sargento detective de la Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Whatcom al 360-778-6600, o con el Centro de despacho de comunicaciones de Whatcom al 360-676-6711.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

This is our top listened-to episode of 2023! Thank you so much for downloading and sharing this interview between Kona and Danielle's sister, Bonnie. We plan to do more interviews with family members this season, so if you'd like to talk to us about your missing loved one, reach out at tips@andthentheyweregone.com.We'll be back soon with season 5!-----99% of missing people in America are found. But then there’s the 1%. Some of the unfound get extensive news coverage, community support, or even an episode of Disappeared. Some, however, get forgotten; their cases barely investigated before being put on a shelf to collect dust.Even though Danielle Bell was only 14 years old when she went missing in 2001, she falls into the latter category.When Danielle went missing on September 28, 2001, no one outside of family and close friends looked for her. Everyone gave up on her– but not Danielle’s sister. Now, over 20 years after her disappearance, Bonnie Bell continues to fight for her little sister and for change.In this episode, Bonnie agreed to speak with us about her sister, the suspects, and her theories on this case, which has yet to be solved.Anyone who has any information about Danielle Bell’s disappearance is urged to call the Escambia County Sheriff's Office at 850-436-9620 or The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)Se insta a cualquier persona que tenga información sobre la desaparición de Danielle Bell a llamar a la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Escambia al 850-436-9620 o al Centro Nacional para Niños Desaparecidos y Explotados al 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)Danielle Bell Facebook PageBuy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

On May 15, 1957, 30-year-old Lawrence Bader decided to go fishing. The Akron Ohio-based salesman had been having a rough go of it in his business recently, and Lawrence needed an afternoon to relax. He rented a boat and set off on the calm waters of Lake Erie. Three hours later, a brutal storm hit. The next morning, Lawrence’s battered boat was found, but there was no Lawrence. The Coast Guard said that the lake had been so rough that no man could have survived after going overboard. Lawrence was presumed dead, with everyone assuming that his body would eventually wash ashore. But it never did. Then, nearly eight years later, a man who looked suspiciously like Lawrence Bader turned up in Chicago, throwing everything everyone thought they knew about Lawrence and what happened on Lake Erie into question.Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came HomeSubmit a caseFind us everywhereGet episodes early and ad-free on PatreonMerch storeFor a full list of our sources, please visit our blog