Dateline NBC The Night of the Audition
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Sep 16, 2025 Detective Christina Witt, who investigated Shannon Madill Burgess's disappearance, and Shannon's sister Erin, who shares her insights into Shannon's vibrant personality, discuss the unsettling events that followed an important audition. They delve into the contrasts between Shannon and her husband Josh, revealing discrepancies in their accounts. The emotional toll of Shannon's absence weighs heavily on her family, leading to complex dynamics that intertwine personal turmoil with the relentless search for truth.
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Last Night Before She Vanished
- Shannon recorded a major audition on November 26, 2014 and was last seen that night on the couch before disappearing the next morning.
- Family first assumed she’d flaked or gone to Edmonton after days of no contact and no replies to calls or texts.
Early Searches Yield No Sign
- Police searched Shannon’s neighborhood and analyzed her phone but found no immediate sign of her despite canvassing and CCTV requests.
- The family feared suicide or a fatal accident and participated in riverbank searches while hope dwindled.
Open Marriage Expanded Suspect Pool
- Shannon had persuaded Josh to try an open marriage months after marrying him, which complicated the suspect pool.
- Detectives treated the arrangement as a source of many potential leads and motives rather than mere marital detail.