48 Hours Into Thin Air
Dec 4, 2025
Linda Zapata, daughter of missing Jean Zapata, shares her heartbreaking journey of waiting decades for closure. Peggy Weakley, Jean's devoted best friend, discusses her relentless pursuit of justice and the reopening of the cold case. The pair recount chilling details from Jean's life, her troubled marriage, and the haunting morning she vanished. Linda bravely records calls with her father, revealing shocking confessions. Together, they explore themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the quest for truth in a case shrouded in mystery.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Memory Of Disappearance
- Linda Zapata remembers seeing her mother having coffee the morning she vanished and left for school at age 11.
- Her father told the children Jean had “taken off,” and Linda grew up believing she was abandoned.
Jean's Independence And Divorce
- Jean returned to flying and became one of the few female flight instructors of her day.
- She filed for divorce in 1976 after marital problems and Eugene moved out of the house.
Small Details Raised Big Suspicions
- Officer Greg Martin noted Jean's purse was left behind and found no signs of struggle, raising suspicion.
- He also felt Eugene's demeanor was a 'blank sheet' and unsettling during the initial investigation.