The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 787: True Crime in the Outdoors
Nov 3, 2025
In this enlightening conversation, Jordan Sillars, a Doctor of English and host of the new investigative outdoor true-crime podcast 'Blood Trails', shares chilling tales of outdoor murders and unresolved disappearances. He recounts the haunting case of David Stack, a turkey hunter shot in Virginia, and the mysterious 1977 disappearance of Bob Christian. The duo also delves into the intricacies of interviewing suspects in public, the challenges of cold case investigations, and cultural tensions involving Hmong hunters. Prepare for a spine-tingling exploration of true crime in the wilderness!
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True Crime Through An Outdoor Lens
- Blood Trails focuses on crimes tied specifically to outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking to offer unique perspectives.
- Jordan Sillars emphasizes original reporting with interviews to provide new, involved-source information rather than rehashing public articles.
Turkey Hunt That Became A Cold Case
- Jordan recounts the unsolved turkey-season shooting of Virginia hunter David Stack found with a .22 projectile.
- Investigators struggled due to private land, leaf cover, and an expansive, undefined crime scene that hid physical evidence.
1977 Bow Hunter Vanishes Near Baraboo
- Bob Christian vanished in 1977 after leaving Madison for bow season and his mom's car was found stripped of tires on Tower Road.
- His hunting gear, including his bow, never turned up and searches with dogs and helicopter yielded no body.
