

The Vanished Podcast
Wondery
The Vanished is a true crime podcast that explores the stories of those who have gone missing. The Vanished goes beyond conventional news reports to take a deep dive into the story of a different missing person each week. Host Marissa Jones brings you exclusive interviews with family members, friends, law enforcement and experts. What will The Vanished uncover next?Listen to The Vanished on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-vanished-podcast/ now.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 31, 2022 • 49min
Jarrod Green Part 1: Retribution
On September 30, 1994, 20-year-old Jarrod Green disappeared from Searcy, Arkansas. Jarrod had indicated to his family that he had plans to meet with someone that night. During a phone call with his girlfriend, Jarrod was clearly upset but wouldn't tell her what was wrong. Jarrod had previously given a gun to a friend and retrieved the gun, saying he needed it for protection. Jarrod never made it home that evening and was never seen or heard from again. Days later, Jarrod's car was found abandoned in the parking lot of a local store. The car doors were left unlocked, windows rolled down, and the keys were on the floor. Jarrod's case went cold, his family didn't hear from law enforcement, and it felt like he was forgotten.Meanwhile, dark stories continued to grow and spread through the community like a cancer. Not even a year later, someone else in Jarrod's circle disappeared. Another one took his own life and reportedly confessed to playing a role in Jarrod's murder beforehand. Years later, some rookie detectives decided to take a fresh look at this cold case, and there was finally some movement. If you have any information regarding Jarrod Green's disappearance, please call the Searcy Police Department at (501) 268-3531.You can follow developments in Jarrod's case on Facebook at Justice for Jarrod. Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 24, 2022 • 1h 10min
Kelly "Allison" Whiddon Part 2: Confession or Concoction?
Last week, we brought you the first part of Allison Whiddon’s story, which started with another woman with the same name being mistaken for the missing Allison. She joined Allison’s family in their search for Allison, which included looking at numerous possible suspects, knocking on doors, excavating land, and speaking to witnesses to yield information. Then, there was an alleged confession that detailed Allison’s death- who was involved, when, and where. But was that story believable or a complete fabrication?If you have any information about Allison’s disappearance, please call the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 850-747-4700.Support us by supporting our sponsors! Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 17, 2022 • 48min
Kelly "Allison" Whiddon Part 1: I’m Not Missing, Am I?
Around April 19, 2016, 44-year-old Kelly "Allison" Whiddon disappeared from Panama City Beach, Florida. Allison was in the middle of breaking up with the man she had been dating. This man had a history of violence and threats he promised to make good on. The two got into an altercation in a restaurant, and her boyfriend claimed he never saw her again, changed his story later, and subsequently refused to cooperate with police after they started investigating her disappearance. No one reported Allison missing until the end of May. Why did it take six weeks for anyone else to realize she was missing? What has occurred since then is truly extraordinary. However, Allison Whiddon is still missing, and the mystery surrounding her disappearance continues to deepen.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Kelly Allison Whiddon, please contact the Bay County Sheriff's Office at (850) 747-4700 or CRIME STOPPERS at (850) 785-TIPS.Tune in on October 24 for Part 2 of Allison's story.Support us by supporting our sponsor!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 10, 2022 • 1h 3min
Brandon Helms
In December 2015, 42-year-old Brandon Helms was temporarily living with a friend in Lakeland, Georgia. Brandon and his wife had recently separated, and Brandon was navigating this new territory. Brandon wanted to make his marriage work. He loved his wife and adored their daughters. On December 14th, Brandon’s wife called his parents to ask if they had seen or heard from him, but they had not. Brandon’s friend said Brandon was there when he left the house that day, but when he returned, Brandon was nowhere to be found. Brandon’s truck, phone, cigarettes, and jacket were left behind. Search and rescue responded and searched the area, but they never found any trace of Brandon Helms. The case went cold for several years until law enforcement decided to take a second look. Perhaps things weren’t as simple as they appeared on the surface.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Brandon Helms, please call the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 482-3545.If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for support.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 3, 2022 • 1h 10min
Dawn Blankenheim
Sometime between May 16 and May 25, 2020, 53-year-old Dawn Blankenheim vanished from Chico, California. No isolated event or indication foreshadowed her disappearance, but like every missing person, Dawn didn't just disappear. There is always more to the story. Dawn had been in the hospital in mid-May and was picked up by a friend after she was discharged. They were spotted at a local bar together over the weekend. Dawn scheduled a rideshare service to get home, then abruptly canceled. No one has ever seen or heard from Dawn again. Dawn's loved ones are left behind to sift through the many unanswered questions, disturbing circumstances, and subtle clues that there is more to Dawn's story than what appears on the surface.If you have any information about the disappearance of Dawn Blankenheim, you are asked to call the Chico, California Police Department at (530) 897-4900.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 26, 2022 • 1h 40min
Case Update: Megan Foglesong
21-year-old Megan Foglesong disappeared from Alden, Kansas, around the end of November 2015. When we first covered Megan’s story in 2016, nearly everyone pointed to Megan’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, David Madden. Megan attempted to leave him in the past and told others around Thanksgiving of 2015 that she was leaving him again. Several days later, Megan sent a message to a friend indicating that she was back at David’s, then she went silent. Around this time, David texted the local undersheriff to inform him that Megan had stolen from him and ran off. In hindsight, that story about Megan stealing seems rather convenient, possibly a way to explain her absence. But at that time, no one thought much of it. They figured Megan would pop up somewhere soon. Maybe she left David and was hiding? Time passed, and Megan’s loved ones became more concerned. David didn’t seem interested in finding Megan. Despite rumors and suspicions swirling around town about David’s involvement, Megan’s case went cold. As the years went by, David went on to commit a series of other crimes that left the community convinced that he was responsible for Megan’s disappearance.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Megan Foglesong, please contact KBI at 316-337-6100 or the Rice County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 257-7876. You can follow the search for Megan on social media at Bring Megan Home.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 19, 2022 • 1h 28min
James "Jamie" Valdez
In early June of 2021, 47-year-old Jamie Valdez and his wife, Anna, had just moved to Booneville, Arkansas, from Texas. Their relationship was on the rocks, and Jamie’s wife said that Jamie left their home on June 9, 2021. An old coworker claims that she saw Jamie 30 miles north of Booneville in Ozark several days later, and the coworker invited him over for dinner with her family. She said he planned to go home and patch things up with his wife. Jamie Valdez has never been seen again. His disappearance is filled with many gaps in time, strange coincidences, conflicting stories, and lapses in memory that have turned the search for him into a bizarre obstacle course with very few concrete facts. If you have any information about the disappearance of Jamie Valdez, please call the Booneville, Arkansas Police Department at (479) 675-3508.If you would like to follow Jamie’s story and updates on social media, you can join the group dedicated to finding him at JAMES “JAMIE” VALDEZ MISSING.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 13, 2022 • 1h 20min
Barbara Cotton Part 2: A Tangled Web
On April 11, 1981, 15-year-old Barbara Cotton disappeared from Williston, North Dakota. Barbara was a bright young woman with plans for her future. She was saving for her first apartment that she planned to rent when she turned 16 in the fall. Barb’s dreams came to a screeching halt on that chilly spring evening when she seemingly disappeared into the night. Piecing together even the most basic clues today is difficult. Who last saw Barb, and at what time? And how can we even confirm these things now? There are conflicting stories and big puzzle pieces missing. Now more than ever, people are invested in finding out what happened to Barbara Cotton. They might be getting closer to the truth. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Barbara Cotton, please contact the Williston Police Department at 701-577-1212.You can follow Barb’s story on social media at Find Barb Cotton. You can find more information at FindBarbCotton.com, and check out Dakota Spotlight wherever you get your podcasts.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 12, 2022 • 50min
Barbara Cotton Part 1: A Lost Girl
On April 11, 1981, a 15-year-old girl named Barbara Cotton disappeared from Williston, North Dakota. Barbara's mother, Louise, called around to her friends to see if they had seen her, but no one said they had. Louise reported her daughter missing to the Williston Police Department and sent any tips she heard their way. The weeks and months passed with no sign of Barbara, and her case went ice cold. It didn't seem like much was being done to find Barb, at least to her loved ones; that is how it appeared. Perhaps she had run away? As with many missing teens in that era, that was often the assumption. Decades later, there is now a renewed effort to find Barbara Cotton and answer the many questions that linger today.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Barbara Cotton, please contact the Williston Police Department at 701-577-1212.You can follow Barb’s story on social media at Find Barb Cotton. You can find more information at FindBarbCotton.com, and check out Dakota Spotlight wherever you get your podcasts.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 5, 2022 • 1h 9min
Case Update: Finding Lillianna Pagano
Three years ago, we brought you the story of Lillianna Pagano, who had been abducted by her mother, Jillanne, when Lillianna was an infant. A few days before airing our story on Lillianna, we received word that she had been found alive and was reunited with her father, Tyler, a completely unexpected surprise. While this was the ending we hope for in every story, Tyler and Lillianna still had a rough road ahead of them. Lillianna had been missing for nearly six years and was told her father was dead. We recently checked in with Tyler to see how Lillianna is doing with her dad today and what they’ve been through together since they were reunited in June of 2019. If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.