Disappearances

In May 2011, Jim Pitzen and Amy Fry-Pitzen dropped off their 6-year-old son Timmothy at school. When Jim returned later to pick him up, he was told by staff that Amy had already done so, hours earlier. But Jim couldn’t reach Amy. Days later, her body was discovered — and there was no sign of Timmothy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On September 26th 2014, students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College traveled to an annual march in Mexico City. They were on their way to protest against discrimination — and were stopped by open fire in Iguala. Six people were killed. Forty-three vanished. Who were the attackers? What happened to the missing? All eyes were on the Mexican government for answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Labor Day weekend in 1974, a family of four goes camping in their favorite spot in Oregon. When they don’t show up for a scheduled dinner, authorities are called in to investigate. Only, they don’t find any evidence of foul play. Not until months later, when they uncover a horrific scene miles away from the family’s campsite. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On March 26th 1991, a father in South Korea gets a phone call informing him that his son never showed up for taekwondo class. He figures his son lost track of time playing with his friends in the mountains nearby. The reality is that all five boys are gone, and won’t ever be seen alive again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sixteen years ago, a Jordanian-Canadian woman vanished from her family’s farm. To say her case ran cold would be misleading: There was no case, because no one reported her missing for nine years. Today, we’re sharing an interview with Habiba Nosheen — journalist and host of Gimlet’s Conviction (season 3) podcast — about the disappearance of Nuseiba Hasan, and how a cryptic email revealed an unbelievable story of tragedy and mystery.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1980, 21-year-old Cherita Thomas disappears after the car she’s driving breaks down. Police suspect she becomes the victim of a racially motivated hate crime, but with no physical evidence, her case runs cold. Twenty years later, a cadaver dog finds bone fragments on a suspect’s property. Only, they don’t belong to Cherita. What happens next affects not only Cherita’s case, but dozens of cases across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1988, Keith Reinhard uproots his life to investigate a friend’s disappearance. Eventually, he starts believing his friend didn’t just disappear — he was murdered. Keith tells his theory to nearly everybody he knows. Then Keith disappears, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marita Verón was a 23-year-old mother who disappeared in Argentina in 2002 while on her way to a hospital appointment. When police wouldn’t help, her parents investigated on their own. What they discovered was horrifying: Marita had been kidnapped by sex traffickers. Marita’s mother set up a foundation in Marita’s honor to offer legal, developmental, and rehabilitation services to trafficking survivors. You can find more information on it here: fundacionmariadelosangeles.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1980s, Bruno Manser was a Swiss activist who moved to Borneo to live amongst the indigenous Penan. He assimilated into the tribe, helping them fight against logging companies encroaching on their land. He returned to Switzerland and, for many years, tried to bring attention to the Penan cause. In 2000, he returned to the jungle and was never seen again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Isle of Wight has a dual identity. It’s a tourist destination with a pristine reputation. And it’s a small island where everybody knows everyone. So when a 16-year-old local vanishes one night in 1996, his parents are sure that whatever happened to him, it didn’t go unnoticed. Only, information proves to be scarce. And it seems the island’s criminal underbelly has kept it that way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices