The Vanished Podcast

In December of 2002, 21-year old James Wiggins left his home in Ruston, Louisiana, on foot, saying he was going to a nearby grocery store. James never returned home. The following morning, the owner of a convenience shop located several miles outside of Ruston found a young man sleeping at his store's doorstep. When he opened up his shop, the man came in and bought a pack of cigarettes. The owner checked the man's identification and reported to the police that he was sure it was James Wiggins. Over the years, there have been some bizarre leads that have come in. Some of these leads point to James being alive, while others point to him being the victim of foul play, but no one knows for sure.If you have any information about the disappearance of James Wiggins, please contact the Ruston Police Department at (318) 251-8621 or you can contact Ruston Lincoln Crime Stoppers at 318-255-1111.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, pl

On May 24, 2017, 27-year-old Zacharey Wilks left his home in Lompoc, California, to make the familiar drive to his uncle's residence in Las Vegas, Nevada. He planned to help his uncle prepare the family's vacation home for summer guests and spend time with relatives. However, Zacharey never made it, and he disappeared along with his car. We first brought you Zacharey's story in July of 2019. Since that time, there have been significant developments in the case after Zacharey's car was recovered in October of 2019. Zacharey's mom, Liz, graciously spoke with us again this winter to give us an update.Support us by supporting our sponsors!Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/thevanishedIf you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form: http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/case-submission/.Follow The Vanished

On the chilly fall evening of November 8, 2007, 24-year-old Kyle Fleischmann went to dinner, drinks, and a show with friends in Charlotte, North Carolina. The evening was a celebratory affair- a friend's birthday, another friend's recent job change. However, the night didn't end on a festive note when friends went their separate ways, and Kyle seemingly vanished into the night, leaving behind only a small number of telling but mysterious clues. More than 13 years have passed, and the last sightings of Kyle include some grainy surveillance footage and the eyewitness account of a cab driver, who watched Kyle walk down the street and disappear from view, and seemingly, life.If you have any information about Kyle Fleischmann’s disappearance, you are asked to call the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at 704-336-7600.Support us by supporting our sponsors!Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.

Leona Kinsey disappeared from La Grande, Oregon, on October 25, 1999. A friend last saw Leona at a local Walmart. According to her friend, Leona said she planned to meet a man at a nearby grocery store and then stop by her friend's house around 7 PM that night. Leona never showed up at her friend's house and was never seen again. In Part 1, we discussed the circumstances surrounding Leona's disappearance and how those close to her began pointing fingers at others. In the beginning, investigators had many people to look at, but later they began to focus on one man. The more they learned about this man, the more they began to believe he might be the one who made Leona disappear.If you have any information about Leona Kinsey's disappearance, please call the La Grande Police Department at (541) 963-1017. You can follow Leona's case on Facebook at Finding Leona Kinsey.You can find the rest of the speech included at the end of the episode here: https://youtu.be/IlZmLNKOQ_cSupport us by supporting our sponsors!Liste

Leona Kinsey disappeared from La Grande, Oregon, on October 25, 1999. A friend last saw Leona at a local Walmart. According to her friend, Leona said she planned to meet someone at a nearby grocery store and then stop by her friend's house around 7 PM that night. Leona never showed up at her friend's house and was never seen again. Her friend became concerned and later went to check on Leona. She found that Leona wasn't home, and her pets weren't cared for in a way that Leona would have if she planned to leave for any amount of time. She decided it was time to alert the police that Leona was missing, and that was the beginning of the long search for answers as to what happened to Leona. If you have any information about Leona Kinsey's disappearance, please call the La Grande Police Department at (541) 963-1017. You can follow Leona's case on Facebook at Finding Leona Kinsey.Support us by supporting our sponsors!Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free

On Friday, January 17, 2020, Veronica Reyes-Diaz left the home she shared with her husband and three sons in Dover, Florida, to spend the evening out with friends. After gathering at a local restaurant, one of Veronica's friends dropped her off at home, and Veronica left in her own vehicle to pick up her kids from her sister's house. Veronica was seen on a neighbor's surveillance returning home with the kids. Veronica tucked her kids into bed and has never been seen again. Veronica's family tracked her steps by piecing together cell phone location data and surveillance video. Still, her family feels they are no closer to finding answers more than a year after she disappeared.If you have any information about Veronica's disappearance, you are asked to call the Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.Support us by supporting our sponsors!Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wonder

In 2002, 20-year-old disappeared Angela Mack disappeared from the small northern Arkansas town of Salem. It may have been September, but some people say it was later in the year. She wouldn't be reported missing for many months, or maybe even years. Her four-year-old son, Thomas "Mikey" Rettew, also vanished, but missing persons flyers note that he disappeared from Missouri and the date he was last seen is uncertain. Supposedly, there is a photo of Mikey that is date stamped well after September 1, 2002, but nobody knows for sure. In fact, no one seems to know when or where Angela and Mikey were last seen, or who was the last to see them. Today's episode brings into focus the stories of two people who appeared to simply stop existing, and it seemed as though there were never any real search efforts put forth to find them. Their loved ones hope that a renewed interest in the case will help them find out what happened to Angie and Mikey.If you have any information about the disappearance of Angela Mack or Thoma

This segment originally aired in Jacob Hilkin's Case Update on February 22, 2021. So many listeners contacted us about this interview and how much it impacted them or helped them understand why they have struggled with a loss. Some listeners even asked if we could publish this as a standalone episode so it would be easier to find and share in the feed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21-year-old Adam Castillo left his Willcox, AZ home on the evening of September 13, 2008. His plans that night were to attend a party. He left his phone and wallet behind at the house. Adam caught a ride to the party that was taking place outside of town, between Willcox and Kansas Settlement, AZ, in an area that locals call "the loop." It has been reported that there were many partygoers there, and they all made it home, except Adam Castillo. The last reported sighting of Adam was around 2 am on the September 14. Law enforcement conducted extensive searches in the area where the party was held, but no trace of Adam has ever been found. Investigators interviewed numerous people who were at the party. Still, no one seems to know when Adam left or who he may have left with. Adam's family has been working to piece together the clues for the past 12 years, and they remain hopeful that someone will come forward with answers.If you have any information about the disappearance of Adam Castillo, please contact the Co

24-year-old Jacob Hilkin was last seen in Tulalip, Washington, on January 23, 2018. He had been at a casino with some friends and left, stating that he would catch a bus home. Jake was spotted in the area but then disappeared without a trace. We first covered Jake's story nearly three years ago, and today we are bringing you an update on how Jacob was found and what has happened since that time.If you have any information regarding the death of Jacob Hilkin, please call the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office at 425-388-3845. You can follow his case on Facebook: Find Jacob Hilkin.Dr. Taft earned a bachelors, masters and doctorate in psychology from Baylor University. He has been a licensed psychologist since 2000. He has served the Corsicana community in private practice since 2002 and was the Director of Clinical Services at the Corsicana Residential Treatment Center from 2000-2005. Dr. Taft provides clinical counseling services, consultation services, and forensic services.For more information on psychol

On August 7, 2019, Massachusetts native Sandra Crispo was dropped off at her home after taking her car to the shop for repairs. The next day, she didn’t pick up the phone, and by August 9, Sandra had seemingly vanished without a trace. Her daughter went to Sandra’s home intending to drop her sons off before reporting to work and found Sandra missing. There was no one at home, and the horror of Sandra’s mysterious disappearance began. However, there were traces left behind that would tell her story and give Sandra a voice. If you have any information about the disappearance of Sandra Crispo, please call the Massachusetts State Police at 508-894-2600. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/thevanishedIf you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form: http://

On February 9, 2020, 31-year-old Zach Fortenberry left his home in Bonney Lake, Washington. Several days later, his car was located in nearby Carbonado with the keys inside and a half a tank of gas. The car was parked near a bridge that spans the rushing Carbon River, but Zach was nowhere to be found. With no clues or leads as to what happened, Zach appeared to vanish into thin air that day, and no one has seen or heard from him since. Shady characters, odd clues, and a deep history prior to his disappearance have left Zach’s family members struggling to find answers. If you have any information about Zach’s disappearance, please call the Bonney Lake, Washington Police Department at 253-863-2218.Support us by supporting our sponsors!Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/thevanishedIf you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our cas

Sometime, likely in late August of 2019, 18-year-old Luzeia Mathis disappeared from her Phoenix, Arizona apartment. Luzeia was an independent young woman who lived alone, so no one immediately noticed that she was gone. Her close family members thought she was off doing all the things teens that age do and that they would hear from her soon. That was until her aunt received a phone call in September of 2019, one of those calls we all dread from the police. They were called to Luzeia's apartment due to a bad smell. Officers entered the apartment and found a horrific scene inside, but Luzeia was not there.If you have any information about the disappearance of Luzeia Mathis, please contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151. You can follow Luzeia’s case on Facebook at Luzeia’s Voice.National Domestic Violence Hotline- 1-800-799-7233ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline- 1-800-422-4453National Sexual Assault Hotline- 1-800-656-4673Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges

On August 22, 2020, 18-year-old Tyress Gipson left his Jacksonville, Texas home that he shared with his mother, stepfather, and sisters to hang out with some friends and possibly go to a party. But none of Tyress’s friends saw him that evening, and he never came back home. Tyress’s family reported him missing immediately and began searching for him, but details would soon emerge that were far more horrific than anyone could have believed.If you have any information about Tyress Gipson’s disappearance or what may have happened to him, please call the Jacksonville, TX police department at 903-586-2546.You can follow Tyress’s story on social media at Bring Tyress Home.Support us by supporting our sponsors!Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/thevanishedIf you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form: http://www.t

Echo Lloyd last spoke with her daughter, Kelsey, on May 9, 2020, the day before Mother’s Day. Kelsey stopped by Echo’s Edwards, Missouri home the next day to drop off flowers and a Mother’s Day card. Echo wasn’t there, and her car wasn’t in the driveway. Kelsey left the items outside for her mom when she returned home. Over the next several days, Kelsey kept trying to reach Echo, but her calls kept going straight to voicemail. Her concerns began to grow, and by the 15th, she made the trip back over to Echo’s home. Kelsey found the car was in the driveway, but there was no trace of Echo. While Kelsey was searching the house for Echo, she found Echo’s purse, her ID, and some money. Missing along with Echo was her cell phone, keys, and medications. Since that time, suspicions have focused on one person who lived near Echo’s home and had taken an unhealthy interest in her since she moved to Edwards.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Echo Llyod, you are urged to call the Missouri

On the morning of November 20, 2017, 27-year-old Justin Hooiman disappeared from Salt Lake City, Utah. Justin left his residence around 6:00 am and headed to work. He called his mom along the way and asked her if they could have lunch together during his break later that day. They made plans, and then his mom assumed that Justin made it to work. She called him back again to figure out where he wanted to meet, but Justin didn’t answer, and he was never seen or heard from again.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Justin Hooiman, please contact the Salt Lake City Police Department at (801) 799-3000.Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/thevanishedIf you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form: http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/case-submission/.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInsta

On April 14, 2016, four-year-old Nicholas “Nico” Johnson was taken from his home. He wasn’t just taken from his home, but he was taken from his family and the country in which he had been born to an entirely different nation with a different language, customs, and culture. Nico’s story is an uncommon one, with complicated twists of family courts, international law, and diplomacy that often forget the child lost in the midst.If you have any information about Nico Johnson, please contact the San Bernardino County, California, District Attorney’s office at 909-677-0591 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. Support us by supporting our sponsors!Listen ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/thevanishedIf you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form: http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/ca

On the evening of October 6, 2019, Rosemary Rodriguez went to dinner with her boyfriend and her mother. On the way home, they dropped Rosemary's mother off and headed to her boyfriend's home. According to her boyfriend, Rosemary left his residence in Longview, Texas, after a brief argument. Two days later, a colleague called Rosemary's family to tell them she hadn't been to work, something very much out of character for Rosemary. Rosemary's family immediately called the police to report her missing. More than a year has passed since Rosemary's daughters last saw their mom, and every day seems to bring more and more dread that something awful happened.If you have any information about the disappearance of Rosemary Rodriguez, please call the Gregg County Sheriff's Office at 903-236-8400.You can follow Rosemary's story on social media at Finding Rosemary Rodriguez.UPDATE: On December 30, 2021, Rosemary’s bright green Chevy Sonic was found in a densely wooded area in Kilgore, Texas. Human rema

It has been nearly two years since we shared the story of Grundy County Jane Doe, whose remains were discovered in October 1976 by a farmer in rural Seneca, Illinois. When we initially researched her story, we learned that her case was reopened by ambitious Deputy Coroner Brandon Johnson, who works in Grundy County, Illinois. At that time, the coroner’s office had recently exhumed Jane Doe and had sent a bone to a lab for DNA testing, but results had not come back from the lab. The coroner’s office considered several possibilities for identifying Jane Doe if her DNA was not matched to a profile already in the CODIS database. We spoke to Brandon again recently to hear more about what has taken place in the effort to identify Jane Doe.If you have any information about Jane Doe’s identity or her murder, please contact Grundy County Deputy Coroner Brandon Johnson at 815-941-3359 or email him at bjohnson@grundyco.org.You can follow Jane Doe’s story on Facebook at facebook.com/grundycountycoldcase.UPDATE: In J

We initially told Paige’s story in February of 2020. Since that time, there have been many developments in her case, including the recovery of her remains and the arrest of the person suspected of seriously harming or killing her. At the time we first aired the podcast, Paige’s family was still looking for answers, distributing flyers, conducting searches, and meeting with law enforcement in the hopes of making progress in bringing Paige home. We left off with a brokenhearted family who had been forever changed by Paige’s disappearance and ten years without answers.If you have any information about the death of Paige Johnson, please call the Covington, Kentucky Police Department at 859-292-2222.UPDATE: On July 24, 2023, Jacob Bumpass was found guilty of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.