Dakota Spotlight Podcast

In 1995, Mary K. Ross, a 25-year-old single mother and college student, was stabbed to death in her Sioux Falls apartment while her baby watched. This essay reflects on how evil drifts from place to place, preying on the vulnerable, recruiting the unguarded, and how quiet compassion can remain our strongest defense. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in

Nineteen-year-old Russell Turcotte vanished in July 2002 while hitchhiking home to Montana. Last seen at a truck stop in Grand Forks, his body was found months later near Devils Lake. He had been murdered. This episode retraces his final steps and the tireless efforts of his family to find justice, efforts that continue more than 20 years later. If you have any information about the murder of Russell Turcotte, or if you were in Grand Forks in July 2002, especially near the Simonson truck stop, please consider coming forward. Tips should be directed to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department at 701-662-0700 or the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 701-328-5500. Watch the 2002 Rainbow Gathering footage https://dakotaspotlight.com/rainbow/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://

Part 5 (Chapters 23-27): As the story draws to a close, Doug Rolfstad faces the full weight of his choices, with each moment tightening the grip of consequences. What began with a mysterious envelope now hurtles toward a chaotic and unexpected conclusion. Dead Cold Drop by James Wolner is told across five gripping episodes in the signature Friday Night Fiction style. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsl

Part 4 (Chapters 17-22): With tensions still simmering, Doug Rolfstad follows through on key parts of the plan as new information and close calls tighten the emotional grip. As the walls begin to close in, Doug must navigate rising pressure, uncertain alliances, and the weight of choices that can’t be undone. Dead Cold Drop by James Wolner is told across five gripping episodes in the signature Friday Night Fiction style. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Season 6 of Nobody Should Believe Me–out weekly starting June 19, available in full for subscribers at launch–covers the extraordinary and tragic saga of the McDaniel family, a real-life Southern Gothic tale of Munchausen by Proxy that spans decades and has left untold damage in its wake.  For the past twelve years, Lisa McDaniel worked for The Guthy Jackson Foundation, a high-profile non-profit, dedicated to a rare disease called NMO (Neuromyelitis Optica), from which Lisa claims her son suffered.  But while Lisa appears to be a sweet Southern mom whose personal tragedy led to her heroic work, this image hides her dark history of abuse. How was Lisa able to keep her felony conviction for poisoning and suffocating her infant daughter hidden? How did her children slip through the cracks of the healthcare and legal systems again and again? What really happened to her son Collin?   Season 6 breaks a story that is years in the making and made possible through the astounding courage of Mishelle Roberts. This se

Keith Schmidt was last seen on the morning of May 20, 2024, in Dickinson, North Dakota. In this episode, we revisit the days leading up to his disappearance, hear from those who knew him best, and speak with a journalist covering the case to better understand both the man and the mystery he left behind. Anyone with information regarding Keith Schmidt’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Dickinson Police Department at 701-456-7759, Badlands Crime Stoppers at 701-840-6808, or leave a tip at www.dickinsonpd.com/crimestoppers. To contact Eric Grabowsky email him at eg@coldcaseweb.com To read more and see photos of Keith Schmidt visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/north-dakota/what-happened-to-keith-schmidt https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/local/volunteers-to-resume-search-for-keith-schmidt-one-year-after-disappearance https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/dickinson-police-continue-search-for-missing-man-keith-schmidt https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/missing-person-namus-mp123952 Check out the

Part 3 (Chapters 12-16): As tension rises and new layers of uncertainty unfold, Doug Rolfstad pushes deeper into a world far beyond his quiet life as a Bismarck plumber. With paranoia mounting and unsettling discoveries piling up, Doug is forced to confront how much—and whom—he can really trust. Dead Cold Drop by James Wolner is told across five gripping episodes in the signature Friday Night Fiction style. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus

Getting started as a bank robber isn’t easy for Joe Loya. It takes courage … and rage. But Joe does the math. Thousands of dollars gained for a few minutes work. That’s what he figures he deserves. Meanwhile at home, losses mount. Get the Money and Run is a production of Western Sound and aCast Studios in association with Orbit Media Inc. Get the Money and Run is available now on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 2 (Chapters 6-11): Back in Bismarck, Doug sets their plan in motion, taking cautious steps to protect Mandy and make sense of the situation. But with each move, the tension tightens—and a growing sense of unease suggests there may be more at play than they first realized. Dead Cold Drop by James Wolner is told across five gripping episodes in the signature Friday Night Fiction style. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the

In 1962, 14-year-old Larry Jo Phebus vanished from Tioga, North Dakota. Months later, two farmers discovered his body in a snow-covered field. Sixty years later, the case remains unsolved. Who was Larry Jo, and what happened to him that night? Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the propert

Part 1 (Chapters 1-5): At a truck stop near Valley City, North Dakota, Bismarck plumber Doug Rolfstad meets his daughter Mandy at her unexpected and urgent request. There, she reveals she found a manila envelope filled with cash. As unsettling news follows, father and daughter are drawn into a situation neither of them fully understands. Dead Cold Drop by James Wolner is told across five gripping episodes in the signature Friday Night Fiction style. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS:

This isn’t your typical true crime story. Brittani Ard steps back into the shadowy labyrinth of memories, scars, and fragile ties that bind us to our past. Where wounds still ache and the bonds of connection blur between salvation and entrapment. After revealing her own story in the first 8 chapters, she’s pulling at the threads of the past—threads so delicate they threaten to unravel everything. This time, it’s not just her story. It’s the stories of others whose lives intertwine with hers in ways no one could have predicted. A woman searches for a photograph of her abusive ex, but the picture holds more than just memories. A foster youth exchanges black trash bags for a voice that refuses to be silenced anymore, revealing a haunting past that demands to be heard. And a story of rekindled love, as strength and vulnerability collide to reveal what was always meant to be. You Probably Think This Story’s About You is raw, haunting, and achingly human—a tapestry of messy, beautiful lessons stitched together b

More than 30 years ago, Eric’s brother Jacob was murdered—a case that remains unresolved to this day. In this conversation, we discuss his pursuit of justice and explore the ethical challenges of creating content in the ever-growing, often problematic true crime genre. Originally released on July 28, 2021. Listen to the True Consequences podcast: https://www.trueconsequences.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com Advertise your podcast or brand in

Slaycation is a darkly funny true crime podcast hosted by Kim Davis, a former social worker and true crime fanatic, her comedy-writer husband Adam “Tex” Davis, and Emmy-nominated producer Jerry Kolber. Blending horror, humor, and empathy, Slaycation explores vacations gone tragically wrong, offering travel tips that just might save your life. In this episode, “You Cruise, You Lose,” a dream getaway unravels into a chilling mystery that will leave you wondering: accident… or murder? Finish listening to this episode and explore all episodes of Slaycation:⁠ https://www.slaycation.wtf/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1978, the body of a young woman was discovered in a rural Iowa ditch—no name, no missing persons report, and clear signs of a violent death. For 27 years, she was known only as a Jane Doe. Her name was Wilma June Nissen. She was 23 years old and believed to have been killed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, around the time of her daughter Krissi’s first birthday. In this episode, Krissi Haas shares her decades-long search for the truth and the emotional journey to reclaim the story of the mother she never had the chance to know. If you have any information about Wilma June Nissen, her murder, or individuals known as Sugar or Peaches, please consider reaching out. Krissi Haas is still searching for answers, and even the smallest detail could help. You’ll find contact information and links to other resources dedicated to Wilma below. Krissi’s email: twittchhh@aol.com Facebook: https://bit.ly/facebook-wilma-june-nissen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilma_june_nissen_cold_case/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.co

In 2002, Madison McGhee’s father, John McGhee, was shot and killed in his own home in Belmont County, Ohio. Driven by her desire to find justice she began conducting her own investigation into his murder that remains unsolved to this day. The police investigation did not yield any significant leads, leaving Madison and her family with more questions than answers - until now. Join her not only on a quest for justice, for closure, for answers and she stops at nothing to answer this question: Who Killed J.C. McGhee? It doesn’t get more personal than this. Listen to Ice Cold Case: https://linktr.ee/icecoldcase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this first installment of Friday Night Fiction, a new series by James Wolner, a harmless social media group turns sinister in this modern noir tale set in Fargo, North Dakota. When a local banker’s carefully planned Friday night is disrupted by a group of self-appointed parking vigilantes, what begins as an inconvenience escalates into something far more dangerous. Written and narrated by James Wolner, Park Like a Fargonian explores how easily judgment can masquerade as justice—and how quickly control can slip away. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get

We introduce you to our new series of original crime-inspired short stories, all set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. If you're a fan of true crime but curious to explore fictional tales with the same tension, twists, and emotional depth—this series is for you. We’ll walk you through what to expect from future episodes, how often they’ll drop, and why true crime fans will feel right at home in these moody, mysterious, and distinctly Midwestern settings. Welcome to Friday Night Fiction—your weekly escape into the dark side of the North. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://da

In May 1971, Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller were two seventeen-year-olds driving to an end-of-the-school-year party in a rundown Studebaker Lark when they seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. In this episode James interviews author Lou Raguse, author of the riveting book Vanished in Vermillion: The Real Story of South Dakota’s Most Infamous Cold Case. Check out Lou's website: https://vanishedinvermillion.com/ Purchase the book on Amazon https://www.amazon.se/-/en/Lou-Raguse/dp/1637587252 Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlig

On the evening of July 3, 1972, 16-year-old Joli Truelson stood hitchhiking in Uptown Minneapolis, MN. Just 15 hours later she was found deceased in Minnehaha Creek, four miles away. She died from blunt force trauma to the back of her head. In this episode, Dakota Spotlight interviews Trisha Taurinskas, journalst and host of a new podcast series about Joli's murder: Joli Truelson: Connecting the Dots. Trisha shares insights about this 53-year-old cold case and the exciting new developments taking place in 2025. Will Trisha's fresh work on this case assist in the Truelson family finally getting answers into what happened to Joli Truelson? Listen to Joli Truelson: Connecting the Dots on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-vault/id1566136098 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Y6sk7Jkm8P9ruuNMOfO6w Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more.