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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? All episodes are available for free. Listen ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

Location:

United States

Genres:

True Crime

Networks:

Wondery

Description:

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? All episodes are available for free. Listen ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

Language:

English


Episodes

Daniel Maleska

12/11/2023
On Friday, May 15, 1987, 32-year-old Daniel Maleska left his home in Princeton, Minnesota, to travel about three hours north to Gunn Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. That weekend, Dan, his brother Mike, and several other longtime friends planned a camping trip for the opening of fishing season. Dan and Mike were raised as avid outdoorsmen, and opening weekend was a big deal. While this was their first time visiting Gunn Lake, this annual trip was something they looked forward to all year. The area where the men were camping was very rural and densely wooded. It wasn't a campground with amenities; they were roughing it, but that was how Dan and his buddies liked it. The men set up camp, spent many hours fishing on the lake, drank some beers, and seemed to be having a great time. However, by Sunday morning, Dan had vanished. They found a canoe in the water with some of his fishing supplies still inside. It looked like he had been plucked from that boat, leaving his items undisturbed. Despite extensive searches of the lake and surrounding wilderness, no trace of Dan Maleska has ever surfaced. The circumstances have left his loved ones to wonder if the scene was staged and Dan planned to disappear. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Dan Maleska, please call the Itasca County Sheriff's Office at (218) 326-3477. This episode was sponsored by: GoodRX- For big savings on your everyday prescriptions, go toGoodrx.com/vanished. Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. Zbiotics- Go to Zbiotics.com/VANISHED to get 15% off your first order when you use code VANISHED at checkout. Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $10 value when you spend $15 or more. Download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHEDHOLIDAY. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:33:49

Nanci Britner

12/4/2023
On June 28, 2023, 45-year-old Nanci Britner went to a motel in Winchester, VA, to visit her sister. She spent time at the motel that evening, and around midnight, Nanci contacted several people looking for a ride home. Nanci’s sister said that she fell asleep while Nanci was still there, but when she awoke, Nanci was gone, and she assumed that she had found a ride home. Nanci has four adult children, and they became concerned when a couple of days passed with no word from their mother. That wasn’t like Nanci, who was a devoted mother and grandmother. Nanci’s children began piecing together information about the day Nanci disappeared, but things weren’t adding up. When the dust settled, a few unconnected people were acting suspiciously. However, law enforcement hasn’t been able to gather concrete evidence, and today, Nanci’s case remains unsolved. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Nanci Britner, please call the Winchester Police Department at 540-662-4131. This episode was sponsored by: Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. Factor- Head to FactorMeals.com/Vanished50 and use code VANISHED50 to get 50% off. Bilt- Earn points by paying rent when you go to joinbilt.com/vanished. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:07:47

Margaret "Kay-Alana" Turner Part 2: The Shattered Window

11/27/2023
On March 9, 2023, 27-year-old Kay-Alana Turner left a friend’s home in Silsbee, Texas, and headed toward Austin, about four hours away, apparently to see a friend. In the days leading up to March 9, Kay-Alana had not been sleeping well, and she didn’t seem quite like herself. Witnesses in the towns of Hockley and Tomball, Texas, interacted with Kay-Alana in the early morning hours of March 10. She had been asking people if she could sleep in their driveways. By this time, Kay-Alana’s phone had died. Around 6 AM, a homeowner in the Holly Creek Estates subdivision in Tomball, Texas, noticed Kay-Alana’s car in their driveway, and she was asleep inside. The homeowner decided to call someone from their homeowner’s association and other neighbors. They gathered around Kay-Alana’s car and attempted to wake her. Kay-Alana was scared and decided to drive her car away, but they blocked her. Then, an officer from Harris County broke Kay-Alana’s driver-side window. She bolted, first by driving her car through the yard, out through some farmland, and eventually into the woods, where the vehicle got stuck. With deputies behind her on foot, she decided to run. Kay-Alana dropped her phone along the way and later removed her shoes, full of glass from the broken window. In the days that followed, Kay-Alana’s loved ones began to compare notes and came to believe that she was suffering a mental health crisis that night. Despite extensive searches of the area where Kay-Alana was last seen, no trace of her, other than her phone and shoes, has ever been found. If you have any information about Kay-Alana’s disappearance, please contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-755-7427. Photo Credit: James Blaign Rambo This episode was sponsored by: Zbiotics- Go to Zbiotics.com/VANISHED to get 15% off your first order when you use code VANISHED at checkout. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:13:27

Margaret "Kay-Alana" Turner Part 1: Lost

11/20/2023
On March 8, 2023, 27-year-old Kay-Alana Turner stayed at a friend’s home in Silsbee, Texas. Kay-Alana’s friend, Brittany, noticed that she hadn’t been sleeping well, and something appeared to be troubling Kay-Alana. The following morning, Brittany left for work, believing Kay-Alana was asleep. As the day wore on, Brittany kept trying to contact Kay-Alana, but something was off with the way that her text messages were going through. She attempted to reach Kay-Alana via phone and Facetime video calls. She eventually reached Kay-Alana, but something still wasn’t quite right, and she didn’t know where her friend was. Brittany enlisted the help of Kay-Alana’s boyfriend, James, who went out searching for her that night. He stopped at all of Kay-Alana’s familiar places with no luck. They later learned that Kay-Alana had planned to visit a friend in Austin, about a four-hour drive from Brittany’s home. Where along that 245-mile trip could something have gone wrong? Did Kay-Alana get into an accident? Had she run out of gas? They searched frantically throughout the night, and by the next morning, stories began to emerge about Kay-Alana that seemed so out of character for her. Kay-Alana’s loved ones couldn’t believe what they were hearing. One thing they knew for sure was that they needed to find Kay-Alana. If you have any information about Kay-Alana’s disappearance, please contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-755-7427. Photo Credit: James Blaign Rambo This episode was sponsored by: Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $10 value when you spend $15 or more. Download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHEDHOLIDAY. Zbiotics- Go to Zbiotics.com/VANISHED to get 15% off your first order when you use code VANISHED at checkout. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:07:10

William "Arlin" Bynum

11/13/2023
On August 14, 2003, 40-year-old William "Arlin" Bynum was at a bar and grill in Big Spring, Texas. Big Spring is where Arlin was born, but he was a stranger, having lived his entire life outside of the small town. Arlin enjoyed the evening having drinks with friends. He was last seen walking toward his truck on the morning of August 15, shortly before the bar closed. After that, the trail ends. The next day, Arlin didn't show up for lunch with a relative, and from there, his family knew something was wrong. They found his truck still parked outside the restaurant, and the search began. Twenty years later, Arlin has never been seen or heard from again. The story of his disappearance spans the spectrum from questionable friends, to abandoned wells, to the possibility of cartel involvement. Today, there are many complicated factors that make solving the mystery of what happened to Arlin Bynum seem nearly impossible, but his loved ones aren't giving up. If you have any information about Arlin's disappearance, please call the Big Spring Police Department at 432-264-2559 or the Texas Rangers Division Company "E" at 915-834-7664. Crimestoppers is offering a cash reward. To submit an anonymous tip, call 432-263-8477 (TIPS) or use P3tips.com and reference case #20303930. This episode was sponsored by: Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. Factor- Head to FactorMeals.com/Vanished50 and use code VANISHED50 to get 50% off. GoodRX- For big savings on your everyday prescriptions, go to Goodrx.com/vanished. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:14:45

Kevin Bass

11/6/2023
29-year-old Kevin Bass disappeared from Milledgeville, Georgia, in the early morning hours of May 27, 2020. Kevin had last spoken to a friend around 5 AM and then disappeared. Someone thought they may have seen him on foot that morning around 5:30 AM, but they couldn’t be sure that it was actually Kevin. A couple of friends said that Kevin had been at their house the night before and left early that morning. Stories would later change, and rumors of an affair surfaced, which divided those who knew Kevin into two camps. Three years later, what happened to Kevin remains a mystery. If you have any information about the disappearance of Kevin Bass, please contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 445-4891. This episode was sponsored by: Doordash- Our listeners can get up to 50% off, up to a $10 value, when you spend $15 or more at convenience, grocery, or retail stores on Doordash. Download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHEDHOLIDAY. Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:23:35

Theresa Hartley

10/30/2023
Theresa Hartley, a Florida native living in St. Augustine, was learning how to live life on her own after her husband passed away several years earlier. On March 11, 2023, she vanished, supposedly while in the company of a friend looking for firewood in the Ocala National Forest. But when she was reported missing to police on March 15 by another friend, the details didn't add up. In a real-life horror story filled with shady characters with a history of defrauding people and others with lengthy criminal records of violent offenses, Theresa was a vulnerable woman who was the perfect target for predators. After Theresa's disappearance, people her family had never met started coming out of the woodwork to claim her assets. Did Theresa really get lost in the woods, leaving no trace behind? Or was something much more sinister going on in her life? If you have any information about Theresa's disappearance, please call the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office at 904-824-8304 or the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 352-732-8181. This episode was sponsored by: Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $20 value no min sub total when you download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHEDGROCERY. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:15:29

Joshua Simiskey Part 2: Stranger than Fiction

10/23/2023
Last week, we shared Part 1 of Joshua Simiskey's story. 41-year-old Joshua Simiskey vanished under bizarre circumstances in October of 2019. He had given all his belongings to a woman he had recently met. She claimed that he had offered the items for her hand in marriage while on a spiritual journey. But then, Josh was picked up by park rangers inside Olympic National Park, walking barefoot early one morning. They dropped him off at a general store and watched him walk away on foot. That is the last official, confirmed sighting of Joshua Simiskey. However, there were other unconfirmed sightings of Josh that seemed to point to a voluntary disappearance. Others believed that Josh was in a vulnerable mental state and was possibly coerced into giving his valuables away. Four years have gone by, and Josh Simiskey has never surfaced. What is known about the circumstances leading up to Josh's disappearance has left his loved ones with more questions than answers. Today, you will hear from two of the women in Josh's life when he went missing, one who claims to have seen him disappear right before her eyes. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Joshua Simiskey, please contact the Clallam County Sheriff's Department at (360) 417-2262. This episode was sponsored by: Blue Nile- Experience the ease and convenience of shopping Blue Nile today at BlueNile.com. Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:35:23

Joshua Simiskey Part 1: The Journey

10/16/2023
In the late summer of 2019, 41-year-old Joshua Simiskey left his father's home in Tacoma, Washington, and headed for Port Angeles, about 2 hours away. Josh stayed there for several weeks and told his family he planned to go on a spiritual journey. Josh met a woman during his time in Port Angeles, and things got weird. The last known communication from Josh was a voicemail that he left for his father on October 6, saying that he had given away his car and other possessions. The woman he had recently met in Port Angeles had a handwritten note, allegedly penned by Josh, saying he was giving everything to her. Was this indeed what Josh wanted, or had something more sinister happened? As Josh's family rushed to find him, things became more bizarre. Josh Simiskey seemed to disappear and reappear multiple times with sightings that seemed credible, but was that Josh that people were seeing around town or a case of mistaken identity? Join us as we work to untangle this mystery. Could Josh still be out there on his spiritual journey? Does he simply not want to be found? Or was Josh the victim of manipulation and foul play? If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Joshua Simiskey, please contact the Clallam County Sheriff's Department at (360) 417-2262. This episode was sponsored by: Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:09:45

Nguyet Thu “Wiki” Phung

10/9/2023
On May 9, 1991, a police officer from the Lynnwood, Washington Police Department responded to a call about a missing person. The call came from Thanh Phung, and he told police that his 19-year-old daughter, Nguyet Thu Phung, or Wiki as most people called her, did not come home from work that day. He said that her boyfriend had picked her up early that morning and that by 11 AM, her employer had called Wiki’s mother to ask if everything was okay after Wiki hadn’t shown up for work. The events of May 9 would unfold to reveal more information about what may have happened to Wiki that day and lead to only a handful of ominous conclusions. If you have any information about the disappearance of Wiki Phung, please call the Lynnwood Police Department at 425-670-5600. This episode was sponsored by: Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $20 value no min sub total when you download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHEDGROCERY. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:14:21

Virginia Erickson

10/2/2023
October 21, 1973, was a Sunday. Typically, 32-year-old Virginia Erickson would attend church on Sundays, where she played the piano. But on that particular Sunday, Virginia and her husband, David, were going hunting instead. Virginia and David's nephew picked up their six children that morning from their home in Sweet Home, Oregon, and brought them to church. When the children returned, their mother was gone. David never reported his wife missing. Virginia had previously maintained consistent contact with her family in Washington, but they also stopped hearing from her. Disturbing information would later surface about what was happening inside the Erickson home, information that could be the motive behind Virginia Erickson's disappearance. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Virginia Erickson, please contact the Linn County Sheriff's Office at (541) 967-3950. This episode was sponsored by: Blue Nile- Experience the ease and convenience of shopping Blue Nile today at BlueNile.com. Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:16:27

Brian Vargo

9/25/2023
Sometime in March 1976, 20-year-old Brian Vargo vanished from Austin, Texas. He had unenrolled from all of his classes at the University of Texas at Austin at the end of February, just a few weeks prior to his disappearance. He indicated in his application to unenroll that he intended to return to classes in the summer quarter of 1976. However, Brian seemingly vanished into thin air and has not been seen or heard from since. His story is one of soul-searching and a young man who seemed to be looking for an independent identity as an adult, finding his own way in life. Whether or not he ever achieved that goal and what happened to him remains a mystery. If you have any information about Brian’s disappearance, please call the Austin Police Department at 512-974-5210. This episode was sponsored by: Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. Doordash- Get 50% off your first DoorDash order, up to a $20 value, when you use code VANISHEDFALL at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:27:36

Casi Pogue Part 2: Best of Friends

9/18/2023
Last week, we brought you the first installment of Casi Pogue’s story. You learned about Casi’s life, struggles, and how she disappeared after leaving a hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, on July 5, 2020. Casi was spotted exiting the facility that evening and speaking to someone in a van. She even entered the van for a few minutes but then got out and left the area alone on foot. Who was that man in the vehicle? You heard last week that the police were never able to identify him. But Casi’s family told us that after she disappeared, their suspicions began to shift elsewhere, to someone close to Casi. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Casi Pogue, please contact the Greenville Police Department at (864) 271-5333. If you want to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 864-23-CRIME (864-232-7463). This episode was sponsored by: Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED. Goodrx- For simple, smart savings on your prescriptions check GoodRX. Go toGoodRX.com/vanished. Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $20 value no min sub total when you download the Doordash App and enter code TV. Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:11:45

Casi Pogue Part 1: Destination Unknown

9/11/2023
It was the July 4th holiday weekend of 2020 when 40-year-old Casi Pogue found herself in the emergency room at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina. She had been there not just once but twice throughout the weekend. The second time, Casi was taken by EMS after neighbors found her acting disoriented. On the evening of July 5th, Casi left the hospital. Casi was spotted on surveillance video walking away from the facility. She spoke briefly to a man inside a van in the parking lot, even getting inside the vehicle before exiting and walking away alone. After she walked out of view of the hospital cameras, Casi Pogue was never seen or heard from again. More than three years later, what happened to Casi remains a mystery. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Casi Pogue, please contact the Greenville Police Department at (864) 271-5333. If you want to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 864-23-CRIME (864-232-7463). This episode was sponsored by: Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:16:27

Replay Case Continued: Angela Mack and Thomas "Mikey" Rettew - Reasonable Doubt

9/8/2023
This episode originally aired on June 15, 2021. Over the last two weeks, we’ve continued to tell you the story of the disappearances of Angela Mack and her son, Mikey. Yesterday, you heard an expert fire investigator discuss the plausibility of the theory that Angie and Mikey were burned in Clarence Krusen’s home furnace. Was it possible that their bodies were completely destroyed, leaving no physical evidence to be recovered? Today we’re bringing you the final episode in this series. We’re going to take a look at all of the other characters and moving parts in this story. In the end, we’ll leave you with a question: did Clarence Krusen kill Angela and Mikey and burn their bodies as investigators say he did? Or is there a possibility something else happened, that there is truth in many of the persistent rumors in Salem, Arkansas? Could this case have an entirely different ending and remains anything but solved? 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/thevanished If 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:16:15

Replay Case Continued: Angela Mack and Thomas "Mikey" Rettew - The Furnace

9/7/2023
This episode originally aired on June 14, 2021. Today, we’re taking a look at another aspect of the developments in this case, the furnace that law enforcement alleges Clarence Krusen used to dispose of Angie and Mikey. Is this theory even possible? 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/thevanished If 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:41:05

Replay Case Continued: Angela Mack and Thomas "Mikey" Rettew - The Dead Man

9/6/2023
This episode originally aired on June 8, 2021. In early April, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office announced that they had solved and closed the 2002 disappearances of 20-year-old Angela Mack and her son, Thomas “Mikey” Rettew. Our last episode explored the dramatic turn of events in Angela and Mikey’s mysterious disappearances since we originally aired their story in March. Today, we’re continuing our dive into this incredible, still developing story. "The Dead Man" explores who Clarence Krusen was, his criminal history, and many attempts to adopt children from struggling parents. 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/thevanished If 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:09:41

Replay Case Continued: Angela Mack and Thomas "Mikey" Rettew - House of Cards

9/5/2023
This episode was originally published on June 7, 2021. Three months ago, we brought you the story of the disappearance of Angela Mack and her son Thomas "Mikey" Rettew from a small town in northwest Arkansas. No one knew who had seen Angela and Mikey last or under what circumstances. Our records requests with law enforcement were ignored, and our efforts to conduct an in-depth interview with the investigator were denied. Then, in a bizarre plot twist that seemed almost stranger than fiction, the investigating agency announced that the disappearances had been solved and the case closed almost exactly one month after we aired the original episode. But is the case closed and the mystery solved? We'll let you decide. 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/thevanished If 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:08:00

Replay: Angela Mack and Thomas "Mikey" Rettew

9/4/2023
This episode first aired on March 8, 2021. Angie and Mikey’s story was challenging to cobble together from bits of memories, letters, and tiny threads of verifiable information regarding when they were last seen and who they were with. When we published this story, we had no idea what was about to happen next, and that a case where we began with almost nothing would then turn into an entire series. We wanted to share their story again this week because they are still missing. However, law enforcement has since closed their case because they believe they know what happened to Angie and Mikey. We will drop one episode each day this week to help spread awareness about this young mother and son who vanished without a trace, and the world seemed to move on without ever noticing. 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 Thomas Rettew, you are asked to call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or 1-800-843-5678. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:14:52

Replay: Alexandria "Ali" Lowitzer

8/28/2023
On the afternoon of April 26th, 2010, 16-year-old Alexandria Joy Lowitzer, or Ali as she was known, got off of her school bus across from her home in Spring, Texas. Ali, a sophomore at Spring High School, wanted to walk up to her new workplace, The Burger Barn. She had a paycheck to collect and she told her mom she might be able to pick up a shift that afternoon. Her mom, Jo Ann, was reluctant because Ali had only been working there a few weeks and she hadn’t walked there before. Ali pleaded with her mom until she gave in. Two boys got off the bus with Ali and noticed she lagged behind, not walking as she usually would towards her home, but going the opposite way, out of the neighbourhood in the direction of the Burger Barn. Ali didn't make it to The Burger Barn and was never seen or heard from again. If you have any information about the disappearance of Ali Lowitzer, please contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office 713-221-6000. The episode was co-researched and written by Marissa Jones and Anna Priestland. 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: Facebook Instagram Twitter Patreon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:20:18