The Vanished Podcast

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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 atHungryroot.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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

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.This episode was sponsored by:Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $10 value on a $15 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.Blue Nile- Experience the ease and convenience of shopping Blue Nile today at BlueNile.com.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.

In the spring of 1982, 22-year-old Diana Avera was sent to Searcy Hospital, a mental health facility in southern Alabama. Diana was arrested for disorderly conduct in Foley, Alabama, where she lived. The details of her arrest are unknown because we only truly know what happened after her arrest. Diana had several mental health diagnoses, and the decision was made to send her to the mental health facility. Just three months later, around the beginning of August 1982, Diana allegedly escaped from the hospital and was never seen again. But is that really what happened 40 years ago in a case shrouded in secrets, abusive hospital practices, and unanswered questions? If you have any information about Diana’s disappearance, please call the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office at 251-574-8720.This episode was sponsored by:Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, we shared Part 1 of Dorothy Goroshko's story. You learned about Dorothy's life from her sons, John and Rick. Rick and John's lives were never easy, not before their mother disappeared and not after. Despite Dorothy's faults, Rick wants to find her, and John believes he deserves an answer. They lost their mother at a critical time in their lives. Rick and John were still kids, left to wonder if their mother had simply chosen to abandon them or if something terrible had happened to her. Neither outcome made them feel any better about any of it. The boys also had to work to maintain a roof over their heads and put food on the table. On June 4, 1975, Dorothy Goroshko left home to meet friends for drinks at The Penalty Box in Boston, MA. Dorothy's group of friends were known to frequent that bar in North Station. Dorothy's friends recalled that she was with them that evening, and they stayed until closing. They said their goodbyes, and no one was sure where Dorothy headed next. There were rumors about after-hours clubs in the area, but no one could confirm that she had been at any of those establishments that night. Could Dorothy have headed home and gotten into an accident? Could she have gone home with someone she met that night? Or could she have gone to meet someone afterward? In recent years, one person has told a story about seeing Dorothy late that night.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Dorothy Goroshko, please contact the Boston Police Department Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. If you want to remain anonymous, please call 1-800-494-TIPS or text "TIP" to 27463. This episode was sponsored by:Goodrx- For simple, smart savings on your prescriptions check GoodRX. 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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On June 4, 1975, Dorothy Goroshko went out to have drinks with some girlfriends in Boston, MA. Her three sons, ages 21, 14, and 12, were at home that evening and went to bed that night, not thinking anything was amiss. The following morning, Dorothy wasn't there. The younger two boys got themselves off to school and figured that their mother must have spent the night with a friend and she would be back by the time the school day was over. They were shocked that their mother still hadn't returned that evening. The boys weren't sure what to do, so they kept waiting. After a few days without word from their mother, Dorothy's son went to the police station to report her missing. Forty-eight years later, Dorothy's sons are still searching for answers.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Dorothy Goroshko, please contact the Boston Police Department Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. If you want to remain anonymous, please call 1-800-494-TIPS or text "TIP" to 27463.This episode was sponsored by:Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $10 value on a $15 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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last month, we shared Ruth Egnoski’s story with you. It was a complicated story to piece together from newspaper archives and what people could remember so many decades later. It felt as though there were many holes in the story that we may never get to fill in due to the passage of time. We couldn’t even nail down what year Ruth vanished. We had submitted several record requests to the Delavan Police Department. Unfortunately, at the time that episode was produced, we had not heard anything. We decided to go forward with production because sometimes we never hear back, despite open records laws requiring a response within a specified period of time.Less than a month after our episode aired, we were shocked to receive a large police file from the Delavan Police Department. The information in this file fills in many gaps in the story and answers many questions we had a month ago. What we learned while reading those files was shocking. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Ruth Egnoski, please call the Delavan Police Department at 262-728-6311.This episode was sponsored by:Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $10 value on a $15 min sub total when you download the Doordash App and enter code TV.Audible- Visit Audible.com/SpaceWithin to listen now.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.

On January 27, 2022, 23-year-old Angelina Morales got a pizza and went to her great aunt's house in Santa Ana, California, to share a meal with her. No one quite knows what happened after this, but others reported seeing Angelina around Santa Ana in early February. Then, Angelina's friends and family realized that no one could find her. Angelina has never been seen again, and what happened to her remains a dark mystery woven from cautionary tales, risk-taking, and shady characters who seem to want to forget Angie altogether.If you have any information about the disappearance of Angelina Morales, please call the Santa Ana Police Department at 714-245-8665.This episode was sponsored by:Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.MasterClass- Get 15% off an annual membership at masterclass.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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, we brought you the first part of James Lewis' story. Jim Lewis was a decorated veteran who had recently retired after serving in the United States Army for 25 years. Jim and his wife Patsy purchased a home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which was supposed to be their forever home, after moving all over the US and the world for many years. They were putting their roots down finally, and Patsy was able to start hanging those pictures on the walls. But it didn't even last a year because, in October of 1982, Jim pulled out of the driveway headed to a job interview in Vero Beach, Florida, and never came home. The police were convinced that Jim had willingly abandoned his family, and they weren't interested in investigating. His family did what they could on their own, but that wasn't bringing them any solid answers. Then, Jim's car was found months later at the local airport in Fayetteville. It had been parked there since October 6, 1982, three days after Jim left, supposedly to drive to Florida. None of it seemed to make sense to his family. He always cared for them and wouldn't have left them this way. Over the years, some tidbits of clues have been revealed that could point to an outcome that no one ever saw coming.If you have any information about the disappearance of James Lewis, please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at (910) 323-1500.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 on a $15 min sub total when you download the Doordash App and enter code TV.Goodrx- For simple, smart savings on your prescriptions check GoodRX. 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:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On October 3, 1982, 42-year-old James Lewis left his home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jim told his family he planned to drive to Vero Beach, FL, for a job interview. Jim was a decorated veteran who had recently retired from the Army. He was a skilled pilot looking for something to do in the next phase of his life post-retirement. He was interviewing for a position ferrying airplanes from a dealer in Florida to buyers. After Jim left, his family never heard from him again, something that was very unusual for Jim. Months later, in January of 1983, Jim’s wife received a call from a local airport, stating that his car had been parked there since early October, just days after her husband had vanished. Had Jim actually driven to Florida? Had he taken a flight somewhere? Why was his car at the airport? These questions have haunted his family for more than 40 years.If you have any information about the disappearance of James Lewis, please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at (910) 323-1500.This episode was sponsored by:Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.Zocdoc- Go to Zocdoc.com/VANISHED and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor.Earth Breeze- Listeners can subscribe to Earth Breeze and save 40%! Go toearthbreeze.com/vanished to get started.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.

Christopher Abeyta was just seven months old when he disappeared from his crib in his Colorado Springs, CO, home on July 15, 1986. For over 30 years, his family has continued to search and fight for justice. In recent years, a person of interest was identified. In Part 2, you will hear about the legal battle between this person of interest and the Abeyta family. We will also discuss some other recent developments in the case.If you have any information about the disappearance of Christopher Abeyta, please call 1-800-The-Lost or the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000.You can follow Christopher's case at findchristopher.com or https://www.facebook.com/findchristopher/.NCMEC video mentioned in the episode: Christopher Abeyta - A shocking disappearanceInside Edition video mentioned in the episode: Recovery of Missing ChildrenIf 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.

Christopher Abeyta was just seven months old when he disappeared from his crib on July 15, 1986. His family lived in a quiet neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and were in the habit of leaving their doors unlocked. No one heard anyone come in and take Christopher that night, but by morning, he was gone. Panic immediately set in when no one could find the baby. They ran downstairs to find the front door left open. The investigation focused on the family for a long time, but in recent years, a person of interest has been identified. Even though detectives focused so much on the family, that didn't stop the Abeyta family from searching independently. One of Christopher's sisters, Denise, joined me for this episode.In this first part of the story, we discuss the first 23 years of the search for Christopher. If you have any information about the disappearance of Christopher Abeyta, please call 1-800-THE-LOST or the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000.You can follow Christopher's case at findchristopher.com or https://www.facebook.com/findchristopher/.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.

Sometime between the summer of 1964 and 1966, a young woman named Ruth Egnoski disappeared from Delavan, Wisconsin. No one can remember precisely when for sure. Depending on the year, she would have been between the ages of 18 and 20. Her family said that they reported Ruth missing to the local police, but they didn't do anything to search for her. The family hired a private investigator who said they were able to find that Ruth had taken a bus to Chicago. Over the years, some strange things happened. First, in the 1970s, the missing woman's social security card turned up in the office of a local school custodian. In the 1980s, luggage was found hidden in the ceiling in that same custodian's office, and the custodian happened to be Ruth's stepfather. Could there be a link? It took decades for this cold case to heat up, but it fizzled out again, and today remains unsolved.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Ruth Egnoski, please call the Delavan Police Department at 262-728-6311.This episode was sponsored by:Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $10 on a $15 min sub total and $0 delivery fees when you download the Doordash App and enter code TVSUMMER.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.