Podcast Summary: "Post Mortem | Tracker Dakota Black"

Podcast: 48 Hours
Host: Anne-Marie Green (CBS News)
Guest: Peter Van Sant (48 Hours Correspondent)
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Post Mortem" takes listeners inside the investigation of Mikayla Byers' disappearance and death in rural Macomb, Oklahoma, as reported in a recent "48 Hours" television episode. Host Anne-Marie Green is joined by correspondent Peter Van Sant to discuss the investigation, the complexities of domestic violence, and the unique contributions of Lieutenant Dakota Black—a tracker-turned-detective whose skills and compassion proved crucial in solving the case. The conversation highlights investigative breakthroughs and the personal humanity of the team that brought justice for Mikayla.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: A Rural Community with Hidden Dangers

• Macomb, Oklahoma: Small, seemingly tranquil town with a population so tiny that Mikayla and Frank Byers' blended family made up nearly 20% of its residents ([02:15]).
• Local Challenges: Peter Van Sant notes, “Oklahoma has the highest rate of domestic violence of any state in the country,” echoing Lt. Dakota Black’s observations about pervasive violence and poverty in Pottawatomie County ([02:15]).
  • Drug problems, open-carry firearm laws, and unsolved violent crimes are part of the regional landscape.
  • “There are people living off-grid ... no electricity or running water ... and they have missing people that are never found, homicides that are never solved.”

Mikayla and Frank’s Relationship: Red Flags and Manipulation

• Origin Story: Old classmates who reconnect via Facebook after years apart ([03:37]).
• Family Structure: Blended family with Mikayla’s two children and Frank’s four daughters.
• Red Flags:
  • Frank is described by Mikayla’s family as initially romantic, but manipulative and sometimes abusive. The “maternal gene” in Mikayla is cited as her motivation for staying, more for the children than for Frank ([04:13]).
  • Frank routinely fabricated stories (“...used those young girls to lure Mikayla in. He told her they’d been abused by his then-girlfriend... Investigators would later determine that was all a lie... It was Frank’s business model, and it worked.” — Peter Van Sant, [04:13]).
• Signs of Abuse: Mikayla’s family witnesses bruises, but explanations at the time focused on “roughhousing,” something they’ve since regretted not questioning further ([05:01]).

The Disappearance: From Missing Person to Homicide Investigation

• Timeline:
  • Mikayla returns home September 15, 2023, planning to leave Frank, but disappears ([05:41]).
  • Frank reports her missing on September 16, unusually quickly for such a case—Deputy Dustin Richardson’s instincts that “something seemed off” prompt a rapid response ([06:25]).
• Frank’s Behavior:
  • Appears ‘squirrely’; provides over-detailed, pre-prepared stories about an “open marriage” and Mikayla going on a date with another man ([06:59]).
• Evidence at the Scene:
  • Shell casings found in Mikayla’s shed; Frank offers implausible explanations (“She would sit inside her shed with the door open and fire at coyotes... which was ridiculous to her family because she hated guns.” — Peter Van Sant, [07:57]).
  • Forensics suggest shots fired into the shed, not out, leading to suspicion of homicide.

The Role of Lt. Dakota Black: The Tracker with Heart

• Expertise:
  • Lt. Black’s specialized training as a tracker means she's adept at spotting subtle clues that others might miss—“She notices things that others don’t” ([09:46]).
  • Peter emphasizes her emotional investment in cases, noting, “She keeps her heart right on her sleeve... that passion pushed and pushed her to get this case solved” ([10:19]).
• Team Dynamics:
  • Highly respected by her team. “They call me a cool dude with long hair because I’m meaner than any of them...” — (paraphrased, [11:01])
  • Brings her dog Haven to the office, serving as a comfort animal for victims ([11:40]):

    “She works with victims of homicides...domestic violence and sexual assault... Sometimes [victims] will cry on her, they can love on her. They can hug her. Sometimes she will lick them... she just provides comfort for them.”

Community Impact: The Sheriff’s Department

• Professionalism & Compassion:
  • Small, resource-limited team with heavy cases—described as having “a big heart and a lot of very professional, seasoned investigators” ([12:12]).
  • Peer support groups are in place for officers dealing with trauma.

Breakthroughs and Evidence

Initial Breaks in the Case

• Frank’s Absence:
  • While search parties comb for Mikayla, Frank is notably absent—despite going on local TV to play the grieving husband ([14:42]).
  • Example of performative grief, with Anne-Marie observing:

    “I was looking to see if I was seeing any real tears... sometimes people make crying noises, but they’re not actually crying.” ([15:48])

Building the Case Against Frank Byers

• Digital Forensics:

  • Investigators unearth multiple dating and social media profiles, revealing Frank’s pattern of deceit and womanizing ([16:44]).
  • Frank is shown to be texting and sending photos to other women on the day of Mikayla’s death and funeral ([16:44]).
  • Quotes: “Frank was actually texting other women on the day of Michaela’s murder. Even on the day of her funeral, Frank sent a photo of himself... asking, ‘How do I look in my tuxedo?’” — Peter Van Sant ([16:44])

• Surveillance and Receipts:

  • Home security images: Footage recovered from Frank's phone.

    “The first image you see is Mikayla coming into his home... The last image is Frank... looking out like he was about to follow Mikayla back to the shed where... investigators believe he confronted her and shot her.” ([18:08])

  • Walmart receipt and matching surveillance: Frank buys bleach, ammonia, mop—typical scene clean-up supplies ([18:59], [19:19]).
  • Carpet evidence: Victim found wrapped in carpet that investigators traced back to a neighbor ([19:28]).

• Forensic Science:

  • Shell casings, trajectory analysis, DNA evidence.
  • A failed attempt to get DNA off a bullet, but Mikayla’s blood found on Frank’s boots is the clincher ([19:54]):

    “A dark substance that was found on Frank’s boots was Mikayla’s blood. That’s when they went in for the arrest.”

Justice, Aftermath, and Broader Themes

Legal Resolution

• Arrest: Frank Byers is arrested 38 days after Mikayla’s disappearance ([20:10]).
• Plea Bargain: Facing overwhelming evidence, he pleads guilty to first-degree murder and receives life without parole—a deal which removes the death penalty ([20:10]).
  • Mikayla’s mother, Barbara, expresses feeling “this is a cop out because he chose to take Mikayla’s life and then he gets to choose his own punishment” ([20:40]).

Family’s Response and Activism

• Mikayla’s Purple Butterfly:
  • Her family starts a non-profit to support domestic violence victims by selling handmade crafts and financing transitional housing ([20:40]).

Remembering Mikayla

• Impact:
  • Mikayla is remembered as a “guardian angel” for her own kids, Frank’s daughters, and students at the local school ([21:14], [21:40]).
  • Anne-Marie reflects:

    “She was transforming the lives of his daughters, her own children, the children at school. And I think about all that was lost... the future impact she would have had...” ([21:14])

Broader Warnings

• On Domestic Violence:
  • The hosts repeatedly emphasize the importance of noticing red flags:

    “Those red flags, that gut feeling, listen to them. It may end up saving, you know, your life or the life of somebody that you love.” — Anne-Marie Green ([21:50])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Town’s Darkness:

  “It’s hard to believe, but Oklahoma has the highest rate of domestic violence of any state in the country.” — Peter Van Sant ([02:15])

• On Frank’s Manipulation:

  “It was Frank’s business model, and it worked.” — Peter Van Sant ([04:13])

• On Officer Instincts:

  “His instincts right away told him this just isn’t adding up.” — Peter Van Sant ([06:25])

• On Tracking:

  “She keeps her heart right on her sleeve... And that passion pushed and pushed her to get this case solved.” — Peter Van Sant ([10:19])

• On Evidence:

  “A dark substance that was found on Frank’s boots was Mikayla’s blood. That’s when they went in for the arrest.” — Peter Van Sant ([19:54])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:15] The hidden dangers of Macomb and Pottawatomie County.
• [04:13] Mikayla’s relationship with Frank: red flags and family concerns.
• [05:41] The initial disappearance and police response.
• [06:59] Frank’s account to police; bodycam and “squirrely” behavior.
• [07:57] Forensics at Michaela’s shed indicating likely homicide.
• [09:12] Introduction of Lt. Dakota Black and what a tracker does.
• [11:40] Dakota Black’s work with a therapy dog, Haven.
• [14:42] Community searches and Frank’s performative TV grief.
• [16:44] Investigators build their case with digital evidence.
• [18:08] Surveillance images: the last known sighting of Mikayla.
• [19:19] Frank’s suspicious Walmart purchases.
• [19:54] Forensic evidence leads to Frank’s arrest.
• [20:40] Legal outcome; family’s response and activism.
• [21:14] Remembering Mikayla’s legacy.

Tone and Style

The conversation is compassionate, respectful, and earnest—never sensational. Both Anne-Marie Green and Peter Van Sant prioritize facts and empathy, focusing on the humanity of the victim, the diligence of investigators, and the ongoing need for awareness about domestic violence.

This summary encapsulates the major themes, investigative revelations, emotional moments, and lasting social messages from “Post Mortem | Tracker Dakota Black,” providing a well-structured guide for listeners and non-listeners alike.