Among The Missing - Episode: "If the World Explodes, it's Not My Fault - Part 1"

Host: Troy Taylor
Release Date: April 7, 2025
Podcast Information:
On January 28, 2017, Elaine Park mysteriously vanished. Her car was discovered five days later in Malibu with all belongings intact but no sign of Elaine. Years passed with the case unsolved until new leads emerged, prompting a fresh investigation conducted remotely from over 7,000 miles away.

Overview

In the premiere episode of "Among The Missing," host Troy Taylor delves deep into the enigmatic disappearance of Elaine Park. The episode, titled "If the World Explodes, it's Not My Fault - Part 1," explores new leads that challenge longstanding theories, highlights overlooked details, and introduces fresh evidence. Central to this investigation are interviews with Elaine's close friends, Sadie and Daisy, whose insights shed light on Elaine's mental state and the events leading up to her disappearance.

Key Sections

1. Introduction to Elaine Park’s Disappearance
2. Interview with Sadie
3. Host’s Analysis and Discussion
4. Interview with Daisy
5. Mental Health Considerations
6. Conclusion and Next Steps

1. Introduction to Elaine Park’s Disappearance

Troy Taylor sets the stage by recounting the mysterious disappearance of Elaine Park. On January 28, 2017, Elaine vanished without a trace. Five days later, her car was found on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, with keys in the ignition, lights on, and all personal belongings still inside. The only absence was of Elaine herself. Years of investigations yielded no substantial answers, but recent developments have reignited hopes of solving the case.

2. Interview with Sadie

Sadie, Elaine’s best friend, provides a detailed account of the days leading up to Elaine's disappearance. The interview begins at [02:52] with Jaden Brandt from Origin Investigations recording the conversation.

Key Points from Sadie:

• Elaine’s Emotional State: Sadie describes Elaine as going through significant changes in early 2017. Elaine was distancing herself from old friends and focusing on her personal issues, including mental health struggles.

  "I've honestly thought everything at one point, but right now, I mean, at one point I thought it was possible it could have been suicide." ([03:01])

• Last Interaction: The last time Sadie saw Elaine was the night she went missing. Elaine was acting differently, possibly upset, and wanted to attend a "kickback" in Glendora alone—a departure from her usual behavior of attending parties with friends.

  "She told me she was driving around LA. So I think it was right after she went to go pick up money from her dad." ([04:21])

• Relationship with Divine (Div): Elaine had a strained relationship with Divine, who did not provide the emotional support Elaine needed.

  "He'd kind of, like, disregard or make a really, like, sarcastic statement... not very nice and, like, caring and, like, trying to, like, help her." ([06:19])

• Behavioral Changes: Elaine exhibited signs of a mental breakdown, expressing beliefs that the world would explode and that she was speaking to God.

  "She was saying I was gonna explode. Like, it's gonna. Like she was saying I was gonna explode." ([09:03])

• Financial Struggles: Elaine was financially unstable, often overdrawing her bank account and relying on friends and family for money, adding to her stress.

  "She was really bad with her money. She would get her money and, like, blow it all in a day." ([12:15])

• Final Days: On the morning of January 28th, despite severe weather conditions, Elaine was seen driving and later left her house without explanation.

  "She was wearing shorts that night, gotten out of her car then if it was like that." ([11:31])

Notable Quotes:

• “Elaine was acting different. Like, I thought maybe she was like mad at me or something...” ([04:36])
• “She was acting pretty different... She was just saying weird things.” ([08:37])
• “Her habits didn't really change, but she was acting different.” ([09:36])

3. Host’s Analysis and Discussion

After Sadie’s interview, Troy Taylor analyzes the information, highlighting Elaine’s deteriorating mental health and financial instability as significant stressors. He emphasizes the discrepancy between Elaine’s outward behaviors and her internal struggles, pointing towards a possible mental health crisis.

"Sadie says Elaine tried to call her 15 times and text her eight times the night before on the Thursday night in an effort to get Sadie to come with her..." ([19:03])

Troy underscores the importance of understanding Elaine's mental state and the impact of her financial troubles, which could have contributed to her disappearance.

4. Interview with Daisy

Daisy, another close friend of Elaine, shares her perspective on Elaine's disappearance in a recorded interview starting at [20:50].

Key Points from Daisy:

• Initial Reactions: Daisy initially thought Elaine might have simply wanted space but became increasingly concerned when Elaine stopped responding to messages and calls.

  "I thought she hadn't gone up just because she wanted to. She'll do that sometimes." ([21:03])

• Last Known Activities: Daisy recounts the last time she interacted with Elaine, detailing a movie outing with Divine where Elaine exhibited uncharacteristic behavior, leading to her abrupt departure at 4 AM.

  "They went to the movies... She was just laying there not saying much." ([27:08])

• Elaine's Self-Reliance: Despite her financial and emotional struggles, Daisy portrays Elaine as a resilient individual who would take action, such as picking up her car when it didn’t start.

  "She'll walk and until she'll find somebody to come and help her." ([31:24])

• Access to Personal Devices: Daisy attempted to access Elaine's phone using known passcodes but was unsuccessful, leaving critical information locked away.

  "The codes that you tried were just things you were just trying to remember." ([31:58])

Notable Quotes:

• “She didn't say anything. She'll say something... if she would never leave her laptop. Her laptop is like, her." ([22:55])
• “She just didn't think the world's gonna explode. I was telling her...” ([09:20])

5. Mental Health Considerations

The episode places significant emphasis on Elaine’s mental health, drawing connections between her beliefs of talking to God and her fears of the world exploding. These factors suggest that Elaine may have been experiencing a severe mental health crisis leading up to her disappearance.

"The idea that she was talking back [to God], that's a whole different thing. And adding to that, this belief that the world was going to explode if she left the house that night..." ([20:28])

Troy posits that Elaine's mental state was fragile, possibly exacerbated by her financial woes and unsupportive relationships, making her vulnerable to drastic actions.

6. Conclusion and Next Steps

Troy Taylor wraps up the episode by summarizing the key findings from Sadie and Daisy’s interviews. He hints at uncovering a pivotal moment or event that may have triggered Elaine’s disappearance in the upcoming episode.

"I think I might have the answer to exactly what caused that. But that's in Part two of this week's episode of Among The Missing." ([35:24])

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe for early access and bonus content, including unedited interviews with Sadie and Daisy. A reward fund of $25,000 is still available for information leading to Elaine's whereabouts, urging anyone with relevant information to contact the Glendale Police Department or the podcast’s official channels.

Additional Information

• Contact Information:
  For those with information about Elaine Park’s disappearance, contact Glendale Police Department at 818-548-3135 (Case Number 171512) or visit the podcast’s website at amongthemissingpodcast.com.

• Social Media:
  Follow Among The Missing on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at @amongthemissingpodcast.

• Support the Investigation:
  A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading to Elaine’s discovery. Contributions and tips can be submitted through the podcast’s website or social media platforms.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sadie: “I’ve honestly thought everything at one point, but right now..." ([03:01])
• Sadie: “She was acting pretty different...” ([08:37])
• Sadie: “She was really bad with her money...” ([12:15])
• Daisy: “I thought she hadn’t gone up just because she wanted to...” ([21:03])
• Daisy: “She just didn’t think the world's gonna explode...” ([09:20])
• Host (Troy): “Sadie says Elaine tried to call her 15 times...” ([19:03])
• Host (Troy): “I think I might have the answer to exactly what caused that...” ([35:24])

Final Thoughts

The first part of "If the World Explodes, it's Not My Fault" sets a compelling foundation for unraveling the mystery behind Elaine Park's disappearance. Through heartfelt interviews and meticulous analysis, Troy Taylor brings to light the complexities of Elaine's life, emphasizing the profound impact of mental health and personal struggles. As the investigation progresses, listeners are poised to gain deeper insights and, hopefully, move closer to uncovering the truth behind Elaine's vanishing.

Stay Tuned for Part 2:
The next episode will explore potential triggers and pivotal moments that may have led to Elaine’s disappearance, along with further interviews and evidence analysis.