Among The Missing: "If the World Explodes, it’s Not My Fault - Part 2"

Release Date: April 10, 2025
Host/Author: FTM Media
Podcast Title: Among The Missing

Overview

In the second part of the episode titled "If the World Explodes, it’s Not My Fault," host Jaden Brandt delves deeper into the mysterious disappearance of Elaine Park. Building upon the foundations laid in Part 1, this installment uncovers new evidence, challenges previous theories, and explores the complex web of relationships and events leading up to Elaine's vanishing on January 28, 2017. The episode intertwines detailed case analysis with personal interviews, painting a comprehensive picture of the ongoing investigation.

Key Findings and New Evidence

Psychotic Episodes and Substance Use

Jaden introduces crucial medical studies that shed light on Elaine's possible mental state around the time of her disappearance. Referencing a case study by P. Malek Ahmadi and M.L. Ramsey (00:53), he highlights how codeine use can lead to severe psychotic episodes. He posits:

"If Elaine was having one of those episodes and it started around New Year's Eve... it was totally possible that it was still going on when she disappeared." (04:20)

Further supporting this, the study by L. Lowe and Ke Wong reveals that even moderate use of codeine combined with cough syrup ("lean") can exacerbate symptoms, potentially influencing Elaine's behavior during her disappearance (07:15).

Behavioral Anomalies Leading Up to Disappearance

Divine, a close associate of Elaine, reported unusual behavior the night before her disappearance. He described Elaine as "acting really strange," getting up early, singing, dancing, and dressing unusually fast before leaving abruptly (06:45). However, discrepancies in Divine's account regarding the time Elaine left—initially stating 4 am then changing to 6 am—raise questions about his reliability and possible involvement (07:30).

Jaden suggests that these behavioral changes are consistent with someone experiencing a mental break, aligning with the earlier discussion on substance-induced psychosis.

Investigation into Elaine's Personal Devices

Cell Phone and Data Access Issues

Elaine's cell phone, found abandoned with her belongings, posed a significant hurdle in the investigation. Initial attempts to unlock it without the PIN were unsuccessful, leading to a public reward of $450 for the PIN code (09:00). Eventually, the PIN was discovered to be Divine's street address, highlighting possible connections between Elaine and Divine (10:30).

A critical setback was that Elaine's iCloud had ceased backing up a day before her disappearance, resulting in the loss of crucial data from her phone and laptop during the pivotal 24-hour period leading up to her vanishing (11:15).

Cellebrite, a specialized data recovery firm, eventually accessed the data within Elaine's handset, uncovering valuable information about her digital activities and interactions.

Suspicious Activities and Unanswered Questions

Tonya's Confrontation with Daisy

During the large-scale search for Elaine organized around mid-January 2017, Tonya, Divine's mother, confronts Daisy aggressively, calling her a "little bitch" and distributing missing persons flyers (16:00). This altercation remains unexplained, adding another layer of mystery and suspicion regarding Divine's family involvement.

Discrepancies in Friendships and Social Media

Daisy's interviews reveal inconsistencies in her relationship with Elaine. While she claims not to have seen Elaine for over a month, evidence from social media suggests otherwise. For instance, Elizabeth's tweet on January 26 hints at underlying tensions and unresolved issues within their friend group (09:30).

Moreover, Elaine's Snapchat activities indicate frequent use of "lean" with Divine, suggesting potential substance abuse that could have influenced her mental state (07:10).

The Impact of Past Trauma

A critical segment of the episode addresses a traumatic event Elaine experienced in the summer of 2015—a sexual assault that she blocked out for over a year. This revelation, uncovered through interviews with Sadie and Daisy (14:00), explores how this unresolved trauma might have played a role in Elaine's behavior and eventual disappearance.

Jaden emphasizes the significance of this event:

"Elaine was just 18 years old at the time it happened... she went through something nobody should ever be subjected to." (21:15)

Despite friends' attempts to inform the police, Elaine never filed a report, leaving the abusers unaccounted for and the case unresolved.

Breakthrough in Social Media Analysis

In a personal recount, Jaden shares a breakthrough moment where he discovers unusual login activity on Elaine's secondary Instagram account from Kiev, Ukraine, just a day before her disappearance (25:00). This unexpected international connection opens new avenues for investigation, suggesting possible external involvement or digital manipulation.

"Someone had logged in all the way from Kiev, Ukraine, and it wasn't the only time that had happened." (25:45)

This finding raises critical questions about potential third-party involvement and the global scope of Elaine's disappearance.

Conclusion and Ongoing Efforts

The episode concludes with an air of unresolved tension, highlighting the myriad unanswered questions surrounding Elaine Park's disappearance. Jaden reiterates the complexity of the case and the relentless pursuit of truth despite the challenges:

"This is Among The Missing—a new take on true crime, and a search for answers that won’t stop until we find them." (27:00)

Listeners are encouraged to provide any information that could aid in locating Elaine, with a substantial reward still available for pertinent tips.

Notable Quotes

• Jaden Brandt (04:20): "If Elaine was having one of those episodes and it started around New Year's Eve... it was totally possible that it was still going on when she disappeared."

• Daisy (09:06): "No. Well, I. I don't think so, because why would she go, like, just down there?"

• Sadie (16:37): "She was trying to face something she'd buried for over a year. And then just a few weeks later, she was gone."

• Jaden Brandt (21:15): "Elaine was just 18 years old at the time it happened... she went through something nobody should ever be subjected to."

Unaddressed Revelations and Future Directions

The discovery of unauthorized access from Kiev remains a tantalizing clue that the investigation is far from closed. Future episodes are poised to explore these international connections, potential third-party involvements, and delve deeper into the psychological and environmental factors that may have contributed to Elaine's disappearance.

For those seeking to assist, Elaine Park remains a missing person with an open case at the Glendale Police Department. Information can be directed to amongthemmissingpodcast.com or contacted through their social media channels.

Produced by: FTM Media
Written by: Troy Taylor
Theme Song: "Lucid Symphony" by Dirty Freaks

If you have any information regarding Elaine Park's disappearance, please contact the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-3135, referencing case number 171512.