Casefile True Crime — Case 333: Dianne Babcock

Date: October 11, 2025
Podcast: Casefile True Crime
Theme: The mysterious disappearance and tragic death of 18-year-old Diane Babcock in 1982, her boyfriend's decades-long flight from justice, and the unresolved questions that haunt one of Canada’s most enigmatic true crime cases.

Episode Overview

This episode of Casefile dives deep into the 1982 disappearance of Dianne Babcock and her boyfriend, Jerry (Yaroslav) Ambrozik. The story unfolds as a blend of tragic romance, botched escape, and lingering suspicion. The narrative explores a failed elopement plan via stolen aircraft, the subsequent death of Diane, Jerry’s remarkable evasion for more than two decades, and ongoing debates surrounding guilt, accident, and motive.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

The Disappearance (00:33–15:00)

• Flight Plan and Departure:
  On August 22, 1982, Jerry and Diane departed Vancouver in a Cessna C150, landing in Penticton, British Columbia. After lunch and a swim, they took off, seemingly bound for Vancouver. Their last confirmed communication was a call by Diane to her family upon landing in Penticton.

• Initial Concerns:
  When the teens failed to arrive home, police and family launched an extensive search.
  "The start of their journey home had been relatively smooth…But beyond the valley, the landscape quickly became far more treacherous." (07:55)

• Flight Route Uncertainty:
  Witnesses reported the Cessna off its planned route, possibly entering a no-fly zone near a Canadian observatory. Anomalies in flight and lack of distress call heightened fears.

Search and Jerry’s Background (15:01–25:30)

• Search Efforts:
  Massive ground and aerial search operations yielded no evidence, partly hindered by the lack of an Emergency Locator Transmitter on the Cessna.
• Jerry’s Skills:
  Jerry was a licensed pilot with moderate experience but lacked mountain and night flying qualifications.
• Survival Odds:
  Experts described the bleak likelihood of survival in the region’s rugged terrain.

The Shocking Phone Call & Confession (25:31–36:10)

• One Week Later: “Jerry” Calls Home:
  On August 30, Jerry’s best friend Tom receives a collect call from “Luis Gomez”—Jerry in disguise. Initially, Jerry claims to be in New York, then confusingly asserts uncertainty over his location.
  • Quote:
    “When Tom asked how he had gotten to New York, Jerry changed his story...He now claimed that he didn't know his exact location, only that it was a very small town.” (29:45)
• Jerry’s Account of the Crash:
  Jerry recounts a crash into a mountain lake (Little Bitterroot, Montana), claiming Diane drowned, trapped by her seatbelt. He claims he tried to save her but failed.

Unraveling the Mystery (36:11–45:00)

• Reports and Evidence in Montana:

  • Odd sightings of a young, wet stranger at Little Bitterroot Lake.
  • Discovery of Cessna-related debris and a suspicious oily sheen on the lake.
  • Further forensic efforts (parabolic microphones, sonar, divers)—initially unsuccessful.

• Elopement or Accident?:

  • Jerry’s second call details a deliberate plan to leave Vancouver using the ruse of a single-day flight.
  • Planned escape on foot after sinking the Cessna.
  • Evidence in the plane (hair dye, disguised gear) supports Jerry’s version.

Complicated Motives and Family Perspectives (45:01–60:00)

• Romeo and Juliet Narrative vs. Family Reality:
  Disapproving parents, rumors of a forbidden romance, and speculation surrounding Diane's secret abortion days before the flight.
  • Quote:
    "The Babcocks made public appeals for Jerry's return, believing 'he's the only one who really knows what happened.'" (61:30)
• Suspicions of Criminal Activity:
  No evidence found of drugs or smuggling. Investigators remained split: Canadian police accepted the accidental death theory; American police sought homicide charges.

The Lake Yields Answers; Case Grows Colder (60:01–70:00)

• Discovery of the Plane and Dianes’s Body:
  Nearly a month after the crash, sonar identifies the Cessna at the bottom of Little Bitterroot Lake. Diane is found inside, neatly strapped in, hair caught in the door, no signs of foul play, but with injuries consistent with a crash and cause of death as drowning.
• Autopsy and Evidence:
  Autopsy reveals recent abortion and corroborates accidental drowning. Rescue equipment, survival gear hint at escape plans.

Jerry’s Life on the Run (70:01–80:00)

• Identity Change and Evasion:
  Jerry forges a new identity as “Michael Smith” in Texas, living under the radar for over 20 years, building what appears to be a successful and stable life.
• Dateline Warrant and Capture:
  • Notable Quote:
    “When they checked their database, they realised that Jerry had two encounters with police after 1982...Because he had no prior police record under the name Jerry Ambrozic, there was nothing to connect the two identities.” (80:50)
  • In 2006, he’s discovered due to an online relationship and Gina Johnson’s suspicions/research.

Later Developments and Legal Resolution (80:01–90:00)

• Jerry’s Arrest and Trial:
  Jerry is extradited, pleads guilty to reduced charges, and receives only a suspended sentence, serving jail time for passport fraud but none for Diane’s death.
  • Quote:
    "He received two concurrent 10 year sentences, all suspended, meaning he served no prison time for Diane Babcock's death." (87:25)
• Ongoing Debate:
  • Jerry maintains innocence, insists Diane was a willing partner, claims media and police bias.
  • U.S. investigators, Diane’s family, and critics remain unconvinced—suspecting neglect or murder.

Key Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Diane’s Death:
  "It's like half of you dying." — Jerry to Tom Pawlowski (52:25)

• On Escape Mentality:
  "I think I'll like it this way. I don't know why, but it seems kinda, I guess, adventurous or something. You know, I was always a freak for that." — Jerry (52:55)

• Det. Pat Walsh (Dateline):
  "Imagine being in a craft that's sinking and you're holding your breath and you're scrambling. You know the belt's stuck...I'd probably break my fingers...There was none of that." (70:45)

• Gerry on Facing the Babcocks:
  "There is no apology sufficient enough to erase the pain and suffering of all those involved...the one and most important reason I could not come forward earlier is because of the pain and sorrow in my own heart due to the loss of Diane..." (91:15)

• Dateline, Keith Morrison to Jerry:
  "This is one of those kinds of cases where really you're the only person on the planet who knows the truth." — Morrison
  [Jerry nods in silence.] (93:00)

Unanswered Questions and Themes

• Accident or Negligence vs. Malice:
  While official findings support an accidental crash, persistent doubts remain about Jerry's behavior during and after the incident.
• Motivations for Running:
  Jerry’s explanations waver: Was his motive fear, guilt, or calculation?
• Portrayal of Diane:
  Questions persist about Diane’s agency and choices; was she a willing partner in a reckless plan, or a vulnerable accomplice left behind?
• Impact on Families:
  Unresolved grief for the Babcocks; Jerry’s parents’ unwavering hope; the devastation of truth revealed too late for closure.

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• Flight and Disappearance: 00:33–15:00
• Search and Jerry’s Pilot Background: 15:01–25:30
• Jerry’s Confessional Calls to Tom: 25:31–36:10
• Montana Investigation & Lake Evidence: 36:11–45:00
• Elopement Plan/Family Context: 45:01–60:00
• Plane Recovered; Diane’s Fate Confirmed: 60:01–70:00
• Jerry’s U.S. Escape and Life: 70:01–80:00
• Capture and Aftermath: 80:01–94:00

Conclusion

Case 333 explores the limits of youthful fantasy, the shattering of dreams through tragic accident, and the enduring scars of unanswered questions. Even with Jerry’s capture and full recounting, the episode concludes with the core mystery unresolved: was this a doomed romance, a calculated crime, or simply a tragedy without villains? As Keith Morrison remarks in his interview, only Jerry truly knows the truth. The Babcock case remains, decades on, a haunting study in ambiguity — where fact, loss, and unanswered questions remain entwined at the bottom of a cold, silent lake.