Cold Podcast: The Search for Sheree | Bonus: The Causey Search | Episode 15

Host: Dave Cawley (with reporting by Dan Rascone)
Date: September 13, 2023

Episode Overview

This bonus episode provides an in-depth look at the recent excavation near Causey Reservoir in Northern Utah, as investigators search for potential graves connected to the cold cases of Sheree Warren and Joyce Yost. Host Dave Cawley recounts the evidence leading up to this search, the detailed process of the dig itself, and the lingering questions and emotional realities faced by those seeking to uncover the truth in decades-old missing persons cases.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Context and Cases Connected (00:00–09:00)

• The episode opens with a vivid description of detectives excavating a possible clandestine grave near Causey Reservoir.
• Background:
  • Sheree Warren disappeared in 1985 after planning to meet her estranged husband.
  • Joyce Yost was kidnapped and murdered a few months earlier; her case is featured in Cold Season 2.
  • Both cases are likely unrelated, but geographic and circumstantial parallels exist.
• Quote:

  "These two cases, Cherie Warren's and Joyce Yost's, are likely unrelated, but they occurred in close proximity to one another in space and time. Over the last nearly 40 years, they've bled into one another." — Dave Cawley (01:19)

2. Recap of Joyce Yost and Sheree Warren Cases (03:17–07:32)

• Joyce Yost Case:
  • Assaulted and kidnapped by Doug Lovell, who later killed her and hid her body.
  • Yost bravely reported her attack despite fears of humiliation and retaliation.
  • Lovell’s conviction occurred without a body being found.
• Sheree Warren Case:
  • Disappeared after leaving work, last planning to meet her estranged husband.
  • Police initially focused on Charles Warren (estranged husband), but also suspected ex-boyfriend Kerry Hartman, a former police reserve officer.
  • Several unusual clues, including her car found in Las Vegas, complicated the investigation.

3. Why Causey Reservoir?—Links and Leads (07:44–14:12)

• Anonymous Tip:
  • In 1987, a caller claimed to have found a woman’s body near Causey, but would not provide more details.
• Suspect Connections:
  • Witnesses placed Kerry Hartman in the mountains behind Causey soon after Sheree disappeared; his friends owned cabins there.
  • Doug Lovell (in Joyce’s case) was also linked to the Causey area through interviews and later informant tips.
• Repeated Frustrations:
  • Both police and podcast investigators chased multiple leads in the remote, rugged lands around Causey Estates, digging based on maps, aerial images, and informant “drawn maps” that never yielded remains.
• Quote:

  “Sorting fact from fiction remains a major challenge in these two cases. But what I hope you’re seeing is a lot of circumstantial evidence points toward Causey Reservoir as an important landmark in the disappearances of Sherry Warren and Joyce Yost.” — Dave Cawley (14:12)

4. The Search: From Aerial Images to On-the-Ground Investigation (15:54–22:24)

• Discovery of the Rock Pile:
  • Dave Cawley analyzed historic aerial images, finding a suspicious 6 ft. by 3 ft. pile of rocks along an old jeep trail near Causey Estates (16:41).
  • No similar piles existed nearby, increasing suspicion it could mark a grave.
• Journalistic Ethics:
  • Cawley struggled with whether to involve the police and how to maintain independence as a journalist (17:36–18:56).
  • Ultimately, he shared his findings with Detective John Frawley, prompting Roy City Police to act.

5. The 2023 Excavation—Methodical Search and Emotional Stakes (22:24–30:03)

• The Dig Unfolds:

  • KSL reporters and police methodically documented and excavated the site, using advanced 3D scanning, drones, and careful sifting.
  • Memorable Moment:

    “With the rocks removed, we could see the pile had covered a divot or depression. The ground under the pile sat 8 to 10 inches lower than the surrounding soil. This, I had learned, could be a clue because when a buried body decomposes, the ground above it may settle.” — Dave Cawley (25:28)

  • Careful soil sifting, attention to every fragment; a .22 shell casing was among the only items found.

• Tension and Disappointment:

  • The mood turned from hope to disappointment as the hole deepened, and no remains were discovered.
  • Quote:

    "By mid-afternoon, the hole reached a depth of between 2 and 3 ft.... Proof. No one had previously dug a hole that deep at the site. It might have looked like one, but Detective Frawley said the rock pile didn’t mark a grave.” — Dave Cawley (29:03)

• Reflections on the Nature of Cold Case Work:

  • The fruitless search is framed not as failure, but as progress—another possibility checked and another moment raising public awareness and pressure on suspects.
  • Quote:

    “If there is a place to dig, we’re going to dig. If there is a place to search, we’re going to search. And we’re just not going to stop. So we will follow every tip and every lead.” — Detective John Frawley (29:41)

6. The Broader Meaning & Call to Action (30:03–End)

• Importance of Perseverance:
  • Despite the lack of findings, the investigation continues, with hope that one day answers will emerge.
• Ongoing Dedication:
  • The Cold Podcast team, especially Dave Cawley, remains committed to these cases and encourages anyone with information to come forward.
  • Quote:

    “A fruitless search is not defeat. It’s a step on the path toward truth. This will not be the last search.” — Dave Cawley (31:54)

• Resources for Victims:
  • The episode closes with information for survivors of abuse and sexual violence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the difficulty of cold cases and hope:

  "If Cherie Warren or Joyce Yost are up here, can we ever really hope to find them? Maybe not. This is the real nature of cold casework, its perpetual disappointment. And yet, I refuse to accept a fatalistic view. This search mattered for many reasons." — Dave Cawley (30:03)

• On searching every lead:

  "If there’s a place to dig, we’re going to dig. If there’s a place to search, we’re going to search. And we’re just not going to stop." — Detective John Frawley (29:41)

• On the process being as important as the outcome:

  "A fruitless search is not defeat. It’s a step on the path toward truth." — Dave Cawley (31:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–03:17: Introduction, setting, and recap of how Causey became a focus
• 03:17–07:32: Detailed case summaries for Joyce Yost and Sheree Warren
• 07:32–14:12: Exploration of early tips, evidence, and suspect connections to Causey
• 15:54–22:24: Discovery of the rock pile and ethical dilemma as a journalist
• 22:24–30:03: The dig itself—methods, atmosphere, and reactions
• 30:03–End: Reflection, call to action, and conclusion

Summary

This episode of Cold exemplifies the tireless, emotionally fraught work behind investigating unsolved disappearances. Through meticulous storytelling, Dave Cawley details both investigative process and the human toll on those seeking closure. Despite the outcome of the latest search, the episode underlines that every effort matters, each lead brings hope, and the pursuit of truth continues.