The Terrifying Disappearance of Madison Fields — Her Parents' Plea for Help

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Criminally Obsessed

Episode: The Terrifying Disappearance of Madison Fields — Her Parents' Plea for Help

Host: Anne Emerson
Date: March 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this deeply emotional episode, Anne Emerson brings listeners into the harrowing case of 16-year-old Madison Fields, who disappeared from Coleraine Township, Ohio on February 13th. The episode features first-hand testimony from Madison's distraught parents and gives listeners an inside look at the investigation through interviews with John Adams from Ohio Land Search and Rescue. The discussion highlights the nightmare scenario of online predation, the trauma experienced by families, and the powerful mobilization of both law enforcement and local communities in the face of tragedy.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Disappearance of Madison Fields

Timeline Recap ([00:24-09:14]):

• Madison Fields, 16, disappeared after leaving home for what her parents believed was a sleepover.
• Last seen in a parking lot near her home, carrying a backpack and a plastic bag.
• Surveillance footage shows Madison walking away but not visibly entering a car; authorities later state she entered a black Jeep with NY plates, rented by 43-year-old Kyle Lawrence.
• Madison’s phone was turned off minutes after she left, and she hasn't been heard from since.

Family’s Ordeal ([02:24-16:40]):

• Parents Carrie and Tyler Hearn express devastation and ongoing hope, supported by their local community.
• Carrie describes Madison as “a very smart girl…sweet and innocent…she always has a smile on her face” ([03:24]).
• The family recounts the shock and confusion surrounding Madison’s disappearance, and their persistent efforts working with police to seek digital clues.
• Madison's sister, her best friend, is particularly struggling with the loss.

Quote:

"Nobody should go through this. It's breaking us down." — Tyler Hearn, Madison’s father ([00:20])

2. The Predator: Kyle Lawrence ([09:14-13:29])

• Kyle Lawrence, 43, of Buffalo, NY, is arrested in connection with the case — but not charged with Madison's disappearance.
• Lawrence and Madison communicated on Snapchat and a highly encrypted messaging app called Session.
• Lawrence has a concerning digital history:
  • Two prior cyber tips about child exploitation (August 2023 and July 2025).
  • Previous confrontations with law enforcement and citizen watchdogs.
  • Allegedly posed as “Josh,” an 18-year-old, online.

Quote:

"It sounds like he should have absolutely been behind bars before he ever met Madison." — Anne Emerson ([09:11])

3. The Family’s Message and Call for Help ([13:34-16:40])

• The Hearns plead for the public to share Madison's missing photos and information.
• They urge anyone with knowledge, however minor, to contact authorities.
• Emotional message intended for Madison, in hopes she might hear:

"We love and miss her…we’re not mad at her and we just want her back home." — Carrie Hearn ([14:50])

4. Search Efforts: Ohio Land Search and Rescue ([17:55-28:05])

• John Adams details the volunteer organization’s role in the early days of the search.
• Search strategies included reviewing security footage, canvassing complex terrain, and assessing digital trails.
• Explains limitations (such as contamination by many people at the scene and the time delay before his team was authorized to deploy).

Notable Quote:

“The first 48 hours is very critical. However, we operate under the authority of law enforcement agencies…We take every tip seriously out there in the field.” — John Adams ([19:12], [21:08])

• Explains challenges: no strong leads from tips, no effective utilization of search dogs due to scene contamination, and the transition to federal resources as the case expanded.

5. Digital Dangers and Parental Concerns ([28:42-34:21])

• Open discussion of the hazards of social media apps like Snapchat and Session, where predators mask their age and intentions.
• Adams notes a disturbing uptick in missing teens after online contact — “Yes, ma’. Am. And thankfully they was recovered. They was found.” ([28:58])
• The Session app’s privacy and encryption makes monitoring and tracing exceedingly difficult.
• Comparison to the "white van" myth—now, the predator is in your child’s phone:

“The reality is the white van is in your kids’ pockets now. It’s in your living room. It’s in your house.” — National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, quoted by Anne Emerson ([30:24])

6. Possible Scenarios: Trafficking & Past Parallel Cases ([32:19-34:21])

• Discussion on human trafficking concerns — several prior disappearances and trafficking cases started on Snapchat.
• Example: A missing girl found in Texas after being lured via Snapchat by an older man.

Quote:

"Sold out, Snapchat." — John Adams, regarding how teen trafficking cases often begin ([33:19])

7. Community Action: What Listeners Can Do ([34:54-End])

• Share Madison’s photo and story everywhere—in-person and online.
• "She may have...dyed her hair, changed the color, stuff in that scenario, you gotta think about." — John Adams ([35:40])
• Encourage vigilance: even if listeners are tired of seeing the missing poster, “she’s missing, she’s a teenager, she’s got a family at home that loves her and they want her back home.” ([35:04])
• Final plea for tips: urge anyone with information, no matter how trivial it may seem, to contact Coleraine Township PD (number provided in the show notes).

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

On Parental Fear:

"If you have a teenager that uses Snapchat, that likes to go on sleepovers—you need to hear what happened to Madison Fields." — Anne Emerson ([00:00])

On Lawrence’s Prior Warnings:

“In May 2024, a citizen vigilante group confronted Lawrence...The complaint states Lawrence never returned the FBI’s calls.” — Anne Emerson ([09:14])

On Modern Dangers:

"The white van is in your kids’ pockets now. It’s in your living room." — National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ([30:24])

On Community Support:

“We wouldn’t have been able to probably get this far without...help and support from friends and family and the community.” — Carrie Hearn ([16:40])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:24: Timeline of Madison's disappearance
• 03:24: Carrie describes Madison's personality
• 09:14: Details on Kyle Lawrence and digital evidence
• 13:34: Parental plea for community help
• 17:55: Introduction to Ohio Land Search and Rescue’s involvement
• 21:08: Search strategies, limitations, tip investigations
• 28:54: Social media’s role in missing-teen cases
• 30:24: “White van in your pocket” metaphor
• 33:19: Parallels with past trafficking cases
• 34:54: Final calls to action—sharing and vigilance

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Tone & Language

The episode’s tone is urgent, compassionate, and deeply personal—reflecting both the heartbreak of the Fields family and the dedication of the community and searchers. The host underscores the need for awareness, action, and parental vigilance in a world where digital threats loom large for children and teens.

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Closing

This episode is a chilling reminder of the dangers young people face online and the critical importance of both digital literacy and community mobilization. Listeners are left with a clear call to action: share Madison’s story and remain vigilant, because awareness can make all the difference.

Transcript

[A]

Hi, everybody, it's Ann Emerson. Welcome to Crimly Obsessed. And this story had three things that, off the top, as a mom, as a parent, made me completely crazy. I mean, if you have a teenager that uses Snapchat, that likes to go on sleepovers, you need to hear what happened to Madison Fields.

[B]

Nobody should go through this. It's breaking us down.

[A]

That was Tyler Hearn, who you just heard his daughter, Madison Fields disappeared on Friday, February 13th. Madison had a backpack on her shoulder and a plastic bag in her hand as she walked through a parking lot next to where she lived in Coleraine Township. That's in Ohio. Her parents thought she was headed to a sleepover at her friend's house. That's what she told them. But it wasn't a friend's mom that was waiting to pick her up in a black Jeep. And if you have a sinking feeling in your stomach right now, your gut instincts are correct, because here's where the story is going to make you so sick and seriously pissed off at the same time. Today I'm talking to Madison's parents, who are literally totally beside themselves with worry at this point. And later on, I'll be speaking to a volunteer who led this search and rescue effort to try and find Madison early on. But first, I need to lay out the terrifying timeline for you. The only way I can tell this story is through the seven page federal criminal complaint. It doesn't tell us where Madison might be right now or what might have happened to her, but the details sure do paint a picture. So right after she left for the sleepover, Madison got into the Jeep. Police say it was rented to 43 year old Kyle Lawrence from Buffalo, New York. Minutes later, her phone was turned off and she hasn't been seen or heard from since. We learned from this document that Lawrence told police that he had taken Madison to hotels twice in January after talking to her on Snapchat. That's right, Snapchat. And that she referred to him as dad. Bodies with the blue eyes. When I spoke with Madison's parents, her mom did most of the talking. And after hearing all of this, you can probably understand why her father stayed quiet. Carrie and Tyler, I. I can't believe I'm even saying this, but we are on day 23 of looking for Madison, Am I right?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Okay, tell me, how are you doing right now?

[C]

Just trying to hold in.

[A]

What have the days been like?

[C]

They've been horrible. But we've had. I have a lot of friends and family support us in the community.

[A]

You have a Good community there at Coleraine.

[B]

Yes, I've been trying to go back to work, so I've been back to work.

[A]

And you've got other children, am I right?

[C]

Yes, we have another. We have a younger daughter.

[A]

I understand. How's she doing?

[C]

She's having a hard time because her sister Madison's. They're best friends and they're very close and she's having a hard time.

[A]

What do you want us to know about Madison? Tell me about your daughter.

[C]

She's a very smart girl. Like, she. She's very sweet and innocent and she always has a smile on her face.

[A]

She's beautiful.

[C]

Thank you.

[A]

What does she like to do with her friends? And

[C]

she likes the like, make tick tock videos of how kids are today, like making those, like little singing videos and stuff.

[A]

We want our viewers to do everything they can to help you. And that's why I'm going to ask you some questions so that we can start painting a picture of what happened so we can help you. Everybody that watches my show or hears me right now on the podcast, please listen to this story. Listen to Carrie and Tyler. Let's figure out where Madison is. Okay. Tell me about what happened the day that Madison disappeared. February 13th.

[C]

She came home from school. My husband was at work. And she asked when she came home from school, she asked me if she could go spend the night at her friend's house because it was. They had a three day weekend. And I told her that it was. That it was okay because she spent a night with her friend the week before and I thought she was going straight to her friend's house. She was supposed to be picked up from her friend's mom from the place we're staying at. On the cameras, it shows her walking away. She like disappeared. And off the cameras everywhere, we just seen her walking, walking away on the street. That's like right where she went missing. And she disappeared like right behind there. It didn't show her getting into a car. I'm not sure if it's the police or the FBI if they were able to see her get into this black Jeep that that guy was driving. They said they had it on video, but we've never seen it. Okay, but it shows her getting into a black Jeep with the. A New York license plate. And from what they said.

[A]

Okay, and when did you realize that she wasn't with her friend?

[C]

We didn't realize she was missing until when she quit. She didn't respond to us or anything on Monday and it was starting to get late and she had school the next day and it wasn't like her to not respond to us or call us to let her, let us know like she was on her way home. Like, and Mondays, that evening, that's when we filed with the police that she is missing because we hadn't heard anything from her.

[A]

Friday was the last time you saw her, but when was the last time you spoke with her? Was that at that same time? Was that the last time you spoke with her?

[C]

Yeah, it was on Friday. And her phone, actually the, the police, when they tried pinging her phone, her, her phone, it been turned off like right, right when she was like in the cameras where the videos shows her on her phone texting her, it shows that her phone was turned off during that time. So it was like literally maybe 15 minutes after she left. And we, we've not been able to get, get like pin her phone or anything since Friday when you realized that

[A]

she was gone, you called the police on, on that Monday. Tell me what the police were doing, sort of how you started looking for her right away.

[C]

Just giving like all the, all the information that Madison told us and where she was supposed to be at. And then we, we were looking at the cameras from where we're staying at as well. Like, like seeing her like go in the hallways and leave and, and the police like have searched back like even the month before and had her on camera just, and they took like all the electronics from her sister and our, our electronics and everything and just trying to look to see like if they could see her like try to communicate at all on the electronics or any messages that could lead where she is at. And then that's when, that's when we had found out about this Kyle Lawrence man.

[A]

Kyle Lawrence, the 43 year old man who was arrested in Buffalo, New York on February 26th. The three federal charges are transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and the transportation of child pornography. Now what they have not charged him with is the disappearance of Madison Fields. Here's the thing. This is not the first time Lawrence has been on the FBI's radar. The national center for Missing and exploited children got two cyber tips in August 2023 and July 2025. In 2023, Snapchat user Kyle, 2227, that's Kyle spelled K Y E L L, claimed to have girls do sexual things for him. The IP address was plotted to Kyle Lawrence's address. In July 2025, the file sharing platform Dropbox reported three files of CSAM child sexual abuse material from the screen name Kyle Lawrence. And then there's this. In May 2024, a citizen vigilante group confronted Lawrence when they say he traveled to Canada to meet with another young girl, a 15 year old, for sex. The group posted the confrontation online. The complaint states Lawrence never returned the FBI's calls. It sounds like he should have absolutely been behind bars before he ever met Madison. And we'll be looking further into why he wasn't previously arrested. What Madison's parents say next sounds eerily similar now that we have that background.

[C]

And that's when the police told us that she had been talking to a man on that encrypted website and that's how the FBI found out about him.

[A]

We know Madison and Kyle Lawrence have been communicating on Snapchat, a photo sharing and messaging app where the content disappears. And this app I hadn't heard of before called Session. It's a fully encrypted messaging app where you don't need a phone number or an email address address to sign up. We'll talk more about these apps and the dangers they can pose later in this interview. This man out of Buffalo. This. That's when you found out that. That that was this man, this 43 year old man?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

What have investigators been able to share with you about what they know right now? I know he's now down in Butler County Jail.

[C]

He's. Yeah, he's in Butler County. We've been told they've been questioning him and trying to figure out. They showed us pictures of him in the previous months, like a picture with him in the swimming pool at a hotel with Maddie. And they have him on camera at. In two gas stations getting a drink. And they showed us that at the police station. But. And then when I heard that he has came down from Buffalo, New York like two times in the prior months. And we've been kind of being kept in the dark a little bit about, about their investigation right now.

[A]

What I understand is that the FBI got involved rather quickly, didn't they, when they realized what they were dealing with?

[C]

Yes, they were questioning us, us as well. And they thought that they were asking us like questions like if we knew Maddie was talking to anybody online or anything. And that's when we were being questioned and they showed us the picture saying that we have a guy in custody from Buffalo, New York.

[A]

Do you know if he's given them any more information about where your daughter is right now?

[C]

No, they won't tell us anything.

[A]

Okay, so this Is a really tough time, huh? This is a very, very tough time in the investigation.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

As far as how we can support you and as you search for Madison, what would you like to say to. To folks? How can they help support you right now? Because we want to help.

[C]

We keep trying to, like, repost her missing pictures and getting the word out there, like, if anybody sees her or knows anything to, like, come forward and call the chlorine police, let them know any information they might know, they must come forward.

[A]

If they know anything at all, anything at all about where she could be, that's exactly what they need to do. And she could be wearing different clothes, her hair could look different, right?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So anything that we can do, if, for whatever reason, if this gets to Madison, if somehow she could hear us talking right now, what would you like Madison to know right now?

[C]

That we love and miss her. And if. If she. That we're not mad at her and we just want her back home.

[A]

How are you doing, Tyler?

[B]

Day by day,

[A]

as far as this search goes on your own, are people out there looking right now?

[C]

We've had several search parties throughout the past weeks and get together just to. With her family. Like we've had. We've had, even had people in the community, like, make help make us like little pins for. With Madison's picture on it.

[A]

I wanted to ask you, that surveillance video you saw, you've never. I just want to make sure you've never seen this man before. You've never, have you?

[C]

No.

[A]

Did you see the surveillance video of her getting in that car?

[C]

No.

[A]

Okay, Carrie. Well, I want to just reach out to all of our viewers out here, all of our listeners, wherever you're hearing this interview with Carrie and Tyler Hearn. Please share this this episode. Please share their story. Please share the information about Madison because we want to bring her home as soon as possible because she's missed dearly and she's loved dearly. Just know that we're here with you and we'll be following closely and hopefully you're going to get some really good news. So we'll be thinking about you every day. Okay, thank you.

[C]

And I. I really appreciate you and all the help, like, in trying to help us try to find our daughter. Like, it means so much. We probably. We wouldn't have been able to probably get the, like, get this far without, like, helping support for. From friends and family and the community, like, and just everybody's. We're just thankful for everybody.

[A]

Well, everybody's got to keep it up because we Got to, we got to bring Madison home. So that's, that's everybody's job, is to keep it up and keep looking for her. So we'll share all of the information that we possibly can. If there's anything that you want us to share, please just. We will, we will do that. You can just hear the heartbreak in their voices. And that's why it's so important to do everything we can to share Madison's story. Now let's hear from John Adams. He's with the Ohio Land Search and Rescue. You're the Ohio Land Search and Rescue. Can you tell me about that and what this organization does?

[B]

Yeah, so we're a non profit, 501c3, all volunteer organization. We, we assist with law enforcement, lost missing persons. It can be anywhere from Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, paranoid schizophrenia, mental health issues. We do a lot of wilderness searches, urban searches, disaster services, things of that nature. We don't look for recognition, stuff like that. This is something we enjoy doing. We love doing it. We got a passion for it. You know, I got, we got a strong team. We got 50 members, pretty strong, Solid.

[A]

That's fantastic.

[B]

Yeah. So basically what we do is that when we have a recruitment every year, we'll have like two recruitments a year. And we take all walks of life. You can be. Doesn't matter what your experience is. We're built on. We do have firefighters, EMTs, police officers on our team. However, we have carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, lawnkeepers. I mean, we have it all.

[A]

That's great. I mean, Chief Adams, I understand that in those first few days you were boots on the ground and instrumental in, in helping organize the search for Madison Fields. Can you tell me a little bit about how you started searching for Madison? How did you get involved in that?

[B]

Okay, so I believe it was day six or day seven. We was reached out by the family. I believe it was the mother requesting our services. And then we, then we don't respond immediately, even though, you know, anyone comes missing. It's. It's very critical. You know, the first 48 hours is very critical. However, we operate under the authority of the law enforcement agencies for EMA or, you know, or if it's ODNR or something like that that would request our services. So the mother reached out to us. We then got verified through the Coleraine Police Department. They then gave us the, the okay to go out, assist.

[A]

And at that point already, you're telling me like six or seven days have already passed. What was going on during that period? Do you know if anybody was on the ground looking for her besides the family?

[B]

So far as I believe it's just families and friends and the community. People from the community helping out when

[A]

you were looking for her. Tell me what that looks like. Like, how did you organize the search?

[B]

Initially, when we get on scene, we get up there, we, we. We speak with the family members, we get the. The lapse of everything what happened between day one until the day we was there from them. And then we base off what areas they had checked into. So therefore we, we went ahead and kind of went over their steps of the areas they searched. We had done that as well, and we went beyond that. Areas. We hit areas sometimes that family people don't think about hitting. You know, it could be dark terrain, drain pipes, sewage areas, culverts, you know, creek beds, things like that. That nature.

[A]

When you were, when you were searching, did you ever get any hits of where Madison might have been?

[B]

No. We get a lot of tips. You know, people call in and, you know, unfortunately, some people do it for just to get recognition, you know, just get the name out there, like, hey, look, I've seen her over here. But we look into it. We take every tip seriously out there in the field. So we check everything. And it was nothing, nothing about it.

[A]

So you didn't get any directives? Did you use dogs in your search? Do you use dogs?

[B]

At the time, we didn't bring any kind of K9s in from Gather on the certain circumstances that she left her home and was seen getting into another vehicle. So therefore, even if we used to bring a K9 out, there was so contaminated with so many people.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It'd been hard.

[A]

That's a really good point. So, yeah, I mean, they had surveillance video that she was getting into a. Into a car, and they're learning a lot more about that as well now. How long. How long did your team stay involved?

[B]

I believe it was in there. Four, four and a half, four and a half, five days once it had broke. That gentleman from New York was involved in this case? Yep. Yeah, I was involved with it. So we. That then told us like, hey, look, we'll just, we'll take a step back. We're always available, but, you know, the FBI's involved. They have more, you know, resources that will realow so. And basically step back.

[A]

And what does that look like when, when the FBI steps in, do you feel their presence sort of like coming into the investigation? Are they also boots on the ground?

[B]

Yeah. So anytime you have an agency as large as the FBI is or any government agency, anytime they come in, we're all, we're, we're always standing by beside, you know, on the sideline ready for them. But when they come in, it's actually, it's a relief because they, like I said, the resources are so large. It's unbelievable, you know, and it's obviously the evidence is already showing that, you know.

[A]

Well, exactly, because then they can bring in their digital forensics teams, right? So that now they're looking at license plate readers, cell phone connections, and they are learning a lot about when you communicated with Madison's mom. In this case, when your organization comes in, what does that conversation look like? What, what do you offer as far as the mom? Like, what was that conversation like?

[B]

All right, so initially that once the family member reaches out to us, we get on scene, we actually, we bring them in to our command trailer and we speak with them. We go over from day one. What, what, what, what was the activities during the day? Was there disagreements with something? Did you know, did they not follow the rules? Or, you know, I mean it's just teenager things. So we go with steps like that and we move up until the actions that was taken up to the day she walked out of the house. So that moment she walked out. And then we try to figure out, okay, so have we reached out to the friends, the family members? Do you have any family members local in this area? No. Answer was no. So that's, you know, pretty much what we do. We just kind of go through 30 to 50 questions about things and, and

[A]

what did you learn as far as about what the family was doing at that point? They were, I understand they were in like a town suites, like an extended stay place. What were you learning about where they were and where Madison was?

[B]

Well, everybody's living situation is different. And apparently this facility that they was at, the establishment, they do long time rentals and stuff like that. And some people just find that's an easy, easier way out for them. But I didn't find nothing negative about anything. I didn't, nothing raised flags to me. Yeah, I wasn't concerned about their living the way they live. I mean, I overlooked those type of things. It's none of my business. Be honest with you. My concern is to bring a missing loved one home regardless.

[A]

100 and as you saw the urgency of the situation, you were like, it seems like there was a lag of time between when she, when she left that with the family, when she was no longer with the family. And then you have like what? Like Friday to Monday, where then you don't know. Then you're reporting or missing because you're like, she's not where she's supposed to be. Do you have any information about where she was in those first critical hours or where she told her family she was so that you had someone. Something to go on?

[B]

Well, that was not even brought into the conversation that we was. We was more concerned, like, was, you know, if there was a disagreement at home or there's something that was said to the child, which you're grounded, whatever the circumstances. But from. They just left that she was going to a friend's. I believe it was okay, and she left, and that was that. So I guess from the time frame when she left, right when we had the video footage to where she was behind the establishment next door to them,

[A]

she was at the. She was at a place right next door.

[B]

You should cut across the parking lot. Yes.

[A]

And when she cut across the parking lot, you could see that on the video?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Is that when she got in the

[B]

car, I believe after the fact? Yes, after she walked across a lot. It was an area of where the vehicle was at we couldn't see. So now whether they. If law enforcement or, you know, the FBI had received other footage, because we did go around, ask people if anybody with video footage, the police turn it into a Coleridge Police Department.

[A]

I mean, as far as technology that you use, I mean, you've got people. You've got power of people getting out there and asking questions. Right. Is there any other technology that you like to use when you're doing these kind of searches?

[B]

Well, every case is different. Okay. So it depends on circumstances. So you allocate your resources to certain. Each certain scenario. But our. Our resources would have been. If we was called out initially, the same day, that evening, whatever she went missing, you know, we would have canines out immediately that day. We would hit every camera we could have seen in the vicinity. So. And then knock on doors, you know, I mean, business and stuff like that. So that's all we could do, you know.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Drones, if it comes to, like, around water or wilderness, something like that, as long as the overcast isn't too bad or whether the coverage is too bad on trees, stuff like that. We had drones out there, thermal drones and infrared, stuff like that.

[A]

How many. How many searches have you done like this? Looking for, you know, in. Yeah, hundreds. When you are going through the steps of the Madison Fields case, as you learned that there's now been this man, 43 year old Kyle Lawrence arrested in connection and that he admitted to meeting Madison twice January 19th and the 31st. What's going through your head?

[B]

Just think it's awful. I mean any Miss Child, you know, I mean it's, it's very serious to me. Any missing person, period. But it comes to children, teenagers, stuff like that. It's, it's very concerning.

[A]

It's horrible.

[B]

A lot of times when we can. You just have that feeling when you're out there and you're doing certain cases, like, you know, something's not right here. This isn't right, you know, so when you're in doubt, you go another route. So that's when you start reaching out to other resources and stuff like that and see what you can get done. We knew there was more to than her just walking around the city of Coleraine, you know.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And you know, I'll be honest with you, there's some apps out there that no teenager should be on right now. This Snapchat is awful as one of the biggest ones that's getting these teenagers in trouble.

[A]

Have you seen cases like this with Snapchat before where kids are going missing?

[B]

Yes, ma'. Am. And thankfully they was recovered. They was found.

[A]

Chief, I'm so worried about this too because there's some telltale signs, Right. You've got a person who was allegedly impersonating an 18 year old guy named Josh.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You've got an app called Session 2.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I'm trying to help parents and our viewers understand what, what this means. When you've got a 43 year old man telling a 16 year old that he's an 18 year old, it's so bad. It is the worst.

[B]

Truthfully, I think that these apps, parents, there needs to be a big awareness about these apps. I've never, I wasn't familiar with this app till I just, I just heard about it, you know?

[A]

Yeah, I'm right there with you. Like, do you. Can you tell me what session app is?

[B]

Because I don't know what it is. I've never heard of the app. This is all new to me.

[A]

I told you earlier that this app session would come up again. It struck a chord with me. As a parent myself, I was familiar with Snapchat, but this Session app was new to me. It's an encrypted messaging app with extreme privacy, which sounds like a potential recipe for disaster for access to our kids. This reminded me of our conversation with the national center for Missing and Exploited Children where he blew my mind about the modern day version of the kidnappers in the white van.

[B]

You know, I briefly mentioned the kind of white van scenario of a kid being kidnapped. The reality is the white van is in your kids pockets now. It's in your living room. It's in your house.

[A]

Navigating social media with kids is something else. And I know a lot of you listening are working through this scenario. Every day we have conversations like this one. Not to scare you, but to inform. Inform you so we can all do what we can to keep our kids safe. Let's get back into our conversation with Adams and Madison's case.

[B]

I'm thinking, okay, so did he meet her on a separate app beforehand? Say, hey, let's go to this app and talk. You know what I mean?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So. And that's what.

[A]

They can't be linked. They can't be tracked.

[B]

Exactly. So I don't know. I mean, yeah, so Snapchat, that's the biggest thing. I only let my own son on there, you know, you don't get on it. So there's so much crooked people out here in the world, it's unreal. But I've never heard a session. I just never have.

[A]

I know. Well, what. I guess what's also bugging me about this is that we now know this man who has been charged in connection, not with her actual disappearance, but in connection to this case, that he has a record of some activity involving minors before. This is a major cautionary tale right now.

[B]

It is, very much. It is. I can. I can't imagine what the family's thinking right now going through for this.

[A]

I mean, he. He lied to her too. He lied to Madison too, about who he was. He's not even from around here.

[B]

No.

[A]

So he's not from the Cincinnati area. He's all the way up in Buffalo. Is this mean that the search has now got to be looking at all the way up to Buffalo? I mean, is that what the feds are doing is like looking for. For where Madison could have gone between here and, you know, Cincinnati and Buffalo.

[B]

And again, FBI is third. Their resources are just don't end. You know, they just got brought Ross back. So if it continues up to New York, which me as an individual would think. Okay, yeah. So if this man's from New York, he's drove down here two times to meet her. You know, they. They picked him up in New York, so I could imagine they're probably in New York doing their homework too.

[A]

So, yeah, they've got to broaden that search. Right? They got to. We don't know what happened to Madison Fields at this point, but we know what we've seen in cases like this. And trafficking is always something I immediately worry about when I hear a scenario like this. Have you worked any trafficking cases before?

[B]

I must say, in the last five years, maybe three.

[A]

Okay, does it look like this?

[B]

Some has, yes. I mean, we've actually found a girl here, local missing, and we found her in Texas.

[A]

Okay, tell me what that looks like, just so we understand what the different scenarios are that we're dealing with here.

[B]

Sold out, Snapchat.

[A]

That just made my stomach hurt.

[B]

Yeah, so start out with Snapchat. And then it turns out it's. They met, they spoke with each other, then they met, they drove up here to pick the person. I'm not gonna mention the names. This girl took her to Texas. She was down there three to four days maybe before we were actually found out she was there.

[A]

Okay, how'd you find out?

[B]

Hard investigator in Texas.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

We had some tips, and it turned out, you know, the girl had actually lived in Texas probably 10 years prior to this. And she has her friends.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But. But they haven't talked so long, but now they're talking, you know, social media, whatever, and then Snapchat, and then they come up, got her that she was throwing up to an older guy in his 40s and stuff like that, so same crap.

[A]

I mean, that just sounds like the same stupid crap. Yeah, that is very interesting to me, and I. I hope that we'll learn more through these digital records, because there's no way this guy, if he is in any way involved, will not have a digital footprint of where this activity is going. Right. That would be the whole point.

[B]

Right.

[A]

What can the public do to help in this case? What can we do? What can we. What can our viewers do right now to help find Madison Fields and bring her home?

[B]

It's always share her photo. Far, wide, far as that sky goes. Wherever that sky is at, that's where you need to share it at. I mean, just get her out there. It doesn't matter if you do it once a week, but we like to see it done twice a day. Just keep sharing. You know, some people like, well, we retired to see her, you know, I mean, see this flyer. So what, she's missing. She's a teenager. She's got a family at home that loves her and they want to see her. They want her back home. We always do that. You know, we please share this far and wide. And that's what we ask for. Keep their eyes out. Now, we don't know if I'm sure about. She left in her pants and her hoodie, but I'm sure by now she's going to be different clothing. She may have. She's with someone else, may have dyed her hair, changed the color. Stuff in that scenario, you got to

[A]

think about, well, let's hope that Madison's watching. You know, that's always what I hope, too, is when we. When we air stories, you know, and. And talk about these cases, that it's not only just people that might have run into her at the 711 or the grocery store, but that the victim themselves can hear us and know that we're looking for her as well or that someone involved with where she is, you know, because I have every. Every hope in the world that we're going to bring her home. So I really appreciate your time and.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

And thank you for doing what you do. It's. It's so important. Drop a comment below. How do you feel about teens using Snapchat? Be sure to like and subscribe to Crimly Obsessed and also share this interview if you can. We need to find Madison Fields. And if you've seen her or know her whereabouts or know anything about her disappearance, you're urged to call the Coloring Township PD in Ohio. The number is in the caption.