Podcast Summary: Criminally Obsessed

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

Host: Anne Emerson
Date: March 9, 2026

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.

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).

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])

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

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.

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.