Brianna Maitland: The Car in the Vermont Barn // 588

Summary

Going West: True Crime – Brianna Maitland: The Car in the Vermont Barn // Ep. 588

Release Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman

---

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode revisits the haunting 2004 disappearance of 17-year-old Brianna Maitland from rural Vermont—a case the hosts previously covered in Going West’s early days, now updated with recent developments. Daphne and Heath dig into Brianna’s background, the bizarre circumstances around her abandoned car found rammed into a barn, the flawed investigation, rumors and persons of interest, and why her case remains one of New England’s most perplexing missing persons mysteries.

---

Episode Structure & Key Discussion Points

1. Introduction & Case Overview

• [03:47] Daphne establishes the case’s impact on Vermont:

  “The disappearance of Brianna Maitland has haunted her family, police, and the Montgomery community ever since.”

• [03:58] Heath recounts Brianna’s last known sighting—leaving work at the Black Lantern Inn on March 19, 2004.
• [04:10] Daphne describes the recovery of Brianna’s car: abandoned, crashed into a barn with her belongings inside, and no sign of struggle.

---

2. Brianna’s Background & Circumstances Leading to Disappearance

• [04:20-08:22]
  • Brianna Maitland grew up in East Franklin, Vermont, near the Canadian border (just 300 ft from it).
  • Described as “fun, outgoing, very smart,” “free spirited and independent,” and trained in jiu jitsu.
  • Known for her empathy; her mother recalls Brianna routinely picking up hitchhikers.

    “She believed everyone was good… Maybe that’s naive, but she was just good hearted like that.” – Kelly Maitland (Brianna’s mother) [06:11]

  • Felt isolated in rural East Franklin; transferred high schools to reunite with friends and eventually moved out of her family home, living a transient life for a period.

Notable Quotes

• [05:42] Shawna LaBelle (best friend), via the hosts:

  “She was this total spitfire who had trained in jiu jitsu… If she set her mind to something, there was no way of changing it.”

• [08:06] Heath on adolescence and Brianna’s situation:

  “There’s probably not like a ton to do… she’s growing, she’s a teenager, she wants to be around her friends.”

---

3. The Incident Before Disappearance

• [10:35-12:29]
  • Weeks prior, Brianna was badly assaulted by Keeley Lacrosse at a party, reportedly over talking to Keeley’s boyfriend.
  • Injuries: Two black eyes, broken nose, concussion—Brianna did not fight back, trying to “keep the peace.”

  “She admitted she was just trying to keep the peace in order to fit in with her new peers, which is really sweet.” – Daphne [13:11]

  • Keeley’s attack left a permanent rift and introduced speculation about retaliation or related payback as a possible motive.

Notable Quotes

• [12:29] Heath:

  “The beating that ensued was so brutal that it left Brianna with two black eyes, a broken nose, as well as a concussion.”

---

4. The Day Brianna Disappeared

• [13:08-17:49]
  • March 19, 2004: Brianna passes her GED test—celebrates with her mom.
  • While shopping post-breakfast, Brianna steps outside to talk to someone (unknown)—returns “agitated.”

  “Her mood had clearly shifted… She was like agitated, like, ‘I’ve got to go get ready for work.’” – Daphne [14:25]

  • Leaves brief note for roommate Gillian about her plans that night (home between 10pm and midnight, could be reached at the Black Lantern Inn).
  • Her parents unknowingly drive past her workplace that night, consider stopping in, but decide against it.
  • Last confirmed sighting: Around 11:20pm, leaves Black Lantern Inn in her car, seen heading home.

Notable Quotes

• [15:17] Daphne:

  “Did it have to do with her then ex-boyfriend? Did it have to do with Keeley? Is this connected to her disappearance?”

---

5. Discovery of the Abandoned Car

• [22:09-24:31]
  • Car (green 1985 Oldsmobile Delta 88) found the next day (03/20) in a strange position: backed into side of an abandoned farmhouse, later identified as the Dutchburn House.
  • Brianna reported missing four days later (03/23), as roommate Gillian had been away for the weekend.
  • Car keys missing; valuables (including two paychecks, wallet, and possibly a purse) left inside—suggesting Brianna didn’t plan to leave.
  • The car was not processed as a crime scene initially; only basic photos (taken by passersby, not police) exist.
  • Notable at the scene: loose change, water bottle, a piece of women's jewelry, an unsmoked cigarette—and a single lime wedge on the car roof.

Memorable Moments

• [36:05] Daphne:

  “On top of her vehicle… was a single lime wedge. Like, almost as though she had brought a drink out from her restaurant… I don’t know how to explain that.”

---

6. Police Response, Investigation Flaws & Community Reaction

• [24:31-29:10; 32:03-35:20]
  • Police didn’t connect the abandoned car scene to a missing person until days later, losing critical investigation time.
  • No immediate forensic investigation; potential evidence may have been lost or contaminated.
  • [24:44] Daphne on the impact of police delay:

    “Had they informed Brianna’s mom the day the car was found… police would have known to start looking for her three days before they actually did and less than 24 hours after she went missing, which could have changed everything.”

  • The Dutchburn House: site of an earlier violent robbery, now a local landmark for misfortune.

---

7. Witness Sightings & Theories

• [40:35-48:48]
  • Several witnesses recall seeing the car with the headlights and/or turn signal on late that night.
  • Ex-boyfriend drove by; others mention a white pickup and later a silver or gray Honda near the scene, as well as a “tall man lurking” outside a car.
  • Locals have long wondered if classmates (especially Keeley) or drug-involved acquaintances know more than revealed.
  • [43:58] Heath summarizes community suspicion:

    “…many suspect that Keeley… and the rest of Brianna’s friend group know more than they’ve shared… she has quite the local reputation.”

  • Theories:
    • Revenge or silencing by Keeley or her circle.
    • Drug-related violence: Brianna occasionally used drugs, but friends dispute claims she would be in debt or involved in dealing.
    • Abduction by strangers or serial offender—the timeline resembles the Maura Murray case (just a month earlier, nearby in New Hampshire).
    • A staged car accident, meet-up gone wrong, or possible forced removal after her car became immobilized.

---

8. Rumors, Leads, and Ongoing Investigation

• [46:37-49:12; 57:04-58:41; 60:05-61:00]
  • Rumors surfaced that Brianna was killed by Ramon Ryans (associated with local drug house), her body subsequently destroyed—but extensive searches and forensic sweeps have failed to yield hard evidence.
  • Police have processed DNA found near the car; in 2022 it was determined not to match any of 11 persons of interest.
  • In 2025, new witness tips surfaced of a silver/gray Honda and a tall man at the scene, per PI Lou Barry.

    “A couple actually reported having seen a silver or gray Honda sedan… parked near Brianna’s car on the night that she vanished.” – Heath [57:04]

  • The FBI is still involved, and Detective Sergeant Angela Baker maintains, “the case is not unsolvable.” [60:50]

Memorable Quotes

• [48:02] Heath:

  “It’s like I always find that there’s a little bit of truth in every rumor.”

---

9. The Maitland Family’s Pursuit of Answers

• [61:07-62:42]
  • Brianna's father, Bruce Maitland, founded Private Investigations for the Missing—offering pro bono PI services to families of missing loved ones.
  • Currently, a $40,000 reward is offered for information.
  • Hosts emphasize the “valiant efforts” of the family and urge listeners to support the cause and keep Brianna’s story alive.

Notable Quotes

• [61:33] Bruce Maitland (via hosts):

  “I’ve heard horror stories from people that have taken second mortgages on their houses and done things like that to pay investigators… I started this organization really to be able to help people.”

---

Notable Timestamps & Segments

• [03:47] – Case introduction: Brianna’s last known movements.
• [10:35] – The assault by Keeley Lacrosse; social tensions.
• [13:08] – Timeline of Brianna’s last day.
• [22:09] – Discovery of Brianna’s car.
• [32:03] – Discussion of the abandoned Dutchburn House, crime scene details.
• [36:05] – The “lime wedge” detail.
• [43:19] – Multiple roadside witness accounts.
• [46:37] – Rumors of disposal at a pig farm; the Ramon Ryans theory.
• [57:04] – 2025 witness tip: silver/gray Honda, tall man.
• [60:05] – Update: 2022 DNA profile, FBI involvement, Angela Baker's optimism.

---

Quotes & Moments

“She just truly felt so endless.” – Daphne [56:02]
“It’s just so weird to think of her willingly leaving the scene with the ass of her vehicle inside an abandoned barn visible from the road…” – Daphne [56:33]
“Police completely dropped the ball in her case.” – Daphne [39:36]
“Someone knows what happened to her on this open highway.” – Daphne [63:49]

---

Conclusion & Call to Action

The hosts close with a summary of Brianna’s vitals and contact information for leads, maintaining a hopeful but sober tone about the potential for closure. They urge listeners to spread the story, support Bruce’s nonprofit, and never let Brianna’s strange and heartbreaking case fade from public attention.

• Contact Vermont State Police: 1-844-84-VTIPS
• FBI tip line: 1-800-CALL-FBI
• Private Investigations for the Missing: [Link in episode notes]

---

Final Thoughts

Going West’s Brianna Maitland update is a thorough, compassionate, and at times bewildering exploration of a rural disappearance that continues to defy explanation. The episode balances fact, speculation, and the emotional toll felt by Brianna’s family and hometown, renewing hope that renewed attention—even after 20 years—might finally bring answers.

---

For further information, support PI for the Missing, and view referenced street views and photos, refer to links provided in the episode description.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator 1]

Your new home is now ready. Dr. Horton, America's builder has new homes that are ready today with new construction communities in Ellensburg and throughout the Greater Seattle area. Dr. Horton has the right home for you. At Dr. Horton, we're still building with flexible living spaces, smart home technology and two and three car garages. More communities and more homes available every day. Find your new home in Ellensburg now [e-mail] Dr. Horton, America's builder and equal housing opportunity builder.

[Commercial Narrator 2]

Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T Mobile and US Cellular are joining forces. Switch to T Mobile and save up to 20% versus Verizon by getting built in benefits they leave out. Check the math@t mobile.com switch and now T mobile is in US cellular stores.

[Commercial Disclaimer Voice]

Savings versus Comparable Verizon plans plus the cost of optional benefits plan features and taxes and fees vary. Savings with three plus lines include third line free via monthly bill credits credit stop against lady lines. Qualifying credit required.

[Sponsor Advertisement Voice]

This episode is brought to you by Nordstrom. Ready to refresh your wardrobe? Nordstrom has all the latest styles for spring. From elevated dresses and denim to standout tops and accessories. Discover the trends and essentials you'll reach for again and again. We've got brands you love like Waif, Princess, Polly, Mango, Adidas and Favorite daughter. Plus free shipping, free returns and quick order pickup. Make updating your closet effortless. Shop in [e-mail] or download our app foreign.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

What is going on? True crime fans, I'm your host, he.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

And I'm your host, Daphne.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And you're listening to Going West.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Hello everybody. Hope you're doing well today. Many of you will know that we covered this case back in the early, early Going west days.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

But unfortunately, that episode has been available for a very, very long time.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, many years, I think. But in it, we actually interviewed her dad, Bruce, after this case was shown to us by the awesome guys at the Crawl Space podcast. And the Maitlands are still fighting for justice for their daughter. So her case always deserves to be shared and told because it truly is such an eerie and perplexing story.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, and they are still investigating this case to this day. I mean, they're really doing everything that they can to try and solve it. So please, please don't forget to share this episode.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, so if you did hear us cover this long ago, it's been updated. They're actually like Keith just said, because they're still investigating it. We have a small update for you guys as well, so thank you for tuning in. And oh, before we forget today. Finally. Thank you guys for your patience. Going West Merch is a officially online. You can find sweatshirts, T shirts, sweatpants all [e-mail] and then just look for Going West. I think you guys are gonna like it. It's super comfortable clothes, very cute. We really like it.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I know a lot of you guys have been asking about the merch for so long and we're so excited to finally have it up for you guys. So go check it out. And without further ado, this is episode 588 of Going West. So let's get into it. Police are still looking for answers in the disappearance of a Montgomery teenager.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

A 17 year old went missing from her hometown. The disappearance of Brianna Maitland has haunted her family, police and the Montgomery community ever since.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Maitland was last seen March 19, 2004 leaving Montgomery's black Lantern Inn. A day later, someone spotted her car rammed into the side of an abandoned farmhouse.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

In March of 2004, a 17 year old girl left the late shift at a small town Vermont inn and began her short drive home home. But she never made it. The next day her car was discovered backed into the side of an abandoned farmhouse, its headlights still on and her belongings left inside. With no clear signs of a struggle and no trace of her. Her family as well as investigators were left to wonder what happened to her. This is the disappearance of Brianna Maitland. Brianna Alexandra Maitland was born on October 8, 1986 in Burlington, Vermont to parents Kelly and Bruce Maitland and grew up alongside a brother named Waylon in East Franklin, Vermont, which is so far north that it is the last stop before the Canadian border. In fact, the Maitland family home was located just 300ft from the border.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, they're essentially like they almost have dual citizenship if that gives you any

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

idea of how like rural this area is.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, it's up there.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

So a true Vermont girl, Brianna grew up snowmobiling four wheeling and going to the lake with her friends and family. Her best friend Shawna LaBelle recalled, quote, Brie was fun, outgoing, very smart. She was not a girly girl. She was known for being very free spirited and independent. She was this total spitfire who had trained in jiu jitsu. Her brother Waylon remembered when she set her mind to something, there was no way of changing it. We used to argue about who was going to get to shower first in the morning. And regardless of what was decided, she'd get up earlier and get there first. But beneath that kind of tough exterior was a sensitive girl who cared deeply about what others thought of her. Her mom, Kelly, also recalled her daughter being exceedingly empathetic and that she would frequently bring home hitchhikers and ask her parents to take them where they needed to go. According to her mom, Kelly, she believed everyone was good, everyone. And it was just some people just had more problems than others. But you just tried to understand and work it out. And maybe that's naive, but she was just good hearted like that. Well, by the time she reached high school, she and her parents were getting into frequent arguments about kind of her like distaste for staying at her high school and in their family home. Not because of the family, but just because of where the house was. Like, Brianna was bored. She was understimulated and felt very separated from her core group of friends who actually all attended a different high school that was about 15 to 20 minutes away. And according to her best friend Shawna, Brianna didn't really gel with the students at her school and felt almost rejected by them. Now, to give you a better image, like I said before when we were talking about Canada, this area is quite rural. But East Franklin, which is where the Maitlands lived, is a tiny, remote rural community. I mean, it's absolutely beautiful. There's lots of farms and farmhouses like maple forests, lots of nature. It can feel extremely quiet and spread out. The population is low, hosting only about 1200 people at the time, had limited businesses. So it's beautiful and idyllic for many people. But probably not a teenager.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I was going to say there's probably not like a ton to do. I mean, she was an out, an outdoor girl. I mean she did like to go SnowMobiling and ride ATVs and stuff like that. But you know, she's, she's growing, she's a teenager, she wants to be around her friends. So it's understandable.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I mean at that point in time, your friends are like the most important thing in your life. So she just felt very separated.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

So when tensions in the home continued to rise, not just with Brianna, but, but marital issues actually between Bruce and Kelly, her father, Bruce, considered moving out and then Brianna jumped at the chance to move too, to Enosburg Falls, closer to her friends who attended Enosburg High. Now, like Daphne said, It's only about 15 to 20 minutes away, but somehow it felt so far and separated for her. But by the time Bruce decided to stay in the family home in East Franklin, Brianna had made up her mind about leaving it. She was just so restless and fed up with her Life in East Franklin, that In October of 2003, just after her 17th birthday, she wound up leaving her school and enrolling in Enosburg High School. Obviously, you know, this is gonna create some problems because she's 17 and she's kind of living on her own now.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And sort of forcing the hand. She's like, I'm going to enroll in this school. I'm going to make it work. This is where my people are. This is where I am now.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Well, then she bounced around from friend's house to friend's house, as well as staying with her boyfriend at the time. And sometimes when she really just couldn't find anybody to stay with, she would sleep in her car. But her unstable living situation proved unconducive to her education, and By February of 2004, Brianna had dropped out completely. However, she did still want to complete her high school education, so she enrolled in a GED program instead. By then, she had also found someone to take her in full time, living with a childhood friend named Gillian Stout. Now, in addition to her studies, Brianna was working evenings at the Black Lantern Inn, which is obviously such an adorable name. And I know Daphne probably loves that name.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

It's also very cute inside and out.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Of course, you know, it's a Vermont inn. It's a very charming colonial style historic hotel and restaurant in Montgomery, Vermont. And she was also working mornings at a diner. Now, just three weeks before her disappearance, she found herself at the center of a very dramatic confrontation that may have laid the groundwork for her subsequent disappearance. Shawna said candidly, brianna was partying a lot. She was loud and goofy, an attention seeker. You know, she did want attention from boys. She wanted to know that she was pretty. And even if it was negative or positive attention that she got from a male, it was still attention.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Ugh, girlhood.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, it's tough. You know, being a. Being a teen is tough, I think,

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

especially because she didn't have this stability, obviously. She had this loving family, but she's kind of floating around. She wants to fit in with her friend group and this newer group at Enosburg High School. Like, she wants to kind of mesh into this group and get away from the old group at her old school.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Well, let's talk a little bit about that confrontation that I just mentioned a second ago. Because while at a party with some friends from her new high school, including her core group of six girlfriends, Brianna angered one of the female attendees of the party. After talking to the girl's boyfriend, irritated that she believed Brianna was Doing this on purpose, her friend grew increasingly confrontational. So Brianna just kinda removed herself from the situation, heading outside to her boyfriend's pickup truck and waiting to go home. Feeling jealous and threatened, her friend Keeley Lacrosse. We're gonna be talking about Keely quite a bit today. Followed her out to the truck and gestured for her to roll down the window. And then when she did, Healy reached inside the truck and punched her in the face.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, so this is not really a friend. This is like a bully girl.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Well, the beating that ensued was so brutal that it left Brianna with two black eyes, a broken nose, as well as a concussion.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Jeez.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

So after she was assessed by a hospital, she filed a police report against Keeley at the insistence of her parents, because they're like, you were just assaulted.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Of course this is not okay. I mean, Keely, tell us you're insecure without telling us you're insecure that Brianna is talking to your boyfriend. God, yeah.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And it just. I mean, you know, it's like stuff like this is, like, in small towns. This kind of stuff happened in my small town as well, where people would go to these dumbass country parties, and people would end up fighting. Someone would get really, really hurt, and it's like, all for what?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Can we live in peace?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Like, come on. You know?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

So dumb.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

I mean, I know that you're teenagers and you're still immature, but let's see. Get real here.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

But this is really important to note that there were people around Brianna who acted this way. So when Brianna's mom, Kelly, asked her why she didn't fight back, Brianna admitted that she was just trying to keep the peace in order to fit in with her new peers, which is really sweet. She didn't want to fight. She's just trying to make friends. Well, less than a month after this whole thing went down, Brianna would vanish. Friday, March 19, 2004, was a monumental day in Brianna's life, as she was set to take the math portion of her high school diploma equivalency exam, which was the final step in procuring her ged. So after this, you know, as long as she passed, she would get her ged, and she could, you know, really kind of start her life after that. Well, that morning, she and her mom went out to breakfast, and then Kelly brought Brianna to her exam, and to celebrate her hard work, they went shopping together afterwards. So this was, you know, kind of a good day. They had a nice breakfast.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, it's positive.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. She completed this test, and now it's like, okay, let's go shopping and let's kind of see what happens next. But while waiting in line to check out at one of the stores they went to, Brianna noticed something or someone outside and told her mom that she would be right back. Now, Kelly didn't see where she went or what she had done because obviously she's in line, she's dealing with business. But they met back at the car a few minutes later and Brianna's mood had clearly shifted. In Kelly's words, she was like agitated, like, I've gotta go get ready for work and you know, I've gotta get back, I've gotta get back. And the whole mood kind of changed then. So as you can imagine, speculation is now rife about what those few moments could have entailed for Brienne.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, because we really don't know. Was it something? I mean, maybe it was nothing. You know, it's like you can speculate all day about what that little meetup entailed, but we really don't know. Was it something nefarious or was it just really nothing?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Did it have to do with her then ex boyfriend? Did it have to do with Keely? Is this connected to her disappearance? Is it not? So many thoughts. Well, many wonder if she may have run into someone who is causing her problems because clearly some people were in her life, like maybe someone related to the fight that she had been in with Keeley, you know, a few weeks prior was, you know, coming back around. Especially because as we know, Brianna reported the crime. Well, Kelly dropped Brianna at her home around 2:45pm that day so that she could head to her evening shift as a dishwasher at the Black Lantern Inn. This was a newer job for her. But Gillian, remember, this is her childhood friend and roommate had yet to return from school. So Brianna left her a short note telling her that she would be home between 10pm and midnight and that if Jillian needed her, she could call the Black Lantern Inn. And then she left the phone number. You know, this is 2004. Just writing a simple note. This shows her intentions for the evening as of that point. Now, ironically, Brianna's parents actually drove past the Black Lantern Inn after having dinner nearby that night. And they kind of toyed with the idea of stopping in to check on their daughter and say hi. But ultimately they decided against it.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I mean, obviously they don't want to bother her while she's at work or possibly embarrass her.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, that's their thought process. Especially because like I said, this was a newer job for her also, it's not like she's on the floor as a server, and they could get a drink at the bar and she could see them. She's in the kitchen being a dishwasher. So if they showed up, they would kind of have to pull her out. Right, Right. So Brianna continued on with her shift, which was reportedly uneventful, and then she clocked out and headed home around 11:20pm her co workers did invite her to join them for drinks afterwards, but Brianna was working an early shift at the diner the next morning and needed to go home and get to bed. So again, she had no plans of going out that night. This would definitely line up with her arriving home before or around midnight. Like her note said, she was just

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

supposed to drive back to the home that she shared with Jillian.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Right. Well, the last time that she was seen was in the parking lot of the Black Lantern, having been spotted by coworkers driving in the direction of her home. So they saw her in her car driving away.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Well, Gillian saw Brianna's note when she got home, but she actually left shortly afterwards because she was going out of town for the weekend, which, little did she know, at no fault of her own. Of course, this would cause issues later for the investigation into Brianna's disappearance, because it wasn't until two days later, on Sunday, March 21, 2004, when Gillian got back home, that anybody noticed that Brianna was gone. When Jillian walked in, she was surprised to find the house empty and the note exactly where Brianna had left it. Now, assuming that she was just with friends or that she had gone home to visit her family, Gillian didn't worry quite yet. She just found it kinda strange. But then it wouldn't be until two days after this, on Tuesday, March 23rd, that alarm bells would be raised. By that point, it had been four days since she had seen or heard from Brianna, and Jillian was beginning to worry about her friend. So she called Brianna's mom, Kelly, to check on her. And upon discovering that no one had seen or heard from her in days, Kelly began to panic, calling all of her friends to see if anybody knew where she was. But sadly, nobody did. At the time, Brianna's father, Bruce, was away on business in New York City and raced back to Vermont to aid in the search. And then Brianna was finally reported missing, with her parents just scrambling to put together her final movements before she disappeared. Because they're like, how? How could it have been four days and nobody had seen her?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, and the pure panic of that situation, Obviously, we know she had work early the next morning at the diner that Saturday, she's not showing up to work, but her parents aren't being called. She doesn't live with her parents. You know, if I would have missed work when I was a teenager, I don't think they would have called my parents. Like, sometimes they just don't do that, you know, you're working person.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, exactly. And to make things even more alarming here, you know, people were talking about the fact that, oh, well, you know, Brianna really wanted to get out of Vermont. She wanted to spread her wings. She was a free spirit and all this stuff. And her friends and family knew about her aspirations to get somewhere beyond Vermont and that she had dreamed of moving to New York City or even Montreal. But those who knew her best maintained that she would have never left her loved ones behind like that, no matter how free spirited she was.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

I think it says a lot that she had, like, her biggest goal, it seemed like, was going to this other high school. Yeah, she wanted to go to school. She had just completed her GED testing. She was working two jobs. She had found a place to live with her friend. Why would she just vanish with no word? Yeah, not saying anything. And then obviously there are things to come that prove that she had no mode of leaving, as you guys will see.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And it's like, you know, she, like you're saying, you know, she had these plans and stuff. She already kind of had a little bit of that freedom that she was looking for and being able to live in Enosburg with a friend and, you know, go to that high school. So it's like, you know, maybe if she had planned for the future to leave, like, hey, you know, in two years time, I'm gonna head to New York City or Montreal, we would have all been like, okay.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

And she was close to be able to do exactly that with, you know, assuming that she was about to get that ged. Those type of plans were just on the horizon anyway.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Sure they were, but she was not quite there yet. Her friend Shawna maintained she had a big heart. She would never do that to anybody. So on March 25, 2004, nearly a week after Brianna had gone missing, her parents met with state troopers in hopes of ascertaining some direction in Brianna's case because her car was missing alongside her. So when asked what kind of car she drove and what she might have been driving when she disappeared, her parents told them that Brianna drove a green 1985 Oldsmobile Delta 88, which, if many of you don't know cars Kind of a. It's kind of a beater.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, an old. An old clunker a bit.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, an old clunker.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

And this is 88. Or it's an 88. This is 04. So, you know, 16 years old, 85. Oh, wait, what'd I say?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

88. Oh, it's a Delta, so it's even older than that.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Okay, so 19 year old car. Yeah. So then, on a hunch, officers offered up pictures of a recent accident that one of their deputies had come across the weekend prior, in which a car matching the description of Brianna's had been abandoned after a wreck. On Saturday, March 20, the day after Brianna was last seen, this is the day that she had the shift at the diner, a trooper came across a green Oldsmobile, which again, was her car, that had been backed into the side of a dilapidated farmhouse alongside Vermont118. This is a main highway with one lane on each side. Now, though the car hadn't sustained much damage, the wooden side wall of the barn had kind of buckled up upon impact. Now, the officers surveyed the scene because it was so odd and ultimately assumed that a drunk driver had gotten themselves in trouble, abandon the vehicle so as not to receive a dui.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, which does obviously happen sometimes in rural places. You'll see a random car that's just abandoned, you know.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Right. So he kind of investigated the interior of the vehicle, and although the keys were missing, the car was unlocked. Now, there didn't appear to be any signs of a struggle, but inside were two uncashed paychecks from the Black Lantern Inn made out to Brianna Maitland. So hoping to track down the owner of the vehicle, because this car is just left here, backed into a barn, like, obviously in some way a crime occurred here.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, the trooper's got to figure out what's going on.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

He actually headed to the Black Lantern Inn, which was just over a mile or about 2km down the road from where the car was found. So a short few minutes drive away. But the restaurant was closed at the time, so he just kind of made a note to follow up on the identity of the driver later. And then he was called away on a seemingly more urgent matter. So he's like, okay, I'll deal with this later.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And actually, that trooper was later criticized for leaving behind a potential crime scene as well as the vehicle, without processing the vehicle or contacting the car's owner, who at that time was Brianna's mom.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And the commander for the local St. Albans State Police barracks said that this was routine procedure, but Obviously, you know, had they informed Brianna's mom the day the car was found, her family and the police would have known to start looking for her three days before they actually did and less than 24 hours after she went missing, which could have changed everything.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I mean could you even imagine if they were able to get on top of this investigation from the get go and how just how much closer they would have been to solving this thing?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

But again, like rural area, small town cops, like again he's that trooper was looking at this like you were saying, like it could be a DUI or an avoided dui. And oh, the person's probably fine because it didn't look weird. It's not like there was blood on the car or anything super suspicious. But obviously this ended up being those kind of one in a million type of situations. But I mean truly this scene was so eerie and strange the way her car was backed up into this abandoned barn.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

With spring activities, sports and busy schedules, it can be tough to keep academics front and center. IXL makes it simple to stay consistent and build momentum without adding stress.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

IXL is an award winning online learning platform for Pre K through 12th grade with personalized interactive lessons in math, reading, writing and science that adapt to each child's level and pace. Proven in all 50 states to improve grades, students who use IXL score higher on tests.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

One subscription covers every subject for all the kids in your home, often costing less than a single hour of tutoring.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Trusted nationwide, 1 in 4 students in the US are learning with IXL.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in in the

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

US so make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and going West True

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Crime listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com goingwest visit ixl.com goingwest

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Commercial Narrator 2]

Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T Mobile and US Cellular are joining forces. Switch to T Mobile and save up to 20% versus Verizon by getting built in benefits they leave out. Check the math@t mobile.com switch and now T mobile is in US cellular stores.

[Commercial Disclaimer Voice]

Savings versus Comparable Verizon plans plus the cost of optional benefits plan features and taxes and fees vary. Savings with three plus lines include third line free via monthly bill credits credit stop if you cancel any lines. Qualifying credit required.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Picture this. You're doing some online shopping when all of a sudden you see it that one product that you've been looking for. You add to cart and as you're filling in your address you realize that you don't have your cart anywhere near you. That's when you see it. That purple pay button that has all of your information saved, making checking out as simple as a tap of your screen.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Shopify's Shop Pay button is used by millions of businesses around the world and it's why Shopify has the best converting checkout on the planet. It also helps boost conversions, meaning less carts going abandoned and more sales for you. Shopify is such a user friendly platform. If you're not using it for your business yet, what the heck are you doing?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

See less carts go abandoned and more sales with Shopify and their Shop Pay Button.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com goingwest go to shopify.com goingwest that's shopify.com goingwest your home should show off who you are and Ashley has styles that balance timeless appeal and modern trends to bring your personal look home.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

The eye catching design of Ashley pieces is one thing, but they're also made with features like stain resistant performance fabrics that are incredibly durable, easy to clean and stain resistant with machine washable cushion covers.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

And I'm so glad because Heath and I have a dog named Dewey who loves to sleep on the couch and he has black fur. So having a couch that is both stylish and stain resistant is so so important to us. Having machine washable cushions are a game changer so not only do their pieces look great in your home, but they function well with your life too.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Plus, Ashley provides fast, reliable white glove delivery right to your room of choice. Well crafted, affordable and built to stand up to real life. How furniture should be.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

So visit your local Ashley store or head to Ashley.com to find your style.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

This show is sponsored by Better Help. Women deserve to be celebrated, but we should also recognize that many women carry emotional weight at work, in relationships and families, and in the roles that they play for others. Whatever you're navigating, career expectations, parenting, caregiving or More, therapy with BetterHelp can help you check in with yourself, unpack what's feeling heavy and build healthier pathways forward.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform and handles the initial therapist matching for you. Just take a short questionnaire to share your needs and preferences and thanks to BetterHelp's industry leading match fulfillment rate, they usually get your match right on the first try. You can also feel confident knowing betterhelp therapists Work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

the US Your emotional well being matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% [e-mail] goingwest

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

that's betterhelp.com goingwest

[Taco Bell Commercial Voice]

Taco Bell is rolling out the new Chicken Bacon Ranch Street Chalupas. And here's the thing, you literally can't just get one. They come in twos. And thank goodness they do because these toasted Cheddar street chalupas filled with slow roasted chicken, crispy bacon and avocado ranch are stacked with bold flavor that keeps you going. Back for more Chicken Bacon Ranch Street Chalupas only at Taco Bell. Get yours today at participating U.S. taco Bell locations for a limited time only while supplies last.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Commander Daniel Begibing explained he assumed that sooner or later the vehicle's owner would come in and ask where the car had been towed to. In this county, we get a lot of abandoned vehicles. Well, like Daphne just said, the weirdest part about the abandoned car was that it appeared as if it had been backed into the wall of the house because Brianna or whomever had been driving the car would have had to reverse at an angle from the street to make contact with the wooden siding of the farmhouse. And strangely, this house had already been the site of one tragedy. The large, boxy wooden farmhouse known as the old Dutchburn House had been the home of brothers Harry and Myron Dutchburn. Well, in 1986. So about 18 years earlier, the elderly and feeble men suffered a break in and were both brutally beaten and robbed. Now, miraculously, they did in fact survive. But after both men passed, the farmhouse sat empty and it just basically grew into despair. And so it remained that way for six years prior to Brianna's disappearance.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

And it's kind of weird when you look at this farmhouse, like the street view of it, which we will post photos of, it is literally feet away from the highway amongst sprawling farmland. So it's there are no other houses nearby. And I think this area is kind of known for that. Like I said, the houses are separated. But it's just weird because there's this one house literally right on the highway and then there's no other homes nearby.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I definitely in Oregon there are different roads that are very similar to that where it's just highways and then it's just like one random house right there. I've always thought to myself, like, that is probably the most opportunistic home for some sort of like robbery to happen because it's rural, and it's like there's no other houses around it. And it's right on the highway.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Almost like the house was there before the highway was.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. So, as police were mulling over the connection between Brianna and the vehicle, her parents were growing agitated about why they had not been notified that the car had been in an accident days prior. By now, it had been impounded, and any possible crime scene evidence had already been corrupted. So her family hadn't even seen the car yet. It was actually Brianna's brother who located the car at an impound lot. So her parents raced there in hopes of gleaning more clues as to her whereabouts. Like, they checked the trunk, terrified that maybe she had been physically locked inside of it, but they found no trace of her in there. Inside the cab of the car were her contacts, as well as prescription medication that she usually took for recurring migraines, both of which she took with her everywhere. But even more alarming was the fact that her wallet was left inside the car.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And some reports say that her purse was in her car as well. But every report that we found that includes the word purse either says it was in the car or doesn't mention it. So it seems to us like she either didn't use a purse or the purse was in the car.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And then this also kind of makes me think two things. That either she was planning on coming back to grab her wallet, so she was planning on coming back to the car, or that she was taken so quickly that she wasn't able to grab

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

her wallet before leaving, especially with the car being left unlocked and the keys being missing.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Well, on the outside of the car, on the ground was loose change, a water bottle, a piece of women's jewelry identified as either a necklace or a bracelet, as well as an unsmoked cigarette. And strangely, on top of her vehicle. This is, like. I don't know why. This just feels so weird to me. Was a single lime wedge.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Like, almost as though she had brought a drink out from her restaurant that she worked at. And I don't know how to explain that.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Well, it's just weird because usually when you see something like that, you assume that maybe alcohol is involved. Like, oh, maybe she had a Corona and she was just, like. Had some limes with her or something. I don't know.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Was standing next to the car and using the top of the car as, like, a table or something.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Sure. Yeah.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

So, but was, you know, maybe the lime kind of stuck on. Again, her car was found only A few minutes away from the restaurant. So did she put her drink there before she's getting into her car and then she grabs the drink and the lime falls off. And it was like, is this involved or not?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Or was this somebody else's lime that they were using for their drink? Somebody that may have been at the scene?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Like, when the accident happened, was somebody else there and she was. Was she was talking to them or hanging out with them outside the car? Like, does it matter or is it just a lime? And I gotta say, I mean, it's so unfortunate because when her car was found, it was obviously briefly assessed and then it was impounded without the police really looking at the scene from the vision of it being the center of a missing person's investigation.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, because they obviously didn't know that yet. So they're looking at the car like, is this just an abandoned car?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And, okay, let's just get it out of here. Because it's not a good look. It's just. It's kind of like an eyesore and everybody's looking at it as we're going to get into. So, like, no forensic investigation was conducted of the scene as it was when they found her car like that the next day. And actually, just so you guys know, the fairly detailed photos of the scene, I will say they're. They're really good photos. Weren't even taken by the police. They were taken by various passing drivers because of how weird this scene looked,

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

which is really interesting to me that some drivers were like, hey, that car looks like it crashed into a farmhouse or a barn. Let's take some photos of it.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Especially in 2004. Like, I feel like everything is videotaped now or recorded now, I'll say. Or photographed now.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Feels like it would be less likely in 2004.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yes, truly. And most of these photos were taken by one person who actually got out of their car and, like, walked around and took pictures of the different angles of her car. And it's like, if this person had not done that, we would not be able to look back at the scene of Brianna Maitland's disappearance.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

But also, unfortunately, it could have also kind of contaminated the crime scene.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

True.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Having people walk around where that vehicle was.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I mean, again, I understand why, especially with the quote from the commander that you read, Heath, why they didn't look at this and say, oh, missing person.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Sure.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

But had they been able to figure out, I mean, again, they would have had to have gone to Brianna's work, found her, found out that she was missing. Like, it would have taken some work to get to that answer before they moved the car, which probably wouldn't have happened anyway.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

But I also think that probably because of what kind of car it was, maybe that also kind of played into why it didn't seem strange. Like, it's this old clunker Oldsmobile from 1985 and it's backed into a fucking barn.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

You know, it's like a grandpa car. Yeah.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

It's not like you're talking about a Lexus or something like that that happened to be crashed into a barn. That would look a little more suspicious in a rural area, don't you think?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, totally. Good point. Well, at this point in time, the car was processed as a crime scene, finally. But no signs of foul play were found in the car. As we said, you know, there's no blood, there's no hair, there's no weapon. And really also nothing at all to point to anything happening to Brianna. According to Kelly, Bruce headed back to the Black Lantern Inn to question her co workers before the police even made it there. Like, police completely dropped the ball in her case. Meanwhile, her mom Kelly, printed posters and put them up around Montgomery and the surrounding towns, pleading with the community for information and even offering $10,000 in exchange for tips. So with this, tips and sightings did pour in, ranging from pretty helpful to wildly speculative. One man actually claimed to have driven by the car on the side of the highway between 11.30pm on Friday and 12.30am on Saturday and claims that Brianna's headlights were still on at the time. So this left a window of only about 10 minutes minimum, to a maximum of an hour and 10 minutes in which Brianna could have gone missing. But that, that proves, you know, this, this guy would have been one of the first people to come upon her car and says the headlights were still on. Which is weird because if you're thinking that maybe somebody planted her car, probably wouldn't have kept the headlights on because that's like a freaking eyesore.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And on its head, obviously, this sighting feels very, very suspicious.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely. And another witness passed by shortly after the first car and claimed to have spotted Brianna's turn signal blinking on the car. So another strange thing to keep on if you're leaving the vehicle. Weirdly, an ex boyfriend of Briana's also passed by her accident while heading home later that night and wondered if it was her car, but he didn't see anyone in or around the vehicle. So he just headed home without stopping because again, it is very, very visible to Cars that are driving by on the highway. When you see photos, you're gonna be like, wait, that is literally right on the highway. Very visible to passing cars amongst these trees in open farmland, but it's mostly open. There's no trees outside of that farmhouse that would cover up the car. It is right there, feet away from the road. Then yet another tip reported having seen a white pickup truck parked down the street from Brianna's car. Someone also heard what they claimed was a man shouting in the area that night. But if it's connected, we obviously don't know for sure. Two more tips came in from motorists who had stopped to see the car the next day after it had already been long abandoned. You know, now it's. It's light out, they can actually see it. And they had found the scene so odd and out of place that these are the people who took pictures of it. Which, again, was basically a freaking godsend that we can be so thankful for, given that the police had no crime scene photographs of their own. Well, someone also reported having seen a man flirting with Brianna on her final evening, or at least, like, attempting to flirt with her during her shift at the restaurant that night, despite an otherwise routine night of work. So it seemed like somebody right before she went missing was interested in her and maybe pursuing her.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And again, this is just one of those things where it's like, is it connected? Did somebody follow her? Is this just like a completely normal thing?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Random guy who just failed and left?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Who knows?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

In the early days of April. So a couple weeks later, over 500 volunteers came out to walk the rural fields surrounding where her car had been recovered in hopes of finding something. A National Guard helicopter circled overhead, and hopes of spotting some sign of her from above and scent dogs were marched through the area. But still no sign of her emerged.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And sadly for now, theories are all that remain in Brianna's case. For locals, many suspect that Keeley, you know, the girl who had attacked Brianna about a month before she disappeared, and the rest of Brianna's friend group know more than they've shared. Shared. And some people have flat out called her out online and demanded that she come clean about her level of involvement and exactly what she knows, especially because Keeley has gotten in more trouble since Brianna's disappearance. Like, she has quite the local reputation. Eight years after Brianna went missing in 2012, Keeley broke into a woman's home and bit her on the leg when confronted.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

What the hell?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, what the fuck? And she was then charged with assault and burglary and then the following year, she was arrested for driving drunk with her infant child in the car. In the aftermath of Brianna's disappearance, Keeley apparently bragged that the charges of her assault on Brianna would likely be dropped because Brianna wasn't coming back. And while this could have simply, you know, just been like a callous remark of a teenager who realized that they were going to get away with something, it could also mean that something more nefarious took place and that Keeley had knowledge of this or even that she was partly to blame, because in the aftermath of Brianna's disappearance, the charges against her for the assault on Brianna were indeed dropped. Now, Keeli, of course, was questioned in connection with the disappearance, but as far as the public has been made aware, she was cleared. Well, another theory in Brianna's case is that she was met with foul play as a result of drug activity or possibly, like, a drug deal gone wrong or maybe an unpaid drug debt, because Brianna confided in her best friend Shauna that she had dabbled in marijuana, cocaine, and even crack, but maintained that she wasn't anything more than, like, a recreational user. She was known to attend parties with her large social circle and would partake if drugs were offered, but it just really wasn't something that she sought out frequently. So not something, it seems, she would probably carry a debt for. I mean, even her roommate Gillian, argued that Brianna's habits have been completely blown out of proportion since her disappearance, saying, every teen goes through a party stage. She didn't party when she moved in with me. She didn't want to party. She'd come home, read a book or watch tv.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

So sightings and tips just continued to trickle in, igniting all kinds of theories, including that she was being held in a particular house somewhere, which police did look into, though they didn't find anything. In February of 2007, so almost three years exactly since Brianna vanished, a police officer filed a report that a local woman confided in him that Brianna had been killed by Ramon Ryans, who was a man that lived in the local home that police searched, which was known to be occupied by different drug users and sellers, including Ramon. She claimed he, along with a few other people in his circle, killed and then dismembered Brianna's body using a table saw and then disposed of it at a nearby pig farm. I got to say, whenever we hear local rumors that are this specific, like, I can't help but kind of wonder if it's real, because people talk, you know, and somebody who's in a Circle that's next to that circle would maybe know that kind of information.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Sure. And, you know, sometimes these little conversations that are being had between locals does actually lead to something. And, you know, it's. It's like I always find that there's a little bit of truth in every rumor.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

You know.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I mean, that's why a lot of the times on Going west when we hear rumors, it's always like, you know, I mean, if somebody speaks your interest.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

For sure.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yes. Because if somebody. If people in town are talking about it, sure. Somebody could have just said that. And it's 100% not true. But if there was already a tip about this guy's house, and then another tip comes in, unbeknownst to the public, by the way, comes in, you know, unbeknownst to the public, of course, and multiple people are saying, hey, look at Ramone Ryan's. Like that. That's interesting. That's not nothing.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And you wonder if, you know, Ramone Ryan's is just, like, really infamously known within this local area as being a terrible guy.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Right. So maybe they're like, oh, that guy's kind of sketchy. He probably did this. And that comes from nowhere. But I'm glad at least police looked into it. But the problem is no part of this story could be substantiated. This tip came in three years later. So how the hell are we going to find evidence now?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Sure. And then they also did look into this house, and when they did look at the house, they didn't find anything substantial.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Right. So, I mean, I don't know if they did a full forensic sweep of the house or maybe they just kind of peeked around in it, but maybe nothing happened to her at that house. Anyway, they brought her somewhere else. There could be so many things to this, and it doesn't mean this man, this house, these people didn't do something. But police just don't know. And police do publicly acknowledge that many of the tips and rumors lead back to Ramon Ryan's and a buddy in his circle, Nathaniel Jackson, which is very suspicious to them. But, yeah, unfortunately, they didn't have much more than that. But back to the scene. So detectives believe it's possible that Brianna was lured to this field intentionally in order to meet with someone. Like maybe somebody called the restaurant that she worked at, or somebody came in and said, hey, meet us at the Dutch.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

The.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

The Dutch burn house.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And that also kind of also makes you think about when she was. Had to go meet with somebody while she was with her mom earlier that day. You're like, does that connect to possibly, hey, you know, are we gonna meet up tonight at this place?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Are you gonna pay me back? Or whatever? Something like that? Absolutely. I mean, but that. That's why it feels so endless, because what was. Who was she talking to? And is it connected? Or was she just planning on going home that night and was not trying to stop anywhere? And then police also wondered if she was at that barn to meet up with somebody. Maybe once it got dangerous, she kind of tried to flee, and then that caused her to back up into the farmhouse by accident. And then, you know, she was extracted from her car, and her car was left there. But sadly, like you said, heath, speculation is all that's left here. And the rumor mill continues to churn to this day. But I just can't get over why and how her car got into the position that it was in. Like, it is so perplexing. It didn't appear, by the way, as though she, like, slid out of control and hydroplaned and landed that way either, Even though there was some snow on the fields, as you'll see in the photos. But why she would intentionally veer off the highway, turn around, back into this barn in the pitch black of night? Because, by the way, this area has no street lamps. Doesn't make any sense. Like, was it a staged accident? Was she forced off the road? Did her car actually slip in the road and then she had to flag down help and the wrong person came by at that very time?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

You know, I was kind of wondering if maybe, like, the car got stuck when it got backed into the barn. Like, if it hooked on something and she couldn't drive it out of there.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Apparently it didn't really. So, yeah, they were able to just drive her car out.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Okay, so it doesn't appear that the car was stuck there at all.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. So even me saying, did she flag down help? Like, maybe she thought something was more wrong, but it's like the car was in working order, and it wasn't stuck in that house.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Well, that is definitely a very interesting detail.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

And also, by the way, based on the available information, it appears that the car was intentionally backed up slowly. Like, this was not a wild, swirling accident at a high speed. It seemed like it just was backed up. Again, maybe not intentionally, but it was, like, kind of like maybe the car was right in front of it, and then it went whoop and went backwards.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Right. So it didn't seem like if she was the person that was driving the car. It didn't seem like she was in a hurry, and. Oh, my God, I have to.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah,

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

yeah.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

The. The house didn't, like, explode, you know, it's not like, bam, and then there's, like, wood everywhere. It's like, whoa, Whoa. It was like, just like, boop. You know?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, well, it's called a boop.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, that's what it's. That's the legal term or the official term. But no, you'll see in photos, it is. It definitely went through the wall. But this is not, like, a strong new build. And even so, we've seen it happen where. Not going very fast. You can, like, drive right into a

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

house, you know, you can.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

So she just. Or somebody backed up. But why, like, it is facing the road specific. So, okay, so she's driving north right from her work. The barn is on the left side of the road, so it's not on her, like, driver's. Well, it's on her driver's side, but it's not like she pulls over on the right side of the road. There's the barn.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. You have to cross over the highway to get into the driveway of it.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yes. And then it was backed in facing north. Right. So it's like she would have had to have made a left to get into that, like, driveway type of, you know, gravelly area, and then turned around

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

and then backed up, or just, like,

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

backed up, depending on what way she was facing. But, yeah, the. The front of the vehicle was facing the direction in which she was traveling. The barn was just on the opposite side of the road. So it's like, that also doesn't really make any sense, because then it would have felt more like this was an intentional move to go towards this barn. It's not like, whoa, let me pull over for a second. She would have had to turn around, essentially, or make that left turn to get to that barn. Why?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Is it possible that that was kind of the only option for her when she was like, maybe she forgot something back at work, and, like, maybe she had to pull in there to turn around to head the opposite direction.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

And again, we'll put street view images, but, like, you can see I'm looking at it right now. That is kind of like the widest space that you can pull into. But, like, if she needed to pull over for any reason, she could have pulled over on the side of the road that she was already on. She didn't have to turn around. Unless, like, you're saying she did need to go back to work for whatever reason. But there's also no report of her. Oh, she left her purse at work.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Well, one thing that I do know about those big old Oldsmobile cars is that they're kind of tough to turn around because they're big and boxy, you know.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

True.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

So, you know, maybe she was thinking like, hey, this is going to be hard for me to like completely make a 180 in the road. Maybe if I just pull into this abandoned lot and turn around there, it'll just be easier.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And you know, something I always think about too is was somebody in the vehicle with her? You and I talk about this a lot, Heath. Of like, is somebody in the back seat of the car? Which is very possible. But like we said, her co workers watched her drive away. So we know that she left work. Whether there was somebody in the car or somebody following her, we don't know. But she was seen driving away.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

So that is one definitive fact that we have.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

But otherwise it just truly feels so endless.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

I can't help but go back to the fact that I feel like somebody was there with her that night. Just, you know, talking about the fact that there were sightings of other cars that were in the area. And a lot of people talked about that. Also the fact that the keys were missing from the car, as if maybe somebody said, hey, we're going to go to my house and go grab some drinks or some drugs or whatever. Possibly. I mean, I don't know if that's the case. She would have taken the car keys with her.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

It's just so weird to think of her willingly leaving the scene with the ass of her vehicle inside an abandoned barn visible from the road. Yes, I agree with the, the, you know, turning blinker on with the headlights on, facing directly into other drivers faces. And again though you. She could have driven away from this scene. This wasn't a terrible accident. But Heath, why don't you get into some more of the theories and the thoughts around her case?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. So naturally some have blamed her ex boyfriend, wondering if maybe he was jealous that she was moving on and possibly dating other guys, you know, saw her on the highway and then stopped her somehow. The possibility has also been posed that perhaps it was Keeley's cousin wanting to help cover for her assault charge and knowing that it would be dropped if Brianna wasn't there to testify against her. But Brianna's case isn't totally forgotten about because as recently as last summer, in 2025, new information has actually come out. Lou Berry, one of the two private investigators retained by The Maitland family shared that a previously unreported tip may offer valuable insight into the scene of Brianna's abandoned vehicle. A couple actually reported having seen a silver or gray Honda sedan, likely from the late 1990s or early 2000s, parked near Brianna's car on the night that she vanished. Which again, goes back to the thought that I have that somebody else was there that night, right?

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Like, maybe somebody did pull her over, and she's like, why is somebody flashing their lights at me? I'm going to pull over here. And then something happened.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

They had also seen a tall man lurking outside the vehicle at that time. Later, this couple reported having seen the silver Honda driving erratically and then breaking suddenly near the scene of Brianna's disappearance,

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

which obviously is suspicious, especially because we know that another vehicle would have had to have been involved. Was it a Honda?

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

It's interesting to note that that car was driving erratically as well, because what would be the purpose of that, that late at night on that rural road? Unless they were, like, drunk, maybe drunk or racing or something. While the other private investigator, Greg Overacker, penned a book about the case entitled the Hunt for Brianna, the Relentless Pursuit of Answers to One of Vermont's Biggest Mysteries, with a foreword written by Brianna's dad and an afterword penned by Lou Barry, a link to the eerily similar disappearance of Mara Murray was also investigated. And Mara's family actually reached out to the Maitlands early on in the investigation just in order to offer their support. At one time, the families actually believed that it was possible that there was a connection between the two and that perhaps they had both fallen victim to a serial killer that was stalking the winding back roads of small Northeastern towns. As many of you know, Mara disappeared only about a month prior to on February 9, 2004, just under two hours away in Haverhill, New Hampshire. But without more evidence, investigators really can't find a connection between the two. But if you do want to learn more about Mara's case, we definitely recommend you check out season one of the podcast Media Pressure, which is hosted by her sister, Julie Murray.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

I mean, either way, to this day, police have maintained their belief that foul play befell Brianna on the night of her disappearance. But they've declined to announce the extent of their findings from within the vehicle. In 2022, a DNA profile was built for a sample discovered in the vicinity of her car, and it was then compared to the profiles of 11 potential persons of interest, but unfortunately, it didn't match any of them. However, detectives have assured the public that the prognosis is positive, with Detective Sergeant Angela Baker maintaining her belief that the case is, quote, not unsolvable. Her parents have kept up their valiant efforts alongside private investigators Lou Barry and Greg Overacker. And the FBI has also gotten involved in the search. Her dad actually started an organization for other families with missing loved ones calling it Private Investigations for the Missing.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yes. And when we originally talked to Bruce in that first episode, we did talk pretty extensively about Private Investigations for the Missing, which is an amazing nonprofit.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, they are so incredible. We'll go ahead and link their page in the description for this episode if you want to donate or look more into it. But yeah, it's a, it's a non profit organization. And Bruce explains that Private Investigations for the Missing seeks to at no cost fill that need by providing families with qualified expert investigators to work on their loved one's case and hopefully locate or bring some form of closure to them. So he's like, his goal is to help families with missing loved ones get PI services for free because nobody expects their loved one to go missing and a lot of people can't afford that kind of private help.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And he also knows firsthand just how this can affect people's lives.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely. So it's amazing. Such a great organization to support. Now when asked about the reason for the formation of his organization, Bruce explained, quote, I've heard horror stories from people that have taken second mortgages on their houses and done things like that to pay investigators and paid thousands of dollars and still have gotten nowhere. I started this organization really to be able to help people. Currently the reward is sitting at $40,000. In Brianna's case.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

17 year old Brianna Maitland was last seen on March 19, 2004. She had brown hair and hazel eyes, stood at around 5ft 4 inches tall and weighed about 105 pounds. She has a scar on her forehead above her left eyebrow and her nose is pierced. If you have any information about the disappearance of Brianna Maitland, please call the Vermont State Police at 1-844-84-V Tips or the FBI's tip line at 1-800- CALL FBI.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Thank you so much everybody for listening to this episode of Going West.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

Yes, thank you guys so much for listening to this episode. Make sure that you share this episode because the Maitlands are still waiting for some form of justice and closure. Make sure you check out Bruce's nonprofit organization which is Private Investigations for the Missing.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yes, it's such an amazing organization. And just to know that they have been searching for Brianna for over 20 years and her case is this puzzling and perplexing, like they deserve answers. Somebody knows what happened to her on this open highway.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

And like Angela Baker said, you know, this case is not unsolved solvable.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Well, thank you guys so much for tuning in. Don't forget we just came out with merch. You can find [e-mail] and then just look for going west.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

We've got T shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, the whole gamut. So go check it out. I know a lot of you guys have been waiting quite a long time for us to drop it and it is finally here.

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, we used to have a bunch of merch but now we just have really high quality, soft, comfortable merch with a few options that are really well designed by our team at Unwell. So go check it out. We hope you guys love it. Thank you for your patience and we will see you guys again on Tuesday.

[Heath (Podcast Host)]

All right guys. So for everybody out there in the

[Daphne (Podcast Host)]

world, don't be a stranger.

[Sponsor Advertisement Voice]

If you, your parent or spouse served in the military, you could join our family. Our members saved an average of $70 a month on auto insurance when they switched. Tap the banner or visit usaa.com join today to check your eligibility restrictions apply. I used to love the little things. My son's laughter, the smell of rain. But then depression happened and while my antidepressant helped, I still didn't feel like I used to. So my doctor recommended adding Rexulti.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

Rexpiprazole Rexulti could provide a boost when added to an antidepressant. Rexulti was proven to significantly reduce depression symptoms more than an antidepressant alone. Elderly people with dementia related psychosis have increased risk of death or stroke. Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts and actions and worsen depression in children and young adults. Call your healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts or feelings. Feelings or if you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, report fever, stiff muscles and confusion which can be life threatening, or uncontrolled muscle movements which may be permanent. High blood sugar can lead to coma or death. Weight gain, increased cholesterol, unusual urges, dizziness on standing falls, seizures, trouble swallowing or sleepiness may occur. Learn about these and other side [e-mail] tap ad for PI.

[Sponsor Advertisement Voice]

Here's to the little things.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

Could a boost help you build on your progress? Ask your doctor about adding Rexelti.

[Commercial Narrator 1]

Ever walk past a place for rent and wish you could just take a peek inside? Maybe even explore the layout? Envision the natural light streaming through the windows or plan where your vinyl record collection would go. At apartments.com you can. With tools like their 3D virtual tours, you can see the exact unit you could be living in. Really envision yourself in your new home. With apartments.com the place to find a place.

[Pataday Commercial Voice]

In the red corner, the undisputed, undefeated weed Whacker guy. Champion of hurling grass and pollen everywhere. And in the blue corner, the challenger. Extra strength Hataday eye drops that work all day to prevent the release of histamines that cause itchy allergy eyes. And the winner by knockout is Pataday. Pataday. Bring it on.