Lawless Planet – "The Amateur Sleuth Who Solved an Oil Worker's Disappearance"

Podcast: Lawless Planet (Wondery)
Host: Zach Goldbaum
Air Date: October 27, 2025

Overview

This gripping episode of Lawless Planet explores the intersection of environmental devastation, Native American sovereignty, corporate greed, and true crime. Host Zach Goldbaum chronicles Lyssa Yellowbird Chase’s transformation from a “justice seeker” and amateur sleuth into a fearless advocate for the missing on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Through her relentless grassroots investigation, Lyssa not only exposes the disappearances and murders tied to the North Dakota oil boom, but also unearths the web of corruption connecting tribal leadership, oil company executives, and organized crime.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Disappearance of Casey Clark and the Start of Lyssa's Investigation

[00:19–02:36]

• Meet Lyssa Yellowbird Chase:
  Lyssa introduces herself as Arikara, Mandan, Hidatsa, Lakota, and a “humble, pitiful human being who likes to try to do the right thing for other people.”
  • “Didn’t nobody want to admit that it was a short, chubby Indian chick with a bad mouth who broke this case.” (Lyssa, [02:55])
• Lyssa becomes obsessed with the case of missing oil worker Casey Clark after seeing his mother’s plea on Facebook.
• After the tribal oil boom transforms her home, Lyssa feels compelled to stand up for justice where law enforcement won't.

The Economic Boom and Its Dark Consequences

[04:19–12:05]

• North Dakota’s Bakken oil formation turns the Fort Berthold Reservation into a boomtown, but also exposes residents to corporate exploitation and the hazards of fracking.
• Massive influx of outside oil workers brings increased crime and drug problems to the reservation.
• Tribal Chairman Tex Hall, also known as Red Tipped Arrow, preaches “sovereignty by the barrel,” steering the tribe to embrace oil money as a path to independence—yet his business dealings blur governance and personal enrichment.
• Quote from Tex Hall: “It’s hard to be sovereign on an empty stomach…” ([11:43])

Rising Suspicion: Corruption and Violent Actors

[12:23–19:06]

• Lyssa documents how non-tribal companies, like James Henriksen’s Blackstone Trucking, circumvent tribal rules by partnering with insiders such as Tex Hall.
• James Henriksen, charismatic but deeply corrupt and violent, rises in the ranks through deals with tribal leadership and intimidation.
• Lyssa’s efforts at transparency lead her to confront Tex Hall and send repeated messages—he remains unresponsive.
  • “So when Tex didn’t answer me, my question was like, what do you gotta hide?” (Lyssa, [18:58])

The Investigation, Breaks, and Bold Tactics

[19:06–23:19]

• Lyssa discovers James’s criminal past and spreads the word via professional-looking flyers warning businesses and tribal members:
  • “Consider them dangerous.”
• The campaign reaches reservation leadership; as pressure mounts, Tex Hall ends his business relationship with James, effectively driving Blackstone out.
  • “People said, ‘Lyssa, you’re going up against an empire.’ I said, ‘You know what an empire is built of? Bricks. You know how you dismantle one? Brick by fucking brick.’” (Lyssa, [23:19])

Building the Case: Personal Risks and Unfolding Threats

[23:37–26:41]

• Lyssa befriends James’s wife, Sarah, gaining inside perspectives but also worrying for Sarah’s safety.
  • “She was a victim, too. So I was kind of worried about her safety because I by then had figured out James is a pretty rotten guy and anybody is disposable to him, including his wife.” ([25:04])
• Homeland Security’s investigation into phone records starts revealing movement patterns matching Casey’s disappearance.

Murder for Hire and National Fallout

[26:41–36:18]

• Lyssa warns Doug Carlile, James’s new business partner, that he is at risk.
  • “Doug, would you not rather lose everything and walk away with your life? Because I'm telling you, these people aren’t to play with. You are next.” (Lyssa, [01:52])
• Despite warnings, Doug is murdered in his home. Lyssa’s suspicions are confirmed as evidence and witness confessions tie James to both murders—Casey Clark and Doug Carlile.
• The investigation exposes evidence of tribal chairman Tex Hall’s improper deals with Blackstone, kickbacks, and environmental violations, leading to his downfall.
  • “Casey was the scab, and once we plucked that off, it just started bleeding.” (Lyssa, [35:18])

Justice and Aftermath

[36:18–38:42]

• James Henriksen is found guilty on all counts—two life sentences for murder for hire.
  • “The verdict: guilty on all counts.” (Lyssa, [36:51])
• Sarah Krevling, in exchange for testimony, receives probation and restitution, and divorces James.
• Lyssa’s behind-the-scenes work is crucial but goes uncredited:
  • “Didn’t nobody want to admit that it was a short, chubby Indian chick with a bad mouth who broke this case.” (Lyssa, [36:18])

Lyssa’s Legacy and Continuing Work

[38:17–41:59]

• Lyssa becomes a beacon for other families seeking missing loved ones, launching the Saanish Scouts nonprofit and advocating against violence toward Indigenous people.
  • “Let’s not sugarcoat the idea. Our women were exploited from the very beginning...”
• The environmental cost of the Bakken—and oil booms like it—loom large: pollution, damaged land, radioactive waste, and a legacy of loss.
• Lyssa sums up the lasting damage:
  • “Mother Earth is going to be fine with or without us... We’ve kind of evolved into more of a parasite and we need to change that.” ([41:59])
• Despite personal sacrifice—missing family events and pieces of her own life—Lyssa remains committed to advocating for justice and searching for the missing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 02:55 | Lyssa Yellowbird Chase | “Didn’t nobody want to admit that it was a short, chubby Indian chick with a bad mouth who broke this case.” | | 11:43 | Tex Hall | “It’s hard to be sovereign on an empty stomach.” | | 18:58 | Lyssa Yellowbird Chase | “So when Tex didn’t answer me, my question was like, what do you gotta hide?” | | 19:26 | Lyssa Yellowbird Chase | “Casey’s the one who finessed those relationships... If Casey was to go to another company, the chances are they would cancel the contract with James and Tex and go to wherever Casey was.” | | 23:19 | Lyssa Yellowbird Chase | “You know how you dismantle [an empire]? Brick by fucking brick.” | | 36:51 | Lyssa Yellowbird Chase | “The verdict: guilty on all counts.” | | 41:59 | Lyssa Yellowbird Chase | “Mother Earth is going to be fine with or without us... We’ve kind of evolved into more of a parasite and we need to change that.” |

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19–02:36: Lyssa’s introduction and warning to Doug Carlile
• 04:19–12:05: Background on Fort Berthold Reservation and oil boom
• 17:22–23:19: Lyssa’s dedication, investigation tactics, and public flyer campaign
• 26:41–29:43: The murder of Doug Carlile
• 31:50–36:18: Confession of Casey’s killer and unraveling of the criminal conspiracy
• 38:17–41:59: Lyssa’s continuing advocacy and the environmental legacy of boomtown greed

Tone and Takeaways

The episode is determined, clear-eyed, and at times mournful—reflecting Lyssa’s own mixture of grit, humor, and vulnerability. Goldbaum and the interviewees steer clear of sensationalism, focusing instead on the deep human cost of environmental harm and corruption. The story is as much about systemic failures and resilience as it is about individual crimes, reminding listeners that in places where “lawless” is the norm, real justice often comes from the most unexpected quarters—one brick, one act of courage, at a time.

For more stories at the intersection of true crime and the climate crisis, follow Lawless Planet wherever you get your podcasts.