Morbid Podcast - The Mysterious Disappearance of Zebb Quinn

Hosted by: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Episode Date: March 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the perplexing, haunting case of Zebb Quinn, an 18-year-old who vanished in 2000 under deeply mysterious circumstances in Asheville, North Carolina. Ash and Alaina bring their signature blend of detailed research, personal empathy, and wry humor to an unsolved case that morphs from strange to outright bizarre, revisiting the events, the wild twists, and the long but finally resolved road to possible justice. The episode stands out for its careful telling, focus on the personalities involved, and an unflinching look at both the heartbreak and the lingering questions that haunt the case decades later.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Banter [01:28-07:15]

• Ash and Alaina begin with a humorous chat about the woes of daylight savings time and book promotions but transition smoothly into the episode’s subject matter.
• Ash: “This one Dave found. Dave, our researcher. And I hadn’t heard of this before, which makes sense because it was like in the 90s, but it carries on into a time when I was alive and, like, you know, conscious.” [07:16]
• Key mood: They set a lighthearted, irreverent tone before shifting into the more somber details of the Quinn case.

The Disappearance of Zebb Quinn [07:16-13:21]

Background:

• Zebb Quinn was an 18-year-old Walmart employee saving up for a car in late 1999.
• In January 2000, former coworker Jason Owens tells Zebb about a car for sale, leading to the last known sighting of Zebb.

Key Events:

• Owens and Quinn left Walmart together, each in their own car.
• At a convenience store stop, Zebb receives a page, becomes visibly panicked, and eventually drives off after a frantic phone call.
• This was the last verified sighting of Zebb.

Memorable Quote:

• Ash: “That was the last time anybody saw Zebb Quinn.” [10:10]

Immediate Aftermath & Family Response [10:15-13:41]

• Zebb’s mother, Denise, and his sister, Brandy, both immediately sense something is wrong when Zebb does not return home or respond to pages—behavior described as radically out of character.
• Family describes Zebb as a non-rebellious, gentle kid who was close with his family but struggled socially.
• Alaina: “He literally gave off like teddy bear energy, you know?” [11:25]

Early Investigation & Jason Owens’ Story [13:41-19:16]

• Friends, coworkers, and police note how odd it is that Zebb would vanish without warning.
• Suspicion falls quickly on Jason Owens, especially after he calls Zebb’s employer to report him sick, pretending to be Zebb—a cover story that doesn’t add up.
• Alaina: “If Zebb is calling you, why—why wouldn’t he just call Walmart himself and say, like, I can’t come in today?” [17:08]

Other Persons of Interest: Misty Taylor & Wesley Smith [20:05-25:54]

• Police learn from Zebb's mom that he was infatuated with a girl, Misty Taylor, who had a boyfriend (Wesley Smith) known to have threatened Zebb.
• On the night he disappeared, Misty and Wesley have a confirmed alibi.
• Investigation into phone records reveals the page that seemingly set off Zebb came from his aunt’s house, but she denies making the call. She reports a suspicious break-in, adding further confusion.

Bizarre Evidence & Unanswered Questions [29:21-35:52]

Discovery of Zebb’s Car (Two Weeks Later):

• Car abandoned near the hospital where Zebb's mother, sister, and grandmother all worked.
• Inside: a live black lab puppy, a coat (not Zebb’s), and a mysterious hotel key card; lipstick “lips” and two exclamation marks drawn on the window.
• Puppy found happy and healthy—later adopted by Det. Sams; no trace of its origin.
• Alaina: “I have gone down every deep, dark hole to try to figure out why the there’s a puppy in the car. And I don’t know. … And the puppy is okay.” [32:05]

Untraceable Evidence:

• The hotel key card could not be matched to any area hotel. The puppy’s origin is never determined.

Growing Suspicions, Jason Owens’ Behavior, & Cold Case [35:52-42:20]

• Jason Owens often resurfaces in police orbit: calls out sick; calls in for Zebb with a bad excuse; claims two car accidents with unconvincing evidence; minor injuries explained away.
• He passes a polygraph (a point of debate for the hosts).
• Descriptions and sketch from witnesses suggest a woman (resembling Misty Taylor) was seen driving Zebb’s car after his disappearance, though Misty denies involvement.
• The case grows colder despite small breaks.

Major Break: Jason Owens’ Arrest for a Separate Murder [45:16-49:28]

• In 2015, Jason Owens is linked to the brutal murders of Kristi and JT Codd (Kristi was a Food Network Star contestant).
• Evidence found at Owens’ home; he confesses to “storing and destroying” the bodies (including dismemberment and burning).
• He claims the Codds were killed in a car accident and robbery-gone-wrong, but Ash and Alaina find his story implausible.
• Owens is sentenced to a minimum of 60 years for this crime.

Renewed Focus on Zebb’s Case [49:28-53:45]

• Police excavate Owens’ property after getting tips about a burned pit (possibly covered over as a fish pond); they recover “hard fragments,” but won't confirm if they are related to Zebb.
• In 2017, Owens is indicted for Zebb’s murder after renewed grand jury proceedings.

Plea Deal, the “Uncle Gene” Twist, and Lingering Doubts [53:45-57:00]

• Owens claims his uncle, “Gene” Owens, murdered and burned Zebb—an accusation difficult to prove as Gene is deceased.
• Owenses' story matches his own MO from other crimes, which casts further suspicion.
• Plea deal accepted: Owens pleads guilty as an accessory to murder; receives an additional 13–16 years.
• District Attorney statement: The plea is not a full confession, but it brings some resolution.

Victim Impact Statements & Closing [57:00-61:09]

• Zebb’s family speaks in court. Denise Quinn’s statement is particularly powerful:
  • Denise: “This is the young man that was taken from his family, friends, community, and the world. … This is a young man who trusted his friend Jason.” [57:53]
• At closure, Owens is serving 59–74 years to life.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the car evidence:
  Ash (on the lipstick/lips): “It’s bizarre. It’s big, too. Like, it’s very big.” [59:11]

• On loose ends:
  Alaina: “Like, what is going on? … You can look it up. You can see the picture of the lips drawn. … Where did that key card come from that it didn’t match anywhere?” [59:00–59:55]

• On the victim’s family’s loss:
  Alaina: “For all that time to go by and you probably wake up every single day with a new question about where your brother is and then your son — and you have, we say it all the time, your mind fills in the holes.” [42:30]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [07:16] — Case Introduction: Zebb’s background and lead-up to his disappearance
• [09:21] — Frantic page and last sighting
• [10:14] — Family’s immediate concern and response
• [16:54] — Link between Jason Owens, Zebb’s car, and the “calling in sick” incident
• [20:05] — Misty Taylor and Wesley Smith come under scrutiny
• [29:21] — Discovery of Zebb’s car, puppy, and bizarre evidence
• [37:32] — Witness sees a woman driving Zebb’s car (matches Misty’s image)
• [45:16] — Owens’ arrest for the Codd murders, details of crime, and confession
• [49:28] — Tip about Owens’ pit/fish pond, subsequent investigation
• [51:21] — Plea deal and description of alleged murder-for-hire scheme
• [57:00] — Victim impact statements, Denise’s quote
• [59:00] — Hosts reflect on unresolved mysteries and unanswered questions

Tone, Atmosphere & Memorable Exchanges

• Heavily empathetic: Zebb’s social background and family bonds are highlighted to show the depth of loss.
• Analytical yet frustrated: The hosts repeatedly express exasperation and suspicion at the wild turns in the case, especially the unresolved evidence and Owens’ implausible stories.
• Trademark humor: Pops up in asides (e.g., puppy in the car, lipstick analysis, “submerged in water” phobias), balancing the heaviness of the topic.
• Deep sadness: In the final moments, talk circles back to the enduring pain for Zebb’s family and the incompleteness of the “resolution.”

Conclusion: Unanswered Mysteries & Reflections

• The show closes with Ash and Alaina pondering all the unresolved questions: the odd evidence in the car, the motivation for the staged discovery, the origin of the puppy, and the role of secondary characters like Misty and “Uncle Gene.”
• Alaina: “There’s so many unanswered questions. … The answer’s not given.” [61:09]

Summary

This episode is both a thorough true crime exploration and a meditation on the pain of ambiguity. Despite a conviction and Owens' life sentence, questions abound—about accomplices, the symbolism of the staged car, and the true fate of Zebb Quinn’s remains. The Morbid hosts fuse research, empathy, and irreverence, offering both deep sadness and cathartic laughter as they ask: When is resolution ever enough?

For listeners seeking more:

• Look up images of Zebb and the case evidence as suggested by the hosts.
• If you have information, consult North Carolina law enforcement — the case, in many senses, still longs for closure.