MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Episode: Unanswered Vol. II (October 16, 2025)

Episode Overview

In "Unanswered Vol. II," MrBallen delves into three perplexing and unsolved cases revolving around mysterious disappearances. Each story—pulled from real events—leaves listeners with more questions than answers, exploring themes of isolation, unexplained behavior, and the haunting possibility of foul play or supernatural forces. The episode maintains MrBallen’s distinctively suspenseful and empathetic storytelling style, inviting listeners to weigh the evidence and come to their own conclusions.

Story 1: “Lava Tubes”

(Starts at 02:23)

Summary:
Two women vanish in the otherworldly landscape of Idaho’s Craters of the Moon park—a dormant volcano riddled with 1100 miles of dangerous lava tubes and jagged lava fields. The search for answers only deepens the mystery.

Key Discussion Points:

• Setting the Scene:
  Craters of the Moon National Monument’s treacherous, isolated environment is described in detail.

  “It’s this beautiful park known for these crazy lava fields that look otherworldly...barely any vegetation can grow on them...” (Narrator, 02:23)

• The Disappearance:
  Amy Linkert (69) and Jo Blakesley (63) set out for a hike on September 19, 2013, planning to return to Boise by the 21st. When they don’t, families grow worried and alert authorities by the 23rd.

• Clues & Initial Search:
  The women's truck is discovered in the park, their beloved dogs unharmed inside—the purses and cell phones left behind.

  “That was something so unbelievably uncharacteristic of either of them. They adored those two dogs. They would never, ever abandon them like that.” (Narrator, 05:25)

• Discovery of the Bodies:
  Amy is found off the main trail in a rugged, off-limits area; Jo’s body is discovered nearly a month later, a mile away, in another similarly inaccessible location. Both had no incapacitating injuries.

• Unanswered Questions:
  The search area had been combed extensively—by air, ground, and cadaver dogs—but Jo’s body was found in a spot previously cleared.

  “It made no sense that Amy would be so far off the trail in an area that was so dangerous and so clearly off limits.” (Narrator, 04:29)

• Official Ruling & Theories:
  Authorities declare the deaths accidental, but the family and the storytelling team express skepticism, pondering foul play given the strange context and the park’s ominous lava tubes.

  “Certainly makes you wonder who or what could be hiding underground in those lava tubes.” (Mr. Ballen, 07:37)

Notable Moments:

• The detail about the untouched dogs is repeatedly emphasized as out of character for the missing women.
• The unresolved question of how the women ended up so far apart, in impossible terrain, possibly without each other's help.
• Authorities rule out foul play, but MrBallen and families point to the location’s sinister potential.

Story 2: “Stay in the Car”

(Starts at 09:52)

Summary:
A drunken night on the South Dakota Yankton Sioux Reservation turns into tragedy when a car flips. Miraculously, one teen survives, but the two others go missing—only to be discovered months later, under bizarre circumstances.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Crash:
  Tracy Dion (17), her cousin Ruby (19), and Ruby’s boyfriend Arnold (20) are involved in a late-night car crash. Tracy regains consciousness inside the upside-down vehicle; her companions are missing.

  “The driver’s side door was closed, but Arnold was gone.” (Mr. Ballen, 11:13)

• Escape and Oddities:
  Ruby manages to open the car door and slips out. Tracy tries to follow but the door is violently slammed in her face, leaving her trapped and disoriented.

  “She was about to make an exit...when the door slammed shut violently, right in Tracy’s face.” (Mr. Ballen, 12:17)

• Rescue and Investigation:
  Tracy is found unharmed hours later. Ruby and Arnold have vanished. Initial theories suggest the pair fled to avoid legal trouble, being intoxicated and underage.

• Disturbing Sightings:
  Weeks go by with no sign of the missing couple, until witnesses claim to have seen Arnold at a New Year’s Eve party. Polygraph results indicate the sightings may be credible, yet no trace leads to their recovery.

• Bodies Discovered:
  Nearly three months post-crash, both are found dead: their remains in a drainage ditch just 75 feet from the crash site—an area already searched multiple times. Importantly, the state of their bodies differs drastically.

  “Ruby’s body was extremely decomposed...but Arnold’s body was barely decomposed at all.” (Mr. Ballen, 15:11)

• Unresolved Mysteries:
  Arnold is found with three unfamiliar keys. Ruby’s hair is discovered at the site—clean and obviously not exposed to the elements for months. Officials cite exposure as cause of death, but local authorities and family remain convinced of foul play.

• Enduring Questions:
  Multiple credible sightings, the violent slamming of the door, the shifting decomposition rates, and the clean condition of the hair keep the mystery unsolved.

Notable Quotes:

• “It was like Arnold and Ruby had gotten out of the car and just vanished.” (Mr. Ballen, 13:56)
• “Maybe it was Ruby or Arnold who slammed the door, or maybe it was their killer.” (Mr. Ballen, 18:34)

Memorable Moment:
Audible speculation about whether the door was closed by one of the victims—or someone else—adds a chilling psychological edge.

Story 3: “What Just Happened?”

(Starts at 20:07)

Summary:
The tale of Kaelin Louder, a young social worker whose life unravels over a series of eerie 911 calls, culminating in her sudden vanishing and mysterious death.

Key Discussion Points:

• Background:
  Kaelin’s family dynamic is shaped by her twin brother’s addiction and incarceration. She channels her pain into helping others as a social worker but faces unemployment and difficult times.

• 911 Calls & Escalating Paranoia:
  In a 24-hour period in September 2014, Kaelin calls 911 three times—first reporting a violent fight at her condo’s clubhouse (which turns out to be a peaceful wedding), then again in a confused, mumbling state, and finally, in terror, screaming about intruders robbing her apartment.

  “My roommate thinks I’m delusional and paranoid, but I’m not.” (Kaelin, 22:04)

• Confusion vs. Reality:
  Police repeatedly respond but find no evidence of threats or break-ins. Her roommate and mother try to calm her, attributing the behavior to stress or embarrassment.

• Final Sighting:
  Security footage shows Kaelin—barefoot, scantily dressed on a rainy, cold day—fleeing her condo complex after talking animatedly to seemingly no one. She leaves her beloved dog behind, an unprecedented act.

  “She begins having this totally animated discussion—except there’s no one there for her to be talking to.” (Narrator, 25:55)

• Discovery & Unresolved Death:
  10 weeks later, Kaelin’s body is found five miles from her home in the Jordan River. There’s no evidence of drowning or drugs. Forensic analysis shows she could not have drifted downstream. Her family suspects foul play, citing the look of terror on the final footage.

• Lingering Mystery:
  Authorities rule the death accidental, but the family argues it may be connected to someone unseen on camera, hiding near the scene.

  “Her family believes...whatever she was doing in her final moments on camera is the key to understanding why she ran off and ultimately died.” (Narrator, 29:41)

Notable Quotes:

• “Kaylin was very embarrassed. She apologized to the officers...‘I can’t believe I just called 911 three different times and nothing came of any of these calls.’” (Narrator, 24:06)
• “It looks like she’s terrified. More specifically, it looks like she’s terrified of someone we can’t see on camera.” (Narrator, 29:11)

Memorable Moment:
The repeated, unexplained 911 calls and the chilling footage of Kaelin’s last moments—barefoot in the cold, talking to thin air—create an enduring sense of unease and heartbreak.

Central Themes & Episode Tone

• Deep empathy for the victims and their families.
• Crisp focus on inexplicable, disturbing details.
• A respectful, but suspenseful, exploration of each case—raising more questions than answers.
• Listeners are invited to ponder multiple explanations: foul play, psychological crisis, paranormal, or something else entirely.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Certainly makes you wonder who or what could be hiding underground in those lava tubes.” — Mr. Ballen (07:37)
• “She adored those two dogs. They would never, ever abandon them like that.” — Narrator (05:25)
• “It was like Arnold and Ruby had gotten out of the car and just vanished.” — Mr. Ballen (13:56)
• “Maybe it was Ruby or Arnold who slammed the door, or maybe it was their killer.” — Mr. Ballen (18:34)
• “It looks like she’s terrified of someone we can’t see on camera.” — Narrator (29:11)
• “You be the judge. Was this a psychotic break or is there something more?” — Narrator (30:19)

Important Timestamps

• Story 1: Lava Tubes: 02:23–08:06
• Story 2: Stay in the Car: 09:52–19:02
• Story 3: What Just Happened?: 20:07–30:25

Conclusion

“Unanswered Vol. II” exemplifies MrBallen’s talent for unearthing haunting cases where reality defies explanation. Each story delivers chilling details and emotional resonance, all wrapped in MrBallen’s singular “strange, dark, and mysterious” tone. Listeners are left with open-ended questions, a sense of unresolved tension, and the unsettling realization that, in these stories, truth is often stranger—and more elusive—than fiction.