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Karen Kilgariff
This is exactly right.
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
Goodbye,
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My favorite.
Georgia Hardstark
Hello and welcome to my favorite murder. That's Georgia Hardstark. That's Karen Kilgariff.
Karen Kilgariff
This is a podcast where we started out talking about true crime. Now it's a bit loosey goosey.
Georgia Hardstark
Would you say it's devolved?
Karen Kilgariff
Yes, in some ways I think it's devolved. Terribly.
Georgia Hardstark
Yes.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, terribly.
Georgia Hardstark
Well, de evolution. You know, let's just go for it.
Karen Kilgariff
Let it go.
Georgia Hardstark
We are Devo. No, we're not. We are not Devo. It's my favorite murder.
Karen Kilgariff
We're a podcast. Yeah, but we're also on tv.
Georgia Hardstark
That's right. And we know how fucking weird that is these days.
Karen Kilgariff
It's weird for all of us.
Georgia Hardstark
It's weird for me. I finally watched a little bit of When I was alone, which is always a bad thing. And I was like, let's just see how we look. And I turned it on and I immediately went to the Internet and bought a posture like harness that looks like
Karen Kilgariff
does it hook to the back wall. It just keeps you up like a dog.
Georgia Hardstark
Like a dog harness.
Karen Kilgariff
Like a dog being washed.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my God. Yeah. I fucking can't even. And I also got a new hairdresser.
Karen Kilgariff
We're podcasters at heart.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. I wonder what it's gonna be like in the next few years with podcasting and video. Like you kind of have to do.
Karen Kilgariff
I know.
Georgia Hardstark
For the kids.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, it's like. Or then the alt people will stay audio only. They will moralize about it like it's better and you're a better person because of it.
Georgia Hardstark
Right.
Karen Kilgariff
Whatever. That always happens.
Georgia Hardstark
And we don't have any opinion. We're just being told what to fucking do. By big podcasting.
Karen Kilgariff
By big podcasting.
Georgia Hardstark
And you know how much we love to follow rules.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, and also it's. We want to be up with the times, doing what the kids do.
Georgia Hardstark
And it's fun, I think, until you watch yourself.
Karen Kilgariff
It's fun and great as long as you don't watch yourself.
Georgia Hardstark
Just don't look. Pretend it's not happening. Do you have anything? Anything good? Anything bad? Are you reading that book Burnout that I gave you out of my pocket like that?
Karen Kilgariff
I'm too tired.
Georgia Hardstark
Out of my purse and hand it to you.
Karen Kilgariff
You're like, here, someone do something. I do have some good news. And it's a true crime update. Start doing those again.
Georgia Hardstark
Love that.
Karen Kilgariff
Fun.
Georgia Hardstark
Let's.
Karen Kilgariff
But this one's huge. The Gilgo beach serial killer has been terrorizing that part of the east coast forever. I mean, it feel since the 90s.
Georgia Hardstark
I can't believe late 80s finally caught him. Those are so satisfying.
Karen Kilgariff
They caught him.
Georgia Hardstark
That's amazing.
Karen Kilgariff
They caught him and he pled guilty.
Georgia Hardstark
Incredible.
Karen Kilgariff
There's not gonna be a trial. He has been formally charged with the murders of seven women. Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amberlynn Costello, Maureen Brainard Barnes, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Sondra Castilla. And he also admitted to killing an eighth victim, Karen Vergata, but he wasn't formally charged with her murder as part of his plea.
Georgia Hardstark
Y. I mean, thankfully, those families aren't going to be put through that trial. Like, what a. What a fucking monstrous thing to go through after losing your family member in such a horrible way.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, yeah, it's the best news in the worst situation possible. There is a quote from the Suffolk County District Attorney, Ray Tierney, though, and he said, quote, this case closes and another opens. There are still bodies on that beach. There are still bodies in Suffolk County. There's no rest for the weary.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, yve. Yeah. And then there's also some Ted Bundy news.
Karen Kilgariff
What's the Ted Bundy news?
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, so a victim of Ted Bundy's has been officially tied to him. One of those ones that's been suspected since the beginning. In 1974, the body of 17 year old Laura Ann Amy was found by hikers in Utah's American Fork Canyon. She'd last been seen months earlier leaving a Halloween party in. In Utah county where he was a fucking, what was he, a college student at the time?
Karen Kilgariff
Oh yeah, that's right. He was going to become a lawyer, right? Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
And just before his execution, Ted Bundy admitted to murdering her. But there was no hard evidence to support it until very recently. Forensic DNA testing of case evidence has now allowed investigators to build a genetic profile that they say links Bundy to Laura's murder. So on April 1, Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith said they are officially closing Laura's case. And I mean, like, yeah, give her her fucking respect, you know, and her.
Karen Kilgariff
Dude, it's been such a long time. I think that is incredible. I'm sure that the relatives and friends and family thought it was never gonna happen or that they wouldn't get answers
Georgia Hardstark
and like, yeah, that wouldn't matter anymore. But it's like it does. We're still thinking about it all the time.
Karen Kilgariff
Good news in the bad news realm.
Georgia Hardstark
Totally good news in true crime world. Like that's. You're not gonna get a fucking Lisa Frank stationary moment.
Karen Kilgariff
That's not what they do there. That's not what we do here.
Georgia Hardstark
True crime news. And sometimes we eat weird flavored jelly beans.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, that's right. Yeah, that's something else to look forward to.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
If we find out about them.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, tell us about, tell us in the comments, guys.
Karen Kilgariff
Wait, you're saying KFC is making jelly beans?
Georgia Hardstark
My sister sent me a photo of a bag that the kids were so stoked on. It was like fried chicken flavor, mashed potato flavor, and like coleslaw flavor. I think we're corn niblets, right? No one orders that, do they?
Karen Kilgariff
I love it. Buttered corn?
Georgia Hardstark
No, no, it's like watery. Yeah, it's so watery.
Karen Kilgariff
Just like my mother's cooking dry chicken. Weird watery corn and some minute rice.
Georgia Hardstark
Vince made funeral potatoes the other day.
Karen Kilgariff
Ooh, were they good?
Georgia Hardstark
They were so fucking good.
Karen Kilgariff
We were given a funeral potato kit when we went to Utah, Salt Lake City that time, years ago, because we
Georgia Hardstark
didn't know what they were. Yeah, it was good. He like used frozen cubed potatoes, like a can of cream of chicken soup. And like just all the cheese you've ever seen, and it was all bubbly on top.
Karen Kilgariff
I burnt my tongue and then cut up potatoes like child.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Cause you ate them the second they got out of the stove. It must have smelled amazing. That's all of my mother's cooking was based in Campbell's soup. In some way we gotta bring it back, right? Cause it's so easy. Can of cream of chicken, can of cream of celery, you're off to the races. That's sauce.
Georgia Hardstark
Pack of onion powder or like ranch
Karen Kilgariff
and a half a cup of wine
Georgia Hardstark
in your mouth while you're cooking.
Karen Kilgariff
Drink that, pour some in, toast some
Georgia Hardstark
almonds, and then you don't care what it tastes like. There are people on Instagram, I'm sure on TikTok that are like, here's me making like a classic meal from the 1970s and they make like shit on a shingle or they make like fucking casserole with, like, the actual vintage kitchenware, which, you know is my fucking weak spot.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
All lead based and everything.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, you love lead.
Georgia Hardstark
I love lead.
Karen Kilgariff
That's so delicious.
Georgia Hardstark
I would lick it like I licked mercury as a child. And here I am today.
Karen Kilgariff
Look. Look at you. Didn't hurt you medically.
Georgia Hardstark
Video podcasting.
Karen Kilgariff
We are a result of mercury poisoning. Two camera. Two camera.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm fine. I don't have a uterus anymore.
Karen Kilgariff
It's fine. Who needs it? All right, should we talk about this network? Yeah, because things are happening on this network.
Georgia Hardstark
Stop it. It's crazy. We have a podcast network called Exactly Right Media.
Karen Kilgariff
It's been quite a week. We are still celebrating our newest addition to the ERM family. Our friend Jake Brennan and his true crime music Po Disgraceland is here on erm. We're so thrilled we are. His newest episode, which you can go check out now, is all about Grace Jones. If you don't know her, she's a legendary 80s icon. Her life collided with crime and scandal and she had to fight to protect her reputation. Of course, she was a powerful, incredible looking woman of color in the time where it was blonde women only. And it was incredible. I remember seeing her on TV and just being like, she has a crew cut and the best cheekbones I've ever seen in my life. What's happening?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, I can't wait to listen. And then over on Bananas, Kurt and Scotty are joined by Pooja Mehta. They cover octopuses getting extra cuddly on ecstasy. Aww. I wanna be on ecstasy with an octave you will.
Karen Kilgariff
You will.
Georgia Hardstark
When the lead wears off, paragliders narrowly avoiding a polar bear enclosure. And people who can mentally time travel. I fucking just read about that.
Karen Kilgariff
What is it?
Georgia Hardstark
They have such good memory that they can put themselves there. Yeah. Like, literally be in that moment. And I think that they can also tell the future what's gonna happen in the future too, because they understand correlation so much better than most people because they actually remember, oh, I burned myself that one time. Don't do that again.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, that's an incredible gift.
Georgia Hardstark
Imagine that.
Karen Kilgariff
To not reburn yourself a thousand times. Meaning psychologically, it's called dating. Have fun, go back, try it again. Then over on I said no gifts. Bridger tries to stay calm when the greatest of all, our friend Martha Kelly. You know her from baskets, you know her from Euphoria. She shows up with a gift. Anyway, of course they get into a gigantic fight. And also storm chasing broken air conditioners and fighting for joint custody.
Georgia Hardstark
I love that there's a generation of young people who are scared of Martha Kelly because her role on Euphoria.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes.
Georgia Hardstark
Is so terrifying and so perfect. And she almost plays the same character as in Baskets, but it's the most intimidating.
Karen Kilgariff
And Martha, I don't know if everybody knows this is one of the greatest standups.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
If you go watch her live, it will blow your mind.
Georgia Hardstark
That's why it's so funny that they're scared of her. Like, yes. Like people on the Internet are scared of her. That's fucking badass.
Karen Kilgariff
It's so good. Over in Merch Corner, we've got brand new whistles. Do you need a whistle? For whatever reason you might need it, because we've got politeness and we've got wheat Woo. Two whistles that you can buy.
Georgia Hardstark
Keychain whistles. They're so cute.
Karen Kilgariff
Proceeds from both of these whistles benefit the National Immigration Law center, so you
Georgia Hardstark
can order yours@exactlyrightstore.com so this is more
Karen Kilgariff
big news, which is very exciting, but this is almost like circumstantial. So we have a cult podcast here on ERM called Trust Me. Now there's a new cult documentary on Netflix and it's called Trust Me, the False Prophet. It's not associated directly, except that Lola Blanc, who is the host of our Trust me. Her mother, Dr. Christine Marie, is featured in this documentary because that's why Lola hosts a cult podcast. She was raised in this cult. And Christine Marie was the first guest of Trust Me. So you can now go on Netflix and watch Trust Me, the False Prophet. Doc. And when you're done with that, come on to erm. Go on to Trust me. Go listen to episode one and you get every possible part of the story you would want.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, do it Just in time for Mother's Day.
Karen Kilgariff
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
And every Aura frame comes in a premium gift box with no price tag included. I mean, we've talked about Aura frames so many times, but I will tell you now, everybody in my family has Aura frames and like talks about each other's aura frames. They are a part of the hang when everybody comes over because there's just these beautiful family photos that roll through that frame that are from all different eras of our lives that you wouldn't sit down and like open up the photo album like you used to.
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Goodbye.
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Karen Kilgariff
Goodbye.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay, I'm first.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
I have been waiting to tell you this story for a long time. I don't know why I haven't done it yet. It's just I haven't put my glasses on.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, I like the build of that. Where you're like. And now I'm going to. Are those new?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Cute.
Georgia Hardstark
They're okay.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay. This is a story that is very familiar to those of us who lay awake at night scrolling Reddit and scrolling missing persons clickbait articles. And it takes place in Ohio, which is home to many, many cases we've covered. Ohio gives and gives.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes, it does. In a horrible way.
Georgia Hardstark
It does. And on any given day, around a thousand Ohians are missing. According to data from the Ohio Attorney General's office, there are a thousand people a day missing in Ohio.
Karen Kilgariff
They're not new every time.
Georgia Hardstark
No.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
Just like it's.
Karen Kilgariff
The consistent count. Is that high?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, it's very high. So today we're going to talk about one of those missing people. One of those. And due to eerie surveillance footage that's kind of hard to fully reconcile, this story has become more of an urban legend, ending up on those late night doom scrolls about mysterious disappearances. But unfortunately, it's not an urban legend. It's a true tragic story for one Ohio family in the mid-2000s. This is the story of the disappearance of Brian Shaffer. Okay. Do you know yet what I'm. You'll know when I explain. Do you see that?
Karen Kilgariff
What did it look like?
Georgia Hardstark
I don't know. I can see everything now. Look like a cat hair.
Karen Kilgariff
Your vision is too good. So good. You're like, can't read. Did you see that? It was an atom. Is Brian Schaefer the guy who Left a party and they found like a canoe.
Georgia Hardstark
No, no.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm like, what?
Karen Kilgariff
Because that was on true crime bullshit. Because it was about a potential Israel Keys victim.
Georgia Hardstark
Right. There is a similarity there. Like, I think you're close knowing what it is. So the main sources I used for the story are an article in Columbus Monthly by April Johnston, one from Mel Magazine by Kirk Pepe, and one from the Columbus Dispatch by Mike Wagner. And the rest of the sources are in the show notes.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay, so your eyes are a little bit bigger with those glasses on.
Georgia Hardstark
Does it look insane?
Karen Kilgariff
Not like Jerry Seinfeld in that episode, Silly wearing the weird glasses. But it just. When you went like that, you were just like, ugh. It's like, is it weird?
Georgia Hardstark
I feel I'm self conscious that you
Karen Kilgariff
don't have perfect vision.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Come on.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm getting older.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. We're falling apart on Netflix.
Georgia Hardstark
Truly.
Karen Kilgariff
It's great.
Georgia Hardstark
All right. This is serious. It's the wee hours of Saturday, April 1, 2006. April Fool's Day. We're at the Ugly Tuna Saloona. Oh, that's what it's called.
Karen Kilgariff
Great.
Georgia Hardstark
It's a popular college bar at the edge of the Ohio State University campus. You know those like blocks? Like there's so many in Austin that we've been to or Nashville. Yeah, we just walk and there's just like bar after bar, kind of interchangeable just for college kids to get drunk cheap, you know?
Karen Kilgariff
Totally.
Georgia Hardstark
Although it isn't really a safe area either. So three second year medical students have been bar hopping around town, blowing off steam because they've just finished their final exams. Med school, of course, is extremely high pressure and stressful. But for one of these students, 27 year old Brian Schaeffer, it's been a particularly awful few months. So just three weeks earlier in March, he lost his mom, Renee to cancer. Then he had to just pivot and turn around and take his exams. His medical exams.
Karen Kilgariff
The same thing happened to my mom when she was taking her nursing test, her RN licensing test. Her dad died. Like the day. Either the day of or the day before.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, my God.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And you just shut it all down. You do what you gotta do.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
But it does seem like Brian's ready to take a break from this stress. And that's what this night is about. On the night of March 31st. So before first, he goes out to dinner with his dad, Randy. Then he meets up with his friend Clint, Florence. He'd also invited his brother Derek to come out too. But Derek and His wife were at a comedy show and they went home afterwards. So let me tell you about Brian. Everyone's like, he's an ordinary normal college student, but he's also like this beautiful, charming person. This is Brian and his dad. Oh yeah, so that's Brian. He's like good looking. He looks like a cross to me between a young Tony Hawk and John Mulaney. Do you see that?
Karen Kilgariff
Sure.
Georgia Hardstark
So yeah, he's like a good looking, he's fit, he's smart, he is nice and friendly and is, you know, pretty normal person.
Karen Kilgariff
Right.
Georgia Hardstark
So Brian and Clint start off at the Ugly Tuna Bar. And just before 10pm, Brian calls his girlfriend, fellow second year medical student Alexis Wagoner. She's a few hours away in Toledo, staying at her parents house, but she and Bryan are planning to go on a trip to Miami together. I think for spring break. They're supposed to leave two days from then and they're both looking forward to it. According to many people who tell this story who were there, Brian is planning to propose to Alexis on this trip. So he's just, you know, in the prime of his life.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
So shortly after this call, Brian and Clint start going bar hopping. They stop at seven other bars and they take a shot at each bar. And I guess I asked Vince like how many shots would make you shit faced?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Cause I think I heard somewhere that they had like 11 up to 11 shots. I mean, and I'm like, well you know, he was like 6 foot 2 and big. Is he gonna be drunk? And Vince is like, fuck yeah. And you're drinking a beer at the same time. You're not just going in and having a shot. You're like, that's speculation obviously.
Karen Kilgariff
But no, that makes sense. Also the more like just thinking I'll talk about myself. The more shots I took and then beers, I backed with it.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
The more I was like, well, it's fine, I'm fine, let's keep going. So you'd like, once you're over eight, it's mayhem.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
You're making all bad decisions. Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
No shots. That's my rule.
Karen Kilgariff
Shots just get you to a whole different place that you kind of can't plan for.
Georgia Hardstark
No, no. So they presumably become very drunk. And then along their bar crawl route, Brian and Clint meet up with a friend of theirs, a woman named Meredith Reed. And towards the end of the night, Meredith drives everyone back to the Ugly Tuna. They end up back there at 1:15 in the morning. And so the Ugly Tuna is actually inside a bigger indoor complex Kind of like where the Alamo Drafthouse is.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
You know, you go up the escalator and there's like the bowling alley there, the Drafthouse there.
Karen Kilgariff
Yep.
Georgia Hardstark
So the indoor complex is called the Gateway, and it has a movie theater and some stores and offices and some university housing. So the entrance to the Ugly Tuna is inside and up an escalator on the building's second floor. So surveillance footage from that night shows Brian, Clint and Meredith riding up on the escalator and then entering the bar. So that's the three of them.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay, so they know for a fact they were there.
Georgia Hardstark
They see all three of them. There he is going up into the bar. He's corroborated that he is there. Yeah, you can see the escalators and right outside the entrance of the bar, but you can't see the actual doorway of the bar. And there's no footage from inside the bar, but it's clear that three of them walk back in. And then we never see Brian leave, ever. So at about 1:57am Right before the bar is scheduled to close at 2, Brian is just barely visible on the surveillance footage, standing outside the Ugly Tuna talking to two women casualty. According to some accounts from that night, Bryan was maybe flirty. That's again, speculation. And you can't really tell much from CCTV footage, like body language.
Karen Kilgariff
If you have some beers, that's what everyone's doing. Fun times, good times.
Georgia Hardstark
It might mean nothing. So people. And there's so little to go on in the story that people just cling to things and make up their own stories about it.
Karen Kilgariff
They're trying to figure something out.
Georgia Hardstark
Right. So the women go back into the bar, they use the bathroom, they leave, and they don't see Brian again. Meanwhile, Clint and Meredith, who are back in the bar, can't find Brian as they're all planning on leaving when it's closing. It's unclear if Brian went back into the Ugly Tuna or if he elsewhere in the complex after talking to those women, but he definitely did not leave the complex via the escalator. That is in view of the security cameras. The cops, like, combed this video footage after the fact and he is not in it. Wow. Clint doesn't know that. And after looking for Brian and calling his phone, he assumes Brian had just Irish goodbyed and gone back to his apartment, which is very close by. And so they leave.
Karen Kilgariff
And if it's a complex like that, there's plenty of other exits. No, there's not.
Georgia Hardstark
No. We'll get to that, but also, like, I feel like 2006, it's not like we were texting each other constantly. Like, you would have been like, yo, I went home. You call if he didn't pick up?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. Much more stuff was assumed. Like, it was just like, you're not there anymore. We had a plan, but you must have.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. And he's a grown. It's not like he, you know, is a woman. And you're worried about them getting home safely in the same way you are about a dude just walking away and going home. It's, like, not that big of a deal.
Karen Kilgariff
And it sounds like a very intelligent,
Georgia Hardstark
but also really drunk. So that's a little worrisome, but what are you gonna do? All day Saturday and the next day, Sunday, no one seems to be able to get in touch with Brian. Alexis, his girlfriend tries several times, but no one's answering his phone. He's not returning her calls, which is unlike him. And so the next day is Monday, and Brian and Alexis, this is when they're scheduled to leave for their trip to Miami. From what I've read, Alexis is just like. He's. Something happened to his phone. I'm just, you know, everything's gonna be fine. I'm just gonna meet him at. I bet that's what's happening. So she goes to the airport, and he doesn't show up, and he misses his flight. And that's when Alexis and Brian's father contact the Columbus police and a missing person's case is opened.
Karen Kilgariff
What a horrible.
Georgia Hardstark
Just sitting there, waiting to see his
Karen Kilgariff
face sitting there, like. Because you get that thing, you know, in the very much, much, much smaller version where you're kind of like, no, it's like it's all just gonna come together and it's just gonna work. And this will be. This is the final chance for him to. He'll just get out of a car. Here we go on vacation.
Georgia Hardstark
There'll be an explanation, and we get a move on. And you're just waiting with, like, kind of in the back of your head, knowing that it's not gonna happen.
Karen Kilgariff
It's not realistic.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. So Brian's dad, Randy, goes over to Brian's apartment. Nothing seems out of place. His bed is made, his books, textbooks are all there. Police find that Brian's bank account and credit cards are untouched. You know, there's. Of course, in the beginning, people are like, he must have just taken off on his own. And there's that trip to Miami. Like, maybe he just, like, fucking left town. Was there already Right. So very early into the investigation, police get that surveillance footage from outside the Ugly Tuna Saloona. God, I don't wanna say that anymore.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
But it doesn't answer any questions. He just. It appears that he just disappears into thin air. There are other ways out of the building. One of them. They don't really make sense. One of them's like a back door. And I think there is video footage of that, but he's not in it. And then one is like, the building was under construction. So there is a service door leading down to a construction site outside of the building. That exit is covered with plywood. You kind of have to climb down through a shaft. Like, why would he go that way?
Karen Kilgariff
But if he's super drunk and he could have fallen or, you know, an accident.
Georgia Hardstark
Totally.
Karen Kilgariff
I don't know.
Georgia Hardstark
So he could have possibly fallen, gotten hurt. But the area is searched in. Bryan is not found. And other businesses in the Gateway building have cameras. And the buildings around the Gateway also have cameras. But as far as we know, Brian never shows up on any of the security footage. He just goes up into the fucking bar and disappears. And I've always imagined him, like you said, still in there, having fallen somewhere. Do you see that? Recently, like a woman got stuck in her crawl space and died. And she'd been missing for years and years.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, that's happened. I think we did a story about that one time too.
Georgia Hardstark
Where it was like a fireplace.
Karen Kilgariff
The fireplace one. I think there was a Rock Club one too. Which is so rare. It's like just the oddest thing.
Georgia Hardstark
And they would have smelled something. And they did a. I mean, they did multiple thorough searches, it seems, of this entire complex. But who the fuck knows?
Karen Kilgariff
Can I tell you? One theory just popped into my head. Cause if these other stores had cameras, and if somebody that was in one of those stores was involved, then they could have gone and like erased the camera.
Georgia Hardstark
Sure.
Karen Kilgariff
Or they're like, oh, sorry, our cameras erase every day or something. Totally. And covered their own tracks. Just that it's not freestanding. It's like there's other places and other people that are kind of set there.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And like this is what we're doing. Right? Theorizing, kind of.
Georgia Hardstark
And there's a total possibility that he is on the surveillance cameras. And we just. It doesn't. It hasn't. I can't imagine it hasn't been connected. But who the fuck knows? Weirder things have happened. Sergeant John Hurst of the Columbus Police. He's the lead detective on this case. He believes that this is the likeliest route that Brian took out of the building, that he left through the shaft, wound up in the construction site, and left the construction site or was taken from it. One more interesting detail that Hurst says is that dogs tracked Brian's scent from the construction site to a nearby Wendy's, like across the street, then possibly to an abandoned building. And then they lost the scent completely. We've also heard the stories of drunk people ending up in dumpsters and those getting emptied. I mean, that's such an awful fucking thought, but. Or he got. Maybe got beat up and put. I mean, this is clearly just more speculation than ever.
Karen Kilgariff
That's all you're left with. Yeah, it's all you're left with.
Georgia Hardstark
So this area of downtown Columbus where the Gateway building is, is known for having a pretty high crime rate. And so part of the reason the Gateway was built was for the university to establish kind of a safer area for students to hang out. But again, this also means that there are cameras pretty much everywhere and no trace of Brian is seen on any of them. A massive search effort expands outward from the Gateway center with Brian's friends, family, and Alexis girlfriend all working tirelessly to search the nearby Olentangy River. And also they check every dumpster, but it had already been a few days before he was reported missing. And no sign of him is ever found. Alexis calls Brian's cell phone every day. It always goes straight to voicemail. Except. Except one time, several weeks after Brian's disappearance, it rings once.
Karen Kilgariff
Can you imagine that idea that this is the last connection and you're just gonna keep trying? Cause nothing else is working. And the people who are supposed to be helping you or solve it can't do it.
Georgia Hardstark
There's no answers.
Karen Kilgariff
And so then you have this one way and that's just like the only thing you can hold onto.
Georgia Hardstark
And then it rings and you're so desperate. You also are like, if he left me and doesn't wanna be with me anymore, good. I just need to know what happened, you know?
Karen Kilgariff
Right.
Georgia Hardstark
So like, yeah, it fucking R. And Brian's cell carrier believes it was just a glitch and not Alexis making an actual connection with Brian's phone. It's 2006, so it's so hard to tell. And that said, in the 30 days after Brian's disappearance, his phone pings several towers around the Columbus area. It's that telephone ping thing that we got in serial that like, does it make sense or does it. Is it just a fluke? Is it an accident?
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, as we do in these things where we take conjecture from the things we've learned from the media. So my thing is like Law and Order where it's like, well, someone found the phone on the ground and it's their phone now for a little while
Georgia Hardstark
and then they ditch it.
Karen Kilgariff
Right. And it's not connected and it's not that.
Georgia Hardstark
But like, if that person came forward and said where they found the phone, it would help so much more than them getting in trouble for stealing a lost phone. You know what I mean?
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, but they already stole something and they don't know why, how important it would be.
Georgia Hardstark
They don't, I don't think. I feel like someday in the same way DNA, we're able to like read it better. I think the pinging phone thing is gonna make more sense one day.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes.
Georgia Hardstark
Although I wonder if it's gonna be able to be useful for old cases like this.
Karen Kilgariff
What I hope is we someday get rid of these fucking phones and let's just go back to long form letter writing. I think it's best.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, that's great. I love it. And this is one of the biggest mysteries of the case, as is the elevator footage. All calls to Brian's phone go straigh suggesting that the phone had lost battery or was turned off. But if it was pinging towers, it would have to be turned on. And some people, Redditors, a lot of redditors believe this must mean that someone had Ryan's phone and it was periodically turned on like we said. So in 2007, it wasn't possible to pinpoint the phone's exact location, though I wonder if someday it will be or if it's just such like old technology at this point.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, it'd be great if it could happen and it'd be great if we could focus on things like that.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. You know, and the case attracts tons of attention of. He's also a musician who is actually considered becoming a musician as his career before picking medicine instead. He's a massive Pearl Jam fan and he has a Pearl Jam tattoo, the stick figure from the art.
Karen Kilgariff
That's how I know this name really well. Cause Pearl Jam started talking about it, right?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Eddie Vedder learns about the case and talks about it at a show in Cincinnati. That's the tattoo. Yeah, stick figure. So he dedicates a song to Brian and this brings even more attention to the case, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to turn out up any fresh leads. So, you know, there's the theories. Some people believe that Brian died accidentally in the construction site, and there was some conspiracy by the developer or the local government to cover up his death, but, you know, not wanting to lose funding or stall the project somehow. But it seems like a lot of trouble to go through in a very quick time and a lot of people to be complicit in doing that. I don't.
Karen Kilgariff
Right.
Georgia Hardstark
There'd be one guy who'd be like, I'm not. No. Another theory that comes up again and again in this case, and really when any young man disappears on a night out in the Midwest, is that this could be the work of an unknown serial killer who some people call the Smiley Face Killer. Not. Except for. From the Happy Face Killer. Believers in the smiley face killer theory. So we don't even know if there's an actual serial killer out there. Note that young men, often drunk, have disappeared from many college campuses, particularly in the Midwest. Often they're eventually found in bodies of water near campus. And often a spray painted smiley face has been found somewhere on the banks of the river.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
So it all might just be a coincidence.
Karen Kilgariff
Totally. And yet then you kind of underlay that with the Israel Keys story where we had a serial killer who was intentionally crossing state lines and driving all over so he could kill people randomly or make it look random.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, that's the unfortunate thing. It's just like that. Because that. I remember trying to do the Smiley Face killer on this show and it's just. It is like. It's a ton of the same story and so frustrating. Cause it's like. And then he disappeared. Or then he was found dead in this water. But graffiti near a horrible accident is not uncommon. Totally trying to lace all that together, but at the same time, it's already happened that way.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Israel Keys is the proof that this could be happening. Other people could be doing it.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Right. It's not impossible. No such smiley face has ever been found on the banks of the Olentangy River. The FBI has always maintained that there is no such killer and that the presence of the smiley face graffiti is just a coincidence.
Karen Kilgariff
Sorry. They say the same thing about Lady Bird Lake.
Georgia Hardstark
I know. We're not doing that. We're not gonna believe the FBI.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay.
Georgia Hardstark
Ever.
Karen Kilgariff
Sounds good. Ever again.
Georgia Hardstark
Ever again. Another theory is that Brian. Brian did leave the bar under his own power. That he changed his clothes and put on a different hat so he wouldn't be recognized in the footage in the surveillance video. And then people point to Brian's grief over his mother's recent Death. That apparently Alexis asked him to, quote, go away. Just go away with him. That maybe he had been planning to run away. But why would he. You know, it just doesn't seem likely that he would have put his family through that all this time.
Karen Kilgariff
No. And did he just graduate from medical school or is about to.
Georgia Hardstark
He just finished his exams for that year or for that semester.
Karen Kilgariff
Do all that work.
Georgia Hardstark
Exactly.
Karen Kilgariff
And all years. And then you're just like whatever.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
It's least it seems like that's bumped down to the lower percentage of possibilities.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. And then his credit cards and money is. Aren't touched ever. Like you. You'd never hear from him again. Sounds kind of impossible. Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Intentionally.
Georgia Hardstark
And he was close to his family. After all they'd gone through with their mom. It just seemed really out of character for him. People said.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
So Brian's dad, Randy and his brother Derek work tirelessly to try and find Brian or any clues that could lead to finding out what happened to him. At one point, Randy, the father consults a psychic who says Brian is in the Olentangy River. Says he was caught in a whirlpool by a specific peer. Like gives him all this information. This grieving father. Randy puts on waders and goes out to this spot and almost gets sucked into a whirlpool under the surface himself.
Karen Kilgariff
So sad.
Georgia Hardstark
So it's just fucking so sad. It gets worse. In the year after Brian's disappearance, Randy never lets up and is constantly calling Brian's friends. He calls Alexis and the police to discuss any possible developments. Like he just dedicates himself to finding out what happened to his son. Then In September of 2008, there is a powerful windstorm in the town where Randy lives. And Randy's trying to clear some debris and a large branch falls off the tree and kills him.
Karen Kilgariff
Ugh. This poor family.
Georgia Hardstark
I know. Like the poor. The brother who suddenly lost his entire family within two or three years.
Karen Kilgariff
Oh my God.
Georgia Hardstark
I know. So in the years since, though, Derek has taken a step back from the case, understandably trying to protect his mental health.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
You know. And Alexis spends a year also trying to search for Brian. Manning the tip line, participating in physical search and still calling his phone every day. And about a year later in 2007, she tells herself she needs to stop for her own sanity. And I mean, not stop, but just not become. Be so involved and be her entire life.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. Just focusing only on this tragedy over and over every day. Which I'm sure in the beginning was like a way to get up and out of bed and dedicate yourself to something. But.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, but it's years of not finding any clue.
Karen Kilgariff
So crazy.
Georgia Hardstark
And then about six months after that, her mom introduces her to a contractor named Eric. They fall in love. He's very understanding. And they ultimately get married and have two sons and settle down in Toledo, where Alexis works as an obstetrician now delivering babies. She doesn't believe in any one theory. She tells the Columbus Dispatch that she's kind of numb from that time in her life. And she says, quote, it almost feels like this all happened to someone else.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. Cause it's just so strange and took
Georgia Hardstark
up so much energy and effort of your life, and then you had to walk away from it and just pretend that everything moved on.
Karen Kilgariff
You had no choice but to move on.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. This month marks the 20th anniversary of Brian's disappearance. The case remains open, and the Columbus police say they still receive tips and pursue all leads. Wow. In a prepared statement for the 20th anniversary of Brian's disappearance, his brother Derek says, quote, every day we think about Brian and can't believe it's been 20 years. We still continue to hope and pray to have answers someday and wish that anyone who knows anything would come forward. And that is a story of the mysterious and tragic disappearance of Brian Schaeffer.
Karen Kilgariff
Wow.
Georgia Hardstark
I know. Hey.
Karen Kilgariff
If the Gilgo beach serial killer can get found and arrested years and years later, totally, this person can get found.
Georgia Hardstark
I feel like there's a simple explanation. I don't think it's some big conspiracy. You know what I mean? It's just simple and not nefarious. Maybe because the ex detective is gonna write a book about it and they haven't ruled out murder, but it's like, you can't rule it in either because there's nothing there.
Karen Kilgariff
What an incredibly frustrating story you've just told me.
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Georgia Hardstark
I know you hate it, but I
Karen Kilgariff
really love that you did it. The fact that it's the 20th anniversary and that it's that kind of thing where it's like missing persons, where everyone just puts their hands up and it's like, why haven't we established governmentally, like, huge cold case teams or missing persons teams, where it's like a dedicated group of people and that's their job and so that the family doesn't have to do it and it's not left to the people who are hurt the most by it. Wow.
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
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Karen Kilgariff
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Karen Kilgariff
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
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Georgia Hardstark
We were just talking about this.
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, I've been using the Maybelline Instant Eraser concealer for years, I think. Yeah, the convenience of the little spongy swab at the top. Yeah, you just dab dab dab. And it's just enough so that you don't overdo it with your concealer.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And mine is the pink, the 160, which is the pink color correcting. So it like brightens up your under eyes.
Georgia Hardstark
I'm immediately using it. Find your shade of Instant Eraser concealer at your local reach. Goodbye.
Karen Kilgariff
Great one. I also have a bit of a mystery story to tell you today.
Georgia Hardstark
Great.
Karen Kilgariff
But it's a real left turn.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
Very different. And it's one of those ones I'm excited to tell you about. It begins on Tuesday, September 29, 1903.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, shit.
Karen Kilgariff
You know what? That is the turn of the century. My favorite time. And we're in a small town, Van Meter, Iowa.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
It's around 1am and a man named Ulysses G. Griffith is heading home after a long day of work. Ulysses. Ulysses is in his mid-30s. He runs a farm equipment business. Such a different time. And the business requires him to travel all around the region. He often makes it home quite late. And we assume he's traveling in probably a horse drawn wagon since it's 1903. And of course he's exhausted. It's a lot of long, slow travel. So he rolls onto Van Meter's main street. And then he sees something incredibly strange. There's a bright beam of light coming from the roof of a nearby cutting into the nighttime sky. So this is 1903. We are in rural Iowa. It's a darkness that none of us really understand anymore. Before the rural electrification act. Yeah. So some towns did have electricity, but it was usually when people had it in their homes, it was people with money.
Georgia Hardstark
Right.
Karen Kilgariff
So it took a while for everybody to get it evenly. So this kind of like spotlights and things. No one's seen that before.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Most towns like this in America don't have street lights.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Or if they do, they have gas lights and they're probably out by then. Like that time of night. Right.
Karen Kilgariff
Totally. We have a picture of Van Meter just to get the sense of. Oh, you know.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, right. Small turn of the century town.
Karen Kilgariff
Train stops through it. It's big enough to have its own train stop.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, huge.
Karen Kilgariff
But not big enough to have its own newspaper.
Georgia Hardstark
Got it.
Karen Kilgariff
We're right in there. And then just in the background, no lights.
Georgia Hardstark
Nothing.
Karen Kilgariff
There's nothing.
Georgia Hardstark
No.
Karen Kilgariff
So Ulysses is baffled, of course. He's just staring at this bizarre sight, trying to figure out what he's looking at and where it's coming from, when suddenly the light jumps to another rooftop. And then it jumps again. And then it vanishes into the darkness.
Georgia Hardstark
Is this an alien story?
Karen Kilgariff
We'll see.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
This is such a small town and an incredibly tight knit community. So for, of course, word of Ulysses experience. Is that the plural of Ulysses.
Georgia Hardstark
Ulysses.
Karen Kilgariff
Ulysses. Ulysses.
Georgia Hardstark
Ulysses.
Karen Kilgariff
Word of this strange experience spreads very quickly, but no one knows what to make of it. And luckily, Ulysses is described in old county records as, quote, among the leading men in town, both socially and in a business way, and uniformly respected. End quote.
Georgia Hardstark
So we don't think he's bullshit.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah. Or an old drunk tractor salesman who's just like, what's that up there? It's like it's the moon. Ulysses, people of Van Meter know him as an even keeled honest man who is not one for practical jokes. Still, there is no explanation and there's really no way to find one. So time passes and life just kind of continues on. And it seems like that strange sighting is just a one off oddity. But if that were, I wouldn't be telling you about it right now. This is the story of the Van Meter visitor. So the main sources used today are articles from the Des Moines Register archives, a book by Chad Lewis, Noah Voss and Kevin Lee Nelson about the topic, and a mini documentary from Iowa PBS entitled Spooky Van Meter Visitor. And the rest of the sources are in our show notes. So I'll tell you a little bit about the town. Van Meter, Iowa is situated along The Raccoon River, 20 miles west of Des Moines. So it's technically a suburb. And to this day it still has that small town feel like it did in the early 1900s. But of course, the 1903 Van Meter is totally undeveloped. And you saw that picture very remote. The i80 has not been constructed, but trains do pass through the town. And that local train station that you saw is a major source of. Of business and life in this small town. Van Meter is also an important Midwestern shipping stop for everything from lumber to farm goods to coal that's mined out of a local mine there in Van meter. But by 1903, that mine went out of business and it sits on the edge of town, a creepy and abandoned remnant that's in a state of disrepair. So Ulysses sees the strange sight at 1am on Tuesday, September 20th. The rest of that day unfolds normally until late that afternoon when a thunderstorm rolls in and the town's doctor, 25 year old Fred Alcott.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh my God.
Karen Kilgariff
Everyone's a baby in this story.
Georgia Hardstark
Middle aged man, right? Middle aged, 25 year old.
Karen Kilgariff
Yep. He's like. He looks like Wilford Brimley, 25. So he's working a normal day, seeing patients all day long. And like many business owners in Van Meter, he keeps an apartment behind his office. So between the day's bad weather and the sun setting around 6:30, Dr. Alcott's not planning on going anywhere that night. It's too dark, it's too rainy. So he just goes home, goes to bed and falls asleep. So sometime around 1am now it's Wednesday, September 30th. A bright light shines through Dr. Alcott's bedroom window, lighting up an otherwise pitch black room. He's jolted awake. He jumps out of bed. He thinks someone's breaking into his office. So he reaches for his gun and he rushes outside. But what Dr. Alcott finds when he gets out into the store is incomprehensible. Just steps away from him, there's an impossibly bright light shining from what looks like a horn on the forehead of a large creature with bat like wings.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay, that wasn't where I was going. I was going leprechaun. I don't know why. Don't ask me why.
Karen Kilgariff
You just felt that.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, but. So we're talking about a winged horse, unicorn type creature.
Karen Kilgariff
Well, there is a horn and there are wings.
Georgia Hardstark
Where did I get horse from? Just.
Karen Kilgariff
You're a good writer. Terrified, Dr. Alcott lifts his gun and starts firing at this thing. Just fire at it. Just shoot it.
Georgia Hardstark
Just gotta shoot a thing.
Karen Kilgariff
You saw, it was a time where they had just settled this area. Shooting things was the solution to almost everything.
Georgia Hardstark
Well, has anything changed?
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, hello America, what's up? The problem is his bullets have no effect on the creature. So he runs back into his office, he locks the doors and windows, and he barricades himself inside until the sun rises. So just like the first time, word of Dr. Alcott's encounter spreads very quickly through Van Meter. It's like it happened again. People running up and down the street. So because this has happened within a 24 hour period, people start getting very worried. And it's also from an equally dignified, well respected member of town. But this time he's not just claiming he saw a light. He's claiming he saw a monster. So as the sun goes down that night, the people of Van Meter are on edge. A clerk at the town bank named Peter Dunn, in his mid-20s, has an idea.
Georgia Hardstark
Everybody so young.
Karen Kilgariff
So Peter Dunn has an idea in his mind. These lights and winged creatures feel like real people that are being misidentified by panicked witnesses or exhausted witnesses. And he's worried that they actually are criminals who are trying to target the bank and steal everybody's money. So he decides.
Georgia Hardstark
Mr. Make it about himself. Mr. Main character over here.
Karen Kilgariff
Exactly right. He's like, all of this is bank related. It's me, the 23 year old banker of town. So bravely, he decides to stand guard over the money all night long. And later on, Peter will go on to earn himself a very widely respected role in the town of Van Meter. He manages the bank after that. He holds several city offices. Including becoming the mayor. So he's of sound mind. He's not the type to lie. But what happens is next sounds very far fetched. So at 1am On a cloudy Thursday, it's October 1st. Now, Peter claims he hears a weird noise coming from just outside the bank. He says it sounds like, quote, someone strangling.
Georgia Hardstark
Hmm.
Karen Kilgariff
It's like a weird choking, choking, strangling sound. So he takes his shotgun, he races outside. Right? The rule.
Georgia Hardstark
Have you seen this Is reminding me of this tweet rip that says, I'm sorry, but my friends and I would have smashed E.T. with a hammer.
Karen Kilgariff
Yes. Yes.
Georgia Hardstark
We would not have taken him home and fed him. And I was like, oh, shit. We were feral. We would have done the same. We would have dissected him to be like, I wonder what it is. We just beat it with a hammer.
Karen Kilgariff
We were real. Kill first, ask questions, later generation.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
It's really what America kind of is at its heart.
Georgia Hardstark
Poor Lily.
Karen Kilgariff
Poor E.T.
Georgia Hardstark
he found the right guy. At least in a really bad movie. Steven Spielberg would have been like, what are you doing?
Karen Kilgariff
This movie is 32 minutes long. We're gonna get him. We're gonna have him land, get discovered. And the kids on that cul de sac circle up.
Georgia Hardstark
Yep.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay. So Peter races to a nearby window to see what the hell this sound is, knowing that it could be the thing that everyone is worried about. And he goes and peers out into the darkness. But when he presses his face to the glass, an intense light immediately sh. Shines right into his eyes and then it goes out. So we can safely assume Peter was dazzled by that light.
Georgia Hardstark
Men are so hysterical. It's like, calm down, dude.
Karen Kilgariff
God, stop crying. You've got your big gun. So he's like, whoa, what just happened? He keeps looking out. He's trying to see if that light comes back on. But now he sees as his vision kind of comes back. The light is bouncing around on the street in front of the bank. We can assume with spotty vision and feeling absolutely terrified, Peter tries on the light. As it's moving, he thinks he can see something under the light, but not very clearly. He ends up describing it simply as, quote, a great form of some kind. So he panics. He raises his shotgun, he fires right through the bank's window, blowing out the glass. But the light vanishes. And once again, everything is dark. He stays inside that bank until sunrise. Now, with a broken window, good job.
Georgia Hardstark
He can get right in.
Karen Kilgariff
It's called. Here it is. Open it. So when it's finally Light. He goes and tells everybody what he saw. The area surrounding the bank is searched and according to old reports, a set of quote great three toed tracks are found nearby and captured in a plaster mold.
Georgia Hardstark
Do you have the photo of it? It's like I'm thinking duck.
Karen Kilgariff
That mold has since been gone missing.
Georgia Hardstark
Of course it has.
Karen Kilgariff
There's no. I know. But yes, it's almost like a three toed, a big bird.
Georgia Hardstark
So. Yeah, like a dinosaur in Jurassic Park.
Karen Kilgariff
That's right. Yes. That's how we do it. Law and order in Jurassic Park. Steven. Okay, so this is the third encounter in 48 hours. And the town of Van Meter is now gripped in fear. But the strangeness continues when the sun goes down that night. So Once again around 2am on Friday, October 2, 35 year old Otto V. White, who is the oldest man in town, Just Kidd, who lives in an apartment above his Main street hardware store, is now awakened by a quote rasping sound outside. He immediately grabs his gun, he opens a window and he scans the street. He's waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. I wonder if their vision was different because there was so little artificial light back then.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, and I'm also like the dude in the bank, he's. I don't like him. I know, don't. But his vision would have been so fucked after having basically a flashlight in your face. Especially cause he had never, probably hadn't been around electric light that long. So I don't trust. I don't know why I don't like him.
Karen Kilgariff
You don't like capitalists? Is that what it is?
Georgia Hardstark
He seems like a pick me guy. That's what I'm saying.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay, so he hears the rasping noise. This is Auto from the hardware store. Hears a rasping noise, immediately grabs his gun, opens the window, scans the street. He's waiting for his. And as they do, he sees something hanging off the nearest telephone pole about 15ft away. So dangerously close for my taste. But it's another kind of rainy cloudy night. There's almost no moonlight. It's really too dark to be able to see any of the features of what this thing is. But Otto's already heard about the monster stalking Van Meter. So he thinks the best plan is to just shoot at whatever it is hanging off that telephone pole and ask questions. Later. He raises his gun, he pulls the trigger. But instead of this thing tumbling to the ground or screeching or anything, it's just silence. Until a moment later when an incredibly bright light shines right in his Face. Suddenly he's overwhelmed by a horrible stench. And then it all gets a little foggy. And Otto cannot remember anything that happens after that. After the stench.
Georgia Hardstark
This has Mothman vibes, doesn't it?
Karen Kilgariff
Yep, that will come up later. So meanwhile, Otto's gunshot wakes up the man who lives diagonally across Main Street. 20 year old shopkeeper, Sidney, Greg, 20 year old shopkeeper, children. He's been asleep in his street level apartment that's attached to his store. So he runs into a shop, he swings the front door open, he looks out over Main street and he's looking around for the source of the gunshots. But what he's shocked to see is the entire street of lit up like it was daytime. And then he sees the creature still clinging to the nearby telephone pole with a bright light coming from its head. And according to reports, Sidney says it's hanging by what look like talons or bird claws.
Georgia Hardstark
Yuck.
Karen Kilgariff
Three of them.
Georgia Hardstark
Three bird claws.
Karen Kilgariff
Let me just go ahead and do this.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, pinch like a pincher. Ooh.
Karen Kilgariff
He ate with that light coming off his head. So Sidney is the witness who gets the best look at this creature of anyone in the. And his description is more evocative of something like a pterodactyl versus like some flying humanoid creature.
Georgia Hardstark
Okay.
Karen Kilgariff
Mm. He watches as it climbs down from the pole and stands upright. And he estimates this thing is eight feet tall.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, no.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, it jumps a couple times, unfolds two massive featherless wings. All the while the light on its forehead sweeping back and forth like it's scanning the area. And. And then right on schedule, the overnight train barrels past Van Meter on the nearby tracks and spooks the creature. And from his shop's doorway, Sidney says he watches it bolt off, quote, on all four feet.
Georgia Hardstark
Whoa.
Karen Kilgariff
So he runs like a horse, like remember you said in the beginning?
Georgia Hardstark
But he looks like a bird.
Karen Kilgariff
But he lands like a human and looks like a bird. And then runs off on all four. Okay, so when the word gets around the next this town goes into an all out panic.
Georgia Hardstark
Of course, where are the women to calm everyone down? For fuck's sake.
Karen Kilgariff
Right? There weren't many in the picture.
Georgia Hardstark
It doesn't seem like it.
Karen Kilgariff
It seems like a bunch of college grads went out and started Van Meter by themselves in a boys only club.
Georgia Hardstark
Hysterical boys.
Karen Kilgariff
Then more information comes to light, talking about the old abandoned coal mine in Van Meter. It was built next to a brick and tile factory and the brick and tile factory is still in business. So word spreads that workers at the Brick and tile factory have been hearing weird sounds coming from the abandoned coal mine for a while. They just haven't really talked about it to anybody. Which also is an interesting kind of dynamic of like the pressure of small town. Like once you say, hey, we heard weird screeching or whatever. It's like, oh, they're crazy at the tile factory or whatever.
Georgia Hardstark
Puffing tile glue or whatever.
Karen Kilgariff
Right, exactly. So they haven't talked about it. So we don't really know how long they had been hearing those noises. But the factory and the mine shaft sits about 500ft away from each other. So relatively close. So as the sun sets that Friday evening, the residents of Van Meter are preparing for another night of terror. And sure enough, it comes around 1:00am 44 year old. Oh my God. A geriatric.
Georgia Hardstark
Ugh.
Karen Kilgariff
44 year old JL Platt, the operations manager of the brick and tile factory and his crew of overnight workers start hearing those same weird noises coming from the mine shafts once again. But now, because they've all heard about these sightings and all the crazy stuff that's been happening, Platt finally decides he's going to step out and investigate this noise. There's a full moon that night, so he can see better than he would normally be able to. He walks towards the mine shaft. And as he approaches, he sees the outline of two creeps standing in the shaft entrance.
Georgia Hardstark
He's got a buddy.
Karen Kilgariff
He got a buddy. A little buddy. One is noticeably larger than the other. Both have those light horns on their heads. He watches as they raise their enormous rings and fly off into the dark.
Georgia Hardstark
Goodbye.
Karen Kilgariff
So this time there's no waiting until sunrise. Platt, his workers and other citizens of Van Meter immediately mobilize, thinking that the mine is where these creatures live. A group of vigilantes armed with guns
Georgia Hardstark
just start fucking shooting into it or what? Set it on fire. What?
Karen Kilgariff
They surround the mine and they wait until daybreak because they're like, if they live here, they're coming back. And sure enough, right at dawn, the monsters are seen flying back through the sky toward the mineshaft.
Georgia Hardstark
What the fuck?
Karen Kilgariff
So everybody starts shooting. Jesus. Right? They unload everything they've got. And as they do, the two creatures let out bizarre loud groans. And the air suddenly fills with that strange odor. But like every other time that anyone's TR at these mysterious things, the bullets have no effect. Reportedly, the creatures land. And here's where I go. They push their way past the citizens and they disappear down the mineshaft into the dark tunnel. So they're like out of our way. We're going back home and no one can do anything because it's like, you're not gonna fist fight them. The guns don't work.
Georgia Hardstark
They got that close. This is surprising, right?
Karen Kilgariff
What happens next is also mistaken. What we do know is that the citizens of Van Meter blocked the entrance to that abandoned coal mine, like, boarded up forever. And after that, there are no more documented sightings of these strange creatures ever again. Over time, they become known as the Van Meter visitor, or visitors. And the remnants of that old mine with its blocked off entrance are still there in Van Meter, but they're now on private property.
Georgia Hardstark
Has anyone gone in and searched for them?
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, I'm sure. Well, but here's the thing. I wonder. We'll theorize. Okay, so there are a lot of theories about what this could have been. Who or what the Van Meter visitor actually was. The most plausible explanation being it's a case of mass misidentification involving something like a vulture or a large owl, which is the same theory that kind of writes off the Mothman, which is interesting because the Mothman, they think it was a gigantic bird called a shoebill that was basically migrating and got knocked off its migration path.
Georgia Hardstark
The weirdest looking bird you've ever seen in your life.
Karen Kilgariff
It is a wild looking bird. So, like.
Georgia Hardstark
But if you saw out in the wild, you'd fucking run in.
Karen Kilgariff
Especially in, like, car lights on a very dark highway. I feel like darkness is a big part of all of these things that are like it.
Georgia Hardstark
It's nocturnal. They're nocturnal.
Karen Kilgariff
They're nocturnal creatures. Except for that last experience, which is so heightened that it's like truly a whole town sat there and watch these things come and fly. And then they were like pushed out of the way.
Georgia Hardstark
Oh, like they're at a fucking concert or something.
Karen Kilgariff
Like they're pushing to the front. Okay. Some write the whole thing off as a practical joke. But if that were true, then they'd know who was doing it because the one was 8ft tall. If they were average height, they'd have to be talented enough to bounce fly and climb telephone poles on stilts and in costume while carrying an incredibly bright lantern or an electric headlight that there's almost no way that could have.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah, yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Sears had an incredible catalog. And it always. There's also the theory of mass delusion at 8 and Sears 8. There's the theory of mass delusion. Because throughout the 1800s and the early 1900s, newspapers were full of sensationalized reports of weird creatures. The Van Meter visitor story predates the 1909 Jersey Devil Pants. Which is similar cause it involves a flying dinosaur esque creature. Predates it by about seven years. And of course it predates our beloved Mothman by 50 years. More than 50 years. But it's totally possible the people in Van Meter were reading about other strange creatures in the papers. And getting those ideas. Because about a decade earlier. A pterodactyl like monster. Known as the Tombstone Thunderbird was spotted in Arizona. And that's the one that I've heard about that where it's like it's a bird, but it is so gigantic it's like a 50 foot wingspan.
Georgia Hardstark
I've never heard of it.
Karen Kilgariff
And I think there were stories of like it carried off a child Jesus. Like it's so huge and a bunch of people saw it. So even if that story was a lie, but it's in the newspaper and then the story goes around, then it's like we've got our own. Also there's of course the very plausible theory. The residents of Van Meter invented a monster story. To drum up either publicity draw visitors to the town. It's hard to imagine the most respected citizens of the town. Like a doctor and a future mayor. Would use their own good names to like back up a hoax like that. Although let's not put anything past the high level people. As we have learned these days. By most accounts, locals did not like seize on the newspaper coverage to make more of it. They actually didn't seem to like it. So it's unclear who would have benefited by spreading a story like this. We can take a closer look at the man who wrote the articles about the Van Meter visitor. He's a journalist named Harry H. Phillips. And we can mull over whether or not he is a bad reporter. Or somehow involved in elaborate hoax. Or just plain old telling the truth. The town of Van Meter, as I said, doesn't have its own newspaper in 1903. So the first reports of this event pop up in the Des Moines daily paper on October 5th. A couple days after that last reported sighting. It's totally possible Harry H. Phillips was given bad information, got kind of basic information. And embellished the original details as he was working on the copy.
Georgia Hardstark
I mean, we've done that for 10 years.
Karen Kilgariff
That's what we do. You know, their old timey version of clickbait. Essentially just like can you believe what's happening out west where nothing's provable and there are no cameras. Again, though, I will say Harry H. Phillips is an Esteemed member of the community of Van Meter. He lives in Van Meter. He is the local postmaster, which I think takes an extra amount of honesty and trustworthiness.
Georgia Hardstark
He's not one to embellish, relish, or lie. Yeah, okay. He's off the hook.
Karen Kilgariff
What are those things? Money. A money order?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Is that what it's called?
Georgia Hardstark
No, I know what we're talking about.
Karen Kilgariff
I need to give you $300, but I don't want to have give you cash. So I'll give you this thing from the bank.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Wire. I don't know, cashier's check.
Karen Kilgariff
A cashier's check. God damn it. You know what? I quit. Forget that. I'll just keep going. So people, trust this man. And also, very important to mention that there was a contest in Van Meter, or I don't know if it was a contest, but they had the handsome bachelors of Van Meter that they featured every year, and he was one of them. Here are the handsome bachelors. Hello, boys of Van Meter. This was from 1901.
Georgia Hardstark
And the one who looks like he's just seen a ghost. This guy? Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Constant surprise. Oh, you mean young Harry Houdini who somehow lived in Van Meter, Iowa?
Georgia Hardstark
You guys go to our Instagram if you want to see this photo. The front row mustaches are fucking given.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Are they?
Karen Kilgariff
You know, is it like these are the most esteemed citizens because they have the biggest mustaches, and it goes up to the youngsters.
Georgia Hardstark
You can't just, willy nilly, grow a mustache.
Karen Kilgariff
I think if I had to pick one.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
How about that lone wolf over on the left?
Georgia Hardstark
I like the one below him with the mustache.
Karen Kilgariff
That's kind of a daddy issue pick.
Georgia Hardstark
He's giving Zaddy.
Karen Kilgariff
He's giving Zaddy.
Georgia Hardstark
Totally Zaddy.
Karen Kilgariff
Zaddy. My guy has a hair sticking up just like I. Oh, yeah.
Georgia Hardstark
Hey, he looks the most, like, modern, I'd say.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, he does. That's the time travel.
Georgia Hardstark
He's like a modern man.
Karen Kilgariff
That's why he's a little bit apart, because he slipped in on the side. Like cam from 1974.
Georgia Hardstark
He's disappearing right before our eyes.
Karen Kilgariff
Wait, why? This one hand is going away. So Harry is on the left in the middle row.
Georgia Hardstark
So this guy, he's a little thicker. He's a little thicker around the face.
Karen Kilgariff
You know, now that you point. Now that I point him out and blame it on you, I think he might be my pick. Okay, no more time travelers. Our boyfriends are friends.
Georgia Hardstark
Hey, you can have both.
Karen Kilgariff
What?
Georgia Hardstark
Don't have to pick. Fucking monogamy is out in the nineteen oh threes.
Karen Kilgariff
Imagine that'd be even more revolutionary than this monster with a light on its head. So he's handsome. Of course he's not lying. Again, there's no obvious reason for him to make up the story. Unless it is a ruse to get more subscribers, which. Which I think is what yellow journalism was kind of all about back then.
Georgia Hardstark
Sure. I mean, that makes sense.
Karen Kilgariff
So what we really need for the fan meter or visitors mystery to be solved is to find that old plaster cast of the monster's footprint. Or maybe discover some lost diary of someone's great great grandmother in an attic.
Georgia Hardstark
Yes, I was there. In an attic. In an attic. Some fucking ex sheriff's grandma's. Fuck. What? I don't know.
Karen Kilgariff
Please. Or. Or like I like to. Then even more kind of thrilling to me is it's at the bottom of a pile in a hoarder house where people are like, I just can't deal with it.
Georgia Hardstark
It's like we have to wait till grandma dies before we clean up or she's gonna freak the fuck out.
Karen Kilgariff
That's right. But they're just sitting there. Proof.
Georgia Hardstark
That was my dad's. Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
He told me not to say anything. And then I started hoarding to cover up the secret in my mind. People don't talk like that in Iowa.
Georgia Hardstark
Don't they? Maybe they do.
Karen Kilgariff
Everyone becomes an old prospector immediately. Okay. It's like the Bigfoot deathbed confession where it's like, hey, look, it's all a prank. Like, that would be great. But until that happens, we just can't know what happened in Van Meter in the fall of 1903. Everyone in our story, of course, has long since passed the Amazing.
Georgia Hardstark
Except for Harry.
Karen Kilgariff
Except for that. That guy. It's crazy. He's 212.
Georgia Hardstark
He hasn't aged a day.
Karen Kilgariff
I say he's 212. I know for a fact how many years it's been since that happened.
Georgia Hardstark
But how old is he then? So he's 100 and whatever. We don't math here at my favorite Murder Matter.
Karen Kilgariff
And we love to riff.
Georgia Hardstark
Use your calculator.
Karen Kilgariff
I can't. I don't know how. We're just a few.
Georgia Hardstark
The meme of like, my husband can. I don't want him to look at my camera. Not because I want. I'm cheating on him, but because. And then it pulls up a calculator and it's like, no. 9 minus 3.
Karen Kilgariff
The most basic math. So good. I think we should Start doing our favorite TikTok of the week to show and show each other all week long. We're like, find the thing that you love the most. Whether it's funny, touching, a cool new thing.
Georgia Hardstark
And then we'll learn the dance.
Karen Kilgariff
And then we do the dance.
Georgia Hardstark
And you'll do the dance. You have to do the dance though.
Karen Kilgariff
And then we do like, you know,
Georgia Hardstark
the couples ones where it's like they y or whatever.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, I'll flip you. And then we end in a two man pyramid. Yeah, okay, I'll do it. So here's the good news. We're just a couple years shy of the 125th anniversary of the Van Meter visitor event. And more good news. Van Meter has since embraced their historical cryptozoological mystery. They have a yearly Van Meter Visitor festival.
Georgia Hardstark
Fuck yes.
Karen Kilgariff
And this year it's on September 26th.
Georgia Hardstark
We're there.
Karen Kilgariff
We'll see you there. That's the story of the Van Meter visitor.
Georgia Hardstark
Good, good one. I have never heard of that guy.
Karen Kilgariff
I know. It's a love a cryptozoology fuckin and also one that's like what if there were dinosaurs?
Sponsor/Advertisement Voice
But what if there is.
Karen Kilgariff
But what if there are dinosaurs that had lights on their head like those fish.
Georgia Hardstark
Like the fish. I was totally right. Has there ever been.
Karen Kilgariff
Is that possible?
Georgia Hardstark
Animal doctors. Has there ever been an. An animal? I'm pretty sure there's been an insect. But has there ever been an animal that has had a light source on its head? Please let us know. Yeah, we didn't go to college.
Karen Kilgariff
We don't.
Georgia Hardstark
We're not animal doctors.
Karen Kilgariff
Be here and help us solve this Van Meter mystery. As a doctor, I'll tell you my theory because you know, this is my theory or this is what I've read and then absolutely believed about the Loch Ness Monster is these prehistoric clothes. Creatures that are in underground caverns and lakes and all the things we don't know are down there.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Deep, dark and mysterious.
Karen Kilgariff
And then they evolve down there.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And then you start blowing up their ecosystem. And they come to the surface and
Georgia Hardstark
look around and go where are the intruders?
Karen Kilgariff
We need to reduce our carbon foot.
Georgia Hardstark
It's their land and we're intruding in
Karen Kilgariff
the center of the earth. Well wait, let me see if there's any other pictures that I would.
Georgia Hardstark
Is there one? Like a drawing of what it would look like? Is that okay? Oh, there it is. Oh, it looks like a dragon.
Karen Kilgariff
Van Meter, hot under the collar. So basically it's like the report on like here's what they think happened. Now everybody thinks they're crazy.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Which is why people don't come forward, as we know.
Georgia Hardstark
Totally. So is there a cryptozoology guy in your town? Tell us at my favorite murdermail for minisodes.
Karen Kilgariff
And also any of the stuff that I just talked about that is incorrect. When I first moved to LA in 1994, there's a group of guys, Mark Feit, Toby Huss, Jim Turner, and they were called the Iowa Boys. They all did comedy. And I love Iowa because those three
Georgia Hardstark
boys represented it well.
Karen Kilgariff
They're just truly salt of the earth, good guys, great drinkers, funny as fucking hell.
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
And so I respect the people of Iowa. If I said anything wrong, please let me know and I will correct it. Those are the last people I want to displease.
Georgia Hardstark
Sure. Yeah. Totally.
Karen Kilgariff
Right?
Georgia Hardstark
Yeah. Is that it?
Karen Kilgariff
I think we have to stop.
Georgia Hardstark
We must stop plenty Some fucking point.
Karen Kilgariff
We're gonna really soon. Don't worry. Really gotta stop really soon. We're gonna. All right, here we go. Hey, everybody. We're in the car doing a live action. Moving, driving, honking. Hooray.
Georgia Hardstark
That's right.
Karen Kilgariff
Presented by Hyundai, driven by Georgia Harsha.
Georgia Hardstark
Should I go for it?
Karen Kilgariff
Oh, shit. She's running around. It's not red.
Georgia Hardstark
That was very yellow. That was very yellow. They're gonna take it away from Una.
Karen Kilgariff
This is the perfect. Yep. Let's toughen. Okay. Here's the first one is from Cass and it's via Instagram dm and it says, hey, Queens. My hooray is that after a year of sickness and injury and mostly being stuck inside, I remembered who I am this month. I completed a four week pilates challenge, went to a bunch of gigs and remembered I have a personality and free will. So I got a new tattoo. I'm stronger, happier, saw Noel Gallagher play Master Plan live, and I'm feeling like myself again, which is better than any drug I've been prescribed this year. And then it says, stay sexy and pulse this one out, Cass.
Georgia Hardstark
Hell yeah.
Karen Kilgariff
Nice one, Cass.
Georgia Hardstark
Solve any heartbreak.
Karen Kilgariff
That's such a nice build of like, she was down, like, didn't know what to do. And then slowly but surely, like, I did something for my muscles, I did something for my ears. I went to for my ears, seeing Noel Gallagher. You're all set.
Georgia Hardstark
I've remembered who I am. I love that.
Karen Kilgariff
I know. Good job, Cass. We're behind you. Here's the second one, and it's a short one. It says my Hooray is a huge personal one. After eight years of referrals and waiting, I finally have a date for top surgery. It's finally time to yeet my teats. And then it just says Alex.
Georgia Hardstark
They them amazing Alex. Congratulations Alex.
Karen Kilgariff
You've done it. It's good that you were patient. It's good that you got to do the thing that you wanted to do and sorry that this nation has turned the way it has.
Georgia Hardstark
We support you.
Karen Kilgariff
We support you entirely. Okay, here's one. It's from an email. It says Hooray for sisters and it starts. I'm so happy Hoorays are back. First, it was a dream to see you in Denver with my favorite and only sister. Now to the hooray. Let me preface with the fact that my little sister is my ex. Four years ago her abusive cheating husband left after running her into foreclosure in bankruptcy.
Georgia Hardstark
That was not on me.
Karen Kilgariff
Also, I'm not laughing at either of those things. That was a weird three way stop that Georgia had to manage. A few months later she was diagnosed with breast cancer as a single mom and self employed woman. A double mastectomy and the recovery was brutal. She lost all of her retirement, her savings, her home and her beautiful. Now she has a growing business, a gorgeous daughter, a supportive caring partner and me. She always has me and my hooray is we have each other and she is here. A cancer free, strong woman. I love her and I couldn't be happier to have a best friend like her. Krista, you're my hooray. Thanks for all the laughter. Karen and Georgia, don't forget to get the girls checked. Kira in Colorado.
Georgia Hardstark
Amazing.
Karen Kilgariff
That's a brilliant, really amazing one.
Georgia Hardstark
I love the message. It hurts but you got to get them checked.
Karen Kilgariff
Okay, this honking hooray is about someone we all know and love. The email is entitled Paul Giamatti and it says are we still doing Hoorays? If so, I've got the tiniest little things some of your fans might like. I'd just like to shout out MFM royalty, Mr. Paul Giamatti. Does he know he's MFM royalty?
Georgia Hardstark
Is that he's like I hope not.
Karen Kilgariff
For making my day by giving a lengthy quote about how Star Trek Deep Space Nine is his favorite of the series. I don't think I'm alone in taking a bit of joy hearing about super talented and charming folks who also share your particular flavor of nerd. There's been plenty of times when my tastes have overlapped with you all during the years too. Anyway, hooray for Paul Giamatti. Again. And may 2026 be a year. We listen to our elders like George Takei. Thanks to for everything, Lindsay.
Georgia Hardstark
Aw, but what about Next Generation?
Karen Kilgariff
I mean, everyone knows there's so many choices in the Star Trek community.
Georgia Hardstark
Good job everyone.
Karen Kilgariff
Yeah, we really hoorayed it up.
Georgia Hardstark
We sure did. And thank you to Hyundai for giving us the opportunity to drive around and read Hoorays.
Karen Kilgariff
We really appreciate you Hyundai. And stay sexy.
Georgia Hardstark
Don't get murdered.
Karen Kilgariff
Ambulance.
Georgia Hardstark
Bye. They called an ambulance. Elvis, do you want a cookie?
Karen Kilgariff
This has been an exactly right production.
Georgia Hardstark
Our senior producer is Molly Smith and our associate producer is Tessa Hughes.
Karen Kilgariff
Our editor is Aristotle Acevedo.
Georgia Hardstark
This episode was mixed by Liana Squillace.
Karen Kilgariff
Our researchers are Maren McGlashan and Ali Elkin.
Georgia Hardstark
Email your hometowns to my favorite murdermail.com
Karen Kilgariff
and follow the show on Instagram at
Georgia Hardstark
My favorite Murder Listen to my favorite murder on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Karen Kilgariff
And now you can watch My favorite Murder on Netflix.
Georgia Hardstark
And when you're there, hit the double thumbs up and the remind me buttons. That's the best way you can support our show. Goodbye this Mother's Day Celebrate the woman behind it all with Pandora Jewelry.
Karen Kilgariff
Get your mom some jewelry that feels personal and reflects the moments that make
Georgia Hardstark
matter most, whether that's a date, a name or a shared memory. You can make it even more meaningful with an engraving in your own handwriting
Karen Kilgariff
because the best Mother's Day gift says more than just I love you.
Georgia Hardstark
Find the perfect Mother's Day gift at your local Pandora store or online@pandora.net Goodbye.
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Karen Kilgariff
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
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Georgia Hardstark
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Karen Kilgariff
New Kleenex. Snap and go. Snap shut for a clean tissue, anytime, anywhere.
Georgia Hardstark
For whatever happens next. Grab Kleenex, Snap and go.
Karen Kilgariff
Goodbye.
Release Date: April 16, 2026
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
In this episode, Karen and Georgia deliver a blend of chilling true crime and classic MFM banter. The pair discuss the latest true crime updates, share listener stories, and dive deep into two captivating mysteries: the infamous 2006 disappearance of Brian Shaffer in Ohio, and the bizarre legend of the Van Meter Visitor in early-1900s Iowa. As always, they infuse dark subject matter with warmth, wit, and compassion—making it the perfect episode for both new and veteran Murderinos.
[01:45–03:19]
[03:35–06:17]
[06:20–08:24]
[08:27–12:02]
Georgia’s Story
[14:56–38:44]
Karen’s Story
[41:50–70:15]
[73:03–77:00]
| Segment | Timestamps | Main Content | |--------------------------------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Podcast banter & crime updates | 01:45–12:02 | True crime news, network/merch updates | | Disappearance of Brian Shaffer | 14:56–38:44 | Ohio cold case deep dive, theories, family impact | | Van Meter Visitor legend | 41:50–70:15 | 1903 Iowa cryptid, sightings, skepticism, legacy | | Listener hoorays/closes | 73:03–77:00 | Uplifting audience stories, kind sign-off |
The episode is classic MFM: dark but empathetic, offbeat, and bubbly, with an easy rapport that lets humor lighten harrowing topics. Karen and Georgia don’t simply recount crime—they connect emotionally, question sources, and create a supportive, curious space for the macabre. Importantly, they spotlight community, closure for victims, and the need for justice—even (and especially) when answers remain elusive.