Podcast Summary: Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders
Episode 2: “The Evidence of Things Not Seen”
Date: February 28, 2024 | Host: M. William Phelps (iHeartPodcasts)
Overview
This episode continues the investigation into the 1989 disappearance and murder of Dana Stidham, a teen from Benton County, Arkansas. Veteran crime journalist M. William Phelps revisits the evidence, exploring multiple suspects, witness testimonies, law enforcement missteps, and the growing complexity of this cold case. The episode weaves in interviews with police, prosecutors, family members, and witnesses—underscoring the web of uncertainty surrounding Dana’s fate and the possibility of a serial predator in the area.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Introduction: Harassing Calls and Early Suspicions
[02:01–04:19]
- A 19-year-old Bella Vista woman was harassed by sexually explicit, threatening phone calls during the days after Dana Stidham went missing.
- The caller was believed to be a neighbor and former classmate; the calls stopped after she confronted him and found disturbing evidence in his room—her name in spray paint and cut-out photos.
- Police link him to prior suspicions in Dana’s case, but details are inconclusive.
Notable Quote:
“She recognized the caller's voice because the man, ‘lived near her and that after her father left for work, within three or four minutes the calls began as if the caller was watching her house.’” (B, 02:41)
2. Crime Scene and Initial Law Enforcement Response
[05:52–09:32]
- Detective Mike Sidoriak was first on the scene the morning after Dana vanished; her car showed signs of being staged.
- Prosecutor Nathan Smith (elected in 2014, then age 7 in 1989) discusses how cold cases often languish due to a lack of immediate evidence and evolving technology.
- Early rumors examined whether Dana ran away, but nothing in her life supported that theory.
Notable Quote:
“There was simply nothing in Dana’s life to indicate that she would do that ... Everything would indicate she wouldn’t be doing that.” (F, 09:06)
3. Discovery of Evidence and Theories
[09:32–13:53]
- Clothing and belongings scattered near the car and along the road.
- A receipt was left, but the groceries Dana bought were missing.
- Reports emerge of a suspicious tan/cream pickup truck with a camper seen near Dana’s car and a man kneeling as if fixing a tire.
- Theorizing if Dana’s car was sabotaged; multiple sightings suggest confusion and possible staging.
Notable Quote:
“Did someone sabotage Dana’s vehicle so the car would malfunction and break down at some point on her way home?” (B, 11:36)
4. Expansion of the Pool of Suspects and Parallel Disappearances
[12:56–13:27]
- Within a 50-mile radius, five other young women had disappeared or been murdered in the previous five years, prompting fears of a possible serial killer.
Notable Quote:
“The ugly reality ... within a 50 mile radius of where Dana was last seen, no fewer than five additional young women had either gone missing or their bodies had been discovered...” (B, 12:56)
5. Search Efforts and Loss of Hope
[15:34–17:13]
- Search intensifies with flyers and reward; family and community organize.
- The discovery of Dana’s ID (brought by a dog) deepens suspicions of foul play.
Notable Quote:
“So at that point, we think ... foul play, because it was her ID. There were some contraceptives that were found.” (E, 16:47)
6. The Hard Reality of Cold Case Investigations
[17:28–20:38]
- Lt. Hunter Petrae emphasizes the challenges of aging cases: lost witnesses, death, faded memories, and the need to re-examine everything.
- Advances in DNA and genealogy have helped other cases, but many questions linger.
- Most murders involve someone the victim knows—a key tenet guiding their inquiry.
Notable Quote:
“With the passage of time, it doesn’t get any easier ... The best way ... is go back and start from square zero and basically look through everything with a fresh set of eyes...” (E, 17:28)
7. Mapping the Timeline & Eyewitness Accounts
[20:38–26:33]
- Various sightings of Dana’s car and potential encounters muddy the timeline.
- A local woman sees Dana and an unidentified man in her car; the next day, Dana’s car is found abandoned.
- Dana’s cousin Dwight shares seeing her with another girl, smiling and relaxed, casting doubt on the abduction theory from the grocery store.
Notable Quotes:
“She had a big old smile on her face, just waved real big ... it just seemed normal to me.” (C, 26:20)
8. Law Enforcement Limitations in 1989
[27:01–28:40]
- Lack of cell phones and surveillance made tracking movements almost impossible.
- A trooper’s testimony brackets the time Dana’s car could have been abandoned, between 11:30pm and 5am.
9. Focus on Suspects: Mike McMillan & Others
[29:17–32:42]
- Focus on Mike McMillan, a classmate rumored to have a crush on Dana, and her ex-boyfriend, who had a contentious breakup.
- McMillan was in the area the night Dana disappeared; alibi investigated.
- Ex-boyfriend’s polygraph and alibi lead investigator to deprioritize him.
10. The “Pervert” from Phillips Grocery
[35:48–39:32]
- Attention turns to an older male Phillips employee, notorious for sexual harassment and a proclivity for adult magazines.
- Some of Dana’s clothes were found near his home, and he drove a pickup with a camper matching suspicious vehicle reports.
- He was fired days after Dana vanished, raising further suspicion.
Notable Quotes:
“He’s probably most troublesome because you can actually put him in the store the day of Dana’s disappearance. So you can put him with Dana right before she disappeared.” (C, 36:32)
“So, yeah, it’s pretty alarming that there’s a magazine with her clothing. There’s a guy that likes these magazines, and that same person lives within throwing distance of where those clothing and magazine are found...” (C, 38:45)
11. Other Leads: “Mitch” Goodwin, Threats, and the Witness
[40:52–44:54]
- 16-year-old witness claims Dana was seen alive with Orville Mitch Goodwin at a park; Goodwin later threatens this witness.
- Goodwin was later convicted for another brutal attempted murder in the area.
- Consistent, credible witness accounts are hard to find, complicating certainty.
12. Discovery of Dana’s Remains
[46:48–50:59]
- “Stephen” (alias) recalls finding a skull and remains in the woods near the Missouri line.
- He initially wasn’t aware of Dana’s disappearance, waited a day to contact police, and later experienced possible stalking by the perpetrator.
- Duct tape and clothing found with the remains; area is close to key locations involved in the case.
Notable Quotes:
“I know the difference between a human skull and a bear.” (D, 47:31)
“I had somebody driving up, sitting in front of my house in a truck. And after three or four times ... I snuck out the back and stuck up the truck with my shotgun. They took off ... I’m sure it was the killer.” (D, 50:47)
13. The Challenge of Circumstantial Evidence
[46:05–46:35]
- Investigators highlight how a lack of physical evidence—reliance on conflicting testimony—makes prosecution difficult, but a new era of forensics may hold answers.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |---|---|---| | “There was simply nothing in Dana’s life to indicate that she would do that ... Everything would indicate she wouldn’t be doing that.” | Nathan Smith | 09:06 | | “He’s probably most troublesome because you can actually put him in the store the day of Dana’s disappearance. So you can put him with Dana right before she disappeared.” | Brandon Howard | 36:32 | | “I know the difference between a human skull and a bear.” | “Stephen” | 47:31 | | “I had somebody driving up, sitting in front of my house in a truck... I’m sure it was the killer.” | “Stephen” | 50:47 | | “You’d have to be somewhat strong or able-bodied to carry a person down into that area of the woods and know about it. I don’t think that anyone just stumbled across that spot.” | Nathan Smith | 51:34 |
Key Segments & Timestamps
- [02:01] – Harassing calls and confronting the neighbor
- [05:52] – Det. Sidoriak’s initial investigation of the scene
- [11:36] – Witness reports of a suspicious pickup truck
- [16:42] – Discovery of Dana’s ID by a dog
- [20:38] – Timeline confusion from multiple sightings/witnesses
- [26:33] – Cousin’s account of last sighting
- [35:48] – Shift to naming primary persons of interest (Phillips employee, classmate)
- [40:52] – Witness statement about Dana at Blowing Springs Park
- [46:48] – Discovery of Dana’s body in the woods
Episode Tone and Language
M. William Phelps maintains a methodical, investigative tone, mixing empathy for the family with professional skepticism about tips and leads. The episode features candid remarks from law enforcement, family, and witnesses—ranging from matter-of-fact to haunted and emotional.
Memorable Moments
- The chilling account of the harassing calls and the disturbing discovery in the neighbor’s room.
- The sequence describing the heartbreak as Dana’s family gradually loses hope.
- The parallel drawn between the circumstantial web in Dana’s case and the potential presence of a serial predator in the Ozarks.
- The vivid, unsettling story of “Stephen’s” discovery of Dana’s remains and his subsequent fear for his own life.
Closing Thoughts
This episode layers new evidence, revisits key suspects, and illustrates how cold cases are complicated by lost time, unreliable memories, and a tangle of potential leads. The narrative leaves listeners with a deepening sense of unresolved tension and the knowledge that, despite new forensics, the ultimate truth about Dana Stidham’s murder remains just out of reach.
Next episode preview:
Personal family perspectives suggest there are still secrets—and perhaps living witnesses—to what truly happened in this Texas town over 40 years ago.