SEQUESTERED Podcast: "Zebb Quinn: Murdered In 2000 (Asheville, NC) | Part One"
Host: Road Trip Studios
Release Date: August 4, 2025
Series: SEQUESTERED Season Two, Case Five
Introduction
In the gripping first part of SEQUESTERED's second season, host Sarah Reid delves into the mysterious disappearance and presumed murder of Zeb Quinn, an 18-year-old from Asheville, North Carolina. Set against the backdrop of the year 2000—a time before GPS and smartphones—this episode unravels the intricate web surrounding Zeb's vanishing and the ensuing investigation fraught with red herrings and unanswered questions.
Zeb Quinn's Background
Zeb Quinn was a quintessential small-town youth. Born on May 12, 1981, he was known for his gentle nature and dedication to family. Living with his mother, Denise, and sister, Brandy, Zeb had recently graduated from high school and was embarking on his first year at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College while working part-time at Walmart to save for his first car—a symbol of his burgeoning independence.
Brandy Quinn (00:38): "Zeb enjoyed caring for his fish and was particularly gentle with animals. He was quiet and kind, stayed out of trouble, and was somewhat of a mama's boy."
The Night of Disappearance
On January 2, 2000, just two days into the new millennium, Zeb finished his shift at Walmart around 9 PM. Plans were simple: meet friend Jason Owens to scout a used car. However, shortly after leaving the parking lot, Zeb received a page that prompted him to pull over at a Citgo gas station to make a call.
Sarah Reid (00:38): "In Asheville, North Carolina, Zeb Wayne Quinn finishes his shift at Walmart and heads out for a low key evening. He's planning to meet up with a former co-worker, Jason Owens, to go look at a used car. But a little after 9 PM, something goes wrong."
Security footage captures Zeb making a call, but upon returning, he appears unusually excited before abruptly driving off, effectively vanishing without a trace.
Discovery of Zeb’s Car and Investigation
Two weeks post-disappearance, on January 18, 2000, Zeb’s Mazda 610 was found abandoned in the parking lot of Little Pig's Barbecue. Inside the car were perplexing items: a pair of lips drawn on the back windshield, a magnetic hotel key, and a live black Labrador puppy—none of which belonged to Zeb.
Police Officer (13:17): "Inside the car, investigators found a magnetic hotel key. So far, they haven't been able to trace where it came from or who used it last."
The peculiar clues suggested foul play, intensifying the mystery surrounding Zeb's disappearance.
Suspicion on Jason Owens
Jason Owens, Zeb’s friend and the last person known to see him alive, became a central figure in the investigation. Initially claiming that Zeb had rear-ended his car and needed to cancel their plans, inconsistencies soon emerged. Notably, Zeb’s car showed no signs of a collision, and Owens himself was later hospitalized with injuries from an alleged deer accident—stories that did not align with the physical evidence.
Investigator (12:00): "Jason made a phone call from his place of employment to Zeb's place of employment pretending to be Zeb. I mean, that's policing 101."
Further suspicion arose when Owens impersonated Zeb to notify Walmart of his absence, a move that only deepened the mystery.
Misty Taylor and the Love Triangle
A pivotal breakthrough came when a local couple reported seeing Zeb’s Mazda driven by a woman matching the description of Misty Taylor, a young woman from Arden, North Carolina, known to be in a volatile relationship with her abusive boyfriend, Wesley Smith. Misty had been romantically involved with Zeb, creating a complex love triangle that raised significant questions.
Sarah Reid (18:03): "Denise wondered aloud, if this was a crime, why leave the car in such an obvious place? And what did the puppy, the lipstick mark, and the hotel key mean?"
Despite Misty’s initial denial of involvement, her connection to Zeb and her tumultuous relationship added layers of suspicion and intrigue to the case.
Family's Struggle and Community Response
Zeb’s disappearance had a profound impact on his family and the Asheville community. His mother, Denise Quinn, tirelessly searched for answers, employing every avenue from flyers to psychic consultations. The community rallied, with Walmart colleagues maintaining a vigil at his workplace and customers seeking any information about his whereabouts.
Denise Quinn (17:27): "She told reporters, none of this adds up. Zeb loved his job. He'd just bought a DVD player and satellite television system. He was looking ahead."
The lack of closure weighed heavily on the family, as Denise grappled with grief and the elusive hope of finding her son.
The Year Anniversary and Lingering Mysteries
A year after Zeb’s disappearance, the case remained unsolved. As holiday seasons passed without any news, the pain of not knowing intensified. Zeb's father, Jerry Quinn, expressed vehement suspicions toward Wesley Smith, while Denise continued her relentless search for the truth.
Denise Quinn (28:39): "My boy can't be alive. It wasn't in him to just vanish."
Despite various leads and renewed investigations over the years, the case of Zeb Quinn remained one of Asheville's most baffling unsolved mysteries, setting the stage for further revelations in the forthcoming second part.
Conclusion and What’s Next
Part One of Zeb Quinn’s story paints a haunting picture of a young man whose promising future was abruptly stolen. With a tangled web of suspicious individuals and cryptic clues, the episode leaves listeners on edge, eagerly anticipating the continuation of this cold case in Part Two.
Sarah Reid (29:50): "He was consistent, he was careful, and he didn't run away. Even Captain Ted Lambert of the Asheville Police Department admitted how baffling this case had become."
Stay tuned for Part Two, where the investigation deepens with new evidence, a resurfacing confession, and connections to another brutal crime that bring Zeb Quinn's story back into the spotlight.
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Silence isn’t justice.