The Burden: Introducing Dakota Spotlight – A Better Search for Barbara (Episode 1)

Podcast: The Burden
Host: Orbit Media
Cross-promotion: Dakota Spotlight, hosted by James Woolner
Release Date: June 14, 2025

Overview

This special crossover episode of The Burden features the first installment of Dakota Spotlight: A Better Search for Barbara. Host James Woolner investigates the cold case disappearance of 15-year-old Barbara Cotton, who vanished in 1981 from Williston, North Dakota. Through immersive narration and interviews with those who knew Barbara, the episode paints a portrait of life in a small town and the unanswered questions that have haunted her friends and family for more than four decades. Central themes include the persistence of memory, unresolved grief, and the shortcomings of law enforcement in missing persons cases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Williston, 1981

• Historical Backdrop: April 1981, a period marked by Reagan’s recovery from an assassination attempt and the countdown to the first space shuttle launch, but in Williston, life was routine.
  • [03:28] “A few moments ago in Washington, US President Ronald Reagan is released from the hospital ... And in the state of Florida over at Cape Canaveral, NASA gives the green light for the first ever launch of space shuttle Columbia…” – James Woolner
• Town Life: Residents engaged in typical spring activities—changing out snow tires, spring cleaning, and listening to the Minnesota Twins on the radio.

2. Teenage Life & The Last Night

• Popular Hangouts: Wheel Awhile roller skating rink served as a central social spot for teens.
  • [06:42] “It was just a hangout where we’d all get together, you know, something to do on the weekends, especially in the cold, you know, winter months and stuff.” – Sandy Evanson
• Routine vs. Anxiety: Sandy Evanson recounts the routine of pickup and drop off, noting her unease walking alone at night.
  • [09:07] “I’m scared. I’m like some parts I can remember running, you know, not because of the cold, but because I’m scared it’s dark and where are the weirdos and things like that?” – Sandy Evanson

3. The Disappearance of Barbara Cotton

• Timeline: After spending the evening with friends, Barbara was last seen walking towards home after a meal reportedly with her boyfriend and her mother.
• Immediate Aftermath: Her absence is discovered when her mother, Louise Cotton, calls Sandy looking for Barbara late at night.
  • [09:46] “I remember thinking, though, this probably isn’t a good phone call. Nobody calls at that time of night, you know, for something good. And I pick it up and it (squeezes)…” – Sandy Evanson
• No Evidence of Runaway: Barbara left all her personal belongings, including her glasses, savings, and a paycheck.
  • [13:04] “You’re going to run away with more money. Close. I want to say over $3,000. Close to $4,000 in her savings account.” – Sandy Evanson
• Official Response: The authorities’ initial assumption was that she ran away, resulting in delayed investigation and missed opportunities.

4. The Investigation: Gaps and Confusion

• Lack of Police Follow-up: Neither Sandy nor Barbara’s siblings were interviewed by police.
  • [13:04] "So are you telling me that law enforcement never interviewed you back then?" – James Woolner
    "Never." – Sandy Evanson
  • [30:58] “I don’t want to badmouth the police, but in some ways I do… I don’t remember them asking any questions. And that’s just the part where she was always chocked up to be a runaway.” – Sandy Evanson
• Neighborhood Canvassing: Some residents (not police) knocked on doors and searched the park for signs of Barbara, to no avail.

5. Contradictory Accounts: The Last Dinner and the Mysterious Boyfriend

• Discrepancy Over Dinner: Reports conflict on whether Barbara’s mother was present at dinner with Barbara and her boyfriend the night she disappeared.
  • [35:41] “If the police have other information, meaning according to them, the third person was not Barbara’s mother, then wouldn’t you think that after the article came out... they would reach out to the reporter with a correction...?” – James Woolner
• Family Left in the Dark: Siblings Kent and Kathy Cotton were unaware their mother might have been at the dinner.
  • [37:21] “Yeah, See, I had no idea. Up until last year, it was, I believe, that my mom had, I guess, supper, dinner, supper with Barb and her boyfriend.” – Kathy (Barbara’s sister)

6. Remembrance & Regret

• Sandy’s Guilt: Sandy expresses regret that she and others didn’t push harder with police at the time.
  • [41:13] “I miss her. I’m sorry that I didn’t do more back then, that I didn’t call the police department... I feel guilty that we didn’t do enough early on and I feel terrible that this happened to her...” – Sandy Evanson
• Enduring Hope: In 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reignited interest in the case, prompting renewed efforts to reach out to potential witnesses.

7. The Broader Impact

• Small Town Vulnerabilities: The episode exposes how perceptions of safety and trust in authority can lead to investigative failures with lasting consequences.
• Seeking Community Help: There’s a call to action for listeners who may have memories related to that night.
  • [40:08] “Maybe that’ll spark a memory of somebody that worked at Cakes and Cones... or those kinds of things, and maybe that’ll spark a memory...” – Sandy Evanson

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Investigation Failures:
  • [13:04] “So are you telling me that law enforcement never interviewed you back then... Never.” – James Woolner & Sandy Evanson
• On Barbara’s Character:
  • [23:08] “She was a very great and loyal friend... she was very beautiful, always from the time she was little till she just got more beautiful as she got older...” – Sandy Evanson
• On the Runaway Narrative:
  • [28:47] “And then after that, they think she’s run away with that guy she was seeing... And I do believe two times... they went and searched his motel room but never found any sign of her.” – Sandy Evanson
• On Regret and Loss:
  • [41:13] “I miss her. I’m sorry that I didn’t do more back then... that this happened to her and that she should have had the chance to live and live a good life and have kids and get married and, and then we’d all be hanging out together now instead of doing a podcast about her.” – Sandy Evanson

Important Timestamps

• [02:52] Beginning of "Dakota Spotlight" segment – Introduction to the case
• [06:42] Sandy describes the skating rink and local teen scene
• [09:07] Sandy’s recollection of her fear walking home alone
• [13:04] Discussion of police not interviewing Sandy or Barbara’s siblings
• [15:41] The Charlie Project summary of the disappearance
• [23:08] Sandy’s memories of Barbara’s character
• [28:47] Details about the boyfriend and issues with the runaway theory
• [33:45] Sandy’s own efforts to revive media attention in 2011
• [35:41] Analysis of confusing and conflicting dinner accounts
• [41:13] Sandy’s feelings of regret and loss
• [42:34] Recent attempt by law enforcement to reconnect with witnesses

Structure & Flow

1. Atmospheric Introduction: Anchors the story within the broader American context of the early 1980s.
2. Personal Recollections: Detailed interviews with Barbara’s childhood friend, building empathy and a sense of intimacy.
3. Fact Gathering: The host investigates police actions, community memory, and factual discrepancies—inviting the listener along for the detective work.
4. Reflection & Call to Action: The narrative drives home the lingering pain of unresolved cases and the importance of community recollection in seeking justice, ending on a note of hope for new answers.

Final Notes

With its rich sense of place and heartfelt testimony, this episode both captivates and unsettles—suggesting that the quest for justice is as much about human memory as it is about hard evidence. The investigation continues, with more to be explored in upcoming episodes.