Ada Haradine (3 of Clubs, Indiana) - The Deck

Summary4 min read

The Deck: Ada Haradine (3 of Clubs, Indiana) - Episode Summary

Podcast Information:

Title: The Deck
Host/Author: audiochuck
Episode: Ada Haradine (3 of Clubs, Indiana)
Release Date: October 4, 2024

Introduction

In this gripping episode of The Deck, host audiochuck delves into the mysterious disappearance of Ada Haradine, a seemingly unassuming woman from Elkhart, Indiana. Through interviews with neighbors, family members, and investigators, the episode unpacks the eerie circumstances surrounding Ada’s vanishing and the subsequent quest for answers that remains unresolved to this day.

Background: A Quiet Life Interrupted

Ada Haradine was described by those who knew her as a quiet woman living a peaceful life in a serene neighborhood. A neighbor recalls, “Lived a quiet life in a quiet neighborhood with her family” (00:05). This tranquility was abruptly shattered on May Day in 1985.

The Disappearance: A Day Without Answers

On a warm May day, Ada’s life took a tragic turn. At 3:10 PM, as shared by Ada's family member, “she opened the mailbox and there was a ski magazine that had come” (00:41). Shortly after, by 3:20 PM, she was gone. A neighbor noted the oddness of Ada’s sudden absence: “I saw her in the backyard, I talked to her across the fence. Just seemed so out of whack” (00:57). The peaceful Elkhart neighborhood, known for its high property values and influential residents, was unprepared for such a disappearance.

Investigation: Seeking the Unseen

The initial investigation revealed little. An investigator pointed out, “Everything was as it's supposed to be. A purse was there, all of all of those things. Nothing to indicate that there had been any sort of a crime or struggle there” (01:19). Detective insights further complicated the case. One detective reflected, “We hadn't been there too long when the main detective from the Elkhart Police Department came in immediately... they probably had an argument and she just went off someplace” (01:31), a conclusion that the team found implausible about Ada's character.

The lack of direction was palpable. As the investigator admitted, “Our problem was we didn't have any idea what had happened to her other than she wasn't there” (02:13). Days into the investigation, a neighbor disclosed, “We don't have any good suspects in this case” (02:20), highlighting the frustration and uncertainty faced by those trying to uncover the truth.

Family and Community: Grief and Hope

Ada’s family grappled with the unknown. A family member poignantly shared, “I think part of you always thinks you're gonna see her again until somebody tells you you're not” (02:50). The community, too, was left in disbelief. A neighbor expressed, “Nobody's seen anything... it was a high dollar neighborhood. A lot of influential people lived there” (00:57), emphasizing the unexpected nature of the disappearance in such a well-off area.

Discovery and Lingering Questions

Three years later, Ada's remains were discovered 10 miles away in a densely wooded area. This finding, while providing closure, only deepened the mystery. Questions about Ada’s final moments remained unresolved. An investigator mused, “The noise in the house has always bothered me... whatever happened, happened” (03:10). Another neighbor raised critical observations about the state in which Ada was found: “Her, if she had clothing, where's her belt buckle, where's the eyelets on the shoes, where's the buttons?” (03:30), suggesting that Ada may have been found without any clothing.

The investigation uncovered unsettling realities about Ada's life and hinted at potential untold stories. A family member reflected, “I always thought we were a perfect family... Nobody's perfect. No family is perfect” (03:53), indicating that beneath the surface, there may have been underlying issues.

Unresolved Mysteries and Reflections

Despite the passage of years and continued investigation efforts, Ada Haradine’s case remains unsolved. An investigator bluntly stated, “Obviously, it's still unsolved, but again, all we can do is try” (04:09). This sentiment underscores the enduring mystery and the challenges faced by those seeking answers.

However, skepticism about the investigation's efficacy was voiced by a skeptic: “Well, I think it's wasted effort. Not ever” (04:16). In contrast, the host affirmed the importance of perseverance: “In my experience, digging in and asking questions has never been a wasted effort” (04:21).

Conclusion: A Call for Justice

The episode concludes by emphasizing the ongoing commitment to uncovering the truth behind Ada Haradine’s disappearance. Despite the lack of resolution, the collective efforts of investigators, family, and the community continue to strive for justice. Ada’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the unresolved cases that still linger, hoping that someone out there may hold the key to finally bringing her peace.

Stay Tuned: Season two of The Deck Investigates promises to delve deeper into other cold cases. Follow the show to ensure you don’t miss new episodes released every Friday.

Timecode References:

00:05: Witness/Neighbor about Ada’s quiet life
00:41: Ada’s family member describes the morning of her disappearance
00:57: Neighbor discusses the day Ada went missing
01:19: Investigator on the initial crime scene
01:31: Detective’s first impressions
02:13: Investigator on the lack of direction in the case
02:20: Neighbor on lack of suspects
02:50: Family member on receiving news of Ada’s remains
03:10: Investigator on lingering questions
03:30: Neighbor on the state Ada was found in
03:53: Family member reflects on family dynamics
04:09: Investigator on the case remaining unsolved
04:16: Skeptic’s viewpoint
04:21: Narrator’s response to skepticism
04:26: Host’s closing remarks

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting the emotional depth, investigative challenges, and enduring mystery surrounding Ada Haradine’s disappearance. Through firsthand accounts and expert insights, The Deck paints a vivid picture of a case that continues to haunt those connected to it.

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Transcript33 lines

[00:02]
Narrator
Ada Herodine was a quiet woman who.
[00:05]
Witness/Neighbor
Lived a quiet life in a quiet neighborhood with her family.
[00:10]
Narrator
It was the kind of neighborhood that.
[00:11]
Witness/Neighbor
Lulls you into believing it's immune to evil.
[00:15]
Narrator
Yes, a mother six months before and 50 miles away in Argus, Indiana, had been attacked in her home in front of her girls and taken away by a crazed killer still on the loose at the time. But if that news even reached Ada.
[00:28]
Witness/Neighbor
In Elkhart, Indiana, it surely felt a long way off. As she worked outside in the yard.
[00:33]
Narrator
One warm May Day in 1985, a.
[00:37]
Witness/Neighbor
Next door neighbor waved to Ada.
[00:39]
Narrator
Another passed her on his afternoon walk.
[00:41]
Ada's Family Member
At 3:10, she opened the mailbox and there was a ski magazine that had come. As I'm pulling out, backing out of the driveway, she holds up the ski magazine like, you know, Summer's coming.
[00:54]
Witness/Neighbor
By 3:20, Ada was gone.
[00:58]
Neighbor
Nobody's seen anything. And there were people out that day. Everybody says, oh yeah, it was a nice day, really warm, and we were out. I seen her in the backyard, I talked to her across the fence. Just seemed so out of whack. I mean, that's not the type of neighborhood where you get abductions. It was a high dollar neighborhood. A lot of influential people lived there.
[01:20]
Investigator
Everything was as it's supposed to be. A purse was there, all of all of those things. Nothing to indicate that there had been any sort of a crime or struggle there.
[01:31]
Detective
We hadn't been there too long when the main detective from the Elkhart Police Department came in immediately, his reaction was not one of concern particularly. He said, oh, they probably had an argument and she just went off someplace. And all four of us said, no, that's not Ada. She's not like that.
[01:57]
Investigator
Our problem was we didn't have any idea what had happened to her other than she wasn't there. As the. As people were interviewed, we realized that we didn't know anything. It's hard to have a direction when you're directionless.
[02:13]
Neighbor
They basically told us a few days into it, we don't have any good suspects in this case.
[02:21]
Detective
I think we kind of resolved ourselves to the fact that it happened. And I just prayed and prayed and prayed that somebody would find her body.
[02:33]
Witness/Neighbor
It took three years, but some 10 miles away in a densely wooded area, someone did eventually find Ada.
[02:42]
Ada's Family Member
My dad said, we've got some news about your mom. I need to talk to you about it. And he said, they found your mom's remains. And it floored me.
[02:51]
I think part of you always thinks you're gonna see her again until somebody tells you you're not.
[02:58]
Witness/Neighbor
The mystery of where Ada had been was finally solved. But finding her only compounded the questions. Questions about what happened the last day she was seen.
[03:11]
Investigator
The noise in the house has always bothered me, and I always thought it was somebody in there. And they got caught and they couldn't get out, so they had to sit up there and wait. And then whatever happened, happened.
[03:26]
Witness/Neighbor
Questions about how Ada ended up, where she was in the condition they found.
[03:30]
Neighbor
Her, if she had clothing, where's her belt buckle, where's the eyelets on the shoes, where's the buttons? None of that stuff shows up, so you gotta assume she's probably naked at that spot.
[03:47]
Witness/Neighbor
And questions about what was really happening in Ada's life before someone took it.
[03:54]
Ada's Family Member
I always thought we were a perfect family. And, you know, they owe, they get. Nobody's perfect. No family is perfect.
[04:00]
Witness/Neighbor
The facts are strange.
[04:02]
Investigator
This case is full of weird stuff.
[04:06]
Witness/Neighbor
The players even stranger.
[04:10]
Investigator
Obviously, it's still unsolved, but again, all we can do is try.
[04:16]
Skeptic
Well, I think it's wasted effort. Not ever.
[04:21]
Narrator
In my experience, digging in and asking questions has never been a wasted effort.
[04:27]
Witness/Neighbor
And it certainly wasn't in the case of Ada Harada. Season two of the Deck Investigates is coming soon. Follow the show so you don't miss new episodes on Friday, October 4th. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.