The Prosecutors: Ep. 344 – The Disappearance of Chance Englebert, Part 1: The Last Waltz

Release Date: January 13, 2026
PodcastOne | Hosts: Brett & Alice

Episode Overview

In this episode, Brett and Alice revisit the puzzling disappearance of Chance Englebert in 2019. A well-liked young father and “cowboy” from Wyoming, Chance vanished under mysterious circumstances after a contentious weekend with his wife’s family in Nebraska. This case, long subject to rampant speculation and online conspiracy, recently saw significant developments—prompting the hosts, both prosecutors, to apply their signature logic and skepticism to the unfolding timeline. This episode covers Chance’s background, family tensions, the crucial days leading up to his disappearance, and a detailed analysis of the night he vanished.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter & Setting the Stage

• (01:06–06:26) Usual playful banter between Brett and Alice, including discussions of the Chinese zodiac, serves to warm up listeners.
• The case was widely requested by listeners due to a recent break in the investigation.
• Theme Preview: This episode confronts the tension between wild internet speculation and the realities revealed by new investigative facts.
  • “Sometimes we have a case solved, and it frankly sort of makes you realize how often those wild theories turn out not to be correct.” — Brett (06:26)

2. Chance’s Background & Personality

• (10:03–14:07)
  • Born Dec. 2, 1993; raised in South Dakota.
  • Oldest of three boys, grew up on a ranch—a “true cowboy” and avid outdoorsman.
  • Talented bareback rodeo rider, later drawn to demolition derby.
  • Won a rodeo scholarship, studied welding/diesel mechanics; known for a hard work ethic and strong friendships.
  • Meets Bailey in 2017 while picking up a derby car in Nebraska; rapid romance and marriage in 2018.

“Chance’s entire life sounds like a country song.” — Alice (14:07)

3. Chance & Bailey’s Relationship

• (14:07–19:30)
  • Early happiness marred by tensions during wedding planning; birth of son Banks in April 2019.
  • Chance’s family says the marriage was loving but high-conflict. Bailey denies this.
  • Brewing Family Conflict: Notably between Chance’s mother, Dawn, and Bailey; Dawn’s attempts to “help” with counseling seen as intrusive.

“You pick the girl or guy, you end up with everybody else… Sometimes that's great and sometimes it's not so great.” — Brett (18:18)

4. Summer 2019 Stressors: Job Loss & Family Rift

• (19:30–24:25)
  • Chance loses job at coal mine amid major layoffs; quickly finds work in propane, looking forward to July 4th weekend.
  • Another fight with his mother causes Chance to cancel family hunting plans in favor of visiting Bailey’s family in Nebraska.

“Chance has a little bit of a temper…he can kind of lose it at times, and this becomes important later on.” — Brett (21:54)

5. July 6, 2019: The Day of Disappearance

Early Day / Golf Course Incident

• (26:35–31:21)
  • Chance is in a great mood in the morning; calls family, excited for new job.
  • Plays golf with Bailey’s father and brother. During the game, a comment about his new job’s pay (possibly: “at least you aren’t making minimum wage by Nebraska standards”) triggers Chance, who becomes visibly upset.

“Get the f— back in the car, we’re leaving.” — Chance, as recalled by Bailey to signal his sudden anger (28:45)

Return to Family Home & Chance Walking Off

• (31:21–32:48)

  • Bailey offers to pack so they can leave immediately, but Chance abruptly leaves on foot.
  • Bailey passes off their son to her grandmother and begins driving around looking for him; tries calling but gets no answer.

• Host Analysis: The hosts flag this as suspicious—why didn’t Bailey catch up to Chance or why wasn’t he interested in coming back home, especially since she was acquiescing to his wishes at this point? (Discussion: 32:48–36:38)

Flurry of Calls Seeking Help

• (32:48–41:27)
  • At 7:23 PM, Chance calls best friend Matt asking for a ride to Torrington, WY (35 miles away); Matt is unavailable due to drinking.
  • Chance tells Bailey he’s walking toward Kimball, NE (which is actually in the opposite direction—possible misdirection).
  • Family friend Matt, Chance’s mom Dawn, an aunt, and others coordinate to try to get someone to pick Chance up. Aunt Katie texts Chance but gets no reply.

“He is definitely walking north and he’s definitely telling her he’s walking south.” — Brett (41:27)

6. Timeline Analysis & Surveillance Footage

• (46:35–50:50)
  • 7:51 PM: Chance is captured by surveillance walking northbound in Tarrytown, NE, contradicting what he’d told Bailey.
  • He looks at his phone, then turns northwest toward Torrington. His gait is normal; does not appear intoxicated.
  • Hosts analyze how the phone’s GPS and his unwillingness to let Bailey pick him up reflect a clear desire for distance—likely frustration directed at Bailey as much as her family.

“He clearly knows where he’s going. There’s not…he didn’t get confused.” — Brett (47:38)

7. Storm Hits & Last Known Contacts

• (50:50–56:38)
  • 8:30 PM: Bailey calls Chance’s dad to say not to worry, family will search.
  • 8:46 PM: Last known contact from Chance (unclear who received it).
  • 9:00 PM: Massive Nebraska storm forces Bailey’s family to retreat indoors, assuming Chance will return.
  • 9:08 PM: Chance’s Aunt Katie receives two strange texts—a “neutral face” emoji and a garbled string of letters (“IBDESERALLYG”). Hosts theorize this could be water-damaged phone behavior during the storm.
  • 10:00 PM: Ring doorbell camera picks up Chance walking west on Stable Club Road—the last sighting.

“He just walked through like a torrential summer Midwestern downpour for 45 minutes and he’s still going.” — Alice (56:38)

8. Behavioral & Family Dynamics Analysis

• (56:38–58:19)
  • The hosts emphasize that Chance's stubbornness and anger were well-known in his circle: “People just sort of know when he’s angry, he’s not going to listen.”
  • His willingness to keep walking in a storm reflected frustration and the unlikelihood he’d accept rides or turn back.

9. Upcoming in Part 2

• Preview of next episode, acknowledging online suspicions toward Bailey and promises to cover post-disappearance developments and the new lead or break in the case.

“Maybe some of the things and the assumptions that we had...weren’t as accurate as they appeared to be before we had more information.” — Brett (58:19)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On analyzing family perceptions post-disappearance:

  “Everyone is always looking back through the lens of later events and that colors their interpretation of what happened before.” — Brett (16:11)

• On rural/rodeo culture:

  “Chance's entire life sounds like a country song, everything about it. Demolition derby. He's a bareback rider... then he, you know, meets this girl and gets married a year later…” — Alice (14:07)

• On the practicalities of true crime:

  “People make the worst decisions under the influence of either (drinking or temper), or in particular, both.” — Brett (32:48)

• On the nature of family disputes:

  “You pick the girl or guy, you end up with everybody else… Sometimes that's great and sometimes it's not so great.” — Brett (18:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:06 — Start of episode; hosts introduce the case
• 06:26 — The importance of Occam's Razor vs. true crime conspiracies
• 10:03 — Chance Englebert's childhood and personality
• 14:07 — Romance with Bailey; wedding & family dynamics
• 19:30 — Counseling conflict between Bailey and Chance’s mother Dawn
• 24:25 — July 4th weekend, Chance’s job loss and subsequent plans
• 26:35 — July 6, 2019: Golf incident; crucial comment triggers Chance
• 31:21 — Chance leaves on foot; Bailey’s response and search efforts
• 32:48 — Phone call history; others try to reach and retrieve Chance
• 41:27 — Hosts analyze Chance’s misleading directions to Bailey
• 46:35 — Surveillance captures movement; timeline continues
• 50:50 — Storm interrupts search; possible phone malfunction texts
• 56:38 — Final sighting on ring doorbell camera
• 58:19 — Promise of next episode: aftermath, theories, and recent breakthroughs

Host Tone & Style

• Warm, conversational, with bursts of humor and tangents (e.g. Chinese zodiac, Engelbert Humperdinck).
• Analytical but empathetic—careful to separate hindsight from real-time judgment.
• Deconstruct online speculation and stress the importance of sticking to verifiable facts.

Conclusion

Part 1 closes with Chance Englebert last seen walking alone, into a Nebraska storm—angry, isolated, refusing all offers of a ride. The hosts set the stage for Part 2 by suggesting upcoming analysis of continued family suspicion, online theories, and the meaning of recent investigative developments—reminding listeners that “the obvious answer isn’t always obvious until you have the facts.”