The Prosecutors — Episode 345: The Disappearance of Chance Englebert, Part 2
Podcast: The Prosecutors
Date: January 20, 2026
Hosts: Brett & Alice
Overview:
In this episode, Alice and Brett bring closure to the mysterious 2019 disappearance of Chance Englebert, a Wyoming rodeo rider who vanished during a stormy night in Nebraska after a family dispute. The hosts methodically dissect the unfolding investigation, family tensions, myriad theories (from accident to murder to internet-fueled conspiracies), and ultimately, the recent confirmation of what really happened. This episode powerfully underscores truth, rumor, and the lasting damage wrought by rampant speculation.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Recap of Events Leading to Disappearance
- Chance visits in-laws in Gering, Nebraska for a demolition derby.
- Disagreement with in-laws about job and money; stormed off upset on July 6, 2019, attempting to walk back to Wyoming.
- Series of phone calls, texts, and declining weather—culminating in a violent thunderstorm.
- Last seen on video around 10:00 pm; by the morning of July 7th, he was missing.
Brett (03:51):
“He got in the demolition derby and it took him to Nebraska and he fell in love... he was down there visiting the in-laws, had a little bit of a disagreement, seems like got angry, took a walk... a storm comes. He’s caught in the storm. It seems like his phone, either something happens to it or it just stops pinging... caught about 10 pm... no one sees him anymore.”
2. Initial Police Response & Search Efforts
- Police were initially dismissive—assuming Chance had left to cool off ("very reasonable response": Brett, 07:01).
- After family insisted this was out of character, a massive search was launched.
- Search scale:
- 150 volunteers, 18 agencies (local, state, federal).
- 2,400 acres searched; air/ground/canine searches, 10 lakes and ponds, and the canal was drained (08:01).
- No trace found despite exhaustive efforts.
Alice (07:56):
“I can’t even imagine the logistical nightmare that is... They even brought in cadaver dogs and helicopters... The central Gering Canal was drained... but despite all these efforts...there was no sign of Chance.”
3. Bailey’s Behavior Post-Disappearance
- Bailey (Chance’s wife) tried to obtain a death certificate just three days after he went missing, citing the need for his insurance to provide for their son.
- This rapid move, combined with other decisions (telling new job not to hold the position, hiring a lawyer, not speaking to press), fueled rumors and online suspicion.
Brett (09:22):
“She wants to have him declared dead three days after he disappeared... three days is fast. I mean, that is fast... But it’s also pretty rational...If he didn’t come back, he’s probably dead.”
4. False Sightings and the Weight of Tips
- Multiple reported sightings in Wyoming, including a Walmart and along I-25, never confirmed.
- Police thoroughly checked leads (e.g., 6 hours of Walmart video: 15:46), draining time and resources.
- The hosts discuss how “armchair detective” culture creates endless false leads.
Alice (14:31):
“There are so many more false sightings than there are real ones. So we’ll see more about the timeline...”
Brett (15:46):
“Every time you have to follow up a tip... the amount of time that is lost is massive... but they have to make these kind of decisions and use their time as wisely as they can.”
5. Theories About What Happened
a. Died from Exposure in the Storm
- Alice (19:49):
“Very likely theory is that Chance died in that storm... heavy rains, thunder, lightning, high winds... the river near where Chance was seen walking rose 8 inches... possible that Chance could have died in the elements, slipped, hit his head...”- Family doubted this, seeing him as too skilled and hardy ("an avid outdoorsman").
b. Victim of Foul Play or Robbery
- Brett (24:21):
“Maybe this was a robbery gone wrong... But as is so often in these cases, this is complete speculation. There’s no evidence...”
c. Ran Off to Start a New Life
- Considered highly unlikely given Chance’s lack of resources, new job, baby, and emotional ties.
- Alice (26:11):
“How was he going to basically start a new life without money? ...You need resources, and it doesn’t seem he had any...”
d. Family Involvement and Conspiracy
- Alice (26:11–28:59): Discusses suspicious optics around Bailey, family disputes, and internet speculation.
- No evidence found; police state Bailey and family fully cooperated.
e. Anonymous Online Confession/Conspiracy
- A Reddit post, cross-posted on a Facebook page, blamed named individuals and speculated Chance was murdered and hidden in a septic manhole, with the sheriff covering it up.
- Alice (33:39, sarcastic):
“I think we all know what happened. Reddit was right. Reddit was right. 100% certainty Reddit was right. Adric did it. ...Do you know who was in the bottom of that manhole? Not Chance.” - These rumors were definitively false.
6. Closing the Case: Discovery of Remains & Final Answers
Discovery and Conclusion
- October 10, 2025: Human remains found at Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska, only about a mile from his last known location.
- Personal effects identified as belonging to Chance.
- Cause of death: Accidental fall (pattern of blunt force trauma consistent with rapid deceleration).
- Police conclusion: No evidence of foul play; death was an accident; no involvement by family or others.
Brett (39:30):
“On October 10, 2025, hikers discovered human remains... several items located near the remains the family identified as belonging to Chance. On November 25, 2025, police identified the victim as Chance Engelbert via dental records and DNA... cause of death listed as pattern of blunt force trauma, most consistent with a rapid deceleration event, including... a fall from a height... police confirmed no evidence to suggest that his death was anything but accidental... only about a mile away from where he was last located.”
Lessons About Search and Speculation
- Searches, even with massive resources, can miss bodies remarkably close by—a sobering fact in many cold cases.
- Online rumors, conspiracy theories, and public scapegoating cause lasting harm to real people.
Alice (45:40):
“There are lying, lying, lying, lying liars online all the time... not even a game of telephone. They do it at the cost and the detriment of real life people and of the actual investigation... it deters resources to complete just nonsense.”
Brett (47:15):
“I think some people have a really hard time accepting that someone would do that... but they do it all the time.”
Impact on the Family
- Bailey (his wife) endured years of suspicion and internet vitriol.
- Alice (43:48):
“When you are looking at this timeline, you’re picking out all the suspicious activity and making this into a mystery or pointing fingers at someone who really is a victim herself... what a position to be in... then to have the world point their fingers at you for being the one to blame is devastating.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On police initial response:
“Of all the cases we’ve ever seen, this is the one where that reaction is the most reasonable—he’s a grown man, you obviously were in a fight. ... Is this really something that we should be putting our resources toward?”
— Brett (06:23) -
On rumors and the internet:
“There are lying, lying, lying, lying liars online all the time who are lying for the purpose of lying.”
— Alice (45:40) -
On the actual answer:
“We would have said he succumbed to the elements ...and he probably slipped off a cliff. That’s probably where we would have ended up six months ago. ...It was the elements.”
— Brett (35:50) -
On the tragedy’s pointlessness:
“What an absolute waste for just the dumbest reason... it wasn’t even a murder... there wasn’t even any reason behind it.”
— Brett (54:46)
Key Segment Timestamps
- 03:51 — Recap of the last episode, events leading to Chance’s disappearance
- 07:56 — Launch of massive search, scale and agencies involved
- 09:22 — Discussion of Bailey’s request for a death certificate
- 12:33/13:23 — False sightings: I-25 hitchhiker & Walmart video search
- 19:49 — Theories: accidental death due to the storm
- 24:21 — Robbery, foul play, “start a new life” theory
- 26:11 — Speculation around family involvement
- 29:33 — Theory that Chance was murdered by strangers or picked up hitchhiking
- 30:18 — Internet rumors and Reddit confession debunked
- 39:30 — Discovery of remains, authorities’ final report
- 43:48 — Reflection on blame toward Bailey, impact on the family
- 45:40 — Closing commentary on online lies and harm
- 53:17–56:06 — Analysis: Chance likely lost, angry, made poor decisions in the storm
- 54:46 — “What an absolute waste”—the tragedy in perspective
- 57:28 — Listener Q&A: “Is this like Maura Murray?” “How do guilty people live with themselves?”
Conclusions & Lessons
- Even the biggest, most coordinated searches miss people who are often very close to where they vanished.
- Circumstantial “red flags” (e.g., Bailey’s actions) often reflect desperation and rationality in crisis, not guilt.
- Online speculation and amateur sleuthing without evidence derails real investigations and destroys lives.
- In true crime, the simplest explanation—“Occam’s razor”—often fits: Chance Engelbert died by accident, after a series of ordinary terrible decisions and tragic circumstances.
- Brett (56:06): “If he just told his wife where he really was and said, hey, I’m sorry, I’m gonna stop here in town. It’s raining, so I’m getting under some cover... so I don’t know, y’all need to be less angry, I guess this one, one thing.”
Final Takeaways
- Genuine closure is possible, but too often the truth is overshadowed by rumors and suspicion.
- Kindness, critical thinking, and skepticism are deeply needed in the true crime world—for everyone’s sake.
If you missed either part of this case, this episode gives not just the factual resolution, but a masterclass in parsing rumor from reality and the human cost when real people become objects of mystery.