True Crime All The Time Unsolved – Episode 407: Joseph Smedley

Release Date: March 24, 2025
Hosts: Mike Ferguson and Mike "Gibby" Gibson

Episode Overview

This episode explores the mysterious death of Joseph Smedley, a 20-year-old Indiana University student whose death was ruled a suicide by drowning in 2015. Despite the official ruling, Joseph’s family—especially his sister Vivian—believes foul play may have been involved. Mike and Gibby walk listeners through Joseph’s background, the timeline of his disappearance, evidence in the case, and the many questions left unanswered, ultimately providing thoughtful speculation on the plausibility of suicide versus potential homicide or accident.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Joseph Smedley's Background [03:08 – 12:40]

• Joseph was described as an upbeat, multi-talented student from Indianapolis, known for being a jokester and excelling in academics, sports (wrestling, swimming, martial arts), music, and cooking.
• He faced family difficulties: his parents divorced, had a fractured relationship with his mother, and dealt with challenges when his father remarried. He later became an emancipated minor in high school.
• Enrolled at Indiana University in biochemistry, Joseph was popular, ambitious, and had a close relationship with his sister, Vivian.

Quote:
"Joseph has always been multi-talented…a good and responsible student…We will always love and miss him." – Joseph Smedley Sr. (as read by Mike Ferguson) [04:28]

College Life, Fraternity, and Living Situation [12:44 – 14:19]

• Joseph joined Sigma Pi fraternity, surprising his family due to the group's reputation.
• He moved off-campus with fraternity brothers and seemed optimistic about the new living situation.
• Relationship with his father was estranged at this point, but he remained close with Vivian.

The Disappearance & Strange Communications [14:19 – 19:10]

• Days before going missing, Joseph faced a $680 lease-termination fee but had plans to pay it.
• On September 28, 2015, Vivian received a cryptic 4:15 am text:
  "Viv, I love you. I'm leaving the country by not telling you why. I'm keeping you safe and protected..."
  – Joseph’s phone (via Mike Ferguson) [15:38]
• Vivian dismissed it as one of his pranks (Joseph didn’t have a passport; she thought he might be joking).
• She later tried to reach him, couldn't, and requested a welfare check.
• A handwritten note, strikingly similar to the text, was found in Joseph’s room; it was signed “Smedley,” which Vivian said was highly uncharacteristic.

Quote:
“It would be strange to see a note signed Smedley when Joseph never would have done that.” – Mike Ferguson [18:38]

Early Investigation & Timeline Issues [19:10 – 22:59]

• Police initially confused Joseph with another man in jail due to a similar name, adding to family distress.
• Police later confirmed Joseph was officially missing.
• Vivian began to suspect neither the note nor the text came from Joseph, especially given the unusual language and signature.
• Group chat records showed tension with fraternity brothers over unpaid dues, suggesting possible sources of conflict.
• No financial or travel activity suggested he’d left the country as the messages claimed.

Cell Phone Pings & Forensic Findings [22:59 – 25:58]

• Joseph’s phone pinged at three locations on September 28: 4:15 am downtown Bloomington, 30 minutes later near Griffey Lake, and at 6:30 am off State Road 37.
• Scent dogs tracked no trace of Joseph at these spots.
• Phone activity indicated he (or at least his phone) traveled by car, not on foot, despite not having a working vehicle.

Insight:
“His cell phone was in the area, but he wasn’t there. So who has his cell phone? Maybe somebody who did him harm...” – Mike Gibson [23:39]

The Discovery & Ruling of Suicide [27:01 – 32:12]

• October 2, 2015: Joseph’s body was found in Griffey Lake with binoculars around his neck; police immediately suspected no foul play.
• He was a strong swimmer, and family questioned drowning as cause.
• Autopsy revealed THC and alcohol in his system. A backpack filled with 66 pounds of rocks weighed him down.
• Official cause: Suicide by drowning.

Quote:
“Things got very strange very quickly... If you have a backpack on...I don’t know who’s going to do that...while you’re out drinking.” – Mike Gibson [32:29]

Family’s Doubts, Private Investigation & Obstacles [34:26 – 46:39]

• Vivian struggled to obtain case info from police, hindering her ability to get independent forensic evaluation.
• Second autopsy found bruising on Joseph’s back—could suggest a struggle or impact, but incomplete due to lack of police cooperation.
• Vivian and supporters questioned logistics:
  • Where would Joseph find 66 pounds of rocks at the lake?
  • Why would someone choose to drown this way—especially in water only five feet deep?
  • Why was Joseph’s phone found separately from his body?

Quote:
"It’s just going to be natural for your body to kick into that [survival] mode... I don’t know if many people are strong enough to fight that." – Mike Gibson [35:32]

Official Statement Read:
Police stated all cooperation went through Joseph’s father, not Vivian, possibly explaining communication breakdowns. [40:29–43:17]

Alternative Theories: Hazing, Accident, or Foul Play? [50:50 – 54:24]

• The fraternity’s subsequent suspension for hazing led hosts to speculate if a fraternity-related incident could have caused Joseph’s death, followed by attempts to stage a suicide.
• Questions persisted about the authenticity of the notes/texts, and whether those messages indicated an attempt to cover up.

Quote:
“Could you see some type of hazing here that went horribly wrong?...People decide they don’t want to get in trouble, and they cover it up and try to make it look like something else.” – Mike Ferguson [51:12]

Bizarre elements:

• The impersonality and language of the text/note.
• Signature “Smedley” (possibly a fraternity nickname?).
• Strong swimmer; shallow water; heavy rocks; timeline inconsistencies.
• No history of suicidal ideation; plans for future.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Does it make sense to you that somebody...would roam around in the woods in the dark, put a backpack on, pick up rocks to weigh themselves down, and then jump off into a lake that has an average depth of three feet?” – Joseph’s father [44:48]
• “Every specialist I’ve reached out to said the same thing: They don’t understand why it’s a suicide.” – Vivian (as quoted by Mike Ferguson) [45:52]
• “If the medical examiner says it’s suicide, they have nothing to look into. There’s no crime.” – Mike Gibson [47:20]
• “It is a very mysterious death...definitely some unanswered questions that deserve a little more looking into.” – Mike Ferguson [56:40]

Timeline Highlights & Timestamps

• Joseph’s Background / Family Dynamics: [03:08 – 12:40]
• Fraternity Life & Lease Issues: [12:44 – 14:19]
• Disappearance and Strange Final Text: [14:19 – 16:30]
• Discovery of Note & Investigation: [17:13 – 19:10]
• Roommate & Fraternity Tensions: [21:44 – 22:59]
• Cell Phone Activity: [22:59 – 25:58]
• Joseph’s Body Found: [27:01 – 28:17]
• Autopsy Results, Backpack of Rocks: [32:24 – 34:26]
• Family Pushback and Second Autopsy: [34:26 – 40:29]
• Official Statements & Disconnects: [40:29 – 43:17]
• Family Frustrations & Petition: [44:12 – 45:52]
• Discussion of Hazing / Cover-Up Possibility: [50:50 – 54:24]
• Final Thoughts: [56:03 – 56:44]

Tone and Style

The hosts maintain their signature blend of empathy, seriousness, and lightheartedness (often playfully ribbing one another), but treat the Smedley case and its unknowns with respect and gravity. They constantly reference the need to consider all options, expressing frustration—shared by many listeners—over the case's quick closure and lingering mysteries.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Joseph Smedley’s death remains controversial and mysterious, with strong evidence that “suicide” may not be the whole story.
• Family, especially sister Vivian, continues to fight for answers, facing bureaucratic and procedural barriers.
• Key anomalies—cryptic communications, forensic oddities, lack of plausible motive or method—suggest the need for renewed investigation or at least greater transparency.
• The Smedley case is an illustration of how ruling a death as “suicide” can effectively halt deeper inquiry, sometimes to the frustration of families and the public.

Petition for Joseph
Listeners wishing to support the family's call for further investigation can find more at the "Justice for Joseph" petition on Change.org (now with over 124,000 signatures) [54:24].

Final Host Reflection:
"It is a very mysterious death...and I hope they do [look into it further] at some point." – Mike Ferguson [56:44]