True Crime Garage: "Dark Side of the Mountain /// Part 1 /// 882"

Release Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Nic and the Captain

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Nic and the Captain dive deep into the eerie and intertwined mysteries of two disappearances from the tiny mountain town of Silver Plume, Colorado. The episode sets the stage for “the Dark Side of the Mountain” saga, beginning with the 1987 disappearance of Tom Young and his faithful dog, and followed by the vanishing of sportswriter Keith Reinhard just months later—while he was investigating Young's case and occupying his old shop. With setting detail, local histories, and extensive character backgrounds, this episode weaves together themes of isolation, local lore, the pull of the Rockies, and the chilling coincidences that still baffle Silver Plume’s close-knit community.

Setting the Stage: About Silver Plume, Colorado

Timestamp: 05:51–12:21

• Description:
  Silver Plume is described as an “old mining town located in Clear Creek county...central western part of Colorado...currently home to about 200 full time residents living in the shadow of the mountains.”

• Atmosphere:
  Picturesque but eerie—“the mountainside at Silver Plume...very interesting looking place. I've never been there before, only 200 full time residents. So this is a very unique place to live and visit.”

• History & Lore:
  A history riddled with disasters and strange deaths, including the legend of Clifford Griffin, a miner said to have committed suicide in 1887, who is still memorialized above the town.

  “Silver Plume is often described as a living ghost town.” —Nic (06:50)

• Unique Environmental Quirks:

  • “Silver Plume sits draped in shadows...north side sometimes experiences less than two and a half hours of direct sunlight a day. The south side is sunless for about six weeks of the year.” (08:08)

Key Individuals

Keith Reinhard

Timestamp: 12:21–20:12

• Background:

  • Born 1938, Chicago area; military service; decades-long sportswriter for the Daily Herald.
  • Loved Silver Plume, having visited for 12 consecutive years (16:09).
  • Approaching 50, feeling the “first stirrings of what some would call a midlife crisis”—took a three-month sabbatical to recharge, write a novel, get in shape, and possibly relocate with his wife, Carolyn.

• Personal Connections:
  Lifelong friendship with Silver Plume local Ted Parker, a well-known fixture running the KP Café.

• Quotable:

  “It's not uncommon for folks, when they start to get up there in years, to want to do a little soul searching and maybe change their life in what may seem like a dramatic fashion.” —Nic (15:35)

Tom Young

Timestamp: 22:45–27:49

• Profile:
  • Quiet, private, artistic; former high school art teacher and a U.S. Special Forces veteran.
  • Moved to Silver Plume in 1969, became known for running the Charing Cross Station Bookstore.
  • Constant companion: his black lab, Gus.

  “This deer dog that...You can't even call this a dog because it's more of Tom's companion. The two went everywhere together.” —Nic (24:14)

The First Mystery: Tom Young Disappears

Timestamp: 27:49–33:48

• Event:
  • Sept 7, 1987: Tom Young, 47, locks up his bookstore with Gus and disappears into the mountains.
  • Initially shrugged off as a possible vacation to Europe, but he left no evidence—no ticket, vehicle left at home, and dog Gus wasn’t kenneled.
  • After weeks with no contact, missing persons report filed; nothing turns up.

Intertwining of Fates: Keith Reinhard Follows

Timestamp: 33:48–38:07

• Coincidence:
  • Months later, Reinhard arrives in Silver Plume—taking up residence in the same apartment, leasing the same shop space as Tom Young, who’s still missing.
  • Reinhard becomes fascinated, then “obsessed” with Young’s disappearance, seeing a “kindred spirit” and deciding to make Young’s story the inspiration for his novel, blending fact and fiction.

“He was kind of walking in this man's footsteps a bit, working in this Same space right. With my antique store. People of Silver Plume say he became obsessed with Tom Young's story...” —Nic (35:57)

Tom Young’s Fate Revealed

Timestamp: 42:08–46:07

• Discovery:

  • Six weeks after Reinhard’s arrival, more than 10 months after Young vanished, hunters find Tom Young’s skeleton, propped against a tree, with Gus’s remains nearby on Mount Sherman (about an hour’s hike from town).
  • Evidence: Both died of a gunshot wound to the head; nearby—Young’s recently purchased Smith & Wesson Model 36, and a backpack.

• Official Ruling and Community Doubts:

  • Authorities rule it a suicide; local autopsy concurs.
  • Townsfolk are suspicious: would Young really kill his beloved Gus? Wild rumors abound about a tarp possibly covering the bodies.

“Most reports state that no ballistics were ever performed on the bullets that killed each. Now, locals, however, were not so certain that Tom died by his own hand. Their belief, they couldn't fathom the idea that Tom would ever hurt his loyal companion, Gus.” —Nic (43:10)

• Mystery of the Tarp:
  Disparate reports—some say both dog and man under a tarp, others only Young; possible narrative inflation.

“The general consensus seems to be, well, he didn't shoot himself and then hide his body under a tarp. It's also not entirely impossible that he was already under the tarp before he shot himself.” —Nic (45:10)

• Community Response:
  Locals arrange a party-like memorial for Young and Gus at the KP Building, attended by Keith Reinhard.

Keith Reinhard’s Final Days

Timestamp: 49:36–55:42

• At the Memorial Party:

  • Keith is “fully obsessed” with Young’s story; loudly proclaims he doesn’t believe it was suicide.
  • Announces intention to hike Mount Pendleton, even though he’s not a hiker and has a fear of heights.
  • Pushes for a reporter position covering the Chicago Bulls—evidence he intended to return to normal life.

• August 7, 1988: The Disappearance

  • Reinhard closes his shop early, walks around the town saying he’s going to summit Mount Pendleton, expects to return by 10 p.m., and tells friends to call for help if he’s not back.
  • Ted Parker, among others, thinks he’s joking because of his lack of hiking experience and poor physical preparation.
  • Last confirmed sighting: around 4:30–5:05 p.m., at Buckley’s General Store buying a can of soda, dressed in a T-shirt, flannel shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes—no outdoor gear or provisions.

"If Keith Reinhardt did go up into the mountains that evening on August 7, 1988, regardless of where he went, he's never been seen again.” —Nic (55:25)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the town’s strange fate:

  “This is a city...that is used to its share of scares and today's story is not far from that at all.” —Nic (05:56)

• On Reinhard’s mindset:

  “Well, the term midlife crisis isn't a great term because for some people it's a...awakening.” —Gretchen (16:27)

• On the mystery’s resonance:

  “Regardless of the reporting, one thing that seems extremely consistent is authorities say suicide. The people of Silver Plume, who would have known Tom Young very well, they're all very suspicious of this ruling.” —Nic (47:39)

• On the investigation’s uncertainty:

  “The reporting is all over the shop on the finding of Tom Young...where did the first version of this tarp portion of the story go?” —Nic (44:51–46:07)

Key Timestamps

• 05:51: Silver Plume town background and lore
• 12:21: Keith Reinhard’s biography and reason for sabbatical
• 22:45: Introduction and profile of Tom Young
• 27:49: Tom Young’s disappearance
• 33:48: Reinhard arrives/gets obsessed with the case
• 42:08: Discovery of Tom Young’s and Gus’s remains
• 46:07: Community suspicion about cause of death and details about the tarp
• 49:36: Keith’s final days, memorial party, his own disappearance setup
• 55:25: Last confirmed sighting and summation of Reinhard’s fate

Episode Tone & Flow

• The hosts maintain a blend of meticulous research, conversational speculation, and dark humor, as is signature for True Crime Garage.
• Emphasis is placed on the psychological state of both subjects ("midlife crisis," "awakening," "kindred spirits") and the role of local rumor and lore in clouding facts.
• The storytelling is immersive, letting listeners feel embedded in the desolate, foreboding atmosphere of Silver Plume.

Summary: Key Takeaways

• Two men—Tom Young and Keith Reinhard—disappear from Silver Plume under remarkably similar circumstances 10 months apart. Both rented the same shop from the same local; both had substantial ties to Silver Plume.
• The mysterious deaths give rise to local suspicion, particularly due to a beloved dog’s death and bizarre details like the possible presence of a tarp.
• The episode closes with Reinhard—drawn ever deeper into the mystery he intended to fictionalize—vanishing himself without a trace, setting the stage for an even deeper investigation in Part 2.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where Nic and the Captain continue unraveling the haunting enigma of Silver Plume!

(All timestamps MM:SS are approximate based on original episode content.)