True Crime Obsessed – Episode 482: “The Secrets We Bury”

Release Date: January 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this riveting recap, Jenny Mandavalli and Patrick Hines bring their signature humor, empathy, and sharp analysis to HBO Max's "The Secrets We Bury," a true crime documentary centered on Mike Carroll and the decades-long mystery of his missing father, George Carroll. Through interviews, home videos, and personal anecdotes, the story uncovers intergenerational trauma, family secrets, possible murder, and the lengths to which family members go to protect—or avoid—the truth. The hosts dive deep into the psychological and emotional fallout of the case, the complicated family dynamics, and the haunting discovery that finally brings some answers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet the Carrol Family and The Long Island Mystery

• Mike Carroll:
  • Has lived in the same Lake Grove, Long Island house for 63 years ([03:39]).
  • Self-identifies as a "QAnon patriot" and “collector” (hoarder) ([03:53]), but is oddly likable and deeply honest about his flaws and traumas ([04:13]).
  • The house is dubbed “the main character” given its central role in the family’s story ([06:34]).
• Family Trauma & The Disappearance:
  • The children were told their father “went out for cigarettes and never came back,” a trope that papered over decades of questions and pain ([10:02]).
  • No police report was ever filed; George’s car and wallet were left behind, and his last paycheck was never picked up ([18:34]).
  • Patrick: “That is crazy.” ([18:33])

2. Childhood, Abuse, and Hoarding as a Coping Mechanism

• Household Dynamics:
  • After George Carroll’s disappearance, mother Dorothy quickly remarried Richard Darris, who the siblings describe as deeply abusive ([12:58]).
  • Mike describes growing up wishing daily for his father to return, while being told by his mother not to speak of him ([13:39]).
  • The toxic atmosphere leads to trauma manifesting as hoarding for Mike after Dorothy’s death ([27:53]).
  • Jenny: “When the hoarding starts… he starts holding onto things.” ([27:51], [28:09])
• Sibling Relationships:
  • Differences in memory and experience, especially between Mike and eldest sister Jean, create ongoing complexities ([09:52]).

3. The Chain of Secrets and Suspicion

• Fragmented Family Ties:
  • Over time, the siblings discover holes in their family’s narrative, like the lack of a missing person’s report ([18:21]).
  • Dorothy’s word is considered gospel, and the kids struggle with questioning her authority and intentions ([19:20]).
• The Grandmother Next Door:
  • Mike learns his estranged grandmother lived on his paper route all along, never acknowledging him ([17:13]), increasing the sense of betrayal.
  • Mike: “My grandmother was there. She never said hello to me.” ([17:09])

4. Digging Into The Past (Literally and Metaphorically)

• The Psychic Revelation:
  • Jean and Mike consult psychic Reverend Angela Heil in 2010. Though initially skeptical, Mike finds the reading eerily accurate, especially when directed to “the basement, to the left, in the back by the target”—a former shooting range—where his father might be buried ([39:56]).
  • Jenny: “We’re gonna meet a psychic who knows real shit.” ([31:18])
• Initial Failed Search:
  • Mike spends over a year digging, alone, in the basement to no avail ([47:08]).
  • His emotional and physical decline—marked by hoarding and a stroke—leads his sons to rally the family, use ground-penetrating radar, and restart the dig ([49:23]).

5. Shocking Discovery & Police Response

• Unearthing the Truth:
  • After months of digging, Chris discovers a human pelvis behind a cinder block wall eight feet underground—the remains of George Carroll ([52:45]).
  • The family delays calling police to gather everyone, and initially, the police suspect a Halloween prank ([53:48]).
  • Mike (to police): “I was one and a half years old. I didn’t do it.” ([55:36])

6. Aftermath and Unanswered Questions

• Official Inaction:
  • The cause of death: blunt force trauma to the head. The police close the case, citing its age ([56:23]).
  • Hosts criticize both the original lack of investigation and modern law enforcement's shrugging off such a grave discovery ([56:49]).
• Theories & The Family’s Divide:
  • Richie (half-brother, son of Richard Darris): insists it could be a tragic accident ([57:37]).
  • Others suspect a cover-up: either Dorothy knew everything and covered it, or Richard killed George and Dorothy never knew exact details ([59:06]).
  • Jenny: “This man is a monster.” ([59:24])
• The Shadow of Sexual Abuse:
  • Pat, the “complicated” sister, is revealed to have run away at age fifteen to escape ongoing sexual abuse by Richard Darris ([61:02]).
  • Mother Dorothy is shown to have refused to believe or protect Pat, turning other siblings against her ([63:26]).
  • Jenny: “When you create a completely unsafe space for your daughter…that is evil.” ([66:25])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hoarding and Trauma:
  • Patrick: "There’s, like, a lot of abuse and trauma… hoarding is a psychological disorder. And as far as I’m concerned… so is being in QAnon." ([04:33])
• On Family Denial:
  • Jenny: “They don’t really talk about this enough in the documentary, but the house is the main character… Mike can never leave this house. Mike will die in that house by design.” ([06:34])
• On the Psychic Experience:
  • Mike (describing the psychic’s words): "She’s like, hey, cool. So your father’s buried in the basement. That’s where he’s been this entire time." ([39:56])
• On the Discovery:
  • Jenny: "It’s the day before Halloween… the shovel hits something hard." ([52:38])
• On Police Apathy:
  • Patrick: “So they have to call [police] multiple times… these ‘keystone cops’ get there, and they’re not taking this seriously at all.” ([54:07])
• On Maternal Failure:
  • Jenny: “When you create a completely unsafe space for your daughter…that is evil. I couldn’t agree more, but I just don’t think it’s as black and white as, like, it’s just an evil woman who decided to, like, be evil to her daughter. I think there’s more to it than that.” ([66:25])
• The Eerie Ending:
  • Dorothy is shown in a family “skit night” home video, dressed as a skeleton, dancing over the grave of her husband, as the case ends with more questions than answers ([73:14]).

Important Segment Timestamps

• Family Introduction & House as Main Character — [03:39] to [07:00]
• The Disappearance of George Carroll — [08:10] to [13:48]
• Sibling Experiences and Family Myths — [09:52], [18:21], [17:09]
• Discovery of Psychic Clue — [39:56] to [40:46]
• The Dig (first failed attempt) — [47:00] to [47:54]
• Sons Lead Renewed Dig & The Shocking Find — [49:23] to [52:45]
• Police Response & Media Circus — [53:42] to [56:30]
• Theories & Family Division — [57:37], [59:06], [61:02]
• Revelation of Sexual Abuse & Sibling Fallout — [61:02] to [63:47]
• Eerie “Skit Night” Ending — [73:14] to [74:15]

Tone and Language

The hosts maintain their trademark blend of irreverence and heartfelt honesty. Humorous asides about drag bingo, “funnest night of my quarter” ([01:55]), and jokes about paper routes balance the gravity of family abuse, murder, and generational trauma. The conversation is frank, sometimes raw, but always empathetic, shining a light on uncomfortable truths.

Final Thoughts

“The Secrets We Bury” is as much about the literal search for a missing man as it is about the emotional legacies we inherit, the secrets families keep, and the cost of silence. Patrick and Jenny expertly analyze the ripple effects of denial, abuse, and trauma, questioning the boundaries of forgiveness and the possibility of closure. The episode ends on the unsettling note of a family still haunted by its ghosts—both literal and figurative.

Next Episode Teaser:
Murder in Monaco on Netflix—the hosts promise it’s a “mess,” but a juicy one.

For full context, listen to True Crime Obsessed, Episode 482: “The Secrets We Bury”