Up and Vanished: "What the Body Reveals" – Episode Summary
Release Date: May 30, 2025
Podcast Information: Up and Vanished is a true crime podcast by Tenderfoot TV, hosted by Payne Lindsey. Each season delves into mysterious cold cases, uncovering key insights and developments. In Season 4, Payne investigates the puzzling disappearances of Florence Okpealuk and Joseph Balderas in Nome, Alaska.
Episode Overview
In the episode titled "What the Body Reveals," host Payne Lindsey revisits critical aspects of the investigation into Florence Okpealuk and Joseph Balderas's disappearances. The episode primarily focuses on the analysis of a polygraph test conducted on a key suspect, John, and introduces new leads concerning Joseph's truck.
Polygraph Test Analysis
Conducting the Test
Payne begins by updating listeners on his collaboration with Mike Rooney, who has been instrumental behind the scenes. Due to Payne handling personal matters, Mike steps in to discuss the polygraph results.
"I've been helping Payne create Up and Vanish since season two... So here goes nothing." [02:15]
Expert Insights with Jessica
They consult with Jessica, a polygraph expert, to interpret John's test results. Jessica explains the nature of polygraph tests:
"Polygraph machine does not directly detect lies, but rather measures the physiological responses to questions..." [05:40]
Key Findings
Several critical questions were posed to John regarding Florence's disappearance:
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Truthfulness to Law Enforcement
- Question: "Did you tell the truth to law enforcement about everything you know regarding Florence's disappearance?"
- Answer: "No."
- Interpretation: "That showed he was telling the truth." [12:30]
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Withholding Information
- Question: "Have you withheld any information about Florence from anyone who's asked?"
- Answer: "No."
- Interpretation: "That one showed deception." [15:50]
-
Sexual Contact with Florence
- Question: "Have you ever had sexual contact with Florence Okpealuk?"
- Answer: "No." (Accompanied by significant physiological reactions)
- Interpretation: "This one was the most dominant... it showed deception." [20:10]
-
Florence's Whereabouts and Knowledge
- Questions: "Is Florence Okpealuk alive?" and "Do you know what happened to Florence?"
- Answers: "I don't know."
- Interpretation: "Both indicated deception." [24:45]
Conclusion on Polygraph Results
Jessica summarizes that, aside from the admission of not telling the full truth to law enforcement, John's responses exhibited significant signs of deception.
"Based on the federal guidelines and readings of this polygraph test, it clearly shows deception overall..." [35:20]
Payne adds his perspective:
"I believe that he felt like so much time had passed, he would easily pass a polygraph." [38:05]
New Evidence: Joseph’s Truck
Emerging Leads
Payne introduces a new tip concerning Joseph Balderas's truck. A witness claims to have seen another individual in Joseph's vehicle around the time of his disappearance.
"Someone close to her saw someone else in Joseph's truck around the time he went missing." [45:50]
Attempted Contact with Nick Gray
Payne reaches out to Nick Gray, Kimberly Pasqua's ex-husband, for more information. Initially, Nick is uncooperative, leaving Payne frustrated.
"I don't know. Okay. Are you aware of the disappearances of Florence Okpielic and Joseph Balderas?" [48:30]
Breakthrough: Conversation with Nick's Sister
Persisting despite initial resistance, Payne manages to speak with Nick's sister, who provides crucial details about the truck's movements.
"I noticed Joseph Balderas in the car... heading towards Council." [55:10]
She recalls seeing Joseph’s truck near East Fork Bridge, shortly before his disappearance.
"We took a ride towards Council... we ended up stopping at East Fork because there was a herd of muskox..." [58:45]
Investigative Challenges and Next Steps
Obstacles in Gathering Information
Payne discusses the difficulties in obtaining information from Nick Gray, who continues to deny any involvement or knowledge beyond the initial sighting.
"From my perspective, it looks like he has something to hide or he knows a particular detail." [1:05:30]
Planning Further Investigation
Determined to uncover the truth, Payne outlines his strategy to engage Nick Gray in a three-way conversation to elicit more details.
"I think that you should call him right now on three way... you're the only one who knows." [1:10:15]
Conclusion
In "What the Body Reveals," Payne Lindsey presents compelling polygraph evidence indicating deception from a key suspect and unveils new leads regarding the mysterious movements of Joseph Balderas's truck. The episode underscores the complexities of cold case investigations and Payne's unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth behind these unsettling disappearances.
Notable Quotes:
- "He knows more than he's willing to say." – Payne Lindsey [12:30]
- "This was the most dominant question regarding his reaction." – Jessica [20:10]
- "I believe that he has a problem telling the truth." – Payne Lindsey [35:20]
- "We ended up stopping at East Fork because there was a herd of muskox..." – Nick's Sister [58:45]
Follow-Up
Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned for subsequent episodes, where Payne continues to delve deeper into the case, following new leads and interviewing key individuals connected to the disappearances.
For more information and resources related to the case, refer to the show notes on the Up and Vanished podcast page.
Produced by Tenderfoot TV in association with Odyssey.