PREVIEW: A Long Wait

Summary

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Up and Vanished Weekly: PREVIEW - A Long Wait

Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Maggie Freleng, Payne Lindsey (Tenderfoot TV)
Episode Theme: Preview of the Amy Hooper Case

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Overview

This episode offers a preview of an upcoming case centered on the 1992 unsolved murder of Amy Hooper, a 20-year-old woman from Grove City, Ohio. Listeners are given a detailed walkthrough of Amy’s last known hours and the discovery of her body, setting the stage for a deep investigation into her tragic murder and the decades-long search for justice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Last Morning: March 9, 1992

• Amy’s Routine:
  At dawn, Amy Hooper arrives at her mother Joy Long’s home to return her car after borrowing it for the weekend. The mother and daughter have a brief conversation; Amy mentions an upcoming meeting at her workplace, Berman’s Leather inside Westland Mall.
  • [00:20] “The two chat while Joy does her makeup. Amy mentions a meeting she has later that morning at work… She says her goodbyes, then leaves in her sister's car.” (Narration)

The Alarm Raises

• First Concerns:
  Later that afternoon, Joy is informed by a school secretary at Harmon Elementary that Amy hadn’t shown up for her shift at work and hadn’t checked in.
  • [01:14] “Amy had not shown up for her shift and they had not heard from her. Joy tries calling Amy, but there is no answer.” (Narration)

Parents’ Search for Answers

• Immediate Response:
  Joy and Amy's father, Hollis Hooper, coordinate to visit Amy's apartment after calls go unanswered. With the help of apartment management, Hollis and a complex manager conduct a welfare check.
  • [01:36] “At first nothing seems suspicious. Then Hollis makes his way towards the stairs and ascends there.” (Narration)

The Discovery

• The Scene:
  The most emotionally-charged moment occurs when Hollis discovers Amy’s body.
  • [01:50] “On the floor of an upstairs room, he discovers the lifeless body of his daughter, Amy Hooper. She's wearing no clothing and her body shows signs of sustaining both stab wounds as well as blunt force trauma.” (Narration)

Aftermath and Investigation

• Long Search for Justice:
  The case spirals into a prolonged and unresolved investigation as Amy’s family and police begin a search for her killer—a search that would last decades.
  • [02:13] “The investigation that follows would turn into a decades-long search for justice for friends and family as police attempt to track down the person responsible for the violent murder of Amy Hooper.” (Narration)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amy and Joy’s Final Conversation:
  “The two chat while Joy does her makeup. Amy mentions a meeting she has later that morning at work…” – [00:24], Narrator

• The Discovery:
  “On the floor of an upstairs room, he discovers the lifeless body of his daughter, Amy Hooper. She's wearing no clothing and her body shows signs of sustaining both stab wounds as well as blunt force trauma.” – [01:50], Narrator

• Decades-Long Quest for Truth:
  “The investigation that follows would turn into a decades-long search for justice for friends and family…” – [02:13], Narrator

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:20–01:14] – Amy Hooper’s last morning, her routine, and her plans for the day
• [01:14–01:36] – Joy receives word of Amy’s absence and attempts contact
• [01:36–01:50] – Joy and Hollis’s decision to visit Amy’s apartment
• [01:50–02:13] – Discovery of Amy’s body and initial details of the crime scene
• [02:13–02:30] – The case becomes a decades-long mystery

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Tone & Storytelling Style

• The narration is somber, methodical, and objective as it details a family’s ordinary morning that turns tragic.
• Maggie’s tone is compassionate yet driven, offering listeners a sense of urgency and empathy for the victim and her family.

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Conclusion

This preview sets a gripping and emotional stage for the full episode on Amy Hooper’s unsolved murder. The concise storytelling and focus on personal, emotional details emphasize the complexity and heartbreak behind every case Up and Vanished Weekly explores. Listeners are left anticipating a deeper dive into the investigation, its challenges, and the human impact on Amy’s loved ones.

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Transcript

[A]

You're listening to a Tenderfoot TV podcast.

Hey y', all, it's Maggie. I hope you're enjoying up and Vanish weekly. Here's a sneak peek of next week's case.

[B]

It's dawn on Monday, March 9, 1992 and in Grove City, a southern suburb of Columbus, Ohio, third grade teacher Joy Long is starting her day. Around 6:30, her front door opens and in walks Joy's daughter, 20 year old Amy Hooper. She arrives to drop off Joy's car, having borrowed it over the weekend. The two chat while Joy does her makeup. Amy mentions a meeting she has later that morning at work. Berman's Leather, located inside nearby Westland Mall. She says her goodbyes, then leaves in her sister's car, which she planned to use that day. Later that afternoon at Harmon Elementary School, Joy makes her way into the office to gather her mail. Around 3:30, a school secretary informs her that Amy's work had called and left a message. Amy had not shown up for her shift and they had not heard from her. Joy tries calling Amy, but there is no answer. Concerned, she calls Amy's father, Hollis Hooper. The two agree to meet at their daughter's apartment. Upon arrival, they knock on Amy's door, but there is no answer. They then make contact with apartment management who agree to let them into the unit. While Joy waits at the office, he, Hollis and a complex manager enter the residence. At first nothing seems suspicious. Then Hollis makes his way towards the stairs and ascends there. On the floor of an upstairs room, he discovers the lifeless body of his daughter, Amy Hooper. She's wearing no clothing and her body shows signs of sustaining both stab wounds as well as blunt force trauma. Eventually, Hollis makes his way back to the apartment office and tells Joy what he found. The investigation that follows would turn into a decades long search for justice for friends and family as police attempt to track down the person responsible for the violent murder of Amy Hooper.

[A]

If you hate waiting a week for new episodes, you can listen to the rest of this episode right now by subscribing to Tenderfoot Plus. Go to tenderfootplus.com to sign up. Sign up and get early access, an ad, free listening experience and other exclusive benefits on over 30 shows and 500 episodes. Again, that's tenderfootplus.com or click the link in our show notes.

[B]

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