PREVIEW: Terror in Atlanta - Up and Vanished Weekly

Summary

Up and Vanished Weekly: Episode Preview – "Terror in Atlanta"

Release Date: June 6, 2025
Hosts: Payne Lindsey and Maggie Freleng
Podcast: Up and Vanished Weekly by Tenderfoot TV

Overview

In the preview episode titled "Terror in Atlanta," hosts Payne Lindsey and Maggie Freleng delve into the mysterious disappearance of 10-year-old Darren Glass in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 14, 1980. This episode sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of a case that intertwines community celebration with unsettling questions about child safety and potential foul play.

Case Background

Maggie Freleng introduces the case with a personal touch, stating, “Hey y’all, it's Maggie. I hope you're enjoying Up and Vanished Weekly. Here's a sneak peek of next week's case” (00:07). She provides the foundational timeline:

Date & Location: September 14, 1980, Atlanta, Georgia.
Event: Darren Glass, aged 10, left his foster home at 2290 Memorial Drive Southeast to attend an Atlanta Braves baseball game with a local church group.
Game Outcome: The Braves narrowly defeated the Padres with a score of 4-3, leading to widespread city celebrations.

Disappearance Details

The joyous atmosphere quickly turned grim as Darren failed to return home. The narrator outlines the conflicting reports surrounding Darren's disappearance:

Witness Accounts: Some witnesses reported seeing Darren exit the church bus mere blocks from his foster home after the game. In contrast, other accounts present differing sequences of events.
Foster Mother's Statement: Fannie Mae Smith, Darren’s foster mother, confirmed, “Darren came home briefly before heading back outside” (00:20). She received a mysterious phone call from someone claiming to be Darren, which abruptly ended before she could respond, after which Darren never returned or communicated again.

Investigation Efforts

Despite extensive search efforts, Darren remains missing. Maggie updates listeners on recent developments:

Neighborhood Canvassing: On the day of the preview, police conducted a canvass in Darren’s old neighborhood, distributing updated photos to hundreds of residents without success. Maggie notes, “Darren Glass wasn't found today, nor was the boy” (01:52), emphasizing the ongoing mystery.

Unanswered Questions and Suspicions

The central question haunting Darren's disappearance is whether he ran away or became another victim of the notorious Atlanta child murderer. The narrator poses this as a pivotal point of contemplation:

“Darren's disappearance raised one haunting question. Had he simply run away? Or was he yet another victim of the infamous Atlanta child murderer?” (02:07).

This query opens avenues for exploring potential connections to a broader pattern of child disappearances and possible serial offenses in the area during that time.

Potential Leads and Challenges

Further complicating the case, Darren's foster brother, Eric Carr, claims to have had phone contact with Darren as late as November 1980. However, law enforcement has been unable to verify this claim, adding another layer of uncertainty to the investigation.

Moreover, multiple reported sightings have been pursued by authorities, yet none have led to Darren's discovery, highlighting the challenges faced in resolving long-term missing person cases.

Community Impact and Legacy

The disappearance of Darren Glass remains a poignant example of how a single missing person case can resonate through a community for decades. It underscores the complexities law enforcement faces in uncovering truths amid conflicting testimonies and the enduring hope of a family yearning for answers.

Conclusion

"Terror in Atlanta" sets the stage for a gripping investigation into Darren Glass's disappearance, blending factual reporting with investigative storytelling. As Payne Lindsey and Maggie Freleng prepare to unpack this case, listeners are invited to explore the intricate web of clues, community narratives, and unanswered questions that define this enduring mystery.

Stay tuned to Up and Vanished Weekly for a comprehensive deep dive into Darren Glass's disappearance and the broader implications it holds within the realm of true crime investigations.

Timestamp References:

00:07 – Maggie introduces the episode preview.
00:20 – Narrator provides details of Darren's disappearance.
01:52 – Maggie updates on the latest search efforts.
02:07 – Narrator poses the central question of the episode.

Note: Advertisements and promotional segments were omitted to focus solely on the episode's content.

Transcript

Host (0:01)

You're listening to a Tenderfoot TV podcast.

Maggie (0:07)

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.

Narrator (0:20)

Sunday, September 14, 1980, was an unseasonably warm day in Atlanta, Georgia. 10 year old Darren Glass left his foster home, located at 2290 Memorial Drive Southeast on Atlanta's east side, to attend an Atlanta Braves baseball game with a local church group. That afternoon. The Braves edged out the Padres with a 43 victory and the city buzzed with celebration. But the joy would be short lived. Just hours later, Darren's foster mother, Fannie Mae Smith, reported him missing. Reports surrounding Darren's disappearance vary. Some witnesses claimed they saw him exit the church bus just a few blocks from his foster home after the game, while others offered conflicting accounts. Fannie Mae Smith, his foster mother, confirmed that Darren came home briefly before heading back outside. A short time later, she received an urgent phone call from someone who identified himself as Darren. Before she could respond, however, the caller abruptly hung up. Darren never returned home and she never heard from him again. Darren's foster brother, Eric Carr, later claimed that he had phone contact with Darren as late as November 1980. However, law enforcement was unable to verify this. Authorities also followed up on multiple reported sightings of Darren, but none led to his discovery.

Maggie (1:52)

And today the searches took the form of a canvas here in Darren's old neighborhood. Could be that of Darren Glass. Police have canvassed nearby neighborhoods have shown an updated picture of the boy to hundreds of people, to no avail. Darren Glass wasn't found today, nor was the boy.

Narrator (2:07)

Darren's disappearance raised one haunting question. Had he simply run away? Or was he yet another victim of the infamous Atlanta child murderer?

Maggie (2:20)

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 and get early 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.

Host (2:46)

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