Valley of Shadows — Episode 2: An Unreasonable Act

Release Date: January 12, 2026
Produced by: Pushkin Industries
Hosts: Hayley Fox & Betsy Shepherd

Episode Overview

In this haunting episode, investigative reporters Hayley Fox and Betsy Shepherd examine the controversial disappearance of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Aujay in 1998, and the subsequent death of his police dog, Bosco. Through emotional interviews and deep dives into conflicting police reports, the episode scrutinizes the LASD’s unwavering claim that Aujay died by suicide after marital troubles, despite substantial evidence to the contrary—including signs of possible police misconduct and corruption. The question at the heart of the episode: If the department is lying about what happened to Bosco, what else might they be hiding about Aujay’s fate?

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bosco’s Fate: A Parallel Tragedy

Timestamp: 03:04 – 09:17

• Bosco’s Relationship With Aujay: The episode opens with a touching portrait of Deputy Aujay’s deep bond with his canine partner, Bosco, highlighting their central role in family life and police work.
• Conflicting Accounts of Bosco’s Death:
  • Officially, LASD reported Bosco died of natural causes after Aujay's disappearance—possibly from a "broken heart."
  • Mike Bauer, former LASD K9 captain and Aujay’s close friend, uncovers an alternate, disturbing account: that fellow deputies fatally shot Bosco and disposed of his body in a dumpster, deeming him "dangerous" without Aujay to handle him.
  • Quote [08:44]: “You would expect a police organization that had ceremonies to honor their dogs to give a shit about that issue.” — Mike Bauer
• Bauer’s Confrontation with the Department: When Bauer seeks answers, he’s urged by higher-ups to drop his concerns, told bluntly:
  • Quote [09:05]: “We all agreed that it was a suicide and you should just let it go. No, I’m not going to let it go.” — Mike Bauer relaying conversation with LASD brass

2. The Last Sighting and the Suicide Narrative

Timestamp: 09:36 – 19:15

• Last Known Encounter: Schoolteacher Dave Evanson and his students saw Aujay at Devil’s Punchbowl just before his disappearance. Evanson remembers Aujay acting upbeat and engaged, particularly with children who recognized him from community events.
  • Quotes:
    • “To me, that does not sound like someone who’s going out to the woods to take his own life.” — Narrator [11:21]
    • “He was happy. He was full of life. Happy. Having fun, talking to the kids.” — Dave Evanson [12:27]
• LASD’s Suicide Conclusion: Despite Evanson’s recollection, the LASD persists with its suicide theory, citing Aujay’s supposed marital distress and missing gun, denied public records requests by citing an "ongoing investigation."
• Bauer’s Investigation: Bauer collects internal department reports and confidential documents, contesting many claims made in official statements.

3. Dissecting the Suicide Theory

Timestamp: 14:05 – 26:38

• Marital Struggles and Counseling:
  • Debbie Ajay (Aujay’s wife) recounts their troubled relationship and a particularly gloomy counseling session the day before Jon’s disappearance. The department seizes on this to build its suicide narrative.
  • Debbie disputes the more extreme characterizations attributed to her in the suicide report, such as calling her husband "psychotic."
  • Quote: “There’s a world of difference between intense looking eyes and psychosis.” — Narrator [18:05]
• Life Plans and the ‘Goodbye’: Contrary to the department’s stance, evidence surfaces that Aujay was planning for a future, especially with his close friend and potential romantic partner Vicki DeVita.

4. Hidden Details and Contradictions

Timestamp: 22:16 – 33:11

• Aujay’s Secret Relationship:
  • Aujay’s deep bond with DeVita, an ultramarathon runner, is discussed. She reveals he was in the midst of planning a new life, giving her treasured heirlooms and expressing relief at separating from Debbie.
• Cherry-Picked Evidence: Bauer and Shepherd highlight how the LASD appeared to select only evidence that fit the suicide theory, while ignoring or de-emphasizing facts that suggested otherwise.
  • Quote: “Our main takeaway … is that the suicide theory isn’t based on hard facts. It’s based on supposed objective accounts of Jon A’s behavior … It’s a matter of interpretation.” — Mike Bauer [26:38]

5. The Missing Gun — and a Botched Investigation

Timestamp: 34:26 – 37:22

• Initial Search at the Punchbowl: First-responding deputies, including Randy Heberle, report seeing Aujay’s gun inside his locked truck—debunking the suicide method assumption. Yet, the gun is never entered into evidence nor mentioned in reports, later vanishing without a trace.
  • Quote: “There’s a couple deputies that swear there was a gun there. And yet … there’s no indication that that gun was ever booked into evidence.” — Sgt. Vince Burton [36:16]
• No Processing of the Truck: The LASD failed to process Aujay’s vehicle for evidence because, as they argued, it was not “a murder.” This, coupled with the gun’s unexplained disappearance, raises further doubts about the thoroughness and integrity of the investigation.

6. Toll on the Aujay Family

Timestamp: 41:25 – 43:50

• Aftermath for Debbie and Chloe: The emotional and financial devastation left behind: Debbie loses her home and stability; Chloe, their daughter, eventually succumbs to years of trauma, dying by suicide at 26.
  • Quote: “Your father did not abandon you. He was taken from you.” — Mike Bauer to Chloe [42:06]
• Bauer’s Motivation: Bauer’s tireless advocacy stems from witnessing these cascading losses, and his conviction that the department’s narrative and inaction directly contributed to the pain inflicted on those left behind.
  • Quote: “…the LA County Sheriff’s Department, the institution he swore allegiance to for 33 years, has told a lie so big … it’s wormed its way through time, destroying lives…” — Narrator [43:58]

7. Murder Theories, Meth Labs, and Police Rumors

Timestamp: 44:37 – 46:36

• Murder, Not Suicide? Several former colleagues, including Dave Rathbun, now lean heavily toward believing Aujay was murdered, dismissing the suicide explanation as outdated and illogical.
  • Quote: “Early on, I let the suicide theory sit at 50/50. As I’ve learned more, I’m at about 90-95% murder, 5-10% suicide.” — Dave Rathbun [44:58]
• Meth Lab Rumors: Speculation persists that Aujay may have stumbled onto local illicit activity (meth labs, outlaw bikers) and been killed as a result. The LASD’s lack of will to investigate such angles is sharply criticized.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’d have to say, how was he going to be dishonored?” — Dave Rathbun challenging the suicide narrative [27:15]
• “It's pretty dishonorable to just abandon your five-year-old daughter.” — Dave Rathbun [28:23]
• “If Jon Ajay didn’t die by suicide, what happened to him?” — Haley Fox [44:37]

Important Timestamps

• 03:04 – 09:17: The tragic fate of Bosco, Aujay’s police dog, and what it reveals.
• 11:00 – 13:00: Last sighting of Aujay by local schoolchildren and teacher Dave Evanson.
• 17:36 – 18:05: Debbie Ajay clarifies her statements, disputing the “psychotic” label ascribed to her husband.
• 23:45 – 24:45: Debbie Ajay denies Jon made suicidal threats; explores his intentions to move out.
• 34:26 – 37:22: Witnesses confirm Aujay’s gun was in his truck, undermining suicide-by-gun theory.
• 41:25 – 42:06: Bauer’s dedication to helping Chloe, Aujay’s daughter, through her trauma.
• 44:58: Dave Rathbun expresses near-total certainty Aujay was murdered.

Tone & Style

The episode mixes emotional testimony, investigative skepticism, and granular detail. The hosts’ tone is determined but empathetic, giving significant weight to the voices of those left behind and to Bauer’s quest for truth, while methodically scrutinizing the official story.

Conclusion

Episode 2 of Valley of Shadows unravels the allegedly closed case of Jon Aujay’s disappearance, revealing a web of questionable police conduct, departmental stonewalling, and the heartbreaking ripple effects on Aujay’s family. With a blend of dogged investigation and compassion, it asks: If the official story is built on shaky foundations, what really happened in Devil’s Punchbowl on June 11, 1998?

Next Episode Teaser:
The search for alternative theories about Jon Aujay’s fate continues, as the hosts pursue leads involving the Mojave meth trade, outlaw biker connections, and the possibility of a police cover-up.