Podcast Summary: "Your Next Listen: Who Took Misty Copsey?"

Podcast Title: Very Scary People
Host: ID
Episode: Your Next Listen: Who Took Misty Copsey?
Release Date: July 16, 2025

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Your Next Listen: Who Took Misty Copsey?" from the podcast series Very Scary People, host Donnie Wahlberg delves deep into the mysterious disappearance of 14-year-old Misty Copsey at the Washington State Fair in 1992. Over the course of the episode, Wahlberg uncovers the dark layers of the case, highlighting the intense custody battles, police mishandling, and the family's relentless pursuit of answers.

Misty Copsey's Disappearance

The episode begins with Sarah Kaelin narrating the unfortunate events of September 17, 1992:

[00:06] Sarah Kaelin: "On September 17, 1992, a 14-year-old girl named Misty Copsey went to the Washington State Fair with her best friend. By 10 pm, she had vanished into thin air, never to be seen again."

Misty and her friend Trina attended the fair in Puyallup, Washington. Their mother, Diana Smith, had reluctantly allowed them to attend without adult supervision for the first time, believing in their responsibility.

Diana Smith recounts:

[01:58] Diana Smith: "I told her, 'You better get that bus home.'... She said, 'I know, mom.'"

However, later that evening, Misty missed her bus home and contacted Diana for help.

[04:05] Diana Smith: "I told her I didn't want her to ride with him, to call grandma or somebody else and call me back... And I never heard from her again."

Despite Diana's attempts to locate Misty, including multiple phone calls and reaching out to friends, Misty was never found.

Initial Police Response and Investigation

Sarah Kaelin highlights the shortcomings of the initial police response:

[04:21] Sarah Kaelin: "Diana's shift ends early the next morning. She heads straight home, hoping that, like most days, she'll see Misty before Misty leaves for school."

When Diana filed a missing persons report, she was initially misinformed by a 911 dispatcher that Misty's case would be treated as a runaway, delaying significant investigation efforts.

[05:11] Diana Smith: "I just knew. I just knew."

Kaelin cites Cloyd Steiger, a retired Seattle homicide detective, emphasizing the lack of physical evidence in the case:

[08:56] Cloyd Steiger: "Detectives never found Misty's remains or any evidence... It's been almost 20 years since."

Diana Smith's Tireless Search

Diana tirelessly sought answers, often clashing with law enforcement:

[10:40] Diana Smith (News Clip): "She walked across the street... This was agonizing, just not knowing where she was."

Diana's relentless pursuit continued until her untimely death in 2020, after which her son, Colton Smith, took up the mantle to seek justice for his sister.

Colton Smith Takes the Torch

In January 2025, Colton Smith collaborates with private investigator Sarah Kaelin to reopen the case. Colton provides critical insights into Misty's disappearance and the family's struggles:

[14:12] Cloyd Steiger: "For years, my mom felt like people thought she was crazy."

Colton reveals that Misty had a strong, positive relationship with her mother and no apparent motives for running away, challenging the runaway theory proposed by the police.

Potential Leads and Theories

Kaelin explores various theories and potential leads, including:

1. Bus Driver's Testimony:

   The last known person to see Misty alive was a bus driver who reported seeing her asking about the next bus to Spanaway.

   [03:20] Sarah Kaelin: "To this day, that bus driver is the last known person to see Misty Copsey alive."

2. Eyewitness Accounts:

   A mysterious caller named Tammy claimed to have seen Misty looking distressed outside a 7-Eleven near the fairgrounds.

   [32:36] Sarah Kaelin: "She looked... totally distressed, like she was in trouble."

3. Family Members' Involvement:

   Misty's friend Reuben Schmidt became a person of interest, although his alibi remains shaky.

   [44:34] Colton Smith: "He was weird and he was a kind of a freakish guy too."

4. Serial Offenders in the Area:

   Kaelin discusses the prevalence of serial predators in Western Washington during the 80s and 90s, suggesting Misty could have fallen victim to one.

   [39:55] Sarah Kaelin: "It's like a dark forest full of predators..."

Police Treatment and Misclassification

A significant focus of the episode is the police's initial misclassification of Misty's disappearance:

[16:46] Cloyd Steiger: "100%. Yep."

Diana's instincts about Misty's disappearance were dismissed, and the case languished without the urgency typically accorded to missing children, exacerbating the family's grief and frustration.

Involvement of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe

An unexpected revelation in the case is Misty's heritage:

[21:12] Sarah Kaelin: "Misty, and Diana are all members of the Cowlitz Indian tribe in western Washington."

This aspect adds a layer of complexity, as cases involving Indigenous individuals have historically been overlooked. Washington State has since increased focus on missing and murdered Indigenous women, offering new avenues for investigation.

Cloyd Steiger's Insights

Cloyd Steiger provides a seasoned perspective on the case, emphasizing the critical points of failure in the initial investigation and the need for renewed efforts:

[38:58] Colton Smith: "... a friend of mine at the Attorney General's office... what's going on with Misty's case?"

Steiger underscores the importance of revisiting cold cases with fresh eyes and the challenges posed by the lack of physical evidence.

Discoveries and Additional Evidence

In February 1993, a search party discovered Misty's jeans, the only physical evidence in the case:

[45:18] Sarah Kaelin: "A pair of jeans with socks and underwear stuffed into one of the pant legs... These are Misty's."

This discovery solidified the grim reality that Misty had likely been harmed, yet no further evidence has been found.

Conclusion and Ongoing Investigation

The episode concludes with a somber reflection on the enduring pain of unresolved disappearances and the critical responsibility of investigators to honor the memories of lost individuals. Colton Smith remains hopeful that with renewed attention and dedicated effort, Misty's case can finally be solved.

[48:10] Cloyd Steiger: "The mind-blowing thing to me is that she was with a friend the night she disappeared... That's the biggest concern with the original investigation."

Host Donnie Wahlberg (through Sarah Kaelin's narration) emphasizes the importance of persistent and compassionate investigation efforts in bringing closure to families.

Notable Quotes

• Diana Smith on letting Misty go:
  [01:58] "You better get that bus home."

• Diana Smith's anguish after realizing Misty is missing:
  [05:11] "I just knew. I just knew."

• Cloyd Steiger on the lack of evidence:
  [08:56] "Detectives never found Misty's remains or any evidence... It's been almost 20 years since."

• Colton Smith on police perception of his mother:
  [14:16] "She felt like people thought she was crazy."

• Tammy's eyewitness account to Diana:
  [32:36] "She looked... totally distressed, like she was in trouble."

• Cloyd Steiger on the initial investigation concerns:
  [48:07] "Department leadership decided, whoa, we need to do something about this."

Key Takeaways

1. Investigative Failures: The initial misclassification of Misty's disappearance severely hindered the search efforts, delaying critical actions that might have led to her discovery.

2. Family's Persistence: Diana Smith's unwavering determination and Colton Smith's commitment highlight the often underappreciated role families play in seeking justice for their loved ones.

3. Potential Leads Remain Unexplored: Eyewitness accounts and suspicious individuals like Reuben Schmidt offer potential avenues that remain insufficiently investigated.

4. Impact of Misty's Heritage: Recognizing Misty's Native American heritage adds urgency and depth to the case, considering the broader issues surrounding missing Indigenous women.

5. Ongoing Hope: Despite decades passing without resolution, the episode underscores the enduring hope that fresh investigations can finally uncover the truth behind Misty's disappearance.

Produced by ARC Media for ID.
Follow the series on your preferred podcast platform and consider leaving a five-star review on Apple Podcasts to support the show.