It’s Halloween night… and the Darkcast Network is turning out the lights.
The shows you love have gathered ’round the mic to share haunting tales, eerie encounters, and the mysteries that still keep us awake.
Grab your blanket, pour the cider—because on the dark side of podcasts… the stories never sleep. 👻
🎧 Featuring: The Final Trace, Day by Day, Book of the Dead, Pod of Terror, Missing in the PNW, Mythical True Crime, Tragedy with a View, Rainbow Crimes, The Bell Witch, Murder in the PNW and Rogue Darkness
Episode 19: The Final Trace of Dear David - The Haunting of Adam Ellis
🕯️ Not all secrets stay buried… some crawl out of dreams.
In 2017, cartoonist Adam Ellis tweeted something that sent the internet into a frenzy:
“My apartment is being haunted by the ghost of a dead child, and he’s trying to kill me.”
What followed was a months-long digital haunting—documented in real time. Distorted photos. Cats staring at unseen forces. Footsteps in the hall. And one rule: ask him two questions, never a third.
Was it all a hoax? A viral art project?
Or… something worse?
This week, The Final Trace steps into the story that blurred the line between social media and the supernatural—and left millions wondering what was real.
Here’s Every Creepy Tweet Adam Ellis Has Posted About “Dear David” — Bustle
A full chronological archive of Adam Ellis’s tweets documenting the haunting from start to finish.
“Dear David” Writer Who Scored Film Deal Says His Ghost Story Is True (Exclusive) — The Wrap
Interview with Adam Ellis following his film deal, discussing his belief that the haunting was real.
The Unnerving Real Twitter Thread That ‘Dear David’ Is Based On — Collider
A detailed breakdown of the thread’s timeline and its adaptation into a feature film.
The Bit Too Tidy Ghost Story of “Dear David” — The Awl
A skeptical take analyzing how the thread’s structure mirrors classic horror storytelling.
Dear David (Wikipedia)
Summary of the Dear David case, its viral spread, and the later film adaptation.
🧾 Source Material – The Final Trace of Dear David
Episode 18: The Final Trace of Chaim Weiss ✨
🕯️ On Halloween night, 1986, the real horror wasn’t outside… it was in his room.
When 15-year-old yeshiva student Chaim Weiss was found dead in his dorm, the scene looked less like a crime—and more like a ritual.
No forced entry. No screams. Just a body moved with care, a window opened to the cold, and a candle burning for a soul.
Decades later, the mystery still lingers inside the walls of the school… and the silence that followed says everything.
Sources & readings:
Wikipedia – Murder of Chaim Weiss — Overview and verified timeline of the case.
Unsolved Mysteries – Chaim Weiss — Details about the ritual elements, timeline, and investigative challenges.
LI Herald – Nassau County Police Reopens Chaim Weiss Case — Coverage on renewed police efforts and family appeals.
CBS News – Nassau County Police Seek Clues in Student’s 1986 Murder — Official police statements and case update.
Crime Immemorial – The Murder of Chaim Weiss — Summary with crime scene and theory analysis.
Episode 17: The Final Trace of Peter Fabiano
✨ New Episode — The Final Trace of Peter Fabiano
Halloween night, 1957. A doorbell rings in Los Angeles, and Peter Fabiano answers — expecting a harmless trick-or-treater. Instead, he’s met with a gunshot.What seemed like a random holiday killing soon unraveled into a tangled web of jealousy, betrayal, and a murder plot that still chills decades later.
🔪 A knock at the door.🎭 A disguise in the dark.💔 A secret that turned deadly.
Stream now — The Final Trace of Peter Fabiano.
Sources & readings:
Episode 16: The Final Trace of Annie McCann
✨ At just 16 years old, Annie McCann vanished from her safe suburban home in Virginia… only to be found dead in Baltimore days later under circumstances that defy explanation.
A missing car, a toxic substance, and a trail of unanswered questions leave her family—and investigators—wondering what really happened that Halloween weekend. Was it a runaway plan gone wrong? A chance encounter that turned fatal? Or something far darker hiding in the details?
🔗 Clickable Sources
ABC News – The Mysterious Death of Annie McCann and Her Parents’ Ongoing Fight to Prove What Happened ABC News
Mount Vernon Gazette – “Clawing Away For Information” in Mount Vernon m.mountvernongazette.com
Judiciary Senate Document – Letter to Baltimore Police Department about Annie McCann Senate Judiciary Committee
CBS News – Parents Of Va. Teen Found Dead In Baltimore Nearly A Decade Ago Fight For Answers CBS News
Episode 15: The Final Trace of Zebb Quinn
An eighteen-year-old leaves work on an ordinary night… and is never seen again. His car is found abandoned—covered in strange markings, filled with items that weren’t his. A page from a family phone line. A story that twists through lies, suspicion, and silence. 25 years later, one man confessed just enough to save himself—but the truth about what happened to Zebb Quinn is still buried.
Sources and Readings:
Owens pleads guilty to accessory-after-the-fact in Zebb Quinn case — WLOS
“A Good Kid: The 22-year Murder Mystery of Zebb Quinn” — WLOS Documentary
Episode 14: The Final Trace of Erin Valenti
Erin Valenti was a rising tech CEO when her trip to California took a terrifying turn.
Her calls grew frantic—thoughts racing, words tumbling out. She spoke of the Matrix, of simulations, of reality not being real. When police reached her, she laughed it off—said she was “just joking around.” Days later, she was found dead in her car with no clear cause.
Did Erin glimpse behind the curtain of reality… or was it all in her mind?
🧵🔗Sources & Links
1. Business Insider — How Erin Valenti Died Remains a Mystery As Family …
2. KSL.com — Family doubts Utah CEO went ‘voluntarily missing’ in San Jose
Episode 13: The Final Trace of Scott Ratigan
On a cold January afternoon in 2020, 24-year-old Scott Ratigan was found dead in his Arlington, Virginia apartment. There were no signs of forced entry. No known enemies. Just a quiet room, a few drops of blood… and the unmistakable smell of bleach.
Surveillance footage released a year later shows a shadowy figure in black leaving the scene — face covered, walk distinctive, and backpack logo taped over. A person of interest, but still unnamed. Still free.
Was this a random killing? A jealous rage? Or something far more calculated?
This is one of the most baffling and eerie cases we’ve ever covered — one that still has more questions than answers. And maybe… just maybe… you’ll see something others missed.
The Final Trace of Scott Ratigan — streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.
🔗 Want to see the building layout for yourself?
Check out this detailed walk-through on YouTube:
🎥 Scott Ratigan Case – AVA Ballston Building Access Route
This video shows just how easily someone could’ve entered Scott’s building, bypassed security, and exited unseen — exactly the kind of path investigators believe the killer may have taken.
⸻
🔗 Official Sources & News Coverage
• Arlington County Police Department – Reward Announcement
Details on the $50,000 reward offered by the Ratigan family for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Arlington County Police Department - Facebook
• Arlington County Police Department – Press Release
Official statement seeking public assistance in the ongoing investigation.
Police Continue to Seek Information in Ballston Homicide
• ARLnow – Five-Year Anniversary Coverage
Comprehensive article discussing the case’s status five years later.
Five years after unsolved Ballston homicide, police renew requests for tips
• WTOP News – Reward Increase Report
Coverage on the Ratigan family’s decision to increase the reward amount.
Family of Ballston man increases reward to $50k for information that leads to arrest in his death
• Patch – Case Overview
Article summarizing the case details and ongoing investigation.
Ballston Homicide Unsolved 5 Years Later; Family Offers $50K Reward
⸻
🎥 Visual Resources
• YouTube – Building Access Walkthrough
A detailed video analysis showing how someone could navigate the AVA Ballston building, potentially mirroring the suspect’s path.
Scott Ratigan Case – AVA Ballston Building Access Route
• Arlington County Police Department – Surveillance Footage
Released footage of the person of interest in the case.
BREAKING: Police Release Surveillance Video of ‘Person of Interest’ in Ballston Murder
⸻
🧵 Community Discussions & Analysis
• Reddit – Unsolved Mysteries Thread
Community discussion exploring various theories and details about the case.
The unsolved murder of Scott Ratigan : r/UnsolvedMysteries
• Medium – True Crime Weekly Article
An in-depth article analyzing the case and its complexities.
Unsolved: Who Killed Scott Ratigan in Arlington?
Episode 12: The Final Trace of Georgia Smith
On June 30, 1999, seventy-six-year-old Georgia Smith left her son’s home in Champlin, Minnesota, driving her dark blue Mercedes to her family’s lakeside cabin in Wisconsin. She never arrived. No wreck. No goodbye call. Just silence.
Eight months later, a woman walked into a Walmart carrying a bizarre, cryptic letter that mentioned Georgia—but offered no answers. To this day, Georgia’s car, her letter, and her final moments remain a mystery.
Sources & Further Reading
• Charley Project – Georgia Ann Clock Smith
Comprehensive profile with Georgia’s personal details, timeline, and disappearance context.
Concise case summary including date, location, vehicle, and key facts.
The official federal missing-person record for Georgia Smith.
• The Deck Podcast – Georgia Smith (8 of Hearts, Minnesota)
Narrative podcast episode exploring Georgia’s disappearance, with context from her family.
• YouTube – Missing 23 Years: The Search for Georgia Ann Smith (Day 2)
Video coverage following ongoing search efforts for Georgia.
• YouTube – 23 Years Later: Search for Missing Grandma Georgia
Additional video report revisiting her case more than two decades later.
Episode Title: The Final Trace of Scott Javins
Description:
In the early hours of May 24, 2002, 20-year-old Indiana State University student Scott Javins left a party and vanished without a trace. His brand-new silver Honda Civic was nowhere to be found. For five long years, his family searched—until a single tip led divers to the Wabash River. But even after his car and body were recovered, the questions only got louder.
Was it a tragic accident? Or something far darker?
From a watch stopped at 2:33 a.m. to a haunting confession. This case leaves behind a trail of eerie clues… and a silence that still doesn’t feel like peace.
🎧 Listen now to unravel the mystery behind one of Terre Haute’s most unsettling disappearances.
Key Sources
• CBS News (October 2007) | After 5 Years, Remains of Student Found — Covers the recovery of Scott Javins’ car and remains pulled from the Wabash River.
Link: [CBS News: After 5 Years, Remains Of Student Found]
• WTHR (July 2002) | Four Arrested in Disappearance of ISU Student — Details early police arrests based on a tip.
Link: [WTHR: Four Arrested in Disappearance of ISU Student]
• WTHR (August 2016) | Informant Accused of Lying — Outlines how the woman who falsely implicated four individuals later admitted to lying, leading to dropped charges.
Link: [WTHR: Informant Accused of Lying]
• Footprints at the rivers edge https://footprintsattheriversedge.blogspot.com/2008/10/052402-scott-javins-20-terre-haute-in.html?m=1
• Indiana Daily Student (October 2007) | Missing Student — Includes a photograph of the recovery scene with state police and the overturned vehicle.
Link: [Indiana Daily Student: Missing Student]
📍 Episode Description – The Final Trace of Julie Mott
Julie Mott was only 25 when she passed away from complications of cystic fibrosis. Her funeral was held on what should have been her birthday — a final goodbye, surrounded by friends, family, and peace.
But the next morning… her casket was empty.
No forced entry. No tripped alarms. No sign of who came or went.
In this episode, we follow the chilling mystery of Julie Mott — from the sealed casket that was breached, to the $8 million lawsuit that exposed a disturbing pattern inside one of Texas’s largest funeral homes. And we uncover the haunting connection to two more women who were mishandled by the very same funeral home years later.
This isn’t just a story of grief.
It’s a story of what can happen when death isn’t the end…
but the beginning of a deeper mystery.
The Final Trace is part of DarkCastNetwork.com
📰 Articles & Reports:
1. People Magazine – “Julie Mott’s Body Stolen from Casket Following Funeral in Texas”
2. KSAT News – “Sharlotte Mott: ’We never had a chance to grieve properly’”
🔗 ksat.com
3. KSAT News – “Funeral home owner testifies in missing body trial”
🔗 ksat.com
4. Spectrum Local News – “Jury awards family of Julie Mott $8M in missing body case”
5. MySanAntonio – “Jury awards $8M to parents of woman whose body vanished from San Antonio funeral home”
6. San Antonio Express-News – “2 years after disappearance of S.A. woman’s body, no answers”
7. MySanAntonio – “Records: New developments emerge in case of Julie Mott”
8. Reddit /r/UnresolvedMysteries – Julie Mott’s remains still missing (discussion with linked sources)
9. KENS5 – “Family seeks $10M from funeral home over missing daughter’s body”
10. ABC13 Eyewitness News – “Texas family sues funeral home after daughter’s body disappears”
On a stormy night in 1980, Granger Taylor — a mechanical genius from Duncan, British Columbia — left his family a handwritten note.
It said he was boarding a spaceship for a 42-month interstellar journey.
That night, he ate one last meal, said goodbye to a friend, and drove off into the rain.
He was never seen again.
Some believe Granger’s story ended in the woods.
Others insist his trace didn’t end on Earth at all… but far beyond the stars.
The Final Trace of Granger Taylor.
⸻
🔗 Sources & Further Reading
• CBC News – The mysterious disappearance of Granger Taylor
• Capital Daily – The Man Who Vanished Into Space
• Times Colonist – Family recalls Duncan man who vanished 40 years ago
The Final Trace of the Gumi Baby
In Gumi, a seemingly ordinary life held an unimaginable secret.
In early 2021, police discovered the mummified remains of a 3-year-old girl—starved and forgotten—for approximately six months,—inside a Gumi apartment. She had been sleeping on a mattress amid dusty chaos and isolation. No one had reported her missing.
In a chilling twist: the woman arrested initially—22-year-old Kim—was not the child’s biological mother. DNA testing revealed with 99.9999% certainty that the real mother was someone no one expected.
In this episode, we unravel how a child’s death went entirely unseen—even by the people closest to her. No posters. No investigation. No outcry.
Tagline: “Some disappearances aren’t loud. They’re forgotten.”
Episode Title: The Final Trace of the Gumi Baby
📚 Sources Used in This Episode
1. 📰 Yonhap News / K-VIBE – Police fail to uncover truth about mysterious disappearance of baby girl
🔗 https://m.korean-vibe.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=179560802219678
2. 📰 Yonhap News / K-VIBE – Woman indicted over death of daughter, disappearance of granddaughter
🔗 https://m.korean-vibe.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=179571901806054
3. 📰 KBS WORLD – Mother of Toddler Switched at Birth in Gumi Case Sentenced to 8 Years
🔗 https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=163619
4. 📰 The Korea Times – “Grandmother” was real mother of 3-year-old found dead in empty house
🔗 https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/03/251_305464.html
Hey True Crimers! Mckenzie is on vacation this week, but I didn't want the week to go by without bringing you your True Crime fix! So today, I’m bringing you a quick hit — a bite-sized case that’s just as chilling as our longer episodes, but short enough to squeeze into your morning commute!
Michelle Parker, a 33-year‑old Orlando mom of three, vanished on November 17, 2011—just hours after appearing on The People’s Court with her ex‑fiancé, Dale Smith. That afternoon, she dropped off her three‑year‑old twins at his condo and reportedly planned to run errands in her Hummer before heading to work—but she never showed up. The next day, her SUV was found abandoned; weeks later, her iPhone was discovered in a nearby lake. Orlando police named Smith the sole suspect, yet no charges have ever been filed. More than a decade later, her family still clings to hope—and the search continues.
🔗 Sources & Further Reading
• WESH Orlando – “Orlando mother disappeared… thirteen years later she still has not been found”
• People Magazine – “Fla. Mom Appeared on ‘The People’s Court’, Then Vanished…”
👉 https://people.com/michelle-parker-missing-vanished-peoples-court-8747439
• Chip Chick – “She Vanished After Appearing on a Reality TV Show with Her Ex-Fiancé”
• Reddit Community Discussion
👉 https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrime/comments/u4zgth/after_appearing_on_the_peoples_court_in_2011
On a quiet Sunday in 2002, 24-year-old Mandi Alexander arrived to open the Dolly Madison Bakery in Great Bend, Kansas. It was a simple routine—unlock the doors, start the coffee, prep for the day. But later that day., 79 year-old Mary Drake walked in, a customer, just there to buy a treat before heading home.
They never left the bakery.
That evening, a delivery driver would spot something that didn’t feel right: the bakery was locked—but Mary’s purse was sitting on the counter. Inside, police would uncover a crime scene that stunned the small town. Both women had been brutally murdered.
But more than two decades later, there’s still no suspect. No motive. No arrest. Just silence—and a case frozen in time.
What happened inside that bakery has never been uncovered.
🎙️ Listen to The Final Trace: The Dolly Madison Bakery — Streaming now on all Platforms
📰 News & Official Sources
1. Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Press Releases & Public Statements
• KBI DNA update & reward increase (November 2022)
• Reward: $17,000
2. KAKE News
• “KBI releases new information in 2002 Great Bend double homicide”
• Includes statements from Mandi’s sister, reward info, and DNA details
3. Hutchinson News / Great Bend Tribune
• Early reporting on the murders and witness descriptions (2002–2003)
• Details of the composite sketch and investigation timelines
4. KWCH 12 News
• “Reward offered for information in Great Bend double murder” (2022)
• Interview excerpts with friends and family
5. The Wichita Eagle
• Archival coverage from the early 2000s related to the case, including investigative delays and family pleas
6. Fox Kansas / KSNT
• “20 Years Later: The murders of Mandi Alexander and Mary Drake” (2022)
• Features quotes from Desiree Werth and KBI officials
Zelig Williams was a force. A dancer. A teacher. A light in every room.
But on a quiet October morning in 2024… something shifted.
An SOS pinged to friends in New York.
His phone, wallet, and keys were later found inside his car—abandoned near a trailhead.
Zelig was nowhere to be found.
There were no signs of struggle. No goodbye. Just… silence.
🩰 He lit up the stage… and then vanished into the shadows.
🎧 Episode 5: The Final Trace of Zelig Williams — now streaming on all platforms
📚 Zelig Williams – Source Links
1. People Magazine – Former Hamilton Dancer Missing After SOS Alert
🔗 https://people.com/former-hamilton-dancer-missing-suspicious-sos-alert-8725585
2. People Magazine – Hugh Jackman Speaks Out on Zelig’s Disappearance
🔗 https://people.com/hugh-jackman-prays-safe-return-missing-broadway-dancer-zelig-williams-8727222
3. WYFF News – Zelig’s Mother Makes Emotional Plea
🔗 https://www.wyff4.com/article/search-missing-broadway-dancer-south-carolina/62627166
4. FITSNews – Detailed Breakdown of the Case and Location Conflicts
🔗 https://www.fitsnews.com/2024/10/22/unsolved-carolinas-zelig-williams-family-offers-reward/
5. ABC News – Kathy Williams’ Statement and Family History
🔗 https://abcnews.go.com/US/mom-missing-broadway-dancer-breaks-emotional-plea-return/story?id=114849317
6. WACH Fox – Press Conference: “He’s All I Got”
🔗 https://wach.com/news/local/zelig-williams-mother-pleads-for-help-in-search-for-missing-son
7. Broadway Dance Center – Zelig Williams Faculty Bio
🔗 https://www.stepsnyc.com/faculty/zelig-williams/
In the summer of 1988, Annie Hearin — a 72-year-old philanthropist and beloved wife of a Mississippi millionaire — vanished from her home without a sound.
Her purse was still in the hallway.
Her shoes and glasses, untouched.
And by the front door… a typewritten ransom note,
full of spelling errors and veiled threats.
But this wasn’t a demand for money.
It was a demand for justice.
The names of twelve men were listed in the letter — all of them connected to a bitter business feud with Annie’s husband. The FBI would spend years unraveling what happened that day… and who might’ve held the grudge long enough to strike back.
Was it revenge?
A solo operation?
Or something even darker?
This is the chilling story of a Southern disappearance that was never meant to be solved the usual way —
because the person who paid the price…
was never the one being targeted.
-Stream Now -
🔎 Sources & Further Reading
1. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki – Annie Laurie Hearin
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Annie_Hearin
2. WLBT – 3 On Your Side Investigates: The Disappearance of Annie Laurie Hearin
https://www.wlbt.com/story/35976670/3-on-your-side-investigates-cold-case-mystery-the-disappearance-of-annie-laurie-hearin/
3. Doe Network Case File #505DFMS – Annie Laurie Hearin
https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/505dfms.html
4. Justia – United States v. Winn (5th Cir. 1990)
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/915/1445/228172/
5. UPI Archives – Heiress Still Missing One Year After Kidnapping (1989)
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/07/26/Heiress-still-missing-one-year-after-kidnapping/3802617428800/
6. Los Angeles Times – Robert Hearin Dies Without Learning Fate of Kidnapped Wife
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-09-mn-8472-story.html
📺 Additional/Corroborative Sources
• Reddit / TrueCrime thread – Local recollections of Annie’s case and the unresolved mystery
• Simpson County News “30-year-old mystery” – Reflective coverage on the enduring Cold Case ()
• Deseret News – Notes on his wealth, return of ransom checks, and ongoing trial developments ()
In the summer of 1986, 18-year-old Brent Brand attended a party in Vincennes, Indiana — and never made it home.
Eight days later, his body was found face down in a drainage ditch across state lines. No visible injuries. No clear cause of death.
A Priest had the answers... But would he talk?
What followed wasn’t just an investigation… it became a witch hunt. Over 30 witnesses were named — including police officers. Brent’s mother spent the rest of her life fighting for answers she never got.This is the case that haunts a town.And the silence still speaks volumes.
🎧 Listen now
📚 Sources for “The Final Trace: Brent Brand”
Episode 2: The Final Trace of Rick Whitehead
He seemed to have it all - money, success a growing business. But just 2 months after finalizing a 5 million dollar life insurance policy... Rick Whitehead was murdered.
A man dead.
A fortune at stake.
And a trail of lies that would take years to unfold.
In this episode we follow the money trail, uncover what was happening behind the scenes and examine weather his death was a suicide, murder... or something far more sinister.
This is The Final Trace... of Rick Whitehead.
🔎 Sources for The Final Trace: Rick Whitehead
**Los Angeles Times Feature (July 1997)**
Episode 1: The Final Trace of Michael Negrete
Michael William Negrete was 18 years old - a UCLA freshman, a talented musician, and by all accounts full of life. He played an online video game with a friend. Sent a quick email to his mom. Walked back to his dorm room down the hall and then... disappeared.
No sign of foul play. No cries for help. It was like he slipped through the cracks of reality - into thin air.
Some say he wandered off. Others believe he was taken. But in the 25 years since Michael vanished. Not a single clue has brought us closer to the truth.
This is the Final Trace... of Michael Negrete.
📝 Sources Used in The Final Trace of Michael NegreteDaily Bruin – “Nightly Bruin: The Unsolved Disappearance of Michael Negrete” (Dec 2024)
.
📎 Link: https://dailybruin.com/2024/12/12/nightly-bruin-the-unsolved-disappearance-of-michael-negrete-25-years-later
—
📎 Link: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-16-me-51723-story.html
📎 Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/180xok5/michael_negrete_question/
Los Angeles Times (April 2001) – “Missing Adults Leave Few Traces”Reddit (r/UnresolvedMysteries)
