Yep, it’s the middle of the month. So you know what that means: another Unfound newsletter. Wherever this email finds you, I hope everybody is doing fantastic.
Me? I think I’ve finally found a new place to live—a place that my father can visit, where he has his own bed, bathroom, etc. I plan to move May 1st. The place is north of me next to Sand Key, just south of Clearwater Beach. I have to admit that it’s pretty nice and there is no way I could afford it if it weren’t for dad paying for half. But this is what he wanted to do since my mother died. He wants to have a place where he can come down and stay with me part of the time. So we needed to find a bigger place with two bedrooms. How much time will he be spending down here? I don’t know right now. Probably a total of 3 to 4 months, mostly in the winter.
Otherwise, I’ve had a personal trainer, who has been kicking my butt since mid-February. But the work is showing. I’ve lost 8 pounds over the last 6 weeks. I need to probably lose another 6, while at the same time hitting the weights. It feels good to be back at it—I used to be a gym rat. But I really let myself go the last couple years.
So, let’s start off where these newsletters usually do, and that would be future cases you may hear on Unfound:
March 22nd: Shannah Boiteau
Also: Megan Lancaster, Calandra Stallworth, Theresa Murphy, Joe Spisak, and Travis Murrow.
THE THINK TANK
Probably the biggest thing that has happened since the February newsletter is the re-branding of the live show I do on Sunday nights for the higher tier Patreon supporters. Until a couple weeks ago, it was simply, Patreon Live. But once I started really thinking about we’re doing on that show, I thought it needed a better name. Thus, the Unfound Think Tank.
Why?
Because unlike the YouTube Live shows which are a little bit more of a free-for-all where we talk about a variety of topics, both inside and outside of true crime. The Patreon show is almost specifically produced to focus on the case for that week—the episode that came the Friday before. And what we do in this small group—probably just 6 or 7 viewers, we, uh, think about the case. I ask them questions and we bounce theories and possibilities off of each other.
The Think Tank goes for about an hour. Then I take the ideas and opinions gathered, and bring them to the guest for that week. We’ve already had some insightful discussions which have, in turn, caused at least one guest to admit that she had never thought of the new idea before. THIS is the kind of thing we’re trying to do on Sunday evenings. To my knowledge there is nothing else out there like it. And it’s all done in a somewhat private arena where people are free to express their ideas without any trolls.
Although I am the one who came up with the new title, I need to give a shout out to Cheree Biggs who thought of doing the live shows on Patreon in the first place.
You may be asking: Why is it limited to people at the $12 tier and above? Well, a couple reasons. First, I want to make sure these people are getting something additional for their support. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If someone wants to support at the $2/month level, I cannot thank them enough. That amount is totally fine by me. But I think we also understand that the people at $5 or $12 or $20 should be getting something “more”, than the $2 group. That makes sense.
Also, keeping the viewership to the $12/month and up people keeps the group small and allows me to have more one-on-one discussions. Whereas on Wednesday nights, we could have 150 or 200 people watching, and it’s more of a “people watch Ed talk” kind of thing, because there is no way for me to give each person that personal touch. Well, with the Think Tank, there are only 6 or 7 people watching and commenting. Would I like a few more? Sure. But it should be understood: Not all of the higher tier people have tuned in yet. If Unfound were to get every single $12 and up person watching, we’d have about 20 people—and that would probably be about the limit.
Whatever the case, so far we’ve had great discussions and I think this is going to be very beneficial to the guests who appear on Unfound. And that’s the main goal.
https://www.patreon.com/unfoundpodcast
DESIREA FERRIS
Some of you may have heard within the last few days that there were remains found in a shed in Cass County, MO. Immediately there was a suspicion that they could be Desirea Ferris. I can tell you officially that they are not Desirea’s remains. So the search continues for her family.
TIM BOSHART
Also within the last couple weeks, some of you may have seen there was a big gang bust in the Laurel, MS area concerning the gang Tim Boshart was in—the Latin Kings. As of the typing of this newsletter, I don’t have any new news. Of course the hope is that one of the members may reveal something about Tim’s disappearance. But I’ve heard nothing and I am fairly sure Robbie, his mother, would tell me if she heard anything concrete.
BOOKS
Volume 1 — https://www.amazon.com/Unfound-Season-1-Cases-ebook/dp/B076G5VMYP/
Volume 2 — https://www.amazon.com/Unfound-Season-1-Cases-2-ebook/dp/B079JN5TQT/
Volume 3 — https://www.amazon.com/Unfound-Season-1-Cases-3-ebook/dp/B07CQT6NW7/
Volume 4 — https://www.amazon.com/Unfound-Season-1-Cases-4-ebook/dp/B07F74KNZQ/
ASHLEY SUMMERS
I continue to be in touch with Linda Summers, the guest for Ashley’s case. If you will remember, not long before Unfound covered the disappearance, Uncle Kevin, the last person to allegedly see Ashley, was charged with multiple felonies including molestation. There is no new news in that case. Linda told me within the last couple weeks that the pre-trial keeps getting pushed back. She believes the reason is that Kevin’s attorney has other cases to handle—which may very well be true.
But most importantly, at least to this moment, there has been nothing that has leaked out about Kevin being charged with anything in Ashley’s disappearance. So far all the charges against Kevin do not concern her case.
BOBBI CAMPBELL
My understanding is that within the last month the Utah Cold Case Coalition and a BYU professor recreated the disappearance of Bobbi Campell—a case Unfound covered in September of 2018. They got actors to portray the various people on that day in 1994 and filmed it. It’s now on Facebook and elsewhere.
I have mixed emotions about reenactments of disappearances. Yes, I know Disappeared has used them from the very beginning of its production run. Way back in the day Unsolved Mysteries used them too. They are certainly good in adding to the dramatic and emotional tension of what could’ve happened.
However, I’ve also had situations where listeners have emailed me, saying they saw a video regarding a particular case. It’s about then that I have to tell the person, “No, that’s not the actual video. That’s a re-enactment. There is no video from that case. That’s from Disappeared . . . or Unsolved Mysteries . . .”
What re-enactments do is put false memories in people’s heads. And that’s the last thing these cases need—especially the old ones.
A perfect example is the disappearance of Dale Kerstetter. The video everyone has seen of “him” standing there with the masked perpetrator is NOT real. That is a re-enactment Unsolved Mysteries created 30 years ago. However, they made it look SO real that many people think it’s the real thing.
So, Ed, are you saying Disappeared and other true crime show should change how they illustrate murders and disappearances and other types of crimes? Uh, yes. Why are do production companies still write true crime shows the same way they did WAY back in the 1980’s? It makes no sense.
How about using Google Earth? And animation? And the same kind of technology they use for video games? There is NO reason to make it look exactly like the original crime. What’s most important is that the viewers come away from the program with precisely what happened, while at the same time not putting false thoughts in their heads.
Really, I think these production companies just need to be a little more creative. I think they use re-enactments because that’s what they’ve always done. And it’s a bit lazy.
PLAYING CARDS
https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/unfoundpodcast
CHIP CAMPBELL
Within the last month, Chip’s roommate, Tainya, was once again tracked down and brought back into Florida custody. If this seems vaguely familiar, when Unfound first covered Chip’s disappearance during the summer of 2017, Tainya was also on the run.
Well, she was caught a couple months later and brought back to FL. Then . . . she jumped bail again later in 2017 or early 2018. Luckily, they caught her again.
What does this all mean for Chip’s case? I’m not sure right now. But the belief is Tainya stands to be going to jail for a long time now—she won’t be let out on bond or bail or whatever this time. Of course there is the hope that with the facing of considerable time behind bars, Tainya may finally reveal what she knows about Chip’s disappearance. I, of course, believe she knows quite a bit. If anything happens along those lines, I will let you know.
KELLY ROTHWELL
Yes, that’s right . . . another update on an Unfound case. David Perry, the main suspect in Kelly’s case, is back behind bars. To keep this simple, and give the correct person the proper credit, I urge you to go to the Tampa Bay Crime Report to find the latest news on David’s re-incarceration.
http://www.tampabaycrimereport.com/
SUZANNE LYALL
It’s not so much an update but I got to speak to Mary Lyall earlier this week. I called her to see how she was doing. I hadn’t talked to her since before my mother died in November. We had a lot of catching up to do. There are a couple things going on with Suzanne’s case right now.
First, a group of students at the College Of St. Rose’s have been digging through all of the information regarding Suzanne’s case. Although I’m not sure I am allowed to talk about specifics, but I can say it seems they’ve found a few things that have caught Mary’s attention. These kids are going over everything once again from a 21st century perspective, including the idea that the ATM machine could’ve been accessed remotely the day after Suzanne’s disappearance.
Also, and in partnership with the College, a new podcast has come out covering nothing but Suzanne’s disappearance. As you would expect, I haven’t listen to it yet because . . . well . . . as I’ve told you many times I don’t have much time for other podcasts. But here’s the link to the show, let me know what you think of it:
https://wgy.iheart.com/featured/upstate-unsolved/
Overall, Mary couldn’t be more ecstatic that over 20 years later nobody has forgotten about her daughter. I’m certainly happy about that too.
A DOCUMENTARY
I’ve been asked to take part in a documentary that is in the pre-production stages right now. The topic of the film will be someone many of you know VERY well—that’s all I can say at this point. No, the topic of the movie is NOT me.
But the person who IS, asked the filmmaker to interview me because of the mutual respect we have for each other in working on missing persons cases like we do. So, I just want to say, “Thank you,” to this person who asked me to be a part of a production that I’m sure is going to be very successful. When I am free to talk more about the documentary, I will do so.
THOMAS BROWN
I feel like I have to mention the case just because Unfound seems to be so connected to Tom’s disappearance at this point. My impression is that people now come to the Discussion Group for the latest info. They don’t go to Amarillo tv. Or the Canadian Record. They come to the Group, which is really amazing given that I’m in Florida and I’ve never been to Canadian.
So, the question is: What’s going on with the case? As far as I can tell, not much. There hasn’t been a lot of new information. Penny did an interview a couple weeks ago with KXDJ but not a lot came out of it—only 1 question concerning the Sheriff’s office.
The big drive right now seems to be trying to figure out who actually found Thomas’ remains. That is still a secret as far as I can tell. I’ve certainly heard a lot of rumors. But nothing concrete so far.
However, as you might notice in the Discussion Group, recently a listener went out and took some pictures of the Lake Marvin area. In addition, using the location of where all the LE cars were parked a few weeks ago, this person gave the best guess as to where Tom’s remains were found. This person made a map and pinned the spot. That picture is now in the Group. There will be other pictures coming.
THE SHIRTS
https://unfound-podcast.myshopify.com/
BEHIND THE SCENES
As I’m sure you’ve heard in the last few episodes, I continue to lament the fact that I haven’t been able to get Volume 5 finished. The main reason is that I’m doing a lot more now than when I completed the first 4 Volumes. This newsletter. The YouTube Show. The Think Tank.
But really, the main reason is that I’ve been doing a lot more investigation behind the scenes. And I shouldn’t say that I’m the only one doing so. I’ve recruited others to assist in this effort—they are under strict orders to not mention their work to anyone. These are cases that will eventually be covered on Unfound.
However, the reason these cases are what they are, is because in talking to the family members I’ve discovered there’s more to the cases than meets the eye. More to the point, these are cases where I feel like myself and the other people I’ve recruited must seek out the actual witnesses and even the reporters who first covered the disappearances. Why? Because something doesn’t quite make sense.
Would you like an example? Of course you would.
Let’s put it this way . . . As you know, in 2018 I had the chance to speak to the FBI a few times. It was a very positive experience—some of the most professional conversations I’ve had since I started Unfound. I mean that. I’m not just trying to kiss their butts—I mean it.
Moreover, when I called them and left a message, they always got back to me within 24 hours. Yes, me . . . little ol’ me. Podcaster me. A person I’m sure none of these people have ever heard of. Still, they called me right back.
Well, I’ve come across a case. Well, a cluster of cases. But one in particular where I discovered that the article written about the disappearance was inaccurate. I discovered this after speaking with the mother of the missing person. It went something like . . .
Me: Do you know this article states that . . .
Her: No, I’ve never heard that. And I’ve spoken to the detectives and they’ve never told me anything like that.
Well, when I hear something like that, I get curious. I start thinking, “Well, if the family doesn’t know. And the police never said anything. Where did this reporter get that piece of info in the article he wrote about the disappearance?” That kind of stuff REALLY bothers me.
So, I tracked down the reporter. Now, keep in mind, I’ve called the FBI—most powerful law enforcement agency in the world—and they got back to me in under 24 hours.
Whereas, I call this reporter and it took 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! phone calls for him to return mine. And really, the only reason he called me back is because I eventually sent a somewhat sarcastic email to his boss asking what it takes to get a call back from this particular reporter.
So, the reporter calls me back. Had I allowed him to control the conversation, the phone call would’ve lasted under a minute. He COULD NOT have seem less interested to try to help me figure out who the source was for part of the article he wrote. He didn’t seem to be bothered when I told him that I think he was fed disinformation by the source of that info. I even told him that I think the person in the disappearance was murdered.
I’m telling you: This reporter couldn’t have seemed less interested. I mean that. He didn’t seem surprised. Or disgusted. Or curious. NOTHING. He didn’t seemed to be fazed at all that I was telling him that somebody gave him bad information so as to point the investigation in a different direction.
Well, I contacted a veteran reporter who has become a confidant of mine—someone who I talk to about these very kinds of scenarios. She was somewhat surprised. Yes, without knowing the reporter personally, she found it hard to totally analyze the conversation. But she certainly thought it warranted deeper investigation.
So, that’s what I’m doing. More and more, when I have conversations like I had with that reporter, I’m not going to let it go. Instead, I am going to take it even further.
I wish I could tell you the specifics of that case and possibly others attached to it, but I can’t. However, I wanted to give you all an idea of what is going on behind the scenes at Unfound. This has become more than just a podcast. I now have people wanting to volunteer their time to look into things that I come across that don’t quite make sense. We are tracking down original witnesses. We are reading original articles of disappearances. We are watching documentaries, etc. to further school ourselves on what we need to understand about any particular missing persons case. Because I am not going to let any person pull the wool over my eyes, and thus over all of yours. And in these cases where it could be that someone or some group or some business put disinformation out there to cover their butts, well we aren’t going to let them get away with that.
That’s all I have for this newsletter. I hope you enjoyed it. Any of you can contact me any time. Thanks for reading and thanks for listening to Unfound!!!
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