The Vanished Podcast

On April 3, 2022, 36-year-old Ryan Withee was asked to leave the sober living house where he had been staying in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The next day, another resident at the sober living house saw Ryan leaving the house on foot with his belongings. At 1:10 am on April 5, a message was sent from Ryan's Facebook account to his friend via Facebook messenger indicating he needed help. Later that day, the same resident found Ryan's backpack at the sober living house. Then, Ryan's cell phone was located approximately a mile from the facility. Clues began to trickle in once residents reviewed the security cameras. Nearly a year later, Ryan is still missing. If you have any information about the disappearance of Ryan Withee, please call Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7405.This episode was sponsored by:Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26-year-old Olivia Fowler had spent the evening of August 12, 2021, at her boyfriend’s home in Manchester, GA. He said he last saw Olivia that night when he went to bed. Her boyfriend reported that she said she was going to go smoke a cigarette on the porch. The boyfriend says that Olivia was gone by the time he awoke the following morning. There were other sightings of Olivia after her boyfriend went to bed that evening. Witnesses reported seeing Olivia walking near her boyfriend’s home on the morning of August 13. It is believed that Olivia left her boyfriend’s house around 8 am, and she was seen by a passerby walking around 8:30 am. The final sighting of Olivia was by a DNR officer around 10:30 am on Pebblebrook Road. Olivia was walking and didn’t appear to be in distress. After that, Olivia vanished, and very few clues were left behind.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Olivia Fowler, please contact your nearest FBI office or call (770) 216-3000.This episode was sponsored by:Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On September 7, 2020, 20-year-old Isaac Danian left his family’s home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on a flight headed for Hawaii. His family would later share that Isaac had not been his usual self for quite some time, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic had shut down the nation in March of 2020, six months prior. Isaac had the entire world in his hands and his whole life in front of him, but while his parents were out of town for Labor Day weekend, he decided to set sail on uncharted territory. Isaac was a young man raised in a home full of love and support. Why Isaac left is complicated, and there are many questions that we don’t have the answers to. To complicate things further, another young man also made the trip to Hawaii and vanished along with Isaac. This story spans from New York to Hawaii and then around the Pacific ocean to two tiny remote French islands. Just how far-reaching is this case, and what mysteries have we unraveled? Well, that’s what we’re going to share with you today.If you have any information about the disappearance of Isaac Danian, please call the Kent County Office at 616-632-6246.This episode was sponsored by:Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $20 value and $0 delivery fees when you download the Doordash App and enter code MIA23.Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.GoodRX- For simple, smart savings on your prescriptions, check out GoodRX.com/VANISHED.HelloFresh- Go to HelloFresh.com/vanished60 and use code vanished60 for 60% off plus free shipping!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

73-year-old Willard Bennett had spent most of his life living in the Pacific Northwest. As he got older, he became a snowbird. He would travel south to Arizona in his camper-style van during the winter months, and return to Washington for the warmer ones. This was a lifestyle that Will seemed to enjoy, and it became a yearly routine for him to trek to the desert. In November of 2013, he stopped by his daughter’s home in Washington to let her know he was headed out. They made plans to keep in touch weekly via phone, and then Willard left. However, Victoria stopped hearing from her father. Her calls went unanswered. Victoria was able to check Will’s bank account and saw that he hadn’t used his debit card in weeks, which was very out of character for him. That was when Willard Bennett’s family knew they needed to report him missing. Months later, Will’s van surfaced, but there was no trace of Will. Nearly ten years later, this case has gone cold with few clues to go on, but his family is still seeking answers.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Willard Bennett, please contact the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department at 858-565-5200.This episode was sponsored by:Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.Zocdoc- Go to Zocdoc.com/VANISHED and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor.Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are taking this week off but we wanted to take this opportunity to share a very important story that we first aired in 2020. Arianna Fitts disappeared in 2016, and her mother, Nicole, was murdered. Both cases remain unsolved today. In 2022, the FBI raised the reward in this case to $250,000. Once again, we wanted to shine a light on the story. Arianna has been missing for nearly seven years, and her family needs answers. On April 1, 2016, 32-year-old Nicole Fitts told her roommate she had to run a quick errand to meet someone nearby at a restaurant. Nicole’s 2-year-old daughter, Arianna, had been staying with some babysitters in a nearby city while Nicole worked. Nicole had decided it was time to pick up her toddler after the babysitters made excuses for not giving Arianna back. She took some money from an ATM, went to pay the babysitters and retrieve Arianna. Nicole never came home. One week later, Nicole was found murdered in a San Francisco park. Her body was discovered in a shallow grave covered by a wooden board. Her daughter, Arianna, has never been seen again.If you have any information about the disappearance of Arianna Fitts, please call the San Francisco FBI at 415-553-7400. If you have any information about the murder of Nicole Fitts, please call the San Francisco Police Department homicide division at 415-553-1145.We will be back on Monday, March 6, with a new case from California.This episode was sponsored by:Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On March 31, 2019, in the far northern part of Tennessee, 33-year-old Adam Baird was seen for the last time in rural Campbell County. He had been behaving oddly that day and for several days prior. His family didn’t know what was happening, but they had a couple of clues. Adam wanted to reconnect with his wife, despite their separation several months prior, and he wanted to regain custody of their children, but he was struggling. No one knew how severe his struggles were until he was gone. There was no way for his family to know that when they saw him take off in his mom’s car headed to an unknown destination, they’d never see him again. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Adam Baird, please call the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Tipline at 423-566-3784.This episode was sponsored by:Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $20 value and $0 delivery fees when you download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHED23.Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.Zocdoc- Go to Zocdoc.com/VANISHED and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctorIf you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In May of 2015, 24-year-old Madeline Tomlin disappeared from Hope, Arkansas, just about a month shy of her 25th birthday. Madeline had two young sons, but she had hit a rough patch in her life, and her sons were being cared for primarily by family members. However, Madeline stayed involved in their lives and always checked in. So, when her grandparents stopped hearing from her, they knew something was wrong and decided to report Madeline missing. They hoped that Madeline would turn up, but the days turned to weeks, and the weeks turned into months with no word from Madeline. Nearly eight years later, Madeline is still missing, and her sisters are hoping that someone listening will come forward with answers.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Madeline Tomlin, please contact the Hope Police Department at (870) 777-3434.This episode was sponsored by:HelloFresh- Go to HelloFresh.com/vanished65 and use code vanished65 for 65% off plus free shipping!Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.Sleep Number- Proven quality sleep is life-changing sleep. Special offers, for a limited time. Only at Sleep Number stores or sleepnumber.com/VANISH.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the afternoon of August 19, 1993, 33-year-old Ginger May Hudson was outside her home in Pittsburg, Kansas enjoying a soak in the tub in her yard after work. She was seen by a city employee with some newspapers reporting that the witness was also a neighbor, and that’s why he recognized Ginger. The witness reported seeing her around 3:30 PM. Several hours later, her boyfriend returned home, and Ginger was not there, but all of her personal belongings were left behind. He would later tell police that he didn’t call them until nearly midnight because he had been busy searching on his own and calling friends and relatives to see if they were with Ginger, but Ginger has never been seen or heard from again.If you have any information about the disappearance of Ginger Hudson, please call the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office at 620-724-8274.This episode was sponsored by:Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.HelloFresh- Go to HelloFresh.com/vanished65 and use code vanished65 for 65% off plus free shipping!GoodRX- For simple, smart savings on your prescriptions, check out GoodRX.com/VANISHED.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

58-year-old Robert Baron vanished from Old Forge, Pennsylvania, on a quiet evening in late January 2017. Robert Baron was going about his usual routine at his restaurant when something happened. The story goes that he dropped his son off for the evening, and it's believed that he went back to the restaurant to spend the night in the apartment above so that he could be there first thing in the morning for a dough delivery. But by the following morning, Robert was gone. There was an abundance of physical evidence left behind, leading investigators to believe that a violent struggle had taken place inside Ghigiarelli's Restaurant.Last week we brought you the first installment in Robert Baron's story. You learned about who Robert Baron was and how his loved ones discovered that he was missing. We left off at the end of Part 1 with the discovery of some crucial physical evidence, including blood and a tooth. Both the blood and the tooth were determined to be Robert's. This was no longer a case where you could say, "well, maybe he walked away from his life." The question now was, who would do this and why?If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Robert Baron, please contact the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office at (570) 963-6717.This episode was sponsored by:Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $20 value and $0 delivery fees when you download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHED23.Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

January 25, 2017, seemed like any other ordinary day for 58-year-old Robert Baron, a respected business owner of a popular restaurant in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and a family man. He closed up his restaurant for the evening and then made a quick trip to drive his son home nearby. Robert often spent the night in an apartment above the restaurant so he could be there first thing the next morning for the dough delivery. The delivery driver was accustomed to Robert being there on time for every delivery, but Robert wasn’t there on the morning of January 26. Thinking perhaps Robert was running late or had an emergency, he left the dough out front and went along his delivery route. Robert was supposed to pick his son, Bobby, up for work early that morning. He never showed up, and calls from Bobby’s phone went unanswered. Bobby decided to walk to the restaurant instead. There he found an unfamiliar scene, the dough sitting out front. He made his way inside, and something wasn’t right. Not only was his father not there, but things were out of place. Bobby began calling around, but no one had seen his father. Six years later, Robert’s family is still searching for answers.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Robert Baron, please contact the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office at (570) 963-6717.This episode was sponsored by:Rocket Money- Go to RocketMoney.com/MIA to get rid of useless subscriptions.Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week we brought you the first part of 18-year-old Kelsey Collins’ story. A teenager who had been through more than most in an entire lifetime disappeared in May 2009, just nine days after her 18th birthday. Kelsey was involved with bad people, really bad people, but what wasn’t known at the time was just how profoundly and long-term Kelsey had been victimized by much older predators. She was set to testify against her abusers but was left unprotected by authorities. Shortly after testifying before a federal grand jury, an indictment was issued, and Kelsey vanished.If you have any information about the disappearance of Kelsey Collins, please call the Everett Police Department at 425-257-8400 or the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011.This episode was sponsored by:Hungryroot- Get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies for life at Hungryroot.com/VANISHED.Rocket Money- Go to RocketMoney.com/MIA to get rid of useless subscriptions.HelloFresh- Go to HelloFresh.com/vanished21 and use code vanished21 for 21 free meals plus free shipping!Sleep Number- Proven quality sleep is life-changing sleep. Special offers, for a limited time. Only at Sleep Number stores or sleepnumber.com/VANISH.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the evening of May 9, 2009, just nine days after her 18th birthday, Kelsey Collins left her home in Everett, Washington, to visit a friend in Seattle, approximately 30 miles away. Kelsey was a radiant and intelligent young woman. But Kelsey was still young and naive and never returned home. The nearly fourteen years of looking for her have spanned from teenage innocence and rebellion to the dark, nefarious and ugly underworld of human and sex trafficking. What happened to Kelsey is a story you’ve seen play out in media headlines, but no two stories or victims are the same. Her disappearance is the final act in one of the most heinous crimes a person can commit. Still, her victimization at the hands of dangerous people is only part of her story. Though Kelsey’s case has garnered some media attention, no one has shared an in-depth and comprehensive look at her life until now. If you have any information about the disappearance of Kelsey Collins, please call the Everett Police Department at 425-257-8400 or the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011.This episode was sponsored by:Zocdoc- Go to Zocdoc.com/VANISHED and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor.Doordash- Our listeners can get 50% off, up to a $20 value and $0 delivery fees when you download the Doordash App and enter code VANISHED23.GoodRX- For simple, smart savings on your prescriptions, check out GoodRX.com/VANISHED.Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In early 2003, 29-year-old Clinton Washburn called his parents, and he was angry. The whole thing ended up being a misunderstanding that they worked out during that phone call, but after that, they stopped hearing from Clint. Months later, in September of 2003, they received a typed letter allegedly from Clint. It stated that he found a rich woman to marry, he planned to take her name, and they would never locate him. Clint’s parents were crushed by this letter and didn’t know any way to reach their son as the letter had no return address. Believing their son wanted no contact and hoping that maybe someday he would change his mind, Clint’s parents waited. They thought he would eventually call or show up at the door, but it never happened. Clint’s father passed away in 2018, and his mother, Margi, thought for sure, he would turn up at that time, but still no word from Clint. After that, Margi decided to report her son missing, more than 15 years after that letter arrived in the mail. They came to learn that there had been no trace of Clint since 2003, and the more they discovered, the more disturbing things became.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Clint Washburn, you are urged to call the Kewanee Police Department at (309) 853-1911.This episode was sponsored by:Rocket Money- Go to RocketMoney.com/MIA to get rid of useless subscriptions.Tommy John- Go totommyjohn.com/VANISHED for 20% off your first order.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On September 14, 1990, 10-year-old Kacey Perry disappeared while visiting with her father at his home in Portland, Oregon, after the two had a disagreement. In Part 1, we learned that it’s believed Kacey made it to a store blocks away from her father’s home, possibly to make a phone call to ask someone to pick her up. Witnesses spotted her at this location, and her belongings were later found at the store. It remains unclear if Kacey was picked up by someone she knew or possibly went with a stranger. In the early days of the investigation, one person close to her mom stood out. His name is Brian Keith George. Nearly a year after Kacey disappeared, he was arrested for a bank robbery and had something shocking to tell investigators.If you have any information about the disappearance of Kacey Perry, please call the Portland Police Bureau at 503-823-0000.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On September 14, 1990, 10-year-old Kacey Perry was visiting with her father at his home in Portland, Oregon. That evening, the two had a disagreement during a conversation about Kacey coming to live with him full-time. Her father told Kacey to go to bed for the night, which he believed she had done. Her father went outside and chatted with a neighbor for a bit. When he returned, he found that Kacey was missing. He drove around the neighborhood but could not find Kacey anywhere. That is when he alerted the police that his daughter was missing, and the search began. No one could have guessed that more than 30 years later, they would still be searching for Kacey. If you have any information about Kacey Perry's disappearance, please call the Portland Police Bureau at 503-823-0000.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Six months ago, we brought you the story of 70-year-old Sandra Eckert, who had been missing for 15 months from Franklin, Wisconsin. The story was eerie, with so many haunting hallmarks we’ve heard in many stories with the same patterns of behavior. When we first shared Sandra’s story with you, we held a significant amount of information in confidence at the request of Sandra’s family and law enforcement. At that time, we knew that there were sealed court documents that could lead to some significant developments in the case and possibly an arrest and indictment. While the developments we want to share with you today are not a final resolution to Sandra’s case, they are a step forward in the investigation. We want to end 2022 on a positive note looking forward to the major developments we hope and believe will take place in 2023.If you have any information about the disappearance of Sandra Eckert or the car she was driving, please call the Franklin Police Department at 414-425-2522.This episode was sponsored by:Rocket Money- Go to RocketMoney.com/MIA to get rid of useless subscriptions.Shopify- Go to Shopify.com/vanished, ALL LOWERCASE, for a FREE trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.Zocdoc- Go to Zocdoc.com/VANISHED and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On September 11, 2014, 63-year-old Daniel Farrar left the assisted living facility he resided at in Westbrook, Connecticut. He had $20 on him and stated he was going to get himself some lunch. Danny often left for walks or to grab some lunch. He was one of the younger residents in the home and got bored staying inside all day. Danny was seen that day at a local store making a purchase. What was unusual was that Danny never returned home, and the people who ran the facility became concerned enough to contact his family and police immediately. Where could Danny have gone with the clothes on his back and $20 in cash? More than eight years later, Danny’s family is still searching for the answers to that question.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Daniel Farrar, please contact the Connecticut State Police at 860-399-2100.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On January 24, 2022, 21-year-old Aidan Spear had plans to meet with her mother, Jessica, at 11 AM. About 20 minutes before they were due to meet, Jessica received a message from Aidan stating that she had to say goodbye to someone and would be a little late. She promised to call later and that she would meet her, just not at the original time. Jessica never heard from her daughter again. At first, Jessica assumed that Aidan had just flaked on her, but the days continued to pass with no sign of Aidan. Then, Jessica began hearing from Aidan’s friends that they hadn’t heard from her either. Nearly a year later, Aidan is still missing, and Jessica is desperate to uncover the truth.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Aidan Spear, please contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office at (253) 798-7530.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are taking this week off to spend time with our loved ones and the reminder that we are blessed with so much. However, we never take a week off in our minds, and the families with a missing loved one are always in our hearts and thoughts. We decided to re-share an episode from a few years ago about a missing child who disappeared many decades ago, Vinyette Teague. If you have not heard her story, please give it a listen. If you have heard her story, we encourage you to listen to it again as her mother, Kathy, remains a steadfast reminder that the loss of a child is a wound that never heals. As we enjoy the special celebrations and memories that come with the holidays, we want to honor the family members of the missing and recognize that your missing loved one is not forgotten. Please keep all families with a missing loved one in your hearts this holiday season.On June 25, 1983, 18-month-old Vinyette Teague was in the company of her grandmother, extended family, and neighbors while her parents took the evening off to watch a movie. It was a warm summer night in Chicago, Illinois, and Vinyette’s grandmother and a neighbor took turns holding the toddler while getting some fresh air in the open air hallways near their apartments. When the phone rang, her grandmother went in to take the call, and the neighbor set Vinyette down on the ground near a table where neighbors gathered to play games. When her grandmother returned, Vinyette was gone. Vinyette has never been seen again.If you have any information about the disappearance of Vinyette Teague, please call the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-5789. You may also call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or 1-800-843-5678.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, we brought you the first part of Melissa Highsmith’s story. On August 23, 1971, 21-month-old Melissa was abducted by a woman who responded to a classified ad her mother placed in the local newspaper. Or, at least, that’s the story that Melissa’s mother and roommate told police when they reported her missing. Was Melissa really abducted by this woman calling herself Ruth Johnson, or was there more to the story? And that’s just the beginning of the 50-year-old stone-cold mystery we’ve been chipping away at.UPDATE: In September, the Highsmith family contacted us about covering Melissa Highsmith’s story. We interviewed multiple family members for a two-episode series. We were already aware of possible DNA connections when the episodes aired, but we held that information in confidence at the family’s request. When the Highsmith family notified us of the DNA matches found on a commercial DNA testing website in late October, we connected them with a family member of another missing person we covered this year, Lisa Jo Schiele. You may remember her from the Barb Cotton series. Lisa Jo Schiele is a clinical laboratory scientist and amateur genealogist. We felt that Lisa’s expertise in the area could possibly assist the Highsmith family in finding Melissa. We also notified law enforcement before the episodes aired that one family member had impersonated law enforcement by their own admission to us and that we had a professional due diligence to notify law enforcement in the event this family member attempted to contact any of the then-unknown DNA matches.Days after our series aired, the news broke that the family believed they had located Melissa. We are always very grateful and happy to learn that a missing person has been found alive and safe, so we were thrilled to see the news that Lisa Jo Schiele had helped the Highsmith family find a woman they believe to be Melissa. The Fort Worth Police Department released the following statement: “The Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) is overjoyed to hear about how the Highsmith’s use of 23andme led them to Melissa. The Fort Worth Police Department will be conducting official DNA testing to confirm Melissa’s identity, and the department will provide an update once the official results have come in. The FWPD Major Case Unit will be working with the Highsmith family to continue the investigation into Melissa’s disappearance. Even though the criminal statute of limitations expired 20 years after Melissa’s 18th birthday, the Fort Worth Police Department is committed to completing this investigation to uncover all of the available information concerning Melissa’s abduction that occurred 51 years ago.” We hope this decades-old cold case will be solved and look forward to what the police investigation reveals about the many questions that remain unanswered. We will wait for confirmation from law enforcement before commenting any further. We will always uphold the confidence of the families who entrust us with information, just as we did in Melissa’s case. We thank you all for continuing to share your treasured and much-loved missing family members with us. We are eternally grateful.Support us by supporting our sponsors!If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.