The Dark Oak

Episode 134: Where is Patty Vaughn?

On Christmas Day 1996, 32-year-old Patty Inez Brightwell Vaughan, a devoted mother of three from La Vernia, Texas, vanished after a tumultuous separation from her allegedly abusive husband, J.R. Vaughan. Amid mounting evidence of domestic strife, Patty had begun a new relationship and planned a fresh start, but that day turned violent: her estranged husband was the last person to see her, claiming she stormed out upset after arguments. Her abandoned minivan was soon discovered with a deliberately deflated tire, freshly cleaned yet stained with her blood, while her home revealed extensive blood spatter, cleanup attempts with bleach, and luminol-reactive drag marks—clear signs of a struggle. Despite intense suspicion on J.R., who quickly filed for divorce, collected life insurance after having her declared dead, and later changed his name and moved away, no body has been found, and circumstantial evidence has prevented charges in this decades-old no-body homicide case, leaving Patty's family still seeking justice and closure.
 
Sources:
Details - Unsolved homicide. (n.d.). https://www.dps.texas.gov/apps/coldCase/Home/Details/284
Sanchez, Y. V. a. P. (2024, December 24). A family’s heartache: Patty Vaughan’s voice silenced by an unsolved Christmas tragedy. KABB. https://foxsanantonio.com/news/yami-investigates/a-familys-heartache-patty-vaughans-voice-silenced-by-an-unsolved-christmas-tragedy
Robinwarder. (n.d.). The 1996 Christmas Day Disappearance of Patty Vaughan: Vanishes After an Argument with Her Estranged Husband : r/UnresolvedMysteries. https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/a5hkyt/the_1996_christmas_day_disappearance_of_patty/
Family of Patty Vaughan hopes for answers 23 years after she vanished from Texas home on Christmas Day 1996. (2019, December 21). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/family-patty-vaughan-hopes-answers-23-years-after-she-vanished-n1106151
Day, J. (2022, February 3). Missing in Texas: The case of Patty Vaughn. Lost Souls of America. https://lostsoulsofamerica.wordpress.com/2021/12/22/missing-in-texas-the-case-of-patty-vaughn/
Darrah, N. (2021, December 26). Seven mysteries in case of missing mom-of-three Patty Vaughan who disappeared on Christmas 25 years ago. . . The US Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/news/4341500/christmas-missing-mom-patty-vaughan-disappeared/
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 133: The Death of Asia and Ashton Brown

In February 2015, 22-year-old Asia LaRose Brown, a dedicated single mother and security guard from Greensboro, North Carolina, and her 2-year-old son Ashton were brutally murdered in a case that remains unsolved more than a decade later. On February 20, Asia bought a used 2005 Buick LaCrosse in High Point, registered it at the DMV alone, and later stopped at an AutoZone in Greensboro around 3:20 p.m. to buy car accessories; this was the last time she was seen alive on surveillance footage, appearing calm and unhurried. She and Ashton vanished that afternoon, and when she missed work shifts over the weekend, a welfare check was requested. Exactly 72 hours later, on February 23, her burned-out car was discovered in a wooded area near Thurston Avenue, less than two miles from her home. Inside the trunk, covered by a blue plastic tarp, police found the charred bodies of Asia and Ashton; the fire had been deliberately set with gasoline after they were killed. Autopsies revealed both died from multiple gunshot wounds from a .40-caliber handgun—Asia in the head and torso, and Ashton at close range—with the murders likely occurring within hours of Asia leaving the AutoZone. The car’s seller, Ashton’s father, and other persons of interest were cleared, and no evidence linked Asia to drugs or crime despite Greensboro’s opioid crisis at the time. The blue tarp, purchased at a nearby Walmart, and the removal of the license plates suggest premeditation, yet the case has yielded few solid leads despite extensive investigation involving dozens of officers, FBI profilers, and forensic experts. As of December 2025, the double homicide remains active but cold, with Asia’s family continuing to hold vigils and advocate for justice, especially for Black mothers affected by violence. A $15,000 reward is still offered for information leading to an arrest, and anyone with tips is urged to contact Greensboro Police or Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000.
 
 
Sources:
Chris Venzon (WFMY News2). (2020, March 10). Who killed 2-year-old Ashton and his mother Asia? Five years later, the Greensboro case remains unsolved. wfmynews2.com. https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/crime/asia-brown-ashton-brown/83-31aea1d9-92fc-4277-97cc-2f24c3b019c5
Megan Allman (WFMY News 2 Digital). (2022, February 23). Who killed a Greensboro mom and her 2-year-old son? $15K reward in the 2015 cold case. wfmynews2.com.
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/crime/greensboro-mom-asia-brown-and-son-ashton-found-dead-in-trunk-of-burned-buick-lacrosse/83-4705c25b-db8c-433e-aec0-41d7bbba35e4
Sarah Newell Williamson sarah.williamson@greensboro.com. (2016, February 27). District Attorney Jim O’Neill talks about stabbing at North Forsyth High School [Video]. Greensboro News and Record. https://greensboro.com/news/crime/police-still-seeking-clues-in-year-old-killing-of-asia/article_64ad7df0-9c60-5d0e-a2af-85a2eeb6c069.html
NANCY McLAUGHLIN nancy.mclaughlin@greensboro.com. (2022, February 28). District Attorney Jim O’Neill talks about stabbing at North Forsyth High School [Video]. Greensboro News and Record. https://greensboro.com/news/who-killed-asia-and-ashton-and-why-seven-years-later-there-are-no-answers/article_9e2e3e98-9812-11ec-a7b3-dfdd999af705.html
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 132: Asha Degree

When 9-year-old Asha Degree went missing in the middle of the night, those close to her were baffled. Asha was a rule follower and sneaking out of her home during the early morning hours was completely out of character. Asha's case has remained a mystery for more than 25 years; however, her case may serve as a reminder to other victim's loved ones that they can never give up. Just last year a family was investigated regarding Asha's disappearance and though we still have more questions than answers, there is the hope that one day her family will finally know what happened.
 
Sources:
King, A. (2025, July 17). Family linked to Asha Degree case shares their side of the story. wcnc.com. https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/family-speaks-out-about-asha-degree-case/275-abb68d7c-b65b-4c4b-871f-5e00179edba8
Johncox, C. (2025, August 5). Asha Degree’s 35th birthday: Where case of missing Shelby girl stands decades later. https://www.wbtv.com. https://www.wbtv.com/2025/08/05/asha-degrees-35th-birthday-where-case-missing-shelby-girl-stands-decades-later/
NCSBI - Asha Jaquilla Degree. (n.d.). https://www.ncsbi.gov/Divisions/Cold-Case-Investigation-Team/Missing-Persons/Asha-Jaquilla-Degree
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 131: Who Killed Lyric Cook-Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins - Part 2 of 2

On July 13, 2012, 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins vanished while riding bikes in Evansdale, Iowa; their bikes and Elizabeth’s purse were found hours later at Meyers Lake. Five months later, their remains were discovered 25 miles away in the secluded, locals-only Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, and both deaths were ruled homicides (specific trauma details still sealed). After registered sex offender Michael Klunder abducted and murdered 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard in 2013 (using a daylight “job offer” ruse similar to the Evansdale case) and then killed himself, he became the prime suspect: he had a prior double toddler abduction, had been released from prison only months before the girls disappeared, and had ties near the body-dump site. Despite striking parallels and claims from prison acquaintances that they saw Klunder in Evansdale, authorities ruled him out in 2013–2014, citing undisclosed evidence placing him at work or home during the abduction window. The case remains unsolved in 2025, with the FBI profiling a single local offender familiar with both sites, new DNA testing underway, and a combined $200,000 reward still active.
 
Sources:
Iowa Cold Cases, Inc. (2025, October 2). Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins | Iowa Cold cases. Iowa Cold Cases. https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/lyric-cook-and-elizabeth-collins/
HBO Max. (2024, August 6). Episode 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBJ97l-ASDY
Hermiston, L. (2015, April 28). Letters from Evansdale officers show lack of confidence in former chief Smock. The Gazette - Local Iowa News, Sports, Obituaries, and Headlines – Cedar Rapids, Iowa City. https://www.thegazette.com/news/letters-from-evansdale-officers-show-lack-of-confidence-in-former-chief-smock/
 
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 130: Who Killed Lyric Cook-Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins - Part 1 of 2

In this podcast episode, we delve into the heartbreaking 2012 disappearance of 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and her 8-year-old cousin Elizabeth Collins from Evansdale, Iowa, a small, tight-knit community. On July 13, the girls, who were inseparable, vanished while biking near Meyers Lake. Their abandoned bikes and Elizabeth’s purse were soon discovered, triggering a massive search involving local police, the FBI, and volunteers. Despite draining the 33-acre lake and canvassing the area, no trace of the girls was found initially. The case, one of only 15 double child abductions in the U.S. from 1970 to 2012, garnered widespread media coverage.
 
Suspicion briefly fell on Lyric’s parents, Dan and Misty, due to their drug-related criminal past and initial reluctance to cooperate fully, including Dan’s failed polygraph test (later passed when sober). This focus created tension with Elizabeth’s parents and may have slowed the investigation. Five months later, on December 5, 2012, hunters found the girls’ remains 25 miles away in Seven Bridges Wildlife Park, confirming a tragic end. The case, believed to involve sexually motivated crimes, remains unsolved.The episode notes a similar 2013 abduction in Dayton, Iowa, 100 miles away, where a 12-year-old’s escape provided critical clues, to be explored in part two. Rewards totaling $200,000 are offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction. The host recommends the HBO Max series Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth? for visuals but warns of sensitive content involving child crimes.
 
Sources:
Iowa Cold Cases, Inc. (2025, October 2). Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins | Iowa Cold cases. Iowa Cold Cases. https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/lyric-cook-and-elizabeth-collins/
HBO Max. (2024, August 6). Episode 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBJ97l-ASDY
Hermiston, L. (2015, April 28). Letters from Evansdale officers show lack of confidence in former chief Smock. The Gazette - Local Iowa News, Sports, Obituaries, and Headlines – Cedar Rapids, Iowa City. https://www.thegazette.com/news/letters-from-evansdale-officers-show-lack-of-confidence-in-former-chief-smock/
 
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 129: What Really Happened to Chandra Levy?

When a beautiful 24-year-old intern living in Washington, DC goes missing, attention turns to the US congressman who has been accused of having an affair with her. After a series of police mishaps, the case grows cold until her remains are found a year later in a location that was erroneously never searched. A convicted rapist was charged with Chandra's murder and found guilty, but the sentence was later overturned after allegations of misconduct from the prosecutors, leaving Chandra's murder unsolved to this day. 
 
Sources: Rosner, E. (2025, September 13). Who killed Chandra Levy? inside the unsolved murder that still haunts D.C. 24 years later. People.com. https://people.com/chandra-levy-unsolved-murder-washington-dc-11803811
Chandra Ann Levy. (n.d.). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/chandra-ann-levy
HISTORY.com Editors. (2025, May 27). Chandra Levy’s remains found. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-22/chandra-levys-remains-found
Chandra Levy: An American Murder Mystery. (n.d.). Hulu. https://www.hulu.com/series/8b951aa4-4cb8-4b5e-aede-bf8631275cf5
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 128: Wes Craven's "Nightmare" Inspiration - An Oaktober Fest Special

Wes Craven's 1984 horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced Freddy Krueger, a dream-stalking slasher who kills teens in their sleep—kills that become real—and was inspired by a chilling true epidemic of Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS) among Southeast Asian refugees in the late 1970s–80s. A young Cambodian survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide (1975–79, ~2 million dead) resettled in the U.S., tormented by nightmares of being chased, resisted sleep for days, then died mysteriously in bed with no autopsy findings; the CDC documented over 100 similar cases of healthy young Hmong, Laotian, and Cambodian men dying overnight. Locally explained via folklore—like the Philippine batibat hag or Thai widow ghost suffocating victims—these deaths were later linked to Brugada syndrome, a genetic heart arrhythmia triggered by stress, heavy meals, or PTSD, though the "hundred years' enigma" remains unsolved, blending real trauma with cinematic terror.
 
Sources:
Brugada syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/brugada-syndrome/
Chaloemthanetphong, A., Choowongkomon, K., Worrapitirungsi, W., Thangsiriskul, N., Sathirapatya, T., Sukawutthiya, P., Noh, H., Kanhar, A. A., Varrathyarom, P., Lertparinyaphorn, I., Natthasumon, N., Bongsebandhu-Phubhakdi, S., Auvichayapat, V., & Vongpaisarnsin, K. (2025). SCN5A missense variants and their contribution to deaths in Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS). Forensic Science International Genetics, 76, 103237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2025.103237
www.history.com/news/nightmare-on-elm-street-real-inspiration-hmong-death
 
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/10/movies/freddy-krueger-nightmare-on-elm-street-anniversary.html
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 127: Where is Diane Augat? - An Oaktober Fest Special

40-year-old Diane Augat left her sister's Hudson, Florida home the morning of April 10, 1998, and never returned. Just a few days later, Diane's mother received a disturbing voicemail with Diane screaming for help before the call disconnected. Diane's family became even more terrified when Diane's severed finger was found alongside a Florida highway. 
Strangely, more clues potentially related to Diane's case were uncovered over the next year and a half leaving many to wonder.... Is it possible Diane is still alive?  
 
Sources: 
2222DFFL - Diane Louise Augat. (n.d.). https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2222dffl.html
Prosecutors Podcast. (2024, November 26). 278. The disappearance of Diane Augat -- third finger, left hand [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bla9QMJRM7M
Missing Person / NAMUS #MP10727 | NAMUS. (n.d.). NamUs. https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP10727
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 126: The Disappearance of Patricia Spencer and Pamela Hobley - An Oaktober Fest Special

On October 31, 1969, Patricia Spencer (16) and Pamela Hobley (15) vanished from Oscoda, Michigan. Both skipped school and were last seen walking along River Road, possibly heading to a homecoming game or Halloween party. Patricia was vibrant and family-oriented; Pamela was rebellious, recently engaged, and rumored to use drugs. Initially considered runaways, police later concluded they were likely abducted while hitchhiking and murdered. A motorist’s report of giving them a ride and a 1985 tip about their murder near a barn were ignored until 2010, when Chief Mark David reopened the case. Searches yielded no evidence, and a 2013 person of interest led nowhere. Theories link the case to serial killer Rodney Alcala (due to a photo resembling Pamela) and the Oakland County Child Killer, but neither fully fits. The case remains unsolved, with no bodies or closure.
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 125: Psychic Detectives - An Oaktober Fest Special

When faced with an unsolved case, sometimes authorities are willing to think outside of the box.... but consulting a psychic????  While some police agencies and investigators claim to have received valuable information from psychics in real cases, there is a general skepticism within law enforcement and the public due to a lack of concrete evidence and the potential for public ridicule. However, psychic detectives have been featured in numerous television shows and media, providing captivating narratives of how paranormal phenomena could be used to solve true crimes. In honor of Oaktoberfest, this episode is a compilation of cases where psychics were able to provide detailed information that ultimately helped solve real true crime cases.
Sources:Cahn, L. (2024, July 11). 20 mysteries actually solved by psychics. Reader’s Digest. https://www.rd.com/list/mysteries-solved-by-psychics/
The Yale Daily News. (2012, November 10). Dead men tell tales in trial for 28-year old murder - Yale Daily News. Yale Daily News. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2002/02/11/dead-men-tell-tales-in-trial-for-28-year-old-murder/
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Top-50-13250472.php
Wiki, C. T. U. M. (n.d.). John DeMars. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki. https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/John_DeMars
Call, M. (2021, October 2). BELVIDERE MAN GETS LIFE PLUS 20 FOR HAMMER KILLING. The Morning Call. https://www.mcall.com/1989/10/07/belvidere-man-gets-life-plus-20-for-hammer-killing/
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep