The Dark Oak

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

Episode 124: The Disappearance of Tara Calico

Tara Leigh Calico, a 19-year-old college student, vanished on September 20, 1988, during a 35-mile bike ride on New Mexico State Road 47. Known for her active and organized nature, she left with her mother’s pink Huffy bike and a Sony Walkman. When she didn’t return by noon, her mother, Patty Doel, found her Boston cassette tape on the roadside and alerted police, who responded swiftly. Scattered Walkman pieces suggested Tara marked her trail, but her bike was never found.
 
Witnesses reported a suspicious light-colored 1950s Ford truck with a camper shell trailing Tara. Barron Freeman and Ishmael Delarosa described a sinister driver, but police dismissed Delarosa’s account. In 1989, a Polaroid in Florida showed a bound woman resembling Tara, though analyses were inconclusive. More photos later surfaced, adding mystery.
 
Declared dead by homicide in 1998, the case saw unproven claims in 2008 of teens accidentally killing her. A 2013 task force, 2019 FBI reward, 2021 search warrant, and 2023 suspect identification yielded no charges. Theories include abduction by locals or a serial killer like David Parker Ray, but no evidence confirms this. Tara’s parents died without answers; her father’s 2002 death was ruled a homicide after a robbery-induced heart attack. The case remains an active FBI kidnapping investigation.
 
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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

RE-RELEASE The Mysterious Death of Tina Watson

Imagine looking at your scuba diving vacation photos and seeing the figure of a woman laying lifeless on the bottom of the ocean floor....
When Gabe and Tina Watson go on their scuba diving honeymoon, Tina drowns and only Gabe comes home.
Was it a tragic accident or did Gabe drown his wife? 
 
Sources:
O’Loughlin, T. (2017, July 15). Husband admits killing wife in scuba death on Great Barrier Reef. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/05/man-guilty-manslaughter-wife-scuba-death
Crimes, C. (n.d.). Tina Watson. Chilling Crimes. https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/tina-watson
Facts About The Death Of Tina Watson And Her "Honeymoon Killer" Husband's Trial (ranker.com)
Stephens, C. (2018, June 26). The chilling story behind this photo - the last image of 26-year-old Tina Watson. Mamamia. https://www.mamamia.com.au/tina-watson-death/

Episode 123: Where is Ben Tyner?

When a riderless working horse was found frightened and alone on the side of a logging road, the ranching community in Merritt, British Columbia immediately knew that something was very wrong. It was quickly determined that the horse belonged to 32-year-old cowboy, Ben Tyner. A huge search and rescue team immediately went into action but the only clue as to what may have happened was a broken reign. Ben was likeable and had no known connection to the criminal world, yet the Royal Canadian Mounted Police eventually announced they believed Ben was the victim of foul play. It's been 6 years since Ben was last seen and his family is still hoping and praying for answers and closure. 
 
Sources:
https://shows.acast.com/truenorthtruecrime/episodes/missing-ben-tyner
https://www.merrittherald.com/nicola-ranch-awarded-angus-breeder-of-the-year-2022/
 
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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 122: The Galapagos Affair

The Galapagos Affair is a gripping tale of idealism, conflict, and mystery set on the remote Floreana Island in the Galapagos during the early 1930s. In 1929, Dr. Friedrich Ritter and Dore Strauch, both disillusioned with modern life, left their spouses in Germany to pursue a solitary, Nietzsche-inspired existence on Floreana, building a home called Friedo and living as vegetarians. Their dream soured as Dore’s multiple sclerosis worsened and Friedrich’s harsh demeanor strained their relationship. In 1932, the Wittmer family—Heinz, Margret, and their frail son—arrived, seeking a healthier life, but were met with hostility from Friedrich and Dore. Tensions escalated with the arrival of the flamboyant Baroness Eloise von Wagner and her lovers, Rudolf Lorenz and Robert Philippson, who planned to build a hotel, Hacienda Paradiso, and clashed with the others by seizing a vital freshwater spring and intercepting their letters. A 1934 drought intensified conflicts, and in March, the Baroness and Philippson vanished after Margret claimed they left for Tahiti—a story doubted due to no recorded ship and their belongings remaining. Lorenz, a suspect, disappeared with a Norwegian fisherman, their bodies later found on Marchena, likely from dehydration. In November, Friedrich died after eating contaminated chicken, officially an accident, but conflicting accounts from Dore and Margret suggest possible foul play. Dore returned to Germany, publishing Satan in Eden, while the Wittmers stayed, later opening a successful hotel. The 2014 documentary The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden and the 2024 film Eden explore this unresolved mystery, leaving questions about murder, betrayal, or escape in a paradise turned sinister.
 
Sources:
The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came To Eden (2013)  Documentary, biography, crime. (2014, July 25). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2960450/
Jared, J., & Jared, J. (2025, September 1). The Galapagos Affair- the unbelievable true story behind the movie. Happy Gringo Travel. https://happygringo.com/blog/the-galapagos-affair/
Minster, C. (2025, April 29). The Galapagos Affair. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/unsolved-murder-mystery-the-galapagos-affair-2136125
 
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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