Southern Gone

Rhonda Smith went missing from the Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, Georgia on February 27, 1984. She was 21 years old at the time of her disappearance. Rhonda was a former exotic dancer and was preparing to open her own dog grooming business. Rhonda left her house on the morning of February 27. She was going to the gym and had plans to go shopping at the Lenox Square Mall afterward. Rhonda’s fiancee, Tom Shoemaker, started to get concerned when she did not return to their home that evening. Her car was later found abandoned in the mall parking lot in the early hours of February 28. Laura Boscoe is the co-host of this episode. She is a fan of the podcast, patreon member, and has been helping with our Carrie Lawson Documentary. If you have any information about this case please call the Atlanta Police Department at 404-546-5602. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

The disappearance of the Fort Worth Trio took place nearly 45 years ago. On December 23, 1974 three girls - Rachel Trlica (17 years old), Renee Wilson (14 years old), and Julie Moseley (9 years old) - disappeared from the Seminary South Shopping Center in Fort Worth, Texas. That morning Rachel asked her friend Renee to go to the mall with her to run some last minute holiday errands. As the teenage girls were getting ready to leave, Renee’s neighbor, 9 year old Julie Mosely, asked to tag along. The girls were supposed to return home around 4 pm. That evening, when no one had seen or heard from them, their families went to the mall. There was no sign of the girls, however the car they were driving, a 1972 Oldsmobile, was still in the mall parking lot. Several witnesses confirmed seeing the girls at the mall that day but didn’t report anything out of the ordinary. Initially, the police did not suspect any foul play and believed the trio had runaway. Dana Pioll, librarian and writer, is the co-host of this episode. She is a fan of the podcast and has been researching cases of the missing and unidentified for the past 12 years. Dana does an excellent job laying out the facts of the case and discussing multiple theories of what may have happened to these girls. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Susan Osborne, 43 years old, and her son, Evan Chartrand, 14 years old, were last seen on May 29, 2017 in Holtville, Alabama. They were living with her second husband Air Force veteran Jerry Marshall Osborne. Susan’s family filed a missing person report on July 29, 2017, 2 months after not hearing from her. Her two dogs were found at a nearby animal shelter. Jerry told police that Susan had actually left him on May 29 and a man had picked her and her son up from the house. She returned the next day and took all of her belongings. Since the disappearance there has been no activity on Susan’s credit cards or cell phone records. Susan’s best friend Hollie Hatfield says she does not believe Jerry’s story. Her and Susan were extremely close and she had never heard anything about another man. Hollie has told investigators that she believes Jerry knows more than he is telling police. Join Kristi as she interviews Maggie Hughes, a podcast listener, patreon member, and armchair detective, who has taken a personal interest in this case. Maggie focused on this case because she is from Alabama and was surprised by the lack of media coverage. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office at 334-567-5441 (24 hour phone) or 334-567-5227 (crime tips). Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Christopher “Cole” Thomas went missing on November 25, 2016, from Benson, North Carolina. He was 22 years old at the time of his disappearance. According to investigators he was taking a road trip from Minnesota to Durham, North Carolina with two new friends - Jeremy Carpenter and Julian Valles Jr. The three men were planning on buying drugs from an acquaintance in North Carolina. After obtaining drugs the three men drove past a police car. Cole became very nervous and threw the drugs out of the car. According to Jeremy and Julian, Cole fled from his car shortly after 1 a.m. No one has seen or heard from Cole since. Join Kristi as she interviews Laura Raynor, a podcast listener and armchair detective, who has taken a personal interest in this case. Laura has such a passion for this case she went to CrimeCon in New Orleans to help raise awareness of Cole’s disappearance. You can follow the Facebook page “Find Cole Thomas” facebook.com/findcolethomas/ to stay updated on this case. Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Christopher Cole Thomas is asked to contact Benson Police at 919-894-2091. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Jennifer Kesse went missing on January 24, 2006 from Orlando, Florida. Jennifer did not come in to work that day and missed an important meeting. This was unlike her so her work contacted her parents to let them know what was going on. Her parents, Drew and Joyce Kesse, drove to Jennifer’s apartment to check on her. Everything appeared in order at her apartment, however her car was missing. Her car was later discovered about one mile from her home. The only piece of evidence in this case is a grainy video that shows a figure dropping off Jennifer’s car where it was found. If you have any information about this case call Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) and remain anonymous or call Orlando Police at 407-246-2916. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

John Adam Brewer Jr. went missing on May 8, 2013, from Nashville, Tennessee. He had a successful career as a Captain with the Davidson County Sheriff's Department. He was last seen at the Community Bank and Trust in Pegram which is roughly 20 miles east of Nashville. John struggled with mental illness and has not been seen or heard from since he disappeared. Kristi speaks with John's daughter Brandi Stockton about her father and his mysterious disappearance. His family is desperately searching for answers and have started a Facebook Group called Missing: John Adam Brewer Jr. If you have any information about John’s disappearance please call Detective Kenneth Miller with the Cheatham County Sheriff's Department at 615-792-2021. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Jessica Hamby was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. She was last seen on January 2, 2018 in Haleyville, Alabama. She left a drug detox facility with an acquaintance named Alicia that morning. She was reportedly last seen at the residence of Raymond Edwards with several other acquaintances. No one has seen or heard from her since then. Jessica wanted to be a nurse and has 3 young children. Her father, Keith, described her as a sweet girl and a hard worker. This episode features an interview with Keith Hamby, Jessica’s father, and Jeff Means, private investigator, of Sound Mind Investigations. Jeff has been working closely with Jessica’s family to find out what happened to her. If you have any information about Jessica’s disappearance please contact the Marion County Sheriff's office at (205)-921-2101 or Jeff Means of Sound Mind Investigations at (256)-508-0047. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Southern Gone featuring the disappearance of Brian Samples. Brian’s family recently contacted Kristi to ask if she could help raise awareness about Brian’s case. Brian went missing on July 6, 2019 and was last seen in East Dublin, Georgia. He had recently left a rehab facility where he was being treated for alcoholism. The last anyone heard from Brian was a text that he sent to a handful of people that said "I think I am about to be robbed". Brian’s family is committed to finding out what happened to him. If you have any information about Brian’s disappearance, please call the Dodge County Sheriff's office at 478-559-1130. You can also contact Brian’s sister Lori at briansamplesmissing@gmail.com. To stay informed about this case visit the Facebook page @briansamplesmissing. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone! Sources: https://www.macon.com/news/local/article233382942.html https://wgxa.tv/news/local/dodge-investigators-need-help-finding-missing-man

Welcome to Part 3 of our investigation into the disappearance of Chris Sanders. This episode features an interview with Tina Sparks, a close friend of the Sanders family. Tina helped Chris’s mom Sandy file his missing person report and has been supporting her efforts to find out what happened to Chris. Chris was last seen on Sunday, August 13, 2017. He was living in a trailer park in Monahans County, Texas. He had moved there in April 2017 to work in the oil fields with his mother’s brother-in-law. The day before his disappearance he was having dinner with co-workers. They reported that he appeared agitated and had an animated phone call with his wife Angela. The next morning he went for a walk around 9:30 am. His mother’s brother-in-law’s nephew tried to call Chris but his phone was turned off. His wife Angela also tried to reach him several times that day. No one has seen or spoken to Chris since the morning of August 13, 2017. If you have any information on Chris’s disappearance, please call the Monahans Police Department at (432) 943-3254. You can also contact Kristi directly at southerngone@gmail.com. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone! Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/texas-man-chris-sanders-vanishes-while-walk-near-his-home-n847296 http://charleyproject.org/case/christopher-lynn-sanders https://www.facebook.com/bringdogghome

Welcome to Part 2 of our investigation into the disappearance of Chris Sanders. This episode features an interview with Karen Knuckles, a close family friend of Chris Sanders. Chris was last seen on Sunday, August 13, 2017. He was living in a trailer park in Monahans County, Texas. He had moved there in April 2017 to work in the oil fields with his mother’s brother-in-law. The day before his disappearance he was having dinner with co-workers. They reported that he appeared agitated and had an animated phone call with his wife Angela. The next morning he went for a walk around 9:30 am. His mother’s brother-in-law’s nephew tried to call Chris but his phone was turned off. His wife Angela also tried to reach him several times that day. No one has seen or spoken to Chris since the morning of August 13, 2017. If you have any information on Chris’s disappearance, please call the Monahans Police Department at (432) 943-3254. You can also contact Kristi directly at southerngone@gmail.com. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Chris Sanders was last seen on Sunday, August 13, 2017. He was living in a trailer park in Monahans County, Texas. He had moved there in April 2017 to work in the oil fields with his mother’s brother-in-law. The day before his disappearance he was having dinner with co-workers. They reported that he appeared agitated and had an animated phone call with his wife Angela. The next morning he went for a walk around 9:30 am. His mother’s brother-in-law’s nephew tried to call Chris but his phone was turned off. His wife Angela also tried to reach him several times that day. No one has seen or spoken to Chris since the morning of August 13, 2017. Chris’s mother Sandy Sanders has been desperately trying to find her son. This episode features an interview with Sandy. She describes her son as the life of the party, people-oriented, and dependable. He was dedicated to taking care of his family and his kids were everything to him. Sandy shared that Chris was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and had been taking medication for it. She suspects he may have stopped taking his medication prior to his disappearance. If you have any information on Chris’s disappearance, please call the Monahans Police Department at (432) 943-3254. You can also contact Kristi directly at southerngone@gmail.com. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Welcome to part 4 of our investigation into the Carrie Smith Lawson disappearance! We are not done with this case and are still looking for answers. Carrie was kidnapped in 1991 in Jasper, Alabama and has never been seen again. Did Jerry Bland, one of Carrie’s kidnappers, really kill himself or was he murdered? How involved was Karen McPherson in the kidnapping and should she be serving a life sentence? Finally, we discuss the corruption that is deep rooted in Walker County, Alabama and try to figure out who the real mastermind was in Carrie’s disappearance and presumed murder. Join Kristi as she delves back into the Carrie Lawson case with an exclusive interview with James Lancaster, Karen’s brother. We continue to believe there is more to this story and more people involved in Carrie's disappearance than the one person, Karen McPherson, in prison for her kidnapping. Who were the others, not including Jerry Bland and Karen McPherson, who were a part of this kidnapping? Our hope is to bring everyone who was involved in Carrie’s case to justice. We also want to bring peace and justice to Carrie’s family. If you have information about this case please contact Kristi at southerngone@gmail.com. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a 5-star review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

Welcome to part 3 of our investigation into the Carrie Smith Lawson disappearance! We believe there is more to this story and more people involved in Carrie's disappearance than the one person, Karen McPherson, in prison for her kidnapping. Join Kristi as she delves back into the Carrie Lawson case with an exclusive interview with one of Karen McPherson’s close family members. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a 5-star review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone! Sources: https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/09/carrie_lawson_disappeared_25_y.html https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/02/us/kidnapped-woman-still-missing-as-suspect-is-an-apparent-suicide.html

Carrie Lawson was kidnapped on September 11, 1991, in Jasper, Alabama. She was 25 years old and recently graduated from the University of Alabama Law School. This stunning case still haunts the community and her family 28 years later. Join Kristi as she delves back into the Carrie Lawson case with Carrie’s sister Margaret Smith Kubiszyn. If you want to hear part 1 of this story listen to Episode 9 before you listen to this episode. The kidnapping happened around 3 a.m. at the home Carrie shared with her husband, 26-year-old Earl Lawson. They received a middle-of-the-night call from a woman claiming to be a nurse who said a close family member was at the hospital. As the couple left for the hospital, a gunman appeared at their vehicle. He forced Earl to the ground and instructed Carrie to bind her husband with duct tape. The gunman, Jerry Bland, demanded a ransom in exchange for the safe return for Carrie. Carrie’s family was willing to pay the $300,000 ransom in order to get their daughter back. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Karen McPherson, Jerry Bland’s cousin, has been serving 25 years in prison for the kidnapping of Carrie Lawson but to this day Carrie has never been found. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a 5-star review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone!

John Smith South Jr., U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, was last seen in Mountain City, Tennessee on December 17, 1998. He was 54 years old at the time of his disappearance. His daughter, Pam Brambson, and granddaughter went to visit him on December 20. However, when they arrived he was not home. Pam said this was strange and it was out of character for John not show up when they had plans. His white 1985 Subaru Justy Hatchback was also missing. Pam and her family suspected foul play from the beginning. It has been 21 years since John disappeared and his daughter is still wondering what happened to her dad. This episode features an exclusive interview with John’s daughter Pam. If you have information related to John’s disappearance, please contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND or email one..helpfindjohnsouth@yahoo.com. Southern Gone is an independently produced podcast. This means everything we do is on our time and our dime. If you enjoy this podcast please leave a 5-star review and comment for a chance to be featured on a future episode. For everything Southern Gone visit our website www.SouthernGone.com. Investigating these cold cases is truly our passion project and we would not be able to do it without you! If you would like to support this podcast consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/southerngone. Grab a chair, a glass of sweet tea, and get GONE with Southern Gone! Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/cold-case-spotlight/vietnam-veteran-john-smith-south-still-missing-two-decades-after-n950891 http://www.missingveterans.com/1998/john-smith-south/ http://charleyproject.org/case/john-smith-south-jr