https://epdopendata-cityofelgin.hub.arcgis.com/pages/cold-casesSomebody Knows Something: The Elgin Police Cold Case Podcast was created by the Elgin Police Department and is recorded with assistance of WRMN 1410 in Elgin, Illinois. Detective Andrew Houghton, Detective Christopher Hall, and Detective Matt Vartanian of the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit host the podcast and take listeners along as they investigate missing persons and homicide cases in real time and seek justice for the victims and closure for their families. This podcast includes actual police interviews, re-creations, and information that has never been released publicly as the Elgin Police Department seeks assistance from the community.
Season 1, Where is Karen? follows Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian as they investigate the disappearance of 23-year-old Karen Schepers, who, along with her car, disappeared without a trace after a night out with co-workers on April 16, 1983.
Season 2, Elgin: The 1970’s follows Detective Andrew Houghton and his new partner, Detective Chris Hall, as they review five cold case homicides and one missing person case, all from the 1970s.   Over the course of this season, they investigate the shootings of Guadalupe Alanis in 1971 and Maynard Chester Holley in 1975, the murder of 16-year-old Lori Bolger and the disappearance of 14-year-old Barbara Glueckert in 1976, the stabbing of Cayce Kyles in 1977, and the murder of Renee Tovar in 1979. 
Season 3, Wyteria is Missing follows Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall as they re-investigate the disappearance of 45-year-old Wyteria Jones, who vanished from the Douglas Hotel in downtown Elgin in the fall of 1982. A new member, Detective Beth Sterricker, also joins the unit and Sergeant Matt Vartanian returns to assist with Wyteria's investigation.
Anyone with information on any of the cold cases discussed are encouraged to contact the Elgin Police Department via email at ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov or via phone at 1-847-289-COLD. A list of all cold case missing persons and homicide cases as well as additional information about the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit can be found at www.ElginColdCases.com. 
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is based on information sourced primarily from police reports and media reports, but certain names and other identifying details may have been changed or altered for privacy and security reasons. While the events and cases discussed are based on real investigations, some aspects may be simplified for time and for narrative purposes. Voice actors may be used to read from statements or documents. All information presented is intended solely to inform and raise awareness. Hosts may discuss theories regarding the cases examined in this podcast, but such discussions are not intended to, and should not be considered by the listener to be, legal conclusions. All persons discussed are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Listener discretion is advised.
]]>enTrue CrimeEPD Cold Casehttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/41bc4e20c435141390cd5447aca693fa.jpghttps://epdopendata-cityofelgin.hub.arcgis.com/pages/cold-casesTue, 28 Jul 2026 14:26:10 +0000EPD Cold CaseEPD Cold Caseinfo@wrmn1410.comIn May of 2024, Elgin (IL) Police Chief Ana Lalley created the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit to take a fresh look at unsolved homicides and missing persons cases with the belief that dedicating resources and using new technology will help...Somebody Knows Something: The Elgin Police Cold Case Podcast was created by the Elgin Police Department and is recorded with assistance of WRMN 1410 in Elgin, Illinois. Detective Andrew Houghton, Detective Christopher Hall, and Detective Matt Vartanian of the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit host the podcast and take listeners along as they investigate missing persons and homicide cases in real time and seek justice for the victims and closure for their families. This podcast includes actual police interviews, re-creations, and information that has never been released publicly as the Elgin Police Department seeks assistance from the community.
Season 1, Where is Karen? follows Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian as they investigate the disappearance of 23-year-old Karen Schepers, who, along with her car, disappeared without a trace after a night out with co-workers on April 16, 1983.
Season 2, Elgin: The 1970’s follows Detective Andrew Houghton and his new partner, Detective Chris Hall, as they review five cold case homicides and one missing person case, all from the 1970s.   Over the course of this season, they investigate the shootings of Guadalupe Alanis in 1971 and Maynard Chester Holley in 1975, the murder of 16-year-old Lori Bolger and the disappearance of 14-year-old Barbara Glueckert in 1976, the stabbing of Cayce Kyles in 1977, and the murder of Renee Tovar in 1979. 
Season 3, Wyteria is Missing follows Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall as they re-investigate the disappearance of 45-year-old Wyteria Jones, who vanished from the Douglas Hotel in downtown Elgin in the fall of 1982. A new member, Detective Beth Sterricker, also joins the unit and Sergeant Matt Vartanian returns to assist with Wyteria's investigation.
Anyone with information on any of the cold cases discussed are encouraged to contact the Elgin Police Department via email at ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov or via phone at 1-847-289-COLD. A list of all cold case missing persons and homicide cases as well as additional information about the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit can be found at www.ElginColdCases.com. 
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is based on information sourced primarily from police reports and media reports, but certain names and other identifying details may have been changed or altered for privacy and security reasons. While the events and cases discussed are based on real investigations, some aspects may be simplified for time and for narrative purposes. Voice actors may be used to read from statements or documents. All information presented is intended solely to inform and raise awareness. Hosts may discuss theories regarding the cases examined in this podcast, but such discussions are not intended to, and should not be considered by the listener to be, legal conclusions. All persons discussed are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Listener discretion is advised.
]]>falsetrueepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e10-still-waiting--73215150
Thank you to all those who have helped in this season. Follow for more information on upcoming cases and episodes. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73215150Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:11:07 +0000EPD Cold CaseThe Detectives look back on this season, and the new information updating a decades long investigation. They are still looking for Wyteria, but now have an updated case to help bring her home.  Thank you to all those who have helped in this season....
Thank you to all those who have helped in this season. Follow for more information on upcoming cases and episodes. ]]>1325false310fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e9-tennessee--73074045https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73074045Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:23:08 +0000EPD Cold CaseThe Detectives finally located some extended family for Wyteria who agreed to assist them with this case and who agreed to provide the DNA that they need for Wyteria’s investigation. For this episode, Beth, Andrew, and Chris work further on this case...1105false39fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e8-family-trees--72743316In this episode, the Detectives discuss their work on Wyteria’s case as they continue their search for her.  Wyteria would have turned 89 just last month on May 1st, if she is still alive. And while that is possible, it may not be very likely.  So, we have to at least consider the possibility that Wyteria Jones is dead and still waiting to be found. And the Detectives have a few tools in their tool box. 

This episode includes AI-generated content.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72743316Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:28:53 +0000trueEPD Cold CaseIn this episode, the Detectives discuss their work on Wyteria’s case as they continue their search for her.  Wyteria would have turned 89 just last month on May 1st, if she is still alive. And while that is possible, it may not be very likely.  So, we...In this episode, the Detectives discuss their work on Wyteria’s case as they continue their search for her.  Wyteria would have turned 89 just last month on May 1st, if she is still alive. And while that is possible, it may not be very likely.  So, we have to at least consider the possibility that Wyteria Jones is dead and still waiting to be found. And the Detectives have a few tools in their tool box. 

This episode includes AI-generated content.]]>1512false38fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e7-unidentified-remains--72567237
This episode includes AI-generated content.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72567237Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:34:45 +0000trueEPD Cold CaseOver the past several episodes, the detectives have travelled to Elgin, Joliet, Aurora, and Chicago as they seek more information in Wyteria’s case.  Now, they want to look at the forensic options they have moving forward.   For this episode, the...
This episode includes AI-generated content.]]>1420false37fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e6-chicago--72285152https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72285152Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:43:40 +0000EPD Cold CaseIn this episode, we are travelling outside of Elgin once again to the City of Chicago to see the neighborhood where the Jones family lived in the late 1960’s before moving to Aurora…the same neighborhood that Waymon Jones lived in November of 1967...1896false36fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e5-aurora--72055193

























]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72055193Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:02 +0000EPD Cold CaseThis episode takes them to Aurora, a city with deep ties to Wyteria's past and a direct bus line that could have brought her right to her old doorstep. But Aurora also means revisiting the man who reported her missing: her husband, Waymon Jones. With...

























]]>1343false35fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e4-joliet--71856006https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71856006Mon, 04 May 2026 14:21:00 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives leave Elgin and head southwest to Joliet, Illinois — chasing one of their strongest theories in the search for missing woman Wyteria Jones. Could she have quietly slipped away to another city in 1982? The detectives trace every route she...1828false34fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e3-longer-than-we-knew--71493438https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71493438Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:01:40 +0000EPD Cold CaseIn this episode, newly uncovered records turn the entire investigation upside down — revealing a timeline no one expected and connections to Elgin that run far deeper than anyone knew. Detective Beth Sterricker joins the team to break it all down, and...1339false33fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e2-elgin--71132605https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71132605Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:00:02 +0000EPD Cold CaseIn 1982, Wyteria Jones vanished from a rundown Elgin, Illinois hotel where she was living as an outpatient of the Elgin Mental Health Center. Over 40 years later, her case remains unsolved. In this episode of the Elgin Police Department's Cold Case...2211false32fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3e1-wyteria-is-missing--70830527Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall introduce listeners to Wyteria, a Black woman from rural Tennessee whose family roots stretch back to the Civil War Era. After moving north to Illinois, Wyteria found herself in Elgin in the spring of 1982, staying at the Douglas Hotel while receiving mental health treatment. When the hotel closed that October, she walked out with her luggage — and was never seen or heard from again.
What makes this case especially challenging? Her disappearance wasn't reported to police until January 1983, nearly four months later. The case file is thin. And the detectives are left with more questions than answers: Where was she going? Did she make it there? And why did she stop cashing her government checks and contacting her children — forever?
In this season opener, the detectives share what little is known, lay out five working theories, and make a direct appeal to the public for help. If you knew Wyteria, lived at the Douglas Hotel, or have any information about her whereabouts in the fall of 1982 — somebody knows something.
Tips can be submitted at www.ElginColdCases.com or by calling the Cold Case tipline at 847-289-COLD.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70830527Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:54:43 +0000EPD Cold CaseSeason 3 of Somebody Knows Something — the Elgin Police Department's Cold Case Podcast — opens a brand new case: the 1982 disappearance of Wyteria Jones. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall introduce listeners to Wyteria, a Black woman from...Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall introduce listeners to Wyteria, a Black woman from rural Tennessee whose family roots stretch back to the Civil War Era. After moving north to Illinois, Wyteria found herself in Elgin in the spring of 1982, staying at the Douglas Hotel while receiving mental health treatment. When the hotel closed that October, she walked out with her luggage — and was never seen or heard from again.
What makes this case especially challenging? Her disappearance wasn't reported to police until January 1983, nearly four months later. The case file is thin. And the detectives are left with more questions than answers: Where was she going? Did she make it there? And why did she stop cashing her government checks and contacting her children — forever?
In this season opener, the detectives share what little is known, lay out five working theories, and make a direct appeal to the public for help. If you knew Wyteria, lived at the Douglas Hotel, or have any information about her whereabouts in the fall of 1982 — somebody knows something.
Tips can be submitted at www.ElginColdCases.com or by calling the Cold Case tipline at 847-289-COLD.]]>1836false31fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s3-bonus-episode-still-missing--70661462
As the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit heads into 2026 and prepares for Season 3 of Somebody Knows Something, Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall are taking stock of every open missing persons case in their files — and asking the public for help finding answers for families still waiting. The unit is also growing. Detective Beth Sterricker brings nearly two decades of Elgin Police experience to the team, and Sergeant Matt Vartanian — co-host of Season 1 — is back, this time overseeing the Cold Case Unit as part of his new role in the Major Investigations Division. Four people are still missing. Their families are still waiting. Franco Loyo was 61 years old when he walked north along N. Airlite Street in Elgin on the evening of April 19, 2023, and was never seen again. Listed as missing and endangered, his case will officially become a cold case in April 2026 — but his family isn't waiting for a label. Maynor Escalante-Martinez was just 16 — an unaccompanied minor placed with a sponsor family in Elgin — when he was reported missing on June 29, 2021, after allegedly leaving with a man claiming to be his uncle. He would be 20 years old today. Whether he left safely or not, no one has been able to confirm it. Chad P. Smith was reported missing in February 2021 after his family hadn't heard from him since December of 2020. Unconfirmed sightings have placed him on the south side of Chicago, but his whereabouts have never been verified. His mother is still in Elgin. She is still looking. Daren Wood was 24 years old when he stopped by his mother's east-side Elgin home in July 2017 and promised he'd be back in two days. He never came back. Eight years of investigation, including cross-referencing his case against unidentified remains in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, has yet to bring his family closure. There is one piece of good news. Willie Wilder, previously on the unit's caseload after disappearing in December 2021, was found alive in South Elgin in September 2025 — proof that these cases can be resolved. But behind the four open cases is a fifth that goes back even further. In the fall of 1982, Wyteria Jones was last seen near the Douglas Hotel in downtown Elgin and vanished. Hers is the oldest cold case missing persons investigation in the unit's files, and she will be the focus of the full Season 3 investigation launching in March. Someone out there knows something about each of these people. If you have information, contact the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit at ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov, call 847-289-COLD, or visit www.ElginColdCases.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70661462Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:14:38 +0000EPD Cold CaseBonus Episode – Still Missing As the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit heads into 2026 and prepares for Season 3 of Somebody Knows Something, Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall are taking stock of every open missing persons case in their...
As the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit heads into 2026 and prepares for Season 3 of Somebody Knows Something, Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall are taking stock of every open missing persons case in their files — and asking the public for help finding answers for families still waiting. The unit is also growing. Detective Beth Sterricker brings nearly two decades of Elgin Police experience to the team, and Sergeant Matt Vartanian — co-host of Season 1 — is back, this time overseeing the Cold Case Unit as part of his new role in the Major Investigations Division. Four people are still missing. Their families are still waiting. Franco Loyo was 61 years old when he walked north along N. Airlite Street in Elgin on the evening of April 19, 2023, and was never seen again. Listed as missing and endangered, his case will officially become a cold case in April 2026 — but his family isn't waiting for a label. Maynor Escalante-Martinez was just 16 — an unaccompanied minor placed with a sponsor family in Elgin — when he was reported missing on June 29, 2021, after allegedly leaving with a man claiming to be his uncle. He would be 20 years old today. Whether he left safely or not, no one has been able to confirm it. Chad P. Smith was reported missing in February 2021 after his family hadn't heard from him since December of 2020. Unconfirmed sightings have placed him on the south side of Chicago, but his whereabouts have never been verified. His mother is still in Elgin. She is still looking. Daren Wood was 24 years old when he stopped by his mother's east-side Elgin home in July 2017 and promised he'd be back in two days. He never came back. Eight years of investigation, including cross-referencing his case against unidentified remains in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, has yet to bring his family closure. There is one piece of good news. Willie Wilder, previously on the unit's caseload after disappearing in December 2021, was found alive in South Elgin in September 2025 — proof that these cases can be resolved. But behind the four open cases is a fifth that goes back even further. In the fall of 1982, Wyteria Jones was last seen near the Douglas Hotel in downtown Elgin and vanished. Hers is the oldest cold case missing persons investigation in the unit's files, and she will be the focus of the full Season 3 investigation launching in March. Someone out there knows something about each of these people. If you have information, contact the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit at ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov, call 847-289-COLD, or visit www.ElginColdCases.com.]]>1109false3fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e8-the-final-murder-of-the-decade-1979-part-2--68270994https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68270994Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:28:41 +0000EPD Cold CaseIn this final episode of the season, Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit lay out the investigation into Renee’s murder in 1979, release new information about the case, and discuss potential links...2611false28fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e7-the-final-murder-of-the-decade-1979-part-1--68270878https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68270878Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:19:26 +0000EPD Cold CaseOn November 23, 1979, the day after Thanksgiving, Renee Cruz Tovar decided to stay home while her roommate went out on a date.  The following morning, November 24, 1979, her roommate returned home and found Renee murdered in their apartment.  In Part...1516false27fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e6-stabbed-in-the-alley-1977--68070649It was a warm, summer evening when 68-year-old Cayce D. Kyles strolled down an alley behind the Douglas Hotel in downtown Elgin on July 21, 1977. Moments later, he was attacked and stabbed to death less than a block from the Elgin Police Department. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit revisit the Cayce’s case and seek information from the public in his cold case murder.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68070649Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:09:24 +0000EPD Cold CaseIt was a warm, summer evening when 68-year-old Cayce D. Kyles strolled down an alley behind the Douglas Hotel in downtown Elgin on July 21, 1977. Moments later, he was attacked and stabbed to death less than a block from the Elgin Police Department....It was a warm, summer evening when 68-year-old Cayce D. Kyles strolled down an alley behind the Douglas Hotel in downtown Elgin on July 21, 1977. Moments later, he was attacked and stabbed to death less than a block from the Elgin Police Department. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit revisit the Cayce’s case and seek information from the public in his cold case murder.]]>1689false26fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e5-missing-in-kane-county-1976-part-2--67880944https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67880944Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:34:40 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit continue their investigation into the disappearance of Barbara Glueckert as they meet with retired Mount Prospect Detective Mike Nelson who worked on Barbara...2725false25fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e4-missing-in-kane-county-1976-part-1--67880923https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67880923Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:32:12 +0000EPD Cold CaseDuring “Season One: Where Is Karen?” Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian researched the previous tenant of Karen Schepers’ apartment, Thomas Urlacher.  They found that while he was not involved in Karen’s disappearance, he was the prime...2237false24fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e3-the-girl-in-the-grass-1976--67670025On the morning of June 22, 1976, 16-year-old Lori Jean Bolger left a summer driver’s ed class at Larkin High School to walk home to South Elgin, Illinois. She planned to meet friends to swim, but she never made it.  Less than two hours after she left the school, two workers found her body lying in a grassy field near Randall Road in Elgin.  Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit reopen Lori’s case file to discuss her life, her murder, and to seek answers in her case.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67670025Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:00:08 +0000EPD Cold CaseOn the morning of June 22, 1976, 16-year-old Lori Jean Bolger left a summer driver’s ed class at Larkin High School to walk home to South Elgin, Illinois. She planned to meet friends to swim, but she never made it.  Less than two hours after she left...On the morning of June 22, 1976, 16-year-old Lori Jean Bolger left a summer driver’s ed class at Larkin High School to walk home to South Elgin, Illinois. She planned to meet friends to swim, but she never made it.  Less than two hours after she left the school, two workers found her body lying in a grassy field near Randall Road in Elgin.  Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit reopen Lori’s case file to discuss her life, her murder, and to seek answers in her case.]]>1891false23fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e2-the-yellow-cab-murder-1975--67500783It was a cold, winter night when 47-year-old Maynard Chester Holley left his wife and children to head to work at the Yellow Cab Company in downtown Elgin on February 18, 1975.  Hours later, he was murdered in the office as he sat dispatching taxis.  Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit remember Maynard and review his case to seek new information.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67500783Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:00:08 +0000EPD Cold CaseIt was a cold, winter night when 47-year-old Maynard Chester Holley left his wife and children to head to work at the Yellow Cab Company in downtown Elgin on February 18, 1975.  Hours later, he was murdered in the office as he sat dispatching taxis. ...It was a cold, winter night when 47-year-old Maynard Chester Holley left his wife and children to head to work at the Yellow Cab Company in downtown Elgin on February 18, 1975.  Hours later, he was murdered in the office as he sat dispatching taxis.  Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit remember Maynard and review his case to seek new information.]]>1249coldcase,elgin,truecrimefalse22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e1-murder-at-the-foundry-1971--67313943https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67313943Mon, 11 Aug 2025 11:00:08 +0000EPD Cold CaseOn June 30, 1971, a 35-year-old foreman at the Woodruff and Edwards Foundry, Guadalupe Alanis, was murdered while working in downtown Elgin.  Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall of the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit review Guadalupe’s...1352false21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e12-bonus-episode-reflections-future-plans--67184710https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67184710Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:55:07 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit make an announcement for Season Two and introduce a new detective, Chris Hall, as Matt is promoted and leaves the unit.  Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley also...2240false112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e11-remembering-karen-schepers--66048012Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit reflect on the past 6 months of this investigation with Karen’s family, friends, and coworkers as Karen finally comes home and is laid to rest.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66048012Mon, 12 May 2025 05:00:11 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit reflect on the past 6 months of this investigation with Karen’s family, friends, and coworkers as Karen finally comes home and is laid to rest.Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit reflect on the past 6 months of this investigation with Karen’s family, friends, and coworkers as Karen finally comes home and is laid to rest.]]>2602false111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e10-closing-the-case--65781011Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit wrap up Karen’s cold case investigation by detailing the final steps in Karen’s case and they discuss what they believed most likely happened to Karen on that fateful night in April of 1983.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65781011Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:38:40 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit wrap up Karen’s cold case investigation by detailing the final steps in Karen’s case and they discuss what they believed most likely happened to Karen on...Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit wrap up Karen’s cold case investigation by detailing the final steps in Karen’s case and they discuss what they believed most likely happened to Karen on that fateful night in April of 1983.]]>1346false110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e9-chaos-divers--65561948Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit speak with Jacob Grubbs and Lindsay Bussick from Chaos Divers, the group which was instrumental in bringing Karen Schepers home, to talk about their organization, their experience in search and recovery, and their amazing work on Karen’s case. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65561948Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:00:09 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit speak with Jacob Grubbs and Lindsay Bussick from Chaos Divers, the group which was instrumental in bringing Karen Schepers home, to talk about their...Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit speak with Jacob Grubbs and Lindsay Bussick from Chaos Divers, the group which was instrumental in bringing Karen Schepers home, to talk about their organization, their experience in search and recovery, and their amazing work on Karen’s case. ]]>1934false19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e8-the-dive--65243171Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit search the Fox River with the Illinois-based search and recovery team Chaos Divers and make a discovery almost 42 years in the making. 
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65243171Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:00:08 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit search the Fox River with the Illinois-based search and recovery team Chaos Divers and make a discovery almost 42 years in the making. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit search the Fox River with the Illinois-based search and recovery team Chaos Divers and make a discovery almost 42 years in the making. 
]]>1648false18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e7-bodies-of-water--64901074Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit move up their original Theory #6, that Karen and her car are submerged in a body of water, as new tips come in and new technology becomes available.  They identify the routes that Karen would have likely taken, travel those routes, and follow-up on new tips about a car recently discovered in the Fox River.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64901074Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:05:07 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit move up their original Theory #6, that Karen and her car are submerged in a body of water, as new tips come in and new technology becomes available.  They...Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit move up their original Theory #6, that Karen and her car are submerged in a body of water, as new tips come in and new technology becomes available.  They identify the routes that Karen would have likely taken, travel those routes, and follow-up on new tips about a car recently discovered in the Fox River.]]>2304false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e6-serial-killers-on-the-fox--64901073Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit review multiple serial killers who were active in the Elgin area in the early 1980’s and travel to the Pontiac Correctional Facility to interview Brian Dugan, an Illinois serial killer who is serving a life sentence for three murders in the area, one of which has similarities to Karen’s disappearance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64901073Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:00:08 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit review multiple serial killers who were active in the Elgin area in the early 1980’s and travel to the Pontiac Correctional Facility to interview Brian...Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit review multiple serial killers who were active in the Elgin area in the early 1980’s and travel to the Pontiac Correctional Facility to interview Brian Dugan, an Illinois serial killer who is serving a life sentence for three murders in the area, one of which has similarities to Karen’s disappearance.]]>1816false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e5-lurking-in-the-parking-lot--64660469
Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit continue their investigation into Theory #2, that something happened at PM Bentley’s.  As they review the case file, they discover that a former employee of PM Bentley’s was never interviewed, so they track her down and she reveals new information about a man who stalked her and her and her car in the parking lot and followed her home in the months leading up to Karen’s disappearance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64660469Mon, 03 Mar 2025 13:10:00 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit continue their investigation into Theory #2, that something happened at PM Bentley’s.  As they review the case file, they discover that a former employee of...
Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit continue their investigation into Theory #2, that something happened at PM Bentley’s.  As they review the case file, they discover that a former employee of PM Bentley’s was never interviewed, so they track her down and she reveals new information about a man who stalked her and her and her car in the parking lot and followed her home in the months leading up to Karen’s disappearance.]]>2038false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e4-the-bikers-and-the-van--64660449Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit travel to the site where PM Bentley’s was in 1983 with the owner as they investigate Theory #2, that something happened at PM Bentley’s.  They discuss a witness who claimed he saw Karen with some bikers both inside and outside the bar and another witness who detailed her interaction with a man who allegedly claimed he was involved in her disappearance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64660449Mon, 03 Mar 2025 13:00:08 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit travel to the site where PM Bentley’s was in 1983 with the owner as they investigate Theory #2, that something happened at PM Bentley’s.  They discuss a...Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit travel to the site where PM Bentley’s was in 1983 with the owner as they investigate Theory #2, that something happened at PM Bentley’s.  They discuss a witness who claimed he saw Karen with some bikers both inside and outside the bar and another witness who detailed her interaction with a man who allegedly claimed he was involved in her disappearance.]]>2328false14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e3-a-desperate-choice--63741244https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63741244Mon, 17 Feb 2025 12:00:07 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton & Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit interview members of Karen's family, her close friends, & her co-workers to get a sense of who Karen was as a person and to evaluate Theory #1, that...1802false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e2-who-is-karen-schepers--63741243https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63741243Mon, 17 Feb 2025 12:00:07 +0000EPD Cold CaseDetectives Andrew Houghton & Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit begin their investigation into the 1983 disappearance of Karen Schepers by interviewing the people who knew her best, members of her family.1124false12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e1-reported-missing--63741241https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63741241Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:00:09 +0000EPD Cold CaseOn Friday, April 15th, 1983, Karen Schepers, a vibrant 23-year-old woman from Elgin, Illinois, went to see a live band and socialize with a group of co-workers at a bar called P.M. Bentley's in Carpentersville, Illinois. Karen danced, drank, and...1586false11fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1e0-creating-a-cold-case-unit--63741242https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63741242Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:00:06 +0000EPD Cold CaseIn May of 2024, Chief Ana Lalley created the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit to review cold case homicides, missing persons, sexual assaults, and unidentified remains cases in Elgin, Illinois.  In this episode, Chief Lalley  provides some...1453falsefull