"Dean stresses that it's not like his wife to just up and leave without telling anyone. Between the TV and the air conditioning left on her car and the parking lot and her purse still sitting right here inside, he thinks that something terrible has happened to her." — Britt
"The cord around her neck indicates that she was strangled but since the remains are completely skeletonized, they can't say that for sure. So even have a chance at finding out who killed this young woman, police first need to know who she is." — Britt
"He admits that he knows something about Sandy's disappearance. And he says, 'God will probably let him say where her body is.'" — Britt
This bonus episode of Crime Junkie focuses on three perplexing cold cases from Charlotte, North Carolina: the disappearance of Denise Porch in 1975, the murder of Beth Hagen in 1980, and the disappearance of Sandy Cornet in 1984. The narrative meticulously reconstructs the events surrounding each case, highlighting the initial investigations, the leads that emerged, and the eventual stalling of progress. For Denise Porch, the episode details her vanishing from her apartment complex, the initial investigation that ruled out her husband, and the various witness accounts of a man in a dark sedan, including a composite sketch that led to a person of interest who was later cleared. Beth Hagen's case is presented as a skeletonized discovery in the woods, with her identity confirmed as a 17-year-old missing for several months. Sandy Cornet's disappearance from her home, with her car present and doors unlocked, also presented few immediate clues.
A recurring element throughout the episode is the potential involvement of Larry Jean Bell, a serial offender who lived in close proximity to the victims' residences or discovery sites. Investigators on Denise Porch's case were contacted by law enforcement working on Larry's case, noting his presence near the apartment complex. Similarly, Beth Hagen's body was found near where Bell lived, and she fit his presumed victim profile. In Sandy Cornet's case, Bell had even been inside her home previously, and he made cryptic statements about knowing where her body was and how she would be found. Despite these compelling circumstantial links and a tip suggesting Bell dumped bodies in a well, a lack of direct confession or conclusive physical evidence has kept all three cases officially unsolved.
The episode underscores the frustration and lack of closure for the victims' families, emphasizing that while theories and coincidences point towards Larry Jean Bell, definitive answers remain elusive. The hosts encourage listeners to contact Crime Stoppers with any information regarding these cases, reinforcing the podcast's mission to bring attention to unsolved mysteries and advocate for justice. The segment concludes with a mention of the book "All Good People Here" and a recommendation for another podcast, "13th Dirt."