"Police don't and physically can't protect us all the time we have to be proactive about our own safety and the safety of our loved ones and I think this is where our if I go missing folder comes in." — Britt
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease is like a saying 100% and you don't feel like you're bothering people you might be bothering people but that's okay your loved one is missing so make sure your loved ones know that be the loudest don't stop keep nagging keep calling no matter how long it's been no matter how much they tell you to stop calling the person who's the loudest is gonna get the most attention at the end of the day." — Britt
"We have to be advocates of our own personal safety so I would definitely encourage all of our listeners to look into their local laws regarding missing persons hopefully they're posted because again I'm going to have to call my own city and county to figure out what their criteria for a missing person is or you guys can volunteer with your local crime stoppers and become best friends with some police there which is what I'm going to do is contact all my homies at crime stoppers who were former police officers and ask them what I need to do." — Britt
This episode recounts the harrowing experience of Tanya Writer, a 33-year-old woman who went missing after her car crashed and she was trapped inside for eight days. The narrative highlights how Tanya and her husband, Tom, were working tirelessly to build a new life together, facing past adversies and pursuing their dreams. Tanya's disappearance on September 20, 2007, was initially met with significant delays and bureaucratic hurdles when Tom attempted to file a missing person's report. Law enforcement questioned their relationship and Tanya's mental health history, and repeatedly dismissed Tom's concerns, citing lack of sufficient "markers" to open a case. This underscores a critical issue within the legal system regarding missing adult cases, particularly in Washington State, where past mishandling of cases has been documented.
After eight days of searching and facing repeated dismissals from law enforcement, Tanya was eventually found alive, though severely injured, in her vehicle. Her survival was a testament to her resilience, having endured extreme dehydration, organ damage, and physical trauma. The recovery was aided by information derived from cell phone pings, which provided a crucial lead after other avenues were exhausted. Tanya's experience starkly illustrates the potential consequences of insufficient preparedness and the vital importance of readily accessible information for both personal safety and aiding in search efforts.
In response to Tanya's ordeal and the systemic failures encountered, the podcast strongly advocates for the creation of an "If I Go Missing" folder. This folder should contain critical information such as cell phone provider logins, iCloud passwords, banking information, social media access, and details about local law enforcement jurisdictions. The hosts emphasize that such preparedness empowers individuals and their loved ones, providing a tangible starting point for investigations when official channels are slow or inadequate, and ultimately underscores the principle that individuals must be proactive advocates for their own safety and the safety of those they care about.