Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"There has been no case like this before or since and that's why it's one of Indiana's most infamous cases." — Ashley Flowers
"The idea of it not being foul play because there's no evidence of foul play like to me That's bananas especially when the one thing that might have been the evidence of foul play has been discounted." — Britt
"There was always a strong suspicion that their disappearances had something to do with the car bombing Namely that maybe one or more of the women overheard something or knew something about that and that is what led to their deaths." — Retired Sergeant Fred Miller (via Britt)
The episode chronicles the baffling disappearance of Ann Miller, Patricia Spicer, and Renee Brawl from Indiana Dunes State Park on July 4th, 1966. Initially presumed missing due to a boating accident on Lake Michigan, the investigation quickly encountered inconsistencies and a lack of concrete evidence supporting that theory. Items left behind, including a car and personal belongings, confirmed their presence, but a comprehensive search of the lake and park yielded no results. Authorities' early dismissal of foul play or drowning theories, despite a suspicious boat wreckage washing ashore, fueled public skepticism.
As the investigation progressed, several theories emerged. One involved a potential planned disappearance, fueled by personal issues like marital discord and an alleged pregnancy, though this was largely dismissed by families and investigators due to the unlikelihood of all three women cooperating in such a scheme. Another, more sensational theory, proposed by a former reporter named Dick Wiley, suggested the women were victims of an illicit abortion boat operating on Lake Michigan. While Wiley's claims were extensively discussed online, they lacked verifiable evidence and his personal online commentary revealed a strong fixation on reproductive rights, casting doubt on his objectivity.
The most compelling theory presented connects the women's disappearance to the dangerous "horse syndicate," a criminal element within the 1960s Chicago equestrian scene run by Silas Jane. Evidence suggests the women were connected to George Jane, Silas's competitor and half-brother, and that Patricia may have been threatened by syndicate members. A pivotal event was the car bombing of George Jane's employee in March 1966, shortly before Patricia sustained facial injuries and was reportedly in trouble with syndicate people. The prevailing theory is that the women may have overheard or known something incriminating about the bombing, leading to their silencing. The discovery of phone numbers for both George and Silas's wife among the women's belongings, coupled with the fact that a man connected to Silas owned a similar boat often taken to the Indiana Dunes, adds weight to this sinister connection. Despite advancements in technology and re-evaluation of past evidence, the ultimate fate of Ann, Patricia, and Renee remains unknown, leaving their families without closure.