Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The real takeaway here is that essentially the police cleared Ed and Debbie just remained missing. They couldn't find her in Boston, they couldn't find her back at home, nowhere." — Ashley Flowers
"And at this point, Phelps has a strong hunch that the man Nancy saw that day was one of the La Rosa brothers. I mean, aside from the creepy old ambulance, Bob actually owned a station wagon." — Ashley Flowers
"The formation of this task force is a big relief to everyone in Vernon and Talland, especially the families of the five girls. But the task force doesn't dig up anything new." — Ashley Flowers
This episode details a series of baffling disappearances and suspected murders that plagued the Vernon, Talland area of Connecticut from 1968 to 1978. The narrative begins with the disappearance of seven-year-old Janice Pocket in 1973, who vanished while retrieving a butterfly. Initial investigations focused on her getting lost in the woods, but the lack of any trace despite extensive searches soon shifted suspicions towards foul play. The episode highlights the public's increasing concern and demands for the FBI's involvement, which yielded no concrete leads.
The investigation expands to include other young female victims, notably Kathleen Terry (whose body was found shortly after her disappearance), and Lisa White, a thirteen-year-old believed to be a runaway but whose case also lacked definitive answers. The episode meticulously outlines the timeline of these events, noting the discovery of remains for Susan LaRosa and Patricia Luce, and the chilling similarities in their causes of death. A key focus is placed on the potential connection between these cases, particularly the theory that the LaRosa brothers, Bob and Nathan, might be involved, due to alleged past abusive behavior and a witness account linking Bob LaRosa and his station wagon to the area around Janice's disappearance.
Despite the establishment of task forces and extensive investigations, including an inmate's confession that ultimately proved false, many of these cases remain unsolved. The episode underscores the profound impact on the families, who live with the agonizing uncertainty of what happened to their loved ones. It concludes by appealing for any information that could bring closure to these decades-old mysteries, emphasizing that someone knows the truth.