"Every true crime story has one thing in common. Nothing is as it seems, and no podcast knows that better than chameleon." — Josh Dean (Chameleon Podcast Host)
"I don't know if it's emergency. I just got to work. I'm like the ex-buying gas station on Somers Road, kind of Somers in Old Van Haven. Okay. And there's nobody here." — Craig (911 Caller)
"The folder labeled VICS. Which police believe is short for victims. And there in the folder is a subfolder labeled JLH. Jessica Herringer, J8, right? Jessica Lynn Herringer, JLH." — Britt (Co-host)
The episode begins with the perplexing disappearance of Jessica Herringer from an Exxon gas station in Norton Shores, Michigan, on April 26, 2013. A regular customer, Craig, discovered her absence, noting her purse and an open register drawer, but no signs of struggle. Despite initial hesitations, Craig's intuition led him to call the police, who found Jessica's jacket and car still at the scene. The discovery of a small, dark stain, later confirmed to be Jessica's blood, elevated the situation to a potential crime scene. Initial investigations focused on Jessica's fiancé, Dakota, who had an alibi, and her manager, Sue, who reported seeing a suspicious silver minivan. A composite sketch of the driver was released to the public, yielding numerous tips but no concrete leads.
The case took a significant turn seven months later when Jessica's journal, previously undisclosed by Dakota, was handed over to police. The journal revealed a controlling and abusive relationship with Dakota, changing his status to a person of interest. However, his alibi, confirmed by cell records and the shared vehicle, remained solid. The investigation later shifted to a convicted sex offender, Brad Allen Mason, who had recently been paroled to a halfway house near the gas station and whose victims matched Jessica's profile. Mason's death during a police encounter and the lack of direct evidence to link him to Jessica left the case at another standstill.
A major breakthrough occurred in April 2016 when a 16-year-old girl escaped an attempted abduction in a silver Chrysler Town and Country minivan, identical to the one seen near the gas station. The description of the perpetrator led police to Jeffrey Willis, a man previously questioned in Jessica's disappearance. A search of Willis's home and van revealed a disturbing collection of items indicative of violent fantasies and preparations. Crucially, a folder labeled "VICS" on his computer contained subfolders for Jessica Herringer ("JLH") and Rebecca Bletch ("RSB"), including photos of Jessica and coded file names that corresponded to their disappearance and murder dates. Willis was eventually charged with Jessica's murder.