Locating the Lost

When 36-year-old mother of two Tomis Hoyt vanished into thin air after walking along Robinson Road in Mars Hill, Maine, her family was left plunged into a living nightmare. Days turned into months until a grim discovery on October 30 shook Aroostook County to its core: Tomis’s remains were uncovered in the nearby town of Blaine.But finding her body didn't bring closure—it only opened a door to a terrifying web of questions.In this episode of Locating the Lost, we sit down for an exclusive, raw conversation with Tomis’s sister, Rici. For the first time, Rici opens up about a chilling theory that law enforcement hasn't answered: Was Tomis targeted? Rici reveals that Tomis had been speaking with the police prior to her disappearance, raising the devastating possibility that her vulnerability was weaponized against her.Was Tomis’s tragic end a result of a mental health crisis, or did she know too much? We dissect the timeline, examine the chilling final surveillance footage, and confront the unsettling silence still surrounding the Maine State Police investigation.Subscribe and turn on notifications to follow this ongoing investigation.🚨 CALL TO ACTION (How You Can Help)The investigation into Tomis Hoyt’s death remains active, and her family deserves absolute truth.• Have Information? If you saw Tomis or have any knowledge about her activities following her July disappearance, please contact the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office at (207) 532-3471 or the Maine State Police. Anonymous tips can make all the difference.• Support the Show: If you want to help us keep bringing exposure to cold cases and missing persons, please Like this video, Subscribe to Locating the Lost, and leave a comment below with your thoughts on the case.• Share This Video: Algorithms favor shares. By hitting the share button, you push Tomis’s story to a wider audience, keeping her memory alive and keeping pressure on authorities to find answers.#TrueCrime #TomisHoyt #LocatingTheLost #MissingPerson #MaineTrueCrime #AroostookCounty #SolvedButUnsolved #JusticeForTomis #Podcast #TrueCrimePodcast #MissingInMaine #Mystery

This week on Locating the Lost, we dive deep into one of Arkansas’ most harrowing and frustrating cold cases: the 1988 murder of 14-year-old Brandy Dawn Hutchins. In this episode, we sit down again for an exclusiveinterview with Brandy’s cousin, Julie Millard. For over three decades, Julie has spearheaded the fight for justice through the advocacy campaign "Brandy Hutchins the Disposable Child." She joins us to share memories of Brandy, expose the devastating missteps in the early investigation, and detail her family's relentless pursuit of answers.We break down how a web of teenage deception, a town consumed by "Satanic Panic," and a highly suspicious boyfriend who vanished into thin air left a family broken and a killer walking free.⏱️ Timeline of Events• Late September 1988: Brandy meets an older teenage boy known as "Mark" or "Marc H." at a local county fair and begins a relationship with him.• November 10, 1988: Brandy tells her father her friends are throwing her a late 14th birthday party. He drops her off at a vacant home on Whipporwill Road in Coal Hill, Arkansas. She assures him her friends will arrive shortly. It is the last time she is seen alive.• November 12, 1988: Hunters looking for lost dogs discover Brandy’s body hidden in a root cellar beneath the abandoned house, concealed under wooden boards. She died from a single .22-caliber gunshot wound to the forehead.• Late November 1988: Within weeks of the murder, "Mark" and his entire family abruptly pack up and flee the state of Arkansas.• Spring 1989: The vacant Emery house on Whipporwill Road—the primary crime scene—is intentionally burned to the ground in an act of arson, destroying crucial physical evidence.🔍 The Suspect ProfileThe primary focus of suspicion has long centered on Brandy's older boyfriend, "Mark." Brandy had written "I love Mark" on her shoes just before her death. Investigators discovered that within weeks of the murder, Mark’s family uprooted and left Arkansas completely. While he was never charged in connection with Brandy's death, later multi-jurisdictional profiling linked this same individual to a pattern of violence, including the 1994 disappearance of Michelle Burchell in Kentucky and two other suspicious deaths. Is Mark a serial killer?📋 What the Police Believe HappenedAuthorities believe Brandy was lured to the abandoned home under false pretenses, likely thinking she was meeting Mark. A positive medical clinic pregnancy test found in Brandy's purse initially pointed to a motive, but her autopsy conclusively proved she was not pregnant.Investigators believe Brandy used a friend's positive test to convince Mark she was pregnant in an attempt to keep him from breaking up with her. Police theorize that Mark, panicked by the prospect of a teenage pregnancy, lured Brandy to the isolated Whipporwill Road house and murdered her. The subsequent arson of the home months later is widely believed to have been a deliberate attempt by an accomplice or the killer to permanently erase latent biological and ballistic evidence.📣 Call to Action: Help Us Find JusticeBrandy Dawn Hutchins was not a "disposable child." Someone in Coal Hill or Johnson County knows exactly what happened in that root cellar in 1988. It is time to clear your conscience.If you have any information—no matter how small or insignificant it may seem—regarding the murder of Brandy Dawn Hutchins or the whereabouts of "Mark" in 1988, please contact authorities immediately. Anonymous tips are welcome.• Arkansas State Police (Company E): (870) 741-2136• Johnson County Sheriff's Office: (479) 754-7810• Johnson County Crime Tips Hotline: (479) 705-8477#BrandyHutchins #LocatingTheLost #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurder #TrueCrimePodcast #ArkansasTrueCrime #JusticeForBrandy #DisposableChild #JulieMillardInterview #TrueCrimeCommunity #UnsolvedMysteries #CoalHillAR #ColdCaseArkansas #MissingAndMurdered

In late July 2022, the 29-year-old walked away from a home in the Cranks Creek area of Harlan County, Kentucky, promising his mother he would text her when he arrived to meet a friend. He was never seen again.In this emotional episode of Locating the Lost, we sit down with Elgon’s mother, Penny Ledford, and his sister to uncover who Elgon was, the heartbreaking reality of his sudden silence, and why the Kentucky State Police strongly suspect foul play. From the rugged mountain searches to the painful community rumors, his family lays bare the reality of fighting for answers in a case that law enforcement refuses to let go cold.Case Timeline• Late July 2022: Elgon leaves a residence on foot in Cranks Creek, KY, stating he is headed to Wallins to meet a friend.• Late July 2022 (Shortly after leaving): All cell phone communication and contact with his family abruptly stops.• August 25, 2022: After weeks of silence and growing alarm, Elgon's family officially files a missing person report.• 2022 – Present: Multiple community grid searches of the dense Harlan County terrain turn up zero physical evidence, clothing, or clues, prompting police to treat the case as a criminal investigation involving suspected foul play.Call to Action 📢Someone in Harlan County knows exactly what happened to Elgon Partin Jr. We need your help to break the silence and bring him home to his family.• Have a Tip? If you have any information, rumors, or saw anything unusual in the Cranks Creek, Totz, or Wallins areas in late July 2022, please contact Kentucky State Police Post 10 at (606) 573-3131. Tips can remain completely anonymous.• Immediate Sightings: If you believe you see Elgon, please call 911 immediately.• Support the Show: Please rate, review, and share this episode. Every share pushes Elgon's face back into the public eye and closer to the person who holds the missing piece of the puzzle.Vital Statistics• Name: Elgon Partin Jr.• Age at Disappearance: 29 years old• Physical Description: 5'9", 143 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes.• Distinguishing Marks: "Monster symbol" tattoo on his chest; "Family First" tattoo on his collarbone.#ElgonPartinJr #LocatingTheLost #MissingInKentucky #Harlan County #TrueCrimePodcast #MissingPerson #KentuckyStatePolice #ColdCase #BringHimHome #FoulPlaySuspected #PennyLedford #JusticeForElgon #TrueCrimeCommunity #MissingButNotForgotten

In this episode of Locating the Lost, we sit down with Jack Fronczak and Tracey Hastings, co-hosts of The Fronczak Files, for an incredible conversation about identity, survival, and the pursuit of truth in one of the most unique missing persons cases in American history. Raised as Paul Joseph Fronczak after being discovered as an abandoned toddler in 1965, Jack spent decades living an identity that wasn't his. It wasn't until a 2012 DNA test shattered everything he believed that his true journey began—a search to uncover who he really was, who left him behind, and what happened to his twin sister who vanished without a trace. The 1964 Kidnapping & Identity Mix-Up: In April 1964, newborn Paul Joseph Fronczak was abducted from a Chicago hospital. In July 1965, a toddler was found abandoned in a stroller outside a department store in Newark, New Jersey. Lacking modern DNA technology, law enforcement mistakenly declared the toddler to be the stolen Chicago baby based on physical features and ear shape, handing him over to be raised as Paul Fronczak. The 2012 DNA Revelation: Having felt out of place for years, "Paul" secretly took a DNA test in 2012. The results proved he was not biologically related to the Fronczak family, reopening both the original 1964 kidnapping case and launching an investigation into the abandoned toddler's true origins. Uncovering the Rosenthal Roots: In 2015, with the help of forensic genealogist CeCe Moore, Jack unlocked his true identity: he was born Jack Rosenthal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to parents Gilbert and Marie Rosenthal. The Vanished Twin Sister: Along with his name came a tragic discovery—Jack was born a twin. His twin sister, Jill Lynn Rosenthal, was born on October 27, 1963. While Jack was abandoned in Newark in July 1965, Jill vanished entirely around the same time. No photos of Jill exist, and her fate remains unknown. The Ongoing Mission: Today, going by Paul Jack Fronczak, he and co-host Tracey Hastings run The Fronczak Files podcast and advocate through the Jack and Jill Rosenthal Foundation (JJRF). Together, they combine investigative research, forensic genealogy, public tips, and cold case advocacy to search for missing twin Jill Rosenthal and help others seeking identity and closure. Living a Borrowed Identity: Jack discusses the emotional reality of growing up under a misidentified name and the pivotal moment he decided to uncover the truth.Unraveling the Past: How genetic genealogy exposed decades of buried secrets and tied his past back to Atlantic City. The Hunt for Jill Lynn Rosenthal: Jack and Tracey break down active investigative leads, forensic age-progressed imagery created by NCMEC, and the ongoing efforts to bring Jill home. Reclaiming the Narrative: Why Jack and Tracey launched The Fronczak Files to tell the unfiltered story straight from the source and advocate for missing children. Call to ActionDo You Have Information About Jill Lynn Rosenthal?Jill Lynn Rosenthal was born on October 27, 1963, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was last seen around July 1965. If you or anyone you know lived in Atlantic City or Newark in the mid-1960s, knew the Rosenthal family, or have any information regarding Jill, please reach out. Submit Tips & Case Information: Visit The Fronczak Files or the Jack and Jill Rosenthal Foundation. Report to NCMEC: Contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST).Share This Episode: Every share helps put age-progressed imagery and case details in front of people who might hold the key to solving this mystery.Support Locating the Lost#LocatingTheLost #TheFronczakFiles #JackFronczak #JillRosenthal #MissingPersons #TrueCrimePodcast #GeneticGenealogy #ColdCase #MissingChildren #BringJillHome #DNAFoundling #NCMEC #UnsolvedMysteries #TrueCrimeCommunity #PodcastInterview #ColdCaseAdvocacy

A Shattered Scene. A Rushed Judgment. A Half-Century Fight for the Truth.In this gripping episode of Locating the Lost, Jeff and I sit down with Richard Novak to dissect one of the most baffling and heartbreaking mysteries in Maine’s history: the deaths of the Cape Breton 3. On the morning of July 10, 1970, a freight train barreling through the remote wilderness of Smyrna Mills struck and killed three young men from Nova Scotia: Richard's brother, Kenny Novak (15), David Burrows (17), and Terry Burt (20).Almost instantly, the tragedy was labeled a bizarre accident, with authorities claiming the boys simply fell asleep on the tracks. But when you look closer, the official narrative completely falls apart. Richard walks us through the shocking failure of local law enforcement to follow standard investigative protocols. Instead of securing a potential crime scene and calling in forensics, train personnel were left to clean up the site. Evidence was disregarded, autopsies were bypassed, and foul play was officially ruled out before a proper investigation could even begin. How do three young men sleep through the deafening roar and ground-shaking vibration of an approaching freight train? Why were their pockets entirely empty of identification?We are not letting this go. Along with thousands of advocates, we started a Change.org petition and it is currently circulating to pressure Maine authorities to finally reopen this 1970 Aroostook County case. It is time for accountability, and it is time for answers.Timeline of the Tragedy: July 1970Early July 1970: Best friends Kenny, David, and Terry leave their home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, crossing the border into the U.S. in search of summer adventure.July 10, 1970 (Pre-Dawn): The three boys are inexplicably lying motionless on the Bangor and Aroostook Railway tracks in Smyrna Mills, Maine, miles from the main road.July 10, 1970 (7:00 AM): A freight train conductor spots what looks like debris ahead. Despite slamming on the brakes, the train cannot stop in time and strikes the boys.The Immediate Aftermath (7:30 AM - Onward): A catastrophic failure of protocol begins. Local authorities quickly declare the deaths accidental. No crime scene perimeter is established.The Cleanup: In a shocking deviation from standard procedure, railway workers—not forensic experts—are left to clean up the site and move the bodies, destroying any potential evidence.The Closure: The case is swiftly closed without thorough autopsies, leaving families with missing belongings, uninvestigated timelines, and 50 years of devastating unanswered questions.Call to ActionThe families of Kenny, Terry, and David were robbed of a proper investigation in 1970, but we have the power to demand one today. We need your voice to break the silence.Sign and Share the Petition: https://www.change.org/p/maine-state-...Speak Up: If you or your family lived near Smyrna Mills in 1970 and have any memories of that week, reach out to us at Locating the Lost.Spread the Word: Share this episode far and wide. The more eyes on this case, the harder it is for the state to ignore it.#LocatingTheLost #CapeBreton3 #JusticeForKennyTerryDavid #BoysOnTheTracks #SmyrnaMillsMystery #ReopenTheCase #MaineTrueCrime #UnsolvedMystery #MissingInMaine #ColdCase

On January 7, 1981, 29-year-old Lonene “Lonnie” Rogers vanished during a severe snowstorm in Hayfield Township, Pennsylvania. For 44 years, her sudden absence was treated as a mystery—until her daughter’s relentless fight for answers brought the terrible truth into the light.In this crucial episode, we sit down with Alison Duiker, Lonene’s daughter, and private investigator Jeff Walters to detail the decades-long battle for justice, the breakdown of the original police investigation, and the ultimate confession that changed everything.Key Facts & Case Overview:Communication Barriers: Lonene was profoundly deaf. Early law enforcement efforts stalled significantly due to a lack of sign language interpreters and proper investigative resources.Left Behind: Lonene vanished without her hearing aids, eyeglasses, essential medication, car, or purse—and left behind her two young children.Relentless Advocacy: Alison Duiker spent decades pushing state police, erecting cold case billboards, and advocating for "Lonnie's Law" to ensure families gain access to long-unsolved missing persons files.Timeline of EventsJanuary 6–7, 1981: Lonene is last seen alive at her job and home. Her husband, Clinton "Bud" Rogers, claims she walked out after an late-night argument.1981–2024: Clinton avoids formal interrogation for decades, drops young Alison off at a police station at age 14, and the case goes cold. Alison leads a public campaign to maintain visibility.Late 2025: Clinton "Bud" Rogers finally confesses to law enforcement that he killed Lonene during their argument, leading to criminal homicide charges.Call to Action:While a confession has been made, the fight for complete accountability and legislative reform continues. Share this episode to support the passage of Lonnie's Law and bring full closure to Lonene’s family. If you have any remaining details regarding the events of January 1981, contact local state police authorities.To learn more about Lonene's case follow Partners in True Crime podcast for an even deeper dive into her case at https://www.partnersintruecrime.com/#LocatingTheLost #LoneneRogers #JusticeForLonnie #AlisonDuiker #TrueCrime #ColdCaseSolved #LonniesLaw #TrueCrimePodcast #UnsolvedMysteries #PennsylvaniaTrueCrime #CrimeDocumentary #TrueCrimeCommunity

In this deeply moving episode of Locating the Lost, we sit down with Miranda, the mother of young Ronnell "Prince" Jones Jr., to shine a light on a heartbreaking tragedy that should have been prevented.When Prince vanished, Miranda turned to law enforcement for help—only to encounter a web of red tape, missed warnings, and devastating delays. Despite early reports and a traffic stop detainment in 2025, critical systemic breakdowns allowed key opportunities for intervention to slip away. As Miranda begged to be heard, we were one of the only ones who listened. What You'll Hear in This EpisodeMiranda’s Heartbreaking Account: Hear directly from Prince’s mother about her relentless fight to find her son, the initial red flags, and her agonizing search for answers.Systemic & Procedural Failures: A closer look at the timeline of events—from early missing child reports in 2024 to how suspect Ronnell Jones Sr. was detained on a wanted status in early 2025 yet walked away without charges.Demanding Accountability: An examination of the internal affairs review into how law enforcement handled the case and why judicial and police protocol reforms are urgently needed.Honoring Prince: Remembering the bright, joyful spirit of Prince and understanding how Miranda is converting her profound grief into a plea for justice and child safety awareness."Prince was a joyful little boy who deserved protection, urgency, and answers. We refuse to let his voice be forgotten."Listen, Share & SupportIf Prince's story touches you, please subscribe, rate, and share this episode of Locating the Lost. Spreading this conversation helps amplify Miranda's voice, demands accountability from the justice system, and supports families fighting for missing loved ones.#LocatingTheLost #RonnellPrinceJones #JusticeForPrince #TrueCrimePodcast #MissingChild #SystemicFailures #PoliceAccountability #JusticeForPrinceJones #TrueCrimeCommunity #MissingAndUnsolved #MotherInGrief #ChildSafety #TrueCrimeStories #PodcastEpisode #AmmendsAndJustice #BringAwareness

In this heartbreaking yet crucial episode of Locating the Lost, we sit down with Christy, the sister of Brenda Gail Lambert, to shine a light on a case that has remained unsolved for over three decades.On July 26, 1992, 22-year-old Brenda Gail Lambert celebrated her son’s first birthday at her home in Bluewell, West Virginia. It should have been a day of joy and milestones. Instead, it was the last day Brenda was ever seen. Shortly after the party, Brenda vanished without a trace, leaving behind her two young children, her family, and a cloud of unanswered questions that still haunts Mercer County today.Join us as Christy shares intimate memories of her sister, the devastating impact of the sudden disappearance, and the relentless, 34-year battle the family has fought to keep Brenda's name alive and uncover the truth. Someone knows what happened that July evening. It's time to bring Brenda home.📢 Call to Action: How You Can HelpYour voice has power. The piece of information that breaks this case wide open could be out there right now.Share This Episode: Every share increases the chances that the right person sees Brenda’s face. Please hit share, post it to your local true crime groups, and help us keep her story active.Submit a Tip: If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Brenda Gail Lambert on July 26, 1992, or any knowledge of individuals in the Bluewell/Bluefield area at that time, please contact the West Virginia State Police (Princeton Detachment) at (304) 487-8364 or your local law enforcement agency. Anonymous tips can make a difference.Subscribe & Review: To help us continue giving a platform to families searching for answers, please subscribe to Locating the Lost on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review.Follow the missing Brenda Gail Lambert FB page:   / missingbrendalambert1992  #TrueCrime #MissingPerson #BrendaGailLambert #LocatingTheLost #WestVirginia #ColdCase #UnsolvedMysteries #BringBrendaHome #MercerCountyWV #TrueCrimeCommunity #JusticeForBrenda #MissingMother #documentary

New Hampshire’s quiet towns and dense woods hide deep secrets—but a mother’s resolve refuses to let them stay buried.In this haunting episode of Locating the Lost, we sit down with Susan, the mother of Michael Andrew Jones, who vanished from the Nashua area without a trace. Breaking her silence, Susan joins us to lay bare the raw, unfiltered reality of a parent’s worst nightmare and the exhausting, ongoing hunt for her son.Michael left behind a fractured timeline, empty answers, and a family forced to carry the crushing weight of the unknown. Together with Susan, we dissect the critical gaps in the initial investigation, the regional geography, and the chilling questions surrounding his final known hours. What really happened before the signal went cold?This isn't just a retrospective look at a cold case. It is a mother’s active, desperate search for the truth. Someone knows something.Call to ActionCan you help a mother bring her son home? If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Michael Andrew Jones, or if you remember seeing anything unusual in the Nashua or surrounding New Hampshire areas around the time of his vanishing, please speak up.Contact the Nashua Police Department at 603-594-3500FBI Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)Submit a Tip Online: tips.fbi.govPlease subscribe, rate, and share this episode. A single share could be the one that reaches the person holding the missing piece of the puzzle.#LocatingTheLost #MichaelJonesMissing #MissingInNH #NewHampshireColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #MissingPersons #NashuaNH #NewEnglandTrueCrime #ColdCaseInvestigation #BringHimHome #UnsolvedMysteries #TrueCrimeCommunity #MothersJustice

Maine is known as Vacationland—a postcard of rocky coasts, sleepy towns, and pristine pines. But the moment the sun dips below the canopy, the landscape shifts into something far more unforgiving.In this special crossover episode of Locating the Lost, we step into the shadows with Christian Leathers, AKA Reverend Redbeard, the host of Acadia After Dark. Together, we are striking a match to the mysteries of the Pine Tree State and exploring the thin, terrifying line where real-world wilderness danger meets deep regional lore.Millions of acres of dense, unbroken timber blanket this state. It’s a place where cell service dies, trails abruptly stop, and people vanish into thin air.Light your lanterns. The woods are listening.To Learn More About Acadia After Dark go to: acadiaafterdark.comFollow us: linktr.ee/locatingthelost#TrueCrime #MaineColdCases #AcadiaAfterDark #LocatingTheLost #WildernessMysteries #Vacationland #PodcastCrossover #MissingPerson