Who Murdered Taylor Barksdale?

She told her family she was coming home.She packed her bags.And then—April Beth Pitzer vanished.In this episode, we dive into the haunting disappearance of April, a 30-year-old mother of two who went missing from Newberry Springs, California in 2004. She was supposed to be boarding a bus back to Arkansas… but she never made it.Rumors of drug activity.A history of cooperation with law enforcement.And a desert full of secrets.Join us as we unravel the tangled story of a woman who may have known too much—and trusted the wrong people. Interviews, leads, heartbreak—and questions that still don’t have answers.What happened to April Beth Pitzer?

Taylor Barksdale's life was stolen in Madison County.Her murder was brutal. Her case is unsolved. And her killer is still out there.This is The Lost Girls. And this is Taylor Barksdale’s story.

In this haunting episode, Amy Smith and LaDonna Humphrey revisit the unsolved disappearance of 25-year-old Darla Harper, who vanished from her apartment in Gravel Ridge, Arkansas, on March 4, 1986.When Darla failed to show up for work the next morning, a coworker discovered her three-year-old daughter alone in the apartment — with blood on the door and Darla gone. What followed was a decades-long mystery marked by disturbing clues, a child’s chilling testimony, and unanswered questions that continue to torment her family.Victim: Darla Harper, 25Missing Since: March 4, 1986Location: Gravel Ridge, ArkansasCircumstances:Neighbors heard strange noises between 11:00–11:30 p.m.Her daughter reported seeing “three men wearing funny hats” and said “Mommy was in a bag.”A neighbor claimed to have seen Darla being dragged from her apartment.Her car was later found abandoned nine miles away with blood and unidentified fingerprints inside.Primary Suspect: Darla’s ex-husband, who was later accused of confessing to her murder by his second wife.Evidence: Bone fragments were discovered during a 1990 search, but they were too degraded for identification.Status: Still missing — no one has ever been charged.Darla was a devoted mother, a hardworking IRS employee, and a woman with her entire life ahead of her. Nearly forty years later, her daughter still seeks answers — and justice remains out of reach. Her case stands as a reminder of how many women vanish without closure, their voices silenced but never forgotten.If you have any information about the disappearance of Darla Harper, please contact the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office at (501) 340-6601. Even the smallest lead could make a difference.The Lost Girls is a short-form podcast by Amy Smith and LaDonna Humphrey, dedicated to honoring missing and murdered women and girls. Each episode highlights a different case — brief, powerful, and deeply human.

On July 25, 1985, sisters Rozlin Rochelle Abell (18) and Fawn Marlene Abell (15) left their home in Bethany, Oklahoma, to look for jobs. They never came back.The girls were last seen hitchhiking near 59th and Rockwell, a habit they were known for—but this time, something went terribly wrong. Nearly four decades later, their family still waits for answers. Their Social Security numbers have never been used since that summer day, and no confirmed sightings have ever surfaced.In this episode of Lost Girls, Amy Smith and LaDonna Humphrey revisit the mysterious disappearance of Rozlin and Fawn—two bright young sisters whose lives were abruptly stolen by silence. Together, they explore the timeline, the clues, and the lingering questions surrounding the case, while honoring the family’s enduring hope for justice.Who: Rozlin Rochelle Abell (18) & Fawn Marlene Abell (15)When: Last seen July 25, 1985Where: Near 59th & Rockwell, Bethany, OklahomaCircumstances: Left home to look for jobs; seen hitchhiking; never returnedStatus: Social Security numbers unused since 1985; case remains open and unsolvedThe vulnerability of young women who hitchhiked in the 1980sThe long-lasting impact of disappearance on familiesThe importance of keeping cold cases in the public eyeHow advocacy and storytelling can help bring awareness and new leadsIf you have any information about the disappearance of Rozlin and Fawn Abell, please contact the Bethany Police Department or your local law enforcement agency. Even the smallest detail could help bring these sisters home.

In this haunting episode of The Lost Girls, hosts Amy Smith and LaDonna Humphrey take listeners deep into the heart of small-town Arkansas, where safety is supposed to be a way of life — yet three young women have vanished without a trace.Madelin Tomlin (Hope, AR – 2015), Mercedes Toliver (Prescott, AR – 2016), and Destinee Bruce (Hope, AR – 2025) are names that echo through the quiet streets of two close-knit towns now united by tragedy and unanswered questions.LaDonna and Amy explore the unnerving parallels between these cases — three women, all young and loved, missing within an 18-mile radius. Each disappearance is different, but all share one chilling commonality: silence.In places where “things like that don’t happen,” these women’s disappearances demand attention — and action. Their stories remind us that justice delayed is not justice denied, and that every girl deserves justice.Sources & AcknowledgmentsWe are deeply grateful to the following for information used in this episode:The Charley Project – case summaries and historical recordsNamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) – official case entries and identifiersNews ArchivesIf you are a family member with updates or corrections, please contact us so we can keep these stories accurate and current.

The Lost Girls Podcast is taking a short break!We’re currently on vacation as we prepare to send our kids back to school and take some much-needed time to rest, refresh, and reflect. This break also allows us to thoughtfully respond to the hundreds of messages we’ve received from families asking us to share their loved one’s story.We’ll be back at the end of August with a brand new season—one filled with powerful, important stories of Lost Girls who deserve to be seen, heard, and remembered.Thank you for your continued support. We can’t wait to share what’s coming next.

Patricia disappeared from Albuquerque, New Mexico at 3:00 p.m. on June 17, 1969. She left her home in the 800 block of San Pedro Drive southeast to sell raffle tickets for the Elks Club. She returned home briefly to pick up her coin purse which she'd forgotten, then left again, and never returned. She was last seen by a neighborhood girl who waved to her on the street.

On this episode of Lost Girls, we’re stepping back to 1986—to a quiet neighborhood in Reseda, California—where a nineteen‑year‑old named Joyce Irene Walcott vanished in the middle of an ordinary day.Joyce, who friends affectionately called Sneezie, had survived a devastating car accident that left her with scars and a reconstructed neck, a testament to her resilience. She was bright, determined, and hopeful for a new start. That April morning, she left her aunt’s apartment, job applications in hand, ready to take steps toward her future.She walked to a nearby 7‑11 to drop off one application. Then she stopped next door for another. By the time she made her way to Winchell’s Donuts to meet friends, Joyce was still laughing, still making plans, still filling out paperwork. But somewhere between that donut shop and her aunt’s apartment—just two blocks away—Joyce simply vanished. Her application was never turned in. Her steps never traced back home.Nearly four decades later, foul play is still suspected, and Joyce’s name is still whispered among the missing.Join us as we revisit Joyce Walcott’s story—piece together her last known moments—and search for the answers that have eluded her family for far too long.Listen now to Lost Girls. Her story deserves to be heard.

In this episode of Lost Girls, we dive into the haunting case of Darian Hudson—a bright, beautiful 23‑year‑old who vanished from Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 2017.On October 21st, Darian made plans with her mother to move back home to Wichita, Kansas. But just days later, she was gone. Conflicting records list her disappearance between October 22nd and October 26th, but for this episode, we’ve chosen to focus on October 26th—the day witnesses last saw her walking near Country Club Drive and McElroy.Weeks later, a disturbing clue surfaced: a man caught trying to use Darian’s debit card in Oklahoma City. He claimed he’d found it in a purse left on a concrete sewage container at a church construction site in Stillwater—back in October.Where was Darian going that day? Who left her belongings behind? And why, after all this time, has she never been found?Join us as we piece together the timeline, sift through conflicting details, and shine a light on Darian Hudson’s story. Because she’s more than a missing person—she’s a daughter, a friend, and a life that matters.👉 Listen now to this episode of Lost Girls. Her story deserves to be heard.

She told her family she was coming home.She packed her bags.And then—April Beth Pitzer vanished.In this episode, we dive into the haunting disappearance of April, a 30-year-old mother of two who went missing from Newberry Springs, California in 2004. She was supposed to be boarding a bus back to Arkansas… but she never made it.Rumors of drug activity.A history of cooperation with law enforcement.And a desert full of secrets.Join us as we unravel the tangled story of a woman who may have known too much—and trusted the wrong people. Interviews, leads, heartbreak—and questions that still don’t have answers.What happened to April Beth Pitzer?