Lost Girls

Lost Girls

Lost Girls, hosted by Amy Smith and LaDonna Humphrey -- Every Girl Deserves Justice!

  1. 2d ago

    Melissa Brannen: The Little Girl Who Never Came Home

    On December 3, 1989, five-year-old Melissa Brannen attended a Christmas party with her mother at their apartment complex in northern Virginia. Surrounded by neighbors, holiday decorations, and families celebrating the season, no one could have imagined that Melissa would disappear without a trace. What began as an ordinary holiday gathering quickly became one of the most haunting child abduction cases in American history. In this episode, LaDonna Humphrey and Amy Smith examine the heartbreaking disappearance of Melissa Brannen, a little girl who vanished after briefly returning to a crowded party to get a snack. Despite an extensive search involving law enforcement, military personnel, and hundreds of volunteers, Melissa was never found. The investigation soon focused on apartment maintenance worker Caleb Daniel Hughes. Witness statements, forensic evidence, and suspicious behavior led to his conviction for abduction with intent to defile. Yet even after decades, one devastating question remains unanswered: Where is Melissa Brannen? More than thirty-five years later, Melissa's family still lives without the answers they deserve. Her case remains a painful reminder that some of the most terrifying crimes happen in places where we feel safest. In this episode, we discuss: • Melissa Brannen's disappearance from a crowded Christmas party in 1989 • The massive search effort that followed • The investigation into Caleb Daniel Hughes • The forensic evidence presented at trial • The challenges prosecutors faced without a body • The emotional toll of unresolved child disappearances • The lasting impact this case had on parents across America This episode contains discussions of child abduction, sexual violence involving a minor, and crimes against children. Listener discretion is advised. If you have information regarding Melissa Brannen's disappearance, please contact law enforcement or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Because every girl deserves justice. Hosted by Amy Smith and LaDonna Humphrey Learn more about our advocacy work at All the Lost Girls: allthelostgirls.org

    18 min
  2. May 20

    What Happened to Isabelle Sam?

    For this episode of The Lost Girls Podcast, LaDonna Humphrey and Amy Smith examine the troubling death of Isabelle Sam, a forty-four-year-old Indigenous woman who was found deceased inside an SUV in Juneau, Alaska, in January 2023. Authorities ruled Isabelle’s death accidental, citing combined drug intoxication involving fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and alcohol. But the circumstances surrounding her final hours have continued to raise deeply uncomfortable questions. According to reports, Isabelle was not alone prior to her death. Concerns surrounding witness accounts, the timeline of events, delays in intervention, and the reported existence of a forensic sexual assault examination have left many people unsettled by the official narrative surrounding the case. In this episode, LaDonna and Amy explore the known timeline, the larger crisis involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, the way addiction can alter public empathy toward victims, and the difficult questions that still linger in the aftermath of Isabelle’s death. This episode contains discussions involving addiction, death, and violence and may be difficult for some listeners. If you have information related to the death of Isabelle Sam, please contact law enforcement in Juneau, Alaska. The Lost Girls Podcast is independently produced. We do not monetize this podcast through subscriptions or paywalls because we believe these stories — and the advocacy surrounding them — should remain accessible to everyone.

    22 min

Ratings & Reviews

3.3
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Lost Girls, hosted by Amy Smith and LaDonna Humphrey -- Every Girl Deserves Justice!

You Might Also Like