Lost Girls

Lost Girls

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

  1. Jun 8

    Angel Carlick: A Life Interrupted

    In this episode of The Lost Girls Podcast, hosts LaDonna Humphrey and Amy Smith examine the heartbreaking case of Angel Carlick, a 19-year-old Indigenous woman whose disappearance and death continue to haunt her family, community, and investigators nearly two decades later. Angel was just weeks away from graduating high school when she vanished from downtown Whitehorse, Yukon, on May 26, 2007. Known for her compassion, creativity, and dedication to helping others, Angel worked with a community dinner program for children, advocated for youth, and remained deeply connected to her family and friends. By all accounts, she was building a promising future. After leaving a friend's house and traveling into downtown Whitehorse on her bicycle, Angel called her best friend from a payphone to make plans. Later that night, she was reportedly seen walking away from Main Street with one or more individuals. It would be the last confirmed sighting of her alive. For nearly six months, Angel's loved ones searched for answers. Then, on November 9, 2007, her remains were discovered in a wooded area near the Pilot Mountain subdivision north of Whitehorse. The discovery confirmed the worst fears of those who loved her but left critical questions unanswered. Investigators have never determined whether Angel died at that location or if her body was moved there after her death. Angel's case remains unsolved. During this episode, LaDonna and Amy discuss Angel's life, the timeline of her disappearance, the ongoing investigation, and the broader crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls across Canada and the United States. They also explore how silence, fear, and the passage of time can complicate homicide investigations while emphasizing the importance of continued public attention. The episode highlights renewed interest in Angel's case through the CBC podcast Someone Knows Something and examines why unresolved cases involving Indigenous women deserve sustained attention and accountability. Angel Carlick was more than a case file. She was a daughter, sister, friend, advocate, artist, and young woman with dreams that were never given the chance to fully unfold. If you have information regarding Angel Carlick's disappearance or death, please contact the Yukon RCMP Historical Case Unit at (867) 667-5500 or email MDIV_HCU@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Because every girl deserves justice. Sources & ResourcesSomeone Knows Something (Season focused on Angel Carlick's case)Yukon RCMP Historical Case UnitFamily and community advocacy efforts seeking justice for Angel CarlickFollow The Lost Girls PodcastFollow The Lost Girls Podcast for weekly episodes examining missing women, unresolved murders, suspicious deaths, and the families who continue searching for answers long after public attention fades. Hosted by LaDonna Humphrey and Amy Smith.

    13 min
  2. Jun 4

    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
  3. 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
2.7
out of 5
110 Ratings

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

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