Pacific Unknown: A True Crime Podcast

Des and Matt McAdam
  • 5.0 (2)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Weekly

Every place has its stories. Along the Pacific Coast, beneath towering redwoods, through desert highways, quiet suburbs, and winding canyon roads, there are cases that still haunt the communities they left behind. Hosted by Husband and wife Des & Matt Pacific Unknown explores unsolved disappearances, cold cases, and the mysteries that continue to captivate investigators and families alike. Each episode carefully reconstructs the timeline, examines the known evidence, and separates verified facts from speculation, always with compassion for the people at the center of every story.

Episodes

  1. Sep 14

    30 years later The Unsolved Cases of Karen Grajeda & Lizette Galaz

    The Unsolved Cases of Karen Grajeda & Esther “Lizette” Galaz In the mid-1990s, two little girls disappeared from Tucson’s South Side just over a year apart. In December 1994, six-year-old Esther “Lizette” Galaz disappeared from her family’s apartment complex while her mother and sister walked to a nearby convenience store. Her remains were later discovered northeast of where she vanished. Investigators determined that Lizette had suffered blunt-force trauma. Thirteen months later, on January 11, 1996, seven-year-old Karen Grajeda disappeared while playing outside near her Tucson apartment complex. Despite an extensive search and countless tips, Karen has never been found. At first, the cases seemed separate. But the similarities between the two girls, their locations, and the circumstances surrounding their disappearances led investigators to question whether the same person could have been responsible. For years, convicted Tucson predator Rodolfo Sedeno Morales was considered a possible suspect in both cases. But decades later, advances in forensic technology and renewed investigative work have caused authorities to broaden their search for a suspect. In this episode of Pacific Unknown, we revisit the stories of Karen and Lizette, examine the investigation that connected their cases, and look at what investigators have learned nearly three decades later. Two little girls. Two families left without answers. And a question Tucson has been asking for decades: What happened to Karen Grajeda and Esther “Lizette” Galaz? If you have information about either case, contact the Tucson Police Department. Tips can be provided anonymously. Sources & further reading: KOLD/13 News — 13 Crime Files: Tucson Police “broadening suspect search” in 1994 murder of Esther Galaz Arizona Daily Star Tucson Citizen The Arizona Republic KGUN 9 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) Voices for Justice — Esther “Lizette” Galaz and Karen Grajeda Last Seen Alive — Unsolved Disappearance: Karen Grajeda + Unsolved Homicide: Esther “Lizette” Galaz Cold and Missing — episodes covering Karen Grajeda and Esther “Lizette” Galaz

  2. Sep 8

    The Man Who Disappeared Twice — The Strange Death of Chuck Morgan

    In 1977, Tucson businessman Chuck Morgan disappeared without a trace. Three days later, he suddenly returned home — but not as the same man. He claimed he had been kidnapped and tortured, and from that point forward, he became increasingly convinced that someone was trying to kill him. Months later, Chuck disappeared again. Nine days after his disappearance, his body was discovered in the Arizona desert, shot in the back of the head with his own gun. Authorities ultimately could not determine exactly how he died. But the strange details surrounding his death only raised more questions: a bulletproof vest, a cryptic $2 bill, mysterious messages, unusual items in his car, and possible connections to organized crime and questionable financial dealings. Was Chuck Morgan a paranoid man who ultimately took his own life? Or was he involved in something much bigger — and did someone make sure he would never be able to tell anyone what he knew? In Episode 5 of Pacific Unknown, we’re diving into one of Arizona’s strangest unsolved mysteries: the man who disappeared twice. * Unsolved Mysteries — Chuck Morgan case file: The official Unsolved Mysteries archive confirms Morgan disappeared on March 22, 1977, and identifies him as a Tucson escrow-company owner. * Crime Junkie — Charles “Chuck” Morgan: Particularly useful for the broader investigative history, alleged financial schemes, and source material from contemporary Arizona Daily Star reporting. * Crimelines — Charles “Chuck” Morgan: Provides a useful bibliography including contemporary Arizona newspaper coverage, The New York Times, and the Unsolved Mysteries material. * Trace Evidence — The Mysterious Death of Chuck Morgan: Useful for the chronology of his first disappearance, alleged kidnapping, increased fear for his safety, and eventual death. * Mystery Delver — Death in the Desert: Helpful for the physical evidence surrounding the scene, including the gun, bulletproof vest, vehicle, and unusual objects discovered afterward.

  3. Sep 1

    The Chilling Double Murder of Lisa Gurrieri and Brandon Rumbaugh

    Pacific Unknown — Episode 6: The Bumble Bee Road Murders Two young people. A remote Arizona road. A broken camera containing a photograph investigators still can’t explain. In 2003, Lisa Gurrieri and Brandon Rumbaugh went camping near Bumble Bee, Arizona. They were never seen alive again. On this episode of Pacific Unknown, we follow the final known movements of Lisa and Brandon, the discovery of their bodies, the strange evidence left behind, and the questions that have kept their murders unsolved for more than two decades. Lisa was 19. Brandon was 20. Their truck was eventually found abandoned near Interstate 17, and both were discovered dead in the truck’s bed, each the victim of a gunshot wound. But investigators also found something else. A disposable camera. The camera was damaged, but the film contained photographs of Lisa and Brandon — potentially some of the last images ever taken of the young couple. Among those photographs was an unsettling image of an unidentified indoor location. A video camera the couple had brought with them was also missing. What happened between the time Lisa and Brandon left for their camping trip and the moment their bodies were discovered? Who did they encounter in the remote Arizona desert? And could the missing camera, the mysterious photograph, or evidence that has remained overlooked for years finally provide the answer? In Episode 6 of Pacific Unknown, we take a closer look at the Bumble Bee Road murders — separating what we know from what we don’t, and examining the theories that continue to surround this haunting Arizona cold case. Lisa Gurrieri and Brandon Rumbaugh deserve answers. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading ABC15 — Nearly 20 years since the murders of Lisa Gurrieri and Brandon Rumbaugh Read the ABC15 investigation KNAU — Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office continues searching for answers Read the KNAU report Oxygen — The disposable camera and mysterious photograph Read the Oxygen report Unresolved — The Bumble Bee Road Murders Read the Unresolved case file https://youtu.be/UKy7Z1nRovI?si=spglAWPB11ph_8eT https://youtu.be/AofT8KaBtKY?si=v4TtbKRZiYXpXqtJ ⸻ Reddit & Community Discussion r/UnresolvedMysteries — Brandon Rumbaugh & Lisa Gurrieri Read the Reddit discussion r/UnsolvedMysteries — Bumble Bee Road murders Read the Reddit discussion Reddit discussions are included as examples of public discussion surrounding the case. Posts and comments may contain unverified information, speculation, or theories and should not be considered evidence or official statements from law enforcement. If you know something about the murders of Lisa Gurrieri and Brandon Rumbaugh, contact law enforcement.

  4. Aug 18

    The Disappearances of Jonathan Reynoso & Audrey Moran

    Episode 3: The Murders of Jonathan Reynoso & Audrey Moran In 2017, two young adults disappeared from California’s Coachella Valley within weeks of one another. Jonathan Reynoso was last seen leaving a family gathering. Audrey Moran vanished after telling loved ones she was meeting someone she trusted. At first, the cases appeared unrelated—two separate disappearances with few leads and mounting questions. But investigators would eventually uncover a connection that no one saw coming. In this episode of Pacific Unknown, we follow the timeline from the initial missing person reports to the painstaking investigation that exposed a horrifying double murder hidden in the California desert. We’ll examine the evidence, the suspects, the years of uncertainty their families endured, and the discoveries that finally brought long-awaited answers. This is the story of two lives cut short, a case that seemed destined to go cold, and the relentless pursuit of justice that ensured Jonathan Reynoso and Audrey Moran would never be forgotten. Listener discretion is advised. This episode discusses homicide, violence, and the deaths of real individuals. We aim to tell these stories with accuracy, respect, and compassion for the victims, their families, and everyone affected. Sources & Further Reading * KESQ News – Second Suspect in Coachella Valley Missing Couple Case Pleads Guilty * KESQ News – Man Pleads Guilty to Harboring Suspects in Murders of Coachella Valley Couple * KESQ News – Preliminary Hearing Begins in Murder of Coachella Valley Couple * KESQ News – Testimony From Guilty Party Reveals New Details in Murder of Coachella Valley Couple * KESQ News – Suspect in Murder of Coachella Valley Couple Pleads Not Guilty * KESQ News – Missing Couple Mystery Archive (Complete Timeline of Coverage) https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-audrey-moran-jonathan-reynoso/ https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/s/fHZGYqMUVp Official Sources * Riverside County District Attorney press releases and court records. * Riverside County Sheriff’s Office public statements and press conferences. Pacific Unknown is an independently produced podcast. This episode was researched using publicly available news reports, court records, law enforcement statements, and interviews. We strive to present every case accurately and respectfully while recognizing that investigations and legal proceedings can evolve over time.

  5. Aug 11

    The Chilling Disappearance of Steven Koecher

    Episode 2: Steven Koecher On December 13, 2009, 30-year-old Steven Koecher drove from St. George, Utah, to Henderson, Nevada. Just before noon, security cameras captured him parking his car in a quiet residential neighborhood, stepping out, and walking away with what appeared to be a folder in his hand. He was never seen again. In this episode of Pacific Unknown, we break down the timeline leading up to Steven’s disappearance, examine the investigation, and discuss the many unanswered questions that continue to puzzle investigators more than 16 years later. Was he headed to a job interview? Did financial struggles lead him into a dangerous situation? Or is there another explanation that has yet to come to light? We’ll separate fact from speculation, explore the leading theories, and discuss why Steven Koecher’s case remains one of the most baffling unsolved disappearances in the American Southwest. If you have thoughts or theories about this case, we’d love to hear them. Reach out on social media, and if you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review Pacific Unknown to help others discover the show. Sources & Further Reading * Utah Department of Public Safety Cold Case – Steven Thell Koecher https://bci.utah.gov/coldcases/steven-thell-koecher-3/ * The Charley Project – Steven Koecher https://charleyproject.org/case/steven-thell-koecher * NamUs Missing Person Case MP4889 https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP4889 * Wikipedia – Disappearance of Steven Koecher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Steven_Koecher Additional Viewing & Research * https://youtu.be/ku1oSDjAvFs?si=UiER9SCczD31wp-a * https://youtu.be/HzgSsW-WWpI?si=qmj8lavX3RVn0EdH * https://youtu.be/J2yrmLtfHM0?si=06DPNTPJUA2OVSsq * https://youtu.be/HlUWVN59VyU?si=azDcwAV3mabG-3d3 If you have any information regarding Steven Koecher’s disappearance, please contact the St. George Police Department at (435) 627-4300 or submit a tip through the Utah Department of Public Safety Cold Case Unit.

  6. Aug 4

    The Case of Mitrice Richardson

    On the night of September 16, 2009, 24-year-old Mitrice Richardson was arrested after displaying unusual behavior at a Malibu restaurant. Just a few hours later, she was released from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station—alone, after midnight, with no confirmed transportation back to her car and no clear way to get home. She was never seen alive again. Nearly a year later, Mitrice’s remains were discovered in a remote canyon in Malibu. More than a decade later, questions still linger about the decisions made that night, the search that followed, and what truly happened after she walked out of the sheriff’s station. In the debut episode of Pacific Unknown, Des and her husband examine the timeline of Mitrice’s final known hours, the verified evidence, the unanswered questions, and the public discussion surrounding one of Southern California’s most controversial unsolved cases. Together, they separate documented facts from speculation while honoring the life of the young woman at the center of the story. Before opening the case file, they also share their current music and movie picks in the show’s signature “West Coast Check-In.” In this episode: ​ Who was Mitrice Richardson?​ The events leading up to her arrest in Malibu​ Her release from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station​ The search for Mitrice​ The discovery of her remains​ The unanswered questions that continue to surround her case Listener discretion is advised. This episode discusses death, mental health, and an unresolved missing persons investigation that may be distressing for some listeners. Sources: This episode was researched using official law enforcement records and public documents where available, reporting from established news organizations, and publicly accessible case records. A full list of sources is included in the episode description for transparency. https://lamag.com/crimeinla/what-happened-to-mitrice-richardson/ https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/sheriff-updates-mitrice-richardson-disappearance-decade-later/1965858/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitrice-richardson-arrested-released-then-disappeared-are-the-cops-to-blame/ https://www.foxla.com/news/10-years-after-death-of-mitrice-richardson-case-remains-cold https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Mitrice_Richardson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Mitrice_Richardson https://abc7.com/post/mitrice-richardson-abc7-special-malibu-missing-unsolved-la/11349737/ https://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/police-launch-search-for-mitrice-richardson/ https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-waters-mitrice-richardson https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/mitrice-richardsons-body-exhumed/1902817/

  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Every place has its stories. Along the Pacific Coast, beneath towering redwoods, through desert highways, quiet suburbs, and winding canyon roads, there are cases that still haunt the communities they left behind. Hosted by Husband and wife Des & Matt Pacific Unknown explores unsolved disappearances, cold cases, and the mysteries that continue to captivate investigators and families alike. Each episode carefully reconstructs the timeline, examines the known evidence, and separates verified facts from speculation, always with compassion for the people at the center of every story.

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