10 episodes
Missing Erica Baker Dayton 24/7 Now
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- True Crime
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4.7 • 289 Ratings
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A winner of two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.
On February 7, 1999, Erica Baker put on her raincoat, leashed up her dog, and started to walk through a park in Kettering, Ohio. The 9-year-old was never seen again. What really happened on that rainy winter afternoon in the park? Neighbors, family members, and investigators search for answers, but 23 years later, the investigation still haunts the community. Erica Baker’s story hits home for Nathan Edwards and Bryn Caswell, anchors and journalists for Dayton 24/7 Now. That’s why Dayton 24/7 Now is bringing listeners the most in-depth journalistic investigation to date on the Erica Baker Case. Nathan and Bryn share exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage – hoping that maybe, just maybe, what we’ve found could bring her home.
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Chapter 1: Neighborhood Kids
Katie Wolford remembers growing up in the 90s as a time when kids had the freedom to run outside and play with their neighborhood friends. Until one day, her childhood best friend Erica Baker vanished into thin air. Dayton 24/7 Now journalists Nathan Edwards and Bryn Caswell talk to Erica’s family members to recall their final memories on that misty Sunday that started the mystery of what happened to Erica Baker. We start to piece together what happened next.
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Chapter 2: When Night Becomes Day
On February 7, 1999, an older couple was walking their dog in a local park, when they spot something unusual in the distance: A small, wet dog. Days later, police contact the couple and ask them to come in for questioning – and hypnosis – connected to the Erica Baker disappearance. Days bleed into nights, and Dayton 24/7 Now Reporters start piecing together what happened that day.
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Chapter 3: Do You Ever Lie?
Months after Erica Baker disappears, her family and community honors her tenth birthday. Meanwhile, police are tipped off to a piece of information that would end up changing the course of the investigation. An unexpected death sparks a legal battle that makes it all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court.
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Chapter 4: Contradicting Confessions
It’s July 2004. The police’s main suspect, Christian Gabriel, reveals important details connected to Erica’s disappearance – and possible whereabouts. He even leads detectives to a wooded location outside of Dayton, Ohio. But police are left with more questions than answers. Christian’s statements continue to shift and change as he is interrogated. Hosts Bryn Caswell and Nathan Edwards visit a remote warehouse and inspect the van police believe struck Erica Baker.
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Chapter 5: Driving Justice
Time was running out for justice. It’s been six long years since Erica’s family last hugged their 9-year-old girl. Then, in 2005, just three days before the statute of limitations would have expired, Christian Gabriel was indicted on charges connected to the disappearance of Erica Baker. In this episode, reporters Bryn Caswell and Nathan Edwards dissect the trial that found Christian Gabriel guilty and whether justice was really served. Then, Erica’s grandmother Pam Schmidt takes justice into her own hands.
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Chapter 6: A Case that will Never Go Cold
For the season finale, we take a sentimental deep dive into where this case is headed next; not only on the ground but in the hearts of Erica Baker’s loved ones. To close, our hosts Nathan and Bryn join their News Director, Becky, to share their personal thoughts, findings and closing remarks on the entirety of the case— including a hunch that could even lead to a season 2!
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Customer Reviews
Question
This isn’t a review, I have a question.. Didn’t Gabriel claim that Clifford Butts is who took Erica out of the van and got rid of her body? Was he ever tried in court for this? Maybe I misunderstood…??
Lackluster, ultimately disappointing rabbit hole
Or, like a rabbit hole — if it only went in one direction.
I felt like the podcast lacked perspective and I wasn’t really sure why what I was hearing was relevant a lot of the time. It was very surprising to me that the hosts seemed not to question the state’s case in any way and yet still called this an “open case” several times.
Christian seems innocent to me. His story changed constantly because he had no idea what happened and was just going off whatever police said, like the constant stream of false confessions we KNOW happen regularly. There was never any evidence, police only ever had one, very random suspect, and it’s such a hard sell on every level. A giant old creepy van full of drug addicts is the kind of thing witnesses would likely remember being present when a kid goes missing, but literally no one questions this?
Clifford sounds like a big talker who dragged everyone else into a wild goose chase that police were only too happy to follow because they had no real leads. The fact that they seem to think he’s STILL guilty makes me think this case will never be solved. No one is even looking for the real perpetrator. It’s depressing for so many reasons.
I wish this podcast had taken on more of an actual open-minded stance and pushed some of these questions rather than kind of listlessly rambling through the facts of the case as they were then. I could read a Wikipedia page for that. What I want to know is what they DIDN’T look into. What paths they could investigate now. Who was on the suspect list that was tossed off over a rarely-if-ever reliable jailhouse gloat? It sounded like the FBI was interested in a few different people, but all of that was thrown over because some random dude in prison (Clifford) didn’t want 2 seconds of boastful bravado to get HIM saddled with a life sentence.
A very sad, interesting case with reporting that was waaaay more tell than show. I don’t see how anyone could call this investigative journalism — it was basically a soapbox for police who still haven’t done their job after 30 years.
I hope for the family’s sake than this disappointing, seemingly contagious tunnel vision will be replaced with an actual investigation sooner than later.
Best podcast
Best podcasts I’ve listened to in a long time. I hope they find this baby girl.