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The Final Trace

OdieStew Productions

The Final Trace is a true crime podcast digging into chilling disappearances, cold cases, and mysteries that still leave us searching for answers. Hosted by Hopper Dailey & Mckenzie, each chapter steps into final moments, overlooked clues, and theories that linger. Every story is a chapter - not the whole book. Just one page of someones story... the page where everything changed. From strange sightings to unsettling truths, we follow the clues wherever they lead. New Chapters every True Crime Tuesday.

  1. Rouge Transmissions IV: Part II

    2d ago ·  Bonus

    Rouge Transmissions IV: Part II

    Rogue Transmissions--the edgy, semi-annual anthology of indie podcasts--is invading your podcast feed with DUNGEONPUNK PART 2 ... a symphony of 80s nostalgia, dystopian cyberpunk, and savage swords drawn against both super sorcery & super science. Featuring an adventuring party of your indie podcast favorites! FIRST UP, Octoberpod presents "Byzantium Slab: The Shell Remember" a wraparound tale of adventure on the savage streets of the dystopian Witch Kingdom (featuring the voice talents of Ari Shey, MJ McAddams, and Family Plot podcast's Arthur Williams). THEN: The Final Trace investigates the satanic panic epidemic of the 1980s & the case of Bink Pulling. LATER: Ghost Bites presents to dire warning about mysterious arcade games in "Insert Coin to Die." FINALLY: Horrifying History plumbs the depths of 1980s paranormal activity with the Smurl Family Haunting. Rogue Transmission 4: DungeonPunk. Total Power. Total Mystery. Total Savagery ... Totally AWESOME!

    1h 3m
  2. Rouge Transmissions IV: Part 1

    3d ago ·  Bonus

    Rouge Transmissions IV: Part 1

    Rogue Transmissions--the edgy, semi-annual anthology of indie podcasts--is invading your podcast feed with DUNGEONPUNK PART 1 ... a symphony of 80s nostalgia, dystopian cyberpunk, and savage swords drawn against both super sorcery & super science. Featuring an adventuring party of your indie podcast favorites! FIRST UP, Octoberpod presents "Byzantium Slab: Life Without A Soul" a wraparound tale of savagery & adventure in the dystopian Kingdom of the Witch King (featuring the voice talents of Ari Shey, MJ McAddams, and Family Plot podcast's Arthur Williams). THEN: Our True Crime Podcast presents "The Acid King of the 80s" a true crime case of drugs, delusion, DnD, and murder. LATER: The Morbid Forest Takes "A Roll of the Dice" on a journey into a role playing game that is much more than it appears. FINALLY: The Serial Napper herself, Nikki Young, lulls you to sleep (or into the arms of a nightmare) with the true tale of "Monsters Made of Dice" Rogue Transmission 4: DungeonPunk. Total Power. Total Mystery. Total Savagery ... Totally AWESOME!

    1h 38m
  3. Off The Record 013: Missing Derek Seehausen

    4d ago ·  Bonus • Subscribers Only

    Off The Record 013: Missing Derek Seehausen

    📍Los Angeles, CA | Year: 2014 It was supposed to be a normal day. No signs of danger. No indication anything was wrong. And then… Derek Seehausen was gone. No clear explanation. No definitive answers. Just a case that refuses to settle— and a question that still hasn’t been answered: What happened to Derek Seehausen? Resources & Readings: Help Find Derek - Official Family Site – The central hub for the search, including a personal letter from his mother, Jean Gadra, and details on the active $25,000 reward. NamUs Case #MP26434 – The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System official entry for Derek Seehausen. California Attorney General: Derek Adam Seehausen – The state’s official missing person record.  Los Angeles Times +4 Timeline & Investigation Deep Dives The Mysterious Disappearance of Derek Seehausen - Medium – A detailed long-form look at the final timeline, the $2,999 payment, and the open cereal box. Strange Details Emerge - LAist – Covers the press conference details, the shuffling gait sighting, and the returned keys on Wilshire Boulevard. Missing USC Student - Daily Trojan – Details the September 10th sighting in Solana Beach and Derek’s chronic plantar fasciitis.  Community & Sighting Reports Family says new leads suggest student still alive - HSC News – Information on the September 5th bus sighting and the overwrite of Metro bus footage. Help Find Derek - Facebook Community – Active community updates and photos used in the search. Reddit: We think our friend is alive – An "Ask Me Anything" thread from Derek’s close friends and classmates answering community questions during the initial search.  Description: Description: 6'0", 180 lbs, brown hair, hazel eyes. Identifying Markers: Distinct shuffling gait and a burn scar on his left shoulder. Last Known Outfit: Maroon t-shirt, black hoodie, and plaid shorts

    25 min
  4. Missing: Deanna Merryfield

    May 26

    Missing: Deanna Merryfield

    📍Killeen, Texas | Year: 1990 🎧 Chapter 49: The Final Trace of Deanna Merryfield Thirteen-year-old Deanna Merryfield slipped out of her grandmother’s house in the early morning hours to visit her twin sister just two miles away. By 3:30 AM, she was standing outside a bedroom window.Moments later… she climbed into a bronze-colored car with two teenage boys. She was never seen again. Labeled a runaway almost immediately, Deanna’s disappearance received little investigation in those critical early days. But while the case went quiet… her younger sister Melissa never stopped searching. More than thirty-five years later, Deanna’s family is still fighting for answers — and still hoping someone finally breaks their silence. 🎙️ This episode includes exclusive interview clips with Deanna’s sister, Melissa, as she shares memories of Deanna, the failures surrounding the investigation, and the decades-long fight to bring her home. 🎙️ CALL TO ACTION: JUSTICE FOR DEANNA Finding Deanna Official Website Finding Deanna Facebook Page Case Information & Missing Person Resources Finding Deanna Contact Page Investigations for the Missing – Deanna Merryfield If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Deanna Merryfield, please contact the Killeen Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Clearinghouse, or reach out directly through the Finding Deanna website. Even the smallest detail could matter. Killeen Police Department: (254) 501-8830 Texas Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Clearinghouse: 1-800-346-3243

    32 min
  5. Missing: Billy Martin

    May 19

    Missing: Billy Martin

    📍Brazil, Indiana | Year: 1957 🎧 Chapter 48: The Final Trace of Billy Martin Seven-year-old Billy Martin was playing outside his family’s home on a warm summer afternoon while his mother cleaned inside, waiting for her husband to return home from National Guard training. But sometime around 3:30 PM… Billy vanished. The last person believed to have seen him was a family friend and lodger known as “Tex” Higgins — a drifter whose story would quickly come under scrutiny. Search crews combed fields, ponds, mineshafts, and nearby farmland.Rumors spread across Clay County.And over the decades, Billy’s disappearance slowly became something more than a cold case. It became a legend. Nearly seventy years later… Billy Martin has never been found. 📖 SOURCES AND READINGS: The Charley Project - Billy Earl Martin: Provides the core case facts, physical description, and the timeline of Harry "Tex" Higgins' actions. Faded Memories: The Disappearance of Billy Martin (WTWO): Features modern interviews with Billy’s brother, Robert, and details about the family’s scrapbook and search efforts. Brazil Times Archives - Missing But Not Forgotten: Details the polygraph results for the parents and Tex, as well as the $167 fund eventually donated to the Boy Scouts. Indiana Folklore Collection - Disappearance of Billy Martin: Documents local legends, including the "Pink House" (Rene/Lorine Evans) and the school haunting myths. The Daily Banner (August 15, 1957): A primary newspaper source from the week of the disappearance, detailing the early investigation into the "guitar-toting minstrel". Indiana Cold Case Chronicles (Facebook): Community discussion and additional records regarding the search locations around Brazil. [1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10] Newspapers.com - Frances L Evans/Harry Higgins/Billy Martin Reddit - Unresolved Mysteries

    31 min
  6. Missing: Jared McColloch

    May 12

    Missing: Jared McColloch

    📍Knox County Indiana | Year: 2023 🎧 Chapter 47: The Final Trace of Jared McColloch Jared McColloch left his home in Louisiana expecting to make a routine trip north. But somewhere between Illinois and Indiana… something changed. In the early morning hours, Jared’s movements became difficult to follow. A confusing timeline stretched across state lines and a daylight savings time change. His truck was eventually discovered abandoned near the Wabash River. Jared was never found. And the deeper investigators looked into his final hours… the stranger the story became. 🎙️ CALL TO ACTION: JUSTICE FOR JARED "The Final Trace of Jared McColloch doesn't have to end here. A mother is waiting, two dogs are still watching the door, and a son deserves the truth about the father who was racing across states just to reach him." 📢 SHARE THE STORY: The biggest obstacle in this case is the "small-town wall." Break it down by sharing Jared’s story. Download his missing person flyer from the Finding Jared McColloch Facebook Group and post it—especially if you live in Vincennes (IN), St. Francisville (IL), or Lawrence County (IL). ✍️ SIGN THE PETITION: Jared’s family is fighting to move this case from local jurisdiction to the FBI or U.S. Marshals. Every signature counts in proving to federal authorities that this case deserves more than a "local" look. Sign the Change.org Petition here. 📞 SUBMIT A TIP: Did you see a white 2020 GMC Sierra on November 5th, 2023? Were you at the Cannonball Bar that Sunday morning? Even the smallest detail—someone Jared was talking to, or a vehicle following his—could be the key. Knox County Sheriff’s Office: (812) 882-1502 Anonymous Tip Line: Call 812-895-1TIP to remain 100% anonymous. 💙 SUPPORT THE SEARCH: Keep the pressure on. Use the hashtag #FindJaredMcColloch and tag local news outlets in Indiana and Illinois. Don’t let the quiet of a gravel road swallow the truth. Case Overviews & Timelines Dateline NBC: Verified the background of the construction worker turned "stay-at-home country" man and his meticulous probation history. Method & Madness Podcast: Detailed the 500-mile journey, specific gas station stops. NewsNation: Sources for the surveillance footage descriptions NBCNEWS: Two Years later by By Sarah Dahlberg Investigative Details & Evidence The Charley Project: Confirmed official physical descriptions, the warrant status, and the 13-day countdown to the end of his probation. Solve the Case: Tracked the witness sighting at the Cannonball Bar and the lack of cooperation regarding surveillance footage. NewsNation - YouTube Analysis: Documented the GMC app alerts, the "party spot" 25 miles away, the "cleaned" shoes found later, and the scratches in the back window dust. [1, 2, 3] Family & Community Advocacy Finding Jared McColloch - Facebook Group: The primary source for the family’s direct updates, the "circle the wagons" sentiment in St. Francisville, and the petition for federal intervention. News & Official Case Profiles NewsNation: Extensive coverage of the investigation, including details on the last-minute road trip and subsequent investigative updates. NBC Dateline: A detailed overview of his trip and the discovery of the abandoned truck. Podcasts & In-Depth Interviews The Vanished Podcast: A deep dive into the timeline and family perspective in Episode 430: Jared McColloch Part 1. Method & Madness: An interview with Tammie Reppond covering cell phone pings and the state of the vehicle. Nate Eaton (East Idaho News): A video interview with Tammie discussing the case after two years. Community & Search Groups Finding Jared McColloch (Facebook Group): The primary family-run page for daily updates and reporting tips. Peace River K9 Search and Rescue: Footage and discussion of the K9 alerts at the "party spot" and the river. United Cajun Navy: Documentation of community-led search efforts and the recovery of Jared's dogs. [1, 2]

    37 min
  7. Missing: Zachary Bernhardt

    May 5

    Missing: Zachary Bernhardt

    📍 Clearwater, Florida | Year: 2000 🎧 Chapter 46 — The Final Trace of Zachary Bernhardt On September 11, 2000, 8-year-old Zachary Bernhardt vanished from his bed in a locked apartment in Clearwater, Florida. His mother claimed she stepped out to clear her head at 4:00 A.M., but neighbors and investigators tell a different story. Today, we dive into the timeline, the suspicious inconsistencies, and why this remains the longest-running active Amber Alert in Florida history. 🚨 TAKE ACTION: DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION? If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Zachary Bernhardt, please contact: Clearwater Police Department: 727-562-4242 NCMEC Tip Line: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) Email: tips@myclearwater.com 🔗 OFFICIAL RESOURCES & LINKS National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Zachary’s Active Poster & Age Progression The Charley Project: Comprehensive Case Timeline NamUs: Zachary Michael Cole Bernhardt — Case #MP2689 FDLE: Printable Missing Child Flyer Fox 13: Where is Zachary Bernhardt? 25 years later Zachary Bernhardt Missing - My Theory (Reddit) The Tampa Tribune provided coverage of the Zachary Bernhardt case in 2000 [1]. View the original article at Newspapers.com. 📖 FURTHER READING & WATCHING Watch: Investigation Discovery — "Disappeared: About a Boy" News: FOX 13 Tampa Bay — "Where is Zachary Bernhardt? 25 Years Later" Article: Missing in the Shadows of 9/11 (NCMEC Blog) 📸 CASE VISUALS Visit our social media pages to see the age-progression photos of what Zachary would look like at age 34, as well as the map of the Savannah Trace Apartments discussed in this episode. Follow us on: Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/YouTube - @TheFinalTracePodcast Episode Credits: Hosts: Hopper & McKenzie Research: Hopper Dailey Music: Joaquin H Official Case Records & Missing Person Profiles Clearwater Police Department: The official Missing Persons Page for Zachary Bernhardt, including his identifying scars and case number. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): Zachary’s NCMEC Poster featuring the most recent age-progression images. NamUs: The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System entry providing official disappearance coordinates and physical descriptors. Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): The Active Amber Alert Flyer for Zachary Michael-Cole Bernhardt. [1, 2, 3, 4] Key News Articles & Long-Form Reporting Tampa Bay Times: The original investigative report, "Police: Boy's mother knows more," which details Leah's background in Michigan and the initial police skepticism. Fox 13 News: The 25th-anniversary special, "Where is Zachary Bernhardt?", covering Project Atom and the family's 25-year wait. NewsNation: A deep dive into the 25-year search and the various theories, including the Mexico "drifter" sighting. Summit Daily: Local coverage of the mysterious bound boy photo discovered in a Dillon, Colorado grocery store parking lot in August 2001. Tampa Bay Times (2001 Abduction): Documentation of the New Year's Eve 2001 kidnapping at the same Savannah Trace apartment complex. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

    34 min
  8. Murdered: Lowell Badger

    Apr 28

    Murdered: Lowell Badger

    📍 Merom, Indiana | Year: 2012 🎧 Chapter 45 — The Final Trace of Lowell Badger Lowell Badger lived a life of routine, faith, and quiet consistency. But on a cold December night, that peace was shattered inside his own home. For eleven years, his family waited—while the truth remained just out of reach. Until the silence finally broke. Primary News Reports & Investigation Details Lowell Badger Cold Case Summary (Indiana State Police) The official investigative profile detailing the stolen Sentry safe, the Sony Bravia TV, and the early 2012 crime scene details. Police Release More Information in Sullivan County Murder (WTHI-TV) An archival report from the eighth anniversary of the crime, highlighting the $50,000 reward and the search for a dark-colored pickup truck. Alan Badger Recalls Finding His Father Dead (WTHI-TV) Detailed courtroom coverage of Alan and Audrey Badger’s testimony regarding the locked doors and the morning of December 8th. Trial Testimony: Victim Was Not Supposed to be Home (WIBQ AM) Coverage explaining the motive for the burglary and the revelation that the suspects believed Lowell was away for the night. The Breakthrough & Legal Proceedings Probable Cause Affidavit: The Investigation of Richard Taft (MyWabashValley) The legal document outlining how 2023 interviews and forensic breakthroughs finally connected William Grimes and Richard Taft to the murder. William Grimes Found Guilty in 2012 Murder Case (WTWO/WAWV) A report on the May 2025 jury verdict, detailing the counts of murder and conspiracy to commit burglary. Prosecution Calls Witnesses Against Grimes (The Sullivan Times) In-depth reporting on the forensic evidence, including the "man door" locks and the lack of fingerprints at the scene. The Sentencing & Aftermath William Grimes Sentenced to 120 Years (WTHI-TV) June 2025 coverage of Judge Hugh Hunt’s maximum sentencing and the impact statements delivered by the Badger family. Third Suspect Charged in Lowell Badger Murder (MyWabashValley) Details the April 2025 arrest of Arthur Lee Grimes, brother of William, and his alleged role in the 2012 burglary. Lowell Badger Trial Updates (The Sullivan Times) A comprehensive chronological collection of daily trial updates and witness lists from the 2025 proceedings. Court Testimony: During William Grimes' 2025 trial, a witness named Jeremiah Mahan confirmed seeing Grimes at the Merom home where underage drinking was occurring. While Mahan had previously told police in a report that he saw the men return with the TV in the truck, he claimed during the trial that he could no longer recall that specific detail, though he admitted he was telling the truth when he originally gave the statement under oath.  Sullivan Daily Times +5 WTHI-TV YouTube

    30 min
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Trailer

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About

The Final Trace is a true crime podcast digging into chilling disappearances, cold cases, and mysteries that still leave us searching for answers. Hosted by Hopper Dailey & Mckenzie, each chapter steps into final moments, overlooked clues, and theories that linger. Every story is a chapter - not the whole book. Just one page of someones story... the page where everything changed. From strange sightings to unsettling truths, we follow the clues wherever they lead. New Chapters every True Crime Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    OdieStew Productions
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © OdieStew Productions
  • Show Website
    The Final Trace
  • Provider
    Ty Hopper

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