Latest / 3 Crimes That Are Still Unsolved / Episode 29- Vanished While Running – When the Trail Goes Cold
Transcript
- Ronan Wolfe: Welcome back to 3 Crimes That Are Still Unsolved – Chilling Cases With No Answers… Yet. I’m Ronan Wolfe. Today’s episode explores a disturbing theme—people who vanished or were killed while out for a run. Running is supposed to be freeing. It’s an act of health, of clarity, of routine. But in these three chilling cases, that simple activity became a final, irreversible moment. These aren’t stories of people who went missing in war zones or dangerous neighborhoods. They’re joggers. On familiar routes. In broad daylight. And yet, they never made it home. Ronan Wolfe: Our first case is that of Susan “Suzie” Powell, a 25-year-old from Salt Lake City, Utah. In the summer of 1986, Suzie left her apartment for a quick run near the base of the Wasatch Mountains. She was training for a half-marathon and frequently ran the same loop. Her roommate remembers her lacing up her shoes and saying she’d be back in under an hour. She never returned. Ronan Wolfe: At first, her disappearance was treated like a case of a young woman simply going off the grid. But Suzie wasn’t the type. Her wallet, ID, and keys were still at home. Police searched the trail system extensively with dogs and helicopters. Nothing. Not even her shoes were found. Then, a chilling clue: a man hiking a different trail nearby found a torn piece of running shorts and a single earbud—confirmed to be Suzie’s. The items were located near a steep drop. But there was no blood. No body. And no sign she had fallen. Ronan Wolfe: Some theories suggest a rogue mountain lion attack, but no predator leaves absolutely no trace. Others point to the possibility of a stalker. Suzie had reported to friends about a man in a white truck who had followed her on two previous runs. Authorities never found the truck. To this day, Suzie Powell is listed as a missing person, and the case remains open. Ronan Wolfe: Our second case takes us to Brooklyn, Iowa, and the highly publicized murder of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in 2018. Mollie went out for a run in her small town around 7:30 PM on July 18th. She was an avid runner, a student at the University of Iowa, and loved the peacefulness of her route through cornfields and quiet residential roads. Ronan Wolfe: When she didn’t return, a massive search effort began. Police canvassed the area, reviewed CCTV footage, and even followed digital footprints from her Fitbit. After weeks of uncertainty, her body was found in a remote field, hidden beneath corn stalks. She had been stabbed to death. Ronan Wolfe: A suspect was arrested—Cristhian Bahena Rivera, an undocumented farm worker. He confessed, then later recanted, claiming he was coerced. During the trial, new claims emerged that two other men had threatened Rivera’s family if he didn’t take the fall. DNA evidence matched Mollie’s blood in the trunk of Rivera’s car, but questions remain. Did he act alone? Was he truly the killer? Or was he used as a scapegoat? Rivera was convicted—but the case still haunts many who feel justice wasn't fully served. Ronan Wolfe: Finally, we go to the case of Jessica Heeringa, a 25-year-old woman from Muskegon, Michigan. While technically not a jogger, Jessica’s story shares something crucial with our theme—she vanished in the middle of her routine. Jessica was working a night shift at a gas station when she disappeared in 2013. Her wallet and keys were left behind, and there were signs of a struggle behind the store. Ronan Wolfe: Weeks before her disappearance, Jessica had told her fiancé she felt like someone was watching her during her shifts. Police found no security footage—astonishing, considering the store had no surveillance system. Then, a break came: a customer recalled seeing a silver van parked outside the station that night. Witnesses described a man with sandy hair acting strangely, seen watching Jessica on previous nights. Ronan Wolfe: Years later, a man named Jeffrey Willis was arrested for the attempted kidnapping of another woman and was later convicted of murder in a separate case. He was ultimately charged and convicted in connection with Jessica’s disappearance. Still, her body has never been found. And some say the full story of how she vanished—and whether others were involved—has never been fully uncovered. Ronan Wolfe: These three cases—Suzie Powell, Mollie Tibbetts, and Jessica Heeringa—highlight the dangers of routine. Running, working, walking home—these are the actions we do without fear, in the daylight, in our comfort zones. But predators don’t always wait for the night. And when the trail goes cold, it’s not just a figure of speech—it’s the end of the evidence. Ronan Wolfe: If you have any information about Suzie Powell’s disappearance in Utah, even something as vague as a sighting of a white pickup in 1986, contact the Salt Lake City Police. If you believe Mollie Tibbetts’ case has layers still buried, consider speaking out. And if Jessica Heeringa’s final moments deserve more clarity, let’s keep asking questions. Ronan Wolfe: Subscribe to 3 Crimes That Are Still Unsolved – Chilling Cases With No Answers… Yet. Share the episode. Leave a review. And remember: not every run ends at the finish line. I’m Ronan Wolfe. Until next time, stay safe—and stay alert.