Show notes
Episode 2 Rachael Runyan
In this episode, the panel examines the heartbreaking August, 1982 abduction and murder of 3 year-old Rachael Runyan in Sunset, Utah. Rachael was playing at a park alongside her brothers, just feet away from her home. Their mom Elaine, watched from the window as she prepared a meal for the family. Although Elaine was nervous about letting the kids out to play, she wanted them to have fun, and they'd only be outside for a short while until it was time to come in. But in the blink of an eye, tragedy struck. A stranger approached the 3 young siblings and asked them if they wanted ice cream from Bobco's, a local store. Rachael's brother warned her not to follow the man, but she took a few steps toward him and within seconds, the man snatched Rachael up and was gone. Rachael's brothers raced inside to tell Elaine, and she called police who were at her home in less than 5 minutes. Police quickly took action and set up a county wide roadblock, but they did not find Rachael of her abductor. Police worked closely with Rachael's brother to gather details of what he witnessed, and despite his young age, he gave police a very detailed description of the man and his car. The suspect had dark skin and was possibly Black, or Hispanic. He was 5'8" to 6'0" tall, with a medium build, and a black mustache, and between twenty-five and thirty-five years old. His car was described as blue midsize car with wood grain stripes on the side- possibly a Ford Pinto Squire Station-Wagon, or similar vehicle.
Sunset Utah had a heavily Caucasian population, and despite the very distinct description of a suspect who was possibly Black or Hispanic, along with a very unique car, no suspect was identified.
Almost a month later, Rachael's naked body was found hog-tied in a creek off a dirt road in Morgan County, twenty miles from the park where she had been abducted. Due to decomposition, Rachael's cause of death was unclear, and it could not be determined if she was sexually assaulted. Rachael's case shocked the Sunset community, and they only became more troubled when it came to light that Rachael's murder may have been connected to the occult or a snuff film.
40 years later, there have been no arrests, and Rachael's case is still unsolved. Rachael's mom Elaine, as well as Private Cold Case Investigator Jason Jensen are guests in this episode. They discuss this tragic case in details from their perspective and share details of a promising suspect who they hope may be proven to be Rachael's killer.
Justice for Rachael Runyan Facebook page-
https://www.facebook.com/Justice-for-Rachael-Runyan-950052995036162
Rachael Runyan Private Investigation Facebook page set up by Jason Jensen-
https://www.facebook.com/RachaelRunyanPrivateInvestigation
If you, or anyone you know, has information about this case, please contact
one of the following resources:
Jason Jensen can be reached at jason@jenseninvestigations.com and
801-759-2248.
Sunset Police Chief Ken Eborn can be contacted at 801-825-1620.
Utah’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation urges people with tips to call their
cold case tip hotline at 833-DPS-SAFE, or 833-377-7233
This episode sponsored in part by Magic Mind, the world's first productivity shot. To save 40% off your first subscription or 20% off your first one-time first purchase, visit Magicmind.co/detective and use promo code Detective20 at checkout
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Continue the conversation about this case with fellow Citizen Detectives over at Websleuths:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/forums/citizen-detective-true-crime-podcast.719/
The Citizen Detective team includes:
Co-Hosts- Mike Morford, Naama Kates, and Dr. Lee Mellor
Writing and Research- Alex Ralph
Technical Producer- Andrew Gray
Production Assistant- Ashley Monroe
To find out how to join us live as we record each new episode of Citizen Detective, follow us on Social Media.
Twitter- https://twitter.com/CitizenDPod
Facebook Home Page- https://www.facebook.com/CitizenDetectivePodcast
Facebook Discussion group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/233261280919915
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/citizendpod/?hl=en
Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSgvqIuf4-sEF2aDdNGip2w
Continue the conversation about this case with fellow Citizen Detectives over at Websleuths:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/forums/citizen-detective-true-crime-podcast.719/
The Citizen Detective team includes:
Co-Hosts- Mike Morford, Naama Kates, and Dr. Lee Mellor
Writing and Research- Alex Ralph
Technical Producer- Andrew Gray
Production Assistant- Ashley Monroe
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