Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

Latest Episodes:

No conviction: The Brandy Myers story Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

When an innocent teenager is murdered, family members are left devastated and heartbroken. The closest these loved-ones can get to some kind of closure is when the person or persons responsible are apprehended and convicted of the crime. Sometimes that just never happens, even when we know who did it. In 1992, 13-year-old Brandy Myers left her home in Phoenix, Arizona to walk door-to-door and collect money for a book-a-thon. She never returned home. Police know who did it, but they won't be prosecuting him.

This is the second installment of our summer series about mysterious crimes and disappearances from around the globe and the people who fight to get justice for victims and their families.

In this episode Dakota Spotlight speaks with Erin Reed, victims advocate and producer/host of Sipping on Some Crime podcast. Justice for Brandy Myers Facebook page Sipping on Some crime Podcast

Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com

where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and excitingSpotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.

Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

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Everybody counts or nobody counts: Looking for Marion Barter Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

This is the first installment of our summer series about mysterious crimes and disappearances from around the globe and the people who fight to get justice for victims and their families.

Marion Barter, aged 51, boarded a plane in Australia in 1997 to embark on a trip of a lifetime and has never been seen again. When her family went to the police they were told that Marion had been located and was safe and sound. But it wasn't that simple.

22 years later Marion's daughter Sally Leydon teamed up with Seven News in Australia and produced a podcast The Lady Vanishes. After two long years of hard work, the team may finally be close to answers about what happened to Marion Barter. Dakota Spotlight speaks with producer and host Alison Sandy to learn more about this surreal and very puzzling case om Australia.

Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com

where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and excitingSpotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.

Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotligh

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Summer Update 2021 Jun 24, 2021

Show notes

Hey there, This is James, host and producer of Dakota Spotlight podcast. This is just a quick update on what's going on with the podcast this summer. I have some important dates to tell you about and some other news.

You can reach me at dakotspotlight@gmail.com

Thank you so much for listening to Dakota Spotlight!

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A Better Search for Barbara (16): Open Records – Investigating the Barbara Cotton Cold Case Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

The 1981 disappearance of Barbara Louise Cotton is one of North Dakota’s longest-running cold cases. Episode 16, Open Records, explains the role of public records in advancing true crime investigations and how they matter in unsolved murder cases like Barbara’s. This update also introduces a new Facebook group — Find Barb Cotton (https://www.facebook.com/FindBarbCotton) — dedicated to sharing information and keeping her case alive. A Better Search for Barbara continues to blend investigative journalism with real crime investigations into one of the Midwest’s most enduring unsolved mysteries.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

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All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.

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A Better Search for Barbara (15): Kidnappings and Cults, Falcons and Dogs – Investigating the Barbara Cotton Cold Case Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

Barbara Louise Cotton’s 1981 disappearance in Williston remains an unsolved murder that continues to spark theories both local and far-reaching. Episode 15, Kidnappings and Cults, Falcons and Dogs, investigates claims of cult activity, kidnapping, and even unusual international links. Alongside these theories, parallels are drawn to The Mailman Who Disappeared (Brevbäraren som försvann). A Better Search for Barbara continues this real crime investigation into one of the Midwest’s most perplexing unsolved mysteries.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight

Instagram: @dakotaspotlight

TikTok: @dakotaspotlight

Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social

YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

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A Better Search for Barbara (14): Beach Bunny’s Lili Trifilio, Isaac Turner and Thousands of Documents – Investigating the Barbara Cotton Cold Case May 18, 2021

Show notes

Barbara Cotton’s 1981 disappearance has influenced culture and investigation alike. Episode 14, Beach Bunny’s Lili Trifilio, Isaac Turner and Thousands of Documents, features conversations about missing persons with musicians Lili Trifilio and Isaac Turner, whose music runs throughout the season. The episode also explores research at the North Dakota State Archives and why Dakota Spotlight will be preserved there. A Better Search for Barbara weaves together documentary style true crime storytelling, investigative journalism, and community memory into one of North Dakota’s most haunting unsolved mysteries.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight

Instagram: @dakotaspotlight

TikTok: @dakotaspotlight

Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social

YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com

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A Better Search for Barbara (13): Juarez to Williston – Investigating the Barbara Cotton Cold Case May 06, 2021

Show notes

The Barbara Cotton cold case has generated unusual leads since her 1981 disappearance in Williston, North Dakota. Episode 13, Juarez to Williston, explores a rumored skull on a shelf in Williston, tracks down a friend of Frank J. Delapena, and examines the role of C.E. “Red” Sullivan and his ties to person of interest Stacey Werder. A Better Search for Barbara continues this investigative journalism project into an unsolved murder that remains one of the Midwest’s most baffling true crime mysteries.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight

Instagram: @dakotaspotlight

TikTok: @dakotaspotlight

Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social

YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com

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A Better Search for Barbara (12): Love Doesn’t Die – Investigating the Barbara Cotton Cold Case Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Barbara Louise Cotton’s 1981 disappearance in Williston, North Dakota, remains an unsolved murder and one of the state’s most haunting cold cases. Episode 12, Love Doesn’t Die, revisits the night Barbara vanished through new witness testimony, memories of local landmarks like the Plainsman and Cakes and Cones, and a possible new lead. This true crime story blends missing persons reports with investigative journalism, continuing the push for answers in a decades-old unsolved mystery.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight

Instagram: @dakotaspotlight

TikTok: @dakotaspotlight

Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social

YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Better Search for Barbara (11): Facebook Group Update – Investigating the Barbara Cotton Cold Case Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

Barbara Louise Cotton’s 1981 disappearance remains one of North Dakota’s longest-running cold cases. Episode 11, Facebook Group Update, explains why the Dakota Spotlight Facebook group has been temporarily suspended, limiting discussion and shared content about Barbara’s case. Even with social media obstacles, this true crime investigation into an unsolved mystery continues across other platforms and through ongoing reporting.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight

Instagram: @dakotaspotlight

TikTok: @dakotaspotlight

Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social

YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Better Search for Barbara (10): For the Love of Our Daughters – Investigating the Barbara Cotton Cold Case Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Barbara Cotton’s 1981 disappearance at age 15 remains an unsolved murder that haunts North Dakota. Episode 10, For the Love of Our Daughters, highlights a 2021 memorial in Williston’s Recreation Park while reflecting on the responsibility of speaking openly about her story. Four decades later, Barbara’s case is a reminder that rural crime and small town murder still carry painful truths. A Better Search for Barbara blends remembrance with investigative journalism in this decades-old unsolved mystery.

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo: https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight

Instagram: @dakotaspotlight

TikTok: @dakotaspotlight

Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social

YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com