She Goes by Jane: A True Crime Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 94: Ruth Loader Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

In August 1994, 79-year-old Ruth Loader was recovering from her cancer treatments at her rural Ohio farmhouse, ready for a quiet evening with her book. She never made it to the breakfast she had planned with her sister the next morning. When her daughter arrived at Ruth’s home, the back door was splintered, her glasses were left on the pillow, and Ruth was gone.

In this episode, we trace the disturbing series of events that followed: a red Buick seen across state lines, a pair of fugitives on a multi-state killing spree, and a confession that came too late.

Ruth’s body has never been found, but who were the men responsible, and why did they target Ruth? What can this case tell us about how vulnerable women are treated in the criminal justice system and in public memory?

🎙️ If you have any information about the location of Ruth Loader, please contact the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office at (330) 339-2000.

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Episode 93: Amelia Zelko, Part 2 with guest reader Taylor Meskimen Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

After newspaper owner and journalist Amelia Zelko vanished in 1957, the search for answers stretched from the streets of Joliet, Illinois, all the way to Washington, D.C. In this second part of our series, we uncover how Robert F. Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI secretly joined the investigation, chasing leads that pointed to organized crime. We also revisit a chilling claim: a woman who believed she saw Amelia’s body being buried at a construction site on the night she disappeared.

While Amelia Zelko’s disappearance remains one of Illinois’ most haunting unsolved mysteries, her story endures as a powerful reminder of the risks journalists take in pursuit of the truth.

📖 Featuring an original poem written in her honor, read by Taylor Meskimen. Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Taylor is a multifaceted actress and artist, well-versed across a variety of creative fields with professional accomplishments in Theater, Film, Music and Television.

Taylor has been performing live for over a decade at venues throughout Los Angeles when she hasn't been in recording studios voicing characters for animation and commercials. She has also won awards for her Audiobook Narrations and has over 130 audiobooks available on Audible.

No stranger to artistry and hard work, talent and success run Taylor's blood. She is the granddaughter of television star Marion Ross, best known for her role alongside Ron Howard in the hit TV series Happy Days. Taylor's parents are also both professional actors and her mother runs one of the top acting schools in Los Angeles, The Acting Center.

🎙️ If you have any information about the location of Amelia Zelko, contact the Illinois State Police - District 5 at (815) 726-6377.

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Episode 92: Amelia Zelko, Part 1 with guest reader Taylor Meskimen Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Just before midnight on September 27, 1957, a quiet neighborhood in Joliet, Illinois, was jolted awake by the sound of a woman’s scream, a car door slamming, and tires screeching into the night. By morning, 47-year-old journalist and co-owner of The Joliet Spectator, Amelia Zelko, was gone. Known for her fearless reporting on organized crime and political corruption, Amelia had powerful enemies and a long list of people who might’ve wanted to silence her.

In this first episode of a two-part series, we trace Amelia’s path from her role as a pioneering woman in media to the final night she was seen alive.

🎙️ If you have any information about the location of Amelia Zelko, contact the Illinois State Police - District 5 at (815) 726-6377.

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

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Episode 91: Nicole Russo with guest reader Elisa Donovan Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

Sixteen-year-old Nicole Russo loved poetry, dreamed of becoming an auto mechanic, and had just started preparing for her GED. In March 1995, she left her Brick, New Jersey home to visit her new boyfriend’s mother on Long Island. She never came home.

What followed was a deeply troubling investigation that would uncover bloodstains, a chilling confession, and a desperate attempt to cover up the truth. And yet, Nicole has never been found.

In this episode, we explore Nicole Russo’s story. Nicole, a teenager navigating love and independence while dangers she couldn’t see coming. Featuring a special reading by Clueless and Sabrina the Teenage Witch actress Elisa Donovan, honoring Nicole’s love of poetry.

This is a story of heartbreak, violence, and a young woman who deserved so much more.

📖 Featuring an original poem written in her honor, read by Elisa Donovan. Elisa has been a part of multiple iconic pop culture phenomenons. She began her film career originating the role of Amber in the Paramount Pictures comedy Clueless. She followed that up with a turn on another pop culture sensation, the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, playing bad girl Ginger LaMonica. Then after reprising her role of Amber for three seasons on the television series of Clueless, and shooting the Paramount/SNL Films comedy, A Night At The Roxbury, Elisa went on to the monster hit series Sabrina The Teenage Witch, playing Morgan Cavanaugh. Elisa has also had recurring roles on multiple other TV series and has starred in numerous telefilms. In 2023, to the delight of fans all over the world, Elisa reunited with her Clueless co-star Alicia Silverstone reprising their iconic roles for a Rakuten Super Bowl commercial that had a reach of 12.7 BILLION impressions.

As a Celebrity Mom Blogger for people.com Elisa was voted Reader Favorite for her hilarious & heartwarming blogs on being a new mother. Elisa was also hand selected by Sheryl Sandberg to be the voice of her #1 bestsellers Lean In and Option B. The audiobook for Lean In was #1 on the charts and was submitted for a Grammy nomination.

Elisa’s first book, Wake Me When You Leave, was released by Llewellyn Worldwide in North America (audiobook released by Penguin Random House everywhere) and sold out on Amazon on the first day. WMWYL was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2022 COVR Awards for Autobiographical/Biographical books and the Silver Medal for the 2023 Nautilus Book Awards in the Death/Dying & Grief category. Currently, Wake Me When You Leave is in development as a film, which Elisa has written the screenplay for and will be her directorial debut. The film is being produced by Richard J. Bosner.

Elisa is a graduate of Eugene Lang College at The New School University in NYC, where she majored in dramatic literature and writing, with a minor in acting. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their 12 year old daughter.

🎙️ If you have any information about the location of Nicole Russo, contact the Brick Township police at (732) 262-1100.

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

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📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

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Episode 90: Arrilla Webb-Vaul with guest reader Cassandra Naud May 27, 2025

Show notes

When 23-year-old Arrilla Webb-Vaul vanished from Bossier, Louisiana in 1979, all she left behind was a slashed tire and a silent car on a quiet road. Authorities said she walked away. Her family never believed it.

In this episode, we investigate the unsolved disappearance of Arrilla Webb-Vaul, exploring the overlooked evidence, the eerily similar case of another missing woman, and the patterns of neglect that too often surround missing women, especially those whose lives are deemed less newsworthy.

Featuring original poetry read by Cassandra Naud, this story asks: what happens when warning signs are ignored, and when missing women are treated like mysteries not worth solving?

Listen, share, and help keep Arrilla’s name alive.

📖 Featuring an original poem written in her honor, read by Cassandra Naud. Cassandra Naud is a queer Canadian actor, dancer and filmmaker originally from Fort McMurray, Alberta. At 19, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for performance, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts before booking notable dance credits and eventually transitioning into acting.

Cassandra is best known for her breakout role as CW in Influencer (Shudder). She made her television debut as Fiona in Snowpiercer (TBS/Netflix) and has since appeared in recurring roles in See (Apple TV+), and Loudermilk (Netflix). She will next be seen leading in her upcoming sequel, Influencers set to premiere this summer at Fantasia Film Festival.

In 2023, Cassandra made her directorial debut and has since had two short films featured on the festival circuit — one of which screened at Vancouver’s Innovate Film Festival.

A passionate advocate for inclusion, Cassandra brings lived experience to her work across disciplines. She continues to challenge traditional beauty standards and is proud to be part of a generation reshaping the narrative around identity and representation in media.

🎙️ If you have any information about the disappearance of Arrilla Webb-Vaul, contact the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-965-2203.

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook.

📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

📰 For more women-centered true crime content, subscribe to Aimee’s newsletter, GIRLHUNT.

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Episode 89: Laurie Partridge with guest reader Liz Vassey May 20, 2025

Show notes

On December 4, 1974, 17-year-old Laurie Partridge left school early, saying she wasn’t feeling well. She never made it home. Missing with her were the pair of Beach Boys concert tickets her dad had purchased for her for a show scheduled a week later. The night of the concert, police watched for her, but in the sea of 4000 people, Laurie was nowhere to be found. And though Laurie never showed, her tickets were used. Now, over fifty years later, Laurie Patridge is still missing.

📖 Featuring an original poem written in her honor, read by actress Liz Vassey. Liz Vassey joined the cast of ALL MY CHILDREN at age 16, earning her first of two Daytime Emmy nominations. Since the soap, Liz has appeared as a regular or recurring character on fourteen television shows including CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, ER, TWO AND A HALF MEN, MAXIMUM BOB, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, BROTHERLY LOVE, NCIS: LA, FOX’s live action version of THE TICK, the reboot of THE TICK on Amazon, and A MILLION LITTLE THINGS. In addition to acting, Liz is an accomplished writer. She has sold eight television pilots and a TV movie - developing for such networks and studios as Netflix, NBC, Freeform, CW, Warner Brothers, Universal, and CBS Studios, with notable producers like Todd Holland, Kapital Entertainment, Mayim Bialik, and Krysten Ritter.

An avid runner, Liz made her directorial debut with the documentary feature, THE HUMAN RACE, which focuses on unlikely athletes. It was named by Runner's World as one of "The Top Twenty Best Running Documentaries That Will Inspire You to Move."

🎙️ If you have any information about the disappearance of Laurie Partridge, contact the Spokane County Sheriff’s office at (509) 477-2240.

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook.

📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

📰 For more women-centered true crime content, subscribe to Aimee’s newsletter, GIRLHUNT.

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Episode 87: Case Update: Tanya Jackson (Peaches) and Tatiana Dykes (Baby Doe) with guest readers Raven Goodwin and Coco Jones May 06, 2025

Show notes

For years, they were known only by nicknames—Peaches and Baby Doe. A woman and her toddler, found miles apart in Long Island, unidentified and unnamed. But investigators never gave up hope. They believed that science would one day provide the answers they needed. And now, it has.

This episode shares the story of Tanya Jackson and Tatiana Dykes—their lives, their loss, and the long fight to return their names to them. It's a rare opportunity to report a case update, and a glimpse of what more forensic advancements may bring.

📖 Featuring a poem in their honor from the documentary She read by Raven Goodwin and Coco Jones.

Raven is known for her roles in Lovely & Amazing (earning her nominations from the Black Reel Awards and the Independent Spirit Award), Being Mary Jane, SMILF, Good Luck Charlie, New Girl, and Glee. She has recently appeared in Abbott Elementary and starred in The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel for which she was a Black Reel Awards nominee for Best Supporting Actress.

Coco is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and actress. She signed with High Standardz/Def Jam in 2022 and released the EP What I Didn’t Tell You with the lead single “ICU,” which has been certified platinum. In 2024, she was nominated for an impressive five Grammy Awards—including the coveted Best New Artistaccolade— and won for Best R&B Performance “ICU.”

She began recording at the age of 9 and was called to acting—first as a recurring guest on Disney’s musical sketch comedy, So Random!, and in 2012, as the golden-voiced love interest in the network’s TV movie, Let It Shine. Since then, she’s showcased her formidable acting skills playing Hilary Banks in Peacock’s Fresh Prince reboot, Bel-Air and Netflix’s Vampires vs. the Bronx. Her visibility has made her a role model for beautiful and talented dark-skinned Black women.

🎙️ If you have any information about the lives of Tanya and Tatiana or their murders, investigators are actively collecting information in the hopes of bringing them justice. Please contact Nassau County’s Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook.

📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

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Episode 86: Yeda “Dede” Rosenthal with guest reader Laura Ault Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

When 32-year-old Yeda "Dede" Rosenthal vanished without a trace, it shocked everyone who knew her. A dedicated professional at New Jersey’s Elywn Institute, Dede was known for her unwavering commitment to her work with autistic clients. But when she failed to show up for work one day, her coworkers grew immediately concerned. A visit to her apartment revealed unsettling clues—an unlocked door, a pile of unread newspapers, but no sign of Dede. Despite everything looking normal on the surface, it quickly became clear that something was very wrong. Where did Dede go?

📖 Featuring a special guest reading by actress Laura Ault. Originating from Dallas, TX, Laura Ault has cultivated her multi-media talents from an early age. While initially drawn to music, where she showcased her natural talent for creating melodies on the piano, her passion for theatre took center stage during college. Following the completion of her associate degree in 2000, Laura made the bold move to NYC to pursue a career in Musical Theatre.

Amid auditioning for Broadway and earning her bachelor's degree, Laura achieved another noteworthy feat—writing, producing, and recording two albums. These albums have not only been licensed for film and TV but have also opened doors for her to write specifically for acclaimed shows like All My Children and General Hospital. No stranger to the creative realm, Laura's dynamic artistic pursuits extend beyond acting.

Based in Miami, Laura continues to balance her artistic endeavors with maintaining her fitness, raising two children, and passionately advocating for mental health and breast cancer awareness. Her commitment to these causes reflects her dedication to making a positive impact beyond the entertainment industry.

Amidst her various projects, including a musical comedy short film and a full-length romantic comedy, Laura Ault's diverse talents and unwavering dedication to her passions continue to captivate audiences, making her a force to be reckoned with in the world of entertainment.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Yeda “Dede” Rosenthal, please contact the Cherry Hill Police Department at (856) 665-1200.

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

✨ Join us on Patreon for bonus content, including Behind the Poem, where we discuss this episode’s featured poem, plus our monthly true crime/mystery book club. April’s pick: The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Madel

📖 Read along with Aimée and Vanessaon StoryGraph!

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook.

📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

📰 For more women-centered true crime content, subscribe to Aimee’s newsletter, GIRLHUNT.

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Episode 85: Barbara Ann Bockwith with guest reader Julia Reilly Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Barbara Ann Bockwith was just 20 years old when she vanished from her college campus in Pensacola, Florida.The University of West Florida student arrived early for her final exam, exhausted after an all-night study session. Realizing she’d left her notes in the car, she rushed out to retrieve them—just ten minutes before class. She never returned.

In this episode, we trace Barbara’s final known steps, the details of her sudden disappearance, and ask how someone can go missing in broad daylight on a college campus. Nearly 50 years later, her case remains unsolved.

📖 Featuring a special guest reading by actress Julia Reilly. Julia is an actress born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She plays Dani Miller on Great American Family's first original series, 'County Rescue' and recently played Amy March in the GAF film, 'A Little Women's Christmas.' Another notable credit is playing the role of Tammy Thompson in season 4 of Netflix’s Stranger Things.

Julia was nominated for the Grace Prize for TV Performance at the 2025 Movie Guide awards, as well as sharing other nominations and wins for ‘County Rescue’ and ‘A Little Women’s Christmas.’

Other credits include lead and supporting roles in films featured on Lifetime, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi, among others. She has also done numerous voice over and commercial spots for major brands, apps, and video games.

Julia began acting at the age of seven, growing up performing in community theatre, participating in dance classes, and taking voice and music lessons.

She spends her free time with family, friends, and her puppy, Finneas.

Julia is repped by Aligned Stars Agency and managed by Luber Roklin Entertainment.

She is extremely grateful to her wonderful team, friends, family, coaches, and God for the opportunities He has given her.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Barbara Ann Bockwith, please contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

📖 Read along with Aimée and Vanessaon StoryGraph!

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook.

📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

📰 For more women-centered true crime content, subscribe to Aimee’s newsletter, GIRLHUNT.

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What Happened to Masumi Watanabe? A Case That Shook Oahu with guest reader Erika Prevost Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

At 21 years old, Masumi Watanabe traveled from Japan to Hawaii to gain independence and confidence while staying with family friends. By all accounts, she was thriving.

Just one week before she was scheduled to return home, Masumi disappeared.

Her case quickly became a tragedy that deeply impacted the community on Oahu, raising difficult questions about safety, accountability, and what might have been prevented. A man was later arrested in connection with her death, and the case left a lasting mark both in Hawaii and beyond.

In this episode, we follow Masumi’s time in Hawaii, the events leading up to her disappearance, and the aftermath that continues to resonate today.

📖 Featuring a guest reading by actress Erika Prevost.

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook.

📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

📰 For more women-centered true crime content, subscribe to Aimee’s newsletter, GIRLHUNT.
More About Erika Prevost
Erika is a Japanese-Canadian actor and creator most known for her work on Disney’s hit teen dance drama The Next Step where she played fan-favorite character, Sloane, for 3 seasons. Finding her first form of expression through movement and dance at a young age, she was able to build a repertoire of skills that helped launch her into the industry. Upon graduation from the National Theatre School of Canada, Erika moved to Toronto and portrayed Brianna Bradley on 10 episodes of USA Network’s and Netflix’s mystery thriller Dare Me. Other notable work include leading roles in Lifetime’s Saying Yes to Christmas, Universal Pictures’ 7th installment of their hit franchise Bring It On and Ubisoft’s historical action video game Assassin’s Creed Shadows with over 3 million players.

Currently, Erika can be seen on Season 4 of Amazon’s Emmy nominated drama series The Boys playing the vicious and deadly Tala; as well as CBC’s brand new hit series Saint-Pierre as the tenacious officer Patty Montclair-Ito. Off screen, Erika spends time writing and developing her own projects in collaboration with her fellow artists.

Outside of work, she has a passion for mental health education and community building. She is also an avid animal lover and a sucker for Romance!

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