The Dark Oak

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Episode 154: Lauren Spierer - Bloomington’s Coldest Mystery Jun 10, 2026

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Lauren Spierer, a 20-year-old sophomore studying textiles merchandising at Indiana University, disappeared in the early morning hours of June 3, 2011, in Bloomington, Indiana. The night before, she had been out drinking heavily with friends using a fake ID; after leaving Kilroy’s Sports Bar barefoot and without her phone or shoes around 2:27 a.m., she walked with Corey Rossman back to the Smallwood Plaza area, got into a brief altercation outside, then spent time in Rossman’s apartment (where his roommate Michael Beth tried to keep her safe) before moving to neighbor Jay Rosenbaum’s townhome. She was last confirmed seen by Rosenbaum around 4:30 a.m., walking alone and intoxicated along College Avenue toward her own apartment. Lauren had a rare heart condition called long QT syndrome that made her especially vulnerable to fatal arrhythmias when combined with alcohol or drugs (trace cocaine was later found in her room, and Rosenbaum reported she had also used cocaine and crushed Klonopin that night). Despite massive searches, landfill excavations, cadaver-dog alerts, and thousands of tips, no trace of her has ever been found; her boyfriend Jesse Wolff and the three friends were named persons of interest but cooperated fully, passed private and FBI polygraphs, and were never named suspects. Civil negligence suits filed by her family against the friends were dismissed in federal court. As of May 2026 the case remains active and unsolved with the Bloomington and IU police departments. Branch of Hope:

Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation is a UK-registered charity founded in 2002 by the family of Caroline Ann Stuttle, a young British traveler who tragically lost her life while on a gap year in Australia. For more than twenty years, the organization has focused on promoting safer independent travel for young people and backpackers. It offers free educational resources, safety workshops, school presentations, and practical guides that help gap-year students and first-time adventurers prepare responsibly and stay safe on the road. While the foundation now serves primarily as a lasting information archive, its materials remain freely available and continue to support thousands of young travelers each year.

Sources:

The search for Lauren Spierer. (n.d.). The Search for Lauren Spierer. https://findlauren.com/index.html

Runevitch, J. (2024, May 29). Investigative journalist releases new book about Lauren Spierer’s disappearance nearly 13 years since she went missing. wthr.com. https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/investigative-journalist-releases-new-book-about-lauren-spierer-disappearance-indiana-university/531-16e65e8c-110e-4e09-9ca6-2bfc27843de4

Ratliff, M. (2025, June 3). WAVE Extra: 14 years later, Lauren Spierer’s loved ones still hold on to hopes of finding the truth. https://www.wave3.com. https://www.wave3.com/2025/06/03/wave-extra-14-years-later-lauren-spierers-loved-ones-still-hold-hopes-finding-truth/

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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 156: The Family That Couldn't Sleep - The Venetian Curse Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

In the summer of 1983, a stylish Venetian man named Silvano stepped onto a cruise ship and felt his shirt suddenly soak with sweat for no reason. That single moment marked the beginning of a nightmare that would steal his sleep forever. For over 250 years, one Italian family had been haunted by a mysterious curse: a disease that slowly, relentlessly destroys the brain’s ability to sleep. Victims lie awake for months in a living hell of hallucinations and exhaustion, fully conscious as their bodies burn out and die. What began as a whispered “family disease” in 18th-century Venice was finally named Fatal Familial Insomnia — a prion disorder caused by nothing more than a single misfolded protein that turns the brain’s sleep switchboard into a graveyard of crumpled origami cranes. This is the haunting true story of a genetic curse that science still cannot stop, and the quiet courage of the families who choose to live in the shadow of knowing — or not knowing — their fate.

Sources:

Max, D.T. The Family That Couldn’t Sleep: A Medical Mystery. Random House, 2006.
(The definitive book on the Venetian family’s 250-year saga and Silvano’s story.)

Prion Alliance. “About Prion Alliance & Our Mission.” prionalliance.org.
(Nonprofit founded by FFI patient-scientists Sonia Vallabh and Eric Minikel.)

CJD Foundation. “Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI).” cjdfoundation.org/fatal-familial-insomnia-ffi.
(Leading U.S. patient-support organization for all prion diseases.)

Khan, Z. and Bollu, P.C. “Fatal Familial Insomnia.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2024.
(Most current peer-reviewed medical overview of FFI.)

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). “Fatal Familial Insomnia.” rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/fatal-familial-insomnia.
(Clear, family-friendly summary of symptoms, genetics, and history.)

Mastrianni, J.A. “Genetic Prion Disease.” In: GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle, 2021.
(Gold-standard genetic reference for the PRNP mutation and prion mechanism.)

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Episode 155: Michelle von Emster - Swimming into Darkness May 28, 2026

Show notes

25 year old Michelle Von Emster’s mysterious death in 1994 remains one of San Diego's most notorious mysteries. It was officially ruled a Great White Shark Attack but marine experts disagree with that finding. Why would she have gone swimming in frigid weather? Was it possible that her death was a tragic accident resulting from a fall from nearby cliffs? The most frightening theory of all is that Michelle was a victim of homicide. Years after her death, Michelle’s sister revealed disturbing details from Michelle’s youth that makes the circumstances surrounding her untimely death even more mysterious.

Branch of Hope:

Sources:

https://coldcaseexplorations.com/california-cold-or-unsolved-cases/was-this-really-a-shark-attack-death-the-troubling-case-of-michelle-von-emster/ - :~:text=Because%20it%E2%80%99s%20been%20over%2030%20years%20since%20Von

https://allthatsinteresting.com/michelle-von-emster

Michelle Von Emster: What Really Happened? - HubPages

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Episode 153: Mike Mansholt - The Final Solo Ride May 13, 2026

Show notes

Seventeen-year-old German adventurer Mike Mansholt arrived in Malta in July 2016 for his first solo trip. After a week with his girlfriend, he stayed on alone, rented a mountain bike in Sliema on 18 July, sent a cheerful voice message home, and pedalled off to explore. He was never seen alive again. Days later searchers found his body lying peacefully in a small, sheltered rock hollow thirty metres below the Dingli Cliffs, with his bike and shoes nearby but his backpack, phone, and GoPro missing. When the sealed zinc coffin reached Germany, the remains weighed only sixteen kilograms and showed no signs of embalming. A second autopsy revealed nearly all internal organs were gone. Maltese officials called it an accidental fall with the organs lost to animals and heat; German investigators found the explanation implausible, ruled out a high-impact fall, and could not exclude third-party involvement. Ten years on, the backpack, GoPro, and organs have never been recovered, and the case remains open with conflicting accounts between the two countries. Branch of Hope:

Sources:

Mysterious death of 17-year-old Mike Mansholt, catacombs Dingli Cliffs, Malta - 26 July, 2016. (2026, March 8). Websleuths. https://websleuths.com/threads/mysterious-death-of-17-year-old-mike-mansholt-catacombs-dingli-cliffs-malta-26-july-2016.768799/

Police suspect foul play in German teen’s death at Dingli cliffs. (n.d.). MaltaToday.com.mt. https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/69270/police_suspect_foul_play_in_german_teens_death_at_dingli_cliffs

16 Kilograms: The Empty Body of Mike Mansholt | by Alex Sterling | Medium

Father gives up hope of getting answers about son’s death in Malta - The Malta Independent. (2018, August 21). https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-08-21/local-news/Father-gives-up-hope-of-getting-answers-about-son-s-death-in-Malta-6736195184

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Episode 152: Duncan MacPherson – Frozen Betrayal (Part 2 of 2) May 06, 2026

Show notes

Duncan McPherson was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. In 1989 he went on a trip to Austria and disappeared after a day of snowboarding. Searches proved fruitless until 2003 when his body was found in a melting glacier, the very same glacier on which he was last seen. Despite officials believing his death to have been an accident, the state of his body leaves behind many questions and his death remains officially unsolved.

Branch of Hope: Crimestoppers of NY Crime Stoppers of New York plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety by encouraging community involvement in crime reporting. By providing anonymous channels for reporting, the program helps law enforcement solve crimes and bring offenders to justice. If you have any information about a crime, consider reaching out through the hotline or the mobile app to contribute to your community’s safety. Hotline: Call 1-800-577-TIPS to report any information regarding criminal activity.
Sources:
https://www.coldalongtime.com

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Episode 151: Duncan MacPherson - Frozen Betrayal (Part 1 of 2) Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Branch of Hope: Crimestoppers of NY Crime Stoppers of New York plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety by encouraging community involvement in crime reporting. By providing anonymous channels for reporting, the program helps law enforcement solve crimes and bring offenders to justice. If you have any information about a crime, consider reaching out through the hotline or the mobile app to contribute to your community's safety. Hotline: Call 1-800-577-TIPS to report any information regarding criminal activity. Sources: https://www.coldalongtime.com

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Episode 150: The Miyazawa Massacre - Perfect Family, Perfect Crime Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

The Miyazawa family lived in a quiet, two-story home near Soshigaya Park in Setayata, Japan. 44 year old Mikio worked for the British marketing firm Interbrand, while Yasuko was a homemaker. They had two children: 8 year old Niina, active in soccer and ballet, and 6 year old Rei. Who would have wanted this picture perfect family dead? That is the question that has haunted the world since December 31, 2000. This case is unlike any we have ever covered here at the Dark Oak, as the killer left behind more than 13,000 pieces of evidence....and yet, authorities don't even have a person of interest.

Branch of Hope: Crimestoppers of NY Crime Stoppers of New York plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety by encouraging community involvement in crime reporting. By providing anonymous channels for reporting, the program helps law enforcement solve crimes and bring offenders to justice. If you have any information about a crime, consider reaching out through the hotline or the mobile app to contribute to your community's safety. Hotline: Call 1-800-577-TIPS to report any information regarding criminal activity.

Sources:

The Sethttps://unresolved.me/the-setagaya-murdersagaya Murders — Unresolved https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/history/the-setagaya-family-murder-case/ https://citytowner.com/setagaya-family-murders-kamisoshigaya-japan/#google_vignette https://japantoday.com/category/crime/setagaya-family-murders-remain-unsolved-after-24-years-1 https://www.youtube.com/live/oadF1Jqy3f8

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Episode 149: The Zaharias Abduction - Stolen Childhood Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

On November 20, 1987, in Mission Viejo, California, Susan Zaharias abducted her two toddlers—three-and-a-half-year-old Christopher and fifteen-month-old Lisa—after a violent argument with her husband Louis, assaulting his mother and fleeing with almost nothing for the children. Battling severe alcohol, cocaine, and crystal methamphetamine addiction that had drained the family’s savings, Susan had met Louis in 1977, married him in 1981 despite her family’s fierce disapproval, and used relatives to race through Lake Elsinore, California, then Oklahoma, Detroit, Michigan, and several weeks in Greensburg, Pennsylvania before vanishing from Detroit in January 1988. For nearly 39 years Louis has never stopped searching: he sold almost everything he owned to fund lawyers and investigators, kept Christopher’s favorite blanket and Lisa’s dolls, got matching forearm tattoos of the children, and appeared on Unsolved Mysteries and other shows while moving across states to rebuild his life. Active felony warrants remain for Susan with a $250,000 bond; investigators believe all three are alive with ongoing family contact, and current age-progressed photos show Christopher in his early forties and Lisa nearing forty. Louis still hopes his children will one day learn the truth about the father who never gave up on them.

Branch of Hope: Crimestoppers of NY Crime Stoppers of New York plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety by encouraging community involvement in crime reporting. By providing anonymous channels for reporting, the program helps law enforcement solve crimes and bring offenders to justice. If you have any information about a crime, consider reaching out through the hotline or the mobile app to contribute to your community's safety. Hotline: Call 1-800-577-TIPS to report any information regarding criminal activity.

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Episode 148: Unearthed from the Dark Oak: Where is Paola Miranda Rosa? Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Today we’re Unearthing Episode 83 from the Dark Oak vault: “Where is Paola Miranda Rosa?” This case is local to us—Paola vanished in a park near where Cynthia and Stefanie grew up. The original investigation was mishandled, but in January 2026 the new Osceola County Sheriff reopened it. Her family now has renewed hope after meeting with authorities, and Crimeline has raised the reward to $5,000. This is the perfect time to spotlight the case and generate new leads. Our Branch of Hope mission is to support families still searching—and this episode could do exactly that. Listen closely—you might hold the key. ________________________________________

Paola Miranda Rosa, 31, vanished from Wekiva Springs State Park on December 18, 2021. Last seen on a video created by an unnamed eyewitness, her car was found in the park despite initial denials by a ranger.

The investigation by Osceola County Sheriff's Office was criticized for being inadequate, suggesting suicide or alligator attack with little evidence. Her family, unsatisfied, conducted their own searches, hired a PI, and is now pushing for FBI involvement, especially after the lead detective was added to a Brady list for misconduct. Paola remains missing, with her family advocating for further investigation.

Stefanie was able to speak directly to the Miranda family. You won't believe what she found out.

Sources:

Munoz, L. (2024, December 14). Family of missing Osceola County woman seeks FBI involvement. WESH. https://www.wesh.com/article/missing-osceola-county-woman/63188736

Paola Marie Miranda-Rosa – The Charley Project. (n.d.). https://charleyproject.org/case/paola-marie-miranda-rosa

Orlando, F. 3. (2022, May 17). Paola Miranda-Rosa: 5 months since Central Florida woman went missing. FOX 35 Orlando. https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/paola-miranda-rosa-5-months-since-central-florida-woman-went-missing

Parks, A. (2022, December 2). Wekiwa Springs State Park In Apopka, FL | America's State Parks. America\\\’s State Parks. https://www.americasstateparks.org/wekiwa-springs-state-park/

How dangerous are black bears? - North American Bear Center. (2024, January 2). North American Bear Center. https://bear.org/bear-facts/how-dangerous-are-black-bears/

Conflicts: A Research Perspective | Urban Coyote Research. (n.d.). https://urbancoyoteresearch.com/coyote-info/conflicts-research-perspective

American Alligator | National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). National Wildlife Federation. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/American-Alligator

Talcott, A. (2024, January 4). How many people have been killed by alligators in Florida? The number may surprise you. WKMG. https://www.clickorlando.com/features/2024/01/04/how-many-people-have-been-killed-by-alligators-in-florida-it-may-surprise-you/

Barabino, W. (2021, March 6). What is the Brady List? - Law Office of William J. Barabino. Law Office of William J. Barabino. https://www.williambarabino.com/blog/2021/03/06/what-is-the-brady-list/

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Episode 147: Missing: Yolanda Bindics Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

When 25-year-old Yolanda Bindics, a mother of four, failed to return home after her closing shift at the Family Dollar Store in Jamestown, NY, the entire community went into overdrive. Law enforcement dove into the investigation with searches and witness interviews but there was no sign of Yolanda leading the investigation to focus on two persons of interest...the father of Yolanda's youngest child, and a police officer that Yolanda had secretly been dating.

Branch of Hope: Crimestoppers of NY

Crime Stoppers of New York plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety by encouraging community involvement in crime reporting. By providing anonymous channels for reporting, the program helps law enforcement solve crimes and bring offenders to justice. If you have any information about a crime, consider reaching out through the hotline or the mobile app to contribute to your community's safety.
Hotline: Call 1-800-577-TIPS to report any information regarding criminal activity.

Sources:

https://thecinemaholic.com/what-happened-to-yolanda-bindics-is-she-alive-or-dead/

https://www.wkbw.com/chautauqua-county/its-a-giant-puzzle-potential-new-development-in-yolanda-bindics-cold-case-focuses-on-3-key-locations

https://chautauquacountyny.gov/district-attorney/news/update-yolanda-bindics-case-chautauqua-county-sheriffs-office

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_9a0afaea-3b55-11ed-8b70-d3f111be0f0f.html

https://nyscrimestoppers.org/about/

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