[Missing] The Yuba County Five & The Mystery of the Plumas National Forest

[Missing] The Yuba County Five & The Mystery of the Plumas National Forest

Author: Moms and Mysteries Podcast April 9, 2026 Duration: 43:22
In February 1978, five young men from Yuba County, California, drove to Chico to watch a college basketball game. They were close friends who thrived on routine and predictability, and they had a big basketball tournament of their own the next day. But after a quick stop for snacks, Jack Madruga, Bill Sterling, Ted Weiher, Jackie Huett, and Gary Mathias vanished. Instead of driving south toward home, their car was found abandoned 70 miles in the opposite direction, stuck on a remote, snow-covered mountain road. What followed is one of the most baffling cases in true crime history. Months later, the remains of four of the men were discovered miles away from their vehicle, including one who had miraculously survived for weeks inside a well-stocked forest service trailer but failed to use the resources that could have saved him. Gary Mathias has never been found. We discuss the confusing timeline, the strange witness account of a man stranded nearby, and the lingering questions of why these men walked deeper into the freezing wilderness. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Machine Washable Rugs, Made Better. For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at tumbleliving.com/MOMS #Tumble #ad Text MOMS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.  Join the more than 3 million families who have been served by K12 and bring personalized learning to the comfort of your home. Enroll online today at K12.com/moms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between school drop-offs and grocery runs, Mandy and Melissa found a shared obsession with the unanswered questions lurking in the shadows. Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast is the result: a conversation that feels like sitting at a kitchen table with two friends who are deeply curious about the human condition. Their perspective is uniquely grounded, examining each story not just for its shock value, but for the societal threads and personal tragedies that weave it together. You’ll hear them discuss everything from the strangely specific weirdness of a Florida crime to a globally known cold case, always with a blend of empathy and a dash of necessary, dark humor. This isn't a clinical report; it's a twice-weekly deep dive fueled by a lifelong fascination with mysteries, both big and small. The tone is warm, the research is thorough, and the conversation is the kind you get hooked on. New episodes of this true crime podcast arrive every Tuesday and Thursday, ready to be your companion during a commute or while folding laundry. They’ve been asking "how did this happen?" since they were kids, and now they’re pulling up a chair for you to join that ongoing, compelling discussion.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
A Wrong Turn in Ozark: The Murders of J.B. Beasley & Tracie Hawlett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:38
In the summer of 1999, 17-year-olds J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett took a wrong turn on their way to a party and ended up in Ozark, Alabama. After a frantic call to Tracie's mom from a gas station payphone, the two girl…
[Florida Files] Murder on the High Seas: The Joe Cool Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:09
Subscribe on youtube! In September 2007, four friends set out on a chartered fishing trip off the coast of Miami aboard the yacht Joe Cool. Captain Jake Branam, his wife Kelley, and crew members Scott Gamble and Samuel K…
The Case of Andreen McDonald: "Daddy Hurt Mommy" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:49
Andreen McDonald was a Jamaican immigrant who built a multi-million dollar assisted living business by age 22. She was a fitness champion and devoted mother living in San Antonio with her husband, Air Force Major Andre M…
The Carroll County Murders: The Case of Sarah Grace Patrick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
A double murder in a quiet Georgia town. A 5-year-old discovers her parents shot in their bed. No forced entry, no weapon. The prime suspect? Their 16-year-old daughter. This week we discuss the shocking case of Sarah Gr…
The Murder of a Memphis Socialite: The Emily Fisher Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:25
In 1995, the brutal murder of Memphis socialite and philanthropist Emily Fisher shattered the city's illusion of high-society tranquility. Stabbed over 50 times in her historic home, the investigation peeled back the lay…
The Troubled Teen Industry: Legal Kidnapping in America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:28
*Subscribe to our youtube!* For decades, desperate parents have sent their struggling teens to residential treatment programs that promise to help them overcome everything from behavioral issues to substance abuse. But f…
[It's Florida, Man: Toes] (Previously a Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:43
This episode was originally released as a bonus for subscribers and is now available on the main feed for all listeners. If you want to get more episodes like this (three bonus episodes per month) check-out patreon.com/m…
The Murder of Lauren Burk (Revisited) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:32
This week, we are revisiting our most downloaded episode of the year: the heartbreaking case of Lauren Burk. In March 2008, the brutal murder of this 18-year-old Auburn University student shattered a community and left a…
The Ten-Minute Murder: The Wrongful Conviction of Oscar Slater [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:13
In 1908 Glasgow, 82-year-old Marion Gilchrist was brutally murdered in her home during a ten-minute window while her maid was out. There was no forced entry, and the only thing missing was a single diamond brooch. The po…
NXIVM: Justice + Allison After NXIVM (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:33
The polished facade of NXIVM has shattered, and in Part 2, we take you inside the federal courthouse where its leaders finally face justice. We explore the harrowing trial of Keith Raniere, built on the brave testimony o…