360. In the Woods: The Murders of Kara Kopetsky & Jessica Runions

360. In the Woods: The Murders of Kara Kopetsky & Jessica Runions

Author: Our True Crime Podcast May 20, 2026 Duration: 1:04:48
Our True Crime Podcast
SocietyCultureJournalsPersonalSociety & CultureTrue Crime
On a May morning in 2007, a 17-year-old girl walked out of her Missouri high school, stepped away from a security camera, and vanished. For nearly ten years, her family lived without answers. They were certain they knew who took her, but without any physical evidence, the case went completely cold. Then, in September 2016, history repeated itself. Another young woman, just 21, disappeared after leaving a party with the same man. What followed was a frantic search and a series of dark discoveries in the Missouri brush. Two girls vanished ten years apart, but their stories ended in the exact same place, deep in the Cass County woods. *****If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or relationship abuse, confidential help is available 24/7. In the United States National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. UKNational Domestic Abuse Helpline (Run by Refuge): Call 0808 2000 247. Free, confidential, and available 24/7. Online Chat: Live chat and digital resources are available at nationaldahelpline.org.uk. Australia1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732. Free, confidential, and available 24/7. Online Chat: Head to 1800respect.org.au for 24/7 online chat support. Sponsored by Quince Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to Quince.com/otcp for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Our team: Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of ⁠The Inky Pawprint Sources: https://youtu.be/AyIbL8kYL-Q?si=LZiY8JHdFTYK8pEJ https://youtu.be/S8yGi6b_KlM?si=SPD0liAxQzKQA5Kb Disappeared Season 2 Episode 13 "Gone at 17" https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/242821636/kara_elise-kopetsky https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/yust-trial/case-details https://people.com/crime/kara-kopetsky-remains-found/ https://www.truecasefiles.com/2019/06/timeline-many-crimes-confessions-of.html https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178608671/jessica-runions https://kcpolice.org/media/news-releases/police-search-for-missing-woman-jessica-runions/ https://fox4kc.com/news/no-more-i-love-yous-jessica-runions-father-tells-jurors-during-emotional-statement/ https://www.kmbc.com/article/kylr-yust-trial-prosecution-continues-to-outline-double-murder-case-04092021/36074674 https://tribuneandtimes.com/stories/jury-hears-confession-tales-of-violence,2227 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820848951/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/821465298/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820906540/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820906650/?terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820857955/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/746963358/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656516331/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656505168/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656415580/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1206584733/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1206583875/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22. https://www.newspapers.com/image/746971377/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656390661/?terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1022262996/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656505566/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656504858/?terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1314694257/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1206585264/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1118387882/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/729007281/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1208177659/?match=1&terms=%22Jessep%20Carter%22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a whole world of strange and unsettling stories that rarely make the headlines, and that's exactly where you'll find Our True Crime Podcast. Each episode digs into one of those bizarre, lesser-known cases from any corner of the globe, stories that often defy easy explanation. Hosts Jen and Cam guide you through these peculiar narratives with a genuine sense of respect for those involved, balancing the darker details with their own conversational chemistry and a bit of well-timed humor. You might even get a smidge of song along the way, because real life, especially the strange parts, rarely follows a single tone. This isn't just a retelling of facts; it's a shared exploration of the oddities hidden within human behavior and society. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair with two friends who have a knack for finding the most compelling, offbeat tales. You'll hear the careful research, the thoughtful discussions, and the personal touch that Jen and Cam bring to every story, making even the most obscure case feel immediate and fascinating. If you're looking for a true crime experience that ventures far beyond the usual cases and does so with character and heart, you've found it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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Our True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
347. The Cruelest Betrayal: Ashley Kline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:00
On a bitterly cold night just before New Year’s Eve, 23-year-old Ashley Kline disappeared from her home in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, after walking to a friend’s house just four blocks away. She was never seen alive again.…
346. Charmed: Margie's Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:56
In the middle of a spring night in 1988, Margie slipped from her bed, which she shared with her husband, and slowly crept into the other room where he kept his briefcase with all his important documents. There was no dou…
345. Targeted: The Killing of James Craig Anderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:16
For much of the twentieth century, Mississippi was a place where racial violence was not merely ignored but actively erased. Witnesses stayed silent. Juries looked away. It was just a different time, they say. James Crai…
344. Trusting Evil: The Murder of Sarah Everard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:02
In March 2021, Sarah Everard left a friend’s house in London and started walking home. It was a normal evening, the kind of walk most people do without thinking twice. But when she didn’t return, her family and friends b…
343. Dardeen Family Massacre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:42
In the quiet, unassuming town of Ina, Illinois—where life moved slowly and danger felt distant—Keith and Elaine Dardeen were building a modest, faith-centered future with their young son, Peter, and a baby on the way. Th…
342. Just the Tip of the Iceberg: Wayne Adam Ford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
In November 1998, Wayne Ford was troubled and scared. He called his brother Rodney and said he had “hurt some people.” Rodney could hear the worry in his voice, so he drove six hours through the night to be with him. Whe…
341. Missoula Mauler: Wayne Nance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:22
It was supposed to be an ordinary night in a quiet Missoula neighborhood, the kind where doors stayed unlocked because nothing bad ever happened. But just after 10 p.m., Doug and Kris Wells pulled into their driveway and…
Introducing: Fresh Hell Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:19
Today, Cam and Jen are excited to share a special episode from our friends at Fresh Hell, a historical true-crime podcast hosted by Annie in the United States and Johanna in Austria. The two are close friends who, despit…
340 ‘Bluebell Betrayal: Terri Jo Duperrault.’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:11
It all began in November 1961, when Arthur Duperrault, a 40-year-old optometrist from Green Bay, Wisconsin, finally set out to give his family the adventure he had been dreaming of for years. Arthur had built a thriving…

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