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Wondery

The Vanished is a true crime podcast that explores the stories of those who have gone missing. The Vanished goes beyond conventional news reports to take a deep dive into the story of a different missing person each week. Host Marissa Jones brings you exclusive interviews with family members, friends, law enforcement and experts. What will The Vanished uncover next?

Listen to The Vanished on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-vanished-podcast/ now.

The Vanished Podcast

In northern Alberta, long roads cut through forest and farmland, connecting small, close-knit communities. It was along these highways in the summer of 2016 that 43-year-old Conrad Jason Ducharme, known to family and friends simply as Jason, was last seen.

Jason was believed to be traveling on foot to Dixonville for a tent meeting. He made it there and was later spotted in Manning. But after that, his trail went cold. Known for walking long distances and sometimes catching rides, Jason often stayed with friends or relatives scattered along his route. At first, his family assumed he was with someone else. Only later did they realize no one had seen him, and by then, his trail was already fading.

What alarmed them most was that Jason missed his son’s birthday at the end of July, something completely out of character. Nearly a decade later, no trace of Jason has ever been found. His family continues to hold onto hope that answers may still come, and that by sharing Jason's story, someone who remembers something might step forward.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Conrad Jason Ducharme, please contact the Manning RCMP at 780-836-3769 and reference case#: 2016-1416531. Or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at canadiancrimestoppers.org.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Conrad Jason Ducharme

Last week, we introduced you to the story of Blake Nex, who vanished from his home in Claremont, California, in March of 1993. At his house in Palmer Canyon, his family found groceries still sitting on the counter, his cats left inside, and no sign of Blake. Weeks later, his truck was discovered parked at Ontario International Airport, which led some to believe he had left willingly. But with no investigation opened by law enforcement at the time, the case quickly went cold and his family was left to search for answers on their own.

In Part 2, we pick up decades later, when Blake’s brother Royse connected online with Andrea, a woman halfway across the world who had stumbled upon Blake’s case. Their connection reignited the search, and together they began piecing together fragments of memory, long-circulating rumors, and theories that had lingered for years. In this episode, we follow those threads to explore what people close to Blake remember, what they suspect, and the whispers of activities he may have been involved in before he disappeared.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Blake Nex, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (323) 890-5500.

For more information, visit findblakenex.com.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blake Nex Part 2: Unraveling the Threads

In March of 1993, 37-year-old Blake Nex vanished from his home in Claremont, California. Blake’s family grew concerned when they couldn’t reach him, so a relative went to check his house. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. There were no signs of a struggle or forced entry, but the scene inside Blake’s home told an even stranger story. Groceries were still sitting on the counter, as if Blake had just come home from the store and been plucked out of his life in the middle of an ordinary day. His cats were left behind to fend for themselves, along with five hundred dollars in cash, but Blake himself was nowhere to be found.

A couple of weeks later, Blake’s truck turned up in the parking lot of a local airport. No one could say when it had been left there or by whom. Then, after his disappearance, Blake’s home was broken into. An answering machine, toolbox, and several expensive bicycles were stolen, only adding to the mystery.

When Blake’s family reported him missing, they felt the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department brushed off their concerns. At the time, department policies didn’t require them to take reports for missing adults, and they considered Blake to be voluntarily missing. Nearly two decades would slip by before law enforcement finally took up the case. By then, Blake’s trail had gone ice cold. Any evidence that could have revealed what happened to Blake was already gone, swallowed by time and by the investigation that never began.

Now, decades later, Blake's loved ones are determined to reignite the search for answers, holding onto the hope that the truth about his disappearance can still be uncovered.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Blake Nex, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (323) 890-5500. 

For more information, visit https://www.findblakenex.com, where you can learn more about his case and reach out to his loved ones who are still searching for answers.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blake Nex Part 1: The Spark

This episode originally aired on May 23, 2022. In the last two episodes, we shared Bill Jamison’s story. In Part 1, we walked through the night Bill disappeared and the early investigation into his case. In Part 2, we examined the unusual circumstances at Bill’s job and the people connected to his work who may have had motives to harm him.

Today, in Part 3, we will explore other facets of this mystery and take a closer look at the many theories that have surfaced over the years.

If you have any information about the disappearance of William Jamison, please contact the Roselle Park Police Department at (908) 245-2300 or the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form: http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/case-submission/.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Replay: William Jamison Part 3 - Sliding Down the Back of the Mountain

This episode originally aired on May 17, 2022. In the early morning hours of March 27, 1981, Bill Jamison vanished after a night out. He had spent time at a bar before stopping for a quick bite at a diner. The waitress remembered nothing unusual. Bill ordered his usual late-night meal, finished eating, and walked out into the cool March night. That was the last time anyone ever saw him.

Yesterday, you heard about the immediate search for Bill and how his family quickly realized law enforcement was not doing enough. They launched their own efforts, sometimes turning to unconventional methods like psychics. They pleaded with police for more action and spent years writing letters to anyone they thought could help. More than four decades later, his disappearance remains unsolved.

Today, we will explore what was happening at Bill’s workplace in the days leading up to his disappearance. His family has always wondered if what was unfolding there could hold the key to what happened to Bill.

If you have any information about the disappearance of William Jamison, please contact the Roselle Park Police Department at (908) 245-2300 or the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Replay: William Jamison Part 2 - The Cost of Doing Business

This episode originally aired on May 16, 2022. On March 26, 1981, 33-year-old William “Bill” Jamison followed his usual routine. He spent the day at Haug Die Casting Company in Kenilworth, New Jersey, where he worked as vice president of production. After work, he grabbed dinner at a restaurant, then stopped at the Chez Lounge inside the Linden Lanes Bowling Alley to enjoy drinks and conversation with friends. His last stop was the St. George Diner in Linden around 1 AM. He ate a quick meal, left about half an hour later, and was never seen again.

When Bill failed to arrive at the office the next morning, something completely out of character, his coworkers grew alarmed. One even went to his apartment, but there was no sign of him. They contacted his sister, Katie, who immediately began calling hospitals and reached out to law enforcement.

More than 40 years later, Bill’s disappearance remains a mystery. Over the years, there have been reported sightings of him in other states and whispers of a possible mob connection. To this day, his family is still searching for answers.

If you have any information about the disappearance of William Jamison, please contact the Roselle Park Police Department at (908) 245-2300 or the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Patreon

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Replay: William Jamison Part 1 - The Drive Home

On July 3, 2020, 38-year-old Jami Lucas was riding his motorcycle near Outing, Minnesota. According to official reports, a deputy recognized Jami and knew he didn’t have a valid license, which sparked a pursuit. However, Jami’s family was told something different: that an anonymous call had come in, leading deputies to pursue Jami. Either way, several deputies began chasing Jami, who turned off onto a dirt road.

Police records state that the pursuit ended when Jami ditched his motorcycle and ran into the woods. A deputy drew his weapon and ordered him to stop, but Jami kept going, vanishing into the dense underbrush. From that moment forward, no one ever saw Jami Lucas again.

More than five years have passed since that night, and Jami’s family believes far too little has been done to find him. They also question why a high-speed chase was initiated at all, especially over something as minor as a suspended license. Nationwide, pursuits like these have drawn heavy criticism for being unnecessarily dangerous, frequently ending in crashes that cause injuries and even deaths, not only to suspects but also officers and innocent bystanders.

For Jami’s loved ones, the circumstances of that night remain unsettling. They can’t shake the uneasy feeling that the very agency tasked with finding him was also the last to see him alive. They've been left not only with their grief but also a growing list of contradictions, conflicts of interest, and unexplained gaps in the record.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Jami Lucas, please contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at 218-547-1424, Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 651‑793‑7000.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jami Lucas

On July 12, 1987, 18-year-old Vickie Carriere was spending time with her boyfriend. Vickie was eight and a half months pregnant and eagerly awaiting the arrival of her baby boy. That day, the couple was at his family’s fishing camp before starting the drive back to Vickie’s home in Waggaman, Louisiana.

According to her boyfriend, who was also the baby’s father, they stopped at a local convenience store, just minutes from her home. He said he went inside to buy a soda for Vickie and chocolate milk for himself. When he returned to the car, Vickie and all of her belongings were gone.

When she didn’t come home that night, her parents were immediately alarmed. It wasn’t like Vickie to disappear, especially so close to her due date. They feared for both their daughter and the grandson they were so ready to welcome. In the days that followed, those fears deepened. Vickie missed her baby shower, and then her due date came and went without a word. More than 38 years later, Vickie’s family is still searching for answers, and for the baby boy she never got to hold.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Vickie Carriere and her unborn son, please contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 363-5500.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vickie Carriere

On February 21, 2022, 25-year-old Aaron Cody Fortner disappeared from Jackson County, North Carolina. At the time, he was staying at a property owned by his grandparents. He made a couple of phone calls to his grandparents in the early morning hours that seemed off, but they weren’t sure what to make of it at the time. 

When Aaron’s sister, Kourtney, spoke to her grandparents later that morning, they asked her if she had heard from him. She said she hadn’t, and they proceeded to tell her about the phone calls. Kourtney was concerned enough to drive out and check on her brother. 

When she arrived, things didn’t feel right. A door Aaron always kept locked for safety reasons was unlocked. Kourntey went inside, and Aaron was gone. One thing that stood out was that it was a mess. Just the day prior, their mother had visited, and everything was tidy.

That left his family to wonder what happened between the time Aaron's mother last saw him and when he disappeared. Where could he have gone, and why did it seem like something had disrupted his world overnight? His family began calling Aaron's name, searching the surrounding area, and quickly contacted law enforcement to report him missing.

More than three years have passed, and Aaron’s loved ones are still searching. Along the way, they have uncovered strange and unsettling clues, but so far, none have led them to Aaron.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Aaron Cody Fortner, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 586-8901 or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Western District at (828) 330-4700.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aaron Cody Fortner

This episode originally aired on July 17, 2023. Jim Lewis was a decorated veteran who had recently retired after serving in the United States Army for 25 years. Jim and his wife, Patsy, purchased a home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which was intended to be their forever home, after having moved around the US and the world for many years. They were finally putting down their roots, and Patsy was able to start hanging those pictures on the walls. However, it didn't even last a year, as in October 1982, Jim pulled out of the driveway, headed to a job interview in Vero Beach, Florida, and never came home. The police were convinced that Jim had willingly abandoned his family, and they showed no interest in investigating. His family did what they could on their own, but that wasn't bringing them any solid answers. Then, Jim's car was found months later at the local airport in Fayetteville. It had been parked there since October 6, 1982, three days after Jim left, supposedly to drive to Florida. None of it seemed to make sense to his family. He always cared for them and wouldn't have left them this way. Over the years, some clues have been revealed that could point to an outcome no one ever saw coming.

If you have any information about the disappearance of James Lewis, please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at (910) 323-1500.

If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Replay: William Jamison Part 1 - The Drive Home

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