This podcast delves into Evansville, Indiana, and the surrounding tri-state area’s many unsolved mysteries, including murders, disappearances, and unexplained deaths. It‘s a show that isn’t afraid to jump down the rabbit hole to investigate reports of local hauntings, sightings of UFOs & cryptids, and other paranormal phenomena.
Hosted by the co-founder of the Humans of Evansville Facebook page, law office worker by day, insomniac researcher of the bizarre by night, Matt Deig.
On October 14, 1974, 19-year-old Debra Ann "Debbie" (Pfettscher) Wilhite finished her shift as a waitress at the Windmill Restaurant on Highway 41 in Evansville, Indiana. She was supposed to pick up her husband after work, but she never made it. Debbie and her green 1966 Ford Galaxie disappeared without a trace, leaving behind her husband and two young daughters. This is one of the Tri-State's oldest unsolved missing person cases.
In this episode, Matt discusses the case with Debbie's daughter, Misty Lynn Walker, who was just 18 months old when her mother vanished. More than 50 years later, Misty continues her tireless search for answers.
We discuss Debbie's final known movements, the mysterious hitchhiker seen talking with her before she disappeared, the controversial "Duck Pond" theory, decades of investigative frustrations, and Misty's ongoing efforts to locate her mother's missing car. We also talk about her website, SearchingForDebra.com, where she's preserving her mother's story and collecting anonymous tips that could finally bring this case closer to being solved.
If you know anything, no matter how small it may seem, please come forward. After more than five decades, one piece of information could make all the difference.
Links & Resources Mentioned RiverCityMystery.com/23 * Website - https://searchingfordebra.com/ * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SearchingforDebra * Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/debra.ann.wilhite.missing.1974 * Crossroads Media LLC article on Deborah Ann Wilhite - https://www.crossroads-media-llc.com/lost-in-the-crossroads/2762158_debra-ann-wilhite-october-14-1974-evansville-inDebra Ann Wilhite - Lost in the Crossroads * Chaos Divers - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChaosDivers + https://www.14news.com/2025/09/29/dive-team-searching-woman-who-went-missing-1974/ + Editor's Note: During the interview, it is mentioned that Chaos Divers had helped solve five missing-person cases. Chaos Divers has now assisted in solving 22 missing-person cases. We appreciate their continued work helping families find answers.* * Indiana State Police Cold Case Unit - https://www.in.gov/isp/crime-reporting/cold-case-investigations/cold-cases-by-county/evansville-district-investigations/debra-ann-wilhite-10141974/?SQ_VARIATION_449103=0
If you have information regarding the disappearance of Deborah Ann Wilhite, contact the Indiana State Police at (812) 867-2079, or submit an anonymous tip through SearchingForDebra.com.
Join the River City Mystery Discord server to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal. https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
In the early morning hours of August 18, 1991, police are called to a quiet home on Middle Mount Vernon Road near Timber Lake in Posey County, Indiana. Inside, they find retired attorney Arthur Denton dead. His wife, Wilma "Doodle" Denton, claims she spent two hours bound to a chair in the basement, unable to help as her husband was murdered upstairs.
But almost immediately, questions surface.
In this episode, we dig into the Timber Lake murder; it's a case filled with contradictions, strange behavior, and a timeline that doesn’t quite add up. From Wilma Denton’s chilling account of that night to the physical evidence (or lack of it) found inside the home, investigators are left trying to determine whether this was a tragic home invasion… or something far more sinister.
As the investigation unfolds, theories collide, relationships are scrutinized, and the line between victim and suspect begins to blur.
More than three decades later, the murder of Arthur Denton still raises unsettling questions. Who killed him...and why?
Episode Summary & Timestamps* [00:00:00] The Routine of Arthur Denton An introduction to Arthur Denton—a man of absolute habit, a former deputy prosecutor, and a fixture of the Evansville legal community for over 50 years. * [00:02:15] The Breaking of the Pattern The sudden passing of Arthur's first wife, Eunice, in 1990 and the swift, unexpected marriage to his housekeeper, Wilma "Doodles" Scales, just months later. * [00:05:45] The Move to Middle Mount Vernon Road Detailing the relocation to a secluded Posey County home and the significant change to Arthur's will, naming Wilma the sole heir to his $317,000 estate. * [00:09:12] The Night of August 18, 1991 A breakdown of the crime scene and Wilma's account: a man in a ski mask, two hours of being bound to a chair in the basement, and the discovery of Arthur's body. * [00:12:30] The Investigation’s Oddities The mystery of the silent guard dogs, the unconfirmed missing cash, and the missing murder weapon that complicated the Indiana State Police's efforts. * [00:15:00] The Glove Box Discovery The revelation of a $15,000 check found in Wilma's car, which handwriting experts later identified as a "simulated forgery." * [00:17:45] The Legal Stalemate The 1992 grand jury, the suicide of Wilma’s brother, and the successful legal battle to prevent Wilma from having to provide a handwriting sample. * [00:19:15] Closing: A Legacy Without Justice A final look at the cold trail, Arthur’s enduring memory among his peers, and a call for anyone with information to come forward.
Join the River City Mystery Discord server to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal.
https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
In this episode, Matt takes a closer look at one of southern Illinois’ most unusual stories: the mystery of Burrows Cave near Olney, Illinois. Retired Army officer and experienced caver Russell E. Burrows claimed he stumbled onto an underground chamber packed with carved stones, gold artifacts, and signs that ancient Old World travelers may have reached North America long before Columbus.
Matt walks through Burrows’ impressive military background, the details of what he said he found, and why most archaeologists remain convinced the whole thing was a hoax. But not everyone is ready to dismiss it. Some researchers — including Book of Mormon Heartland investigator Brian Nettles — believe the artifacts deserve another look and might even be genuine.
Is Burrows' Cave the ultimate secret history of the world, or one of the greatest hoaxes in American archaeology? This episode dives into the life of the man behind the story, the controversial evidence he brought out of the cave, and the enduring questions that keep this mystery unsolved.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps[00:01] The Hook: The Man Who Fell into History
[02:16] Welcome & Update on Zachary Carey's case
[03:58] The Man Behind the Story: Russell Burrows
[06:39] The Discovery and Artifact Claims
[09:00] The Evidence: The Controversial Stones
[11:15] The Controversy and Hoax Theory Problems
[13:42] Interview with Russell Burrows
[21:23] Conclusion & Final Thoughts
Links referenced in the episode:
GoFundMe for Zachary Carey - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-gina-with-zacharys-burial-costs?attribution_id=sl:20099a5c-2e12-4f18-9038-9efe044288df⟨=en_US&ts=1763859567&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_td&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook
Brian Nettles' interview with Russell Burrows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMj8VfDXG5w&t=232s
Brian Nettle's Book of Mormon Heartland website - https://bookofmormonheartland.com/
Photos of Burrows Cave stones - https://bookofmormonheartland.com/burrows-cave-stones/
The Mystery Cave of Many Faces - https://burrowscave.io/books/the-mystery-cave-of-many-faces/
Join the River City Mystery Discord server to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal.
https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
The incredible true story of "Wildman Joe," an African American man whose life journey, from slavery through a steamboat disaster and years as a ragman, led to a controversial career in sideshows. This episode traces the lives of Joe Rettig and showman Jeremiah "Doc" Kahler, detailing their meeting in Evansville, Indiana, and the creation of the "Wildman Joe" act.
Key Moments:
Show notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/20
Join the River City Mystery Discord server to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal.
https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
This episode delves into the tragic and unsolved murder of Georgia "Jean" Cook, a 56-year-old mother who was shot and killed on October 6th, 2005, while working at a gas station on 41 North in Evansville, Indiana.
Here's a summary of the key points covered:
Show notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/19
Join the River City Mystery Discord server to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal.
https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
Other links:
https://vanderburghsheriff.org/#send-a-tip-form
https://www.14news.com/story/9134480/unsolved-murder-jean-cook/
This episode features an interview with Crystal Folz, also known as Evansville's Forest Witch. Crystal has been practicing witchcraft since the 1990s, with a practice deeply rooted in animism and Kentucky folklore. She is also actively involved in the pagan and paranormal communities, serving as a co-chair for both the Three Corners Pagan Circle and the Southern Indiana Paranormal Investigators.
Here are some of the key topics discussed in the episode:
Show Notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/18
Join the River City Mystery Discord channel to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal. https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://kentuckyconjurer.me/
https://www.threecornerspagancircle.com/
Crystal's email: dirtandbones@kentuckyconjurer.me
In this episode, I join Savannah on her YouTube channel, "Don't Hate. CREATE", as we examine the unsolved murder of 18-year-old Elizabeth Bannister, who was found dead in her Evansville, Indiana, apartment around 1:00 AM on January 20, 2000.
Here are the key points explored in the episode:
If you have any information that could help solve Elizabeth’s murder, please contact the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979.
Show Notes: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/17
Join the River City Mystery Discord channel to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal. https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
Links mentioned in this episode:
"Don't Hate. CREATE" YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@donthate.create
Where The Bodies Are Buried - S1 E1 William "Clyde" Gibson - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VNbbx3u5qa0useqeRaENf?si=b118e30a4bea462e
Dealing Justice - Episode 8: Queen of Diamonds: Elizabeth Bannister, IN Deck - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YfuNICxTf9nOmTpcLcO2x?si=168b6b2c199c4e31
Zachary Carey's best friend, Chris, dropped him off at the Welcome to Lynnville sign on May 30,2023. He hasn't been seen since. Chris reached out to me following my last episode where I spoke with Zachary's mother, Gina, and sister, Cecelia, to offer his insight into the case. If you have any information that you think may be useful in Zachary's case, please contact the Warrick County Sheriff Department at 812-897-6180.
Zachary Carey, a 38-year-old resident of Evansville, Indiana, has been missing since May 30, 2023. In this episode, Zachary's mother, Gina, and sister, Cecelia, share their insights on the case.
If you have any information that you think may be useful in Zachary's case, please contact the Warrick County Sheriff Department at 812-897-6180.
To view photos of Zachary, please visit https://www.rivercitymystery.com/15
Multiple bigfoot encounters have been reported in the Hoosier National Forest since 2017. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) website contains a catalog of fairly recently reported encounters from the region, including a report in 2018 from Martin County and a report in 2020 from Washington County.
This episode includes an interview I had with Angela, who had an encounter in June, 2022, while driving eastbound on Interstate 64 between Evansville, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky. The encounter occurred near mile marker 88 at Turkey Fork. See below for link to map.
I also interview Bill, an army veteran and avid hunter who had 3 encounters within a few miles of Shoals, Indiana, between 2017 and 2019.
If you've had an encounter in southern Indiana, southern Illinois, or western Kentucky, reach out to me at matt@rivercitymystery.com or you can share you story on my Discord server at rivercitymystery.com/discord.
Links mentioned in episode:
Bill's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@billthreet1022
Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization: https://bfro.net/
Washington County BFRO report: https://bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=65589
Martin County BFRO report: https://bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=60871
Indiana Bigfoot Researchers Organization Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IBROrganization/
Map of the Turkey Fork area of Interstate 64 (88 mile marker) where Angela had her encounter: https://www.rivercitymystery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TurkeyFork.jpg
Troy DeWayne Smith, 50, was shot in the back of his head while he sat on his couch in his apartment on the 500 block of S. New York Avenue in Evansville, Indiana, on May 24, 2020. Troy's body was discovered by his brother, TaRon Fields. In this episode, I discuss the case with TaRon.
If you have any information that you think may be useful to the case, please contact the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-4025. You can make an anonymous tip at 800-78-CRIME.
Troy's mother has offered a $5,000.00 reward for information leading to a successful prosecution in this case.
Troy's obituary
Smith Family Offering Reward to Catch Killer
Reward being offered for info in Spring 2020 homicide case
A hoard of 700 civil war-era gold coins was found buried at an undisclosed Kentucky cornfield in July, 2023. Was this a unique case, or is it possible that buried treasures may be found all over the tri-state area?
https://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/folklore/id/3872/rec/10
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/03/cave-in-rock-and-americas-river-pirates/146392#:~:text=From%20the%20late%201700s%20to,cave%20(although%20there%20is%20no
https://www.wymt.com/2023/07/12/millions-rare-gold-coins-unearthed-kentucky-cornfield/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Kentucky_Hoard#:~:text=The%20Great%20Kentucky%20Hoard%20is,the%20hoard%20has%20remained%20anonymous.&text=The%20coins%20found%20are%20U.S.%20Civil%20War%2Dera%20coins.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpe_brothers
Andi Madison Wagner of Evansville, Indiana, has not been seen since August 6, 2022.
Date of birth: 6/9/1998
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 125 lbs
Race: White / Caucasian
Tattoo #1: Dreamcatcher on left forearm
Tattoo #2: The name "Joshua Brown" on right forearm
Nickname: "Riri"
Last seen wearing orange tank top and jeans. She frequently visited Oakland City & Newburgh, Indiana.
Where is Andi - Facebook Group
If you have any information on Andi's disappearance, contact the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979.
In this episode:
Interview with Rick White, Emergency Management Director in Union County, Kentucky.
Rick's TikTok: Front Porch America
JuJu's Rabbit Hole - Interview with Franky Lee (Andi's cousin)
Narked Divers
Brothers Underwater Recovery
WEVV-44 - Family searching for missing woman Andi Wagner
A recent story out of England where two police officers experienced a "phantom train" reminded me of a story my sister, Barbie Deig, told me years ago. In the early 1990's, she, along with many others, attended an outdoor revival in Evansville, Indiana, and experienced a "phantom train". If you attended the revival and would like to share your story, visit my discord at www.RiverCityMystery.com/discord.
https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/terrifying-ghost-train-reported-swadlincote-8218578
https://www.facebook.com/SwadlincoteSNT/posts/pfbid02atTUUMR1XQ6X3fkEdawy7UCADgWDryLRcHgKDet1nDKrWGSzyare8fQnBukYN7PCl
https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/british-cops-report-hearing-phantom-train/
By Tim Binnall
In a spooky story out of England, a pair of police officers say that they heard a 'phantom train' pass their station where they later learned that a railway had once existed long ago. According to a local media report, the eerie incident occurred last week in the town of Swadlincote as constables Joe Stafford and Whitney Holmes-Small were set to commence their work patrolling the community. To their profound surprise, the duo suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of locomotive approaching the police station. As the noise grew closer, their confusion was compounded when leaves on nearby trees began to sway and the air felt like it was being moved by an unseen force.
Amazingly, the pair claim that the noise from the proverbial 'ghost train' went right past the station and, as the sound appeared to fade into the distance, the phantom locomotive even tooted its horn. Understandably bewildered by what they experienced, they looked into the history of the building and discovered that there had once been a railway that ran right next to the site. Remarkably, rather than keep the strange story a secret within their ranks, the Swadlincote Police Department actually shared the officers' account on social media and asked if anyone else had previously encountered the phantom train, which would seem to suggest that the tale was a genuine report of ghostly activity on the part of the two cops.
Interview with Geraldine Sutton Stith, daughter of Elmer "Lucky" Sutton, one of 11 people who encountered strange beings on their Kelly, Kentucky, farm on August 21, 1955. Geraldine was told the horrifying, yet fascinating, story by her father when she was eight years old. We may never know what really happened on that farm in the middle of the night so long ago, but Geraldine's unique perspective is a story you'll want to hear.
Show Notes - https://www.rivercitymystery.com/9
Check out Geraldine's Etsy page for her books and merch:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/aliensandgoblins
Information on Geraldine's appearance on UFO Witness:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13889478/
Interview with Joni Mayhan, author, paranormal investigator, and ghost walk guide in New Harmony, Indiana.
Haunted New Harmony | Where History and Hauntings Collide (jonimayhan.com)
Joni Mayhan (@jonimayhan933) TikTok | Watch Joni Mayhan's Newest TikTok Videos
Amazon.com: Joni Mayhan: books, biography, latest update
Doris McDonough was brutally beaten to death in her own kitchen in Evansville, Indiana, on October 3, 1968. Her husband, William, provided a timeline of events that may raise more questions than answers about what happened that day. The case remains unsolved.
Unsolved Indiana: Murder Mysteries, Bizarre Deaths, & Unexplained Disappearances by Autumn Bones
The Bones of Autumn – Reddit
Interview with Joe Weigant, retired Evansville Police Department detective who founded Evansville Paranormal Investigations and Consulting (EPIC). Joe is a psychic and spirit communicator who specializes in crossing over trapped spirits so the living and the dead can achieve peace. He discusses some of the cases he's investigated and provides his insights on the paranormal.
He hosted "The World Beyond Radio Show" where he interviewed other paranormal investigators, psychics, tarot readers, and others in the field.
Every year, Joe leads tours of Waverly Hills Sanitorium in Louisville, Kentucky.
Joe has taught and lectured for numerous groups on topics such as quantum and metaphysics, energy healing, spirit communication, mediumship, the Law of Attraction, Reiki Certification, intuition and psychic ability, working with spirit guides, and more.
He's a 6th degree black belt in Okinawa Kempo & a martial arts instructor at Club Bushido.
Joe owns Tri State Holistic Wellness in Evansville, where he uses a combination of energy work (Reiki), tuning forks, and other emotional and physical healing modalities to achieve holistic health and well-being.
If you have questions that you'd like for Joe to address on the show, go to www.rivercitymystery.com/contact and leave a voice or text message.
Blake Crews, 20, was excited to start a business teaching drums. He spent much of his last day alive trying to print business cards for the new business. Blake never had the chance to live out his dream, though; he died after he was shot multiple times in the face while staying at a friend's house in Henderson, Kentucky in January, 2015.
The case remains unsolved to this day.
LordanARTS - BrainScratch: Justice for Blake Crews
KSP Cold Cases: Blake Crews Investigation
Henderson County native Blake Crews was murdered on January 17, 2015.
In an effort to enhance and elicit new leads, KSP has developed a short YouTube video highlighting the main points of the open case. The Crews’ family have increased the reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder of their son, Blake Crews.
This reward, in conjunction with the Henderson County Crime Stoppers reward, brings the total up to $15,000. KSP detectives are still actively pursuing leads in this case but we respectfully request assistance from the public.
We encourage anyone with knowledge of this case to contact Kentucky State Police Post 16 at 270.826.3312 or anonymously 800-222-5555.
During the summer of 1940, a home just outside of Odon, Indiana, caught fire 28 times in a single day. Witnessed by many, the cause of the fires remains a mystery to this very day.
Theresa Rideout, 36, disappeared along with her dog, River, on September 2, 1994. Her boyfriend, Jack Barnett, checked into a motel and killed himself just over a week later. Was Jack responsible for her disappearance? Investigators never found her body or evidence of a crime scene. What happened to Theresa Rideout?
My wife and I had an encounter with something unusual while taking a walk around Garvin Lake in Evansville on the evening of Saturday, August 21, 2021.
In this episode, you'll discover why a preacher was called to help deal with a disturbing situation at the Four Seasons Motel in Mount Vernon, Indiana.