In July 2014, 28-year-old German tourist Lars Mittank walked into Varna Airport in Bulgaria, preparing to fly home after a vacation. He had suffered a minor ear injury and needed a quick medical check before his flight. But what happened next turned his case into one of the most baffling disappearances in recent history. Surveillance cameras captured Lars suddenly bolting from the doctor’s office, sprinting through the terminal, and climbing an eight-foot perimeter fence before vanishing into the woods. He left his wallet, passport, and all of his luggage behind.

In the days leading up to his disappearance, Lars had made a series of increasingly frantic calls to his mother, claiming he felt unsafe and that people were following him. Was he suffering from a medical-induced paranoia, or was a real threat closing in? More than a decade later, the chilling airport footage is the last confirmed trace of him. This episode dives into the timeline, the theories, and the endless search for answers in the case of Lars Mittank.

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Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Lars_Mittank

https://people.com/all-about-lars-mittank-mysterious-disappearance-11768067

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31744248

https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/vermisster-lars-mittank-spurensuche-in-bulgarien-a-983857.html

https://www.abendblatt.de/region/article131346203/Vermisster-Lars-Mittank-Mutter-hofft-auf-neue-Spuren.html

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/Vermisster-Lars-Mittank-Spurensuche-in-Bulgarien,mittank100.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAfveiD6cWw

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Introducing "Rachel Hoffman Case: Florida Police Informant Operation Gone Wrong (Tallahassee)" from Crime Salad.

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In late spring 2009, Florida State University students in Tallahassee, Florida were wrapping up finals when 23-year-old Rachel Hoffman became the center of a police operation that would end in tragedy. In this episode of Crime Salad, we break down the Rachel Hoffman case, focusing on how a “controlled” and “by-the-book” confidential informant (CI) operation unraveled, and why officers reportedly waited more than 90 minutes after her last contact before launching a search.

Rachel Hoffman was a college student with big plans, described as driven and fearless, working toward her future when she was asked to assist law enforcement as an informant during a drug sting in Tallahassee. What happened next raised serious questions about informant safety, police procedures, and accountability when undercover operations go wrong.

We cover the timeline, the decisions made leading up to that night, and the broader issue of how confidential informants are used in drug investigations, especially when the informant is young, vulnerable, or under pressure. This is the story of Rachel Hoffman, and the failures that followed.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests.

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A birthday party at a rental cabin in the scenic Hocking Hills of Ohio should have been a night of celebration. But fueled by alcohol and jealousy, the night spiraled into a violent confrontation that left a young father, Charlie Starner, dead. This episode examines the chaotic moments captured on a cell phone video and the legal battle that followed, asking whether the stabbing was a desperate act of self-defense or a senseless murder.

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In 2012, 16-year-old Skylar Neese vanished without a trace from her Star City, West Virginia home. What initially seemed like a runaway case soon unraveled into a story of unimaginable betrayal. Her two best friends, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf, held a dark secret that would shock the nation and leave a community searching for answers. This episode revisits the heart-wrenching case of Skylar Neese, exploring the twisted friendship that led to her murder.

With the release of the new Hulu docuseries Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese, we are taking a deeper look into the events that transpired and the warning signs that were missed. Join us as we recount the tragic story of a bright young girl whose life was cut short by those she trusted most.

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In the summer of 2023, police in The Bahamas were investigating a local bar burglary when they accidentally discovered a shocking murder-for-hire plot in a series of WhatsApp messages. The alleged target was Robert Shiver, a former football player from a wealthy Georgia family, and the accused mastermind was his estranged wife, former beauty queen Lindsay Shiver. The message that blew the case wide open was just two words: "Kill him."

What followed was a story that seemed ripped from a movie script, involving a crumbling marriage, a luxury vacation home in an exclusive Bahamian resort, and an affair with a local bartender. As the case unfolded, it would draw in reality TV stars and reveal a pattern of escalating conflict, with both sides making explosive allegations. This is a deep dive into the story of Lindsay Shiver, a case where a picture-perfect life hid a dark and complicated reality.

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In February 2020, Sarah Boone zipped her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., into a suitcase during what she claimed was a drunken game of hide-and-seek. She then filmed him as he suffocated, taunting him and ignoring his pleas for help. The videos she recorded on her own phone became the centerpiece of a bizarre four-year legal saga that included 13 attorneys, a viral ad for legal help, and a defendant who smiled through her own sentencing. This is the story of a toxic relationship that ended in a chilling murder, captured on camera by the killer herself.

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A quick heads-up: this is a bonus episode where we're just having some fun. We also say 'like' a lot. We're, like, sorry... but not really.

Today we're discussing the first episode from HBO Max's "Neighbors".

Welcome to the sun-drenched beaches of Santa Rosa, Florida, where the battle for the shoreline is raging. Meet the “Shoreline Defenders,” a group of residents who believe the beach is for everyone, and the homeowners who will do anything to keep their slice of paradise private. Tensions boil over as one man, armed with a GoPro and the “Shoreline Defender” app, decides to take on the local beach patrol, leading to a series of confrontations that are as bizarre as they are hilarious. From heated arguments with a self-appointed beach cop to a tense sit-down at a local restaurant, this is a story about just how seriously people take their sand.

Then, we head to the wide-open spaces of Montana, where a man’s dream of a quiet country life is shattered by a dispute with his neighbor. What starts as a disagreement over a fence and a road quickly escalates into a full-blown feud involving Zoom court, a failed mediation, and a whole lot of passive-aggressive staring. But there’s a twist: one of these neighbors is a TikTok star known as “The Bearded Bard,” with over two million followers. When the drama spills over onto social media, things get even more complicated. It’s a classic tale of country versus city, with a surprising connection that proves these two might have more in common than they think.

For more fun episodes check-out all our bonus and ad-free episodes at patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast. You can also find bonus episodes like this on Apple Podcast + and Spotify Bonus.

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On October 29, 2022, police found 21-year-old Grace Jennings dead inside a detached garage in Santa Fe, killed with a sword. Her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend, Kiara McCulley, admitted her role, but prosecutors say she didn't act alone. They argue that Isaac Apodaca coerced her into committing the murder through a series of manipulative text messages, promising her advancement in a secret organization called "Ghost."

As Isaac's trial is slated to begin soon, the case hinges on whether the state can prove he was the mastermind behind the gruesome killing, even if he never touched the murder weapon.

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In May 2006, 32-year-old writer Rey Rivera vanished from his Baltimore home after receiving a mysterious phone call. Eight days later, his body was discovered in a locked, unused conference room at the historic Belvedere Hotel.

He had fallen with such force that he crashed through the roof, leaving a shocking hole. Near the hole, investigators found his phone and glasses, strangely intact. The case was further complicated by a bizarre, coded note found taped behind his computer. Was it a tragic suicide, a freak accident, or a murder orchestrated by powerful figures? This week we dive into one of the most baffling unsolved cases of the 21st century.

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Eric Richins was a devoted father of three and a successful Utah businessman, known for his big heart and infectious laugh. In March 2022, his life was tragically cut short when he was found dead in his bedroom from a lethal dose of fentanyl. The investigation into his shocking death would soon uncover a web of deceit, financial turmoil, and betrayal, leading to the arrest of the one person he should have been able to trust most: his wife, Kouri. This week we tell the story of Eric Richins, the man whose life was stolen, and the disturbing case against the woman who wrote a children's book on grief after allegedly murdering him.

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*The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie begins around 38:00*

This week, we're finally tackling a case we're surprised we haven't covered before: the story of Jodi Arias. In June 2008, the brutal murder of motivational speaker Travis Alexander in his Mesa, Arizona home set off an investigation that would captivate the nation. The prime suspect was his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias, and the trial that followed was a masterclass in manipulation and shifting narratives. We'll delve into their intense, whirlwind romance, the deep-seated conflicts with Travis's Mormon faith, and the escalating obsession that turned deadly. From slashing tires to hacking emails, Jodi's behavior grew more and more alarming, even as Travis continued to be drawn into her web.

Then, stick around for a detailed timeline of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of the Today show's Savannah Guthrie. We'll walk you through the events from the night she was last seen, the chilling digital footprint left behind, the mysterious ransom notes, and the latest updates from the FBI as of our recording on February 11th.

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