The police have not solved my dad's murder in nearly twenty-three years, but their negligence could be the symptom of a larger issue. Taking a deeper look at policing in America, and specifically within Belmont County, Ohio, it's clear that the systems in place to serve and protect constituents aren't working and could even be a catalyst for crime.

To submit any tips or information, please email: icecoldcasepodcast@gmail.com

Additional Sources:

The Intelligencer

The Intelligencer

Times Leader Online

Ohio Attorney General

BBC

US News

Mercury News

PBS

AP News

ABC News

Axios

Dayton Daily News

The Guardian

Georgia State University

Taylor and Francis Online

00:00 - Previously On

01:04 Friend or Foe

03:15 Can't Stay Here

06:42 Do It In Belmont County

12:58 A Killer on the Loose

20:31 No One Can Save You

24:50 Behind the Badge

28:27 Families vs. Investigators

31:23 Inconvenient at Best

33:45 Next Time

34:12 Credits

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Welcome to Season 11 of Dakota Spotlight. This season, we uncover the haunting 1999 murder of a young man in Bismarck, North Dakota—a tragic event that reverberated through the community and left a lasting impact on everyone involved. In Episode 1, we set the stage during a bustling winter weekend in Bismarck, when the city was filled with out-of-town visitors attending the state wrestling tournament. Through vivid storytelling, you’ll ride along as the night unfolds, culminating in a harrowing discovery that ignites a high-stakes investigation.

This season features firsthand accounts from detectives, loved ones, and even the convicted killer, as we unravel the complexities of this crime and explore deeper questions about memory, justice, and the enduring ripple effects of violence.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes content that may be disturbing, including a 911 call. Please listen with care.

Welcome to Homicide at House of Bottles.

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Homicide at House of Bottles is a production of Dakota Spotlight and Six Horse Media. This season was written, produced, and sound-edited by James Wolner, who also serves as the host. Research and interview assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen. Special thanks to Bob Haas, Lloyd Halvorson, and the Bismarck Police Department for their contributions to this season.

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All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com

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After hitting a lot of dead ends, it was finally time to talk to a crucial source in my dad's murder to try to decipher the new tips coming in. Perhaps there's darker reasons this case isn't solved. Now I'm forced to reevaluate my allegiance because the line between empathy and gullibility is becoming more blurred.

Additional Sources:

https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2024/12/retiring-belmont-county-sheriff-david-lucas-looks-back-on-nearly-a-half-century-in-law-enforcement/

To submit any tips or information, please email: icecoldcasepodcast@gmail.com

00:00 Previously On

01:06 Sisyphus

03:43 A New Approach

09:20 Prepaid Call

16:48 Brothers in Crime

20:56 Who Killed My Dad

29:18 Humanity

36:39 Burden of Proof

39:06 Next Time

39:42 Credits

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This cold case is about to be up in flames. New tips, new suspects, and new research are steering the ship of this investigation. Nothing is what it seems, and maybe everything I needed to know was right in front of me the whole time. It's time to take a look at the systemic hurdles holding me back from finding out what really happened to my dad, John Cornelius McGhee, on July 11, 2002. Ice Cold Case is a chronicle of self-discovery and exploration. Subscribe now to join the investigation and uncover the truth behind the coldest case in Belmont County.

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Celisia Stanton joins Madison to talk about the second season of her true crime podcast, Truer Crime.

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Steven Keogh (former investigator and current crime consultant) joins Madison McGhee for a live conversation at CrimeCon London 2024 about Madison's investigation into the unsolved murder of J.C. McGhee and the his advice for her as she continues this journey.

Join me at CrimeCon UK 2025 (London or Manchester) - use code ICECOLDCASE10 for 10% off your ticket! https://crimeconuk.seetickets.com/tour/crimecon-uk

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As I start to build a case, new developments have forced me to reconsider my list of suspects and revisit my investigative methods.

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While exploring the Belmont County Sheriff's Department's reputation, I find a strange connection. The loose ends of this case are becoming cleaner and the path to justice feels closer than ever.

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Josh Mankiewicz (NBC's Dateline) joins Madison McGhee for a live conversation from CrimeCon 2024 about the details of the murder of J.C. McGhee and the journey to investigating her father's murder.

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Some new developments leave more questions than answers, but solving this case seems more possible than ever before. Now there are just a few people left to track down, and finding them could be really simple or incredibly difficult.

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The police and my family are constantly tossing blame. Meanwhile important information is starting to surface that has me questioning everything.

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