For months now, we’ve been dropping hints and waiting to finally share this case with you. Now we have the unique opportunity of sharing a story that has been trapped in the dark for three-quarters of a century: the missing persons case of two-year-old Earnest Cagle Jr.

On August 27, 1950, little Earnest vanished from the backseat of his family’s car outside a tavern in Buckhart, Illinois. Despite massive searches, the trail went entirely cold. Decades passed, the headlines faded, and terrifyingly, the official systems meant to look for missing children completely forgot he was gone.

But is anyone every truly forgotten? Not on this podcast. We’re pulling back the curtain on how a case sits outside the system for a lifetime, and the intense behind-the-scenes hurdles we faced to finally get Earnest Cagle Jr. into a missing persons database 76 years later.

SOURCES:

https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/2-year-old-vanishes-1950/

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1s82has/in_the_summer_of_1950_2yearold_earnest_cagle_jr/?share_id=Ec_tUYEPetbm1RoqKRFBx&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

https://imgur.com/a/sQOg3YF

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101845582/earnest_doss-cagle

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27661107/hattie_adeline-cagle

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1324760865/?match=1&terms=earnest%20cagle

https://www.newspapers.com/image/85369970/?match=1&terms=earnest%20cagle

https://www.newspapers.com/image/85369026/?match=1&terms=earnest%20cagle

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1303733602/?match=1&terms=cecil%20delay%20tavern

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1303731320/?match=1&terms=cecil%20delay%20tavern

One hundred episodes later, we're diving into one of Indiana's most infamous unsolved cases.

On the night of November 17, 1978, four young Burger Chef employees vanished from the Speedway restaurant where they worked. Their bodies were discovered two days later in neighboring Johnson County, launching an investigation that has remained unresolved for nearly five decades.

In this milestone episode, we first revisit the timeline, the investigation, and the enduring questions surrounding the Burger Chef murders before sitting down with special guests Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee of the Murder Sheet podcast. Together, we discuss their extensive reporting on the case, what they've uncovered through years of research, and why the victims' stories deserve to remain in the public eye.

As we celebrate our 100th episode, we want to thank every listener who has joined us in exploring the stories that deserve to be remembered. We couldn't have reached this milestone without you.

SOURCES:

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

https://www.newspapers.com/image/312819589/?match=9&terms=burger%20chef%20murders

https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/site-of-1978-burger-chef-murders-to-be-torn-down-speedway-indiana-indianapolis-5725-crawfordsville-road/531-5f0c51dd-f92d-469c-b64d-94970bc74497

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/1978-burger-chef-murders-haunt-retired-detective-this-is-the-type-of-case-that-i-will-take-to-my-grave

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

https://vault.fbi.gov/speedway-indiana-burger-chef/Speedway%20Indiana%20Burger%20Chef%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29/view

https://www.aetv.com/articles/burger-chef-murder-cold-case

https://abcnews.com/US/hope-time-earth-answers-victims-sister-1978-unsolved/story?id=59191521

https://www.newspapers.com/image/106962941/?match=4&terms=mark%20flemmonds

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

https://www.newspapers.com/image/107586337/?match=1&terms=jayne%20friedt

https://murdersheetpodcast.com/

Before we hit triple digits, we wanted to sit down and answer your questions in a special Q&A episode!

From behind-the-scenes podcast drama to our favorite cases we’ve covered so far, we’re diving into your submissions and reflecting on the wild ride to 100 episodes. We’re also talking about what’s next for the podcast, where we see the next 100 episodes going, and the stories we still can’t stop thinking about.

Oh… and yes. We finally reveal the infamous Indiana cold case we’ll be covering for Episode 100.

To celebrate this milestone, we’re also doing a merch giveaway! Be sure to rate and review the podcast for a chance to win. Your support genuinely helps our show grow, and we can’t thank you enough for sticking with us through 99 episodes of mystery, chaos, and questionable emotional stability.

Episode 100 is almost here.

SOURCE:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTB6Pkr1y/