Unsolved podcast

Unsolved

More often than we’d like to believe, people get away with murder. As cases grow cold, cops retire. Witnesses die. Evidence disappears. Unsolved, a true crime podcast series from USA TODAY and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, guides listeners through these real-life mysteries, uncovering new clues along the way. Season four of Unsolved delves into the disappearance of Alexis Patterson, a 7-year-old girl who disappeared on her way to school in 2002. At first, there was a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday. Season three of Unsolved tells the story of Father Alfred Kunz, whose throat was slit inside St. Michael School in 1998. Some believe his death was linked to his battles against evil. Others believe his all-too-human flaws were to blame. Season two of Unsolved, released in 2017, examines the case of toddler Michelle Manders, who vanished from her bedroom in the middle of the night in 1981. Did she wander alone into the darkness? Or was she kidnapped? Season one of Unsolved, released in 2015, explores the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old John Zera, who disappeared from Franklin High School in 1976. The seven episodes follow investigators through decades of dead ends as they hold on to hope of finding the killer. Subscribe to Unsolved on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio or wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on the series, visit http://usatoday.com/unsolved.

More often than we’d like to believe, people get away with murder. As cases grow cold, cops retire. Witnesses die. Evidence disappears. Unsolved, a true crime podcast series from USA TODAY and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, guides listeners through these real-life mysteries, uncovering new clues along the way. Season four of Unsolved delves into the disappearance of Alexis Patterson, a 7-year-old girl who disappeared on her way to school in 2002. At first, there was a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday. Season three of Unsolved tells the story of Father Alfred Kunz, whose throat was slit inside St. Michael School in 1998. Some believe his death was linked to his battles against evil. Others believe his all-too-human flaws were to blame. Season two of Unsolved, released in 2017, examines the case of toddler Michelle Manders, who vanished from her bedroom in the middle of the night in 1981. Did she wander alone into the darkness? Or was she kidnapped? Season one of Unsolved, released in 2015, explores the circumstances surrounding the death of 14-year-old John Zera, who disappeared from Franklin High School in 1976. The seven episodes follow investigators through decades of dead ends as they hold on to hope of finding the killer. Subscribe to Unsolved on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio or wherever you get your podcasts. For more information on the series, visit http://usatoday.com/unsolved.

 

#39

S4 Ep8: Be careful what you wish for

After more than 20 years of turning us down, the Milwaukee Police finally release more than 10,000 pages of records on their investigation of Alexis’ case. Some of the contents are completely unexpected. ... Read more

21 Jun 2023

37 MINS

37:25

21 Jun 2023


#38

S4 Ep7: A DNA discovery

After a three-year delay in reporting due to the pandemic, we ask the experts to evaluate the DNA profiles of Alexis' mother and the woman in Ohio to figure out, once and for all, whether the two are related. ... Read more

14 Jun 2023

31 MINS

31:09

14 Jun 2023


#37

S4 Ep6: The road trip

Two reporters travel to Ohio to see if they can get to the bottom of the claims that a young woman there is Alexis Patterson. ... Read more

07 Jun 2023

33 MINS

33:21

07 Jun 2023


#36

S4 Ep5: A package from Ohio

Fourteen years after Alexis disappeared, a man from Ohio comes forward to say he believes his estranged wife might be the missing girl. ... Read more

31 May 2023

28 MINS

28:12

31 May 2023


#35

S4 Ep4: A double life

Some witnesses say they saw a red truck outside Alexis' school around the time she vanished. Could it have belonged to a serial killer? ... Read more

24 May 2023

31 MINS

31:41

24 May 2023


#34

S4 Ep3: Where would she have gone?

Police come up with the theory that Alexis ran away after her mom tells them about an argument over cupcakes. ... Read more

17 May 2023

32 MINS

32:27

17 May 2023


#33

S4 Ep2: A guilty man walked free

Alexis’ stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, has a troubled history with police. That is enough to raise their suspicions after she disappears. ... Read more

10 May 2023

34 MINS

34:02

10 May 2023


#32

S4 Ep1: She never made it to school

Despite Milwaukee’s history of segregation and distrust between Black residents and police, the whole city comes together to search for 7-year-old Alexis Patterson, who disappeared somewhere in the 242 steps between her home and school. ... Read more

03 May 2023

31 MINS

31:44

03 May 2023


#31

S4: Coming May 3: Season 4

Alexis Patterson’s walk home from school was just 242 steps. But on May 3, 2002, the 7-year-old never made it. The story of Alexis’ disappearance started with a massive search and sympathy for her family, but that quickly changed as her parents became suspects. Over the years, there have been conspiracy theories and false leads and cases of mistaken identity. Still, her mom has never given up hope that Alexis will come home again someday.   ... Read more

19 Apr 2023

03 MINS

03:25

19 Apr 2023


#30

S4: We're working on season 4

I’m working on a new investigation about missing children of color, and one of them is going to be the focus of Season 4. ... Read more

17 May 2022

03 MINS

03:31

17 May 2022


#29

S3 Ep11: Bonus episode: Unsolved Live

Still have questions about the murder of Father Alfred Kunz? Want to hear more about what was going on behind the scenes of the podcast and of the investigation? Kunz's good friend Peter Kelly and retired detective Dawn Johnson joined host Gina Barton at a live event, where they provided some answers. ... Read more

24 Apr 2019

28 MINS

28:02

24 Apr 2019


#28

S3 Ep10: 'Forgive offenses'

Twenty years after Kunz’s murder, members of his former parish gathered at Mass to pray for his soul. Police, who had launched a social media campaign in connection with the anniversary, scanned the crowd for their suspects. ... Read more

27 Mar 2019

35 MINS

35:31

27 Mar 2019


#27

S3 Ep9: 'Bear Wrongs Patiently'

Detective Wayne Honer was among those who did not believe teacher Brian Jackson killed Father Kunz. While Detective Kevin Hughes was chasing Jackson, Honer focused on a different suspect. ... Read more

20 Mar 2019

27 MINS

27:58

20 Mar 2019


#26

S3 Ep8: 'Comfort the Sorrowful'

Immediately after Father Alfred Kunz’s death, St. Michael teacher Brian Jackson moved in with Kunz’s best friend, Father Charles Fiore. Detective Kevin Hughes was convinced Jackson was the killer. Support for this episode comes from Audible. Go to audible.com/un to listen to your favorite books. ... Read more

13 Mar 2019

31 MINS

31:44

13 Mar 2019


#25

Introducing: Case Closed

Here is another true crime podcast you might like. Season one of Case Closed tells the story of Erin Corwin, a young military wife who was murdered in 2014. She was living with her husband, Jon, a Marine corporal, when she left to scout hiking trails in Joshua Tree National Park. She never came back. ... Read more

08 Mar 2019

24 MINS

24:59

08 Mar 2019


#24

S3 Ep7: 'Shelter the Homeless'

A Dane County sheriff’s deputy came to believe his nephew, Joe Cavanaugh, was Father Kunz’s killer. The attack on Kunz was similar to one Cavanaugh was believed to have committed against his grandfather. ... Read more

06 Mar 2019

24 MINS

24:51

06 Mar 2019


#23

S3 Ep6: 'Counsel the Doubtful'

St. Michael had been robbed in the months before Father Alfred Kunz’s death, and police believed the robbery and Kunz’s murder may have been connected. ... Read more

27 Feb 2019

25 MINS

25:49

27 Feb 2019


#22

S3 Ep5: 'Pray for the Living and the Dead '

Police have evidence that Father Alfred Kunz had performed exorcisms without the support of the church hierarchy, which official Catholic exorcists characterize as risky and foolish. Support for this episode comes from Care/Of. For 50% off your first month of personalized Care/Of vitamins, visit takecareof.com and use promo code MJS50. ... Read more

20 Feb 2019

25 MINS

25:54

20 Feb 2019


#21

S3 Ep4: 'Admonish the Sinner'

Father Alfred Kunz and Father Charles Fiore had reportedly been investigating sexual misconduct by priests without authorization from church leadership. Their efforts crossed the state line into Illinois. ... Read more

13 Feb 2019

25 MINS

25:05

13 Feb 2019