3 Unforgettable Missing 411 Cases
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Some disappearances in the wilderness defy all explanation. In his Missing 411 series, former detective David Politis uncovered cases where people seem to vanish without a trace, often found miles away in nearly unreachable locations, or simply never seen again. Today, we're exploring three of these unsettling cases, each filled with haunting last sightings, minimal clues, and mysteries that remain unsolved.

In June of 1946, the Von Alst family took a trip to Devil's Den State Park in the Arkansas wilderness. The park, known for its rugged cliffs, dense woods, and winding trails, offered an ideal backdrop for families seeking a bit of adventure and relaxation. For the Von Alsts, this was a chance to bond, to enjoy the outdoors, and to let their three children, eldest David, youngest Anne, and middle child Catherine,

explore nature under their watchful eyes. Eight-year-old Catherine, spirited and full of curiosity, was especially excited. That afternoon, the family set up camp, and Catherine, as always, was eager to roam. She was only steps away from her parents as she explored the area around their sight, her parents keeping a comfortable eye on her as they organized for the evening. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

It was a typical summer day, filled with the sounds of wind in the trees and the occasional laughter as Catherine entertained herself nearby. And then, in an instant, Catherine was gone. One moment, she had been just a short distance from her family, and the next, there was only empty space where she had been. No sounds, no cries, no footprints leading away, just an eerie silence that seemed to settle over the campsite. Her parents quickly called her name, expecting her to appear laughing.

from behind a tree or a nearby boulder, but after several minutes, there was no response. They searched every inch of the area where she had last been seen, but still, nothing. What had seemed like a simple game of hide and seek began to feel like something far more serious. The von Alse frantically scoured the area, shouting Catherine's name and moving in circles around the campsite, but not a single trace of her could be found. Within hours, what started as a carefree afternoon

had transformed into a desperate search for a missing child. They reached out to local authorities, who quickly assembled a search party. Soon, the peaceful park was filled with volunteers, dogs, and even helicopters, all joining the search for Catherine. The area was combed with precision, every inch of the rugged landscape covered by volunteers and rescuers, yet no footprints, torn clothing, or signs of a struggle were found.

Devil's Den State Park, with its deep woods and rock formations, could be treacherous, especially for a child, and the rescuers knew that every minute counted. Despite exhaustive efforts, however, Catherine seemingly disappeared without leaving a single clue behind. Days passed, and as hope dwindled, some began to wonder if Catherine had simply disappeared into the unknown, another victim claimed by the mystery of the wilderness.

Six days later, just hours before the search was to be called off, a volunteer stumbled upon something extraordinary and utterly unexpected. There, 30 miles from where Catherine had last been seen, standing near the entrance of a cave, was a young girl. It was Catherine von Alst. She was alone, barefoot, and covered in light scratches, yet she appeared calm and remarkably unhurt.

Her clothes were torn from days spent in the wilderness, but her spirit was seemingly unaffected. She looked at the rescuers with a strange composure about her, as though her disappearance had been nothing unusual. The search team, expecting a scared and frail child, was stunned by her appearance, and even more so, by her calm demeanor. After days without food, shelter, or water, Catherine should have been weak, even dehydrated, but she seemed unharmed.

as if the ordeal had barely touched her. And there was something else. When asked how she had traveled so far, how she had survived alone in the woods for nearly a week, Catherine had no answers. She couldn't remember anything about her journey. In fact, she couldn't recall being scared or feeling lost. She remembered nothing but brief moments inside the cave, as if the days had passed in a blur. Her parents and the searchers were relieved beyond measure, but the mystery of Catherine's disappearance lingered.

How had a child so young managed to survive alone in such a harsh environment, traveling over 30 miles through dense, challenging terrain? Experienced hikers often struggled in this park, where deep ravines, thick forest, and rocky cliffs posed serious risks. Yet, Catherine had not only survived, but seemed almost unfazed. Searchers had meticulously combed every part of the area surrounding the campsite,

covering miles and retracing their steps, and they couldn't explain how Catherine had evaded them. And then there was her demeanor. Many who encountered her that day recalled that she was calm, almost serene, as though she'd never been in danger at all, while one might expect a lost child to be emotional. Perhaps overcome with relief or fear, Catherine stood there quietly, simply observing her rescuers as if their presence was entirely expected.

Some of the searchers would later describe her as oddly at peace, as though she'd known she would be found and had simply waited for it. When doctors examined Catherine, they found no signs of dehydration or malnutrition, which only served to puzzle them further. After six days without food or water, a child's physical state would normally be far worse. Catherine's family, overjoyed by her safe return, could only speculate about what she'd experienced during her time in the wild.

And despite the questions, Catherine herself never had answers. Her memory of those six days remained blank, as if time had just slipped away. Her case remains one of the most unsettling mysteries documented in Devil's Den, and to this day, no one can say for certain how Catherine survived, how she traveled so far, or why she had no memory of her journey. Some have suggested she may have found temporary shelter, or unknowingly received help from someone in the woods.

but there was no evidence to support these theories. Others have proposed more fantastical explanations, ideas that only add to the eerie allure of Devil's Den, a place known for its beautiful landscapes and its secrets. The Von Alse moved on, grateful for Catherine's safe return, yet the question of her disappearance never truly faded. It stands as a reminder of the wilderness' ability to take and return people in ways we may never fully understand.

Catherine Von Aal's story is one that haunts Devil's Den to this day, a case that defies logic and leaves us wondering what really happened to her out in those woods. This is one of the stories where I'm left at a complete loss, so if you have thoughts of your own, I'd love to hear them in the comments down below. A big thanks to our friends over at Peloton for sponsoring this episode. I've been using Peloton for a while now, and I've got to tell you,

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The Jamison family set out on what should have been a simple trip into the Oklahoma wilderness. Bobby Jamison, his wife, Cherilyn, and their six-year-old daughter, Madison, were headed into the remote hills of Red Oak, Oklahoma, seemingly interested in purchasing a plot of land to live a more rural, self-sustained life. The family, known for being a bit private, was excited by the idea of a fresh start away from their everyday lives. But just days after they left,

A series of unsettling discoveries would reveal that something had gone terribly wrong. The first sign of trouble came when the Jamesons' truck was found abandoned on a dirt road in a heavily wooded area of Red Oak. Inside the locked truck, authorities discovered an eerie scene. The Jamesons' IDs, wallets, Sherilyn's purse, and even Bobby's cell phone were all left behind, untouched. It looked as if the family had simply stepped away for a moment.

But even more disturbing was what they found in the backseat: the family's beloved dog, Maisie, weak and barely alive after several days without food or water. The sight of Maisie left searchers and family members with a chilling realization: whatever had happened to the Jamisons, it was sudden and unplanned. They would never have willingly left Maisie behind, but that wasn't all. Inside the truck, in plain view,

was a bank bag containing $32,000 in cash, an amount that shocked investigators, as the Jamisons were not known to carry large sums of money, nor were they particularly wealthy. Why would they leave this behind? And what were they doing with such a significant amount of cash in the first place? The questions only multiplied as the days passed. Search teams combed through the rugged hills and thick forests surrounding the area where the truck had been found.

Despite deploying helicopters, search dogs, and a team of volunteers, there was no sign of Bobby, Cheryl Lynn, or Madison. No footprints leading away, no campfire remains, nothing to suggest where they might have gone. As each search day ended without answers, the case of the missing Jamison family became more disturbing, with theories ranging from a tragic accident to something far darker. Months dragged on with no new leads.

and it seemed the mystery would remain unsolved. But then, in November of 2013, four years after the family disappeared, a hunter in the woods stumbled upon skeletal remains found in a remote spot nearly three miles from where the truck had been abandoned. The bones were scattered across the rough terrain as though they had been left there purposefully. When authorities arrived and examined the remains, they confirmed the worst fears. It was Bobby, Cheryl Lynn, and Madison Jamison.

The discovery only deepened the mystery, though. The condition of the remains offered few clues. There were no signs of trauma, no obvious causes of death. The medical examiner could not determine how the Jamisons had died, or how their remains had ended up in such an isolated, hard-to-reach area. How did a young family, carrying such a large sum of cash, vanish without leaving a single clue in their wake, only to be found years later, miles from their last known location?

Then, there were the strange details that emerged in the weeks leading up to the family's disappearance. Friends and relatives recalled Bobby and Cherilyn acting unusually paranoid. According to some, Bobby had confided that he believed their home was haunted, claiming to see apparitions of spirits that he said would speak to him. Cherilyn, too, had become increasingly interested in spiritual practices, allegedly keeping a witch's bible and dabbling in occult beliefs.

Was the family's interest in the paranormal just a quirky hobby, or was it connected somehow to their disappearance? Adding to the mystery, authorities found a strange message scrawled on a storage container on the Jamisons' property. The message read: "Three cats killed to date by people in this area." Witches don't like their black cats killed. Whether this was simply a sign of Sherilyn's frustration, or a sign of something more sinister, investigators could never say, but it certainly raised eyebrows.

One of the most chilling discoveries was a home surveillance video recorded just days before they disappeared. In the footage, Bobby and Cherilyn are seen moving back and forth between their house and truck, repeatedly loading items with an almost robotic, trance-like focus. They don't speak to each other, or even acknowledge each other's presence. At one point, both seem to pause, as if in deep thought, staring off into the distance.

Their movements were described by some as being "zombie-like." Theories abound. Some believe the Jamisons were victims of foul play, perhaps targeted for their large sum of cash. Others suggest they were involved in something they didn't fully understand. Maybe they crossed paths with someone or something dangerous. There were rumors about drug involvement, even whispers of cult activity, in the remote hills of Oklahoma. However, no evidence of drugs or cult connections was ever found. As for the money,

Some suggest that Bobby might have been involved in some kind of secret deal, or was hiding money for some unknown reason. But friends and family members insist that wasn't like him. The large cash sum remains one of the case's many unanswered questions. One more piece of the puzzle that makes the Jamison story so haunting. And then there are those who say the wilderness of Red Oak itself is to blame. A vast, quiet landscape that swallows up its secrets. There are places in the wild, they argue,

where strange things happen, where people lose their way and are never the same. Perhaps the Jamisons wandered too far into a place like that, a place that simply doesn't let go. The official investigation concluded without a definitive answer. As of November 2024, the cause of the Jamison family's deaths remains undetermined. The events leading up to their disappearance? A dark mystery that may never be solved. The questions remain,

What drove Bobby, Cheryl Lynn, and little Madison deep into the wilderness? Why was there so much money left untouched in their truck? And who, or what, was responsible for the fear and paranoia that gripped the family in the days before they disappeared? The Jamison family story is one that lingers, a case marked by unsettling details and endless speculation. But perhaps the truth lies somewhere out in those remote Oklahoma hills.

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On July 18th, 2007, Barbara Bollick, a vibrant and adventurous 55-year-old woman from Corvallis, Montana, went hiking with a family friend in the Bitterroot Mountains, a scenic and challenging stretch of wilderness known for its rugged beauty and deep, untouched forests. Barbara was no stranger to this terrain. She and her husband had spent countless days hiking and camping in these mountains, and she was confident

even at ease, on the trails. The day was meant to be a relaxed outing, just a short hike to enjoy the summer sun and the sweeping views of the Montana wilderness. Barbara and her friend, Jim Raymaker, set out on a popular trail just a few miles from where she lived. The trail led to Bear Creek Overlook, a stunning vantage point overlooking the deep valleys and rolling hills of the Bitterroot Range. It was a beautiful day, clear skies, mild temperatures, and quiet.

The kind of day hikers dream of, but what was supposed to be a peaceful afternoon in nature would become a haunting, unsolved mystery. According to Jim, the two of them walked for hours, stopping to admire the views and take photographs. As they reached a point along the overlooked trail, Jim stopped to examine a rock formation, kneeling down just a few feet off the path. Barbara, he recalled, was only a few steps ahead of him, well within sight. Yet when he looked up from his spot just seconds later,

Barbara was gone. Jim searched the trail, expecting her to have stepped behind a tree or taken a short path out of view, but there was no sign of her. He called her name, waiting for a response, for her voice to call back, but there was only silence. He retraced his steps, scanning the trail and calling out, but still, nothing. Only minutes had passed, and already, a sense of dread was growing. Barbara, a woman he had seen only moments before, had somehow vanished.

Jim continued searching, moving further down the trail, looking in every direction. But the eerie silence remained. He knew Barbara wouldn't have wandered off. She was too experienced, too familiar with the area to make a mistake like that. After searching for what felt like hours, Jim hurried back down the trail to find help. Soon, local authorities and search and rescue teams were on the scene, beginning what would become one of the most exhaustive search efforts in the history of the Bitterroot Mountains.

For days, teams combed the trail, scouring every inch of terrain for signs of Barbara. Dogs were brought in to track her scent, helicopters scanned from above, and dozens of volunteers joined the search. But not a single clue was ever uncovered. No footprints, no pieces of clothing, no disturbed foliage, nothing. It was as if Barbara had been plucked from the mountainside, leaving not a trace behind.

The searchers, many of whom were experienced in mountain rescues, were baffled. They knew the terrain well and understood the risks of the Bitterroots, yet Barbara's disappearance defied all logic. Then there was the unsettling detail of Jim's account. He had been only feet away from her, close enough to hear if she had called out, close enough to see if she had moved in any direction. How could someone disappear so completely, so suddenly, out in open space?

Barber's husband, Carl, was devastated. He was familiar with every twist and turn in that trail, and spent countless hours helping with the search, refusing to give up hope. But as the days turned into weeks, the hope began to fade. Authorities conducted interviews, trying to piece together a clearer picture of what might have happened. But there were no known threats, no suspicious individuals reported in the area, no explanations that fit the details of that day. The case eventually grew cold,

leaving Barbara's family in an agonizing limbo, without closure, without answers. In the years that followed, theories began to emerge, each one trying to explain the unexplainable. Some speculated that Barbara had fallen, perhaps down a hidden ravine or into a concealed crevice, but search teams covered every inch of that area thoroughly, and a fall of that nature would have left signs, some trace of her presence.

Others wondered if she might have encountered a wild animal, though this too was deemed unlikely. There were no signs of struggle, and the area was not known for high levels of dangerous wildlife encounters. Then there were those who suggested something even stranger: that Barbara had experienced a sudden, complete disorientation, a psychological break that led her off the trail without understanding why. But to those who knew Barbara, this theory seemed just as unlikely.

She was grounded, level-headed, and experienced in the outdoors. Friends and family could not believe she would simply walk away from her companion, especially without any indication of distress. And finally, there are the theories that linger in the shadows of the wilderness. Speculations about the Bitterroots themselves, known for their stories of strange disappearances and unexplained events. Some locals believe there are places in the mountains where reality blurs.

where the wild takes back those who enter it, leaving them lost forever. Could Barbara Bollock have ventured, unknowingly, into one of these places? Did the wilderness of Montana simply swallow her whole as time wore on? The unanswered questions only deepen the mystery. How could Barbara, an experienced hiker with a companion nearby, disappear in an instant? What took her from that overlooked trail, and why did no evidence, no clothing, no trace,

ever emerge. Barbara Bollock's case remains open, her name etched into the history of unsolved disappearances in the Bitterroot Mountains. For those who knew her, the ache of her absence lingers, a presence felt even in her silence. To this day, hikers pause along Bear Creek Overlook, feeling the weight of her story, the strange emptiness of her final steps on that trail. And while her loved ones have learned to carry on, the question of what happened on that summer day in 2007

haunts them still. They, like so many others, are left only with the mystery, the unsettling sense that sometimes, in places like the Bitterroots, the Earth itself holds secrets it will never give up. I want to thank you for tuning in for this episode. It means a lot to me that you made it this far into the upload, and I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, and you would like to support our channel beyond just a like or a subscribe, consider checking out our Patreon at patreon.com/malevolentmischief.

It's your assistance that helps us to create even more unsettling content to enjoy. I truly appreciate the support, and as always, I hope to catch you on the next one.

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