360. In the Woods: The Murders of Kara Kopetsky & Jessica Runions

Our True Crime Podcast

Flanderson Media, LLC

Personal Journals, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2026

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On a May morning in 2007, a 17-year-old girl walked out of her Missouri high school, stepped away from a security camera, and vanished. For nearly ten years, her family lived without answers. They were certain they knew who took her, but without any physical evidence, the case went completely cold. Then, in September 2016, history repeated itself. Another young woman, just 21, disappeared after leaving a party with the same man. What followed was a frantic search and a series of dark discoveries in the Missouri brush. Two girls vanished ten years apart, but their stories ended in the exact same place, deep in the Cass County woods. *****If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or relationship abuse, confidential help is available 24/7. In the United States National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. UKNational Domestic Abuse Helpline (Run by Refuge): Call 0808 2000 247. Free, confidential, and available 24/7. Online Chat: Live chat and digital resources are available at nationaldahelpline.org.uk. Australia1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732. Free, confidential, and available 24/7. Online Chat: Head to 1800respect.org.au for 24/7 online chat support. Sponsored by Quince Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to Quince.com/otcp for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Our team: Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of ⁠The Inky Pawprint Sources: https://youtu.be/AyIbL8kYL-Q?si=LZiY8JHdFTYK8pEJ https://youtu.be/S8yGi6b_KlM?si=SPD0liAxQzKQA5Kb Disappeared Season 2 Episode 13 "Gone at 17" https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/242821636/kara_elise-kopetsky https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/yust-trial/case-details https://people.com/crime/kara-kopetsky-remains-found/ https://www.truecasefiles.com/2019/06/timeline-many-crimes-confessions-of.html https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178608671/jessica-runions https://kcpolice.org/media/news-releases/police-search-for-missing-woman-jessica-runions/ https://fox4kc.com/news/no-more-i-love-yous-jessica-runions-father-tells-jurors-during-emotional-statement/ https://www.kmbc.com/article/kylr-yust-trial-prosecution-continues-to-outline-double-murder-case-04092021/36074674 https://tribuneandtimes.com/stories/jury-hears-confession-tales-of-violence,2227 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820848951/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/821465298/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820906540/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820906650/?terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/820857955/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/746963358/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656516331/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656505168/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656415580/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1206584733/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1206583875/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22. https://www.newspapers.com/image/746971377/?match=1&terms=%22Kara%20Kopetsky%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656390661/?terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1022262996/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656505566/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/656504858/?terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1314694257/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1206585264/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1118387882/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/729007281/?match=1&terms=%22Jessica%20Runions%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1208177659/?match=1&terms=%22Jessep%20Carter%22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:22.2	Hello. I'm Edward October. Over the years, I've narrated more ghost stories, horror shows, and creepypastas than I can count. And yet, the crimes discussed on our true crime podcast managed to scare the shit out of me.
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