Barbara Cotton Cold Case Update: New Witness Insights on Williston's Unsolved Disappearance

Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

James Wolner

Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.8 • 900 Ratings

🗓️ 11 September 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this gripping update on the Barbara Cotton cold case, we delve into new testimony surrounding one of North Dakota's most enduring unsolved disappearances. Barbara Louise Cotton vanished from Williston in 1981, and after decades of silence, a man who worked with Stacey Werder in Montana shares critical insights about seeing him with Barb in Williston. This episode, hosted by James Wolner and Lisa Jo of #FindBarbCotton, explores the troubling behaviors of Stacey Werder, his movements across Scobey and Miles City, and his tragic suicide weeks after Barb's disappearance. With renewed investigative journalism and fresh leads, we aim to uncover answers in a haunting North Dakota true crime mystery that has persisted for over forty years. Join us as we shine a light on unresolved mysteries in rural crime and the ongoing search for justice. Connect with Lisa Jo and the #FindBarbCotton Movement: Email: findbarbcotton@gmail.com Website: https://findbarbcotton.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/877478459791085/ Instagram: @findbarbcotton TikTok: @findbarbcotton Bluesky: ‪@findbarbcotton.bsky.social‬ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:58.4	A short note.
1:00.2	This episode is a little different from the usual Dakota Spotlight style.
1:04.1	It's a raw conversation with some AI voices used out of necessity for reasons that will be clear shortly.
1:10.0	If this is your first time listening, start with episode one of any season for the classic
1:14.5	Dakota Spotlight experience.
1:16.4	More info at dakotaspotlight.com.
1:19.6	Well, he never came in like, you know, on the bars or nothing with us.
1:23.6	I don't know.
	...

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