Four students leaving a party, a dark street, a short walk back to campus.

But for one college freshman, the person trusted to walk her home seemed to be the reason she was never seen again.

For decades, the case lingered. The investigation changed hands, and it wasn't until a renewed media scrutiny that arrests were made.

Did the authorities have their suspect from day one? This week's episode is The Disappearance of Kristen Smart, part 1.

Up in the night, your heart fills with dread, probably a murderer who wants you dead.

It could be a ghost, a demon, or worse. Perhaps you're the victim of a witch's curse.

It's hopeless, you're doomed, you'd call a priest if you could,

you'd rather just listen to who, sinister sinister.

I'm gonna.

I'm gonna kill you.

Well, this is one that we've gotten repeated requests for,

and now, obviously, with the breaks and the case,

seems like a good time to talk about it.

For sure.

I would always get, whenever I think of Kristen Smart, I think of Elizabeth

Smart too. And I had never really read a ton about Kristen's case, but we repeatedly get requests for it all the time.

And Chris Leinbert recently came out with your own backyard, which is a fantastic podcast that goes into a ton of detail.

It's eight episodes if you guys haven't listed.

I know a lot of people have because they always recommend it when they recommend this case.

But why did we get into this, Heather?

Why did we get into podcasting?

I found the treasure trove of sinister hood texts initially when Christie and I were just co-performers at D.C.

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