Hi, crime junkies. I'm your host Ashley Flowers.

And I'm Brett. And today I've got a story from right here in Indiana,

actually from our own hometown of South Bend.

It might be unknown to those of you outside of South Bend,

or even to some of you in South Bend because society found the victims

easy to forget. But this is an infamous case for those who remember it.

It's one of those cases that is so much more than the sum of its parts.

And it all starts when a 40-year-old man goes missing around Christmas of 2006,

and his family tries everything they can to find him.

But instead of finding him, what they discover are three more missing men.

And the investigation into their disappearance uncovers more than just a motive.

It uncovers some of our most deep-seated social issues and a need for change

that to this day many are still looking for.

This is the story of the manhole murders.

It's December 24, 2006. Christmas Eve.

And Arlene Nolan is at her daughter Amy's place for their annual holiday gift exchange.

But in between the laughter and the hugs from her grandkids,

Darlene is worried. She's worried about her son, Shan.

He's not the type to miss a family gathering,

and especially wouldn't pass up the chance to see the three nephews he absolutely adores.

Shan was supposed to be there. Darlene spoke to him five days ago on the phone about their plans

to get together for the holidays. She was going to pick him up, and then he and a friend would

...