The most dangerous time for a woman in an abusive relationship is when she leaves.

If you need help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800 799 safe or visit the

hotline.org. It was described as one of Vermont's most frustrating cold cases.

A dedicated mother and beloved school teacher disappeared in November of 1979 with nothing but a

smashed-up vehicle and a strange handwritten note left behind. When her ex-boyfriend

disappeared a month later too, authorities had two people to track down, one they

presumed to be dead, and the other they suspected of causing her death.

The search for Frank Melanoski would become a cross-country event,

tracking aliases and addresses at West until finally,

a dedicated detective and a new state's attorney saw eye to eye and what needed to be done in the case,

what needed to be done for Judy and her family.

If you haven't listened to the first episode in this two-part series, start there with the disappearance of Judith Leoconis.

It's linked in the show notes for you.

I'm Kylie Lowe, and Leoconie's story continues on Dark

Down East. The Judith Leoconioconey's last known destination on November 5th, 1979 was to pick up some of her belongings at the home of her ex-boyfriend,

Francis Melanoski.

Francis, called Frank, didn't have much of an alibi for that morning. He never showed up for work at the Burlington

school system and when asked, he told police he spent the day walking around the woods

and shooting birds.

Frank's movements on that day put him in the same town where Judy's red Volkswagen

Beetle would later be recovered.

An FBI handwriting expert said that the handwritten note found on Judith's car was likely written by Francis Melanoski.

...