Let's be honest, it's been a long time since we promised a final episode of season 4,

which was put together entirely from listener recommendations.

So many of you contacted us about potential stories in Appalachia, and we want to thank you once again for coming through.

Obviously, we had to choose just a few from that list, but we do have them all saved, along with links to the base level research we did for each one.

That final episode is coming up soon, for real this time, but we needed to share with you four big updates.

Thank you. for real this time, but we needed to share with you four big updates. Update number one, we are liars.

Sarah and I have made pretty clear over the past year that we only have one episode left before we quit this show.

To be honest, that was my doing more so than Sarah, but dear listener, I think we're going to do another season.

The city of Cumberland, Maryland has sucked us again back into its great maw.

I think the city has appeared in every single season so far.

In three months, a trial will begin there that is currently slated as season five.

This is not a 100% certainty.

There's always the possibility that the defendant will cop a plea deal, or that we will decide

against waiting into the cultural minefield this particular story presents.

But as of now, we do have plans for

a season five. I'll leave it there until we have a trailer ready to go in early 2026.

Update number two, Sarah and I have now regained sole ownership and daily control of our show.

What does that mean for you?

Most importantly, no more ads.

As hard as it might be to believe season one on Merritt and Karen came out more than eight years ago.

When that first season ended, we hosted a couple of live events to raise funds to pay for the show,

and that funded us for several years.

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