Jennifer Kesse was a 24-year-old woman with a bright future who vanished from her home in Orlando, Florida, in January 2006. She had just returned from a trip and spoke to her family the night before. When she failed to show up for work, her family immediately knew something was wrong.

When 34-year-old Sherri Papini vanished during an afternoon jog in Redding, California, in November 2016, her husband found her phone on the roadside with strands of her blonde hair tangled in the earbuds. Three weeks later, she reappeared on Thanksgiving morning—emaciated, bruised, with a chain around her waist. She claimed two Hispanic women had abducted and tortured her. The nation rallied around her. But investigators began noticing troubling inconsistencies in her story. This is Part 1 of one of the most shocking hoaxes in recent true crime history.

In Part 1, Sherri Papini claimed she was abducted and tortured by two Hispanic women. The nation believed her. But in Part 2, the truth unravels. Investigators discovered male DNA on Sherri's clothing—and it matched her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes. He revealed the shocking truth: Sherri had been staying with him the entire time. She asked him to brand her, cut her hair, and help stage the abduction. Sherri faked the whole thing, wasting hundreds of thousands in resources and sparking nationwide panic. This is how the hoax was exposed and the consequences she faced.

She was wealthy, stylish, and appeared to be living the dream life in Sydney, Australia. Then, without a trace, Melissa Caddick vanished. The mystery of her disappearance was only the beginning of a bizarre and captivating scandal that would unravel in the wake of her going missing. This episode dives into the life she projected, the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme she was allegedly running, and the shocking discovery of a severed, decaying foot that washed up on a beach—which was later identified as belonging to Melissa. Join us as we explore the facts and fun facts of Australia, including the true fate of the con artist who disappeared into thin air.

On February 17, 2018, 20-year-old Ryan Shtuka left a house party in Sun Peaks, British Columbia, and vanished. What should have been a short walk home became a haunting mystery. Despite extensive searches involving hundreds of volunteers and specialized teams, no trace of Ryan has been found. His family created the Shtuka Sora search organization and continues fighting for answers. Ryan's mother describes being caught between grief and hope—unable to fully grieve, but unable to give up.

On April 1, 2006, 27-year-old medical student Brian Shaffer went to the Ugly Tuna Saloona bar in Columbus, Ohio with friends. Security cameras captured him entering—but he was never seen leaving. When the bar closed, Brian had vanished. Despite extensive searches and hundreds of tips, no trace of Brian has been found in nearly 20 years. How does someone disappear from a crowded bar without being captured on camera? This case remains one of Ohio's most baffling unsolved mysteries.

In July 2002, former NBA champion Bison Dele sailed across the South Pacific with his girlfriend Serena Karlan, his brother Miles Dabord, and skipper Bertrand Saldo. In September, Miles returned alone. Bison, Serena, and Bertrand had vanished. Miles tried to access Bison's money before dying by suicide. Investigators believe Miles killed all three at sea, but their bodies were never found. Without evidence or a living suspect, the case remains unsolved.

On June 1982, 20-year-old Kelly Bergh Dove was working the graveyard shift at a gas station in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At 2:27 AM, she called police to report a suspicious person outside. Minutes later, at 2:30 AM, Kelly was abducted while on the phone with the dispatcher. Her case has remained unsolved for over 40 years. Her body has never been found. Kelly's sister Elaine worked with us to share her story.

If you have information, contact Harrisonburg Police Department.

Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain was driving on a California freeway when her car's gear shifter snapped. She coasted to the side of the road and vanished. Born in a refugee camp in 1984, Nikki grew up in Sacramento with her six siblings. She was known for her laughter and calm spirit. Her husband has been arrested for her murder, but her body has never been found. Nikki's family worked with us to share her story.

If you have information, contact local authorities.