Science is supposed to cure disease and improve life, but sometimes confidence goes off the rails. Today, we are taking you on a tour through history’s wildest moments when science went completely off the rails, including incidents where confidence reached levels of blowing up a dead whale, dropping cats out of planes, and poisoning an entire generation.

An 80-year-old grandmother vanishes after a trip to the grocery store. What began as a missing person's case in South Carolina unraveled into a shocking story of trust, betrayal, and a serial predator hiding in plain sight. This South Carolina serial killer  also left a trail of other missing and murdered women in his wake. In this episode we discuss the chilling details of the Daniel Printz case and the forensic evidence that exposed him.

We are diving into one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Jazz Age, a case so baffling it feels like the plot of a spy novel. This is the story of Captain Alfred Lowenstein, the third-richest man in the world in 1928, a man who owned estates across Europe and brokered deals with kings.

An 18-year-old college freshman, full of creativity and ambition, walked out of her dorm room one cold February night and never made it back. Her family knew something was wrong immediately, but from the start, the investigation into her disappearance was plagued with delays and unanswered questions.

We are exploring the true story of the Billionaire Boys Club (BBC), a group that defined the greed-is-good ethos of 1980s Los Angeles. Led by charismatic young financial expert Joe Hunt, the BBC was far from an innocent social group for the wealthy—it was a sophisticated scheme built on fraud, manipulation, and cult-like control.

We are taking a wild ride back to the 1920s to meet the man whose name is now synonymous with financial fraud: Charles Ponzi. Born Carlo Pietro Giovanni Guglielmo Tebaldo Ponzi, he was an ambitious Italian immigrant who arrived in America and turned a simple idea into a record-breaking financial deception.

We are diving into the unsettling history of one of America's most famous and infamous reservoirs: Lake Lanier in Georgia. This manmade lake is beautiful on the surface, but beneath its murky waters lies a buried past—literally.

Before he was the Notorious B.I.G., Christopher Wallace was a kid from Brooklyn with big dreams. His rise to rap superstardom was meteoric, but it was cut short on March 9, 1997, when he was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He was just 24 years old. Despite multiple witnesses, FBI investigations, and decades of speculation, his murder remains unsolved. Theories include gang retaliation, corrupt LAPD officers, and revenge for Tupac's death. This episode explores Biggie's life, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry, and the mystery that haunts hip-hop history.

From the outside, a prison is supposed to be impenetrable. But throughout history, inmates have used planning, luck, and shocking ingenuity to pull off some of the most daring escapes the world has ever seen. This week, we're diving into the legendary prison breaks, from those involving elaborate disguises and sheep, to the more shocking trend of helicopter escapes. We look at how inmates managed to learn to fly, bypass high-security walls, and why the most unlikely plans sometimes turn out to be the most successful. This episode is a wild look at the human will to be free, and the unexpected ways people try to game the system.

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.

In late 2019 and early 2020, residents of rural Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas reported massive swarms of mysterious drones flying over their property at night. Law enforcement saw 50 at once. Locals described large white drones surrounded by smaller ones with flashing lights. The FAA and FBI investigated but never solved the mystery. This episode features Gabe from the Obscure podcast, who investigated the phenomenon firsthand. Were they government surveillance? Private companies? Something else? The mystery remains unsolved.

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.

On August 16, 1942, a US Navy blimp lifted off from San Francisco on routine patrol. Hours later, it crashed in Daly City—but the two crew members had vanished. The doors were open, equipment untouched, no distress call, no sign of struggle. Just an empty blimp drifting like a ghost ship. Eighty years later, the mystery remains unsolved. What happened to Lieutenant Ernest Cody and Ensign Charles Adams? This is one of the strangest unsolved mysteries in American military history.

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 10, 2003, 28-year-old Stephanie Wasilishin went for a run on a trail near Prescott, Arizona. She never returned. Her body was discovered the next day—she had been sexually assaulted and murdered. Investigators collected DNA evidence, but despite extensive investigation and numerous leads, no one has ever been arrested. Stephanie's family has spent more than 20 years waiting for justice. Her killer is still out there.

If you have information, contact Yavapai County Sheriff's Office: (928) 771-3260

In this fun bonus Mailbag episode, Mandy and Melissa share hilarious stories submitted by listeners! From bizarre local news headlines to family members who committed low-stakes crimes, this episode is a lighter take on true crime. Mandy and Melissa laugh through absurd stories, share embarrassing personal moments, and remind everyone that true crime doesn't always have to be dark. A perfect palate cleanser between heavy cases!

Submit your story for the next Mailbag at momsandmysteries.com!

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.