Red String Theory
Welcome to Red String Theory, your go-to true crime podcast where amateur sleuths and listeners like you come together to help solve crimes. Join me as we dive into murder cases and mysterious disappearances, approaching each investigation with a detective-like style.Together, we'll dissect facts, unravel timelines, and question every aspect of the case. Using the power of deduction, we'll craft theories and brainstorm ideas to shed light on the mysteries we encounter. This podcast is a think tank for cases, where every contribution brings us closer to finding answers.The game is afoot – let's unravel mysteries together.
9. The Mysterious Disappearance of Brandon Swanson
Imagine you're on the phone with your child when suddenly, you hear a startled yell—then silence. No goodbye, no explanation. Just… gone. And despite your desperate attempts to call back, you never hear their voice again.
This unimaginable nightmare became a reality for Annette and Brian Swanson.
In today’s episode, we dive into the chilling details of Brandon Swanson’s disappearance and the lingering mystery that has haunted his family for over 17 years as of 2025.
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based on the infor...
8. The Mysterious Disappearance of Brian Shaffer
On the night of March 31, 2006, 27-year-old Ohio State University medical student Brian Shaffer walked into the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a popular Columbus bar, with friends. By the early hours of April 1, he had vanished without a trace. Despite extensive surveillance footage, no images show him leaving the bar.
Brian’s disappearance remains one of Ohio’s most puzzling mysteries, sparking countless theories, from foul play to voluntary disappearance. In this episode, we’ll explore the timeline, investigation, and theories surrounding this baffling case.
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and ar...
7. The Mysterious Death of Ellen Greenberg Part 2
The case we're diving into today dates back to 2011, but the fight to determine the true cause of death is still ongoing in the courts. This is Part 1 of the perplexing and heartbreaking case of Ellen Greenberg.
Ellen was a 27-year-old first-grade teacher found dead in her apartment on a snowy evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2011. She had been stabbed 20 times, and her death was shockingly ruled a suicide—despite the violent nature of her injuries. This ruling sparked a 13-year battle for her family, who have relentlessly fought to have her cause of death reclassified as...
6. The Mysterious Death of Ellen Greenberg Part 1
The case we're diving into today dates back to 2011, but the fight to determine the true cause of death is still ongoing in the courts. This is Part 1 of the perplexing and heartbreaking case of Ellen Greenberg.
Ellen was a 27-year-old first-grade teacher found dead in her apartment on a snowy evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2011. She had been stabbed 20 times, and her death was shockingly ruled a suicide—despite the violent nature of her injuries. This ruling sparked a 13-year battle for her family, who have relentlessly fought to have her cause of death reclassified as...
5. The Karen Read Murder Trial
Today, we’re diving into the unsolved murder of John O’Keefe and the subsequent trial of his girlfriend, Karen Read, who was accused of his death.
O’Keefe died during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022, under suspicious circumstances. He was found outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, with significant injuries and signs of exposure to harsh weather conditions. The central question in the Karen Read case is how he sustained those injuries.
Source Material:
Your True Crime Library, 2022-2024, Commonwealth V Karen ReadTim Stelloh, Karen Read murder trial: Messy investigation exposes problems with p...4. The Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray Part 2
For this episode, we're delving into the disappearance of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old college student who vanished under mysterious circumstances in February 2004, in a secluded region of New Hampshire.
If you have any information about Maura Murray’s disappearance, please reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit:
Source Material:
Julie Murray, The Untold Story of Maura Murray (Media Pressure podcast, 2024)Maggie Freleng, The Disappearance of Maura Murray Documentary (Oxygen, 2017) 107 ° Maura Murray, 2016, https://www.the107degree.com/Support the show
He...
3. The Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray Part 1
For this episode, we're delving into the disappearance of Maura Murray, a 21-year-old college student who vanished under mysterious circumstances in February 2004, in a secluded region of New Hampshire.
If you have any information about Maura Murray’s disappearance, please reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit:
Source Material:
2. The Mysterious Disappearance of Josh Guimond
This cold case has remained unsolved for over 21 years as of this recording. Join us as we delve into the mysterious disappearance of Josh Guimond from the St. Johns University in Collegeville, Minnesota, on the night of November 9, 2002.
Source Material:
Josh Newville, Season 1; Episodes 1-8 (Simply Vanished Podcast, 2022) A Netflix Documentary Series, What Happened to Josh? (Unsolved Mysteries V3: E6, 2022)ABC News, 4 College-Aged People Missing in Midwest (ABC News, 2002)Lou Raguse, Minnesota Unsolved: The star student who vanished from campus one night (Kare 11 News, 2022).Support the show
Hey there weekend detectives...
1. The Idaho College Murders
In this episode, we will be discussing the case of the Idaho College Murders. During our time together, we’ll go through a timeline of events, review all the evidence that is currently available, and provide an update on the current state of the case.
Then we’ll switch gears and go into what I like to call red string mode - We’ll ask the questions and talk through the pieces of the case that don’t make sense to try to understand why this horrific event occurred. Finally, we’ll sign off with our theory on what ha...
