EPISODE 497: Jami Lucas

On July 3, 2020, 38-year-old Jami Lucas was riding his motorcycle near Outing, Minnesota. According to official reports, a deputy recognized Jami and knew he didn’t have a valid license, which sparked a pursuit. However, Jami’s family was told something different: that an anonymous call had come in, leading deputies to pursue Jami. Either way, several deputies began chasing Jami, who turned off onto a dirt road.

Police records state that the pursuit ended when Jami ditched his motorcycle and ran into the woods. A deputy drew his weapon and ordered him to stop, but Jami kept going, vanishing into the dense underbrush. From that moment forward, no one ever saw Jami Lucas again.

More than five years have passed since that night, and Jami’s family believes far too little has been done to find him. They also question why a high-speed chase was initiated at all, especially over something as minor as a suspended license. Nationwide, pursuits like these have drawn heavy criticism for being unnecessarily dangerous, frequently ending in crashes that cause injuries and even deaths, not only to suspects but also officers and innocent bystanders.

For Jami’s loved ones, the circumstances of that night remain unsettling. They can’t shake the uneasy feeling that the very agency tasked with finding him was also the last to see him alive. They've been left not only with their grief but also a growing list of contradictions, conflicts of interest, and unexplained gaps in the record.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Jami Lucas, please contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at 218-547-1424, Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 651‑793‑7000.

EPISODE 496: Vickie Carriere

On July 12, 1987, 18-year-old Vickie Carriere was spending time with her boyfriend. Vickie was eight and a half months pregnant and eagerly awaiting the arrival of her baby boy. That day, the couple was at his family’s fishing camp before starting the drive back to Vickie’s home in Waggaman, Louisiana.

According to her boyfriend, who was also the baby’s father, they stopped at a local convenience store, just minutes from her home. He said he went inside to buy a soda for Vickie and chocolate milk for himself. When he returned to the car, Vickie and all of her belongings were gone.

When she didn’t come home that night, her parents were immediately alarmed. It wasn’t like Vickie to disappear, especially so close to her due date. They feared for both their daughter and the grandson they were so ready to welcome. In the days that followed, those fears deepened. Vickie missed her baby shower, and then her due date came and went without a word. More than 38 years later, Vickie’s family is still searching for answers, and for the baby boy she never got to hold.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Vickie Carriere and her unborn son, please contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 363-5500.

EPISODE 495: Aaron Cody Fortner

On February 21, 2022, 25-year-old Aaron Cody Fortner disappeared from Jackson County, North Carolina. At the time, he was staying at a property owned by his grandparents. He made a couple of phone calls to his grandparents in the early morning hours that seemed off, but they weren’t sure what to make of it at the time. 

When Aaron’s sister, Kourtney, spoke to her grandparents later that morning, they asked her if she had heard from him. She said she hadn’t, and they proceeded to tell her about the phone calls. Kourtney was concerned enough to drive out and check on her brother. 

When she arrived, things didn’t feel right. A door Aaron always kept locked for safety reasons was unlocked. Kourntey went inside, and Aaron was gone. One thing that stood out was that it was a mess. Just the day prior, their mother had visited, and everything was tidy.

That left his family to wonder what happened between the time Aaron's mother last saw him and when he disappeared. Where could he have gone, and why did it seem like something had disrupted his world overnight? His family began calling Aaron's name, searching the surrounding area, and quickly contacted law enforcement to report him missing.

More than three years have passed, and Aaron’s loved ones are still searching. Along the way, they have uncovered strange and unsettling clues, but so far, none have led them to Aaron.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Aaron Cody Fortner, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 586-8901 or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Western District at (828) 330-4700.