In August of 1996, 11-year-old Trudy Appleby vanished from her neighborhood in Moline, Illinois, leaving behind one of the most haunting mysteries in the Quad Cities. There was no sign of a struggle, no clear witnesses, and no immediate answers. For nearly three decades, her case remained unsolved.

But behind the headlines, Trudy’s father never stopped fighting. From the very beginning, he insisted he knew who was responsible. While police chased false leads and dead ends, he pointed to the same small circle of men—names he repeated year after year, long before investigators finally confirmed them as persons of interest.

In August 2025, almost exactly 29 years after Trudy disappeared, an arrest was finally made. The breakthrough came too late for her father, who passed away without seeing justice—but it proved he had been right all along.

This is the story of Trudy Appleby: a child gone without a trace, a family’s relentless search for truth, and the decades-long fight to hold those responsible accountable in the Quad Cities’ most infamous missing child case.

Please contact the Moline Police Department (Illinois) - Missing Persons Unit - 1-309-797-0407 OR your local FBI if you have any information.

Trudy’s Missing Poster: https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/822441/1

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In this episode, Crime Salad sits down with Hope Hooton, a mother who has endured the unimaginable loss of her two children to filicide, the act of a parent killing their own child. This conversation covers deeply sensitive topics, including suicide, domestic abuse, and the devastating realities that too often go overlooked by the system. Hope shares the red flags she recognized, the steps she took to protect herself and her children, and the hard truths about how difficult it can be to leave an abusive relationship.

Through her story, Hope is turning tragedy into purpose, spreading awareness, advocating for change, and working to save children’s lives by shining a light on the warning signs that must never be ignored.

Listener discretion is advised. Please take care of your mental health first as you listen.

Please Follow and Support Hope Hooton:

Hope’s Website: https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com/

Hope’s Podcast: Voices Against Filicide

Hope’s TikTok: hope.in.the.pain

 Pierce's pledge https://www.piercespledge.org/

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788 to be connected with free, confidential support 24/7.

If you are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text anytime to be connected with trained counselors.

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Parents' rights should never outweigh a child's right to be safe

In Alec and Lydia’s case, and also in Rowan’s case, the courts prioritized shared custody, and the result was catastrophic.

In this episode of Crime Salad, we share the devastating story of Alec and Lydia Mater, two young children whose lives were stolen in an act of filicide after the courts prioritized shared custody over safety. Their mother, Hope Hooton, has turned her unimaginable grief into a fight for change, pushing for reforms to protect other children from the same fate.

This is not an easy story to hear. It carries a strong listener discretion warning as we discuss filicide, the failures of the system, and the heartbreaking loss of two innocent lives. But it’s also a story of resilience, of a mother determined to ensure her children’s voices are not forgotten.

Important Links:

The Website: https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com/

The Podcast: Voices Against Filicide

Hope’s TikTok: hope.in.the.pain

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2001,Tracy Hill was 24 years old, a college student, and separated from her husband. She was trying to build a future for herself when, suddenly, she went missing. What followed was a desperate search, suspicions of foul play, and a case that—after more than two decades—remains unsolved.

Even with all the years that have passed, Tracy’s case is still open. Foul play is suspected, but without Tracy, there’s no way to bring justice to those responsible.

And that’s why the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office continues to ask for the public’s help. If you know anything about the disappearance of Tracy Hill, no matter how small, you’re urged to call their office at 330-424-7255.

Tracy Hill, Guilford Lake, Columbiana County, Ohio missing persons, Kent State student disappearance, North Lima Ohio, Ohio cold cases.

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In March of 1998, 23-year-old Stacey Colbert disappeared from her Columbus, Ohio apartment. Stacey was vibrant, funny, and deeply loved by her family and friends. She had a smile that could brighten even the darkest room, and a spirit that made people want to be near her. But when she vanished, a wave of fear and unanswered questions consumed her community.

What followed were years of rumors, false leads, and painful uncertainty. Stacey’s story reveals how someone can disappear even in a place that should feel safe—and how a family can be left waiting for justice that never seems to come.

Helpful Links:

Finishing Stacey’s Fight Facebook

The family’s GoFundMe

If you have any information about Stacey’s case—no matter how small—you can reach out in the following ways:

• 📞 Call the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at 740-833-2800
• 
  
• 📧 Email: finishingstaceysfight@gmail.com
• 
  
• 🕵️ Submit an anonymous tip through the Ohio Attorney General’s official page: Link

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On a snowy morning in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, a school worker made a puzzling discovery outside Greensburg Salem Middle School—a heavy garbage can lodged beneath his truck. What he found inside would unravel one of the most shocking cases in Westmoreland County history.

In this episode of Crime Salad, we uncover the disturbing story of Jennifer Daugherty and the horrifying secrets that shook a quiet Pennsylvania town.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the night of April 17th in 1990, Deborah Waggoner had what seemed like an ordinary plan. Around 7 PM, she left her South Greensburg home in her faded green 1976 Chevrolet Malibu. She told her boyfriend, Charles Stader, that she was headed to the nearby coin-operated Carbon Car Wash to clean her car. It was close by, so Charles didn’t expect her to be gone for more than an hour. Before she left, he’d asked her to grab a pack of cigarettes on her way home, and she agreed. That was the last time anyone saw Deborah alive.

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On West 97th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, tragedy struck when police discovered 16-month-old Jailyn Candelario unresponsive inside her Pack ‘N Play. First responders tried to save her, but it was too late—Jailyn was pronounced dead at the scene. What officers found inside the home was deeply disturbing, and the condition of both the residence and the toddler immediately raised red flags for investigators. This was no tragic accident.

Warning: The details that follow about Jailyn’s condition are deeply unsettling. Behind every headline and police report is a little girl who deserved love, safety, and care. Jailyn Candelario’s short life ended far too soon, and those who knew her will forever carry the weight of knowing she did not receive the protection she needed.

Voice your thoughts:If you could say one thing to Jailyn today, what would it be?

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