Vanished in Vermillion

The Real Story of South Dakota's Most Infamous Cold Case

By: Lou Raguse

Narrated by: Lou Raguse

Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

The result of hundreds of interviews, Vanished in Vermillion is a cold case story that flips the script on a typical investigation narrative, revealing the biggest law enforcement embarrassment in South Dakota history.

In May 1971, Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller were two seventeen-year-olds driving to an end-of-the-school-year party in a rundown Studebaker Lark, when they seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. Police back then didn't do enough to try and find them. Investigators thirty years later did too much. Two families endure decades of pain as they await answers of what happened to their girls. When a third family is pulled into the mystery, they quickly learn their nightmare is just beginning.

©2023 Lou Raguse (P)2023 Tantor

Much better than most

Very well written and narrated book.Gives a bad image of authorities. Inept job done when girls go missing.Shows how disgracefully families of suspects are treated
..Just so you.know I'm not some liberal I'm a life long Republican. Something
must be done to stop police from lying. There should be strict laws concerning searches. I never had a family member accused of anything but still feel our constitution should deal with these matters.

Incredible

I was drawn to this book due to my connection to the University of South Dakota, which is located in Vermillion, but even without that connection I would have enjoyed it. This book is incredibly well researched and well told. The overarching story is about the disappearance of two high school girls in 1971, and the inept initial response by law enforcement. This story is compelling and heartbreaking by itself. Beyond that overarching story line is a horrific cold case investigation that should be embarrassing for the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation ("DCI") and others that have defended their debacle of an investigation, but unfortunately it doesn't sound like they have any shame. To be fair, this story includes multiple people in positions of power who did the right thing as best they could, regardless of the consequences. As other reviewers note, this audiobook pretty quickly becomes a "page turner", where you want to pause everything else in life until you're finished. If anyone is considering purchasing this book I would highly encourage you to do so, you won't be disappointed.

Very good story

Crazy this went on for 42 years but good story. I hope you dive into more cold cases.

Great book

Great listen. Kept us engaged and interested even though the story was heart breaking and police work was frustrating

Great, Deep, and Shocking!

I was listening at work and had to fight with myself not to listen at home and save it for work. At least 6 points I felt like I new where this was going and than WFT. Crazy how people can be. Great Listen!!! A+

Loved it! Excellent point of view

I really enjoyed the book on this SD cold case. Especially given the connection of Lou in more recent years. it was great coverage over the decades of this case, from all points of views: families, communities, and law enforcement. We need more stories and coverage like this.
Lou did a good job narrating the story, but I would have enjoyed more diversity in voices.

Great read for us True Crime junkies

Great story! Well researched. Kept me coming back to keep listening. Got me emotionally invested and upset at times for what happened and how things were handled. Only thought was that someone else reading it may have been better; make it more story like

Great job Lou!!

From Pipestone Mn.

From Pipestone Mn. Loved listening. I was only 11 years old in 1971. So was interesting to hear this the first time.

Wow!! Corrupt law inforcement

I would recommend South Dakota take a look at the justice system. Great content!

Ethical True Crime

This is a compelling account of an important case with many twists and turns. The author does an outstanding job of investigating and the result is a book I wish everyone would read. Highly recommend.