This episode contains explicit descriptions of murder and crimes against children.
It is intended for mature audiences. Listener discretion advised.


A late-night phone call.

A confession.

And potential answers in a decades-old murder investigation.

In this episode, ATF agent John Rotunno recounts the moment a confidential informant reached out with a chilling admission about the disappearance of Helen Brach—25 years after she vanished.

We trace Rotunno’s path from deep undercover operations inside Chicago’s most dangerous gangs to the cases that followed—where informants, incentives, and human intelligence drove some of the largest federal prosecutions of their time.

Then, we turn to the informant at the center of it all: Joe Plemmons.

A horse trainer with deep ties to the world surrounding Helen Brach.
A key witness in multiple federal cases.
And a man who now claims to know exactly what happened the night she disappeared—because, according to him, he was part of it.

Why come forward after all this time?
What did he say when he finally decided to “get it off his chest”?

In Episode Six, the investigation pivots—through the voice of a man who says he was there the night Helen Brach vanished.

Be sure to follow us on instagram and hop on over to Substack where you will find bonus content AND the podcast in one place. https://themissingcandyheiress.substack.com/

We would love to hear from you if you have questions, comments or information related this story - DM us on instagram or email us hello@themissingcandyheiress.com.

The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.

Legal Disclaimer: All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.

On New Year’s Eve 1976, Helen Brach dances beneath the chandeliers of New York's Waldorf Astoria—just weeks before she vanishes without a trace.

In this episode, the investigation centers on Richard Bailey—a dance instructor turned horse trader who becomes a key figure in the case. Through exclusive interviews, court records, and firsthand accounts, a pattern emerges: a calculated scheme targeting wealthy, often widowed women through fraudulent horse deals.

As investigators begin linking financial fraud to something more serious, the case escalates into a rare federal prosecution under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act—known as RICO. Prosecutors allege a broader criminal enterprise involving deception, insurance fraud, and potentially murder.

Despite no body ever being found, they argue Helen Brach was killed to prevent her from exposing the operation. What follows is a high-stakes legal battle—where fraud, conspiracy, and circumstantial evidence converge, and a judge delivers a ruling that will define the case.

But the question remains:

What really happened to Helen Brach?

*Special Thanks to author and friend Gene O'Shea for providing the Mollie Goldstein audio used in this episode.

Be sure to follow us on instagram and hop on over to Substack where you will find bonus content AND the podcast in one place. https://themissingcandyheiress.substack.com/

We would love to hear from you if you have questions, comments or information related this story - DM us on instagram or email us hello@themissingcandyheiress.com.

The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.

Legal Disclaimer: All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.

A prison inmate named Maurice “Slab” Ferguson claims he can lead investigators to the body of missing candy heiress Helen Brach—sparking a nationally televised search that sends police and reporters racing to Minnesota. But investigators begin to question Ferguson’s motives—and the people who may have been influencing him.

That trail leads to one of the most feared figures in Chicago’s horse world: Silas Jayne. In this episode, the investigation dives into the violent history of the man at the center of the so-called “Horse Mafia”—a network of horse dealers, trainers, and middlemen accused of exploiting wealthy clients through fraud, intimidation, and worse.

From bombings and murder conspiracies to a decades-long feud that ended in assassination, Jayne’s criminal past reveals the kind of power and fear that surrounded the horse industry Helen Brach had entered. And as investigators begin connecting Jayne’s circle to people in Helen’s life—including horse dealer Richard Bailey—the case takes a darker turn.

The question now becomes: how deep did the Horse Mafia’s influence run—and what did they know about Helen Brach’s disappearance?

Be sure to follow us on instagram and hop on over to Substack where you will find bonus content AND the podcast in one place. https://themissingcandyheiress.substack.com/

We would love to hear from you if you have questions, comments or information related this story - DM us on instagram or email us hello@themissingcandyheiress.com.

The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.

Legal Disclaimer: All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.