Episode
A Haunting Stretch of Road
1:22:29
Published: Tue Mar 22 2022
Description
While investigating the disappearance of a Washington D.C. woman, detectives discover a puzzling connection to a Virginia woman who vanished two decades earlier. Dennis Murphy reports.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit www.thehotline.org.
Chapters
Two stories of unsolved mysteries and the individuals who were dedicated to solving them, highlighting the persistence required to uncover the truth.
00:00 - 02:23 (02:23)
Summary
Two stories of unsolved mysteries and the individuals who were dedicated to solving them, highlighting the persistence required to uncover the truth.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Pam Butler's mother and nephew went to her home after not hearing from her to find that she was missing.
02:23 - 05:34 (03:11)
Summary
Pam Butler's mother and nephew went to her home after not hearing from her to find that she was missing. She had plans with her boyfriend and mother for Valentine's Day but never showed up.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
A conversation between two friends where one talks about his confusion over a girl leaving him, while the other jumps to a conversation about an ex-girlfriend's daughter and taking clothes off.
05:34 - 11:25 (05:51)
Summary
A conversation between two friends where one talks about his confusion over a girl leaving him, while the other jumps to a conversation about an ex-girlfriend's daughter and taking clothes off.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Pam, a divorced woman from Nebraska, fell for a romance scam in 2008 after meeting Jose Rodriguez Cruz online, a man who claimed to be a former military police officer.
11:25 - 14:13 (02:48)
Summary
Pam, a divorced woman from Nebraska, fell for a romance scam in 2008 after meeting Jose Rodriguez Cruz online, a man who claimed to be a former military police officer. He scammed Pam and many other victims in the US and Canada out of thousands of dollars.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Former detective Mitch Cradle analyzes the evidence in the disappearance of Pam Butler, including the uncharacteristic messiness in her home and motion sensor footage of comings and goings before and after she went missing.
14:13 - 17:20 (03:07)
Summary
Former detective Mitch Cradle analyzes the evidence in the disappearance of Pam Butler, including the uncharacteristic messiness in her home and motion sensor footage of comings and goings before and after she went missing.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Jose, a key suspect in the murder case of Pam Vitale, claims he is innocent and that there is no evidence that proves his involvement in her disappearance.
17:20 - 23:46 (06:26)
Summary
Jose, a key suspect in the murder case of Pam Vitale, claims he is innocent and that there is no evidence that proves his involvement in her disappearance. Video footage from Pam's house shows Jose leaving with a bag, but he claims the bag was not big enough to carry a body.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
The brother of a missing woman becomes a suspect and faces scrutiny after text messages suggest he may not have been as close to his sister as he claimed.
23:46 - 28:24 (04:37)
Summary
The brother of a missing woman becomes a suspect and faces scrutiny after text messages suggest he may not have been as close to his sister as he claimed.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Pam Butler's 2009 disappearance was long considered an open missing persons case, until a veteran detective was assigned to it seven years later and reclassified the case as an unsolved homicide.
28:24 - 31:29 (03:05)
Summary
Pam Butler's 2009 disappearance was long considered an open missing persons case, until a veteran detective was assigned to it seven years later and reclassified the case as an unsolved homicide. Another detective has since taken up the case and is actively investigating.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
The video evidence and persons of interest in Pam's case begin to raise questions for detectives and family members alike.
31:29 - 34:34 (03:04)
Summary
The video evidence and persons of interest in Pam's case begin to raise questions for detectives and family members alike.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Detective Mike Fulton of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department looked into the background of Jose, the boyfriend of Pamela Butler, who had gone missing in 2009, and discovered disturbing information that led her to investigate him further.
34:34 - 37:57 (03:23)
Summary
Detective Mike Fulton of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department looked into the background of Jose, the boyfriend of Pamela Butler, who had gone missing in 2009, and discovered disturbing information that led her to investigate him further.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Marta Rodriguez, a woman who disappeared in 1989, was able to start a new life with a new job and boyfriend after walking away from her abusive former partner, Jose Perez.
37:57 - 40:23 (02:25)
Summary
Marta Rodriguez, a woman who disappeared in 1989, was able to start a new life with a new job and boyfriend after walking away from her abusive former partner, Jose Perez. However, she eventually became aware of the danger posed by her ex-partner as well as his associate, Guadalupe Valadez.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Detective Rosa Ortiz recounts the incredible story of Marta's assault, and how she narrowly escaped a potential murder by her attacker Jose.
40:23 - 44:45 (04:22)
Summary
Detective Rosa Ortiz recounts the incredible story of Marta's assault, and how she narrowly escaped a potential murder by her attacker Jose.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Detective Fulton and Detective Ortiz investigate the disappearance of Marta Rodriguez, learning that she had planned to quit her job and speaking with her roommates who are the source of the missing persons file.
44:45 - 48:42 (03:57)
Summary
Detective Fulton and Detective Ortiz investigate the disappearance of Marta Rodriguez, learning that she had planned to quit her job and speaking with her roommates who are the source of the missing persons file.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
The case of Marta Rodriguez, who disappeared from Virginia in 1990, remained unsolved for years until a woman posing as her in Florida was discovered in 2000, bringing new attention to the case.
48:42 - 52:05 (03:23)
Summary
The case of Marta Rodriguez, who disappeared from Virginia in 1990, remained unsolved for years until a woman posing as her in Florida was discovered in 2000, bringing new attention to the case.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Uncover the mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel, a missing couple from New Hampshire whose case remains unsolved.
52:05 - 55:24 (03:18)
Summary
Uncover the mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel, a missing couple from New Hampshire whose case remains unsolved.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
The murder of Pam Shelley and the investigation that led to her body is discussed, including the difficulties of prosecuting the case without a body and the eventual conviction of her brother-in-law for her murder.
55:24 - 1:01:38 (06:14)
Summary
The murder of Pam Shelley and the investigation that led to her body is discussed, including the difficulties of prosecuting the case without a body and the eventual conviction of her brother-in-law for her murder.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
The search for Pamela Butler's remains led to the discovery of a body found by Civil War relic hunters two decades earlier, six miles south from where Butler's remains were found.
1:01:38 - 1:05:53 (04:14)
Summary
The search for Pamela Butler's remains led to the discovery of a body found by Civil War relic hunters two decades earlier, six miles south from where Butler's remains were found. Jose Rodriguez-Cruz confessed to killing Butler and provided the location of her remains.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Commonwealth attorney Olson charged Jose Rodriguez Cruz with the first-degree murder of his first wife 30 years ago.
1:05:53 - 1:10:44 (04:51)
Summary
Commonwealth attorney Olson charged Jose Rodriguez Cruz with the first-degree murder of his first wife 30 years ago. With a difficult case to prove and an uncooperative defendant, the prosecution faces challenges in bringing justice to the victim's family.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
After pleading guilty for killing girlfriend Pam Butler, Jose Rodriguez now faces prosecution for the murder of his first wife, Marta.
1:10:44 - 1:16:11 (05:27)
Summary
After pleading guilty for killing girlfriend Pam Butler, Jose Rodriguez now faces prosecution for the murder of his first wife, Marta. Although he had confessed to Pam's murder, the prosecution is still searching for proof for Marta's death.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
A man named Jose Rodriguez was found guilty of the murder of his wife, Marta, but he tried to convince the court that she died of a drug overdose while he was out getting gas.
1:16:11 - 1:21:05 (04:54)
Summary
A man named Jose Rodriguez was found guilty of the murder of his wife, Marta, but he tried to convince the court that she died of a drug overdose while he was out getting gas. The podcast explores this disturbing case and the impact it has had on those involved.
EpisodeA Haunting Stretch of Road
PodcastDateline NBC
Detective Ortiz brings Marta's ashes to Puerto Rico for Neda to lay her sister to rest in a place where Marta was once happy, while Derek continues to help others of color find their missing loved ones through the Black and Missing Foundation.
1:21:06 - 1:22:19 (01:13)
Summary
Detective Ortiz brings Marta's ashes to Puerto Rico for Neda to lay her sister to rest in a place where Marta was once happy, while Derek continues to help others of color find their missing loved ones through the Black and Missing Foundation.