Overview of TJ Weekly - Sarah Cailean is back!
This episode of Undisclosed Toward Justice features cold‑case investigator and criminal behaviorist Sarah Cailean (podcast producer/consultant) in conversation with hosts Rabia and Colin Miller. They discuss Sarah’s background and three longform cold‑case podcast seasons (especially the latest: the disappearance of 14‑year‑old Misty Copsey), her investigative methodology, progress on those cases, and how listeners can help. The episode also previews Sarah’s independent project Murder Road and explains how media exposure, police cooperation, and public tips intersect in cold‑case work.
Who is Sarah Cailean
- Cold‑case homicide investigator and criminal behaviorist (colloquially “profiler”).
- Began federal law enforcement in 1998, spent a decade in municipal policing (patrol, sex‑crimes detective), moved into academia and research on serial predators, then consulting.
- Works pro bono on many cases; has partnered with networks (ID/Warner/ARC Media) to produce longform podcast seasons about specific investigations.
- Co‑founded a cold‑case consultancy with Dr. Ann Burgess; works with multi‑disciplinary experts (forensics, genealogy, anthropology).
- Sometimes sworn in as a deputy to access and work cases directly with law enforcement.
Key people in this episode
- Rabia (host; co‑founder of Undisclosed)
- Colin Miller (host; EvidenceProf)
- Sarah Cailean (guest; investigator/host of her own cold‑case podcast seasons)
- Detective Jason Visnall (Puyallup PD — led a focused re‑investigation in 2009)
- Detective Jordan Wicks (current Puyallup detective on Misty Copsey case)
- Aaron & Lindsay (current owners of the former "Schmidt farm" property linked to the Misty investigation)
Misty Copsey — case summary (Puyallup, WA; Sept 1992)
Timeline and circumstances
- Victim: Misty Copsey, 14 years old.
- Date: September 17, 1992. Location: Washington State Fair (Puyallup, WA) and surrounding area.
- Misty and her close friend Trina planned to attend the fair; Misty’s mother agreed to drop them off if they had a plan to get home (they told her they would take the bus).
- The “bus story” was likely a white lie — the girls had arranged rides with older males: Ruben (18) and another older man, Michael Reiner (23).
- Around 8:00–8:15 PM Misty and Trina left the fair to go home. Trina left to meet Michael; Misty never arrived home and has not been found.
Key witness/last sightings
- Trina — last known person with Misty at the fair that night.
- A bus driver identified by Misty’s mother may have been the last adult besides Trina to see Misty; the driver recalled telling her that the direct bus route had stopped and she needed to change in Tacoma; Misty became distraught, got off and walked away.
- A caller to a local TV call‑in show later said they thought they saw Misty near a 7‑Eleven across from the fair entrance between ~9:45–10:00 PM, distraught — but the caller was disconnected and contact info was lost.
Physical evidence
- About five months after the disappearance, volunteers found a bundle of Misty’s clothes (jeans, socks, underwear) in a ditch roughly 30–40 minutes from the fair, in the Mount Rainier area (opposite direction of Misty’s home).
- 1993 lab analysis: red flecks on jeans (initially thought possibly fingernail polish), hairs (undetermined), and carpet fibers that were linked to a particular type of vehicle (not publicly named in the episode).
- King County briefly considered Green River connections (concurrent serial victim investigations in the area) but ruled Misty out; Puyallup PD handled the case thereafter.
- MVAC (vacuum) testing was recommended in 2016 but it is unclear whether it was completed.
Suspects and person(s) of interest
- Ruben (18 at the time): conflicting statements about whether he agreed to pick up Misty; later said to have ended up at his grandmother’s (Schmidt) farm ~45 minutes away, claimed "blackouts"; polygraph exam in which examiner reported unusual behavior by Ruben (appearing to attempt to sleep/hypnotize) was judged inconclusive/“not a fail” by investigators at the time, and Ruben was de‑emphasized in the early investigation.
- Michael Reiner (23 at the time): older man who had been involved with Trina; Misty reportedly refused to go with him.
Investigation challenges
- Significant delay in interviewing key witnesses (Trina and Ruben were not interviewed promptly; police didn’t speak to Trina until ~5 months later).
- Multiple jurisdictions (King County, Pierce County) and the Green River Task Force created confusion about lead investigative agency.
- The area where evidence was found has historic mine tunnels and very rugged terrain; cadaver dogs and grid searches may have limited effectiveness in some spots.
- Police reluctance or political sensitivity to outside consultancy initially slowed collaboration. Media scrutiny (a major newspaper series) had previously pressured the department to take renewed action.
Investigation progress & current status (as discussed)
- 2009: Detective Jason Visnall took the case full time for two years, conducted extensive searches (including two cadaver dog searches) and retested some materials.
- Sarah worked externally, built rapport with witnesses and owners of the former Schmidt family farm (now owned by Aaron & Lindsay), found physical indicators and observed suspicious activity (e.g., break‑ins after new owners moved in).
- As of the episode, Detective Jordan Wicks (first female detective assigned to the case) is actively working the investigation; Sarah has been sharing material with Puyallup PD and assisting on the ground searches with specialists.
- Sarah withheld some investigative details from the public/podcast to preserve integrity and assist police; she emphasized cooperation with investigators and said many leads produced through the podcast have been useful.
Other cases Sarah discussed
- Renee Bergeron (Mobile County, AL; Nov 1993) — season 1 of Sarah’s podcast. Sarah works directly with Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and is optimistic about witness info that could support search warrants and evidence recovery. This remains a difficult, long‑running case.
- Jennifer Judd (Baxter Springs, KS; May 1992) — season 2. DNA evidence Sarah reported excluded the only suspect identified by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation; she is pursuing further DNA work and possible forensic genealogy.
- Sarah’s casework has at times resulted in documentary/podcast collaborations and multiple seasons in the same feed (ID/Warner/ARC); each season has different titles but lives in one feed.
New/independent projects
- Murder Road (working title; independent series with journalist John Higer): a true‑crime travelogue looking at places targeted by serial killers and communities affected. Early episodes focus on Danny Rolling and Gainesville, FL. Target release: 2026. Instagram presence planned as @MurderRoad (or similar).
- Books: Sarah mentioned two books in progress (one non‑crime project about Jane Austen).
How listeners can help / contact & tips
- Actionable tips have come from listeners and have moved investigations forward (notably in Renee’s case).
- Best contact method: Instagram DM (Sarah’s handle referenced in episode as her name backward — check her official links). Also her website (SarahKalen.com) is available, though she prefers Instagram for speed and anonymity.
- Listeners may also contact the specific investigating agencies (Puyallup PD, Mobile County Sheriff, Kansas/other relevant offices) directly if they have information.
Main takeaways and notable quotes
- Cold cases are resource‑intensive and politically/structurally complex; outside media attention can both help and complicate investigations.
- Family members (mothers/sisters) often drive searches and are among the most persistent investigators.
- Rigorous methodology: Sarah: “If you really think somebody did something, you have to do everything in your power to prove that they did not.” (Principle to avoid tunnel vision.)
- Integrity of investigations must not be compromised for media; Sarah keeps certain investigative details confidential to support prosecutions.
Quick action list (for listeners)
- If you have information about Misty Copsey, Renee Bergeron, Jennifer Judd, or other cold cases Sarah covers:
- Contact the investigating agency directly (Puyallup PD, Mobile County Sheriff, relevant local agencies), or
- Send a DM to Sarah on Instagram (preferred) to share anonymous, actionable tips for vetting and forwarding.
- When reporting tips, include dates, locations, names, and any physical details (vehicles, clothing, sounds, maps) that might be corroborated.
- Listen to Sarah’s podcast seasons (ID/ARC feed) and Murder Road social channels for updates.
Where to find more
- Sarah’s podcast seasons are on the same feed (each season has its own title) via ID/Warner/ARC platforms. Titles mentioned:
- Season 1: Renee Bergeron (Mobile County)
- Season 2: Jennifer Judd (Baxter Springs)
- Season 3: Who Took Misty Copsey? (Puyallup)
- Sarah’s independent project Murder Road (Instagram updates planned; podcast targeted for 2026).
- Sarah’s website and Instagram (preferred for tips/updates). Check episode show notes for exact links.
This summary captures the episode’s core facts, investigative details, progress updates, and practical next steps for listeners who want to help.