On the night of May 13, 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson was driving home from a party after finishing his first year of college. Just after midnight, he called his parents. He’d driven into a ditch, he said. He wasn’t hurt—just frustrated, and he needed a ride.

What followed was a 47-minute phone call—nearly an hour of confusion and missed turns. Brandon’s parents tried desperately to find him in the dark, rural backroads of southwestern Minnesota, but then the call went silent, and Brandon Swanson hasn’t been seen since.

Over the years, many theories have emerged about what happened to Brandon, but none have led to the teenager who was just trying to get home.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Brandon Swanson, please contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 507-694-1664 or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 877-996-6222. You can remain anonymous.

Subscribe to Day by Day: True Crime Stories

Buy the ebook! - And Then They Were Gone: True Stories of Those Who Went Missing and Never Came Home

Submit a case

Find us everywhere

Get episodes early and ad-free on Patreon

Merch store

For a full list of our sources, please visit our blog

A new episode of And Then They Were Gone is coming soon, but in the meantime I wanted to share today's episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, on the disappearance of Shapammala Buckner. Her case has clear suspects, yet interest in her case died out quickly. It's been nearly eight years since she's been seen, and the investigation seems to be going nowhere.

This episode of Day by Day True Crime Stories delves into the mysterious disappearance of Shappamala Latrisha Buckner, known as Pam, who vanished from her Houston apartment in 2017. The podcast explores the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, the challenges faced by investigators, and the relentless efforts of her family to keep her story alive despite minimal media coverage. Pam's case highlights the broader issue of missing persons and the importance of remembering every individual behind the headlines.

#ShapammalaBuckner #MissingPerson #UnsolvedCase #TrueCrimePodcast #HoustonTexas #BlackAndMissing #DayByDayPodcast #JusticeForPam

In this episode, And Then They Were Gone host Kona Gallagher sits down with Director Michael Bayer to discuss the Heather Elvis case, a missing persons investigation that remains unsolved. The conversation delves into the complexities of the case, including the impact of online harassment, the role of social media in investigations, and the ongoing struggles of the Elvis family. Bayer shares insights into the making of the documentary Vanished: The Heather Elvis Case and highlights the importance of keeping such stories alive to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies.

vanishedfilm.com

vanished film.com