22-year-old Cole Thomas disappeared in Benson, North Carolina on November 25, 2016. It was like he simply vanished without a trace. He was an electrical contractor and the crew members he was traveling with all had different stories about what may have happened to Cole. One consistent thread was that there was a drug deal that went bad and Cole left the car never to be seen again. A massive search of wooded areas and swamplands in the area turned up no clues. Cole's parents immediately drove from Florida to North Carolina to help with the search, but nothing was found. Cole's father, Chris Thomas, believes his son is dead. He had hoped that one of the men Cole was with would at least tell them where Cole's body is. In this episode, we unpack the details of this decade long cold case with Chris who has been conducting his own investigation. We also check in with Benson's police chief who handled the case back when he was on the street. Our goal is that by keeping the case in the public eye someone will come forward with information that could lead to justice for Cole and much needed answers for his family.

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Law enforcement officers are dealing with intense situations that often involve danger and heartbreaking outcomes. As a result, they have unique mental health issues that are not always addressed by the agencies they work for. Nearly 200 law enforcement officers across the country take their own lives each year. A nonprofit that studied the issue from 2016 to 2024 revealed that they are 54-69 percent more likely to die by suicide than people in other careers. Researchers think this number is low because it is an underreported issue. Spouses and family members of these officers are often blindsided by their deaths. In this episode we speak with the wife of an officer who died by suicide. She shares what she now believes were signs in retrospect that her husband needed help. We also speak to an expert about how to spot red flags in advance. If you or someone you know needs support call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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In this bonus episode, veteran prosecutor Melanie Shekita shares her memories of the most high-profile cases she has handled in her almost three decades with the Wake County District Attorney's Office in Raleigh, North Carolina. From murders to child sex crimes, Melanie has prosecuted some of the most challenging and emotional cases. She talks about why she is passionate about finding justice for the victims and how she has been able to do this difficult work for so many years.

To learn more about Melanie:

Melanie Shekita | Wake County

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