ÜBER DIESE EPISODE
Go behind the scenes of one of the most complex missing persons investigations we've ever covered on Chasing Evil. In this special live Q&A, host Christopher Godsick is joined by the investigators who solved the murder of 17-year-old Valerie Tyndall.
Rush County Detective Randy Meek, Detective Shawn Smallwood, Senior U.S. Deputy Marshal Tom Abreu, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department K9 Officer Tony Weaver discuss the investigative decisions that ultimately exposed Patrick Scott's lies and led to his conviction. From preserving critical digital evidence and analyzing surveillance footage to the remarkable work of cadaver dog Bailey, the panel answers listener questions and reveals the challenges that couldn't fit into the original two-part series.
The investigators explain how teamwork between local, state, and federal agencies helped solve the case, why the first days of a missing person investigation are so critical, and what they learned from one of the most difficult cases of their careers.
If you listened to Parts 1 and 2, this conversation provides an inside look at the investigation from the people who lived it.
Show NotesIn this special live listener Q&A:
- Detective Randy Meek explains when Valerie Tyndall's disappearance became a homicide investigation.
- Detective Shawn Smallwood discusses Patrick Scott's deceptive interviews and how investigators recognized the inconsistencies.
- Senior Deputy U.S. Marshal Tom Abreu shares how the U.S. Marshals Service joined the investigation and why a fresh set of eyes proved invaluable.
- IMPD K9 Officer Tony Weaver explains how cadaver dog Bailey is trained and how human-remains detection dogs work.
- The panel discusses using digital evidence, surveillance cameras, social media, and search warrants to reconstruct Valerie's final movements.
- Learn how investigators unexpectedly discovered critical evidence through Apple Health data.
- Hear why preserving digital evidence in the first hours of a missing person investigation can determine whether a case is solved.
- Discover how local, state, and federal agencies coordinated their efforts during the six-month investigation.
- The investigators answer audience questions about Patrick Scott, the search for Valerie, sentencing, investigative strategy, and lessons learned from the case.
Guests
- Randy Meek – Rush County Sheriff's Office
- Shawn Smallwood – Rush County Sheriff's Office
- Tom Abreu – Senior Inspector, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Marshals Service
- Tony Weaver – Detective, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Missing Persons Unit
- Bailey – Human Remains Detection (HRD) K9
Listen to the Patrick Scott Series
If you haven't already, be sure to listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of the Patrick Scott investigation before this Q&A for the complete story.
This live discussion expands on the investigation featured in Episodes 1 and 2, providing additional insight into the forensic techniques, investigative strategy, and teamwork that ultimately brought justice for Valerie Tyndall.
