Episode Summary
In honor of this past National Missing Persons Day, Ashley and Brit are going to take turns telling you the stories of seven missing kids that all have a certain connection. These are the stories of 7 out of 36 missing kids that are featured in the 1993 music video for the song Runaway Train by Soul Asylum. A majority of those cases have been resolved thanks to that video, but that means there are still too many left that need your attention – and maybe someone, somewhere out there holds the key to solving their cases.
Listen Now
For our friends in the Deaf and Signing community, you can view an ASL version of this episode HERE.
Episode Info
Don’t forget to tune into The Deck and Dark Downeast this week to hear the remaining 2 stories of those highlighted in Soul Asylum’s music video!
If you have any information about:
- Byron Page: Please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
- Kimberly “Kim” Doss: Please contact the Davenport Police Department at (563) 326-7979.
- Patrick “Shawn” Betz or Jason Matthew Lea: Please contact the Upland Police Department at (909) 946-7624 or Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
- Wilda Mae Benoit: Please contact the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office at (337) 775-5111.
- Duane Fochtman: Please contact the Lincoln City Police Department at (541) 994-3636.
- Martha Wes Dunn and Eric Owens: Please contact the Morris County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 645-2232 or the Augusta Police Department of Public Safety at (316) 775-4500.
- Christopher Kerze: Please contact the Eagan Police Department at (651) 675-5700.
- If you or anyone you know is thinking about suicide, emotional support can be reached by calling or texting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
- PRECEDENT: Jacob Wetterling
If you are a law enforcement agency or a family member of one of the people we mentioned in this or any of the highlight episodes and you’re looking for coverage on the case – please reach out to us as [email protected].
17-year-old Byron Page.
Byron Page, age-progressed to 42 years.
16-year-old Kimberly Doss.
Kimberly Doss, age-progressed to 47 years.
Kimberly Doss, age-progressed to 56 years.
Patrick “Shawn” Betz.
Jason Matthew Lea.
Patrick “Shawn” Betz, age-progressed to 47 years.
Wilda Mae Benoit.
Wilda Mae Benoit, age-progressed to 37 years.
15-year-old Duane Fochtman.
Duane Fochtman, age-progressed to 47 years.
15-year-old Martha Wes Dunn.
17-year-old Eric Owens.
Martha Wes Dunn, age-progressed to 36 years.
17-year-old Christopher Kerze.
Christopher Kerze, age-progessed to 43 years.
Episode Source Material
Byron Page:
- The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA): Anyone Who Knows The Whereabouts of Byron E. Page via Newspapers.com.
- CNN (Atlanta, GA): Cold case: Teen with bright future disappeared in L.A. by Philip Rosenbaum and Nancy Grace.
- Whereabouts Still Unknown (unknown): Byron Page.
Kimberly Doss:
- Quad-City Times (Davenport, IA): Kim Sue Doss via Newspapers.com.
- Quad-City Times (Davenport, IA): Missing Q-C girl turns 18; cops drop search by Jim Renkes via Newspapers.com.
- The Charley Project (unknown): Kimberly Sue Doss.
- The Dispatch-Argus (Davenport, IA): 23 years later, the search for Kimberly Doss continues by Brian Krans.
Patrick “Shawn” Betz:
- Crime Hound (YouTube): The Shawn Betz Story: Through His Family’s Eyes Exclusive Content Via Direct Interviews.
- Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA): Missing youngster mystery continues – 1988 disappearance still unexplained by David Bradvica via NewsLibrary.com.
- Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA): What happened to Upland’s Shawn Betz? Case gets new attention after 34 years by Steve Scauzillo.
- The Mercury News (San Jose, CA): After 34 years, missing California boy is featured in YouTube true crime video by Steve Scauzillo.
- The Charley Project: Patrick Shawn Betz.
- National Child Safety Council: Missing Children Milk Carton Program.
- The Guardian: “We found 21 missing kids”: Soul Asylum on making Runaway Train by Dave Simpson.
- The Los Angeles Times: Upland Boy Was Beaten to Death: Coroner Finds Alcohol in Body of 9-Year-Old.
- The Los Angeles Times: 4th Suspect in Upland Boy’s Murder is Deputy’s Son by Jenifer Warren.
Wilda Mae Benoit:
- The Morbid Library (unknown): Runaway Train: Wilda Benoit by CJ Lynch.
- KPLC-TV (Lake Charles, LA): Cold Case: disappearance of Wilda Mae Benoit by Jade Moreau.
- The Charley Project: Wilda Mae Benoit.
- Websleuths: LA – Wilda Mae Benoit, 14, Creole, 23 July 1992.
- Facebook: KPLC 7 News: Cold Case: disappearance of Wilda Mae Benoit.
- Reddit: R/Unresolved Mysteries: The Run-Away Files: Wilda Mae Benoit.
Duane Fochtman:
- People: Video for 1994 Song ‘Runaway Train’ Helped Recover 21 Missing Kids — But 11 Have Not Been Found, by Elaine Aradillas.
- For The Missing: Pacific Northwest (Facebook).
- NamUs: Missing Person / NamUs #MP6072.
- The Doe Network: 36DMOR – Duane Edward Fochtman.
- Websleuths Forum: Duane Fochtman – 1
- Websleuths Forum: Duane Fochtman – 2
- Websleuths Forum: Duane Fochtman – 3
- Websleuths Forum: Duane Fochtman – 4
- Websleuths Forum: Duane Fochtman – 5
- Reddit: Runaway Files – Duane Edward Fochtman
- Reddit: Runaway Files – Duane Edward Fochtman
Martha Wes Dunn:
- KAKE (Wichita, KS): Missing in Kansas: Eric Owens & Martha Dunn by Annette Lawless.
- KETK/Fox 51 (Tyler, TX): Vanished: Martha Wes Dunn by Christa Wood.
- MEL Magazine (Marina del Rey, CA): The Lost Children of ‘Runaway Train’ by Elon Green.
- Reddit: R/UnresolvedMysteries: The Run-Away Files: Martha Wes Dunn and Eric Glenn Owens.
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse Online Bulletin.
- The Charley Project: Eric Glenn Owens.
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Eric Glen Owens.
- Northeast Texas Area Crime Stoppers: Missing Persons.
Christopher Kerze:
- Sentinel Tribune (Bowling Green, OH): “Wednesday’s Child Is Full Of Woe” Have You Seen Us? via Newspapers.com.
- Mel Magazine (Marina del Rey, CA): The Lost Children of ‘Runaway Train” by Elon Green.
- Grand Rapids Herald-Review (Grand Rapids, MN): Hunters asked to look for signs of Eagan teen missing since 1990 by Lisa Rosemore.
- KSTP (Saint Paul, MN): After 26 Years, Christopher Kerze’s Parents Have Renewed Hope He Could be Found by Kevin Doran via Internet Archive.
- Pioneer Press/TwinCities.com (Saint Paul, MN): Eagan parents still hoping to find son missing since 1990 by Nick Ferraro.
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN): Woodbury parents taking a last chance to find teen son missing for 26 years by David Chanen.
- Sun This Week/Hometownsource.com (Apple Valley, MN): Family revitalizes search for Eagan runaway by Andy Rogers.
- WDIO (Duluth, MN): Search Continues For Minnesota Man Missing Since 1990 by Alejandra Palacios via Internet Archive.
- The Morbid Library (unknown): The Missing: Christopher Kerze by CJ Lynch.