<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-225433" src="http://kentuckysportsradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/up-and-vanished-600x400.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" />

America loves a mystery.  Throw in small town suspicions, no body, and no leads and you have a bonafide murder mystery on your hands.  In the last few years we’ve been treated to some excellent real-life murder mystery stories.  The O.J. miniseries and 30 for 30, Serial, Making a Murderer, and S-Town are all examples of the pinnacle of non-fiction murder mysteries we’ve been able to experience recently.  Last August, the podcast Up and Vanished premiered.  Host Payne Lindsey introduces us to the missing person case of Tara Grinstead, a Georgia teacher who went missing in October, 2005.  What separates Up and Vanished from the previously mentioned murder-mystery stories is that it explores a case that is ongoing as opposed to examining a previously concluded case.  Basically, Up and Vanished allows you to come up with theories and explanations as the investigation unfolds…and then you find out if your sleuthing skills are up to par!

Season one, which just aired part one of its season finale on July 31st, consists of 25 episodes and several bonus episodes which feature Q and A’s with the host and various evidence experts.  There are also case evidence episodes which further examine the previous episode’s evidence material.  Listeners are able to call in to a voicemail line or send twitter messages to ask questions that come up throughout the podcast.  Imagine being able to ask the host of Serial or Johnny Cochran a question during their respective cases, you can actually do that here.  I would be lying if I said I didn’t put on my Sherlock Holmes hat and tried to fit all the pieces together into a working theory.  I’ve done that many times.  I’ve also been wrong quite a few times as well, but that’s part of the fun!

One of the best aspects of the show is the host, Payne Lindsey.  It’s easy as a listener to get caught up in the case, especially once the new evidence starts coming out.  Lindsey admits about halfway through the season that he has become emotionally invested in trying to see this case to the end.  Despite his personal attachment, Lindsey does a really good job avoiding a particular narrative and just goes where the evidence leads.  As the case branches out into different areas, Lindsey brings in various experts to address new evidence and theories as they emerge.  These experts include a private investigator, lawyer, Nancy Grace, and others.  The best interviews we get, however. are the interviews with local people directly and indirectly tied to the case.

Up and Vanished really gives you a good feeling what this case is like in rural, southern Georgia.  The interviews with local residents paint a picture of what people thought during the initial investigation and their reaction to case updates.  The town of Ocilla is initially very hesitant to open up to Lindsey, treating him like an outsider and shutting him out.  After a couple people give him a break and talk to him, the flood gates start to open and people start talking left and right.  I feel like I could go to Ocilla right now and be among friends.

There are a lot of unique aspects of Up and Vanished.  In addition to the ongoing nature of the investigation, there is also a community message board where you can interact with other fans and there is occasionally an appearance by people involved in the case on the board.  Overall the feeling you get from the podcast is that you’re involved, even if indirectly.  America loves a good murder mystery, so start the podcast and enjoy the ride.

Got a theory on what happened or just want to discuss the podcast so far?  Put your thoughts in the comments below!

KSR Funkhouser

"Up and Vanished": The Murder Mystery Podcast You've Been Waiting For

Last week, a clip of a fight at a middle school basketball game in Eastern Kentucky went viral, and a new line entered the pantheon of all-time

they-just-tased-ryan-middle-school-basketball-fight-viral-ksr-interview

KSR Around Kentucky

Announcer behind viral 'They just tased Ryan' call tells KSR how middle school game went off the rails

The denims are coming and you need the sneakers to match those beautiful throwback uniforms. They were teased back in July -- before the Kentucky

Screenshot 2026-01-26 at 9.39.11 PM

KSR Basketball

Come get your Converse Cons Blue sneakers ahead of the denim throwback reveal!

Kentucky will have no more or fewer players in Nashville than it did at home against Ole Miss -- or down the stretch vs. Texas, for that matter.

Missouri vs Kentucky on 1/7/2026 - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio/On3

No major surprises with Kentucky's Availability Report at Vanderbilt

Everyone, come inside from the cold. Have a seat. It's time for another SEC Bulletin Board. There's a hot chocolate on the counter.  Today, we check

Jan 24, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama forward London Jemison (6) and Alabama center Charles Bediako (14) defend a shot inside by Tennessee forward Nate Ament (10) at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

sec-bulletin-board

SEC Bulletin Board: A&M up top, G League jokes, buzzer-beaters, and stats watch

After an 0-2 start in the SEC, Kentucky has responded with five straight victories -- the latest being back-to-back must-have wins at Rupp Arena vs.

THUMBNAILS - Sources Say

Sources Say is LIVE to talk Kentucky's five-game winning streak (and if the Cats can keep it alive)

It's been an up-and-down season for Mark Pope's Wildcats, but that hasn't stopped the Big Blue Nation (and the country) from tuning in to watch it

Tennessee forward Jaylen Carey (23) shoves Kentucky guard Otega Oweh (00) after a NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 17, 2026.

Kentucky ranks among top 10 most-watched college basketball teams this season

On the road, again. The Wildcats are getting back on that road again. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or icing, Kentucky is ready to get back on

The Vanderbilt Commodore mascot, via Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

POINT SPREAD: Kentucky is an Underdog at Vanderbilt

The 2026 NFL Draft is now just a couple of months away. Down in Mobile, the Senior Bowl is getting started this week. Kentucky tailback Seth McGowan

Jager Burton

KSR Football

Jager Burton made strong impression at Shrine Bowl

It's once again time to dive into the KSR Film Room.   For this week's episode of Zoom Action, Brandon Ramsey and I rummaged through the replays of

KSR Zoom Action

KSR's Zoom Action breaks down what is working for Kentucky amid 5-game winning streak

Snow, ice, and frigid temperatures stretch as far as the eye can see. Winter weather has a grip on the country. That's why they play basketball

Kentucky forward Isaiah Jackson at Vanderbilt in 2021, via Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

This isn't the First Snowstorm Kentucky has Battled to Play at Vanderbilt

This past weekend's winter storm has left Nashville in rough shape, but the plan (as of Monday afternoon) is still for Vanderbilt to host Kentucky on

Mark Byington Vanderbilt

Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt is still on (as of now), but other SEC tipoff times are being adjusted

After a 2-0 week, Kentucky still isn't ranked in the AP or Coaches Polls; however, that could change if the Cats pull off an upset this week at

kentucky-still-unranked-ap-coaches-polls-ahead-of-big-week

Kentucky still unranked in AP, Coaches Polls ahead of big week

Kentucky took care of business last week at home, beating Texas and Ole Miss to extend its winning streak to five games. Now, it's time to head on

kentucky-ncaa-tournament-resume-quad-1-road-trips-vanderbilt-arkansas

NCAA Tournament Resume: Two Quad 1 Road Trips for Kentucky

A winter storm that swept across the Bluegrass State over the weekend led to plenty of game cancellations, but it was a busy week in the world of

KHSAA basketball - Les Nicholson, Kentucky Sports Radio

KSR Preps

KSR's 2025-26 Kentucky High School Boys Basketball Top 25 Rankings: Week 8

There are many different ways to social media. The initial strategy for professional accounts was to play it straight. After all, they're

LMPD roasted people who got stuck in the winter storm, via Jeff Faughender:Courier Journal : USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

LMPD Twitter Account Cooks During the Kentucky Snowstorm

We have our winner of KSR's first Meteorologist Madness weather challenge.  While official snowfall measurements are still being finalized, one thing

meteorologist-madness-winner

Meteorologist Madness: And the winner is...

KSR will broadcast live from everyone's respective homes today. The crew is snowed in, much like the rest of the state, so they're working from home

ksr-show-thread

KSR Show, 1/26: Live from home to recap UK-Ole Miss and Meteorologist Madness

Good morning, Big Blue Nation. I hope everyone is safe out there and staying home out of the elements. The weekend may not have brought the

Jo Ann Ford, 65, digs out her minivan on 35th Street in Louisville, Kentucky after the multi-state Winter Storm Fern dropped several inches of snow in the metro area Sunday, January 25, 2026.  (Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)


kentucky-jacket-snow-shovel

KSR Today: Snow Day in the Bluegrass, SEC Road Swing Ahead

If I were to tell you that Kentucky ranks 4th in the entire country in an offensive category, you might think me mad and ripe for the loony house. I

Texas vs Kentucky on 1/21/2026 - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio/On3

Kentucky continues to dominate opponents in fast-break scoring

Kentucky's 72-63 win over Ole Miss wasn't pretty. In fact, it was quite the opposite. That first half was especially hard to watch, even if Mark Pope

Mississippi vs Kentucky on 1/24/2026 - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio/On3

collin-chandler-ole-miss

Kentucky is getting good at finishing close games

"If you're not willing to risk your life to watch the Cats play, are you even a fan?" That's how Steven Peake began his quest from Louisville to

Kentucky vs Ole Miss, KSR Road Trip

Go Inside Rupp Arena During the Snow Day Kentucky Win over Ole Miss

End-of-the-year NBA awards almost always feature a former Kentucky Wildcat, and this season will likely be no different. While Shai

keldon-johnson-reed-sheppard-among-favorites-to-win-nba-6th-man-of-the-year-award

KSR Cats in the NBA

Keldon Johnson and Reed Sheppard among favorites to win NBA 6th Man of the Year

You never know when they're coming, but Jasper Johnson's red-hot scoring runs always come at the most convenient times for Kentucky and bring the

619664047_1411353287703252_1503212348487792278_n

Otega Oweh is proud of his 'son' Jasper Johnson: 'He could do that with his eyes closed.'

For nearly a decade, there was a constant in the Kentucky football program: quality linebacker play. The Wildcats needed to re-establish that

ut_vs_arkansas-2915_barnes

Kentucky has Talented, Inexperienced Linebacker Group

Kentucky and Ole Miss engaged in a slobber-knocker on Saturday. The early tip-time may have helped set the tone early, yet the Cats still did enough

Kentucky SG Otega Oweh defends against Ole Miss at Rupp Arena, via Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

"Up and Vanished": The Murder Mystery Podcast You've Been Waiting For

Discuss This Article

No major surprises with Kentucky's Availability Report at Vanderbilt

SEC Bulletin Board: A&M up top, G League jokes, buzzer-beaters, and stats watch

Sources Say is LIVE to talk Kentucky's five-game winning streak (and if the Cats can keep it alive)

Kentucky ranks among top 10 most-watched college basketball teams this season

POINT SPREAD: Kentucky is an Underdog at Vanderbilt

Jager Burton made strong impression at Shrine Bowl

KSR's Zoom Action breaks down what is working for Kentucky amid 5-game winning streak

This isn't the First Snowstorm Kentucky has Battled to Play at Vanderbilt

Game on

Road Dog

UK 72, Ole Miss 63

Polls

Resume Check