528 - In a Business Way

In this episode of My Favorite Murder, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark dive into two chilling true crime stories while also celebrating the podcast's network, Exactly Right Media. The first story centers on the mysterious 2006 disappearance of 27-year-old medical student Brian Schaefer in Columbus, Ohio, who vanished after a night of bar-hopping with friends. Despite extensive searches, surveillance footage showing him entering the Ugly Tuna Saloon but never leaving, and a phone that pinged towers for weeks afterward, no trace of him has ever been found. Theories range from accidental death in a construction site to a possible serial killer known as the 'smiley face killer,' though none have been proven. The case remains open, and the family continues to seek answers 20 years later. The second story explores the 1903 Van Meter Visitor phenomenon in rural Iowa, where multiple townspeople reported seeing a glowing, winged creature with a horn on its head. Over several nights, three residents witnessed the creature, leading to a townwide panic and a failed attempt to destroy its alleged lair in an abandoned coal mine. The mystery remains unsolved, with theories ranging from mass hysteria and misidentified birds to a hoax or even a real cryptid. The hosts reflect on the enduring power of unsolved mysteries and the emotional toll on families, while also highlighting the podcast’s growing multimedia presence and community-driven 'Hoorays' segment.