Welcome to the very first episode of The Cookie Case Files! In this debut, we introduce ourselves, share what this podcast is all about, and set the stage for the cases to come.

Our first story is the puzzling disappearance of Brandon Swanson, a 19-year-old college student from Marshall, Minnesota, who vanished on May 14, 2008. After accidentally driving his car into a ditch late at night, Brandon called his parents for help. While on the phone with them, he suddenly exclaimed “Oh, shit!”—and the line went silent. Despite extensive searches, Brandon has never been found, and his case remains one of Minnesota’s most haunting mysteries.

We’ll walk you through the details of that night, the ongoing search efforts, and the questions that still linger more than a decade later.

If you want to learn more or he ...