On October 16, 2013, 58-year-old Jeffery “Jeff” Slama was shot and killed inside his own home near Joplin, Missouri. A beloved community volunteer, church leader, and tornado recovery hero, Jeff was on the phone with 911 when the intruder pulled the trigger. Over a decade later, his murder remains unsolved.In this episode of Ozark Crimewatch, we revisit the chilling details of this home invasion murder, explore possible theories, and examine why this Missouri cold case continues to haunt the town of Joplin. Was this truly a burglary gone wrong, or could Jeff have been targeted? Who was the man seen fleeing in a black car? And why, despite DNA, fingerprints, and a bullet, has no one been held accountable?We break down one of Missouri’s most overlooked unsolved murder cases and shine a light on the life and violent death of a man who gave everything to help his community.Subscribe for more unsolved true crime stories, small town murders, and cold case investigations from across the Ozarks and Midwest.Have a tip or memory about the case? Share in the comments or contact the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. Justice for Jeff is still possible.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your true crime contenttrue crime, unsolved murder, Missouri cold case, Jeffery Slama, Joplin Missouri crime, home invasion homicide, small town crime, true crime podcast, murder mystery, cold case files, Joplin tornado, true crime documentary, home invasion true crime, Ozark Crimewatch

In April 2001, twenty-year-old Branson Kayne Perry walked out of his home in Skidmore, Missouri and vanished without a trace. More than two decades later, his disappearance remains one of the most haunting unsolved cases in Missouri history.In this Ozark Crimewatch on-location investigation, we explore the places forever connected to Branson’s story. We begin in Skidmore, a small town known for its history of mystery and silence. We visit the bar where the town’s most infamous killing took place, setting the stage for the culture of secrets that still surrounds this case. We examine the property at 304 West Oak Street, where Branson was last seen walking toward a shed with a set of jumper cables he never returned from. And we travel to the rural Quitman area, the site of a major law enforcement search in 2024 after new witnesses came forward.Our investigators share their insights into the timeline, theories, and unanswered questions that continue to shape this case. From the reappearance of the jumper cables to the suspicious fire at a nearby drug house, to the disturbing behavior of a possible suspect, this is a detailed look at a case that still needs answers.If you have information about the disappearance of Branson Kayne Perry, contact the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office or the Missouri State Highway Patrol.Thank you for supporting Ozark Crimewatch. Please like, share, and subscribe for more investigations into the unsolved mysteries of the Ozarks.

In the Season 2 premiere of Ozark Crimewatch, we return to Joplin, Missouri, to investigate one of the city’s most haunting unsolved mysteries, the disappearance of Sandra Louise “Sandy” Spoon.On the night of August 28, 2005, Sandra, a 57-year-old nurse’s aide, vanished after leaving a gathering at an apartment on Pearl Avenue. She was last seen with Edward G. Monroe, a 44-year-old Joplin man who claimed he dropped her off near her home on Byers Avenue. Sandra never made it back.In this episode, we revisit the investigation that followed, including witness reports, the Shoal Creek search, and the man who remained at the center of suspicion until his death. Nearly twenty years later, Sandra’s name still appears on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s missing persons list, and her family continues to hope for answers.Join the hosts from Ozark Crimewatch as they explore the timeline, the theory, and the emotional impact of this case that still weighs heavily on the Joplin community.🔎 Case Information:Missouri State Highway Patrol Case 05-42684NamUs Case MP5568📍 Location: Joplin, Missouri📅 Date of Disappearance: August 28, 2005If you have any information about this case, please contactJoplin Police Department (417) 623-3131Missouri Missing Persons Clearinghouse (573) 526-6178🎙️ Ozark Crimewatch Season 2Stories of mystery, loss, and truth from the heart of the Ozarks.#OzarkCrimewatch #SandraSpoon #JoplinMissouri #MissingPerson #TrueCrime #ColdCase #UnsolvedMystery #Ozarks #JasperCounty #NamUs #MissouriStateHighwayPatrol #TrueCrimePodcast #CrimeWatch #JoplinHistory #MidwestMystery #ColdCaseFiles #WomenMissing #InvestigativeStory #MissouriCrime

On a summer night in July of 2018, twenty eight year old Sarah Burton was last seen walking in Joplin, Missouri. A mother of two, Sarah never made it home, and her disappearance triggered an extensive investigation involving local police and the FBI. Hundreds of leads have been followed, but Sarah has never been found. Her family continues to search and to keep her memory alive, refusing to let her case be forgotten. This episode lays out the timeline of her last known movements, the efforts made to find her, and the enduring mystery of what happened to Sarah Burton.

In 1991, thirty seven year old Cindy Adams of Joplin, Missouri, was murdered, leaving behind two young children and a heartbroken family. The details of her killing were disturbing, yet despite a full investigation, the case eventually went cold. Decades later, her murder remains unsolved, a painful reminder of how even horrific crimes can fade from public attention. Cindy’s loved ones still wait for justice, and her story continues to resonate with those who remember her. This episode brings her case back into focus and asks what it will take to finally solve it.

In August of 2003, private investigator Jim Potts was found dead on a rural highway near Wyandotte, Oklahoma. Authorities quickly ruled his death a suicide, but many who knew him, including his family, believe otherwise. Potts had been investigating corruption and crime in the border town of Galena, Kansas, work that may have made him enemies. Questions about the scene, the evidence, and the hasty ruling have fueled suspicions for over twenty years. This episode examines Jim’s life, his work as a determined investigator, and the possibility that he paid the ultimate price for uncovering dangerous truths.

In February of 1997, the life of forty two year old Socorro Moran Mendoza ended violently in Rogers, Arkansas. Her body was discovered in Benton County under circumstances that pointed clearly to homicide, but investigators were unable to identify her killer. With limited media coverage at the time and few new leads in the years since, Socorro’s case has largely been forgotten outside of her family. She was a mother, a member of her community, and a woman whose story deserves to be told. This episode shines a light on her life, the mystery of her death, and the hope that renewed attention could bring answers.

On May 16, 2022, Kenneth “Jay” Mathews was walking through a Joplin neighborhood with a friend when shots rang out. Jay was struck multiple times and killed in the street, while his friend was wounded but survived. The brazen attack shocked residents of the area and left police with a case that, despite tips and appeals for information, remains unsolved. Authorities have not released many details, fueling speculation and concern in the community. This episode looks at what is known about the night Jay lost his life and why his murder continues to cast a shadow over Joplin.