S1E5: A Big Woods Cold Case

S1E5: A Big Woods Cold Case

From Blood Trails by MeatEater

November 27, 2025 · 45 min · Season 1

About this episode

This episode explores the haunting unsolved case of hunter Ludger Belanger who disappeared during a deer hunt in 1975.

On a snowy November morning in 1975, 25-year-old hunter Ludger Belanger stepped into the woods with his .30-30 and the hope of backstraps for dinner. But what started as a simple deer hunt quickly became one of Maine’s oldest—and most haunting—unsolved cases. At first, game wardens thought Ludger had lost his way. But the tracks in the snow told another story: a shot deer, a missing rifle, tire marks on a back road, and two strangers in a green Buick. Join host Jordan Sillars as this episode of Blood Trails follows a path that twists into drunken parties, threats, explosions, and suspects who always seemed one step ahead. Nearly fifty years later, Ludger’s wife, children, and grandchildren are still searching for the truth—and for the body of the man stolen from them. Want more Blood Trails? Check out the  Case File . Follow Blood Trails on  Apple , Spotify , YouTube , iHeart , Pandora , Amazon . Connect with  Jordan Sillars  and  MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Jordan Sillars on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , Youtube , and Youtube Clips See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

People in this episode

Host: Jordan Sillars

Topics covered

  • unsolved case
  • hunting
  • true crime
  • Maine
  • cold case
  • family tragedy

Keywords

  • Ludger Belanger
  • cold case
  • Maine
  • hunting
  • true crime
  • unsolved mystery
  • family search

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MeatEater

Places: Maine

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