More Than a Missing Hiker - Talking Valley of Shadows with Hayley Fox and Betsy Shepherd

More Than a Missing Hiker - Talking Valley of Shadows with Hayley Fox and Betsy Shepherd

April 23, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 99 · Episode 113

About this episode

James discusses the disappearance of Jon Aujay with investigative reporters Hayley Fox and Betsy Shepherd.

James is joined by Dakota Spotlight researcher Mari Zoerb Hansen for a conversation with investigative reporters Hayley Fox and Betsy Shepherd about the making of Valley of Shadows, their deep dive into the disappearance of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Aujay. It’s a discussion about reporting, persistence, and what happens when a case refuses to stay buried. Following the interview, you’ll hear Episode 1 of the series. Listen to Valley of Shadows: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/valley-of-shadows About Valley of Shadows: How the search for a missing deputy uncovered the Mojave Desert's meth epidemic, the outlaw bikers supplying it, and the corrupt police force covering it up. On June 11, 1998, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy Jon Aujay went for a run in California’s Devil’s Punchbowl park. A long-distance runner and former military, Aujay felt at home in the rocky terrain, but when he didn’t return home by nightfall, his wife reported him missing. Nearly 30 years later, Aujay has yet to be found and the mystery surrounding his disappearance has only deepened. Some say Aujay is just another missing hiker, claimed by the inhospitable landscape of the…

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