
Episode 2: An Unreasonable Act
From Valley of Shadows by Pushkin Industries
January 12, 2026 · 41 min · Season 1 · Episode 2
About this episode
The episode explores the mysterious disappearance of deputy Jon Aujay and the conflicting narratives surrounding his fate.
After deputy Jon Aujay disappears, the sheriff’s department claims he was suicidal — pointing to marital troubles and erratic behavior in the weeks before he vanished. But the LASD’s official story doesn’t square with what Aujay’s loved ones and colleagues remember. Then, investigators start to hear rumors that the deputy didn’t take his own life, but was murdered for something he witnessed out in the desert. Hear the full Valley of Shadows soundtrack here . Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Topics covered
- disappearance
- suicide
- murder
- investigation
- law enforcement
- marital troubles
Keywords
- Jon Aujay
- disappearance
- suicidal
- murder
- LASD
- investigation
- desert
Sponsors
Pushkin+
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: LASD, Pushkin Industries, Pushkin+
Places: desert
More episodes of Valley of Shadows
- Episode 8: The Finish Line · February 23, 2026 · 53 min
- Episode 7: The Trial · February 16, 2026 · 51 min
- Episode 6: The Big Takedown · February 9, 2026 · 43 min
- Episode 5: The Legend of Bigfoot · February 2, 2026 · 43 min
- Episode 4: Outlaw Country · January 26, 2026 · 47 min
- Episode 3: Tweaker Talk · January 19, 2026 · 47 min
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