From Valley of Shadows: An Unreasonable Act

From Valley of Shadows: An Unreasonable Act

From Where's Dia? by Pushkin Industries

January 19, 2026 · 41 min · Season 1

About this episode

The episode explores the mysterious disappearance of deputy Jon Aujay and the subsequent investigation revealing a meth epidemic and police corruption.

Here's episode 2 from Valley of Shadows , a new Pushkin true crime podcast that examines how the search for a missing deputy uncovered the Mojave’s meth epidemic, the outlaw bikers supplying it, and the corrupt police force covering it up. After deputy Jon Aujay disappears, the Los Angeles County 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. Find Valley of Shadows wherever you get podcasts. Binge the entire season of Valley of Shadows, ad-free, by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Valley of Shadows show page on (00:00:35) Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin.fm/plus . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Topics covered

  • true crime
  • missing persons
  • police corruption
  • meth epidemic
  • outlaw bikers
  • investigation

Keywords

  • Valley of Shadows
  • true crime
  • Jon Aujay
  • Los Angeles County Sheriff
  • meth epidemic
  • police corruption
  • outlaw bikers

Sponsors

Pushkin+

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department, Pushkin, Pushkin Industries

Places: Mojave, desert

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