The disappearance of Tara Calico back in September of 1988 remains one of the most bizarre and unsettling true crime cases of the last forty years.

It's one of those situations that shouldn't lead to someone going missing. Calico, a 19-year-old student at U of NM, went for a typical 36 mile bike ride.

Only, she didn't return. Her mother was supposed to go look for her at noon if she didn't return, and when her daughter didn't turn up, Calico's mother called the cops.

All they were able to find in an ensuing investigation was Calico's Walkman. Other than that, nada. Eyewitnesses who saw her riding on the usual path also noticed a light-colored Ford truck with a camper on top following Calico, but no one witnessed an abduction.

Theories abound as to what happened to her, but almost literally nothing was found...Until June of 1989. A woman leaving a convenience store in Florida found a Polaroid photograph on the ground. In the picture was a young woman and boy bound and gagged, looking very frightened.

The photograph ended up in the hands of TV show A Current Affair, which broadcast it nationally in 1990. The resulting firestorm reached all the way to Tara Calico's family, who became convinced the woman in the picture was their daughter.

Listen to the episode for the full story of the disappearance of Tara Calico. 

Theme: "Ten" by DJ Sun

You can find my books on Amazon, as well. Here are the links to the first two works in the Rolson McKane tetralogy:

• Boogie House: A Rolson McKane Mystery (by T. Blake Braddy)
• The Devil Came Calling: A Rolson McKane Mystery (by T. Blake Braddy)

Here are the other links to find both the podcast(s) and my own thoughts and ramblings:

• Web site: tblakebraddy.com
• Amazon Author Dashboard: T. Blake Braddy
• Facebook: Rolson McKane Official Page
• Twitter: @blakebraddy
• Instagram: @tblakebraddy

The Principled Uncertainty Podcast

• Web site: principleduncertainty.libsyn.com

Twitter: @PUPodcast