Someone Knows Something (SKS) is an ongoing investigative original CBC podcast series, written and hosted by award-winning filmmaker David Ridgen, that explores cases of the missing or murdered and unravels the visceral ripple effects on families and small communities across Canada. Each week, SKS brings audiences up close with the family that is looking for answers, the investigators who can’t quit and potential suspects – investigating theories, debunking rumours and finding new information – all through head-on pov storytelling.
Season Two: Sheryl Sheppard
29-year-old Sheryl Sheppard disappeared from Hamilton, Ontario on or around January 2nd 1998. David works with her mother Odette Fisher and an intertwined ensemble cast of friends, family, police and others to re-investigate the case, revealing new information with every episode.
Episodes so far…
A short doc about the upcoming Season Two case followed by Someone Knows Something (SKS).
When Odette Fisher returned from holidays in New Brunswick on January 4th 1998, she expected her daughter Sheryl Sheppard to pick her up at Toronto’s Union Station. Sheryl never showed up and Sheryl’s new fiancé hadn’t seen her for days.
2. The Hammer
Hamilton police discover Sheryl Sheppard’s fiancé, Michael Lavoie, parked in a storage locker overcome by exhaust fumes. SKS host David Ridgen talks to police about their original investigation to begin piecing together what happened that fateful weekend.
3. Blondie
Who was Sheryl Sheppard? David Ridgen speaks to her family, friends and co-workers to try to find out if there was anything in her past that could provide clues to explain her sudden disappearance.
4. Intimation
The search for more information about Sheryl’s disappearance begins to both widen and focus on the details, as David uses everything from Facebook to knocking on doors to try to figure out what might have happened to Sheryl.
5. Girlfriend
In the weeks surrounding Sheryl’s disappearance, Michael Lavoie began a relationship with another woman, Sheila Darbyson. Sheila talks here for the first time about many surprising details.
David tracks down Michael Lavoie’s step-brother, Mark Dempsey, and talks to him about family, betrayal, and the criminal code.
7. Ghost
David drives cross-country to meet with Gwen, Michael Lavoie’s former partner of many years. Retired detectives share new details about their investigation. And a local reporter reveals a previously unreported story about Lavoie.
8. Gwen
Gwen speaks about her relationship with Michael Lavoie, what she recalls from those crucial days in January 1998, and the effect that Sheryl’s disappearance had on Gwen and her family.
David takes a closer look at the New Year’s Eve proposal video with a forensic psychologist and the TV host who was there that night. We also hear from people who say they witnessed violence between Michael and Sheryl first hand.
10. Mom
David speaks to people who knew Michael Lavoie as a child, as well as members of his family, including his mother, Pat Lavoie.
11. Blackmail
As David tries to track down and speak to Brian Sweeney, Sheryl’s ex-husband, evidence begins to pile up that Sheryl may have known her life was in danger.
12. Lavoie
Where is Sheryl Sheppard? David looks into her potential whereabouts and makes direct contact with the man police have named as the prime suspect in Sheryl’s disappearance: Michael Lavoie.
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SEASON TWO PRESS
2016-11-18 CBC Hamilton : Hamilton Cold Case: Disappearance of Sheryl Sheppard focus of CBC investigation
2016-11-21 The Wonder Brand Show : The Wonder Brand Show Episode 17: Someone Knows Something’s David Ridgen
2016-11-21 Hamilton Spectator : CBC podcast explores 1998 Hamilton cold case
2016-11-21 Bello Collective Newsletter : Bello Collective Issue #18 (2016-11-21)
2016-11-21 Reddit : Someone Knows Something – Season 2 Episode 1 | CBC Podcast
2016-11-22 Reddit : Someone Knows Something, season two: what happened to Sheryl Sheppard?
2016-11-27 CBC Hamilton : Hamilton Cold Case: Sheryl Sheppard disappears and there’s a clear suspect
2016-12-02 Audible Feast : Delicious Ingredients: November 19-Dec 2, 2016
2016-12-04 CBC Hamilton : Who was Sheryl Sheppard? Episode 3 goes deeper
2016-12-04 Podcast Digest : Podcast Digest Interview with David Ridgen
2016-12-06 Tumblr : Podcast Recommend List
2016-12-06 Unsolved Canada : Unsolved Canada Recommend
2016-12-11 CBC Hamilton : Piecing together clues after Sheryl Sheppard vanishes
2016-12-16 Audible Feast : December Recommend List
2016-12-18 CBC Hamilton : Meet Michael Lavoie’s other girlfriend, Sheila Darbyson
2016-12-24 Audible Feast : Audible Feast’s Best Podcasts of 2016
2016-12-24 The Guardian UK : Catch-up and download: From Refugee Diaries to Someone Knows Something
2017-01-01 CBC Hamilton : ‘I need to put her to rest’: 19 years later, mom still searches for Sheryl Sheppard
2017-01-08 CBC Hamilton : What Sheryl Sheppard’s boyfriend said to a reporter that the public never heard
2017-01-09 Buzzfeed : 24 horrifying but fascinating true-crime podcasts you must listen to
2017-01-11 Mikaela Larsson : Podcast list – fourth edition
2017-01-12 The Audit #62 : Echoes
2017-01-13 Fox And Gypsy : Now listening, favourite iTunes podcasts
2017-01-15 Tales from a caffeinated Weka
2017-01-16 Hub Pages : Best Crime Podcasts
2017-01-18 Dear Crissy : Best True Crime Podcasts
2017-01-20 Audible Feast : Delicious Ingredients: best podcasts for Jan 14-20
2017-01-27 Audible Feast : Delicious Ingredients: best podcasts for Jan 21-27
2017-01-22 CBC Hamilton : How a missing woman’s boyfriend proposed marriage 19 years ago
2017-02-05 CBC Hamilton : Hamilton cold case: Did Sheryl Sheppard know she was in danger?
2017-02-06 CBC Hamilton : Hamilton cold case: Woman who vanished left tape in case she disappeared
2017-02-17 Ahmedabad Mirror : Someone Knows Something
2017-02-13 CBC Hamilton : friend reveals Sheryl Sheppard had a change of heart over Lavoie’s proposal
2017-03-15 CBC Hamilton : Online petition calls for further investigation in Hamilton’s Sheryl Sheppard cold case
2017-03-16 Geeks Media : Top 5 true crime podcasts for fans of Serial
2017-03-17 The Crime Review : Top true crime podcasts
2017-03-21 Masthead Online : CBC Radio Drama “Someone Knows Something” reaches 18.3 million downloads
2017-03-31 Irish Independent : Love Serial and S-Town? Here are 10 addictive true-crime podcasts to get hooked on
2017-05-04 Make Use of (MUO) : 8 mystery podcasts guaranteed to tingle your spine
2017-05-10 Esquire : How true crime went from trashy TV to prestige entertainment
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