253 - The Disappearance of Sandra & John Jacobson episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 18, 2026 · 1H 46M

253 - The Disappearance of Sandra & John Jacobson

from Trace Evidence · host Steven Pacheco

On Saturday, November 16, 1996, thirty-six year old Sandra Jacobson and her five year old son, John, went mysteriously missing from Bismarck, ND.  After arriving late for dinner at her parents home, Sandy left to fill her gas tank and never returned.  Neither she nor John have been seen again.The following morning her car was found abandoned in a parking lot adjacent to the Missouri River, which was nearly frozen over.  The initial investigation found claims that Sandy might have been suffering from a mental health crisis and may have jumped into the river with her child.However, it was soon learned that Sandy had called the Bismarck Police Department hours before her disappearance.  She informed them that there was a satanic cult operating on a farm not far from her home and she felt her son was in danger from them.  She hung up shortly thereafter and her claims were never investigated.A new investigator, nearly a decade later, would break the case open, wondering if perhaps Sandy's disappearance might have something to do with her estranged husband and several inaccurate statements he'd previously made to detectives.  Was Sandy the victim of foul play or did a loving mother, in the midst of a mental health crisis, commit an unthinkable act?FollowTEPod.comClick here to Submit a Question for the Trace Evidence Q&A episodeFollow Trace Evidence on Social MediaTwitter --- Instagram --- TikTok --- YouTube --- Like Facebook Page --- Join Facebook Group --- Threads --- Like MeWe Page --- Join MeWe Group --- BlueskySuppport Trace EvidencePatreon --- Paypal --- Cash App --- Buy Me A CoffeeTrace Evidence Merch ShopsTeePublic --- ShopTEPod --- SpreadshopAll Other LinksOfficial Trace Evidence Website --- LinkTreeMusic Courtesy of:"Lost Time"  Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"Echoes of Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"Galactic Rap" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/#truecrimepodcast #unsolvedmysteries #coldcase #coldcaseinvestigation #murder #murdermystery #missingperson #missingpersons #truecrimecommunity #mysterypodcast #truecrime #coldcasefiles #truecrimestories #crimelovers #truecrimeaddict #truecrimejunkie #crimescene #justiceforall #missing #crimesquad #podcastcommunity #sleuthsunite #darkhistories #criminalmindset #detective #detectivediaries #forensics #forensicfiles #crimestories #crimepodcast #traceevidence #traceevidencepodcast #criminalinvestigation #justiceforvictims #detectivework #truecrimediscussion #podcastfamily #listenandsolve #crimefans #listentotraceevidence #uncoverthetruth #podcastrecommendations #podcastlove #podcastlife #truecrimeobsessed #followtheclues #cluefinders #podcastaddict #unsolvedmurders #unsolveddisappearances #detectiveatheart #jointheinvestigation #disappearance #vanishing #abduction #gonemissing #upandvanished #pacheco #stevenpacheco #podcasting #crimetalk #crimeanalysis #theories #sandrajacobson #sandyjacobson #johnjacobson #bismarck #northdakota #bismarcknd #alanjacobsonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/trace-evidence--3207798/support.

On Saturday, November 16, 1996, thirty-six year old Sandra Jacobson and her five year old son, John, went mysteriously missing from Bismarck, ND.  After arriving late for dinner at her parents home, Sandy left to fill her gas tank and never returned.  Neither she nor John have been seen again.The following morning her car was found abandoned in a parking lot adjacent to the Missouri River, which was nearly frozen over.  The initial investigation found claims that Sandy might have been suffering from a mental health crisis and may have jumped into the river with her child.However, it was soon learned that Sandy had called the Bismarck Police Department hours before her disappearance.  She informed them that there was a satanic cult operating on a farm not far from her home and she felt her son was in danger from them.  She hung up shortly thereafter and her claims were never investigated.A new investigator, nearly a decade later, would break the case open, wondering if perhaps Sandy's disappearance might have something to do with her estranged husband and several inaccurate statements he'd previously made to detectives.  Was Sandy the victim of foul play or did a loving mother, in the midst of a mental health crisis, commit an unthinkable act?FollowTEPod.comClick here to Submit a Question for the Trace Evidence Q&A episodeFollow Trace Evidence on Social MediaTwitter --- Instagram --- TikTok --- YouTube --- Like Facebook Page --- Join Facebook Group --- Threads --- Like MeWe Page --- Join MeWe Group --- BlueskySuppport Trace EvidencePatreon --- Paypal --- Cash App --- Buy Me A CoffeeTrace Evidence Merch ShopsTeePublic --- ShopTEPod --- SpreadshopAll Other LinksOfficial Trace Evidence Website --- LinkTreeMusic Courtesy of:"Lost...

NOW PLAYING

253 - The Disappearance of Sandra & John Jacobson

0:00 1:46:03

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

PodSights Health & Wellness podsights.ai Transform your wellbeing journey. Get trusted, evidence-based answers to your health, fitness, and mental wellness questions. Make informed decisions about your health. Visit podsights.ai to create your own wellness podcast. Chosn Conversations: Beyond the Journal Chosn AI Journal Welcome to Chosn Conversations: Beyond the Journal, where your AI hosts explore the transformative power of conversational journaling and emotional intelligence. Each episode takes you beyond traditional journaling methods, diving deep into voice journaling techniques, mental wellness strategies, and the science behind AI-supported emotional health. We share inspiring user stories, analyze the latest research in digital mental wellness, and provide practical guidance for incorporating journaling into your self-care routine. Whether you're curious about AI therapy alternatives, looking for mental health support tools, or wanting to optimize your journaling practice, our conversations extend beyond the written page into meaningful audio experiences that offer evidence-based insights in an accessible, compassionate format. Join us as we navigate the intersection of technology and mental well-being, helping you track your emotional journey and build lasting resilience through the power of Metagenics Institute Podcast Metagenics Welcome to the Metagenics Institute Podcast where Healthcare Practitioners can hear innovative, cutting-edge information from leading experts from around the world. Join your host, Nathan Rose, to explore the latest evidence in Natural Health, challenge and debunk industry myths and offer practical, tangible, clinical tools which will transform your practice. The Infectious Myth Progressive Radio Network “The Infectious Myth” will examine disease paradigms and the scientific or historical evidence that the simple story we are told about a virus, bacteria or gene causing a disease, is probably false.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Trace Evidence?

This episode is 1 hour and 46 minutes long.

When was this Trace Evidence episode published?

This episode was published on January 18, 2026.

What is this episode about?

On Saturday, November 16, 1996, thirty-six year old Sandra Jacobson and her five year old son, John, went mysteriously missing from Bismarck, ND.  After arriving late for dinner at her parents home, Sandy left to fill her gas tank and never...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Trace Evidence episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!