Bear Brook

A Christmas tree farmer with dementia named Jay Hickey vanishes from his small town in rural New Hampshire. Jay's wife Patty never reports him missing. A tipster claims "a lot of strangeness is starting to emerge" – and they're right. To hear this

Jay's daughter explains how she finally realized her father was missing and shares another side to Patty most people don't know. Police make a new discovery about the timing of Jay's disappearance. To hear this season of Bear Brook ad-free, ⁠click

A volunteer sleuth digs into Jay's case and reveals a surprising connection to a major figure in the world of astrology, a "Spiritual Sparkplug" named Isabel Hickey. To hear this season of Bear Brook ad-free, ⁠click here to become a member of our Pa

A Christmas tree farmer with dementia disappears. His wife never reports him missing. Can anyone find out why?A Private Matter is the third season of Bear Brook, the critically-acclaimed true crime podcast from New Hampshire Public Radio hosted by Jaso

Sharon Johnson’s family and friends have spent the last 35 years coping with her brutal murder. But what if that story was based on a lie?

We begin with the story police told about Sharon Johnson’s murder.

Police interrogate a second teenager named Jason Carroll – with help from Jason’s own mother.

One set of confessions leads to another and three men are arrested for Sharon Johnson’s murder.

A new true crime story is told and when juries hear it, it leads to different results for all three defendants.

Jason Carroll stands trial twice – and the juries come up with their own versions of what happened.

How could someone possibly confess to murder if they didn’t do it?

A chance encounter leads to a surprising discovery that changes the course of Jason Carroll's case.

The state of New Hampshire has made a sudden about-face: Prosecutors have now agreed to DNA test old evidence in Jason Carroll’s case. It’s the biggest development in the case in 35 years – and one step closer to possibly learning who killed Sharo

Jason Carroll is serving life in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit. The only evidence against him? His own taped confession. More than 30 years later, is it possible to get to the truth – and who gets to tell it?

Three boys kick over a mysterious barrel in the woods. A small town cop fishes for answers. Evidence is buried, and the case goes cold.

The discovery of a second barrel raises questions. A stalled investigation churns back to life and then stalls again. An amateur sleuth takes Jason into the forest.

After 30 years of torpor, investigators finally inch the Bear Brook case forward. A geologist uncovers the history buried in human teeth and hair. The faces of the victims are reconstructed. Want to make sure that NHPR continues creating projects like

An ominous New Year’s party introduction. An estranged cousin goes missing. Police question a man with multiple identities. A search leads authorities to his basement. Want to make sure that NHPR continues creating projects like Bear Brook? Click here

A child is abandoned. Timelines come together. A family tree begins to take shape. A chameleon is revealed.

This is part two of episode 5. A child is abandoned. Timelines come together. A family tree begins to take shape. A chameleon is revealed.  Want to make sure that NHPR continues creating projects like Bear Brook? Click here to donate $20. Thanks for y