Welcome to Season 11 of Dakota Spotlight. This season, we uncover the haunting 1999 murder of a young man in Bismarck, North Dakota—a tragic event that reverberated through the community and left a lasting impact on everyone involved. In Episode 1, we set the stage during a bustling winter weekend in Bismarck, when the city was filled with out-of-town visitors attending the state wrestling tournament. Through vivid storytelling, you’ll ride along as the night unfolds, culminating in a harrowing discovery that ignites a high-stakes investigation. This season features firsthand accounts from detectives, loved ones, and even the convicted killer, as we unravel the complexities of this crime and explore deeper questions about memory, justice, and the enduring ripple effects of violence. Trigger Warning: This episode includes content that may be disturbing, including a 911 call. Please listen with care. Welcome to Homicide at House of Bottles. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Homicide at House of Bottles is a production of Dakota Spotlight and Six Horse Media. This season was written, produced, and sound-edited by James Wolner, who also serves as the host. Research and interview assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen. Special thanks to Bob Haas, Lloyd Halvorson, and the Bismarck Police Department for their contributions to this season. Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After hitting a lot of dead ends, it was finally time to talk to a crucial source in my dad's murder to try to decipher the new tips coming in. Perhaps there's darker reasons this case isn't solved. Now I'm forced to reevaluate my allegiance because the line between empathy and gullibility is becoming more blurred. Additional Sources: https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2024/12/retiring-belmont-county-sheriff-david-lucas-looks-back-on-nearly-a-half-century-in-law-enforcement/ To submit any tips or information, please email: icecoldcasepodcast@gmail.com 00:00 Previously On 01:06 Sisyphus 03:43 A New Approach 09:20 Prepaid Call 16:48 Brothers in Crime 20:56 Who Killed My Dad 29:18 Humanity 36:39 Burden of Proof 39:06 Next Time 39:42 Credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This cold case is about to be up in flames. New tips, new suspects, and new research are steering the ship of this investigation. Nothing is what it seems, and maybe everything I needed to know was right in front of me the whole time. It's time to take a look at the systemic hurdles holding me back from finding out what really happened to my dad, John Cornelius McGhee, on July 11, 2002. Ice Cold Case is a chronicle of self-discovery and exploration. Subscribe now to join the investigation and uncover the truth behind the coldest case in Belmont County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Celisia Stanton joins Madison to talk about the second season of her true crime podcast, Truer Crime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steven Keogh (former investigator and current crime consultant) joins Madison McGhee for a live conversation at CrimeCon London 2024 about Madison's investigation into the unsolved murder of J.C. McGhee and the his advice for her as she continues this journey. Join me at CrimeCon UK 2025 (London or Manchester) - use code ICECOLDCASE10 for 10% off your ticket! https://crimeconuk.seetickets.com/tour/crimecon-uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As I start to build a case, new developments have forced me to reconsider my list of suspects and revisit my investigative methods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While exploring the Belmont County Sheriff's Department's reputation, I find a strange connection. The loose ends of this case are becoming cleaner and the path to justice feels closer than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Mankiewicz (NBC's Dateline) joins Madison McGhee for a live conversation from CrimeCon 2024 about the details of the murder of J.C. McGhee and the journey to investigating her father's murder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some new developments leave more questions than answers, but solving this case seems more possible than ever before. Now there are just a few people left to track down, and finding them could be really simple or incredibly difficult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The police and my family are constantly tossing blame. Meanwhile important information is starting to surface that has me questioning everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Turney (Voices for Justice) joins Madison McGhee for a conversation about the dynamics between families of victims and investigators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New information stands out from the case files that didn't before. New characters are emerging with important pieces to the larger puzzle. The truth still seems hard to find, but maybe the devil's in the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another look at the case files illuminates some discrepancies and new questions arise. Now I’m trying to find the truth that lies between the lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daryl’s Smith reputation in Belmont County made him an obvious suspect. “Innocent until proven guilty” is the standard. Was he ever given a fair chance? If he didn’t do it, where do I go from here? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Belmont County. Years of investigating have led to this. I sat down across the table from the main suspect in my dad's murder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After six months of sifting through the new information flooding in about my dad’s case, it’s time to share some significant updates that have me questioning my own theory. Now I’m wondering: is it wrong to be wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's two sides to every story. With new information flooding in about my dad's case, my own suspicions are shifting. Is everything that I've been told one hundred percent true? Or have I've been thrown a few red herrings? It's time to take a look at the other side of the story to try to find out what really happened to my dad, John Cornelius McGhee, on July 11, 2002. Ice Cold Case is a chronicle of self-discovery and exploration. Subscribe now to join the investigation and uncover the truth behind the coldest case in Belmont County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After years of investigating, I'm ready to put together all the pieces I currently have. Help me solve my dad's murder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As more details surface, people are getting defensive. In the fallout, I’m finding crucial clues that could help solve this case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After researching all the theories and motives possibly involved in this case, I find a suspect that links them together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As I narrow down the suspects, I take a look at this case from a new perspective to try to pinpoint who really killed my dad.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking at the police’s handling of this investigation, it’s clear that corners were cut. Was my dad a casualty in their war on drugs?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A suspect is charged with my dad's murder, but inconsistent witness testimony builds a web of lies and complicates the trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As I learn about my dad's closet relationships, two people stand out as particularly suspicious. With a custody battle in the mix, the police identified a motive for murder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every hero has an origin story and this is mine — the story of how I found out about my dad's murder and what pushed me to start asking questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the story of what happened to J.C. McGhee on July 11, 2002 according to police records — some of which may not be entirely accurate nor adequate. Twenty years later, the search for answers begins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join me as I delve into the deeply personal and haunting story of my dad's murder. In this gripping true crime podcast, I take you on a journey of discovery as I explore the case from every angle, and reveal the untold details that I have uncovered through my investigation. With each episode, you'll be drawn deeper into the investigation, as I look for new evidence, interview key players, and unravel the mystery of my dad's death. But this isn't just a quest for justice - it's a deeply personal journey that will take you inside the mind of a victim's daughter, and show you the strength and resilience it takes to keep fighting for the truth. Ice Cold Case is a chronicle of self-discovery and exploration. Subscribe now to join the investigation and uncover the truth behind this discarded cold case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices