Smoke: The Disappearance of Damien Sharp

You would think a confession would be the end of the whole story. Unfortunately, it's only the end of this chapter. And this chapter is the end of this era.  Hear all about that in this final episode of Damien's story.  #letsfinddamien --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letsfinddamien/message

Barb Ruhlman has been training dogs to sniff out everything, from bombs to cadavers, for 50 years. Listen in, as Barb gives us the scoop on the interpersonal drama of the k-9 world, the science of how cadaver dogs work their magic, and her memories (as well as some speculation and commentary) about Damien's case, and the searches for him that she participated in.  Sponsors: M

This episode focuses on documentation that led John Herzog to the areas of Jakes Rocks and Devil's Elbow, going so far as to reboot a 2002 canine search of several areas of the ANF at Devil's Elbow. For both those searches, in 2002 and 2003, Barb Ruhlman, of Cornplanter K-9 Team, was present. Barb sat down with me last Friday, and gave me a little more information on those early se

Spring of 2003, in Warren Pa., and I hear a division bell ringing - a call to choose sides. Inside the police department, it was a changeover of the officers leading Damien's investigation. Outside, it was Damien's family, picketing the police department. Winter had passed, but the ice was getting thicker.  This Weeks Sponsor: Miller’s Mobile Notary in Warren.  --- Send

In this episode, we're dealing with some heavy allegations. Jim Sarver claims Warren County District Attorney Rick Hernan, in 2002 and 2003, tried to set him up to take the wrap for Damien's murder, after he was arrested on unrelated charges. Sounds crazy, right? Well, first let's talk to Rick, and then Sarver, and then let's see what happened in an interstate case involving Warren

John Herzog talked to Damien's best friend since high school, Dave. I talked to Dave too, but I also talked with someone who was willing to give me an interview on tape last year. Her name is Danica, and she met Damien when she moved to Warren from Girard, Pa., in fifth grade.  Listen in on what Dave told Herzog back in Oct. 2002, and hear Danica add some highlights in her int

We've got Herzog's notes.  And a lot of what I found in there ticked me off you guys.  Let's talk about it.  This episode is a catch up, of everything we didn't know when press time came on the last episode.  You remember when your mom used to get mad? Like really, actually, mad mad, and you knew it was time for the nonsense to end?  Time for the nonsense t

CLARIFICATION: I say in the first 15 minutes that Bryce Blackman’s dad, Jim, served as the county’s District Attorny. I misspoke. He was the Assistant District Attorney. Hey kids! So good news. The City of Warren Police Department has let me know that they'll be releasing Herzog's full report to Dana. When that happens, she'll be sharing it with me. That should happen within th

Private Investigator John Herzog was hired by Damien's mom, Janeane Shanahan, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002 to investigate Damien's disappearance.  Family has spoken at length about the multitude of feelings regarding the investigation done by law enforcement, and it's changed and flexed over the years to accommodate both their own personal growth and the growth of resources, te

We're recapping the highlights of Damien's story in this episode, reading through his DD214 to debunk the theory that Damien was a specialized soldier who disappeared into a secret military life (it's important to debunk everything you can, and to get documentation...two birds one stone, babies), and talking to his aunts Anziette and Dana about a report they commissioned from PI Jo