MISSING: Rachel Good

Hi, crime junkies, I'm your host, Ashley Flowers.

And I'm Britt.

And the story I have for you today is about a young mother who suddenly vanished one night, never to be seen or heard from again. Clues are scarce at first, but her family takes a closer look, and they make a bombshell discovery that changes everything. This is the story of Rachel Good.

When's the last time anyone saw her?

It's been about like a day at that point. I mean, the last time anyone saw her was the night before, on the 18th.

OK.

Now, Rachel doesn't live with Brenda. at that point. She has her own place. So Brenda kind of had to piece this together. But she figured out that she had been hanging out with some friends in a parking lot of a local fire department, which is like big, small town vibes.

Yeah.

Or like you're doing it in a field.

One thousand percent.

Anyway, Brenda knows that Rachel hung out there with a few friends until she left sometime around six o'clock. And after that, there was one more sighting of Rachel at this bowling alley in Harrisonburg. But what happened to her after the bowling alley sightings is honestly anyone's guess. All her mom knows is that Rachel's car is parked at her apartment now in the driveway, but she's nowhere to be seen.

So did Rachel make it home or was she not in her car at the fire department and at the bowling alley?

Well, according to police, she was in her own car at the fire department. So somehow they know that. But no one really knows anything after. Like, they're not certain if she drove home and then someone else drove her to the bowling alley, or if she drove to the bowling alley herself and then made it home after all of that in her own car and then disappeared. And no one knows for sure, because Rachel lived alone.

Right, right.

And that's if Rachel's plan was even to go straight home. I mean, I'm fairly certain it was because, even though she's just 20 years old, Rachel actually has a ton of responsibility on her shoulder. She's got three young children ages three, two and eight months.

Oh, my goodness.

Plus a fourth on the way. So it makes sense that she wouldn't want to stay out like all hours of the night. She had things to do.

And where are the kids?

Okay, so she's obviously like a young mom. So what I found out is the grandparents of each of the children helped out quite a bit. Like. actually, her eight month old is staying with her mom, Brenda. She's now like in tow at the police station.

Okay, that's super weird.

It feels off to Brenda, but like she doesn't know this Adam guy. She doesn't know why he's shaking or what he's got going on in his life. Like all she's focused on is her missing daughter. So she finishes giving him the report. And according to David Reynolds reporting in the Daily News record, he says like he's going to take care of it.

So no, she's an adult. She can leave if she wants. Not at all.

No, no, no. And honestly, I'm kind of surprised that that wasn't the response, because one search of Rachel's name in the police system, and they would have seen that just a few months ago, she got into some legal trouble. She had been indicted for forgery, uttering and obtaining or attempting to obtain utilities without payment. So I mean, usually when they see a record like this, like this is the excuse police need to be like, nah, like she's bad news. She'll come back.

Yeah, but pause for a second. What is uttering?

I didn't know what it was either. I had to look it up. It's basically using counterfeit documents. So things like forged checks to like pay for goods. That's.

Okay, good to know.

Either way, it's obvious from the charges that Rachel was experiencing some financial distress and feeling the pressure of so much responsibility. But even so, her mom says she wouldn't just up and leave. And so does Rachel's dad, Carrie, and her friends. They all say that she's working hard to turn things around. Like, for instance, she was going to start a new job the same week that she disappeared.

It's like it's all taken care of already.

Yeah, and she had this chance for a fresh start. So, even though it was clear she had stress in her life, like no doubt, she was working.

on it, getting it resolved, moving on.

Yeah, and disappearing at this point doesn't make much sense.

Well, and not to mention, if she was going to leave on her own, you'd think she'd take her car.

Exactly, right. So as far as missing person cases go, Rachel's is off to a pretty solid start, at least from her family's perspective. And they want to try and do everything they can to move things forward quickly, too. So as soon as Brenda, Lily, and the baby leave the police department after giving this report, they actually stop by a grocery store. They got to get some formula.

canvassing every single room, going through, clearing them, whatever.

Which, again, maybe you don't do that this early on. At least he showed up. But whatever this is, it's not super thorough. Now, ultimately, it seems like the only thing that appears to be missing, obviously, besides Rachel, is her cell phone.

So how did the apartment look like? Was it orderly? Was stuff like tossed around? Does it look like Rachel had even been there recently?

Well, so yes, it looks like she's been there recently, because actually, Brenda told us that it looked like Rachel had been in the middle of like doing her laundry because the dryer door was open. There's some clothes that are folded and like stacked on top of it. Still some laundry that were like in the washer. OK. So, but there doesn't seem to be any signs of like a struggle either.

So what do our friends say about the night before? Like, did Officer Williams track them down, see what they had to say?

So I know that they were interviewed, but who did the interviewing and who those friends were, that's never been reported on. So I don't exactly know. OK.

So, does she have a boyfriend? And does she split, like custody of her kids, with anybody? You mentioned the grandparents.

So I know she's seeing someone or, like her dad at the time, knows she's seeing someone, but he doesn't know his name. And her mom, Brenda, didn't know of any current boyfriend. And, by the way, Rachel's dad, Carrie and Brenda, had split up when Rachel was super young. So the two aren't really in contact when their daughter goes missing. So that's why, like, maybe he knows something that she doesn't or whatever.

OK, but even then you said she's pregnant again. So do we know who the father of that baby is?

They don't.

OK.

In fact, Brenda didn't even know her daughter was pregnant until it was revealed after her disappearance. Yeah. And honestly, the first few days after Rachel vanished for her was just like a blur. But I know that the family was anxiously waiting, hoping against hope that she was going to show up. She was going to explain that this was, you know, always like some kind of misunderstanding.

And answering their questions. Right.

But she never shows, she never calls, and her loved ones are left to deal with just this hole in their lives that they never expected to be there in the first place. But this whole time, kind of like they were in the beginning, they're not just going to sit around and do nothing, which is why, a few days after Rachel vanished, they decided to search her apartment again. And it's a good thing they do, because what they find turns the whole investigation on its head.

Adam Williams. Like, Officer, Adam Williams took the missing person's report, searched the apartment.

The one who was literally shaking in his boots, taking her missing person's report. What? That guy. Who, by the way, was assigned to be the lead investigator for her case.

Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. I have too many questions. I mean, how are we just now learning about this? I know.

I know. So remember, her dad knew she was seeing somebody, but didn't know the name. Again, her mom didn't know either. From what I can tell, a few of her friends knew his name. So obviously, again, in the short time that her mom went to report it, it's not like the friends didn't even know she was missing at that point.

Oh, my God. And how long had they been together?

It was about three or four months by the time she went missing.

And he just decided to not mention any of this when he was put in charge?

As the lead investigator. Of her case? No.

Or like when the mom was giving the report? Like, hey, I know her. I probably shouldn't be doing this. Like nothing.

No, he was just shaking and taking the report and then becoming the lead investigator.

Wait, and how far along in her pregnancy was she?

Well, according to reporting by Crystal Graham for the Augusta Free Press, Rachel was, I think it's 10 weeks pregnant at the time of her disappearance.

OK.

So, I mean, I know you're going to ask if it's his. Right. No one knows. But that's the assumption right now, right? Like, he's the only one.

Timing wise, this is who we have.

And it's not even just the timing. Once Adam's in the crosshairs of the investigation, I mean, the floodgates open. Rachel's brother comes forward, also named Adam. Don't get confused.

Awesome.

But he tells reporters that he knows. boyfriend officer Adam gave Rachel $1,400 and told her to get an abortion. Oh, my God. Now, I can't find whether Rachel told her brother this or he found out through those letters they found, or whatever. But according to him, not only did Rachel not get the abortion, but she spent the money on other things and threatened to tell Adam's wife about the affair.

I mean, I just keep coming back to how he was visibly shaking, taking that initial report. And I mean, this guy searched her apartment, was in her car. Like, who knows what he could have gotten rid of or tampered with? Like, my head is spinning.

And it's a bombshell that I don't think anyone saw coming. But fortunately, as soon as Brenda starts hearing whispers about this officer having been romantically involved with her missing daughter, she goes straight to the mayor of the town to complain. And that got the wheels turning, because as soon as the police department finds out, Adam is removed from the case. It's handed over to the Virginia State Police. And this is happening, like, by October 23rd, although there's a little bit of conflicting information about the exact date.

And I'm assuming the first thing they do is interview him.

I hope so. Agent DuPuy told us that Adam, Officer Adam, has been interviewed numerous times, quote, unquote, numerous, over the years, though he would not say what Adam's official story was. Like, he wouldn't say if he provided an alibi or not. But back then, like, when the story is happening, they're not even calling him a suspect at the time.

So did Rachel's friends see Adam with her the night before, like, at the fire station hangout area or the bowling alley?

So yeah, they did. Oh, my God. DuPuy told us that Rachel was seen at the bowling alley with Adam the night she disappeared. And get this. Some of her friends thought that Rachel had plans to go camping with Adam later that very night.

OK, search the forest.

Right. I will help you lead the charge if you want to go on an adventure.

Let's go. So is Adam still working as a cop during all this?

Not for long. So less than a month after her disappearance on November 17th, Adam resigns from the Elkton Police Department. Now, for some reason, he's not, like, out of the department just yet. Like, that resignation doesn't take effect until January 16th, 2004.. But OK, I don't understand it.

I have to wonder if he had, like, his service weapon during that time, like, during that kind of interim, or, if they, like, tested it to see if it had been discharged. Like, it's right there.

Yeah, I know I'm your best friend, but I knew you were going to freaking ask that. So I asked Agent Depoy, and he said he wasn't certain whether he had it or not, whether it was tested or not.

So just a big question, mark.

Yeah, apparently back in the day, some Virginia law enforcement agencies had their officers buy their own service guns, which I didn't know was a thing. OK. So he wasn't sure if Elkton PD was one of those or not.

Right.

Now, fast forward to December 4th. This is now a month and a half after Rachel first disappeared. A search warrant is issued for Adams' home. Now, the contents of the warrant are sealed, and Brenda told us she didn't know of any evidence that was found during the search. Of course, it's another question.

OK, but is he the only person they're investigating?

He is the only person I have ever seen brought up in my research.

So we can call him a suspect?

Hold your horses. I'm telling you what was happening at the time. Got it. So over the next few weeks, Rachel's family publicly pleads for her safe return on TV and at police press conferences, asking for the public to help and to come forward with any information that they have. But either no one does or the information they do get doesn't lead anywhere.

But I think we can say that's what's happening here.

Exactly. And shortly after the grand jury convenes, Adam is called to testify.

Okay.

But, as always, these sessions, yeah, close to the public. So we don't get any more information on what he says, what happens, what's presented as evidence. And then days pass. And then weeks pass. And then months pass.

You're kidding.

I'm not. The grand jury meets on occasion for over a year without reporting findings or filing charges, which, always learning as a crime junkie. Apparently in Virginia, there are no time limitations on an investigation by a special grand jury. Like, it depends on the complexities of the case. So it seems like there is no definitive end to this.

It can just hang out forever. Go on and on.

Yeah. Prosecutor Gars reiterates to reporters that it's ongoing, so she has to be tight-lipped. But then she assures the public and Rachel's family that they're doing whatever they can.

Okay, if they have enough evidence and testimony to go an entire year and still be, like, meeting on this, how can they possibly not have enough to file charges?

That's what I'm saying. As far as I can tell, they're not, like, meeting every day for a year. They're just being reconvened as needed, which is not how I thought it worked. But, like, again, I'm learning every day. And, just to be clear, it's not, like, a year.

It's like hurry up and wait.

Yes. But here's the thing. Even though everything that is happening behind these closed doors is secret, that doesn't mean that people aren't letting a couple of things out of the back.

How does her brother know that, though? I mean, I didn't even think her family knew that she was dating anyone.

Well, again, I think he learned this after. My best guess is it's from the beginning. Because I know at this point, Virginia State Police have both hers and Adam's phone records. But the only details that have been released have been through Rachel's family. But whether this came from the records or not, it might have come from another way, because Brenda told us that she thought some of Rachel's friends who were aware of her relationship with Adam also noticed his calls stopping abruptly.

Right. But I guess with this information, is there any chance they can get GPS or cell tower data from their calls at this point?

Yes, but it's 2003,, so the technology that they're dealing with is way more limited than what we would have today. So Agent DePoy confirmed that they do have phone records, but surprise, he wouldn't provide any details of that. And eventually, Rachel's case just grinds to a halt. I mean, tips never stop coming into police, but they're kind of off the wall when they do. Someone hearing that her body was put in a wood chipper and investigators continue to run down even the most bizarre ones.

And the grand jury doesn't come back with a decision one way or another?

They do end up adjourning, but they adjourn with no decision, though jurors can be recalled for this case at any moment if new evidence or information comes to light. So what about Adam?

I mean, do we know what he's saying? Has he ever made any public statements, denying involvement, anything?

Nope. We know he's been interviewed by police, but the context of those conversations have never been revealed. And by fall of 2010, he has moved out of state, and I'm pretty sure he's gotten divorced, too.

Yeah, that tracks.

Now, 2010,, the seventh anniversary of Rachel's disappearance, is looming closer. And at this point, her family is tired of waiting for investigators to do something. I don't know if they just have circumstantial evidence or if they're worried to prosecute without a body. Who knows? But there are steps that Rachel's dad takes to pursue his own justice.

So obviously I get Adam, but why Elkton and the police chief?

Well, I guess typically, when a lawsuit is filed against a town police department, the town that oversees the operations of that department is also named in the suit. It's just like a technical thing. And it seems like Rachel's family, particularly her dad, Kerry, he thinks that the Elkton PD had knowledge of Rachel's affair with Adam. And if they did, and then they let him lead the investigation anyway, you're just as responsible as he was for any mishandling that may have happened in those first few days. Now, Elkton is such a small town that, even though the police chief denied having any knowledge of the affair, basically they think that it's super unlikely he actually didn't know anything.

Okay, but they didn't know about it. I mean, they're her parents in a small town.

They're her parents, but actually her mom lived like an hour away, in a different town, and her dad was a trucker who was always on the road.

So they were a little bit removed from the situation.

But her dad is convinced that the police chief knew about Adam's relationship with Rachel, although again, the police chief totally denies it. Now, you know how slow moving court proceedings can be, so it's not a huge surprise that this drags on for a while. But eventually, a couple of years later, this suit against the town and the former police chief, those parts are dropped.

So it's just Adam.

Right. His suit still stands. Now, the damages are dropped from $5 million to just $50,000, because this isn't about the money for Rachel's family. It's about getting answers. Right.

And you couldn't call, bro? I mean, it's 2016..

I know. It doesn't sit right with me. It doesn't sit right with Rachel's family either. But whatever, things are still kind of trucking along. Until September 2016,, when the attorney for Rachel's estate ultimately decides to dismiss the case altogether.

What? Why?

Well, because the team is unable to secure phone records from 2003.. According to that same article, I just referenced, the original phone records, I guess, have been destroyed by the phone company, not for any suspicious reasons, just because of the passage of time.

OK, but we know the state police have them.

They have them, but they won't hand them over. Even when the family lawyer tried to subpoena them, according to the Daily News record, the Virginia State Police filed a motion to squash the subpoena for the records, stating Production of the information sought by the plaintiff will require the disclosure of the contents of confidential files related to a criminal investigation.

OK, but it's been how many years now? I know. I mean, it doesn't seem like they're any closer to filing charges. What's the harm in releasing this information, and not just for fun, like for an actual court proceeding that could then lead to evidence that would help them with their case? I hear you.

I hear you. Of course, I asked Agent Depoy about this. He told us that the holdback information is due to the nature of the case still being so active. He says that the case isn't just sitting stagnant. They're not, at least according to him, just waiting for something to happen.

His civil case falls apart.

That's why they dismiss it. Like his lawyer's, like, if we don't have those phone records, like that's a big kind of crux of, I think, what they were trying to show. And without it, don't bring a case that's going to end up not getting ruled in your favor. Yeah. But dropping the case doesn't mean they're done.

Uh, that's a day late and 50 grand short, Adam.

Yeah, them's the rules. Adam tries to fight it, of course, but the judge rejects whatever reasoning he gives this time.

So trial time.

Actually, the judge hands down what's called a default judgment, which basically finds

Adam liable because he didn't show up to defend himself.

But Adam's attorney quickly files a motion to have that ruling set aside, and the court does it. So, like this, whole civil suit is back to square one. And I mean, this is again, I told you these things drag on. The case is still ongoing today, still awaiting a trial date. Rachel's family is still fighting for answers.

He is a way better person than I am.

Both of us then. Because I don't know that I could do that. He has more grace than I think most people would in that situation. And it's amazing how many family members I've talked to were like, that's the case. What they want, more than like vengeance or quote, unquote, justice or whatever, is just answers.

Right? Like an acknowledgement. Yeah.

Right. They're like, I'm not going to fight this battle, but like at a minimum, can you give me that? And so many of them are willing to forgive. Her dad's also being really patient, because he did say he'd rather wait for things to be done right than have things be done sloppily and have something messed up. But sadly, as of this recording, every search for Rachel has come up empty.

Yeah.

But still, no criminal charges have been filed. So all we're left with are theories and speculation as to where Rachel might be. But her dad, Kerry's been open about the theories and tips that his family has gotten, one of which brings a whole new person into the folds of this case.

Like how soon after she disappeared? Are we talking days, weeks?

Kerry believes that it was in the days following, but that claim has never been corroborated openly by police.

So he's thinking Adam called somebody to help with her body?

Well, more than that, Kerry tells Chris Slater, quote, I think that his father orchestrated it all. I feel like Adam said, hey, Rachel, let's drive to Florida. So they went to Florida, killed her and threw her in the swamp with the alligators.

End quote. Wait, wait, wait, wait. His dad orchestrated the murder?

That's what he's saying. That's what he thinks.

So why? What's the motive?

I don't know. I mean, I don't know if it was. he knew his son wanted to get rid of her, to hide the affair, the pregnancy, and like he, called his dad for help and like that was his dad's solution.

And if his dad drove up to Elkton, like why would they go to Florida then?

That I don't know. And Kerry didn't give our team an explanation for that either. We actually asked police if that was even plausible, but they're saying no. I got the feeling that they had actually looked into this theory, and, for reasons they won't say, they've pretty much ruled it out. I will mention, though, that someone else being involved in Rachel's disappearance isn't totally out of left field.

Okay, so did Adam or his dad drive a red truck?

I don't know. I'd like to think police checked if there have been any red trucks connected to either of them, but I can't say for sure. But, like, Brenda actually thinks, police just got their wires crossed because she told us that her dad, so which would have been Rachel's grandpa, had a red truck back then. So she thinks that that tip was probably just about one of the times they took his red truck to Rachel's apartment after they realized she was missing.

Right. And have there been any other tips more recently?

Well, we chatted with Agent Depoy back in September, and he did tell us about a moment over the summer when he thought he finally got the call that would break Rachel's case wide open. It was actually from law enforcement in West Virginia, calling about a body that had been found in a suitcase near the West Virginia-Virginia state line. At first, they thought it was a young woman, and Agent Depoy thought this might be Rachel, but further investigation revealed it was actually a young man. So that ended up being like a bust. But tips do continue to come in today, just none that have provided any breakthroughs in finding Rachel.

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We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.