What started as a way for a pair of two Illinois detectives to crowdsource tips to solve decades-old cold cases ended in a shocking discovery.
Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian decided to tackle unsolved cases with a fresh approach. In October 2024, they launched a true-crime podcast titled “Somebody Knows Something” at the request of Elgin Police Department Chief Ana Lalley. Their main aim was to leverage modern investigative technology to help bring closure to the families of those involved.
Initially hesitant about the idea, Vartanian shared with Fox News Digital, “We both kind of looked at each other and said, ‘No, I’m not really sure that’s for us.’” However, they adopted an open-minded and objective stance, realizing the potential of the podcast as a valuable tool to apply investigative techniques from law enforcement.
Discussing a specific case, Houghton highlighted the uniqueness of the situation by saying, “With this case, it was a bit of a unicorn in the fact that we had no idea what happened to her.” He emphasized the importance of overcoming the fear of failure or looking foolish in such endeavors. The ultimate goal was always to locate the missing individuals, allowing closure for their loved ones. Houghton added, “Don’t be afraid to fail, don’t be afraid of looking foolish. Because at the end of the day, the goal is to find this person and we did that in this case.
Houghton and Vartanian are already planning on the next case to revive in the second season of their podcast, telling Fox News Digital it will likely be a homicide investigation.
Houghton and Vartanian were able to provide her 90-year-old mother with two items recovered from her vehicle – her sapphire birthstone ring and class of 1977 high school graduation tassel – providing a sense of closure for Schepers’ loved ones as the mystery surrounding her disappearance finally comes to a close.
“We hope for continued success on each and every cold case,” Schepers’ family said. “Miracles do happen.”
