Barbara Louise Cotton disappeared from Williston, N.D., on April 11, 1981. She was reportedly last seen walking towards her home after having dinner with her boyfriend and another friend. Barbara, 15, never arrived at her destination and has never been seen or heard from again. Her case is considered open and unsolved. Dakota Spotlight's podcast series, "A Better Search for Barbara" explores and investigates this cryptic cold case from North Dakota's northwest corner.

• To get the full story 40 years of nothing, few answers for family, friends of missing teen Barbara Cotton of Williston
  

In Episode 9, James Wolner looks closer at one of several persons of interest in Barbara's disappearance: Frank J. Delapena.

Delapena was living in Williston , N.D. when Barbara Cotton vanished. One month later, he murdered two young girls in Rawlins, Wyo. He was quickly apprehended but took his own life in a Colorado jail cell.

Podcast host James Wolner traces Delapena's movement between Williston, N.D. and Rawlins, Wyo . and interviews missing persons advocate Andre Johnson . A childhood friend of Delapena's victims, Johnson shares her own memories of how Delapena's crimes affected her and the community of Rawlins, Wyo.

• Episode 1: "Five Blocks from Home" explores the night Barbara went missing from the perspective of her childhood friend Sandee Evanson. Read more about this unsolved mystery and listen to 40 years of nothing, few answers for family, friends of missing teen Barbara Cotton of Williston
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• Episode 2: "Tributaries of the Truth" we attempt to untangle the confusion surrounding Barbara's last known whereabouts. We also look closer at the question: Could Barbara Cotton have simply run away? Listen to Tributaries of the Truth: Listen to episode 2 of A Better Search for Barbara Cotton

• Episode 3: We look closer look at the initial police investigation. We also ask the question: might Barbara's kindness and big heart have led to her demise? Listen to She was "gentle and kind" - listen to episode 3 of "A Better Search for Barbara Cotton"

• Episode 4: Investigating on our own - listen to episode 4 of "A Better Search for Barbara Cotton"

• Episode 5: "Tell mom I love her." Listen to episode 5 of "A Better Search for Barbara Cotton"

• Episode 6: "Persons of interest" in missing Barbara Cotton case - Listen to full interview with investigators at Williston police department

• Episode 7: Barbara was seen at a party - Listen to episode 7 of "A Better Search for Barbara"

• Episode 8: A man in black - Listen to episode 8 of "A Better Search for Barbara"

• See Also: Videos and Photos: A Better Search for Barbara Cotton

Listen here to the podcast or anywhere podcasts are found ( Spotify , Apple , Google Podcasts , Stitcher etc.)

RELATED

Information about Missing Kids
True Crime podcasts BY JAMES WOLNER

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• True crime podcast: The untold story of a Zeeland, N.D., couple and their tragic murders in 1976
• The house on Sweet & 7th: the Erickstad homicides.
  
• In "Chasing Billy: A Pursuit for Justice," Dakota Spotlight debuts episode 1 of a new season focused on unsolved 1978 murder
  

RELATED Podcast homepage | Newsletter | Season 3 videos | Season 2: 1976 Zick murders | jwolner@forumcomm.com