Steve Fishman, Narrator

It's 1990, and we're in a courtroom in Mansfield, Ohio. The prosecution's star witness has just taken the stand. He's about to describe something that happened one fateful night a few months ago.

It's 1990, and we're in a courtroom in Mansfield, Ohio. The prosecution's star witness has just taken the stand. He's about to describe something that happened one fateful night a few months ago.

So when his mother went missing, Collier decided it was up to him to find her. From Sony Music Entertainment and Orbit Media, this is Finding Mom's Killer. I'm Steve Fishman. This is the story of how a precocious kid joined forces with a most unlikely partner. Together, they set out to solve the mystery of his mother's disappearance.

So when his mother went missing, Collier decided it was up to him to find her. From Sony Music Entertainment and Orbit Media, this is Finding Mom's Killer. I'm Steve Fishman. This is the story of how a precocious kid joined forces with a most unlikely partner. Together, they set out to solve the mystery of his mother's disappearance.

Along the way, they'd unearth one terrible family secret after another. Episode one, A Little Vacation. On New Year's Day, 1990, six months before that 12-year-old boy took the witness stand, the Mansfield, Ohio Police Department was swamped with the usual holiday stuff. Bar brawls, disorderly conduct. So when a 44-year-old woman named Noreen Boyle was reported missing, it was not a top priority.

Along the way, they'd unearth one terrible family secret after another. Episode one, A Little Vacation. On New Year's Day, 1990, six months before that 12-year-old boy took the witness stand, the Mansfield, Ohio Police Department was swamped with the usual holiday stuff. Bar brawls, disorderly conduct. So when a 44-year-old woman named Noreen Boyle was reported missing, it was not a top priority.

This is Lieutenant Dave Messmore of the Mansfield Police. When Noreen Boyle's disappearance landed on his desk, he didn't think much of it. A couple of uniformed patrolmen had been sent over to her house to check things out. Their conclusion? Nothing to worry about.

This is Lieutenant Dave Messmore of the Mansfield Police. When Noreen Boyle's disappearance landed on his desk, he didn't think much of it. A couple of uniformed patrolmen had been sent over to her house to check things out. Their conclusion? Nothing to worry about.

As you might have gathered, Lieutenant Dave Messmore isn't exactly the excitable type. In appearance, he kind of fades into the background. He's got thinning hair, a lampshade mustache, sensible glasses. He takes his time. He's methodical. He assumed Noreen Boyle was just an unhappy wife in an unhappy marriage who needed a little alone time.

As you might have gathered, Lieutenant Dave Messmore isn't exactly the excitable type. In appearance, he kind of fades into the background. He's got thinning hair, a lampshade mustache, sensible glasses. He takes his time. He's methodical. He assumed Noreen Boyle was just an unhappy wife in an unhappy marriage who needed a little alone time.

Then one day at his office, he received a phone call from a close friend of Noreen's.

Then one day at his office, he received a phone call from a close friend of Noreen's.

So on January 2, Dave climbed into his department-issued used Oldsmobile and drove over to Noreen Boyle's house. Now, Dave was the Mansfield Police Department's head of major crimes. He wasn't supposed to go chase down leads on low priority cases. But Dave, low-key, laconic Dave, is full of surprises.

So on January 2, Dave climbed into his department-issued used Oldsmobile and drove over to Noreen Boyle's house. Now, Dave was the Mansfield Police Department's head of major crimes. He wasn't supposed to go chase down leads on low priority cases. But Dave, low-key, laconic Dave, is full of surprises.

By this point, he'd been on the force for 15 years, and he'd developed a reputation for striking out on his own, for bucking his superiors. He once put away a friend, a fellow cop no less, for murder. People learned it was best not to get in his way. Another time, he had a kid with a knife cornered. Other cops debated a next step. Dave rushed him.

By this point, he'd been on the force for 15 years, and he'd developed a reputation for striking out on his own, for bucking his superiors. He once put away a friend, a fellow cop no less, for murder. People learned it was best not to get in his way. Another time, he had a kid with a knife cornered. Other cops debated a next step. Dave rushed him.

Dave, without blackjack, figured he'd head over to the Boyle residence, have a word with Noreen's husband, a prominent local doctor named Jack Boyle. He arrived at the house, walked up the front steps, rang the doorbell.

Dave, without blackjack, figured he'd head over to the Boyle residence, have a word with Noreen's husband, a prominent local doctor named Jack Boyle. He arrived at the house, walked up the front steps, rang the doorbell.

This is Collier Boyle. He was the kid you heard testifying at the top of the show. He's a lot older now. When Lieutenant Dave Messmore arrived at the Boyle residence, it was Collier's grandmother, that's his father's mother, who answered the door.

This is Collier Boyle. He was the kid you heard testifying at the top of the show. He's a lot older now. When Lieutenant Dave Messmore arrived at the Boyle residence, it was Collier's grandmother, that's his father's mother, who answered the door.