Dakota Spotlight is the acclaimed North Dakota true crime podcast, created and hosted by journalist James Wolner. Each season investigates unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and small-town crimes from across North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. The podcast blends meticulous research, immersive sound design, and compassionate storytelling, offering a trusted and compelling source for true crime stories. With Eleven Seasons, Standalone Stories, and Limited Series, Dakota Spotlight invites you to experience true crime done differently.
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Explore the Dakota Spotlight True Crime Catalog
Start with any season of Dakota Spotlight to uncover unsolved murders, disappearances, and unforgettable true crime stories from North Dakota and beyond.
Homicide at House of Bottles
The 1999 murder of Robbie Rahrich. Following the investigation, questions of justice, accountability, and forgiveness still remain.
You Killed Chris
The 1968 murder of Christine Rothschild at UW–Madison, the questions that remain, and her friend’s enduring pursuit of justice.
The Mandan Murders
Four killed at a Mandan business. Revisits the 2019 murders and explore the investigation, trial, and aftermath through local reporting.
Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien
On Halloween 2007, Joel Lovelien was found dead outside a Grand Forks bar. The case that followed raised lasting questions about justice and truth.
Call Me Shelly
After dropping off her son and running errands, she vanished. Police files disappeared too, along with two unidentified men.
Vanishing Act
In 1993, Kristin Diede and Bob Anderson vanished after a trip to Wishek, North Dakota. Their disappearance remains a true crime mystery.
A Better Search for Barbara
Fifteen-year-old Barbara Cotton disappeared in 1981 near her home in Williston, North Dakota. Her case remains one of the state’s enduring mysteries.
Chasing Billy Wolf
In 1978, a severed body was found in Fargo’s Red River. The murder of Billy Wolf Jr. remains one of North Dakota’s most haunting unsolved cases.
The House on Sweet and Seventh
In Bismarck, North Dakota, a group of teens and young adults lived on the edge, breaking rules and inviting danger into their lives.
Zeeland
Wade and Ellen Zick missed church on July 11, 1976. What followed became one of North Dakota’s most chilling true crime stories.
Victor Newberry
Victor left the bar without his coat or phone. Hours later, he was found dead beside his vehicle. What really happened that night?
Zeeland Rebroadcast
This 2024 rebroadcast includes new interviews and updates to the 1976 Zick case, a true crime story that stunned Zeeland, North Dakota.
More from Dakota Spotlight
In addition to full seasons, Dakota Spotlight invites you to binge true crime through standalone stories, deep dives, and limited series with more mysteries to uncover.
Friday Night Fiction
A noir-inspired series of original crime stories from North Dakota and the Upper Midwest, drawing on suspense classics like Hitchcock, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet.
Join thousands of listeners who trust Dakota Spotlight, a North Dakota true crime podcast, to reveal the region’s most unforgettable stories. Start your journey today.