Judy Smith: Found 600 Miles Away, Wearing Stranger's Clothes
Jul 8, 2026 · 57m
Summary
Hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore investigate the 1997 disappearance of Judy Smith, who vanished in Philadelphia during a trip with her new husband, Jeff. The episode explores conflicting witness sightings, missing personal items, and theories about marital strife or foul play. They analyze police skepticism and Jeff’s refusal to take a local polygraph, highlighting the complex clues surrounding Judy’s fate.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Crime House and the Clues podcast
Sponsor reads for Alma and Instacart
Discussion on ID photos and introduction to the case
Background on Judy Smith and her marriage to Jeff
The trip to Philadelphia and Judy's disappearance
Jeff's search efforts and initial police response
Witness sightings and inconsistencies in the investigation
Hotel room clues and missing personal items
Theories of voluntary departure and Jeff's polygraph refusal
Discovery of Judy's remains in Asheville, NC
Asheville sightings and the shift to homicide investigation
Theories: Affair, dementia, or serial killer involvement
Listener theories, cold case resources, and outro
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