Podcast appearances and mentions of dakota james

Skip the banter: 00:09:40 On a cold January night in Pittsburgh, 2017, 23-year-old Dakota James—smart, sarcastic, and openly gay—heads out for drinks with friends. He's last spotted on a blurry surveillance clip, walking down an alley near the Allegheny River, phone in hand. Then, he disappears. Forty days later, his body surfaces ten miles downstream, ruled an accidental drowning. But his parents, Pam and Jeff, refuse to accept it. Was it a fatal slip into icy waters, or something sinister—like the Smiley Face Killers, a haunting theory of serial murders targeting young men? Tune in as we explore Dakota's story: a life cut short, a family's fight for truth, and a mystery balancing on the edge of accident or evil. Allison's Amazon Addiction - Magnesium powder: https://amzn.to/4c3qWbG Allison's nightly bedtime drink recipe: 4 oz tart cherry juice (grocery store or https://amzn.to/4hRPdTo) 2 tsp collagen powder: https://amzn.to/4hRPaqG 1 scoop OPC-3 Isotonix - Antioxidant Supplement: https://amzn.to/3Y55JIG 1 oz club soda Enjoy! Support us and become a Patron! Over 100 bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/crimeandcoffeecouple Our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/crimeandcoffee2 All our links (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Merch, etc): https://linktr.ee/crimeandcoffee Facebook Group to discuss episodes: www.facebook.com/groups/crimeandcoffeecouplepodcast/ References available at https://www.crimeandcoffeecouple.com a few days after this podcast airs. Case Suggestions Form: https://forms.gle/RQbthyDvd98SGpVq8 Remember to subscribe to our podcast in your favorite podcast player. Do it before you forget! If you're listening on Spotify please leave us a 5-star review, and leave a comment on today's episode! If you're on an iPhone, review us on Apple Podcasts please! Scroll to the bottom of the page and hit the stars ;) We appreciate you more than you know. Reminder: Support us and become a Patron! Over 100 bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/crimeandcoffeecouple Podcast Intro and Outro music: Seductress Dubstep or TrippinCoffee by Audionautix http://audionautix.com Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com  

Dakota James, a 23-year-old graduate student at Duquesne University, vanished in Pittsburgh on January 25, 2017. A CCTV image captured Dakota walking through Katz Plaza and down an alley toward Fort Duquesne Boulevard. After a 40-day search, his body was found in the Ohio River near the Interstate 79 bridge over Neville Island. The medical examiner ruled it an accidental drowning, but Dakota's parents, considering his swimming ability, questioned this conclusion. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht noted inconsistencies in the autopsy findings, including possible ligature marks on Dakota's neck...Contact us at: weeknightmysteries@gmail.comYou can also follow us on our social media accounts:✔️ Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/weeknightmysteries✔️ Twitter ➤ https://twitter.com/wnmysteries✔️ Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/weeknightmysteries/✔️ Website ➤ https://weeknightmysteries.buzzsprout.com

Dakota James was a grad student at Duquesne University in 2017.  He had a bright future ahead of him and it seemed like everything in his life was going well.  No one could ever have guessed that the evening of January 25 would be the last time anyone would see Dakota alive.  His body was discovered in the Ohio River six weeks after he was reported missing.  Was this some terrible accident?  A suicide?  A hate crime?  Or maybe even tied to similar cases in the area, hinting at a possible serial killer at large? Whatever happened, his family has yet to get all of their questions answered. Listen as Grace tells the story and discusses theories with Chelsea and Sarah. Sources and photos available at kccpod.com.  Please note: after speaking with a source close to the case we will be adding some corrections/additions to our blog at kccpod.com/blog. 

The Smiley Face Killers: Dakota James Press Conference with Kevin Gannon and Dr. Cyril Wecht, Dec. 13th, 2018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between 2009 and March 2016, authorities searching Boston area waterways recovered the bodies of at least 11 people, mostly young men, who had previously been reported missing.This happens across the world - from small towns to huge cities.  In England, 61 bodies, mostly of young men, were recovered from the canals of Greater Manchester between 2008 and 2014.Could all these deaths really just be accidents or is there something more at play here?Join us for this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast as we discuss the possibility of Smiley Face Killer/s being responsible for some of these disappearances and deaths.  Are a network of domestic terrorists working together to carry out these crimes? We also discuss some cases where Smiley Face graffiti was found near a location where a previously missing man was found dead - - A smiley face was found painted on an overpass near where Dakota James' body was found.- Tommy Booth went missing from a bar in 2008 and his body was found in a creek behind the venue two weeks later.  A smiley face was painted on a wall under the deck of the bar.- Lucas Homan went missing from La Cross, Wisconsin in 2009.  He left a bar to walk home with a friend and was not seen alive again.  The friend woke up the next day in the ER with a head injury and no memory of what happened.  Lucas' body was pulled from the Mississippi River days after and a smiley face was found painted near the scene.- Todd Geib went missing in 2005 from Michigan.  His body was found three weeks later in a lake that had already been searched.  A smiley face had been spray-painted on a tree near where his body was found, and a smiley face sticker was later placed on his gravesite.- William Hurley went missing in Boston in 2009 after leaving a Bruins game.  His body was found in the Charles River six days later and there was a smiley face painted near the scene.You can listen to this episode on Spotify here - and Apple here- In our last episode, we did a deep dive on the cases of 6 men who had vanished and were either found in waterways or are still missing.  Make sure you listen to that episode first!  You can listen to the first episode here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/34H1dMmMjZYO6sZ6p0aHN1?si=c36b55bc525d48f0 and here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/accident-or-murder-why-do-missing-men-keep-turning/id1504300714?i=1000543019867You can read our blog for more information on all the cases discussed here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2021/11/10/missing-men-and-waterways-what-is-going-on/Thank you as always for listening!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TrueCrimeSociety)

Almost daily we hear of a case of a different missing man that vanishes after a night out with friends.  It happens everywhere - Boston, Chicago, Wisconsin, Minnesota.  Even in England.  Big cities and small towns.  The stories of these men play out in the same way.   Family and friends conduct desperate searches  and make frenzied social media posts in an attempt to find him before time runs out.  And then the worst happens,  a body is pulled from a lake or river, usually not far from where the man was last seen.    The search is over.Can all of these cases really be attributed to accidents?  Why do these cases seem to happen in clustered locations? In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we look at the cases of five men who were missing and later recovered in water.  We also discuss one current case where the man is still missing and a river is currently being searched:- Christopher Jenkins went missing from Minneapolis in 2002 on Halloween night.  His body was found in a river four months later.  Police originally classified his death as an accident and had to apologize to Chris' family when they determined it was actually likely a homicide.  - Zachary Marr went missing from a bar in Boston on February 13, 2016.  He had gone outside for a cigarette and messaged his friends that he wanted to leave.  In the matter of minutes while they were getting their coats, Zachary vanished into the night.  His body was found in a river one month after he disappeared and his death is thought to be accidental. - Dakota James was last seen alive on January 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh.  He was walking home after a night out with friends.  His body was pulled from a river 40 days later.  Dakota's family believe he had been drugged on the night he disappeared and that the condition of his body was too 'pristine'  to have been in the water for so long.  A smiley face was found spray painted on an underpass near where Dakota's body was found.  - Jelani Day went missing in August and his body was pulled from a river in September.  Pathologist Dr Jame Bryant said within his 50 years of experience he had never examined a body as destroyed as the 25-year-old.  - Dakota Bingham went missing from a bar in Nashville on October 10, 2021.  He called a Lyft to get home but never made the ride.  There is apparently CCTV of Dakota falling into the Cumberland River and struggling to swim.   His body was recovered just days after he disappeared.- Brendan Santo was visiting friends at Michigan State University on October 29.  He left to walk to another area and has not been seen since.  As of November 24, 2021, Brendan is still missing.  The Red Cedar River has been searched many times for him and police are hopeful of a breakthrough now that the water level is receding.  The FBI are also involved in the search for Brendan.You can read our blog for the men we discuss in this episode (and many others) here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2021/11/10/missing-men-and-waterways-what-is-going-on/In next week's episode, we delve more into the Smiley Face Killer theory, so make sure you listen to this one in preparation!In terms of other updates, we also discuss the case of Jacob, Noah and Amber Clare.  Jacob abducted his son and niece and went on the run with them.  There are rumors of grooming and incest in this case.  There is a lot going on - if you want to skip to the Clare update, goto 51.30 in the podcast. Thank you as always for listening xSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TrueCrimeSociety)

Thank you for listening on today's story. Make sure to rate and subscribe and spice up your day and night!Check her out before listening to the story. Instagram: Dakota James : https://www.instagram.com/dakotajames.tv/FREE EROTICA WITH FREE XXX VIDEO CAPTIONS: https://gumroad.com/realifewriterBe the next Girl of the story here! : https://fvrr.co/3bK8mY7For Business Inquiries: boredwriterwrites@gmail.comCheck it out on: https://linktr.ee/myfriendseroticstoriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfriendseroticstories/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sexy-steamy-sex-stories/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thank you for listening on today's story. Make sure to rate and subscribe and spice up your day and night!Check her out before listening to the story. Instagram: Dakota James : https://www.instagram.com/dakotajames.tv/FREE EROTICA WITH FREE XXX VIDEO CAPTIONS: https://gumroad.com/realifewriterBe the next Girl of the story here! : https://fvrr.co/3bK8mY7For Business Inquiries: boredwriterwrites@gmail.comCheck it out on: https://linktr.ee/myfriendseroticstoriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfriendseroticstories/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sexy-steamy-sex-stories/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thank you for listening on today's story. Make sure to rate and subscribe and spice up your day and night!Check her out before listening to the story. Instagram: Dakota James : https://www.instagram.com/dakotajames.tv/FREE EROTICA WITH FREE XXX VIDEO CAPTIONS: https://gumroad.com/realifewriterBe the next Girl of the story here! : https://fvrr.co/3bK8mY7For Business Inquiries: boredwriterwrites@gmail.comCheck it out on: https://linktr.ee/myfriendseroticstoriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfriendseroticstories/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sexy-steamy-sex-stories/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thank you for listening on today's story. Make sure to rate and subscribe and spice up your day and night!Check her out before listening to the story. Instagram: Dakota James : https://www.instagram.com/dakotajames.tv/FREE EROTICA WITH FREE XXX VIDEO CAPTIONS: https://gumroad.com/realifewriterBe the next Girl of the story here! : https://fvrr.co/3bK8mY7For Business Inquiries: boredwriterwrites@gmail.comCheck it out on: https://linktr.ee/myfriendseroticstoriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfriendseroticstories/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sexy-steamy-sex-stories/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Rescue Company 1 is back in studio and ready for take off. Carlos, Jason and Trisha share their experiences on treating individuals who fell victim to drug addictions and the touch base on the mistreatment by health care provides to addicts. Jason cracks open the cherry moonshine, Trisha loves her boobs, and Carlos talks about his love for the movie The Dirt. The degens are also joined by Patricio from With a Side of Chaos and the wild man himself Dakota James drops by as well.

Larry is the founder of Forletta Investigative Security Consulting. He is a judicially recognized expert in state and federal courts. He also has a broad spectrum of clients from the legal, medical, business, government, and private citizens. Larry graduated from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement Administration. Larry's law enforcement career spans 30 years with the Maryland State Police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He has worked in the DEA field offices of Washington DC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. He has a 100% conviction rate. Larry is a highly decorated Special Agent receiving numerous awards from the US Attorney General, DEA, US Attorney's Offices, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the US Military. Larry represented DEA as a Public Speaker and has instructed over 100 law enforcement officers and the US Military. Larry has been on radio, television, and podcasts. Larry was on the Oxygen Network docu-series the Smiley Face Killers". (Dakota James). For more information, please visit our website at www.fcisllc.com. Music Credit: Action Rhythms - David Fesliyan

*Short Sex Stories:* redcircle.com/shows/sexy-steamy-sex-stories ( http://redcircle.com/shows/sexy-steamy-sex-stories ) *Check her out before listening to the story.* *Instagram: Dakota James :* https://www.instagram.com/dakotajames.tv/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myfriendseroticstories For Business Inquiries: myfriendseroticpodcast@gmail.com ( http://myfriendseroticpodcast@gmail.com ) Check it out on: https://linktr.ee/myfriendseroticstories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfriendseroticstories/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/my-friends-erotic-stories/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

*Check her out before listening to the story.* *Instagram: Dakota James:* https://www.instagram.com/dakotajames.tv/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myfriendseroticstories For Business Inquiries: myfriendseroticstories@gmail.com ( http://myfriendseroticstories@gmail.com/ ) Check it out on: https://linktr.ee/myfriendseroticstories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfriendseroticstories/ *Today.* We would visit our friends from r/Erotica Author,TarynCarrow. Tells us a story about the new blood at the office. Sit back and enjoy the story. This is our Friends Erotic Stories. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/my-friends-erotic-stories/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is the Relaunch of From The Stache Podcast with Dakota James Rose (Worth the Wait-vocalist/song writer/producer) we talk about the return of the band and their latest single to be released Friday at 12AM EST and much more! Click the link for all platforms https://linktr.ee/WTWOfficial --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fromthestachepodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromthestachepodcast/support

Mysteries have been a mainstay on TV and Cinema. Whether it's a murder mystery, a police procedural, or a classic film noir we are captivated by the mystery of who done it. TV shows like Magnum PI, Stumptown, Remington Steel, and Take Two paint unique pictures of what life as a PI is like. Today's guest has lived the life both in the world of law enforcement and as a PI. In today's show, Larry Forletta reveals the real life of a DEA Agent and a PI. We dive deep into the importance to ethics in Law Enforcement and how more needs to be done to make the system more just. He also shares the process that he used to help the family trying to find their missing son and how that led to a docu-series on the Oxygen Network. So join us as we look behind the scenes of a real-life PI. Forletta Website About Larry Forletta Larry is the founder of Forletta Investigative Security Consulting. He is a judicially recognized expert in state and federal courts. He also has a broad spectrum of clients from the legal, medical, business, government, and private citizens. His law enforcement career spans 30 years with the Maryland State Police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He has worked in the DEA field offices of Washington DC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. He has a 100% conviction rate. Larry is a highly decorated Special Agent receiving numerous awards from the US Attorney General, DEA, US Attorney's Offices, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the US Military. He was also on the Oxygen Network docu-series the Smiley Face Killers". (Dakota James).

Mysteries have been a mainstay on TV and Cinema. Whether it's a murder mystery, a police procedural, or a classic film noir we are captivated by the mystery of who done it. TV shows like Magnum PI, Stumptown, Remington Steel, and Take Two paint unique pictures of what life as a PI is like. Today's guest has lived the life both in the world of law enforcement and as a PI.In today's show, Larry Forletta reveals the real life of a DEA Agent and a PI. We dive deep into the importance to ethics in Law Enforcement and how more needs to be done to make the system more just. He also shares the process that he used to help the family trying to find their missing son and how that led to a docu-series on the Oxygen Network. So join us as we look behind the scenes of a real-life PI.Forletta Website: www.fcisllc.comAbout Larry ForlettaLarry is the founder of Forletta Investigative Security Consulting. He is a judicially recognized expert in state and federal courts. He also has a broad spectrum of clients from the legal, medical, business, government, and private citizens. His law enforcement career spans 30 years with the Maryland State Police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He has worked in the DEA field offices of Washington DC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. He has a 100% conviction rate.Larry is a highly decorated Special Agent receiving numerous awards from the US Attorney General, DEA, US Attorney's Offices, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the US Military. He was also on the Oxygen Network docu-series the Smiley Face Killers". (Dakota James).

Larry Forletta is a retired federal DEA agent dynamic speaker and educator who talks about the drug wars in North America. According to the New Castle News (ncnewsonline.com), Larry is “a highly decorated former Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He has received awards from the Attorney General of the United States as well as from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. military” (Jan 19, 2019). Larry was also featured on the Oxygen documentary "The Smiley Face Killer" due to his connection with the Dakota James case. Over the course of his professional service with law enforcement he led high level investigations of domestic and international criminal organizations, achieving a 100% conviction rate. With the fascination of drug trafficking in the media with shows like Narcos, Breaking Bad, El Chapo and Pablo Escobar, this episode highlights the approach we are taking to thwart the drug war so North Americans can lead more peaceful lives. Larry talks about the drug war getting worse than it is better, and the people who “get into the game” come from all kinds of backgrounds. He says that people who do not have money, even single mothers, are approached who have a hard time turning the money down as a means to support their livelihood. Both lower class and upper class neighborhoods have drug issues, and once you are approached, it becomes difficult for anyone at that point. These people become mules or stash houses and the drug problem gets perpetuated. He said that the purity is at about 90% and the drugs are mixed with fentanyl, which is also making it much more deadly. According to Susan Stellin reporting for the New York Times, “Drugs have been the top reason people have been arrested in the United States for at least the past 10 years, and marijuana has been the top drug involved in those arrests” (Nov. 5, 2019). Larry says that more education is needed and programs such as the demand reduction programs, D.A.R.E. programs, and local police talks are great starting points. Additionally, illegal immigration is a problem, and we need to protect our borders as there is a continued flow of drug coming from Mexico. Website: https://fcisllc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lforletta/ AdvancingHumanityPodcast.com

Across the USA, hundreds of men in their late teens and early 20s have gone missing following nights out with friends, starting in 1997. Their bodies were found weeks or months later in bodies of water and smiley face graffiti has been found near supposed crime scenes. Their deaths have all been classed as accidental drownings or undetermined. This week Taylor and Kat dig into the Smiley Face Killers theory and try to decide if it's fact or fiction.------------------------------------------------FURTHER READING:Is a serial killer gang murdering young men across the us - Daily BeastSmiley Face Killer - CNNSmiley face murder theory - WikipediaWhy do people still believe The Pusher is real? - Manchester Evening NewsSmiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice - Amazon Prime VideoThe Case of the Drowning Men: Investigating the Smiley Face Serial Murders - Amazon-----------------------------------------------Like the show? Give us a rating and review!Follow us on social media:FacebookInstagramSquaremileofmurder.comSupport us:PatreonOther support options

Episode 039 features three very unique and talented artists named Dirty Soda Dakota @DirtySodaDakota , Carlo Anthony @ILYCarlo & James Curley @JurleyCames This episode is by far one of our most entertaining conversations to date! From learning about Carlo Anthony’s porn star life and “autistic” music style to hearing about the journey that James Curley experienced and influences the passionate music he makes today. And special thanks to Dirty Soda Dakota for helping bring this episode together and gives us a heads up to his upcoming projects and collaborations with these guys and a lot of other major Grand Rapids artists. Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to comment on what you think, subscribe and share!

Larry Forletta's investigative work on one of Pittsburgh's most haunting unsolved murder mysteries takes the spotlight on; Is There Really Truth & Justice for All? Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt For Justice. The docuseries aired on January 19th on the Oxygen Channel and featured the case of Duquesne University student Dakota James. James was last seen in Downtown Pittsburgh after partying with friends on the night of January 25, 2017. Security footage showed him walking through Katz Plaza and Scott Place before heading toward Fort Duquesne Boulevard and disappearing without a trace. On March 6, his lifeless body was found in the Ohio River. Medical examiners ruled James may have accidentally drowned, and local authorities believed he may have been drunk and killed himself, perhaps accidentally, by jumping off the bridge. After investigation however, an overwhelming amount of evidence indicated otherwise.

Dakota James is heading home after a night out with friends. He's caught on survelliance walking towards a dark alley. This is the last time we'll see Dakota alive.

It was a freezing cold day on January 25th, 2017 when a young athletic, academically gifted college student named Dakota James was enjoying a fun night out with a group of co-workers for happy hour in Station Square. After happy hour Dakota and one of his female co-workers decide to take the local city train to downtown Pittsburgh, stopping at a few bars before arriving at 941 Saloon. A popular LGBTQ hang out on Liberty Avenue. After a few hours Dakota and his co-worker head to Images, another bar on Liberty Avenue, where he was refused service for being too intoxicated and given some water, before he started eating someone else's left behind slice of pizza that was laying on the bar.Listen now on Himalaya! Download the app or go to https://www.himalaya.com/crimesaladSupport us on Himalaya or Patreon https://patreon.com/crimesaladpodcast

Hi and welcome to episode two of the Don't Go In There podcast hosted by Ashley Erny and Bill Reed.  We are a True Crime Podcast with a Paranormal Twist! In this week episode we explore the case of Dakota James, and we share our thoughts and theories on what we believed could have happened to Dakota. We also spend some time debunking the Smiley Face Theory, and share one way that we think it could be possible. Also, our apologies ahead of time. There may be slight feedback if you are listening with headphones. We had some technical difficulties. Please bare with us as we hone in this editing process. We would love to hear your views, and thoughts about the Smiley Face Killer Theory! Email us at: Dontgointhere19@gmail.com Please share with us any true crime to spooky ghost stories! We would love to read them on future episodes IG:@Dont_Go_In_There Twitter :@Dontgointhere3 Facebook Group & Page: Don't Go In There   Don’t  forget to download, subscribe, and rate us. Also please share and tell a friend! & Remember.... Don't Go In There --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Smiley Face Killers: Dakota James Press Conference with Kevin Gannon and Cyril Wecht

The Smiley Face Killers: Dakota James Press Conference with Kevin Gannon and Cyril Wecht

Ellen and Jack Kochu, the parents of Paul Kochu and Jess Kochu, his sister, discuss Paul’s life, the painful mystery of his disappearance, and their contentions about how he died. Pam and Jeff James, parents of Dakota James, also share their sorrow, the legacy they want for their son, and their doubts about the investigation of his disappearance. The families’ comments about the cases, the podcast and their grief were recorded during a live public event on Dec. 7, 2017, at the  George Roland White Theater at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh. The moderator is Andrew Conte, director of the Point Park’s Center For Media Innovation, where the podcast was produced.

Forensic pathologist Cyril H. Wecht, psychologist Paul Friday and attorney, college professor and former FBI supervisory special agent Lawrence Likar talk about their involvement in the Post-Gazette podcast and offer opinions about the cases of Paul Kochu and Dakota James. Their discussion was recorded during a live public event on Dec. 7, 2017, at the  George Roland White Theater at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh. The moderator is Andrew Conte, director of Point Park’s Center For Media Innovation, where the podcast was produced.

“Three Rivers, Two Mysteries” host Michael A. Fuoco, producer Ashley Murray and editor Virginia Linn detail how the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette came to produce its first serialized podcast. During a live event on Dec. 7, 2017, they discuss their interviews with families, experts, and detectives concerning the baffling disappearances and deaths of Paul Kochu and Dakota James. Additionally, they explain their audio production process, bumps in the road and other behind-the-scenes details. The recording was made during a public event at the George Roland White Theater at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh. The moderator is Andrew Conte, director of Point Park’s Center For Media Innovation, where the podcast was produced.

Grief, frustration and even anger remain as the third anniversary of Paul Kochu’s disappearance and the one-year mark for Dakota James approach. Both families have hired private consultants to help them with their goal of determining what happened to their sons. Additionally, the Kochu family has set up a scholarship and the James family has established a foundation to keep the memory of Paul and Dakota alive--even as questions about their deaths still loom large.

Dakota James had a focused mind, a sharp wit and a soft spot for older generations.  A graduate student at the same Pittsburgh university that Paul Kochu had attended, he had plans to go to law school. Dakota was gay and because of that, his parents worried for his safety. After a night of barhopping with a co-worker in January 2017, he disappeared as he appeared to be walking to a bridge on his way home. In March 2017, his body was found in the Ohio River not far from Pittsburgh. Was this a hate crime? Or could it have been an accident, as the medical examiner ruled?

The unexpected death of any young person is a tragedy. But when the circumstances of a young person’s unexplained disappearance and subsequent death are unsolved mysteries, grief grows exponentially. That is the experience of the families of Paul Kochu and Dakota James, two promising young men who mysteriously disappeared from Pittsburgh on winter nights separated by 25 months. The vexing questions of their cases continue to bedevil those who loved them and even strangers moved by the tragedies.

In this upcoming serial podcast from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, we'll look at the eerily similar and mysterious deaths of Paul Kochu and Dakota James. How and why did they go missing? What might have happened to them? How did Pittsburgh police approach these cases? And how have their families and friends coped with their mysterious deaths?

Dakota James plays my girlfriend in the new season of dating on set, which comes out later this year. I was able to lock her down for the show while I was out in LA shooting. Dakota is a rising star in the porn industry. Cool thing about her is that she comes from a different background and lives in Alaska. She is a really nice chick and we had a lot of fun. Check it. -Josh