Ep 3. Deadly Tracks

In season 1 episode 3 of Gone: The Forgotten Women of Ohio, entitled "Deadly Tracks," investigators delve into the case of Megan Lancaster, a young woman who disappeared on April 3, 2013. Megan's car was found abandoned alongside train tracks near the Ohio/West Virginia border, with her toothbrush and phone left behind. Despite extensive searches and investigations, Megan's whereabouts remained a mystery until a gruesome discovery was made by an outdoor enthusiast over a year later.

The episode begins with Megan's mother, Vickie, recounting her daughter's life and the events leading up to her disappearance. The narrative shifts to investigators revealing that Megan had fallen in with a rough crowd and had been involved in criminal activity, including drug use and theft. Megan's mother had reported her missing, but police initially dismissed the case and assumed that she had run away.

The investigation took a turn when a local resident out hiking stumbled across a human skull in the woods. The skull was identified as Megan's, and investigators returned to the area to conduct a more thorough search. They found additional remains, but crucial evidence was missing, including Megan's jawbone and certain body parts. The gruesome nature of the crime suggested a calculated killer, and investigators launched a manhunt for the perpetrator.

Through interviews with family members, friends, and law enforcement, Megan's story is pieced together, revealing a heartbreaking tragedy that is all too common in small-town America. The episode explores the ways in which a person's history of drug use and criminal activity can lead to a lack of empathy and a dehumanization that allows violence to occur with little consequence.

As investigators continue to gather evidence in the case, they work with forensic experts to determine the cause of Megan's death and collect clues about her killer. The case becomes a race against time as the killer remains at large, and the community is left reeling from the brutal death of a young woman.

The episode ends on a somber note, with Megan's mother expressing her grief and anger over her daughter's death, and the realization that justice may never be fully served. As the credits roll, viewers are left to grapple with the harsh realities of crime and violence in our society, and the need to confront and address these issues.