Vanished in the Shadows: The Dyatlov Pass Incident & The Sodder Children Mystery

Two of history’s most chilling disappearances—worlds apart, yet bound by unanswered questions. In this episode of Champagne and Murder, Please, we unravel the baffling tragedy of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, where nine hikers met a strange and terrifying end in the frozen Russian wilderness. Then, we journey to West Virginia to revisit the haunting disappearance of the Sodder children, a case that continues to spark debate nearly eight decades later. Were these tragedies the result of accidents, foul play, or something more sinister? Pour a glass, and join us as we dive deep into the shadows of these enduring mysteries.Wikipedia: “Dyatlov Pass incident” — comprehensive overview with citations and chronology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident WikipediaOriginal case files (autopsies, radiograms, photos), Dyatlov Pass site: https://dyatlovpass.com/case-files and https://dyatlovpass.com/case-files-volume-2 Dyatlov Pass+1Reuters (July 11, 2020): Russian prosecutors’ avalanche conclusion and summary: https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-blames-avalanche-for-1959-urals-mountain-tragedy-ria-agency-reports-idUSKCN24C0JJ/ ReutersGaume, J., & Puzrin, A. (2021): “Mechanisms of slab avalanche release and impact in the Dyatlov Pass incident,” Communications Earth & Environment (Nature): https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00081-8 NaturePuzrin, A. M., et al. (2022) commentary: field/expedition context for slab avalanches in the area, Communications Earth & Environment: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00393-x NatureSmithsonian Magazine (Jan 29, 2021): accessible summary of the slab-avalanche research: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-unraveled-mystery-dyatlov-pass-incident-180976886/ Smithsonian MagazineNational Geographic (feature, updated May 17, 2023): reporting on the science and controversy: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/has-science-solved-history-greatest-adventure-mystery-dyatlov National GeographicThe New Yorker (May 17, 2021): narrative investigation blending the 2020 prosecutor’s reconstruction with the 2021 model: