Ep:66 - From Disappearance to Justice - A conversation with Cpl. Rob Betnar | Murder Unscripted

Ed and Melissa sit down with Rob Betnar, the Pennsylvania State Police investigator who cracked the 1985 murder of 13-year-old David Wellington Reed in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. Drawing from the original police files - not rumors - Rob walks us through how a long-cold disappearance became a homicide case and, ultimately, a solved mystery. Ed previously produced this case for ID’s Nightmare Next Door and A&E’s Cold Case Files. Now it's Rob's turn to tell his version of what it really took to bring David's killer to justice. 🕵️‍♂️📂 🔎 What we cover: • Reopening a small-town cold case and building it from the ground up 🧭 • The rail yard timeline: caboose, impact evidence, and that crucial skull fracture 🚂✊ • How an exhumation and fresh forensics shifted the case from “undetermined” to homicide • Witness re-interviews, rumor vs. record, and the moment the case finally broke 📜🔦 • What justice looked like for David Reed - and lessons for families with unsolved cases 🕯️ 💬 Join the conversation LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to help more people find this episode. ✍️👍🔔 📨 Tips / case suggestions: DM or email the show. 🧩 Keywords (SEO): Rob Betnar interview, David Wellington Reed, David Reed murder, Schuylkill Haven cold case, Pennsylvania true crime, 1985 homicide, rail yard caboose, angle iron evidence, left-handed punch clue, exhumation, forensic re-evaluation, police case files, solved cold case, Murder Unscripted podcast, Ed Hydock, Investigation Discovery, A&E Cold Case Files, Nightmare Next Door#MurderUnscripted #RobBetnar #DavidReed #ColdCase #Solved #TrueCrime #SchuylkillHaven #Pennsylvania #PoliceFiles #Forensics #Exhumation #RailYard #Caboose #1985 #Interview #Podcast 🎧 _________________________________________________________________________ 🎙️ Welcome to Murder Unscripted — the weekly true-crime podcast where veteran producer Ed Hydock (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files & many more) teams up with his bestie - super-sleuth fan Melissa Spivey - to explore real life murder investigations. Our unique dynamic resonates with both seasoned true-crime fans and those new to the genre, while our unscripted interviews with detectives, forensic scientists, prosecutors, and victims’ families bring you far beyond recycled headlines - immersing you in the world of true-crime like no one else. 🔍 Expect deep dives into obscure stories, serial killers, cold cases, DNA breakthroughs & courtroom drama, plus Friday Minis, Shorts and live Q&As. Built on Insight, Integrity & Advocacy, we keep victims front-and-center, while adding a touch of humor to brighten even the darkest tales. 👉 New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe, join the MU Crew & tap the bell! 🌐 For more information about us and the show, visit our website at: www.MurderUnscriptedPod.comE-mail us at: murderunscriptedpod@gmail.com Follow us on socials 👇 FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557418124048 Insta - https://www.instagram.com/murderunscripted/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@murderunscripted ⚠️ Graphic details; listener discretion advised. #TrueCrime #MurderUnscripted #ColdCase #UnsolvedMysteries #ForensicScience #VictimAdvocacy 🕵️‍♀️🩸