The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow

Description

An immersive descent into one of the most mysterious and bizarre unsolved cases of this century. Through extensive research, personal interviews, and exclusive evidence, Anderson unearths the truth behind the disappearance of a loving, plucky family that was gradually worn down, warped–by pain and pathology–into a radicalized cell.

“There’s dark stuff up there, sir. You know that, right? Cults and such.” That’s what Starlet Jamison told the Sheriff after her son and his family went missing.

On October 8th, 2009, Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilynn, and their six-year-old daughter Madyson, set off for a drive from their home in Eufaula, Oklahoma, to the nearby Sans Bois Mountains. They didn’t return that day, or the next. A week later, their truck was found abandoned on a mountain road. Inside was their dog, malnourished but alive, the family’s cell phones, wallets, and $32,000 in cash.
The ensuing eight-month search was the largest in Oklahoma history, but it yielded little evidence. Online, bloggers and web sleuths put forth dozens of theories, fueled by the Jamisons’ strange, trancelike behavior on a CCTV video. Some claimed the family was abducted by white supremacists or a religious cult. In 2013, there was a tragic break in the case, when deer hunters stumbled upon the skeletal remains of two adults and a child in the Smokestack Hollow area of Panola Mountain. Forensic testing confirmed the Jamisons’ identities.

But the mystery was only beginning. Had the Jamisons been planning to abandon their lives and raise Madyson alone in the wilderness—and if so, why? What happened to the briefcase and handgun that Sheryilynn was seen putting into the car? And why were no arrests ever made?

Investigative journalist Jake Anderson draws on police notes, interviews, and exclusive evidence to piece together the Jamisons’ last days and weeks, weaving together startling material with his own personal insights. The story is one of dark, paranoid obsessions, but also of real malevolent forces residing in those shadowy mountains—and a compulsively readable account of a true murder mystery whose chilling impact continues to be felt.Praise for GONE AT MIDNIGHT

Oxygen’s List of Best True Crime Books of 2020
  
“Investigative journalist Anderson looks into the case of 21-year-old Elisa Lam, a student diagnosed as bipolar who vanished from L.A.’s seedy Cecil Hotel one day in 2013, in this outstanding debut. Anderson ponders whether it was suicide or a psychotic breakdown—or something more sinister that killed Lam. Anderson also vividly details the dark delusions he suffered while making a documentary at the Cecil Hotel. What really happened to Lam may never be known, but true crime buffs won’t want to miss this gripping search for the truth.” —Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

“Rather than exploiting Lam’s death as a morbid meme, Anderson takes an empathic and humanizing approach. His thorough research and passionate writing make a fascinating read. Extremely detailed and featuring new evidence, this book is recommended to anyone who loves to dive down a rabbit hole.” —Booklist

“From meditations on quantum mechanics and the meaning of consciousness, Gone at Midnight is not the typical true crime potboiler. It represents an evolution of the genre, with one infamous crime giving way to Gonzo-like reflections, cultural criticism, and a writing style that befits both the book form and the Internet blog. Gone at Midnight is the type of true crime book that you stay up all night reading. It is also the type of work that raises more questions than answers, and that’s perfectly okay.” —New York Journal of Books

“This chilling tale of obsession and gruesomeness is great for murder-mystery fans who also like a bit of paranormal sprinkled in. Turn on the lights, don’t read at night, and Gone at Midnight could be just right.” —The Bookworm, Nationally Syndicated Column
 
“The definitive book on Elisa Lam is finally here. Gone at Midnight is both an investigation into one of the Internet’s most frustrating mysteries and a personal exploration of depression and suicidal ideation. Jake Anderson continues the tradition of New Journalism and gonzo reporting by weaving a personal story of mental health and anguish with a confounding L.A. mystery.” —James Renner, author of True Crime Addict
 
“Sharply written with a journalistic nose for facts and detail, Jake Anderson’s Gone at Midnight captures the essence of a breaking true crime story and what goes on behind the scenes as the search for a missing person turns deadly. The twists and turns are remarkably sketched by an up-and-coming author who has complete control over his narrative. Add a bit of paranormal into the mix and what we have is riveting … scary, compelling … and expertly told.” —M. William Phelps, New York Times bestselling authorJake Anderson is a writer, filmmaker, investigative journalist, activist, and digital publisher. He runs the popular website The Ghost Diaries and is a contributing journalist for The Anti Media and multiple alternative media outlets. He has been a featured guest on Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis, Spaced Out, Nocturnal Frequency, West of the Rockies, and Common Ground. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, he’s a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and currently lives near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Find more of his work at TheGhostDiaries.com, where he analyzes cold cases and unexplained mysteries. Follow him on twitter @OverTheMoonSF.US

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