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<v Speaker 1>He was an aspiring filmmaker, eagerly planning to move to

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<v Speaker 1>Hollywood with his wife to pursue his dreams. Then, one

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<v Speaker 1>ordinary evening in Baltimore, he received a mysterious phone call

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<v Speaker 1>and vanished without a trace, leaven behind a home that

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<v Speaker 1>suggested he might be right back. However, days later, his

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<v Speaker 1>body was found, kicking off one of the most baffling

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<v Speaker 1>unsolved mysteries of our time. This is the story of

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<v Speaker 1>the impossible death of Ray Rivera.

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<v Speaker 2>My name's Ben, I'm Nicole, and you're listening to Wicked

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<v Speaker 2>and Grim.

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<v Speaker 1>A true crime podcast.

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<v Speaker 2>The following podcast and.

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<v Speaker 1>Material intended more.

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<v Speaker 2>Mature audience listener discretion.

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<v Speaker 3>He's advised, welcome back.

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<v Speaker 1>That's what you got. Welcome back.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. Ben was just pointing at me to start this off,

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<v Speaker 2>and I don't what do I don't even have anything

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<v Speaker 2>to say.

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<v Speaker 1>I threw it over to Nicole without any prompts, and

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<v Speaker 1>she's like, well, I was.

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<v Speaker 2>Gonna say Happy Friday, but we say that a lot,

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<v Speaker 2>so I just like, welcome back.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, whatever works, right. Honestly, I do have to say

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<v Speaker 1>it can be difficult at times to like have a

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<v Speaker 1>little intro going in the show, not like the intro

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<v Speaker 1>that I read out or anything, but like the little

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<v Speaker 1>chatty moments at times, like do we have something to

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<v Speaker 1>chat about? Should we just dive into the case. I

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<v Speaker 1>know some of you want us to just dive in,

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<v Speaker 1>but some of us want the chat.

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<v Speaker 2>Well. I think sometimes the chat is nice in the

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<v Speaker 2>sense that it like it gets you to know us

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<v Speaker 2>a little better, which I feel like is important.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, honestly, that's kind of the point of our show,

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<v Speaker 1>not just to deliver true crime. We're hosts of the show.

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<v Speaker 1>We want you to feel like, hey, you're sitting down

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<v Speaker 1>chilling with us, so we get to chat with you guys.

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<v Speaker 1>At the beginning of the episodes, it gets relaxing, Like

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<v Speaker 1>you say, gets to know us sort of thing.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm about to literally we're going to record this and

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<v Speaker 2>then I'm like leave it on.

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<v Speaker 1>A road trip yep. So yep, Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>I feel like my brain is kind of in two

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<v Speaker 2>places right now here and there.

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<v Speaker 1>And one of the conversations we had this morning, it's

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<v Speaker 1>a very important conversation when you're going on a road

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<v Speaker 1>trip along this section of road, extremely important that you

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<v Speaker 1>discuss it.

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<v Speaker 2>Aha, how much syrup do you want me to get?

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<v Speaker 1>Yes? How much maple syrup are you bringing home? So

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<v Speaker 1>there is a little town called seventy Mile. It's driving

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<v Speaker 1>south through British Columbia, and they get a little food stand,

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<v Speaker 1>a little store, sugar shack called a sugar shack, and

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<v Speaker 1>there's this guy who moved over from Quebec and he

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<v Speaker 1>brought with them some like real poutine, some real good

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<v Speaker 1>like Canadian meals, and in my opinion, it's the best

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<v Speaker 1>place in British Columbia to get poutine. And of course

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<v Speaker 1>he also has like real syrup and stuff like that.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's it's whenever we go on a road trip,

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<v Speaker 1>we always stop by and get some stuff from them.

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<v Speaker 2>Mm hmm. And last time, apparently I bought too many,

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<v Speaker 2>and you're like, what the frigger's supposed to do with

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<v Speaker 2>all this? But we're out, so okay, clearly I did

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<v Speaker 2>not buy too many.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, because we started having more pancakes and waffles and

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<v Speaker 1>such to go through the syrup. And now we've gone

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<v Speaker 1>through it, so that's to be expected.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's staying good. I'm not sure if I'm going

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<v Speaker 2>to stop on my way down or my way up,

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<v Speaker 2>but at one point I will.

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<v Speaker 1>Why not both get a poutine both ways. Right, yeah, anyways,

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<v Speaker 1>let's get into this case. Have you heard of this one,

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<v Speaker 1>the impossible death of Ray Rivera.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't think so.

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<v Speaker 1>No, So this one, it's a lot of speculation. That's

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<v Speaker 1>most of what's going on in this case is hearsay,

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<v Speaker 1>theories and opinions throwing it out there right now, that like,

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<v Speaker 1>the facts in this case pretty minimal, but it's a

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<v Speaker 1>very interesting one to dive into and it gets your

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<v Speaker 1>mind thinking. It is, of course a mystery because hey,

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<v Speaker 1>it's the impossible death of Ray Rivera, right, so it's

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<v Speaker 1>an unsolved case. So get your thinking caps on because

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<v Speaker 1>you can need it for this one.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, I'm ready.

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<v Speaker 1>So starting off, I want you to imagine a young man,

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<v Speaker 1>he's driven with a quiet ambition, whose path seems set

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<v Speaker 1>for the bright lights of Hollywood. Eventually. That is Ray

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<v Speaker 1>Rivera now. He was born on June tenth, nineteen seventy three,

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<v Speaker 1>in the vibrant city of Madrid, Spain, and Ray carried

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<v Speaker 1>a creative spark from a very early age. His passion

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<v Speaker 1>for storytelling eventually led him across the Atlantic to the

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<v Speaker 1>University of the Pacific, where he graduated in nineteen ninety

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<v Speaker 1>five with a degree in communications, specifically honing his skills

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<v Speaker 1>in creative arts and filmmaking. Now, after college, his life

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<v Speaker 1>took an interesting turn. In September of two thousand and four, Ray,

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<v Speaker 1>along with his wife Allison, packed up their lives and

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<v Speaker 1>moved to Baltimore. Now the reason for the big move

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<v Speaker 1>there was a job offer from an old high school buddy.

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<v Speaker 1>The guy's name was Porter Stansbury. Porter's going to be

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<v Speaker 1>throughout the story, so remember that name. Now. Porter brought

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<v Speaker 1>Ray into the fold at Stansbury Research, where Ray began

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<v Speaker 1>contributing to a newsletter called the Rebound Report. He was

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<v Speaker 1>offering insights on turnaround stocks and that sort of stuff.

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<v Speaker 1>So while financial or finance might seem like a bit

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<v Speaker 1>of a departure from the film aspirations, he had Ray's

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<v Speaker 1>innate creativity, sharp mind in writing ability. It proved to

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<v Speaker 1>be a very valuable asset for this position, not just

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<v Speaker 1>at the research facility, Stansbury Research, but also for its

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<v Speaker 1>larger parent company, A Gora, which was a powerhouse in

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<v Speaker 1>financial research and advice. So with his ability in this position,

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<v Speaker 1>it was like an amazing fit. Now, despite his apparent

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<v Speaker 1>competence in the world of financial writing. Ray, deep down

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<v Speaker 1>he was far from content doing this work. The truth was,

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<v Speaker 1>his heart wasn't in it. The intricate world of stocks

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<v Speaker 1>and market reports felt miles away from the vibrant stories

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<v Speaker 1>and characters he dreamed of bringing to life on a

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<v Speaker 1>screen creative writing, right, mm hmm, Yeah, that.

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<v Speaker 2>There's quite a difference there. Hey.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, he's assessing numbers, projecting different things and he's just

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<v Speaker 1>writing reports. That's way different than creating a world, a

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<v Speaker 1>character and bringing him to life and a story. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, beginning, middle, and end. With this financial there's

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<v Speaker 1>no beginning, no end, and it's just what happened today,

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<v Speaker 1>what's going on today. Tomorrow might like look like this,

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<v Speaker 1>but today it's like that. Oh my god, Like dang,

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<v Speaker 1>I couldn't do that. That would drive me nuts.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean I feel like there's certain there's certain

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<v Speaker 2>people that are like number people. Oh and then and

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<v Speaker 2>they honestly thrive and just love that, right, they get

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<v Speaker 2>excited about following that kind of thing.

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<v Speaker 1>All the power to them. I'm just saying it ain't

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<v Speaker 1>for me.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and it's obviously not quite for him either.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah. Now, the growing tension between his day job and

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<v Speaker 1>his true passion eventually led to a significant decision. By

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<v Speaker 1>two thousand and five, Ray had decided to step away

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<v Speaker 1>from his role at Stansbury Research. But Ray wasn't one

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<v Speaker 1>to simply idle buy With financial writing behind him, he

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<v Speaker 1>plunged back into that creative and athletic interest that he

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<v Speaker 1>had on the side too. He took on coaching positions,

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<v Speaker 1>guiding the water polo team at John Hopkins University, and

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<v Speaker 1>just doing what he could to get back into the

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<v Speaker 1>groove of what he used to be doing. More importantly,

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<v Speaker 1>his artistic soul. He dedicated himself to a new screenplay,

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<v Speaker 1>pouring his energy into crafting his own narratives, writing that

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<v Speaker 1>story what he wanted to do. He even started a

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<v Speaker 1>small production company, working on projects for various businesses connected

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<v Speaker 1>to the Agora Network, that parent company. Right, he was

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<v Speaker 1>staying loosely within there the sphere of his previous employer,

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<v Speaker 1>but on his own terms a bit more this time,

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<v Speaker 1>by the sounds of it, almost like a bit more

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<v Speaker 1>of a contractor even, I guess yeah. Now, Ray and

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<v Speaker 1>Allison shared a vision for their future, one that wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>rooted in Baltimore's financial district, where they currently were their

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<v Speaker 1>hearts were set on the West Coast, specifically Los Angeles,

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<v Speaker 1>where Ray could fully immerse himself in the filmmaking world,

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<v Speaker 1>the one that he so deeply desired and.

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<v Speaker 2>Loved, good old La Hey.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, the big lights, right mm hmm. Now, to make

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<v Speaker 1>this dream a reality, they'd already taken a few concrete

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<v Speaker 1>steps in that direction. For example, in the spring of

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<v Speaker 1>two thousand and six, they made a significant trip over

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<v Speaker 1>to La not just for a visit, but to firm

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<v Speaker 1>up some of their plans for their new chapter, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>scouting out living places or workplaces, all these sort of things.

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<v Speaker 1>And upon their return, they wasted no time listing their

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<v Speaker 1>Baltimore home for sale, ready to fully commit to these aspirations.

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<v Speaker 2>Out in La Dang. Good for them, because that would

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<v Speaker 2>not be easy.

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<v Speaker 1>One hundred percent would not be. So props to them

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<v Speaker 1>for going forward to Yeah Dive. Everything seemed to be

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<v Speaker 1>falling into place their shared dream of life dedicated to cinema.

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<v Speaker 1>It was within reach, and as of May sixteenth, two

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<v Speaker 1>thousand and six, dawned it felt like just another Tuesday,

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<v Speaker 1>a seemingly ordinary day in the life of a couple

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<v Speaker 1>who was on the cusp of you know a major

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<v Speaker 1>exciting change in their life. Little did they know it

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<v Speaker 1>would actually be anything but ordinary on this day. So

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<v Speaker 1>May sixteenth, two thousand and six began as most Tuesdays

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<v Speaker 1>would for many couples. Ray's wife, Allison, had an early start,

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<v Speaker 1>heading out for a business trip to Richmond, Virginia. Ray

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<v Speaker 1>meanwhile settled into their Baltimore home, ready for a hard

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<v Speaker 1>day of work. He was deep into an editing project

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<v Speaker 1>for an Agora's filiates, a task that suited his creative

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<v Speaker 1>you know, inclinations quite well. He even had plans to

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<v Speaker 1>continue his work that coming weekend, having already booked an

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<v Speaker 1>editing suite, suggesting a clear schedule and no inkling of

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<v Speaker 1>an unplanned departure, let's say now. Throughout the day, Ray

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<v Speaker 1>was busy with various phone calls managing his project and

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<v Speaker 1>personal affairs, but one call in particular stands out. At

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<v Speaker 1>around four pm, Ray made contact with representative from the Freemasons.

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<v Speaker 1>He mentioned that the call was quote possibly related to

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<v Speaker 1>a script idea end quote, which wasn't entirely surprising giving

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<v Speaker 1>his pursuit now. The person on the other end of

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<v Speaker 1>that line later described Ray's demeanor as laid back and friendly,

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<v Speaker 1>yet noted that he seemed a bit pressed for time.

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<v Speaker 1>As evening approached. At around six thirty pm, Allison's coworker, Claudia,

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<v Speaker 1>arrived at the Rivera home, planning to stay the night

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<v Speaker 1>while Allison was away. It was some time between Claudia's

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<v Speaker 1>arrival at six thirty pm and seven PM that the

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<v Speaker 1>atmosphere in the quiet house abruptly shifted. Ray was on

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<v Speaker 1>another phone call, and Claudia, present in the house, overheard

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<v Speaker 1>his stunned reaction when he said a sudden, sharp, oh shit,

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<v Speaker 1>the on the call now without another word. Ray quickly

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<v Speaker 1>grabbed a few essentials, his key, cell phones, some cash

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<v Speaker 1>around twenty bucks, and a credit card, and then rushed

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<v Speaker 1>out of the door, jumping into Allison's black Mitsubishi Montero.

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<v Speaker 1>But he briefly returned, stepping back inside for only a

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<v Speaker 1>moment before darting out once again. He left the lights on,

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<v Speaker 1>his computer was running. There was even a bag of

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<v Speaker 1>chips some sparkling water sitting on the counter, all signs

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<v Speaker 1>that he intended to be right back. However, Ray Rivera

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<v Speaker 1>never returned home.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh man, okay, I just have to say something. There

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<v Speaker 2>was like a shift in your voice because I was like,

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<v Speaker 2>forgot for a minute, I was listening to like a

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<v Speaker 2>true crime podcast because I was like, Yeah, they're gonna

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<v Speaker 2>move to LA, It's gonna be so great. And then

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<v Speaker 2>your like voice kind of shifted and I was like, oh, yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>oh yeah, that's probably not gonna happen.

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<v Speaker 1>You're getting too amped up, hey.

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<v Speaker 2>I was. I was like cheering them on, and then ohnfor.

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<v Speaker 1>Actually, the stories we generally tell are not the best

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<v Speaker 1>stories in that regard. They're not feel good stories. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>some of them are like survival stories and stuff. What

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<v Speaker 1>they end up accomplishing and like going on and surviving

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<v Speaker 1>from those are pretty feel good they.

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<v Speaker 2>Are, but they still went through shit.

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<v Speaker 1>They go through hell, And in this case, I'll just

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<v Speaker 1>continue telling the story. That's all I'm going to say.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, I amn't confused why the coworker was there though,

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit. What do you mean so Allison was

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<v Speaker 2>out of town, so her coworker comes and stays at

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<v Speaker 2>the house.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, she was basically house sitting because because Ray was

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<v Speaker 1>working and busy too.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh okay, I see, I see.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, why do you have some thoughts about nefarious things

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<v Speaker 1>between them?

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<v Speaker 2>Well? No, not necessarily. I was just I just was

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<v Speaker 2>confused there. I guess. Okay, it was something else going on,

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<v Speaker 2>I guess, but yeah, clearly not so well.

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<v Speaker 1>We do briefly touch on that near the end of

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<v Speaker 1>the episode, so okay, don't worry now. The morning of

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<v Speaker 1>May seventeenth, in the year two thousand and six, brought

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<v Speaker 1>with it a cold wave of dread. Allison's coworker, Claudia,

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<v Speaker 1>woke up to the Riviera home being very quiet, and

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<v Speaker 1>then she realized Ray still wasn't back. The lights were on,

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<v Speaker 1>the computer was still humming, just as he had left it.

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<v Speaker 1>Then a phone call to Allison actually confirmed the shared concern.

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<v Speaker 1>Ray wasn't answering his phone, and his hurried departure that

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<v Speaker 1>evening before was now looming over what had happened. A

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<v Speaker 1>lot of anxiety tightened in Alison's stomach. Her business trip

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<v Speaker 1>immediately became secondary. She cut it short race back to Baltimore,

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<v Speaker 1>her mind reeling with unanswered questions. Upon her return, Alison

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<v Speaker 1>found the house exactly as Ray had left it. This

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<v Speaker 1>wasn't a man who'd planned to be away for very long.

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<v Speaker 1>As I mentioned, you know, the chips, the sparkling water,

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<v Speaker 1>They were there, his laptop running, his invisil ligne, the

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<v Speaker 1>teeth thing right yeah, and toothbrush they were still sitting there.

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<v Speaker 1>These were items no one leaves behind if they're heading

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<v Speaker 1>out for an extended period. It seems so sudden and unexpected. So,

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<v Speaker 1>with a growing sense of panic, Allison officially filed a

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<v Speaker 1>missing person's report for Ray on May seventeenth, hoping the

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<v Speaker 1>police could shed some light on this baffling disappearance and

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<v Speaker 1>where he went.

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<v Speaker 2>That's the next day, right correct.

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<v Speaker 1>Yea yeah. Now, as the search began, Allison couldn't shake

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<v Speaker 1>a disturbing feeling Ray hadn't quite been himself in the

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<v Speaker 1>weeks leading up to the day he went missing May sixteenth.

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<v Speaker 1>She noticed a shift, a new layer of stress, and

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<v Speaker 1>almost a protective tension about him. He repeatedly expressed the

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<v Speaker 1>need to quote protect her, though he never really elaborated

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<v Speaker 1>from what. One unsettling incident particularly stood out. While jogging,

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<v Speaker 1>Ray had encountered an unknown man who seemingly watched him.

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<v Speaker 1>Ray's reaction was immediate and defensive, physically turning his body

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<v Speaker 1>to shield Alison from the stranger's view. The sense of

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00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:53.879
<v Speaker 1>unease was compounded by tube bizarre incidents right before Ray

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<v Speaker 1>vanished as well. Both on May fifteenth, and as well

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<v Speaker 1>the same day May sixteenth, at around one am, their

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<v Speaker 1>home alarm system had inexplicitly gone off. Each time. Ray's

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00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:07.440
<v Speaker 1>response was one of genuine fear. He'd grab a baseball bat,

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<v Speaker 1>his eyes scanning for an intruder. On another occasion, he

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00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:13.639
<v Speaker 1>even suspected their living room window had been tampered with

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00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:17.840
<v Speaker 1>despite the alarm. The police, you know, after checking, had

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00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:21.519
<v Speaker 1>dismissed these incidents, attributing them to common causes like animals

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<v Speaker 1>setting off motion detectors or something like that.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so he's like really on edge.

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<v Speaker 1>She is. So the idea that Ray also might have

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00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:32.279
<v Speaker 1>simply walked away it fell completely alien to Alison and

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00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:35.440
<v Speaker 1>his family as well. He had so much to live for,

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00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:39.159
<v Speaker 1>so many plans bubbling just beneath the surface. In fact,

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00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:41.919
<v Speaker 1>he and Alison even had a definitive trip booked to

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00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:44.919
<v Speaker 1>go to New Mexico in the coming weeks. They were

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00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:47.799
<v Speaker 1>actively pursuing their move to La. Their house was for sale,

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00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:50.639
<v Speaker 1>he was working on his screenplay. These weren't actions of

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00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:54.279
<v Speaker 1>someone planning to leave, to run away, to end it,

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00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:56.559
<v Speaker 1>you know, it just doesn't make sense. They were the

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00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:02.279
<v Speaker 1>actions of someone eagerly anticipating a future something. Adding another

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00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:05.720
<v Speaker 1>layer to Ray's recent behavior change was the sudden and

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00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:10.519
<v Speaker 1>unexpected death of his close co worker and friend, Tom Hickling,

303
00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:14.159
<v Speaker 1>who passed away in a car accident in Africa. Now

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00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:18.720
<v Speaker 1>Tom's death had deeply affected Ray. Allison observed his profound grief,

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00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:23.120
<v Speaker 1>and she noted that Ray seemed to harbor almost hinted

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00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:28.480
<v Speaker 1>that suspicions regarding the circumstances of Tom's death. He never

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00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:31.720
<v Speaker 1>really elaborated at these suspicions, keeping his thoughts to himself,

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00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:35.039
<v Speaker 1>but the unresolved questions surrounding his friend's death seemed to

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00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:39.600
<v Speaker 1>weigh heavy on him in Ray's final weeks before he disappeared.

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<v Speaker 1>But as days turned into a week with no signs

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<v Speaker 1>of Ray, the focus search it broadened. It's rather than

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00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:50.159
<v Speaker 1>just saying, okay, we need to find out where he went,

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00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.120
<v Speaker 1>looking at the home, the possibilities, they started looking out

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00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:56.200
<v Speaker 1>and going from there, and eventually the spotlight fell on

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00:16:56.279 --> 00:17:01.279
<v Speaker 1>a grand, imposing building in Baltimore's Mount Vernon hood, one

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00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:05.119
<v Speaker 1>called the Belvidere Hotel, was built in nineteen oh three.

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00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:09.839
<v Speaker 1>This architectural Marvel was a Baltimore landmark and eleven story,

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00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:12.759
<v Speaker 1>one hundred and eighty eight foot tall structure with a

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00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:17.039
<v Speaker 1>distinctive French French style roof. While its upper floors had

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00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:20.759
<v Speaker 1>been converted into a residential type units, its lower levels

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00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:24.640
<v Speaker 1>still housed public areas. It was a place of historical elegance,

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00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:27.799
<v Speaker 1>to put it lightly now. It was on May twenty third,

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<v Speaker 1>two thousand and six, almost exactly a week after Ray's disappearance,

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00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:36.880
<v Speaker 1>that a crucial lead emerged. Allison's black Mitsubishi Montero, the

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00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:39.279
<v Speaker 1>vehicle Ray had last seen been driving and leaving the

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00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:42.880
<v Speaker 1>house in, was found. It sat on a surface parking

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00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:46.680
<v Speaker 1>lot directly next to the Belvidere Hotel. A parking ticket

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00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:50.960
<v Speaker 1>stuck to the windshield indicated it's been sitting there undisturbed

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00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:54.200
<v Speaker 1>for about the last six days. While finding the car

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00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:58.000
<v Speaker 1>offered a glimmer of hope, its presence there only deep

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00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.119
<v Speaker 1>in the mystery rather than solving it. Why was the

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00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:04.160
<v Speaker 1>there and where was Ray? The answer began to reveal

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00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:09.720
<v Speaker 1>itself through an unsettling detail, a pervasive and strong smell

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00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:14.240
<v Speaker 1>that began emanating from the Belvidere Hotel for several days.

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00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:19.279
<v Speaker 1>It was particularly noticeable this smell specifically around an unused

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00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:22.440
<v Speaker 1>conference room on the second floor, and the following day,

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00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.559
<v Speaker 1>on May twenty fourth, two thousand and six, at around

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00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:28.200
<v Speaker 1>one thirty pm, a maintenance worker named Gary was sent

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00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:31.599
<v Speaker 1>to investigate the persistent odor. What he found in the

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00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:37.480
<v Speaker 1>rarely access conference room was horrifying. The smell led him

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00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:39.839
<v Speaker 1>to a gruesome sight, and at the very same time

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00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:44.720
<v Speaker 1>that this was happening, Ray's co workers Mark, Stephen and George,

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00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:47.920
<v Speaker 1>who been relentlessly searching for him, were also in the vicinity.

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00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:51.680
<v Speaker 1>George had a hunch to check the parking garage next

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00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:54.839
<v Speaker 1>to the Belvidere from its upper levels. They peered down

346
00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:58.599
<v Speaker 1>and spotted a small narrow hole punched through the roof

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00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:03.640
<v Speaker 1>of the hotels second floor extension, and then an even

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00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:07.079
<v Speaker 1>more chilling sight. Scattered around the edges of that hole,

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00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:12.359
<v Speaker 1>it appeared to be some not debris, but items, and

350
00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:16.079
<v Speaker 1>upon closer inspection there were some of Ray's personal belongings,

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00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:20.079
<v Speaker 1>his flip flop, cell phone, keys, and eyeglasses. Even the

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00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:23.359
<v Speaker 1>connection clicked and they immediately called Detective James Mingle, who

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00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:27.240
<v Speaker 1>was already handling Ray's missing person's case. The police. They

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00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:31.799
<v Speaker 1>quickly arrived, entering the previously locked conference room, and there

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00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:36.799
<v Speaker 1>they found Ray Riviia's body, confirming Gary's simultaneous and horrific

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00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.240
<v Speaker 1>discovery behind that locked conference room.

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<v Speaker 2>What the shit, okay, I was like, what is this smell?

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<v Speaker 2>Is it like a bad smell? Or so clearly was

359
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<v Speaker 2>a bad smell.

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00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.400
<v Speaker 1>It was the smell of decay.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, okay, awesome.

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00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:53.160
<v Speaker 1>Now Ray's body lay in the center of that infrequently

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00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:57.200
<v Speaker 1>used conference room, a space that was mostly empty. The

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00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:00.359
<v Speaker 1>room itself was accessible from both Charles str and the

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00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:04.319
<v Speaker 1>adjacent parking garage, offering multiple pathways into the building. The

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00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:09.160
<v Speaker 1>roof he's presumably fallen through was made of durable gravel

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00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:13.599
<v Speaker 1>and tar, a tough material. What immediately struck investigators was

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00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:16.039
<v Speaker 1>the lack of any nearby structures on the main building

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00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:20.599
<v Speaker 1>that could have easily facilitated a straightforward jump or fall

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00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:24.720
<v Speaker 1>onto the specific lower roof. The initial idea despite this, though,

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00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:26.839
<v Speaker 1>was that he had jumped from the main roof of

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<v Speaker 1>the Belvidere Hotel, which would mean a fall from fourteen

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00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:34.000
<v Speaker 1>stories up, which would explain the horrific injuries that were

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00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:37.759
<v Speaker 1>found on him. However, as investigators delve deeper, into this theory,

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<v Speaker 1>it quickly crumbled under the weight of basic logic in physics.

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00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:48.039
<v Speaker 1>The Belvidere's main roof line was incredibly high, and the

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00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:52.440
<v Speaker 1>second story roof where Ray landed was set set back significantly.

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00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.400
<v Speaker 1>For Ray to jump from the main roof and land

379
00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:58.160
<v Speaker 1>in that specific spot, he would have had to not

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00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:01.720
<v Speaker 1>only drop roughly one hundred in seventy seven feet vertically,

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00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:07.000
<v Speaker 1>but also propel himself a staggering forty three feet horizontally.

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00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.640
<v Speaker 3>Holy shit.

383
00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:13.759
<v Speaker 1>Experts calculated this would have required a significant athletic feet

384
00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:17.279
<v Speaker 1>a sprint of about ten miles per hour from the

385
00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.200
<v Speaker 1>only available fifteen feet run up space.

386
00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.720
<v Speaker 2>So not possible.

387
00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:25.960
<v Speaker 1>Basically not possible. Or if it is possible, you're gonna

388
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.359
<v Speaker 1>have to be like a fucking Olympic athlete to pull

389
00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:29.480
<v Speaker 1>it off if you're lucky.

390
00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:32.319
<v Speaker 2>Okay, So holy shit. They're thinking he like jumped and

391
00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:36.200
<v Speaker 2>then hit the second floor roof and like fell through

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00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.839
<v Speaker 2>the roof.

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00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:39.160
<v Speaker 1>And ended up inside the second floor conference room.

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00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:42.880
<v Speaker 2>Correct, holy shit? Okay, Okay, I mean, I feel like

395
00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:45.240
<v Speaker 2>I roofs would be stronger than that, but I have

396
00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.759
<v Speaker 2>no idea. I guess it's quite.

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00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:49.720
<v Speaker 1>A fall, that's I mean, This is called the impossible

398
00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:52.680
<v Speaker 1>death for a reason because things like that are thrown

399
00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:55.039
<v Speaker 1>into this scenario. How did he actually break through a

400
00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.960
<v Speaker 1>fucking roof like that?

401
00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.680
<v Speaker 2>Yeah?

402
00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:00.400
<v Speaker 1>So now this scenario though, with him making this run

403
00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.920
<v Speaker 1>up and this like forty three distant foot distance, like

404
00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:08.200
<v Speaker 1>this whole thing, it became almost lappable when you consider

405
00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:13.279
<v Speaker 1>two details. Ray Riviera was he was known to have

406
00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:18.359
<v Speaker 1>significant fear of heights, and he was last seen wearing

407
00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:24.240
<v Speaker 1>and was found with flip flops flipflops. Attempting such a daring,

408
00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.960
<v Speaker 1>precise jump in flip flops with the fear of heights

409
00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:29.160
<v Speaker 1>seems utterly impossible.

410
00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.160
<v Speaker 2>It does now.

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00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:34.799
<v Speaker 1>The official autopsy, performed by medical examiner doctor Melissa Brassel,

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00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:39.000
<v Speaker 1>confirmed that Ray had suffered extensive and severe injuries, including

413
00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:42.720
<v Speaker 1>fracture to his skull, ribs, legs, along with cuts and bruising.

414
00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:46.079
<v Speaker 1>While these injuries were consistent with a fall, what wasn't

415
00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:50.680
<v Speaker 1>consistent began to raise serious red flags. Crucially, Ray showed

416
00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.759
<v Speaker 1>a complete lack of defensive wounds, no scratches, scrapes, or

417
00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:57.559
<v Speaker 1>bruises on his hands or arms that would indicate he

418
00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:00.240
<v Speaker 1>tried to break his fall or brace himself which you

419
00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:04.720
<v Speaker 1>would definitely find someone from falling. I mean, you have instincts, reflexes,

420
00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:07.920
<v Speaker 1>and someone who's terrified of heights, they're going to be

421
00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:11.240
<v Speaker 1>shielding them their face or they're bracing themselves for impact,

422
00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:13.960
<v Speaker 1>even if they're looking to you know, self delete, it's

423
00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.880
<v Speaker 1>just instinct.

424
00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.400
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you'd still most likely do that, So.

425
00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:21.599
<v Speaker 1>No defensive wounds in that regard. Furthermore, there was surprisingly

426
00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:24.720
<v Speaker 1>minimal damage to his spine, which is highly unusual for

427
00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:31.359
<v Speaker 1>a fall of such magnitude. Medical illustrator Marie dune Heemer Duneheimer,

428
00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:35.160
<v Speaker 1>dwen Hemer. I don't know. I really cannot pronounce this one.

429
00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:37.599
<v Speaker 1>Sometimes if I do that bad on a name, I

430
00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:40.599
<v Speaker 1>will pause, we will stop, and I'll try and get

431
00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:43.359
<v Speaker 1>the name right. There is no m getting this name right. Okay,

432
00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:46.000
<v Speaker 1>it is a German name. I believe d a U

433
00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:49.799
<v Speaker 1>E n h E I m E R duen Hemer

434
00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.720
<v Speaker 1>dwen Heimer.

435
00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:55.000
<v Speaker 2>The last one you just said sounded kind of right, okay.

436
00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:58.160
<v Speaker 1>Marie Dwenheimer. That's what I'm gonna go with. But I'm

437
00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.799
<v Speaker 1>not going to go back and rerecord this because I'm

438
00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:05.039
<v Speaker 1>still going to butcher regardless. Anyways. Medical illustrator Marie Duennheimer,

439
00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:08.640
<v Speaker 1>who later received the case, pointed out the minimal damage

440
00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:12.119
<v Speaker 1>to his feet, which contradicted the feast feet first impact,

441
00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:15.240
<v Speaker 1>and noted that his injuries were largely concentrated to his

442
00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:20.200
<v Speaker 1>left side, instead creating an asymmetrical pattern, unlike typical falls

443
00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:24.640
<v Speaker 1>people who jump. It's again instinctual to jump feet first,

444
00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:28.640
<v Speaker 1>even if you're killing yourself, so you have. He didn't

445
00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:33.039
<v Speaker 1>brace himself, even if he's horizontal. He didn't jump feet first,

446
00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:38.920
<v Speaker 1>which is instinctual. He just kind of impacted. Forensic biomechanics

447
00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:43.359
<v Speaker 1>expert Miriam Moya also observed that one of Ray's flip flops,

448
00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:46.480
<v Speaker 1>one of the straps, was broken with scuff mark, suggesting

449
00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:51.640
<v Speaker 1>a struggle or trauma which could have occurred before he landed. Ultimately,

450
00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:55.680
<v Speaker 1>despite the extensive injuries, doctor Brassel officially listed Ray's cause

451
00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:58.400
<v Speaker 1>of death as quote undetermined.

452
00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:03.440
<v Speaker 2>Humm wow, Okay, that seems everything you're just saying right

453
00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:07.240
<v Speaker 2>now is so odd. I'm hoping you have more to say,

454
00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:08.759
<v Speaker 2>because I'm like, what the shit.

455
00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:12.440
<v Speaker 1>As I mentioned at the very beginning of this, this

456
00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:16.440
<v Speaker 1>is a unsolved case. It's a mystery, and most of

457
00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:19.160
<v Speaker 1>what we talk about is pretty much pure speculation.

458
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:23.000
<v Speaker 2>Okay, poor Alison, I'm just going to throw that out

459
00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:25.640
<v Speaker 2>there too. No, kid, that would be this this whole thing. Well,

460
00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:29.400
<v Speaker 2>first of all, her her husband is dead, and then

461
00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:32.799
<v Speaker 2>also all this weird shit. You know, you would have

462
00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:35.000
<v Speaker 2>no idea what happened or what's going on.

463
00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.640
<v Speaker 1>Now, one other tidbit I want to throw in here,

464
00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:41.799
<v Speaker 1>kind of adding to that medical mystery. During the autopsy,

465
00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:46.240
<v Speaker 1>they did discover potato chips traces in Ray's stomach, which

466
00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:49.400
<v Speaker 1>suggested like he had that bag next his computer.

467
00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:51.119
<v Speaker 2>Right, and he was snacking away at home he was.

468
00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:53.799
<v Speaker 1>So what this means is he likely didn't die long

469
00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.720
<v Speaker 1>after leaving home.

470
00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.799
<v Speaker 2>Oh okay, that makes sense.

471
00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:59.920
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so it's not like, oh, this was two days.

472
00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:02.160
<v Speaker 1>It's like most likely. I mean, he could have eaten

473
00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:05.240
<v Speaker 1>potato chips later too, but it's most likely he left

474
00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:08.839
<v Speaker 1>home and this incident, whatever it was, occurred, happened shortly

475
00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.640
<v Speaker 1>thereafter Z.

476
00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:12.400
<v Speaker 2>Clearly that conference room never actually gets used.

477
00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:17.200
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so this actually is a direct contradiction to a

478
00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:21.119
<v Speaker 1>common belief that he fell much later at around ten pm.

479
00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:23.559
<v Speaker 1>And we talk about that ten pm time later on.

480
00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:29.920
<v Speaker 1>So this potato chip could potentially debunk that time. Now,

481
00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:32.559
<v Speaker 1>The condition and placement of ray'sed personal items at the

482
00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:36.200
<v Speaker 1>scene were equally baffling. As I mentioned, on the roof

483
00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:38.960
<v Speaker 1>and around him were some of personal items that were found.

484
00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:42.799
<v Speaker 1>His eyeglasses were found near the whole which his eyeglasses

485
00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:45.599
<v Speaker 1>were nearly untouched, without a single crack or a bend

486
00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:50.240
<v Speaker 1>in them. His cell phone, also recovered nearby, was completely undamaged,

487
00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:54.519
<v Speaker 1>no shattered screen, no dnse nothing. The idea that these

488
00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:58.319
<v Speaker 1>fragile items could survive a fourteen story plunge and be

489
00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:03.039
<v Speaker 1>found so neatly, basically almost.

490
00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:04.680
<v Speaker 2>Placed there makes no sense.

491
00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:08.000
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it defies any sort of belief of a great

492
00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:12.200
<v Speaker 1>impact basically now. His flip flops did show some scratches

493
00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:15.160
<v Speaker 1>in one broken strap, they were largely still intact and

494
00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:18.599
<v Speaker 1>bore unusual drag marks. Most perplexing of all was the

495
00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:22.359
<v Speaker 1>inexplicable absence of his cherished antique money clip, which was

496
00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:26.039
<v Speaker 1>a wedding gift from Allison, one that he had always carried.

497
00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:29.000
<v Speaker 1>Even though his credit card and driver's license were found

498
00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:33.279
<v Speaker 1>with him, the money clip was gone, and to top

499
00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:35.839
<v Speaker 1>it off, Ray was found in different clothing than he

500
00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:38.799
<v Speaker 1>had last been wearing when he left the house. He

501
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:42.200
<v Speaker 1>was last seen wearing a black jacket and those flip flops,

502
00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:45.119
<v Speaker 1>but now he's wearing a yellow shirt and long green pants,

503
00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:49.920
<v Speaker 1>different attire, still the flip flops, but now Perhaps the

504
00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:54.920
<v Speaker 1>most critical detail was the inexplicable fact that the rooftop

505
00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:59.920
<v Speaker 1>surveillance cameras were mysteriously disconnected on May sixteenth to Ti

506
00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.960
<v Speaker 1>thousand and six, the very day that Ray had vanished.

507
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.519
<v Speaker 2>Of course they were.

508
00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:10.160
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, despite being fully operational the day before and the day.

509
00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:13.960
<v Speaker 2>After yep, of course, of course.

510
00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:16.759
<v Speaker 1>So this meant there was absolutely no footage of Ray

511
00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:19.799
<v Speaker 1>entering or leaving the hotel or anything happening on the

512
00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:24.079
<v Speaker 1>roof beyond the cameras. The hotel itself it had some

513
00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:28.119
<v Speaker 1>known security weaknesses. The elevator to the roof was often unlocked,

514
00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:32.400
<v Speaker 1>the fire door alarms and even bartenders often sometimes left

515
00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:35.319
<v Speaker 1>roof access to the doors propped open and for smoking

516
00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:37.880
<v Speaker 1>brakes things like that, like the alarm's not going off,

517
00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:40.160
<v Speaker 1>they propped the door open. You know, it's people get

518
00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:42.960
<v Speaker 1>in where they probably shouldn't go. So there's a lot

519
00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:47.119
<v Speaker 1>of issues with the hotel in that regard. Compounding these

520
00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:50.720
<v Speaker 1>issues was the questionable initial handling of the crime scene

521
00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:55.680
<v Speaker 1>by police. Few photographs were reportedly taken, Officers were seen

522
00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:59.680
<v Speaker 1>allegedly tossing items, and even police cadets were allowed to

523
00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:04.599
<v Speaker 1>walk through the crime scene, potentially contaminating crucial evidence. After

524
00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:08.960
<v Speaker 1>Ray's body was removed, the conference room was left unsecured

525
00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:12.920
<v Speaker 1>and accessible, raising further concerns about the integrity of the scene.

526
00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:16.319
<v Speaker 2>Ah, that's maddening.

527
00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:21.319
<v Speaker 1>It is. These lapses, whether intentional or accidental, only added

528
00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:27.680
<v Speaker 1>layers of unanswered questions to an already basically impossible puzzle. So,

529
00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:33.920
<v Speaker 1>despite the mounting contradictions, police officials, particularly Police Commissioner Fred Bielfeld,

530
00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:37.160
<v Speaker 1>were quick to dismiss any notion of foul play, stating

531
00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:40.519
<v Speaker 1>they had not found a single trace of any information

532
00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:45.400
<v Speaker 1>to suggest that there was criminal activity. The initial favored

533
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:49.720
<v Speaker 1>theory leaned heavily towards Ray's death being an intentional act

534
00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:53.559
<v Speaker 1>quote unquote on his part. Whether it was a suicide

535
00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:58.680
<v Speaker 1>or the result of a potential severe mental breakdown is unknown.

536
00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:04.079
<v Speaker 2>I don't know that that's hard to buy. Really. I agree,

537
00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:06.759
<v Speaker 2>he had so much like to look forward to and

538
00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:09.799
<v Speaker 2>coming up and stuff, right, Yeah, I mean, I guess

539
00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.920
<v Speaker 2>it could have been overwhelming, but I don't know.

540
00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:15.000
<v Speaker 1>Well, the FBI. They did weigh in speculating that Ray

541
00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:18.279
<v Speaker 1>might have suffered from like an undiagnosed schizophrenia or bipolar

542
00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:23.400
<v Speaker 1>disorder and influenced by a cryptic note that he left behind.

543
00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:26.480
<v Speaker 1>This theory was put into play. And yes, that's right,

544
00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:29.079
<v Speaker 1>there was a note that he left behind. I haven't

545
00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:31.359
<v Speaker 1>really mentioned it yet because it's it's really odd and

546
00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:33.680
<v Speaker 1>no one really knows what to make of it. So

547
00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:36.519
<v Speaker 1>this weird note can support that theory of you know,

548
00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:40.480
<v Speaker 1>schizophrenia bipolar disorder. So this note is described as being

549
00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:44.799
<v Speaker 1>a multiple page note taped to his computer. The contents

550
00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:47.240
<v Speaker 1>of the note were a bunch of unusual and rambling

551
00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:53.640
<v Speaker 1>compilations of names, movies, and Masonic mottos and is still

552
00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:57.000
<v Speaker 1>a highly debated piece of evidence in this case. So

553
00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:00.599
<v Speaker 1>something like this had the FBI and also actually behavioral

554
00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:03.200
<v Speaker 1>experts joining in on the line of thinking that you know,

555
00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:07.400
<v Speaker 1>undiagnosed schizophrenia or bipolar disorder could be at play, suggesting,

556
00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:10.559
<v Speaker 1>you know, Ray's recent paranoia and withdrawal could come a

557
00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:13.960
<v Speaker 1>point of or point towards, something like a psychotic break

558
00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:16.640
<v Speaker 1>occurring and causing him to do this. Sure, he might

559
00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.160
<v Speaker 1>have had a lot to look forward to a lot

560
00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:21.000
<v Speaker 1>to live for a lot going for him, but all

561
00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:24.319
<v Speaker 1>that kind of doesn't really matter if you have this

562
00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:24.960
<v Speaker 1>sort of break.

563
00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:28.480
<v Speaker 2>Mm hmm, that's true. Well, couldn't the note just be

564
00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:32.839
<v Speaker 2>like sometimes people write their passwords or stuff like that

565
00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:36.839
<v Speaker 2>in kind of hidden code, right, I mean, I guess,

566
00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.640
<v Speaker 2>Or maybe he was just having fun, or it was

567
00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:41.480
<v Speaker 2>just like I don't know, movies he wanted to watch

568
00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:43.240
<v Speaker 2>and he's a smart dude and he was just doing

569
00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:44.960
<v Speaker 2>it creatively, or I don't know.

570
00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:48.519
<v Speaker 1>I mean, it's possible. It's possible. But along the same

571
00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:52.400
<v Speaker 1>line of this psychotic break thing, some people have floated

572
00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:55.200
<v Speaker 1>the idea of like a Truman Show delusion, where you know,

573
00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:57.200
<v Speaker 1>Ray might have believed that his life was a staged

574
00:31:57.279 --> 00:32:00.799
<v Speaker 1>reality much like of course the Truman Show, but also

575
00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:03.599
<v Speaker 1>of the movie The Game, and that he was attempting

576
00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:07.400
<v Speaker 1>to replicate a scene for like some victorious revelation or

577
00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:11.160
<v Speaker 1>something like. I don't really understand that one myself, but

578
00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:13.200
<v Speaker 1>to be fair, I don't think I've seen the movie

579
00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:17.599
<v Speaker 1>The Game, only the Truman Show. So however, many, especially

580
00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:20.480
<v Speaker 1>those closest to Ray, strongly pushed back against the idea

581
00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:24.279
<v Speaker 1>of a suicide or a psychotic break. But whatever anyone believed,

582
00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:26.359
<v Speaker 1>it didn't take long for the sole detective on the

583
00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:31.920
<v Speaker 1>case who openly suspected foul play to be reassigned. Oh

584
00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:34.319
<v Speaker 1>why Yeah, it was a move that fueled a lot

585
00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.519
<v Speaker 1>more speculation as well.

586
00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.799
<v Speaker 2>Damn Now.

587
00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:42.000
<v Speaker 1>Alison Ray's wife was unyielding in her conviction, saying that

588
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:45.119
<v Speaker 1>he was not a quitter. This doesn't add up. She

589
00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:47.880
<v Speaker 1>argued that as a writer, Ray would have left a clear,

590
00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:51.559
<v Speaker 1>coherent explanation if he intended to end his life like

591
00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:54.200
<v Speaker 1>a letter like that, he would have actually written a

592
00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:56.960
<v Speaker 1>proper letter explaining it if that's what he intended to do.

593
00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:01.119
<v Speaker 1>Beyond Allison's gut feeling, there was all complete absence of

594
00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:03.920
<v Speaker 1>any history of mental illness and raised life. And then

595
00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:07.680
<v Speaker 1>there were all the physical impossibilities and contradictions that had

596
00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:10.440
<v Speaker 1>already emerged, you know, the jump itself defying physics, the

597
00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:14.799
<v Speaker 1>autopsy revealing things that simply didn't align with a straightforward fall,

598
00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:21.279
<v Speaker 1>and his fragile belongings were found suspiciously intact. These points

599
00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:27.079
<v Speaker 1>collectively argued a powerful story against the narrative that the

600
00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:32.839
<v Speaker 1>police initially concluded. Another less discussed theory, let's say suggest

601
00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:35.640
<v Speaker 1>a bit more of a tragic accident. What if Ray

602
00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:39.319
<v Speaker 1>was fatally struck by falling debris or building material from

603
00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:42.839
<v Speaker 1>the belvedere itself, It wasn't entirely far fetched for an

604
00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:46.920
<v Speaker 1>old building. Author Makita Broughton, a resident of the Belvidere

605
00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:50.759
<v Speaker 1>whose apartment overlooked the very rooftop where Ray landed, recalled

606
00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:53.839
<v Speaker 1>hearing a loud crash at around ten pm on May sixteenth,

607
00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:57.799
<v Speaker 1>initially dismissing it as typical city noise. And that's that

608
00:33:57.839 --> 00:34:01.759
<v Speaker 1>ten pm estimation where I said the chips in the

609
00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:06.400
<v Speaker 1>stomach may suggest otherwise, being that time, the chips in.

610
00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:09.199
<v Speaker 2>His stomach would suggest that it should have happened.

611
00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:13.000
<v Speaker 1>Earlier, correct, because digestion wise, yea, yeah, just to clarify,

612
00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:14.559
<v Speaker 1>but I mean that's not to say he might not

613
00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.920
<v Speaker 1>have had chips in the car or grab some snacks.

614
00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:17.199
<v Speaker 3>You know.

615
00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.519
<v Speaker 1>He could have had chips elsewhere too.

616
00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:21.199
<v Speaker 2>Yeah. It was like shit, I left my chips at

617
00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:22.119
<v Speaker 2>home and bought some more.

618
00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:26.920
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. Possibly now. Evidence supporting this theory included the discovery

619
00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:30.000
<v Speaker 1>of an old banquet chair dangling off the edge of

620
00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:34.119
<v Speaker 1>the roof, raising questions about structural instability or its use

621
00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:38.480
<v Speaker 1>of access. Additionally, a missing piece of corner decoration from

622
00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:42.079
<v Speaker 1>the building's exterior was noted in the episode of Unsolved

623
00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:45.519
<v Speaker 1>Mysteries that covered the story, And there was indeed plaster

624
00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:48.519
<v Speaker 1>everywhere in the conference room where Ray's body was found.

625
00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:51.119
<v Speaker 1>But I also mean, if someone's busting through a roof

626
00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.679
<v Speaker 1>like that, of course there's going to be plaster and

627
00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:57.159
<v Speaker 1>chunks found it. But the core question remained, however, if

628
00:34:57.800 --> 00:35:01.119
<v Speaker 1>even there is debris that fell, why was Ray in

629
00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:05.320
<v Speaker 1>that particular seemingly random spot on this roof. Why was

630
00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:07.880
<v Speaker 1>he there? There were no confirmed sightings of him in

631
00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:10.960
<v Speaker 1>the hotel bar, no clear reason of him taking a

632
00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:15.639
<v Speaker 1>shortcut or smoking in that specific area. Nothing. Investigative journalist

633
00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:19.320
<v Speaker 1>Stephen Janis famously stated, quote he had to come from

634
00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:23.679
<v Speaker 1>somewhere else unquote, fueling theories that Ray might have just

635
00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:28.440
<v Speaker 1>fallen from a helicopter. Now, this premise suggested a darker

636
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:32.280
<v Speaker 1>scenario where Ray might have uncovered incriminating information and was

637
00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:38.079
<v Speaker 1>somehow potentially murdered or you know, in a bad negotiation

638
00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:43.119
<v Speaker 1>situation or threat, was then dropped from a elevated height. However,

639
00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:47.639
<v Speaker 1>detective Michael Bayer quickly dismissed this sighting airspace issues in

640
00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:50.119
<v Speaker 1>downtown Baltimore and arguing that the harbor would have been

641
00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:53.480
<v Speaker 1>a more logical location for you know, body disposal than

642
00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:57.199
<v Speaker 1>dropping it into the city from the sky. Curiously, the

643
00:35:57.280 --> 00:36:02.760
<v Speaker 1>Belvedere employee named Gary shiverstradicted this, claiming helicopters frequently flew

644
00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:06.719
<v Speaker 1>over the area. Ray's brother, Angel even took it upon

645
00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:10.880
<v Speaker 1>himself to investigate air traffic control records and private helicopter rentals,

646
00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:14.920
<v Speaker 1>but found no concrete evidence to support this high flying theory.

647
00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:17.599
<v Speaker 2>Keep it still, that would make no sense if his

648
00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:22.880
<v Speaker 2>phone and glasses and stuff weren't destroyed, you know, even

649
00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:26.000
<v Speaker 2>he was thrown from a freaking helicopter.

650
00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:29.119
<v Speaker 1>Well not even destroyed a crack, a scuff, Like, there's

651
00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:31.599
<v Speaker 1>none of that. Sure, maybe you can argue that he's

652
00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:33.800
<v Speaker 1>got a really good phone case and you know what,

653
00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:36.159
<v Speaker 1>it could survive a fall from like ten plus stories,

654
00:36:36.199 --> 00:36:38.800
<v Speaker 1>maybe even like the fourteen they believe if he jumped

655
00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:41.519
<v Speaker 1>from the top. Yeah, sure you can argue that your

656
00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:44.039
<v Speaker 1>phone might survive it. But there would be a significant

657
00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:46.880
<v Speaker 1>scuff on that case at the very least, and there

658
00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.519
<v Speaker 1>was none of that.

659
00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:54.519
<v Speaker 2>Hmm. Yeah, this case is just mind blow boggling. Really,

660
00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:58.360
<v Speaker 2>it really is. Because I'm just sitting here. It's hard

661
00:36:58.360 --> 00:37:02.599
<v Speaker 2>to comprehend. I'm trying my Braine come up with what happened,

662
00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.920
<v Speaker 2>but yeah, it just makes no sense.

663
00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:07.119
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. Now it's no surprise though, that Ray's note filled

664
00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:10.960
<v Speaker 1>with references to Freemasonry and famous historical figures and actors

665
00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:13.920
<v Speaker 1>and blah blah blah blah. It quickly ignited speculation about

666
00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:18.079
<v Speaker 1>the secret society possibility. It was a fact that Ray

667
00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:21.719
<v Speaker 1>had developed an intense interest in Freemasonry, devouring books like

668
00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:24.840
<v Speaker 1>The Builders The Freemasons for Dummies, and he had even

669
00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:27.880
<v Speaker 1>visited a local lodge on the very day he vanished

670
00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:33.320
<v Speaker 1>the notes, cryptic Masonic motto quote whom virtue unites, death

671
00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:38.000
<v Speaker 1>cannot separate, and also a bizarre reference to quote my

672
00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:43.079
<v Speaker 1>primary residence in Argentina end quote. This of course led

673
00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:47.840
<v Speaker 1>some to theorize a deeper, possibly more sinister connection, But

674
00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:50.559
<v Speaker 1>no matter what you believe, the inconsistencies in the case

675
00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:55.440
<v Speaker 1>overwhelmingly pointed away from suicide and potentially towards foul play.

676
00:37:56.079 --> 00:38:00.800
<v Speaker 1>So ultimately this led to two primary versions of murder theory,

677
00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:04.360
<v Speaker 1>both suggesting Ray's death was a stage scene designed to

678
00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:07.920
<v Speaker 1>look like a fall. The very first proposed that Ray's

679
00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:12.559
<v Speaker 1>killer met him at his car, perhaps lured him away,

680
00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:16.360
<v Speaker 1>murdered him elsewhere, and then transported his body to the Belvedere.

681
00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:19.159
<v Speaker 1>They then created the distinctive hole in the roof, likely

682
00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:22.000
<v Speaker 1>at around ten PM, placed his body in the conference

683
00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:25.000
<v Speaker 1>room below, and meticulously removed whatever object they used to

684
00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:30.400
<v Speaker 1>punch through the roof. The intentionally disabled rooftop camera on

685
00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:33.760
<v Speaker 1>May sixteenth served as a crucial evidence piece for this theory,

686
00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:38.880
<v Speaker 1>suggesting a premeditation or potentially a professional hit by individuals

687
00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:41.719
<v Speaker 1>who knew the hotel's layout and security weaknesses.

688
00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:43.719
<v Speaker 2>See if that makes sense to me.

689
00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:48.800
<v Speaker 1>The second version focused on the adjacent parking garage. This

690
00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:51.480
<v Speaker 1>theory suggests Ray went to the rooftop or sorry, the

691
00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:53.599
<v Speaker 1>top of that parking garage, not the rooftop, so he's

692
00:38:53.639 --> 00:38:56.159
<v Speaker 1>at the top of the garage to meet someone there,

693
00:38:56.199 --> 00:38:59.360
<v Speaker 1>he was struck by a car, which launched him over

694
00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:04.320
<v Speaker 1>the low three point five foot garage barrier and through

695
00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:10.000
<v Speaker 1>the Belvidere's second floor roof below. Physics calculations actually supported

696
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.440
<v Speaker 1>this possibility, as a body launched at just thirty miles

697
00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:16.840
<v Speaker 1>per hour at a twenty degree angle could travel approximately

698
00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:20.360
<v Speaker 1>thirty eight feet, easily clearing the barrier and impacting the

699
00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:23.639
<v Speaker 1>roof where Ray landed about thirty feet from the garage wall.

700
00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:27.519
<v Speaker 1>Energy calculations further show that a two hundred and sixty

701
00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:31.960
<v Speaker 1>pound body falling thirty feet generates about ten kilodeles of energy,

702
00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:35.599
<v Speaker 1>which is more than enough to cause the significant damage

703
00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:40.920
<v Speaker 1>Ray sustained. The garages layout allowed a vehicle to gain

704
00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:45.639
<v Speaker 1>speed and stomp quickly. What investigators notably didn't do was

705
00:39:45.719 --> 00:39:49.519
<v Speaker 1>check local autobody shops for cars with recent hood damage,

706
00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:53.719
<v Speaker 1>a potential oversight if this theory held any weight, and

707
00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:55.480
<v Speaker 1>I think it honestly does hold some weight.

708
00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:58.039
<v Speaker 2>Shit, yeah right now, I'm like, okay, I guess that

709
00:39:58.119 --> 00:40:04.800
<v Speaker 2>kind of makes sense too. Yeah, that's wild. Mm hmm. Huh.

710
00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:10.320
<v Speaker 1>So there was even unverified speculation, though without credible evidence,

711
00:40:10.599 --> 00:40:13.719
<v Speaker 1>that porter stansbury raised high school friend who had gotten

712
00:40:13.800 --> 00:40:17.320
<v Speaker 1>himself had gotten his friend that financial writing job, might

713
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:21.079
<v Speaker 1>have acquired a new vehicle right around this time. Again,

714
00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:25.239
<v Speaker 1>that's very speculation, but huh. The important takeaway from both

715
00:40:25.239 --> 00:40:27.800
<v Speaker 1>of these murder theories that is that it does show

716
00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:30.840
<v Speaker 1>how the scene could have been carefully manipulated to disguise

717
00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:34.159
<v Speaker 1>the true nature of Ray's death if someone wanted to

718
00:40:34.199 --> 00:40:36.320
<v Speaker 1>do so so.

719
00:40:36.760 --> 00:40:39.159
<v Speaker 2>If it was the vehicle, you mean that someone.

720
00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:44.280
<v Speaker 1>Either way, both murder theories show that this could be

721
00:40:44.280 --> 00:40:46.880
<v Speaker 1>a cover up. Yeah, both of these are a possibility.

722
00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:49.159
<v Speaker 1>If someone wanted to make it look like an accident

723
00:40:49.239 --> 00:40:52.159
<v Speaker 1>look like a death, they could have easily have done so.

724
00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:54.679
<v Speaker 2>And you don't think that him getting hit by the

725
00:40:54.679 --> 00:40:56.199
<v Speaker 2>car would have been an accident?

726
00:40:57.880 --> 00:40:59.880
<v Speaker 1>No, not like that? Okay, no, because it would have

727
00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:02.280
<v Speaker 1>been going thirty miles an hour in a parking garage

728
00:41:02.320 --> 00:41:03.719
<v Speaker 1>and specifically strike this guy.

729
00:41:03.960 --> 00:41:08.559
<v Speaker 2>True. True, What if someone wasn't paying attention just like boom,

730
00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:10.679
<v Speaker 2>I feel like it could potentially be an accident and

731
00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:11.519
<v Speaker 2>then they covered it up.

732
00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:13.480
<v Speaker 1>I think if that's the case, the car would have

733
00:41:13.519 --> 00:41:16.039
<v Speaker 1>gone over the rail too. This person would have had

734
00:41:16.079 --> 00:41:19.079
<v Speaker 1>to be going that fast, struck him and known to

735
00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:22.199
<v Speaker 1>have to stop. If the other person wasn't paying attention,

736
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:24.400
<v Speaker 1>they wouldn't have had the reflexes they stop in time

737
00:41:24.440 --> 00:41:25.719
<v Speaker 1>and potentially gone over as well.

738
00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:30.360
<v Speaker 2>Fine, Okay, human suck, this was intentional.

739
00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:33.599
<v Speaker 1>Now, at the very heart of the mystery from the

740
00:41:33.639 --> 00:41:36.760
<v Speaker 1>moment Ray vanished was the pivotal phone call, you know,

741
00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:39.199
<v Speaker 1>the one where he said, oh shit before heading out

742
00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:42.519
<v Speaker 1>the door. In the frantic hours that followed Ray's disappearance,

743
00:41:42.599 --> 00:41:46.119
<v Speaker 1>investigators moved swiftly to trace the origin of that pivotal

744
00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:49.639
<v Speaker 1>last phone call. The number Ray was speaking to when

745
00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:54.480
<v Speaker 1>he exclaimed oh shit was quickly identified. It belonged to

746
00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:57.719
<v Speaker 1>the Agora Switchboard, the central phone system for the very

747
00:41:57.760 --> 00:42:01.199
<v Speaker 1>company where Ray and Port of Stansbury had worked. This

748
00:42:01.400 --> 00:42:05.280
<v Speaker 1>was a critical piece of information, yet it quickly became

749
00:42:05.320 --> 00:42:08.960
<v Speaker 1>a source of immense frustration because despite the immedia effort

750
00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:12.039
<v Speaker 1>to identify who made the call, the precise individual or

751
00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:15.840
<v Speaker 1>specific office remained untraceable. All they know is that it

752
00:42:15.880 --> 00:42:20.760
<v Speaker 1>came from the Agora switchboard. Shit, okay, basically swallowed by

753
00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:24.239
<v Speaker 1>the vast complex network of the various businesses and everything.

754
00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:27.000
<v Speaker 2>Lots of places are like that anyone can phone and

755
00:42:27.119 --> 00:42:29.199
<v Speaker 2>it only kind of shows one number on the caller

756
00:42:29.239 --> 00:42:31.239
<v Speaker 2>display and stuff. Yeah.

757
00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:34.639
<v Speaker 1>Now, Porter raised old friend and former boss claimed his

758
00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:37.039
<v Speaker 1>company was on a retreat at the time, offering no

759
00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:40.840
<v Speaker 1>further clarity, and the police, for reasons that remain unclear,

760
00:42:40.920 --> 00:42:44.760
<v Speaker 1>failed to conduct a thorough examination of that actual Agora

761
00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:48.480
<v Speaker 1>switchboard records. They just basically stopped and said, Okay, I

762
00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:50.800
<v Speaker 1>guess we lost it. It could have been a crucial

763
00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:53.280
<v Speaker 1>piece of evidence if they had actually pinpointed the exact

764
00:42:53.320 --> 00:42:57.000
<v Speaker 1>extension or original line. Yeah, but it seems like again

765
00:42:57.079 --> 00:43:00.199
<v Speaker 1>speculation that they didn't really dive into actually try and

766
00:43:00.280 --> 00:43:03.159
<v Speaker 1>find it. It was like, oh, dead end, all right.

767
00:43:04.280 --> 00:43:07.320
<v Speaker 1>So this missed opportunity left a gaping hole at the

768
00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:10.480
<v Speaker 1>very beginning of Ray's disappearance, with the identity of this

769
00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:14.000
<v Speaker 1>last caller still shrouded in mystery. It was just a

770
00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:17.679
<v Speaker 1>big old question mark. Now back to Porter, though his

771
00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:22.000
<v Speaker 1>reaction to Ray's death only intensified scrutiny. He quickly hired

772
00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:25.039
<v Speaker 1>a lawyer, and it was widely reported he had gag

773
00:43:25.159 --> 00:43:28.800
<v Speaker 1>issued orders. So he had gag orders forbidding his employees

774
00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:32.119
<v Speaker 1>from speaking to the police or cooperating with the investigation,

775
00:43:32.599 --> 00:43:35.480
<v Speaker 1>a claim that he has since denied. However, so whether

776
00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:37.239
<v Speaker 1>it is true or not, I'm unsure.

777
00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:39.840
<v Speaker 2>This is the Porter dude, right, yeah, correct.

778
00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:45.440
<v Speaker 1>So this immediate distancing, combined with a Gora's own checkered pass,

779
00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:48.519
<v Speaker 1>fueled speculation because you see, just a year before Ray

780
00:43:48.599 --> 00:43:52.880
<v Speaker 1>joined Gora had faced significant legal trouble, including a sec

781
00:43:53.360 --> 00:43:58.119
<v Speaker 1>violations which SEC stands for the United Securities and Exchange Commissions,

782
00:43:58.519 --> 00:44:01.880
<v Speaker 1>which ultimately resulted in a one point five million dollar

783
00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:06.840
<v Speaker 1>fine for disseminating false or misleading information. So, given this history,

784
00:44:07.639 --> 00:44:10.480
<v Speaker 1>theory began to circulate. What if Ray, through his work

785
00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:14.480
<v Speaker 1>or his own investigations, had uncovered sensitive financial information on

786
00:44:14.559 --> 00:44:19.320
<v Speaker 1>the company, perhaps involving insider trading or market manipulation, and

787
00:44:19.719 --> 00:44:23.840
<v Speaker 1>planned to expose it. So the atmosphere surrounding Agora grew

788
00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:27.760
<v Speaker 1>even more tense as the investigation lingered. Jane Miller, a

789
00:44:27.800 --> 00:44:33.960
<v Speaker 1>reporter for WBALTV, became deeply involved, connecting with Jennifer Ray's

790
00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:37.960
<v Speaker 1>closest sorry, Jennifer Ray's closest friend. Now. Jennifer issued a

791
00:44:38.039 --> 00:44:41.679
<v Speaker 1>chilling warning to Jane, this reporter, advising her to proceed

792
00:44:41.719 --> 00:44:46.559
<v Speaker 1>with extreme caution and hinting at quote serious consequences if

793
00:44:46.599 --> 00:44:51.679
<v Speaker 1>the investigation into Ray's death continued. She explicitly stated, quote,

794
00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:54.599
<v Speaker 1>the people who killed Ray will stop at nothing.

795
00:44:55.719 --> 00:44:58.679
<v Speaker 2>Oh okay, that's scary now.

796
00:44:58.719 --> 00:45:00.920
<v Speaker 1>This was amplified by an in incident when a local

797
00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:04.599
<v Speaker 1>reporter who was also looking into the case reportedly had

798
00:45:04.599 --> 00:45:08.280
<v Speaker 1>his house burned down, an incident later ruled an accident,

799
00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:11.639
<v Speaker 1>but one that caused the reporter to immediately distance himself

800
00:45:11.639 --> 00:45:13.880
<v Speaker 1>from the story and raise a lot of red flags

801
00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:17.559
<v Speaker 1>for a lot of people. H Porter Stansbury and his

802
00:45:17.639 --> 00:45:20.760
<v Speaker 1>firm continued their aggressive stance, even sending the cease and

803
00:45:20.800 --> 00:45:25.519
<v Speaker 1>Assist letter to Netflix regarding the Unsolved Mystery case, betraying

804
00:45:25.639 --> 00:45:29.320
<v Speaker 1>this despite the show undergoing rigorous fact checking.

805
00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:34.880
<v Speaker 2>Still hmm, okay, okay, I am very I am like

806
00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:38.679
<v Speaker 2>ninety nine percent sure that he did not harm himself.

807
00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:41.440
<v Speaker 1>I am kind of with you on that, yeah. Now.

808
00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:45.400
<v Speaker 1>Gori's lawyers also sent an angry email to Jane Miller,

809
00:45:45.440 --> 00:45:50.440
<v Speaker 1>accusing her of making deplorable connections, demonstrating their fierce protectiveness

810
00:45:50.440 --> 00:45:51.320
<v Speaker 1>over their reputation.

811
00:45:52.320 --> 00:45:52.679
<v Speaker 2>Now.

812
00:45:53.079 --> 00:45:56.800
<v Speaker 1>Perhaps one of the most intriguing and unnerving details surrounding

813
00:45:56.800 --> 00:46:00.599
<v Speaker 1>Agrea's involvement came to light through the Unsolved Mysteries producer

814
00:46:00.880 --> 00:46:06.400
<v Speaker 1>Terry Dunn m er Mueller. No, there's no l mew

815
00:46:06.519 --> 00:46:10.639
<v Speaker 1>or er mr er. That's literally me e u r

816
00:46:10.719 --> 00:46:15.480
<v Speaker 1>e r merr Okay. She revealed that someone had mysteriously

817
00:46:15.519 --> 00:46:19.000
<v Speaker 1>called the Baltimore Police station a couple times after rais death,

818
00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:22.679
<v Speaker 1>not to offer information, though, but to specifically ask to

819
00:46:22.800 --> 00:46:26.800
<v Speaker 1>pick up raise computer, and they showed a lot of

820
00:46:26.800 --> 00:46:30.360
<v Speaker 1>interest in their status of this computer and the investigation.

821
00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:31.639
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so this.

822
00:46:31.719 --> 00:46:35.239
<v Speaker 1>Persistent and unusual interest and raised, you know, digital devices

823
00:46:35.320 --> 00:46:39.960
<v Speaker 1>electronics immediately raised crucial questions. One vital clues known only

824
00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:42.760
<v Speaker 1>to a potential killer might have been hidden on those computers.

825
00:46:43.320 --> 00:46:46.440
<v Speaker 1>The identity of the caller might actually still remain unknown.

826
00:46:47.360 --> 00:46:51.840
<v Speaker 1>But it's still just okay, what were they after? Now,

827
00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:54.320
<v Speaker 1>there's still one bit of this story, one perspective that

828
00:46:54.320 --> 00:46:57.000
<v Speaker 1>I haven't touched on just yet. And that's kind of

829
00:46:57.000 --> 00:46:59.079
<v Speaker 1>what you were alluding to at the very beginning. The

830
00:46:59.159 --> 00:47:02.320
<v Speaker 1>friend that a person who largely in the was largely

831
00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:05.400
<v Speaker 1>sitting in the background, Claudia, Allison's coworker, who arrived at

832
00:47:05.400 --> 00:47:07.760
<v Speaker 1>the home just before Ray went out the door. She

833
00:47:07.800 --> 00:47:11.920
<v Speaker 1>was kind of like quasi house sitting against Now, Claudia

834
00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:15.079
<v Speaker 1>holds a unique and significant position of being the last

835
00:47:15.320 --> 00:47:19.039
<v Speaker 1>known person to see Ray alive. However, much of what

836
00:47:19.079 --> 00:47:22.280
<v Speaker 1>we know about her interactions with Ray that evening comes

837
00:47:22.280 --> 00:47:27.639
<v Speaker 1>second hand, primarily from Allison's retelling of Claudia's accounts. This

838
00:47:27.760 --> 00:47:33.679
<v Speaker 1>led some to perceive an unusualness of the situation, particularly

839
00:47:33.679 --> 00:47:36.119
<v Speaker 1>the detail that Allison had left Ray alone with a

840
00:47:36.239 --> 00:47:40.079
<v Speaker 1>female colleague of friend, right, a point that, despite Allison's

841
00:47:40.159 --> 00:47:42.639
<v Speaker 1>later suspicions about the case itself, rarely seemed to be

842
00:47:42.679 --> 00:47:46.440
<v Speaker 1>really deeply explored. Now. Adding to the questions about Claudia

843
00:47:46.480 --> 00:47:49.760
<v Speaker 1>was her swift exit see she departed for New York

844
00:47:49.840 --> 00:47:52.760
<v Speaker 1>the very next day after Ray's body was found. For

845
00:47:52.880 --> 00:47:56.840
<v Speaker 1>many following the case, Claudia's perspective has been largely unscrutinized,

846
00:47:57.239 --> 00:48:01.400
<v Speaker 1>and her absence from later documentaries or deep dive investigations

847
00:48:01.440 --> 00:48:04.159
<v Speaker 1>or anything has only served to reinforce people questioning her

848
00:48:04.280 --> 00:48:08.599
<v Speaker 1>as a link somehow or some way. Now years have

849
00:48:08.679 --> 00:48:11.599
<v Speaker 1>passed since Ray Rivera has vanished and was found dead

850
00:48:11.639 --> 00:48:15.360
<v Speaker 1>in that conference room, but his death officially remains a

851
00:48:15.440 --> 00:48:20.159
<v Speaker 1>chillingly open case, the cause of death still listed as undetermined.

852
00:48:21.159 --> 00:48:24.719
<v Speaker 1>Despite the initial police theories, the evidence against a straightforward

853
00:48:24.760 --> 00:48:28.280
<v Speaker 1>SUVI suicide. It's overwhelming. The sheer physics of such a

854
00:48:28.360 --> 00:48:31.920
<v Speaker 1>jump made it practically impossible for anyone to achieve, let

855
00:48:31.960 --> 00:48:35.039
<v Speaker 1>alone someone with raised fear of heights and footwear at

856
00:48:35.079 --> 00:48:38.760
<v Speaker 1>the time. The autopsy, rather than providing clarity, only added

857
00:48:38.760 --> 00:48:43.400
<v Speaker 1>more questions, revealing injuries inconsistent with a typical fall and

858
00:48:43.440 --> 00:48:47.599
<v Speaker 1>a surprising lack of reflexive defensive wounds. The undamaged state

859
00:48:47.639 --> 00:48:50.000
<v Speaker 1>of the personal items found at the scene, combined with

860
00:48:50.039 --> 00:48:52.880
<v Speaker 1>the severity of his injuries, it seemed to devi logic.

861
00:48:53.320 --> 00:48:56.639
<v Speaker 1>And the unsettling security failures at the Belvedere, coupled with

862
00:48:56.760 --> 00:49:00.159
<v Speaker 1>rays escalating paranoia in his final weeks, painted a picture

863
00:49:00.199 --> 00:49:05.719
<v Speaker 1>far more complicated than a simple tragic end. Beyond the

864
00:49:05.719 --> 00:49:10.360
<v Speaker 1>physical evidence, a persistent shadow of Agora looms large. Who

865
00:49:10.400 --> 00:49:13.760
<v Speaker 1>made that untraceable call from their switchboard? What if anything,

866
00:49:13.800 --> 00:49:16.360
<v Speaker 1>did Race stumble upon in the world of financial information

867
00:49:16.440 --> 00:49:19.320
<v Speaker 1>that could have led to such a drastic outcome, you know,

868
00:49:19.400 --> 00:49:24.199
<v Speaker 1>a potential murder? What was the real motive if murder

869
00:49:24.280 --> 00:49:27.039
<v Speaker 1>was indeed the cause? And who was the mysterious caller

870
00:49:27.079 --> 00:49:31.760
<v Speaker 1>who desperately was interested in Ray's computer after his death?

871
00:49:32.760 --> 00:49:37.719
<v Speaker 1>These questions just simply remain unanswered. Ray's story is a

872
00:49:37.920 --> 00:49:41.519
<v Speaker 1>true crime enigma, a puzzle with too many missing pieces

873
00:49:41.559 --> 00:49:45.760
<v Speaker 1>and too many that simply just don't fit. Despite the

874
00:49:45.800 --> 00:49:49.840
<v Speaker 1>extensive investigation, the theories, the public fascination, the truth about

875
00:49:49.880 --> 00:49:53.239
<v Speaker 1>what happened on May sixteenth, two thousand and six continues

876
00:49:53.280 --> 00:49:58.079
<v Speaker 1>to elude all of us. Sadly, it's an interesting end

877
00:49:58.239 --> 00:50:03.639
<v Speaker 1>for Ray, tragic yet ironic. Almost the aspiring filmmaker poised

878
00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:06.719
<v Speaker 1>for a new chapter in Hollywood instead became the central

879
00:50:06.760 --> 00:50:09.559
<v Speaker 1>figure of a real life mystery far more complex than

880
00:50:10.280 --> 00:50:14.400
<v Speaker 1>any script he likely could have ever written. And that's

881
00:50:14.440 --> 00:50:17.199
<v Speaker 1>the impossible death of Ray Riviera.

882
00:50:17.760 --> 00:50:21.480
<v Speaker 2>Hmm. This one gets me because I feel like this

883
00:50:21.519 --> 00:50:22.719
<v Speaker 2>one should be solved.

884
00:50:23.239 --> 00:50:25.880
<v Speaker 1>I agree. I do want to before you go any further, sorry,

885
00:50:25.880 --> 00:50:29.159
<v Speaker 1>I just want to make a clarification. Ray Rivera. I

886
00:50:29.199 --> 00:50:30.880
<v Speaker 1>started saying his name at the beginning, right, and I

887
00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:35.119
<v Speaker 1>started saying Rivie Era as we were, so, okay, it's Rivera.

888
00:50:35.440 --> 00:50:38.760
<v Speaker 2>I just feel like it should be solved and that

889
00:50:38.920 --> 00:50:43.119
<v Speaker 2>there could be potential like cover ups or something. I

890
00:50:43.159 --> 00:50:47.159
<v Speaker 2>am glad that his on like his death certificate, it

891
00:50:47.199 --> 00:50:49.400
<v Speaker 2>doesn't say because I was thinking this was going to

892
00:50:49.519 --> 00:50:52.719
<v Speaker 2>end where it was just deemed suicide and like that

893
00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:55.880
<v Speaker 2>was it. So I am glad that the death certificate

894
00:50:55.880 --> 00:50:56.519
<v Speaker 2>doesn't say that.

895
00:50:57.000 --> 00:50:59.039
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. No, it's it's basically just a big old question

896
00:50:59.079 --> 00:51:00.760
<v Speaker 1>mark across the tire board.

897
00:51:02.400 --> 00:51:05.639
<v Speaker 2>Oh, but it does seem like there was enough evidence

898
00:51:05.719 --> 00:51:09.800
<v Speaker 2>and stuff there what evidence that it could have been solved.

899
00:51:10.280 --> 00:51:15.360
<v Speaker 2>I don't know. I just like, like the body, you know,

900
00:51:15.400 --> 00:51:17.760
<v Speaker 2>where it happened. I guess, yeah, there the fact that

901
00:51:17.800 --> 00:51:21.519
<v Speaker 2>there was no cameras, but like the phone call coming

902
00:51:21.599 --> 00:51:23.159
<v Speaker 2>where the phone call was coming from.

903
00:51:23.280 --> 00:51:25.400
<v Speaker 1>Like, it seems like there's some loose ends that weren't

904
00:51:25.400 --> 00:51:28.480
<v Speaker 1>properly investigated. I agree with you, But as far as evidence,

905
00:51:28.559 --> 00:51:31.360
<v Speaker 1>I don't think there is any. Well, yeah, those loose

906
00:51:31.440 --> 00:51:33.159
<v Speaker 1>ends could have led to evidence for sure.

907
00:51:33.000 --> 00:51:35.599
<v Speaker 2>Okay, not evidence, but yeah, there just seems like I

908
00:51:35.639 --> 00:51:38.119
<v Speaker 2>don't know. This one bugs me that it's not solved.

909
00:51:38.280 --> 00:51:41.079
<v Speaker 1>Well, like I said, this entire case, basically everything I

910
00:51:41.119 --> 00:51:44.119
<v Speaker 1>said is pretty much entirely pure speculation.

911
00:51:44.760 --> 00:51:49.239
<v Speaker 2>Hmmm. Shit for a friggin murder like that to happen,

912
00:51:49.280 --> 00:51:54.960
<v Speaker 2>and just you know, no one is held accountable. Yeah huh.

913
00:51:54.960 --> 00:51:57.599
<v Speaker 2>And then yeah, I can't imagine how Alison just like

914
00:51:57.679 --> 00:52:02.159
<v Speaker 2>goes forward because it seems pretty have it pretty clear.

915
00:52:02.639 --> 00:52:06.360
<v Speaker 1>That something happened someone, someone did something to him.

916
00:52:06.400 --> 00:52:10.840
<v Speaker 2>I agree, And no one is having to pay the present. Yeah.

917
00:52:10.920 --> 00:52:14.159
<v Speaker 1>So anyways, Nichole's got to hit the road in her

918
00:52:14.239 --> 00:52:17.000
<v Speaker 1>road trip. So thank you for being here. We appreciate you.

919
00:52:17.840 --> 00:52:19.920
<v Speaker 1>Links in the description of this show go check it out,

920
00:52:19.960 --> 00:52:22.719
<v Speaker 1>give us a review. We appreciate it because those reviews

921
00:52:22.719 --> 00:52:26.079
<v Speaker 1>go a long way. As an indie podcast, produced, hosted research,

922
00:52:26.400 --> 00:52:28.679
<v Speaker 1>all of it by our little lonesome in our little

923
00:52:28.719 --> 00:52:30.960
<v Speaker 1>tiny home. Things like that really help up get our

924
00:52:31.039 --> 00:52:34.119
<v Speaker 1>name out and gets to new listeners to view. Does

925
00:52:34.239 --> 00:52:36.559
<v Speaker 1>new people who want to, you know, share this story

926
00:52:36.599 --> 00:52:39.559
<v Speaker 1>as well and learn and be here chatting with us

927
00:52:39.559 --> 00:52:41.480
<v Speaker 1>about nothing at the beginning of the show, just like you.

928
00:52:43.159 --> 00:52:46.679
<v Speaker 2>Oh my gosh, okay, that was quite the ending. Thank

929
00:52:46.719 --> 00:52:49.400
<v Speaker 2>you for listening, and yeah, we'll chat with you next week.

930
00:52:49.440 --> 00:52:51.159
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, we'll chat about nothing every time.

931
00:52:51.320 --> 00:52:53.920
<v Speaker 2>Oh my gosh, I'm just ending.

932
00:52:53.679 --> 00:52:56.800
<v Speaker 1>This all right, go for it. You got it.

933
00:52:56.880 --> 00:52:58.079
<v Speaker 2>Day Wicked