All language subtitles for Cold.Case.Detective.S01E03.The.Strange.Unsolved.Disappearance.of.Phoenix.Coldon.and.the.Search.at.Saint.Clair.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BTN_track3_[eng]
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- [Narrator] Phoenix Coldon
was an endlessly inquiring,
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spirited, and musically
talented young woman.
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Her dedications to religion
and giftedness in the arts
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were cut short by an unexplainable,
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untraceable vanishing in December of 2011,
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leaving all who knew her both in life
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and through the World Wide Web
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grasping for answers in a sea of evidence.
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As a hope to provide more
substantial reasoning
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built upon observable evidence
and situational analysis,
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this is an examination
of the disappearance
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of Phoenix Coldon and the mystery
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at the 900 block of Saint Clair Avenue.
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This is Cold Case Detective.
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(suspenseful music)
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Phoenix Coldon was born on May 23, 1988
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to parents Gloria and Lawrence Coldon.
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After spending some time of her youth
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in the sunny state of California,
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Lawrence's job moved the family
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to the greater St. Louis, Missouri area
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where they spent the remainder
of their time together.
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The Coldons moved into a
residential neighborhood
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of Spanish Lake, a quiet
and middle-class suburb
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where Gloria and Lawrence
would commit to raising
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their bright and beloved daughter.
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From an early age, Phoenix
was raised in a world
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surrounded by church and Christian values.
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Her parents kept a close
eye on her demeanor
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and social interactions,
making sure she kept
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true to kindness, compassion, and respect.
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This was coupled by a
strong attraction to music
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and instrumentation.
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As Phoenix developed a profound
talent for the musical arts.
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Every Saturday morning she would practice
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on the family's piano,
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quickly falling in love with the craft
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and finding a means in
which to express herself.
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Phoenix's time at home increased
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when she entered middle school
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after her parents decided
that she was better off
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in home school rather then
attend a public institution.
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While it continued to shelter Phoenix
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from interacting with a different world
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than what she was accustomed to,
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she never batted an eye.
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Her enthusiasm for learning, knowledge,
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and participating in academics
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was second to none, and she
excelled in all of her studies.
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When she wasn't doing
coursework or making music,
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Phoenix was advancing her fencing skills,
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attending rigorous practices that led her
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to ultimate championing of the sport
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as she retained the local
junior fencing title.
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From 2007 to 2011, Phoenix attended
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the University of Missouri-St. Louis,
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moving into an apartment with a friend.
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Around this time, Phoenix
started displaying
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a different side of her personality,
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struggling to reconcile with
her sheltered upbringing
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and strict lifestyle.
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She began arguing with her
parents more frequently
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and participated in risky behavior.
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While it was a contrast
to the normal Phoenix
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that her parents knew,
neither Gloria or Lawrence
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figured it to be any more than the pains
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of entering adulthood.
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That is until May of 2011
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when Phoenix returned home
at the demand of her mother
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and tensions skyrocketed.
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Throughout the next few months,
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Phoenix's abnormal behavior
hits an all time high
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when she broke off her closet friendship
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with her longtime neighbor Akira.
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After an argument forced Phoenix to admit
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she was uneasy about
something in her life.
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Something that would not be cracked
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by either Akira or the Coldon family.
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As the warmth of summer
turned to the chills of winter
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Phoenix's crisis worsened.
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Her parents and few friends
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described her as a different person.
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No longer was she the well
balanced soulful woman
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with the great sense of humor,
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strong in her faith, naive about the world
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and ambitious to live up to
the world's expectations.
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Instead she was a shell
of her former self.
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Both Gloria and Lawrence Coldon
felt that their daughter's
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own self was on the brink of returning.
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But sadly never knew for sure.
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When on a silent Sunday
afternoon Phoenix walked out
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of her Spanish Lake
home for the final time.
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Not to be seen or heard from again.
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Leaving nothing behind but
odds and ends in her car,
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abandoned in the middle of
the road of St. Clair Avenue.
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(intense music)
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Some time in the year 2005,
Phoenix Coldon meets Akira
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in the Spanish Lake neighborhood
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and the two quickly become good friends.
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Because Phoenix is homeschooled,
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she waits by the bus stop each day
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for when Akira arrives
home after public school.
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Phoenix isn't allowed to go
over to the Hogan household much
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so her relationship with
Akira and her mother Martini
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consists of talking on the front porch.
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The Hogans saw Phoenix's parents
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as a little to strict as a result.
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In the fall of 2007, Phoenix enrolls in
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the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
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Eager to explore lifestyles
differing from the religious,
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tempered world she knew growing up.
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Around the time of
starting college classes
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Phoenix meets a guy named Michael B.
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They soon enter a romantic relationship
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despite her parents disapproval of him.
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Over the next few years,
Phoenix and Michael B.
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hide most of their intimacy
from the Coldon family.
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They move into an apartment together
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with the help of Phoenix's mother Gloria
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who signs the lease under the impression
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that her daughter is moving
in with a female friend.
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Gloria proceeds to visit
the flats multiple times
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in the duration Phoenix lives there
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and not once sees a clue that alerts her
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a man is living there.
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At some point in 2010 Phoenix
informed her childhood friend
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Akira, back at home, that
she wants to leave Michael B.
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but isn't sure about how to go about it.
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Instead, she starts meeting other men.
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One of the men is another
person named Michael.
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Referred to as Cellphone Mike.
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Phoenix heats up another
romantic relationship
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with Cellphone Mike behind
the back of Michael B.
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Around the same time, Phoenix purchases
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an alternative cellphone plan
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behind the back of her parents.
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She uses the burner phone to communicate
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with Cellphone Mike and her
phone from the family plan
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to upkeep her normal life with Gloria,
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Lawrence and Michael B.
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In the months leading up to spring of 2011
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Phoenix secretly steals money
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out of the Coldon family
safe in their home.
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The money in question is in
the form of savings bonds
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under Gloria Coldon's name.
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Phoenix discreetly cashes
these bonds at various points
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pulling in around $2,500.
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What happens to this money is unknown.
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When May of 2011 arrives,
Phoenix moves back in
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with her parents per their request
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after they decide paying for the apartment
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was financially difficult and
their house is technically
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closer than her apartment
is to the university.
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The situation begins to
unravel in the summer of 2011
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when Phoenix has a mental breakdown
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in front of her friend Akira.
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Phoenix claims she has the feeling
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that she's being followed.
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Specifically saying
that an anonymous person
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or people are watching
her and the Coldon family
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in the park one day.
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It is a paranoid discussion
with an unsettling foreshadow
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in which Phoenix shares she has a feeling
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that something is after her
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and something is going to happen.
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On November 15, 2011 Phoenix
records a selfie video
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on her phone while she sits in her car
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expressing the extreme
frustration she has with herself
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and the emotional crisis she's in.
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Phoenix appears distressed
and on the verge of tears.
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Saying things like she
wishes she could start over.
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She also recites an altered
version of the Serenity Prayer.
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During Thanksgiving
break, later in the month,
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Phoenix meets with an old friend
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from her teenage years, Tim Baker.
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She confides in him that
despite telling people
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she's at the university,
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she never actually enrolled
in classes that semester.
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Given the secret from her family,
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Tim knows about the second burner phone
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and realizes Phoenix
is living a double life
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and feels like she's hiding
something from him too.
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Not long afterwards, some
time at the end of November
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or early December, Phoenix has another
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fiery incident with Akira.
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This time she argues with
her best friend about petty
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little issues regarding their
friendship and Michael B.
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It escalates when Phoenix reveals
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she carries a 10 inch dagger knife
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stored in the driver's
side door of her car.
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Akira thinks Phoenix is just
trying to intimidate her
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and claims she's done nothing wrong.
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After Phoenix hints that she's
going somewhere to get away,
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Akira claims this mental state
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is totally abnormal for
Phoenix and like Tim Baker
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feels that her friend is hiding something.
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Throughout the first weeks of December,
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Phoenix makes an increasing
number of phone calls
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to her original boyfriend Michael B.
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via her family plan cell phone.
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On December the 17th she engages
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in 10 separate phone conversations
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ending with a 116 minute call.
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Unknown as to what it is
about and if it played a role
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in the mind-numbing
mystery about to unfold.
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At 9:34 a.m. on December 18, 2011
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Phoenix makes a two minute
phone call to her friend Rosie.
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Again, using her family plan cell phone.
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Five minutes later at 9:41 a.m.
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Phoenix makes a six
minute call to Michael B.
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on the same cellphone as before.
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At 11:00 a.m. Phoenix
attends the morning service
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with her mother Gloria
at their usual church.
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Phoenix performs in the handbell choir
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and appears like her normal self
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to the congregations pastor Mark Miller.
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After church Phoenix makes
the last recorded sound
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on her family plan cellphone to Michael B.
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A call that only lasts one
minute with unknown details.
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Not much time passes before Phoenix
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and Gloria run an errand to the
grocery store around 2 p.m..
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On the way home to Spanish
Lake, Phoenix turns to Gloria
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and says, "Mom we need to get back
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"to the way we used to be."
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Gloria responds asking,
"What do you mean Phoenix?"
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And Phoenix says, "We just need to be more
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00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,200
"what we used to be like"
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Gloria figures the old
version of her daughter
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is coming back.
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3:05 p.m. later that afternoon,
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Phoenix walks past her
father, silent yet determined.
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She hops into a black 1998 Chevy Blazer
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and backs out of the driveway.
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This is the last known
sighting of Phoenix Coldon.
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About two and a half
hours later at 5:27 p.m.
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East St. Louis police officer Perry
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receives a call about an abandoned car
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in the middle of the 900
block of St. Clair Avenue.
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Officer Perry arrives on
the scene in eight minutes
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at 9:35 p.m. and finds an
empty black Chevy Blazer
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sitting in the middle of
the road near a stop sign.
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Assumed the vehicle ran out of gas
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Officer Perry checks out the interior.
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He finds the engine's not
running, the lights are off,
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bearing no purse or phone
inside, no sign of struggle
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and resting their like any
normal parked car would.
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He runs the license plates to see if it
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00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,480
comes up with a stolen car in the database
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but produces no hits.
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He calls a local towing company
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and runs the VIN number
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confirming that the car
was actually from Missouri
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and probably crossed state
lines on a routine drive.
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00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,360
Officer Perry enters the car's data
255
00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,240
into a nationwide car logging system.
256
00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,560
But the delay in the
program causes the vehicle
257
00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:31,320
to remain absent from the
National Inquiring Registry.
258
00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,240
Later in the evening, the car is taken
259
00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,360
into an Illinois car
and truck impound lot.
260
00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,760
But the owners of the
vehicle are not contacted.
261
00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,080
The next morning on December the 19th
262
00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:44,680
Gloria and Lawrence awake
263
00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:46,920
and immediately feel
concern for their daughter
264
00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,720
who never stays out all night
and hasn't been heard from
265
00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:51,800
since the previous afternoon.
266
00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,960
When Gloria calls law enforcement
267
00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,160
and provides Phoenix's date of birth
268
00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,320
the police announce that
because Phoenix is a legal adult
269
00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,400
and has only been gone less than 24 hours
270
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,000
there's no reason to
believe she's missing.
271
00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,400
Gloria persists and informs
the officers over the phone
272
00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,240
that Phoenix was in the 1998 Chevy Blazer.
273
00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:13,680
So they run a vehicle check
274
00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:16,360
however, no red flags
pop up in the system.
275
00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,880
Despite the impound on the 18th,
276
00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,600
over the next couple of weeks
the Coldon family searches
277
00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,720
endlessly for their daughter.
278
00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,080
They pass out flyers.
279
00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:26,960
Call nearby hospitals.
280
00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,840
And visit potential
hiding spots around town.
281
00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,760
Gloria even calls multiple
local news stations,
282
00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:34,600
but none of the air Phoenix's story
283
00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,840
or help spread awareness.
284
00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,080
By the end of December,
Gloria and Lawrence
285
00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,200
are informed one of their
vehicles has been impounded
286
00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,280
at an East St. Louis car lot.
287
00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,800
They rush across the
Mississippi River to find their
288
00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,280
Chevy Blazer exactly how
Officer Perry found it.
289
00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,720
Strewn with odds and
ends belonging to Phoenix
290
00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,440
but showing no signs of conflict.
291
00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,240
Gloria feels Phoenix was
most certainly not the one
292
00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,240
who put the care on St. Clair Avenue.
293
00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,360
While Lawrence gets a sense that Phoenix
294
00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:04,720
is ultimately okay.
295
00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,680
On New Years Day 2012, authorities
finally pick up the case
296
00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:12,400
and declare Phoenix Coldon
an official missing person.
297
00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,480
A little over a week later,
on January the ninth,
298
00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,040
Phoenix's profile is first
reported by news outlets.
299
00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,080
And is given special support
lines by Shawndrea Thomas
300
00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,160
on January the 25th.
301
00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,320
Who then accidentally
shares false information
302
00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,320
about the state of the Chevy Blazer
303
00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,360
found on December the 18th.
304
00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,760
Leading viewers to believe
Phoenix had been taken
305
00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:35,920
from the car with it's
engine still running
306
00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:37,480
and door ajar.
307
00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,600
In February of 2012,
The Coldon family hires
308
00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:45,400
a private investigator, Steve
Foster, to find Phoenix.
309
00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:47,360
Along with the local police department
310
00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,280
detectives interview all known suspects
311
00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,280
including both of the Michael boyfriends
312
00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,200
who are cleared after interrogation.
313
00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,240
This would be the only
time either boyfriend
314
00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,360
spoke out about the case
and their transcripts
315
00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,320
have not been released.
316
00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:06,640
Steve Foster also discovers
Phoenix's safe stealing habits
317
00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,720
which leads to the reveal
of Phoenix Coldon's
318
00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:13,120
second birth certificate under
the name of Phoenix Reeves,
319
00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,000
her mother's maiden name.
320
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,480
Over the next couple of years
321
00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,240
tens of thousands of tips come in
322
00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,680
regarding potential sightings of Phoenix.
323
00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,760
However, none bear any real fruit.
324
00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,480
These false wolf cries
force the Coldon family
325
00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,680
into spending more money
then they had on PIs
326
00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,080
to track breadcrumb trails with dead ends.
327
00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,720
Leaving the family no choice
but to foreclose their home
328
00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,120
without any tangible hope.
329
00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,480
The police are unable
to find any real clues
330
00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:40,880
or physical evidence either.
331
00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,400
In 2018 Oxygen television network
332
00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,680
videotaped a separate investigation
333
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,920
into the disappearance of Phoenix.
334
00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,520
With the original investigative
reporter Shawndrea Thomas
335
00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,560
and a retired police deputy, Joe Delia.
336
00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,080
The two comb through the
major points in the case
337
00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,880
and bring in a third privat
investigator Dean Dupe
338
00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,800
to run a detailed database analysis
339
00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,240
of the second birth
certificate of Phoenix.
340
00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,120
The system reveals only four
matches in the United States.
341
00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:15,440
Three of them are ruled
out with complete profiles.
342
00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,000
However one sticks out as peculiar.
343
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,480
The final, Phoenix Reeves
March, has no date of birth,
344
00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,800
no social security
number and no relatives.
345
00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,040
Just an address for a
house in Anchorage, Alaska
346
00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,840
that was active from January to June 2012.
347
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,080
Joe and Dean travel to Alaska
and interview the neighbors
348
00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,040
around the address regarding Phoenix.
349
00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,640
However, none recognize her
name from her missing posters.
350
00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,000
They eventually contact the
woman now living in the house
351
00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,240
that was matched in the database.
352
00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,480
But the woman says that
she's been the sole owner
353
00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:53,040
of the place since 2002 and has never seen
354
00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,960
or heard of Phoenix
neither with the Reeves
355
00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,080
nor Coldon surname.
356
00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,040
While both private
investigators are convinced
357
00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:04,960
this suspicious profile is
that of the real Phoenix Coldon
358
00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,280
they have little else to go on.
359
00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,120
This is the most recent development
360
00:17:09,120 --> 00:17:11,560
of the still frozen solid disappearance.
361
00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,320
When looking across the
entirety of Phoenix's cold case,
362
00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:23,960
there are plenty of curious items
363
00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,080
that could play a major
role in the investigation.
364
00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:28,400
However the one piece of evidence
365
00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,600
that provides the most critical
information about Phoenix
366
00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:35,200
and her train of thought is
the selfie video she recorded
367
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,600
on November 15, 2011,
just shy of one month
368
00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,600
prior to her vanishing.
369
00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,960
Unfortunately the entire video itself
370
00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,200
has not been released to the public,
371
00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,240
but there are intriguing
pieces of direct quotes
372
00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,720
from Phoenix originating phone video
373
00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,160
that we've collected for the case file.
374
00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,600
She starts off by claiming she got ditched
375
00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,560
by an anonymous person or persons.
376
00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,200
She follows up by saying,
"This is ridiculous
377
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,080
"I just want to start over.
378
00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,920
"I just feel like I can't
start the new me over."
379
00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,640
A few moments pass and she continues with,
380
00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:13,320
"I don't know, I've got to
see things for what they are.
381
00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,400
"You know, like instead of
thinking about it like that,
382
00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,520
"see things for what they are."
383
00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,640
Phoenix trails off, saying
a few inaudible lines
384
00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,800
before looking into the
camera and reciting a version
385
00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:28,160
of the Serenity Prayer as,
"Lord please help me accept
386
00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,000
"the things that won't change
and that I won't change
387
00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,680
"the things that I can change."
388
00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,120
Further along the video Phoenix explains,
389
00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:37,800
"That's why I don't like talking to people
390
00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,800
"when I'm mad or whatever,
because I say stuff
391
00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:42,920
"that I don't mean and
that's when you learn
392
00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:44,520
"to hold your composure.
393
00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,320
"I want people to take me seriously."
394
00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:48,920
Due to the poor quality of the sound
395
00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,960
and a few moments where
Phoenix was mumbling,
396
00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,720
it's hard to make out what she's saying.
397
00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,440
Investigators Shawndrea
Thomas and Joe Delia
398
00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,680
took the video to an audio
engineer, Bryan Kweskin,
399
00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,840
to clean up the audio and
decipher the rest of the dialogue.
400
00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,320
He unveils a portion where Phoenix says,
401
00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:08,760
"I just want to be happy.
402
00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,080
"I probably would hae
been in a better situation
403
00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,760
"if I would have stuck
with how I used to be."
404
00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,160
She then proceeds to say,
405
00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:20,760
"Might as well ride in the back
406
00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,680
"with the cops all up in here.
407
00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,640
"The only person that
won't let me down is me."
408
00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,240
It's unknown how much longer
409
00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,480
her self-reflection goes on for
410
00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:30,720
but at the end of the video
411
00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,320
Phoenix gives one last look
into the camera and says, "Bye".
412
00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,120
Throughout the conversation
that she has with herself
413
00:19:38,120 --> 00:19:40,320
Phoenix takes plenty of long pauses,
414
00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:41,680
looking outside the window
415
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,480
with a somber agitated demeanor.
416
00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:48,800
Her voice is mellow, soft and
sometimes indistinguishable
417
00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,000
yet doesn't come across as calm.
418
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,600
Rather, Phoenix sounds
as if she's truly worried
419
00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,280
about the state she's in.
420
00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,080
Consciously struggling with
her life in that moment.
421
00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,720
Compared to the good natured
lifestyle she lived in prior.
422
00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,040
It's in these moments that
Phoenix herself clarifies
423
00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,000
she has been a completely different person
424
00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,360
for better or for worse.
425
00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:11,560
So investigators theorize that Phoenix
426
00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,840
references a situation that's
put her in legal trouble.
427
00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,360
Or that she's hanging
around a bad crowd of people
428
00:20:18,360 --> 00:20:19,960
who are pushing her to want out.
429
00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,840
Regardless it's clear,
Phoenix is struggling
430
00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:25,600
with internal conflict.
431
00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,920
Most likely as a result
of external pressures.
432
00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,560
She seemed to rely on no one but herself
433
00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,240
and her trust in the people around her
434
00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,520
is obviously deteriorating.
435
00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:37,720
Despite the tense atmosphere however,
436
00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:40,080
Phoenix displays her sensitivity
437
00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,200
and cognitive ability
to understand the world.
438
00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,360
She's attempting to decipher the present
439
00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:46,840
by working through the past,
440
00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,760
to hopefully set up a brighter future.
441
00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,040
Sadly though, the timing of the video
442
00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,640
and being so close to the disappearance
443
00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,200
leads all involved to believe her crisis
444
00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,280
played a major role in the events
445
00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,000
that mysteriously unfolded.
446
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,440
(mysterious music)
447
00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,200
In the seven years since
Phoenix's cold case
448
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:13,480
has entered the public sphere
449
00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,560
the most discussed theory revolves around
450
00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,120
a possible human trafficking incident.
451
00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:19,720
When her disappearance was first reported
452
00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,520
a rumor started that the 1998 Chevy Blazer
453
00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:27,360
driven by Phoenix was
discovered on the 900 block
454
00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:30,120
of St. Clair Avenue
with the engine running,
455
00:21:30,120 --> 00:21:33,560
the lights on and the
driver side door swung open.
456
00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,320
This version of the story implies
457
00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,800
that Phoenix was most
likely taken out of the car
458
00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:41,440
by a second party and
the Chevy was untouched.
459
00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:42,800
So who could have kidnapped Phoenix
460
00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,600
from her vehicle with sudden force?
461
00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,760
Well it just so happens that the 900 block
462
00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:49,840
of St. Clair Avenue is positioned
463
00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,960
right next to the interstate 70 highway,
464
00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,680
branded as the human
trafficking highway of America.
465
00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,920
Not only that but the are
surrounding St. Clair Avenue
466
00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:03,440
in East St. Louis are notorious
for high levels of crime,
467
00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,440
gang and drug related activity
and human trafficking itself.
468
00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,160
Thus multiple theories suggest
469
00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,200
Phoenix was driving in East St. Louis
470
00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:13,920
for whatever suspect business
471
00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,920
she had involved herself in months prior.
472
00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,200
Was targeted by a group of
pimps or trafficking operatives
473
00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:22,320
and taken away while at the stop sign
474
00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,600
and kidnapped into the
underground oblivion.
475
00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:27,960
Human trafficking survivor, Kat Summers,
476
00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:29,600
believes the case had earmarks
477
00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,920
of usual trafficking situations.
478
00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:33,960
Again, pointing to the state of the car
479
00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,640
and degraded status of
East St. Louis street life.
480
00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,520
Katie Rhoades, the
founder of Healing Action,
481
00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,080
also felt like Phoenix
was most likely pulled
482
00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:44,960
into the human trafficking sector.
483
00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,480
Although she claims Phoenix went into it
484
00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,080
with a sense of autonomy.
485
00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,520
Katie explained that pimps
are master persuaders,
486
00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,280
often seducing their victims
with a promise of freedom
487
00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,640
away from the control of parents.
488
00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:00,760
That would definitely
be the case for Phoenix
489
00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,720
who was unhappy living back at home
490
00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,400
and constantly fighting with her mother.
491
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,360
If she was enticed to enter
the realms of prostitution
492
00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:10,160
in exchange for independence,
493
00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,360
the pimp would have worked
quickly to disorientate Phoenix
494
00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:15,320
and strip her personal life away.
495
00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,440
To add fuel to the fire, a
woman from the local St. Louis
496
00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,720
Mothers of Missing Children group
497
00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:25,640
claims that in 2017 she received a message
498
00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,680
that included a link
and a picture of Phoenix
499
00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,400
associated with a
suspicious escort website.
500
00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,800
However, when investigators used the link
501
00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,400
it directed them to a fake Facebook page
502
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,200
with Phoenix's picture
in the profile image.
503
00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,720
Proving to be nothing
more than a cruel hoax.
504
00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:46,040
This wasn't the only
alleged sighting of Phoenix
505
00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:47,880
throughout the years though.
506
00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,760
In March of 2014 an old
friend Kelly Fronheart
507
00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,760
reportedly sees Phoenix in a plane
508
00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:55,560
going home from Los Vegas.
509
00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,120
Kelly was seated on her
flight during boarding
510
00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:00,320
and looked up, catching
a glimpse of a woman
511
00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,360
who appeared to be Phoenix
with a group of women
512
00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:05,360
staring straight ahead.
513
00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:07,240
Kelly called her name to which the woman
514
00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,240
looked up immediately and asked Kelly
515
00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:10,600
if she looked like someone.
516
00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:12,400
Kelly responded with,
517
00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,120
"Yeah, you look like my friend Phoenix."
518
00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:19,000
But this woman kept going,
never engaging with Kelly again.
519
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,560
She was wearing a zipped
up jacket, nice jewelry
520
00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,320
along with women all
bearing the same likeness.
521
00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:26,000
There were two men in the group with them.
522
00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,760
Pro football player types in the age range
523
00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,000
of 35 to 40-years-old.
524
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,040
When they landed in St.
Louis, Kelly disembarked
525
00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,920
and went to Southwest
Airlines service counter
526
00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,480
saying she saw a missing
person on the flight.
527
00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,880
Police came and combed through the airport
528
00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,200
but never found the woman
thought to be Phoenix
529
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,200
or her crew members.
530
00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,160
Kelly is adamant, the
woman was Phoenix Coldon.
531
00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,440
Rating her confidence a nine out of 10
532
00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,000
during the Oxygen documentary series.
533
00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,440
There isn't much evidence
to refute the possibility
534
00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,520
that Phoenix disappeared into
the human trafficking trade
535
00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:02,240
due to the geographic tendencies
536
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,680
and history of East St. Louis.
537
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,520
Yet it's hard to consider this
when the state of the Chevy
538
00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,120
showed zero signs of struggle.
539
00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:11,400
While there were a few odds and ends
540
00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,920
strewn about the interior of the car,
541
00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,640
neither Phoenix's purse
nor cell phone was found
542
00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,920
unlike the original report stated.
543
00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,680
The car was abandoned
rather then broken into
544
00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:23,680
and unless Phoenix was taken somewhere
545
00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:25,680
and the car was dumped afterwards,
546
00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:27,920
it's unlikely Phoenix was forced out.
547
00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:30,480
This then leads people to believe
548
00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:34,280
Phoenix was lured away by
someone she knew and murdered.
549
00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:36,560
St. Louis, Missouri is a top five city
550
00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,120
for violent crime in America.
551
00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:42,280
And many sleuths point to
the boyfriend situation
552
00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:44,320
and the secret nature of a double life
553
00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,200
outside of Spanish Lake.
554
00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,040
Michael B. was thoroughly
investigated by police
555
00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:51,120
and early private detectives.
556
00:25:51,120 --> 00:25:54,320
And all parties are
convinced he is innocent.
557
00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,760
While his alibi is unknown Cellphone Mike
558
00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,600
also makes sense as a suspect.
559
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,000
In fact, Cellphone Mike
actually had a restraining order
560
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,720
against him by a separate ex-girlfriend
561
00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:09,200
who claimed he was both
emotionally and physically violent.
562
00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,920
Not only this, but during
Christmas time of 2011,
563
00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,400
a week after Phoenix disappeared,
the ex-girlfriend states
564
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,760
that Cellphone Mike took special interest
565
00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,400
in missing person cases around the area.
566
00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:25,160
Specifically, checking up on
the status of Phoenix's case
567
00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,920
after authorities reported it official.
568
00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,080
When the ex-girlfriend
confronted Cellphone Mike
569
00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,800
about these interests he said
Phoenix had been a customer
570
00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,280
at the convenience store he worked at.
571
00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,600
Ending with a shouting
match in which he asked,
572
00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,280
"Why are you worried about
someone that's dead?"
573
00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,080
The ex-girlfriend has since
declared she is unsure
574
00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,400
if Cellphone Mike was just
assuming or knew for sure.
575
00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:50,880
Even with the two
Michaels cleared by police
576
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:52,800
a potential murder makes sense
577
00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:54,920
when considering all of
Phoenix's bank accounts,
578
00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,920
cell phone records and social media posts
579
00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,960
came to an abrupt halt
the day she vanished.
580
00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,280
She felt like she was
being followed for months
581
00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,240
leading up to the disappearance
582
00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,000
and saw darkness on her horizon.
583
00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,560
The video she recorded,
stemming from a hypothetical
584
00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:14,360
sticky situation, in which
she found herself in trouble
585
00:27:14,360 --> 00:27:16,640
involving the police and more than likely
586
00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,720
a larger unknown number of people.
587
00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,560
Taking it all into account
it makes sense to believe
588
00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,360
Phoenix's involvement with folks
589
00:27:24,360 --> 00:27:26,920
outside of her known social circle
590
00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,000
led her to illegal doings.
591
00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:31,400
Her use of the burner phone
592
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:33,720
was used to navigate these operations.
593
00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:37,440
And on December the 18th, she
went out to resolve a dispute
594
00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:39,760
ending up a homicide victim at the hands
595
00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,160
of these anonymous connections.
596
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,200
All that being said, police are aware
597
00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,920
of the second cell phone
and haven't reported it
598
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:50,720
as a piece connecting Phoenix
to any criminal organization.
599
00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:54,000
And while it is possible that
because the search is ongoing
600
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,560
law enforcement can not
unveil case details.
601
00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,360
There's just not enough
observable evidence
602
00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:01,920
to indicate foul play is involved.
603
00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,280
There's no blood, no wanted suspects
604
00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,600
and no DNA in the Chevy Blazer
605
00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:08,680
that belongs to anyone other than Phoenix,
606
00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,480
Gloria or Lawrence Coldon.
607
00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:14,600
Nevertheless, no theory
can be completely ruled out
608
00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:17,280
with the bazaar events
surrounding Phoenix's vanishing
609
00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,240
and life as a whole.
610
00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:22,120
Living two lives, with one
being a complete mystery
611
00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:25,720
to the people have access
to, makes extracting leads
612
00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,240
and following clues a naturally tedious
613
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:29,560
and borderline impossible.
614
00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:34,840
(solemn music)
615
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,600
Absorbing all of the
information, interviews
616
00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,920
and intelligence provided across the board
617
00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,520
by multiple private investigators,
618
00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,720
we've concluded that Phoenix Coldon
619
00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:49,480
up and left Spanish Lake on her own accord
620
00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,000
with the help of friends.
621
00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,160
At first using her
pseudonym Phoenix Reeves
622
00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:55,960
and the alternative birth certificate
623
00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,640
before building a completely new identity
624
00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,160
and dissolving into society
625
00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:02,360
and her new independent position of power.
626
00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,760
First let's discuss the
abandoned Chevy Blazer.
627
00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:09,920
The contents of the car, mostly
junk and random garments.
628
00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:13,400
Leaving no signs of illicit
activity or foul play.
629
00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:14,920
The collection agency notice
630
00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,800
regarding Phoenix's
unpaid burner phone bill.
631
00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:19,960
That it was discovered,
makes people question
632
00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,880
why she would leave it
behind so carelessly.
633
00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:24,920
But ultimately it wouldn't matter
634
00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,280
because the phone was still under her name
635
00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,560
and easily accessible by authorities
636
00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:32,080
with investigative abilities.
637
00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:33,760
The vehicle itself looked parked
638
00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:35,760
and planted from first sight.
639
00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:38,920
According to Officer Perry,
that was most likely used
640
00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:40,840
as a decoy maneuver by Phoenix
641
00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,280
or whoever was helping her leave.
642
00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:46,200
Putting the Chevy in East
St. Louis would make it seem
643
00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,520
like something criminal
encountered Phoenix
644
00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:50,840
and lead searchers on a wild goose chase.
645
00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,000
When really, it was more
than likely camouflage.
646
00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:56,520
Once the car was set up,
Phoenix most likely had
647
00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:58,680
another person drive her away
648
00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,320
or had another car at the ready.
649
00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:04,120
In addition, there's a
chance that Interstate 70
650
00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,440
being so close as the
trafficking highway of the US
651
00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:09,720
was merely a coincidence.
652
00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:12,360
In reality it being a nearby escape route
653
00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:14,120
for a quick departure.
654
00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,760
It's also important to
note that East St. Louis
655
00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:18,800
is across state lines in Illinois
656
00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,720
which would later prove to throw a wrench
657
00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:22,320
in the initial search for Phoenix
658
00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,600
and the vehicle within
the automobile database.
659
00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:27,760
The second key to the maze is Phoenix's
660
00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:29,840
immense critical thinking skills
661
00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,280
and subtle resourcefulness.
662
00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:34,720
Known associates of Phoenix described her
663
00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:37,760
as able to make friends
with just about anyone.
664
00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,560
Allowing her to adapt to
a variety of situations
665
00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:44,240
and befriend people with
specific sets of services.
666
00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,160
It's not out of the realm of possibility
667
00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,000
that Phoenix met friends of friends
668
00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:50,800
who could assist with
leaving the community
669
00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,320
and restarting an anonymous life.
670
00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:55,440
Now, who these suspects might be
671
00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:58,360
and to the degree of
their craft is unknown,
672
00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:00,440
but Phoenix did have a headstart
673
00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:02,480
with two birth certificates.
674
00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,320
Using the Phoenix Reeves
document for secret plans
675
00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:07,440
wouldn't be tracked right away at all
676
00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:09,680
and would buy her precious time.
677
00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:11,720
She could make purchases, apply for a new
678
00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:15,680
social security number and
access any number of resources
679
00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,600
outside of the Coldon legacy.
680
00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:20,000
She was obviously smart enough to hide
681
00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:22,800
a second cell phone plan from her family
682
00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:24,720
and some of her friends.
683
00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:26,680
And could have had any
number of other phones
684
00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,000
or communication methods.
685
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,680
Remember, she was also
intermittently stealing savings bonds
686
00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:36,120
from her family safe
before moving back home.
687
00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,160
A potential method of collecting funds
688
00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:39,760
for her future departure.
689
00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:44,920
When the two private investigators
Joe Delia and Dean Duke
690
00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,360
discovered the Phoenix
Reeves identification address
691
00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:50,400
in Anchorage, Alaska they
visited the neighborhood
692
00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:51,840
but came away empty-handed.
693
00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,440
Apparently the woman
who lived at the address
694
00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,480
under Phoenix Reeves, owned the property
695
00:31:56,480 --> 00:31:59,000
during the months when
Phoenix was linked to it
696
00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,920
from January to June 2012.
697
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,160
However this woman had never rented it out
698
00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,040
since purchasing it in 2002
699
00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,560
and never saw anyone
who looked like Phoenix
700
00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:11,560
during her 25 year residency.
701
00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:15,160
Yet something isn't
right about this anomaly.
702
00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:17,920
It just so happens that
Phoenix Reeve's profile
703
00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,960
had zero information pawns
except for an address
704
00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:24,280
that was dated just one month
after Phoenix disappeared.
705
00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:27,760
And appeared to be a
sensible runaway location.
706
00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:29,960
Nobody in Anchorage
would recognize Phoenix
707
00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:31,800
if she did indeed travel there to hide
708
00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,840
or plan a further identity transformation
709
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,040
and would serve as an
excellent middle ground
710
00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:39,840
between the United
States and starting anew
711
00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:41,400
in a foreign place like Japan.
712
00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,240
It also can't be ruled out
that Phoenix paid off the woman
713
00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:46,720
who owned the house on record.
714
00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,760
Either way, we believe there's
something very suspicious
715
00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:54,360
about Anchorage, Alaska and
concur she was definitely there
716
00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:56,160
at some point after her vanishing.
717
00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,360
In addition, many friends
and connections to Phoenix
718
00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:02,360
have been less then
welcoming to reporters,
719
00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:05,040
investigators and anyone
looking for answers.
720
00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,120
While they haven't been
necessarily silent,
721
00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,520
a lot of her friends
simply do not want to talk.
722
00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:15,200
In a sense this could be
analyzed as guilt behavior.
723
00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:16,080
But we feel that the guilt comes
724
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,000
from their role in helping
Phoenix not hurting her.
725
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,080
To pull off a feat like running
away and becoming invisible
726
00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,440
one would need help from the outside.
727
00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:27,920
Phoenix could have been
using her new acquaintances
728
00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:29,920
as assistance in disappearing.
729
00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:32,240
Including someone like Michael B.
730
00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:33,920
Their phone conversations increased
731
00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,080
in the weeks leading
up to December the 18th
732
00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:39,480
and ended with an abnormally
long 160 minute call
733
00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:40,680
on December the 17th.
734
00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:44,680
We theorize the two hour
talk was a final discussion
735
00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,400
about the master plan.
736
00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,440
And the one minute call on the 18th
737
00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:51,320
was Phoenix altering the plan's initiation
738
00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:53,360
seeing as though it was her final call
739
00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:54,840
on the family plan phone.
740
00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:57,800
Again it's possible more calls were made
741
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,360
on the burner phone, but
without those records
742
00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,040
it can not be stated with 100% certainty.
743
00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,120
Finally, when drawing this conclusion
744
00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:08,960
we must address Phoenix's
emotional and mental state
745
00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:10,600
at the time of December 2011.
746
00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:15,960
Multiple friends describe Phoenix
as unlike her normal self.
747
00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:19,480
She was agitated, displeased
and uncomfortable.
748
00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:20,840
Her relationship with her mother
749
00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:24,000
became untenable at times,
ending with arguments
750
00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,280
and disputes about various topics.
751
00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:29,640
As Phoenix spaced further
and further away at church.
752
00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:31,840
Not to mention, Phoenix
was constantly looking
753
00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:34,920
over her shoulder, regretting
decisions in the past
754
00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:37,880
that took her down a path
of present complications.
755
00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:41,800
Most telling of all was
Phoenix's spoken wishes
756
00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,800
to start her life over,
to reset her problems
757
00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:47,000
and return to the old version of herself.
758
00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:50,240
It's quite possible
that she tried to do so
759
00:34:50,240 --> 00:34:52,920
in between November the
15th and December the 18th
760
00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:57,280
with a couple of clues
hinting of such efforts.
761
00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:59,760
However, it couldn't overcome
the cloud of darkness
762
00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:01,040
that hung over her head.
763
00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:03,840
As her friendship with Akira cracked
764
00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,040
and her paranoia skyrocketed.
765
00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:07,960
Phoenix was the product
of an incredibly strict
766
00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:11,600
parenting style, sheltering
her from real world conflict
767
00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:14,160
and suppressing her social development.
768
00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,000
She was eager to expand her
knowledge and experience life
769
00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,920
outside of the airtight walls
found at the Coldon household.
770
00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:24,120
But over and over again, she
was rejected of these desires
771
00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:25,920
by her parents.
772
00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:28,920
This slowly ate away at the
connection she had with Gloria
773
00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:32,560
and Lawrence and sadly
made it an easier decision
774
00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:35,080
to let go of the religious,
conservative front
775
00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:36,600
that everyone knew her by.
776
00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:40,200
Leaving in her eyes was most
likely not an easy choice,
777
00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:42,560
but a necessary decision
to escape the decades
778
00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:46,320
of difficulties that eventually
made life a losing battle.
779
00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:49,960
All that being said, Phoenix Coldon's case
780
00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:52,200
is truly a puzzling predicament
781
00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:54,880
and no stones can go unturned.
782
00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,160
One of the reasons we
wanted to share her story
783
00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,040
is the complete lack of national coverage
784
00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,040
that Phoenix and the
Coldon family received
785
00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:05,800
at the time of the
disappearance in 2011 and 2012
786
00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:07,880
losing precious time in their search.
787
00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:11,640
Gloria and Lawrence had to
foreclose their home recently
788
00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:14,160
due to mounting investigation costs
789
00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:15,760
and are desperate for their daughter
790
00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,600
and her case to be shared
to a wider audience.
791
00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:21,160
They fear her files will
be swept into a corner
792
00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:22,880
and forgotten about.
793
00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:25,680
So we are doing all we can
to keep the wick blazing
794
00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:27,800
with hope that Phoenix will be found.
795
00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:30,680
This is also the second
case in which our subject
796
00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:32,840
has a connection to Anchorage, Alaska.
797
00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:34,960
A complete coincidence, only realized
798
00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,320
after we researched these cases.
799
00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:39,280
If any viewers are local to the area
800
00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:41,280
please keep a special eye out for clues
801
00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:43,960
or leads into the profiles of Trevor Deely
802
00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:47,320
and Phoenix Coldon or Phoenix Reeves.
803
00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,560
However unlikely, you just never know
804
00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:50,960
what could be lurking around.
805
00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:54,680
No matter what, we should
honor Phoenix Coldon
806
00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:56,600
as the brilliant woman she was.
807
00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:59,400
A hugely talented fencer
and a beacon of compassion
808
00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:01,000
and soulful energy.
809
00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:04,520
Making people laugh while
forging interests across culture,
810
00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:06,280
academics and art.
811
00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:09,040
She was a marvelous musician able to play
812
00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:12,800
a variety of instruments
ranging from guitar to piano.
813
00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:16,120
In fact, Gloria's piano
sits untouched to this day
814
00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:18,760
collecting dust, waiting
to be played again
815
00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:20,240
by the girl who expressed herself
816
00:37:20,240 --> 00:37:22,640
so beautifully for 23 years.
817
00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:24,560
The piano wains for Phoenix Coldon
818
00:37:24,560 --> 00:37:27,480
just like us as we climb the uphill battle
819
00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:29,720
in fighting to solve her disappearance
820
00:37:29,720 --> 00:37:33,080
and the mystery scene at St. Clair Avenue.
821
00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:35,320
This has been Cold Case Detective.
66735
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