Episode Details

Over four decades after the 1983 murder of 18-year-old Terri McCauley, a suspect named Thomas Popp is finally standing trial in Sioux City, Iowa. McCauley, a member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, disappeared after a night out and was discovered deceased in a wooded area shortly thereafter. Though authorities long suspected Popp, it took until a 2025 grand jury indictment to bring formal charges against him. In the intervening years, the victim’s family transformed their profound grief into community advocacy by founding Red Sky Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. This organization provides resources to families across the Midwest and works to ensure that Indigenous victims are remembered as loved individuals rather than just crime statistics. Consequently, the current legal proceedings represent a long-awaited pursuit of justice and a significant milestone for a family that has spent generations seeking closure.

This episode includes AI-generated content.