Aug 2, 2026 · 42 min · 11 segments
After a routine welfare check, Albuquerque police discover a beloved teacher has vanished. As investigators dive into her family history, they uncover a shocking murder plot driven by vengeance and…
It's a warm spring afternoon in Albuquerque, New Mexico when authorities receive an emergency call from a teacher named Catherine Frost.
Catherine says she's at the home of a coworker, 61-year-old Ellen Roth, and she's worried something has happened to her.
Ellen had not come to work for a couple of days, and this was very out of character for her.
Ellen was always at work on time, snow, rain, whatever it may be.
She's not one to just disappear.
Catherine heard dogs barking but didn't see any sign of life, and was concerned and asked for a welfare check to be done.
When police arrive, the officer notices that the newspapers are stacked up and untouched, and Ms.
Catherine was aware of a prior incident that Ellen had had where she allegedly fell out of bed and hurt herself seriously.
With her falling inside the residence and her not answering the phone, he made the determination that they needed to force entry into the house.
Despite Catherine's concern, they don't find Ellen or any indication she's in danger.
There were no signs of forced entry.
There wasn't anything to suggest that there had been some type of a struggle inside the residence.
They did notice that there were two, uh, canines that were inside the residence.
The animals did have water, um, and a large amount of food that was, uh, had been placed in the food bowls.
But according to Catherine, the dogs are proof something is wrong.
Catherine thinks she would never have left her dogs.
This is not how she treated her dogs.
The food bowl wouldn't be overflowing.
It almost looked as though somebody had put the dogs in there knowing that it would be days before they would be found.
That was a real red flag for them.
Detectives think, "Who could've hurt Ellen, or what could've happened to Ellen if she disappeared?"
Detectives are concerned as to her whereabouts, and we owed it to the community and her family to find her.
Her disappearance was out of character of her, so detectives started doing a deep dive into Ellen's background.
It's a warm spring afternoon in Albuquerque, New Mexico when authorities receive an emergency call from a teacher named Catherine Frost.
Catherine says she's at the home of a coworker, 61-year-old Ellen Roth, and she's worried something has happened to her.
Ellen had not come to work for a couple of days, and this was very out of character for her.
Ellen was always at work on time, snow, rain, whatever it may be.
She's not one to just disappear.
Catherine heard dogs barking but didn't see any sign of life, and was concerned and asked for a welfare check to be done.
When police arrive, the officer notices that the newspapers are stacked up and untouched, and Ms.
Catherine was aware of a prior incident that Ellen had had where she allegedly fell out of bed and hurt herself seriously.
With her falling inside the residence and her not answering the phone, he made the determination that they needed to force entry into the house.
Despite Catherine's concern, they don't find Ellen or any indication she's in danger.
There were no signs of forced entry.
There wasn't anything to suggest that there had been some type of a struggle inside the residence.
They did notice that there were two, uh, canines that were inside the residence.
The animals did have water, um, and a large amount of food that was, uh, had been placed in the food bowls.
But according to Catherine, the dogs are proof something is wrong.
Catherine thinks she would never have left her dogs.
This is not how she treated her dogs.
The food bowl wouldn't be overflowing.
It almost looked as though somebody had put the dogs in there knowing that it would be days before they would be found.
That was a real red flag for them.
Detectives think, "Who could've hurt Ellen, or what could've happened to Ellen if she disappeared?"
Detectives are concerned as to her whereabouts, and we owed it to the community and her family to find her.
Her disappearance was out of character of her, so detectives started doing a deep dive into Ellen's background.
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3 of 5
Informant Reveals Murder Plot
Informant finally explains exactly how Ellen died.
Open Polyamorous Marriage Bombshell
Investigators ask about Brian's other romantic love.
Admits Using Ellen For Money
Detectives press Kathleen on financial motives here.
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