Cardinal Crimes
At Cardinal Crimes, we want "true crime" to have a purpose.
Here, we aim to raise awareness of cases, deepen understanding of various types of crime and the psychology driving them, and explore ways to prevent future crime—whether through individual actions, community efforts, societal change, or policy reform.
We do this by speaking with survivors, victims, experts, policymakers, offenders, and more to learn all that we can about crime and how to stop it.
Cardinal Crimes
ABDUCTED: Johnny Gosch, September 5, 1982, Des Moines, Iowa
Have you heard of the original milk carton kids?
In the first episode of this three-part series, we explore the 1982 disappearance of 12-year-old Johnny Gosch, one of the first missing children to appear on a milk carton. Johnny’s case marked a turning point in how the U.S. approached missing child investigations and sparked ongoing discussions about child safety, media attention, and law enforcement response. We’ll walk through the timeline of events, examine key developments, and consider the lasting impact of Johnny’s story on his family, his community, and the nation.
SOURCES:
https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2022/40-years-later-still-a-mystery-where-is-johnny-gosch
https://eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2017/09/04/missing-kids-milk-carton-campaign-outcome/627165001/
https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/johnny-gosch/
https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2024/milk-carton-kids
https://eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2017/09/04/johnny-gosch-kidnapping-west-des-moines-child-abduction-responses/595639001/
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/601815/1
“Johnny’s Birthday: Missing Paperboy Johnny Gosch Would Have Turned 41,” by Aaron Brilbeck, WHOTV.com, November 11, 2010
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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson