The Missing Candy Heiress
In 1977, Helen Brach vanished without a trace.
Her disappearance has haunted Chicago for nearly five decades—a mystery entangled in greed, deception, and the underworld of the gang known as the horse mafia.
Through never-before-heard tapes, exclusive interviews with Helen’s family, law enforcement, and reporters, and unsealed police files, The Missing Candy Heiress re-investigates what really happened to Helen—and what became of her $100 million fortune.
This limited series blends investigative reporting with cinematic storytelling to unravel the power, secrets, and lies behind one of Chicago’s most enduring unsolved mysteries.
The Missing Candy Heiress
Episode Three: Legally Dead
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Seven years after Helen Brach vanished, the courts must decide what to do with the fortune she left behind. As lawyers inventory her $20 million estate, new questions arise about what really happened in the days after she disappeared.
Meanwhile, a controversial book reshapes public perception of the case, and troubling details emerge about evidence that may have been destroyed.
Then in 1984, a judge makes a ruling that changes everything: Helen Brach is declared legally dead.
But when two Chicago journalists reopen the investigation for a television documentary, their search leads to disturbing revelations—and a prison inmate who claims he knows what happened to Helen’s body.
This episode contains brief excerpts of copyrighted material for purposes of commentary, criticism, and reporting under 17 U.S.C. §107.
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The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.
Legal Disclaimer: All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.