The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow - by Jake Anderson (Hardcover)

About the Book

On October 8th, 2009, Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilynn, and their six-year-old daughter Madyson, set off for a drive from their home in Eufaula, Oklahoma, to the nearby Sans Bois Mountains. They didn't return that day, or the next. A week later, their truck was found abandoned on a mountain road. Inside was their dog, malnourished but alive, the family's cell phones, wallets, and $32,000 in cash.The ensuing eight-month search was the largest in Oklahoma history, but it yielded little evidence. Online, bloggers and web sleuths put forth dozens of theories, fueled by the Jamisons' strange, trancelike behavior on a CCTV video. Some claimed the family was abducted by white supremacists or a religious cult. In 2013, there was a tragic break in the case, when deer hunters stumbled upon the skeletal remains of two adults and a child in the Smokestack Hollow area of Panola Mountain. Forensic testing confirmed the Jamisons' identities.

Book Synopsis

An immersive descent into one of the most mysterious and bizarre unsolved cases of this century. Through extensive research, personal interviews, and exclusive evidence, Anderson unearths the truth behind the disappearance of a loving, plucky family that was gradually worn down, warped-by pain and pathology-into a radicalized cell.

"There's dark stuff up there, sir. You know that, right? Cults and such." That's what Starlet Jamison told the Sheriff after her son and his family went missing.

On October 8th, 2009, Bobby Jamison, his wife Sherilynn, and their six-year-old daughter Madyson, set off for a drive from their home in Eufaula, Oklahoma, to the nearby Sans Bois Mountains. They didn't return that day, or the next. A week later, their truck was found abandoned on a mountain road. Inside was their dog, malnourished but alive, the family's cell phones, wallets, and $32,000 in cash.
The ensuing eight-month search was the largest in Oklahoma history, but it yielded little evidence. Online, bloggers and web sleuths put forth dozens of theories, fueled by the Jamisons' strange, trancelike behavior on a CCTV video. Some claimed the family was abducted by white supremacists or a religious cult. In 2013, there was a tragic break in the case, when deer hunters stumbled upon the skeletal remains of two adults and a child in the Smokestack Hollow area of Panola Mountain. Forensic testing confirmed the Jamisons' identities.

But the mystery was only beginning. Had the Jamisons been planning to abandon their lives and raise Madyson alone in the wilderness--and if so, why? What happened to the briefcase and handgun that Sheryilynn was seen putting into the car? And why were no arrests ever made?

Investigative journalist Jake Anderson draws on police notes, interviews, and exclusive evidence to piece together the Jamisons' last days and weeks, weaving together startling material with his own personal insights. The story is one of dark, paranoid obsessions, but also of real malevolent forces residing in those shadowy mountains--and a compulsively readable account of a true murder mystery whose chilling impact continues to be felt.

Review Quotes

Praise for Jake Anderson

"What happened to the Jamison family at Smokestack Hollow? There's enough new information for any reader to form a conclusion. But Anderson does an excellent job revealing the true mystery - who the Jamisons really were. --James Renner, author of Little, Crazy Children and Scout Camp on The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow

"Riveting, vivid . . . with gripping case details, Anderson infuses this true crime masterwork with engaging prose, additional true crime stories, and respectful appreciation of the victims and their families. Highly recommend for anyone who loves true crime." --Shannon Kirk, International Bestselling Author of Method 15/33 and Gretchen on The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow

"In this enthralling page-turner, Jake Anderson dives deep into a dark mystery that stumped investigators, unearthing hidden truths that only a skilled investigative journalist could uncover. A chilling journey that won't disappoint. Highly recommended!" --Leslie Rule, author of A Tangled Web on The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow

"An autopsy of a mystery. Anderson dissects the minutiae, our guide to searches, dogs, haunted houses, corrupt sheriffs, skeletal remains, and much more. Was it murder-suicide? A drug killing? A case of demonic delusions? Anderson doesn't stop with easy answers. In this true crime immersion, Anderson takes us to the deep end and throws us in, life jacket or not." --Rebecca Morris, New York Times bestselling author of Boy Missing: The Search for Kyron Horman on The Vanishing at Smokestack Hollow

"Outstanding. What really happened to Lam may never be known, but true crime buffs won't want to miss this gripping search for the truth." --Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW for Gone at Midnight

"Rather than exploiting Lam's death as a morbid meme, Anderson takes an empathic and humanizing approach. His thorough research and passionate writing make a fascinating read. Extremely detailed and featuring new evidence, this book is recommended to anyone who loves to dive down a rabbit hole." --Booklist on Gone at Midnight

"From meditations on quantum mechanics and the meaning of consciousness, Gone at Midnight is not the typical true crime potboiler. It represents an evolution of the genre, with one infamous crime giving way to Gonzo-like reflections, cultural criticism, and a writing style that befits both the book form and the Internet blog." --New York Journal of Books on Gone at Midnight

"The definitive book on Elisa Lam is finally here. Gone at Midnight is both an investigation into one of the Internet's most frustrating mysteries and a personal exploration of depression and suicidal ideation. Jake Anderson continues the tradition of New Journalism and gonzo reporting by weaving a personal story of mental health and anguish with a confounding L.A. mystery." --James Renner, author of True Crime Addict on Gone at Midnight

"Sharply written with a journalistic nose for facts and detail, Jake Anderson's Gone at Midnight captures the essence of a breaking true crime story and what goes on behind the scenes as the search for a missing person turns deadly. The twists and turns are remarkably sketched by an up-and-coming author who has complete control over his narrative. Add a bit of paranormal into the mix and what we have is riveting ... scary, compelling ... and expertly told." --M. William Phelps, New York Times bestselling author on Gone at Midnight

About the Author

Jake Anderson is a writer, filmmaker, investigative journalist, activist, and digital publisher. He runs the popular website The Ghost Diaries and is a contributing journalist for The Anti Media and multiple alternative media outlets. He has been a featured guest on Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis, Spaced Out, Nocturnal Frequency, West of the Rockies, and Common Ground. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, he's a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and currently lives near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Find more of his work at TheGhostDiaries.com, where he analyzes cold cases and unexplained mysteries. Follow him on twitter @OverTheMoonSF.