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As we previously discussed, Donovan Scott was the main suspect in Darcy Cantrell’s disappearance. And while there isn't concrete evidence linking him to the crime, the potential crime scene could provide us with more information about what happened to Darcy on that fateful day.
First of all, let's talk about the location. Hidden Beach is a remote spot in the woods, not accessible by car. To get there, you have to hike around two miles on a path through the woods, and the final descent to the beach is steep and slippery. Not only is it a popular party spot for teenagers, but hikers and nature enthusiasts also frequent it. But they’re not the only ones. Because of its remoteness, it’s also known to attract some unsavory characters. There have been reports of drug activity and vandalism in the area, so it's not exactly the safest place for an 18-year-old girl to be alone.
And remember: Darcy did leave the party by herself. Donovan followed later, and the estimates of the time gap between the two of them leaving varies greatly—some witnesses say it was a handful of minutes, while others say it was longer, like at least a half hour.
Now, let's focus on the details of the potential crime scene. On the morning of Nov 5th, 2007, a local jogger stumbled upon a red canvas shoe in the woods near Hidden Beach. The jogger reported the discovery to the police, who later confirmed it belonged to Darcy Cantrell.
When investigators arrived on the scene, they immediately noticed something odd about the area where Darcy's shoe was found. The ground was disturbed, large gashes left in the dirt with a scatter of broken twigs and foliage all around. It looked like there had been a struggle, and it didn't end well.
Sheriff Jerry Tennison immediately called in a search team, including cadaver dogs, and they discovered something even more alarming: blood on a nearby tree trunk. The tree was right off the trail the kids used to get to the beach. Darcy absolutely would’ve passed it if she was going back up to the parking lot to leave. And it wasn’t just a little bit of blood, either. It was a significant amount, splattered in a way that suggested it had been flung from something—like a bat? —hitting someone hard in the head. The spatter was tested, and it was later confirmed to be Darcy's blood.
This new information gave investigators a better picture of what may have happened to Darcy Cantrell on the day she disappeared. She was walking away from the beach, ascending the trail toward the parking lot, when she was caught off-guard and hit on the head from behind by a heavy, blunt object. Even so, she didn’t go easily and lost her shoe in the ensuing struggle. But we didn’t expect anything less from our girl Darcy, did we? She was a fighter right until the end.
Unfortunately, while the discoveries suggested that foul play was involved, the search was eventually called off due to a lack of more evidence.
And that's it for today's episode of Cold Truth. We've uncovered some startling new evidence that points to a potential crime scene near Hidden Beach where Darcy's shoe was found, and blood was splattered on a nearby tree trunk. It's clear that this case is far from being solved, and we'll keep digging to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.
Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to subscribe for more updates on this and other true crime stories. Remember to stay curious and stay safe, and keep seeking the truth!
chapter eleven
It had been two weeks since Darcy’s body was found.
Fourteen entire days.
And so far, there had been no mention in the news. Surprising since that fucking podcast seemed to gain new listeners by the day. Ash must have a gag order on his deputies. And it probably helped that the Double R Fire still dominated headlines. It had burned over a hundred thousand acres, destroyed over four hundred structures, and was still chewing up land to the southeast. Every time Cal Fire seemed to have it leashed, it broke the line and kept right on raging, leaving the entire town holding its breath. One shift in the wind and the fire could change course and rip through Steam Valley.
Donovan could see the nerves as he climbed out of his Jeep at the Mad Dog Pub. Townspeople were less polite, and tempers were short. Smoke clogged the air in a yellow haze, turning the sun an eerie red and covering everything in a fine layer of grit. The dry air reeked of burning wood, but it wasn’t the pleasant scent of a campfire. It was sharp and bitter and left a metallic taste on the tongue. Everyone wore masks or bandanas to try and keep the shit out of their lungs.
Mad Dog’s owner, Rose Galasso, stood behind the bar, hand-drying a rack of beer steins. She looked over at him when the door opened. “Hey, Van. They’re all in back. Your usual?”
“Thanks.”
“Club soda and lemon coming up.” She set down the stein and towel and picked up a tall, narrow cocktail glass.
He studied her as she prepared the drink. She was a beautiful woman, with black hair cut in shaggy layers and shockingly blue eyes. Her breasts strained the fabric of her cropped Mad Dog Pub shirt, and she had almost as many tattoos as he did. She was tough—some might even call her a bitch, but he’d always liked that about her. She seemed like the perfect woman for him, but after one ill-advised night together when he first returned to town, they both realized they’d be better off as friends.
And she’d never revved his engine like a certain shy veterinarian who was avoiding him and dodging his calls. He’d let it slide while he healed, but no more. He was seeing Sasha later today for Spirit’s follow-up vet appointment, and he was going to make sure she remembered just how explosive the chemistry was between them.
Rose slid him his drink, drawing his attention back to her. “How are you feeling?”
He took a sip of his club soda and lemon, savoring the tartness on his tongue as he considered how he wanted to answer the question. The news of Darcy’s death had hit him hard, harder than he’d care to admit. Part of him had always hoped she did run away like investigators first suspected, escaping town like she’d always dreamed of.
“I’m hanging in there,” he said finally. “Mostly healed.”
Rose studied him over the bar, her gaze sharp and assessing. Shit, she knew.
“You heard about Darcy?”
She nodded. “The rumor mill’s working overtime. People are saying bones were found in the woods off Quarry Road, at the edge of Rawlings’ land.”
So, soon, everyone would know. Including the press. The fire wasn’t going to distract them for much longer. “Thanks for the heads up.”
“No problem. You’ve already been through a lot. If you ever need to talk...”
He appreciated the sentiment but shook his head. “Thanks, Rose, but I’m not much of a talker.” It was true he preferred to keep his emotions to himself. It was something he’d learned early on, growing up in a household where vulnerability was seen as weakness.
She smirked. “Which is why you go to therapy, right?” She tilted her head to the back room. “I think they’ve already started.”
