Introducing The Woman in the Woods

SPEAKER_1 (0:04)

The initial call is just not something you expect.

SPEAKER_2 (0:07)

I mean, it's something you can't prepare yourself for.

Erin Moriarty (0:11)

It was a gruesome discovery off a dirt road in Georgia.

SPEAKER_2 (0:15)

Investigators are continuing their search for answers after hunters found a woman's body in the woods near Riceboro on December 2nd.

Erin Moriarty (0:24)

But who was this mystery woman in the woods? Did it occur to you that whoever killed this woman did not want her to be found? It did.

Law enforcement asked the public for help releasing artist sketches of a striking brunette with large eyes.

SPEAKER_4 (0:45)

I was like, whoa, wait a minute. Like, that looks like Mindi.

That looks like Mindi.

Erin Moriarty (0:53)

Mindi was Mindi Kassotis. But to Mindi's friends and family, the news she could be the woman in the woods, it just didn't make any sense.

SPEAKER_5 (1:04)

Um, so I didn't believe it because I had already been told that she had passed in the hospital.

Erin Moriarty (1:10)

On top of that, they learned Mindi's husband Nick died a few months later.

SPEAKER_5 (1:15)

At that point, I did not feel comfortable with what I knew.

Erin Moriarty (1:19)

How could Mindi die not once, but twice? And what about Nick?

SPEAKER_6 (1:26)

Like, this is so crazy. How could this be happening?

Erin Moriarty (1:28)

I'm Erin Moriarty, and from 48 Hours, this is The Woman in the Woods.

Mindi Kassotis had once seemed happy. She was an aspiring podcaster. Her husband Nick was former military.

SPEAKER_5 (1:46)

He was tall and handsome and Navy Jag.

Erin Moriarty (1:51)

They said they were expecting a baby, but Mindi and Nick had told her friends and family that because of Nick's job, they were in danger.

SPEAKER_1 (2:01)

I was getting anonymous emails and text messages threatening to kill me.

SPEAKER_6 (2:07)

Mindi had always told me that there might be a day where she would have to go dark.

Erin Moriarty (2:14)

Did she sound scared?

SPEAKER_6 (2:17)

She was scared.

Erin Moriarty (2:19)

She had a reason to be fearful.

SPEAKER_4 (2:23)

I have never wanted to be wrong in this in my whole entire life. I'm like, there's no way.

Erin Moriarty (2:30)

Follow and listen to The Woman in the Woods wherever you get your podcast.

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