The Handset on the Culvert: How One Call Unraveled a Perfect Family

The Handset on the Culvert: How One Call Unraveled a Perfect Family A postal worker found a dry telephone handset sitting upright on a wet concrete culvert marker after a rainstorm, though he had run that loop more than nine hundred times and knew the drainage patterns. That single strange object would lead a high school teacher to discover a four-year recurring charge and a second life spread across two towns-so what did that handset actually point to? In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries that began at 7:41 AM on May 9, 2011 and trace how everyday details-billing statements, a company name on a Post-it, a rented gray Nissan-became the clues that unsettled a household. How did a $41.80 monthly charge and a handset on a culvert expose lives lived in plain sight? Person: Raymond Holmes Date: May 9, 2011 Location: Sutter Basin path near a concrete culvert marker Town: Aldine Recurring charge payee: Tibbs Communications Solutions - The handset was found at 7:41 AM after rain that fell after 2:30 AM and stopped before 3:00 AM. - Raymond Holmes had run the postal delivery loop more than 900 times and knew every frost crack and drainage pool on that route. - Diane Becker was 38, worked as a billing coordinator at Sentinel Health Resources, and arrived at work at 8:15 AM. - Troy Perry discovered a $41.80 recurring monthly charge to Tibbs Communications Solutions dating back to 2007 on a joint credit card statement. - Troy made four separate calls to Tibbs Communications Solutions and reached owner Marcus Tibbs on the second attempt, who confirmed the service address as an Orber Street address in Brenford. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].