The warm culvert that erased his footprints and refused an alibi

A county surveyor finds boot prints ending at a warm culvert’s asphalt and a cold truck - who knew that patch of road? The warm culvert that erased his footprints and refused an alibi In this episode, a routine re-survey turns into a mystery when Philip Parker discovers a perfect trail of footprints that stops at a twelve-by-eight patch of bare asphalt above a warm culvert. We follow the timeframe, the people connected by timber contracts and hauling routes, and the evidence that focuses attention on who knew the road that night. Person: Philip Parker Person: Edward Mason Person: Wayne Stein Date: February 6 (scene discovery); January 28 (objection filed); February 1 (notification received) Location: Coldwater Ridge, Harlan County, Montana - Parker finds boot prints heading 180 feet from the tree line that end abruptly at a patch of bare asphalt in four inches of packed snow. - Mason had called his wife at 23:10 the night before saying the truck was fine and heading down the ridge; his truck is later found cold and parked on the access road. - Mason filed a formal objection on January 28 alleging excess weight on a Stein Timber Hauling contract worth $340,000; Stein was notified February 1. - Detective Warren Powell maps the bare patch to a documented county culvert carrying warm groundwater that prevents snow from holding impressions. - A receipt timestamps Carl Briggs refueling a Stein flatbed at 22:18 the evening prior; a flatbed with emergency lights is seen on the same route at 22:40. 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].