Episode description

November 24, 1956. LaPlace, Louisiana. 46-year old married family man Thomas Hotard and 31-year old single mother Audrey Moate meet up to continue their secret affair, which they have been carrying on for years. The following day, Thomas’ body is discovered inside his vehicle at a remote swamp area with a shotgun blast to the back of his head. Even though most of Audrey’s clothing has been left behind, she is nowhere to be found and a search of the area turns up no trace of her. Two decades later, a dying man confesses that his common-law wife was responsible for murdering the couple and that he helped dispose of Audrey’s body, but no evidence is found to support his story. This week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold” covers a “lovers’ lane” murder from the Louisiana bayou involving one victim who has still never been found.

Additional Reading:

http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Thomas_Hotard_and_Audrey_Moate

http://charleyproject.org/case/audrey-alta-moate

https://nbcmontana.com/archive/montana-woman-hopes-dna-will-crack-unsolved-mysteries-cold-case

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The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote.

All music is composed by Vince Nitro.