Counter culture, communes, a disappearance: ‘I Was Never There’ investigates a missing persons case from the 1980s
Wonder Media Network presents “I Was Never There,” a true crime podcast trekking through West Virginia’s countercultural movements from the 1970s and 1980s. When Jamie Zelermyer and her mom, Karen, investigated their friend Marsha “Mudd” Ferber’s disappearance from Morgantown, WV, they uncovered another world, her complicated life, and how Marsha was unafraid of life’s consequences.
The mother-daughter investigative duo dug deep into Marsha’s disappearance, and they also unpacked their own histories along the way. Jamie had an unconventional, communal upbringing, and Karen grapples with what resulted from her decisions ranging from joyous and complex in the series.
Start this 8-episode series from the beginning, with all parts running less than 40 minutes each. Episode 1 shares working theories for Marsha’s disappearance, and the hosts learn more about their part in Marsha’s life. They share why they are searching for answers on the podcast.
Jamie and Karen compiled info from Marsha’s friends to trace everything that happened to her right before she disappeared to find new leads. We learn more about Marsha’s radical politics and hippie ways. The hosts combed through police notes and wondered why detectives left stones unturned and did not follow through with a prime suspect. Jamie and Karen learned that police did not investigate if Marsha’s drug business could have played a role in her disappearance.
The series shares Marsha’s history as a housewife, New Jersey bookstore owner, bar owner, and commune creator. The podcast hosts headed with the Back-To-The-Landers to West Virginia where she built the Mudd Farm commune and started going by the name Marsha Mudd.
Marsha owned a bar that became a hub for cultural revolution, progressive politics, creativity, and free expression. Episode 4 chats with bartenders, musicians, and teens who knew her and how she created projects that earned her folk hero status within her community.
Later in the series, Karen brought listeners to Braxton County where Karen and her lover Patty grew cannabis. Karen believes she and Marsha had a similar mindset, as shared in episode 6.
“I Was Never There” is a fascinating investigation that goes beyond any typical true crime podcast focusing on 1 crime. All episodes are now streaming wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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