The Nightbook on the Ice: Why Sandra's Pond Keeps Secrets

The Nightbook on the Ice: Why Sandra's Pond Keeps Secrets

A dry notebook sat open on ice sixty feet from shore on January 9, 2014, at 11°F - not damp, not frosted, inexplicably pristine. The pond had been frozen solid since December 18, 2013, yet the notebook belonged to Sandra Coleman and had last been seen in her passenger seat the night before; how did it get there?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events tied to a frozen pond and a decades-old death that paperwork tried to bury. You will hear how a missing receipt, misfiled records, and a woman’s last letters connect to the mystery of Sandra Mace and the oddities around Sandra's Pond.

Person: Sandra Mace Date: January 14, 1971 Location: mill pond at Dreher Mill, Linden Township Cause: hypothermia with secondary drowning (official verdict) Document: rental receipt for one private room, January 12, 1971, renter Frank Dreher

- The notebook was discovered on the ice on January 9, 2014, at a temperature of 11°F and the pond had been frozen since at least December 18, 2013. - Sandra Coleman’s notebook was dry and unfrosted while sitting sixty feet from shore with no footprint trail leading to it. - Sandra Mace’s last letter to Iris Tolbert was dated December 29, 1970, stating she was in a situation she could not get out of. - Sandra Mace’s body was found January 14, 1971, at the edge of the mill pond; the inquest ruled hypothermia with secondary drowning and no third-party involvement. - A carbon-copy receipt for a private room rented January 12, 1971, by Frank Dreher was tucked inside the 42-page inquest file and remained unseen for 44 years until an archivist found the misfiled folder.

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].