The Gate Open, The Shoe Upright: Who Set Lori Down?

The Gate Open, The Shoe Upright: Who Set Lori Down?

A small, pale yellow sneaker sat perfectly upright on a dock while a padlocked gate stood open and Lori Roberts floated three miles away in eleven feet of cold water - her left shoe missing, her right still on her foot. What ties a four-centimeter red fiber and an unsigned delivery log to a death ruled accidental, and who left that shoe where no accident would leave it?

In this episode, we lay out the timeline, the physical scene, and the stalled evidence that closed the case for thirty-four years - and ask whether a detail as small as a fiber can undo an official conclusion: who set Lori down?

Person: Lori Roberts Date: October 14, 1989 Location: Dunmore Lake dock Status: Case closed February 1990; remained closed 34 years Item: 4-centimeter red fiber found in right jacket sleeve lining

- At 6:45 AM a 14-year-old paper carrier found the gate standing open while the padlock was fastened and the spring compressed. - Lori Roberts was recovered later that morning in 11 feet of water, 20 feet off the dock, fully clothed and missing her left shoe. - The pale yellow canvas sneaker was balanced upright at the dock’s edge with laces tied. - Autopsy recorded Lori’s blood alcohol at 0.09 and catalogued a 4-centimeter red fiber from her jacket sleeve into evidence. - A delivery log dated October 4, 1989 lists Harwick Seasonal Rentals delivered and signed out by an employee number with no name attached.

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].