This trailer episode of Not Just A Terrible Story introduces the third season of Bear Brook, a true crime series from New Hampshire Public Radio. Journalist Jason Moon investigates the disappearance of Jay Hickey, a Christmas tree farmer with dementia who vanished from his small New Hampshire town, and the fact that his wife never reported him missing.
The trailer mixes narration with clips from people connected to the case, who react with surprise, disbelief and grief. Listeners will hear how the case raises questions about family estrangement, the growing dementia crisis, and gaps in missing-person law.
The five-part season is set to begin on October 21, 2026.
In this episode Jason Moon
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Hey, it's Sydney. Today I wanted to share the new season of "Bear Brook." It's a critically acclaimed true-crime podcast from New Hampshire Public Radio's Pulitzer Prize-nominated documentary team. I'm drawn to cases that don't always get the attention they deserve. "Bear Book" season 3 is exactly that kind of story. Journalist Jason Moon investigates the disappearance of Jay Hickey, a beloved Christmas tree farmer with dementia, who vanishes from his small town in New Hampshire. His wife never reports him missing, and it turns out that's not necessarily a crime. Be sure to follow "Bear Brook" on your favorite podcast app.
Here's the trailer.
Unfortunately, it is not illegal to not report your husband or your wife missing.
Was that a surprise to you?
Yes, it was. Yes, it was.
A couple of years ago, an elderly Christmas tree farmer in New Hampshire went missing. But for almost a year, his wife didn't tell anybody. The police asked her, "Why didn't you report your own husband missing?" They were not ready for the answers.
He told me not to talk about it, which obviously now, legally, I'd have to. And, uh, what's the other thing? Oh, time flies. Like.
The whole thing is, like, just a bizarre mystery. It's like all these questions that the town has, the community has, are just, like, unanswered.
Honey, let's take a walk up into the woods and get head over to head with a shovel and bury it.
My initial thought was she killed him, because that was what I always thought would happen.
No way. No way. They have no idea how much we loved each other.
I'm Jason Moon, coming soon from New Hampshire Public Radio and "Bear Brook: A Private Matter," a five-part series about a mysterious disappearance and a search for answers that led me places I never imagined.
In astrology, every one of us that are counselors are karmically responsible for everything we say.
She would tell me, "Don't use your mind. Come from your heart center."
I'm going to be speaking in medium terms, so.
That's fine.
Try to bear with me.
If you knew Jay as well as I do, he's private. He doesn't want everybody to know his business.
Pat, I don't believe you.
I kind of revert back to, like, that "Bear Brook" thing. Like, what if we were to just come across something?
I know I will probably get more resources for a missing 2-year-old search than a missing 72-year-old search.
You know, and I wrote down, she said, you know, "I found him."
"A Private Matter," beginning October 21, 2026. Listen by following "Bear Brook" on your favorite podcasting app. Listen to the whole season ad-free for $20 and support our journalism at patreon.com/bearbrook.
Today we're sharing the season three trailer of Bear Brook, the critically acclaimed true crime podcast from New Hampshire Public Radio's Pulitzer Prize-nominated Document team. This season, award-winning journalist Jason Moon investigates the disappearance of Jay Hickey, a beloved Christmas tree farmer with dementia who vanishes from his small New Hampshire town. His wife Patty never reports him missing. And it turns out, that's not necessarily a crime in New Hampshire. What follows is a story about family estrangement, the growing dementia crisis, and the legal gaps that leave vulnerable people behind.
Follow Bear Brook and listen to the full season here: https://play.megaphone.fm/6ddryt3vqm-ovdhamgnbxg