ABOUT THE SERIES: After seeing coverage of the disappearance and murder of Angie Barlow, Lauren VanSickle has been on a more than three-year pursuit to help authorities track down Barlow's killer. This is the third story of three in this series chronicling the effort to bring Barlow's killer to justice. You can listen to the local podcast, Crime Pursuit, about the Barlow case here. Read Part One of the series here. Read Part Two of the series here. Read Part Three of the series here.
INDIANAPOLIS — Three years of work have come together for Lauren VanSickle.
"Once I got involved, there was no turning back," she said.
VanSickle co-hosts the three part series "In Case I Go Missing for the podcast "Crime Pursuit." It's bringing renewed hope that someone might come forward with more information to help police solve the case.
Barlow, 23, disappeared Oct. 26, 2016, after going to a private party at the Landmark Apartments & Townhomes of Indianapolis.
"She arrived to the home, she sent a text that said here's the address in case I go missing, which sadly turned into a very prophetic message to her friend," VanSickle said.
Along with that text message, Barlow took a Snapchat video as she got ready for the party where she worked that night.
Eight months later on June 20, a body was found buried in the backyard of a home in the 5300 block of East 43rd Street on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The next day, the body was confirmed to be Barlow.
"She was our daughter. She was a granddaughter. She's got three little sisters who absolutely adored her," Christina Kramer, Barlow's mother, said.
For more than three years, Kramer has been the glue holding her family together. She has stayed strong for her loved ones while they all grieve, along with making sure Barlow's memory is kept alive.
"Who better to advocate for you than your mom? Because nobody on this planet will ever love you more than your mom," Kramer said.
Until police make an arrest, Barlow's family and people like VanSickle are committed to keeping her story alive.
"Somebody has to do it," Kramer said. "The missing and murdered can't speak for themselves."
RTV6 asked IMPD Chief Randal Taylor about crime podcasts focusing on unsolved cases. Taylor said he's aware of them and encourages it if they're being safe and doing good work that could help police.
“If it’s generating conversation, especially if it’s generating conversations with people who have information on that crime and they’re going to share that information, then I’ll be all for it," Taylor said.
