<![CDATA[Walking Proof — A True Crime Podcast with PJ and ShanPa]]>Walking Proof is a true crime podcast exploring the dark, often overlooked history of Houston, Texas in the 1970s and 80s, told through an intensely personal lens. Each week, husbands Shannon and Joseph dig into cases that may not have made national headlines, spotlighting victims and families whose stories have been ignored, forgotten, or buried under decades of silence.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Fri, 07 Aug 2026 19:25:55 GMTMon, 01 Jun 2026 16:11:26 GMT60Shannon bales<p>Walking Proof is a true crime podcast exploring the dark, often overlooked history of Houston, Texas in the 1970s and 80s, told through an intensely personal lens. Each week, husbands Shannon and Joseph dig into cases that may not have made national headlines, spotlighting victims and families whose stories have been ignored, forgotten, or buried under decades of silence.</p>episodicShannon baleswalkingproofllc@gmail.comyes<![CDATA[Corruption in the shadows: part 2]]>Two months after my biological mother’s attack, I started digging into my birth father’s past — and what I found led me straight back to Freeport, Texas. In 1978, he was involved in an incident that, on the surface, looked isolated. But that incident was tied to a murder in Galveston County, and the accused was allegedly killed in a car accident in Harris County. Was it all just a coincidence? Or was it one more piece in a much darker puzzle? What else is hiding beneath the surface?

If you haven’t listened to “Corruption: The Freeport, Texas Files – Part One,” you’ll want to go back and start there; this story builds directly on those events and won’t make full sense without that context.

]]>9c36a3ec-7641-4d4a-8329-a1ea7e64ba72Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:09:53 GMT<p>Two months after my biological mother’s attack, I started digging into my birth father’s past — and what I found led me straight back to Freeport, Texas. In 1978, he was involved in an incident that, on the surface, looked isolated. But that incident was tied to a murder in Galveston County, and the accused was allegedly killed in a car accident in Harris County. Was it all just a coincidence? Or was it one more piece in a much darker puzzle? What else is hiding beneath the surface? </p><p></p><p>If you haven’t listened to “Corruption: The Freeport, Texas Files – Part One,” you’ll want to go back and start there; this story builds directly on those events and won’t make full sense without that context.</p>no00:38:27Corruption in the shadows: part 2full<![CDATA[Corruption in the Shadows: The Freeport Texas Files -Part 1]]>Freeport, Texas, December 1978. What started as simple genealogy—digging into my birth father’s past after learning I was conceived in a violent attack—turned into something much darker when I found his name tied to a “robbery” charge just two months after my mother’s assault.

When I pulled the original paperwork, that “robbery” shifted into a sexual assault on a woman in front of her husband, hidden behind wording and charges that didn’t match the reality described in the police report.

In this episode, I walk through how a routine search for my father’s record became an investigation into conflicting documents, missing details, and a trail of questions that keeps leading back to Freeport and the way cases were handled in the late 1970s.

This is the first step into a larger story: over the next few episodes, I’ll begin laying out my theories about possible corruption, cover‑ups, and why some violent crimes may have been softened or buried on paper instead of fully named for what they were. All events in this episode are based on public records and my own research, and all individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

]]>1d2b38a6-d65d-49a1-b4ed-9f86993fc7d9Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:19:46 GMT<p>Freeport, Texas, December 1978. What started as simple genealogy—digging into my birth father’s past after learning I was conceived in a violent attack—turned into something much darker when I found his name tied to a “robbery” charge just two months after my mother’s assault.</p><p>When I pulled the original paperwork, that “robbery” shifted into a sexual assault on a woman in front of her husband, hidden behind wording and charges that didn’t match the reality described in the police report.</p><p></p><p>In this episode, I walk through how a routine search for my father’s record became an investigation into conflicting documents, missing details, and a trail of questions that keeps leading back to Freeport and the way cases were handled in the late 1970s.</p><p></p><p>This is the first step into a larger story: over the next few episodes, I’ll begin laying out my theories about possible corruption, cover‑ups, and why some violent crimes may have been softened or buried on paper instead of fully named for what they were. All events in this episode are based on public records and my own research, and all individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.</p>yes00:34:335Corruption in the Shadows: The Freeport Texas Files -Part 1full<![CDATA[Help Us Get This Story Out]]>Y’all I need your help. We posted a follow-up episode and even with under 500 views, people are already coming forward with real experiences.

This is exactly why these cases still matter. There are people out there who know something—but they have to hear it first.

I can’t do this alone. Please share, talk about it, and post it in true crime groups. Let’s get more eyes on this.

]]>b76e010e-8f72-4a2f-8b4a-00effcd6b274Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:58:27 GMT<p>Y’all I need your help. We posted a follow-up episode and even with under 500 views, people are already coming forward with real experiences.</p><p>This is exactly why these cases still matter. There are people out there who know something—but they have to hear it first.</p><p>I can’t do this alone. Please share, talk about it, and post it in true crime groups. Let’s get more eyes on this.</p>no00:01:38Help Us Get This Story Outbonus<![CDATA[follow up on the Gayle Anne Cater cold case]]>Since our July 2, 2026 episode, Who Killed Gayle Anne Cater?, we’ve uncovered a few new details that add even more depth to this haunting 1978 cold case. In this unplanned bonus episode, we revisit the timeline, share what we’ve learned since the original release, and reflect on how these new pieces may shift the story we thought we knew.

This is a follow-up episode for listeners who want to stay with us as the investigation continues. It’s not a full new chapter yet, but it does bring fresh context, new questions, and one more step toward the truth.

]]>55ea7af5-9154-4dda-ab10-eae32c09dd15Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:45:00 GMT<p>Since our July 2, 2026 episode, <i>Who Killed Gayle Anne Cater?</i>, we’ve uncovered a few new details that add even more depth to this haunting 1978 cold case. In this unplanned bonus episode, we revisit the timeline, share what we’ve learned since the original release, and reflect on how these new pieces may shift the story we thought we knew.</p><p>This is a follow-up episode for listeners who want to stay with us as the investigation continues. It’s not a full new chapter yet, but it does bring fresh context, new questions, and one more step toward the truth.</p>yes00:21:213follow up on the Gayle Anne Cater cold casebonus<![CDATA[The Gift That Opened the Past]]>In this episode, I take a step back to explain how this journey truly began. What started as a Christmas gift—a DNA test—opened the door to a deeper understanding of my own history and the circumstances surrounding my conception in October of 1978 that was a result of a sexual assault against my mother.

This episode offers a foundational look at my story, not just from a personal perspective, but through a historical lens. As I began searching for my biological father, my research led me into a broader exploration of Houston in the 1970s, uncovering patterns, cases, and unanswered questions that shaped the path I’m still following today.

There is far more to the story than can be covered in a single episode. For a more detailed account, you can read my book, Walking Proof by Shannon Manley Bales.

We are also joined by a very special guest—our mother, Callie—who shares her perspective and reflects on the Christmas gift that set all in motion.

]]>489a5197-3972-45c4-9cd1-ee623172e8deThu, 09 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT<p>In this episode, I take a step back to explain how this journey truly began. What started as a Christmas gift—a DNA test—opened the door to a deeper understanding of my own history and the circumstances surrounding my conception in October of 1978 that was a result of a sexual assault against my mother.</p><p></p><p>This episode offers a foundational look at my story, not just from a personal perspective, but through a historical lens. As I began searching for my biological father, my research led me into a broader exploration of Houston in the 1970s, uncovering patterns, cases, and unanswered questions that shaped the path I’m still following today.</p><p></p><p>There is far more to the story than can be covered in a single episode. For a more detailed account, you can read my book, <i>Walking Proof</i> by Shannon Manley Bales.</p><p></p><p>We are also joined by a very special guest—our mother, Callie—who shares her perspective and reflects on the Christmas gift that set all in motion.<br /></p>yes00:34:022The Gift That Opened the Pastfull<![CDATA[Who Killed Gayle Anne Cater?]]>Step back into October 1978 as PJ and ShanPa unpack the haunting cold case of Gayle Anne Cater, a young woman whose life was cut short in Houston under circumstances that remain clouded in mystery. Decades later, her story still lingers—full of unanswered questions, overlooked details, and a trail that never quite went cold.

In this episode, ShanPa shares a deeply personal and unsettling connection to the case, exploring the possibility that someone from her own past—her biological father—may have crossed paths with this tragedy. Together, PJ and ShanPa sift through timelines, known evidence, and the gaps in the investigation, carefully separating fact from speculation while confronting what it means when a case hits close to home.

With respect for the victim and a commitment to truth, this episode dives into the complexities of memory, family, and justice delayed. Was this a case of missed leads, or is there more beneath the surface waiting to be uncovered?

Listener discretion is advised as the conversation includes sensitive themes and personal reflections tied to an ongoing cold case.

]]>ddb5fff3-3ab2-469f-8c9d-c14ec84be4eaThu, 02 Jul 2026 10:45:00 GMT<p>Step back into October 1978 as PJ and ShanPa unpack the haunting cold case of Gayle Anne Cater, a young woman whose life was cut short in Houston under circumstances that remain clouded in mystery. Decades later, her story still lingers—full of unanswered questions, overlooked details, and a trail that never quite went cold.</p><p>In this episode, ShanPa shares a deeply personal and unsettling connection to the case, exploring the possibility that someone from her own past—her biological father—may have crossed paths with this tragedy. Together, PJ and ShanPa sift through timelines, known evidence, and the gaps in the investigation, carefully separating fact from speculation while confronting what it means when a case hits close to home.</p><p>With respect for the victim and a commitment to truth, this episode dives into the complexities of memory, family, and justice delayed. Was this a case of missed leads, or is there more beneath the surface waiting to be uncovered?</p><p>Listener discretion is advised as the conversation includes sensitive themes and personal reflections tied to an ongoing cold case.</p>yes00:35:101Who Killed Gayle Anne Cater?full<![CDATA[Walking Proof: Meet the hosts]]>This is the trailer for Walking Proof, a short introduction to who we are—two husbands, grandpas, and true‑crime nerds—and why we’re telling these stories. In it, we share a glimpse of our personal connection to a 1978 attack and what listeners can expect from the show: Houston‑area cold cases, overlooked victims, and a deeply personal lens on true crime.

]]>b77df4f6-c581-4443-a00f-600fdd8e8e17Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:29:53 GMT<p>This is the trailer for Walking Proof, a short introduction to who we are—two husbands, grandpas, and true‑crime nerds—and why we’re telling these stories. In it, we share a glimpse of our personal connection to a 1978 attack and what listeners can expect from the show: Houston‑area cold cases, overlooked victims, and a deeply personal lens on true crime.</p>yes00:11:47Walking Proof: Meet the hoststrailer