Seven years after Helen Brach vanished, the courts must decide what to do with the fortune she left behind. As lawyers inventory her $20 million estate, new questions arise about what really happened in the days after she disappeared.

Meanwhile, a controversial book reshapes public perception of the case, and troubling details emerge about evidence that may have been destroyed.

Then in 1984, a judge makes a ruling that changes everything: Helen Brach is declared legally dead.

But when two Chicago journalists reopen the investigation for a television documentary, their search leads to disturbing revelations—and a prison inmate who claims he knows what happened to Helen’s body.

This episode contains brief excerpts of copyrighted material for purposes of commentary, criticism, and reporting under 17 U.S.C. §107.

Be sure to follow us on instagram and hop on over to Substack where you will find bonus content AND the podcast in one place. https://themissingcandyheiress.substack.com/

We would love to hear from you if you have questions, comments or information related this story - DM us on instagram or email us hello@themissingcandyheiress.com.

The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.

Legal Disclaimer: All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.

Three months after Helen Brach vanished, investigators focused on the last person to see her alive: her longtime houseman, Jack Matlick.

In this episode, we release never-before-heard police recordings from inside Helen’s Glenview estate and exclusive interrogation tapes of Matlick himself.

As detectives retrace Helen’s final days, troubling details emerge—conflicting flight plans, forged checks, a witness who saw something at Helen's home, and Matlick’s admission about what he did before reporting her missing.

Was he a loyal employee… or the man who knew exactly what happened to Helen Brach?

Be sure to follow us on instagram and hop on over to Substack where you will find bonus content AND the podcast in one place. https://themissingcandyheiress.substack.com/

We would love to hear from you if you have questions, comments or information related this story - DM us on instagram or email us hello@themissingcandyheiress.com.

The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.

Legal Disclaimer: All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.

In February 1977, Helen Brach — heir to the Brach’s Candy fortune — vanished without a trace.

She was one of the wealthiest women in America. A widow dividing her time between Chicago, Florida, and her small Ohio hometown.

Then she disappeared.

There was no body. No confirmed crime scene. Almost no physical evidence.

Nearly twenty years later, a horse trader named Richard Bailey was charged in connection with her disappearance — a charge he denies.

In this premiere episode of The Missing Candy Heiress, we return to the beginning.

Through exclusive interviews with Helen’s family, rare archival audio, and newly uncovered material, we examine the life of the woman behind the headlines — and the unresolved questions that have lingered for nearly fifty years.

This is not just the story of a disappearance.

It’s a story about money, influence, and the shadowy world surrounding one of Chicago’s most enduring mysteries.

Be sure to follow us on instagram and hop on over to Substack where you will find bonus content AND the podcast in one place. https://themissingcandyheiress.substack.com/

We would love to hear from you if you have questions, comments or information related this story - DM us on instagram or email us hello@themissingcandyheiress.com.

The Missing Candy Heiress is produced, directed, and written by Jonathan Rocks and Beth McNamara. All material is copyrighted.

Legal Disclaimer: All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States.