Episode 410: Terrence Woods Jr.

Jul 8, 202654 min

Summary

In this episode of The First Degree, the hosts examine the mysterious disappearance of Terrence Woods Jr., a talented and ambitious freelance production assistant who vanished in October 2018. While working on a shoot for the Discovery Channel’s Gold Rush spin-off in the remote, rugged wilderness of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in Idaho, Woods reportedly left his crew, dropped his radio, and sprinted into the forest, never to be seen again. The discussion highlights the perplexing circumstances surrounding his departure, including conflicting accounts from the production crew and bizarre claims regarding his mental state that his family and friends vehemently dispute. The hosts explore the tension between the official narrative provided by production executives and the confusion of those who knew Woods as a consummate, stable professional. Despite an extensive multi-agency search covering thousands of square miles of dense terrain, no trace of him was ever found. By analyzing the gaps in the timeline and the strange behavior reported on set, the podcast questions the adequacy of the investigation and the unsettling reality of how someone can simply disappear from a professional production environment.

Updated Jul 8, 2026

True Crime Society & Culture Missing Persons Cold Cases Journalism Media Ethics Mental Health

Topics

Lack of Investigative Transparency

About This Episode

On October 5, 2018, a 26-year-old man disappears while on a work assignment close to Orogrande, Idaho. The energetic, ambitious production assistant and aspiring film producer is last seen on a TV shoot with his crew before running away into the distance, never to be seen again. A search is quickly mounted for the young man, but despite law enforcement's efforts, no trace of him is found. In the absence of any evidence suggesting what has occurred one way or the other, rumors begin to swirl online, all circling back to the same point - where is he? In episode 410, Jac and Alexis detail the bizarre disappearance of Terrence Shemel Woods Jr, and explore the questions about employers’ broader responsibilities when it comes to workplace safety and alleged negligence, resulting in a tragedy that leaves a family without answers. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee 👤 Facebook: facebook.com/thefirstdegree 📓 Substack: http://thefirstdegree.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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