Rose Peterson

HOUGHTON — An upcoming podcast will explore the disappearance of a Copper Country woman who disappeared almost 30 years ago.

“Leap in the Dark” will explore the case of Rose Peterson, who was last seen walking from Calumet to Hancock on U.S. 41 in 1989.

The podcast is hosted by Jill Revak, a mystery writer from Minneapolis. She decided to start a podcast as research for a novel in which the main character goes incognito as a podcaster.

Revak found out about the case from her mother, who grew up in Houghton. Peterson, who was living in a halfway house in Calumet, was believed to be walking from the group home when she vanished.

Revak’s interviews have included Peterson’s son and her niece, a detective with the Michigan State Police.

She’s also exploring a potential link with David Goodreau, who killed two people in the early 1990s. Goodreau may have encountered her while working in the Social Security office, Revak said.

The family had some reluctance at first but has cooperated with the project, Revak said. Peterson’s niece, Deb Laitila, took Revak around to the areas where she was last seen and helped her put up “missing” fliers around town.

Peterson’s son, who was 14 at the time, doesn’t want his voice to be used but is assisting in any other way.

“The family would like some closure and it’s something they feel wasn’t investigated thoroughly because there wasn’t much to go on,” she said.

Revak plans to do at least seven to 10 episodes. Depending on how much information comes in, she might do more.

“It started as just research on how to do a podcast, but I’ve really become invested in it,” she said. “I’ve been spending more time on the podcast than I have on the book. Maybe if I can help in any way in giving the family some closure, they can heal.”

The first episode will be released Sept. 4. For more information, go to facebook.com/leapinthedarkpodcast.