May 19, 1977: A 20-year-old hitchhiker accepts a ride from a young couple with a baby. What followed was a seven-year nightmare that would push the boundaries of human endurance and psychological manipulation.

Join Bart Smith and investigative journalist Sara Chen as they unravel the horrifying case of Colleen Stan, known as "The Girl in the Box." Through painstaking research and exclusive interviews, this episode exposes:

• How a normal-appearing couple used a baby to lure their victim
• The chilling 23-hours-a-day confinement in a coffin-sized box under a bed
• The elaborate fiction of "The Company" used to maintain control
• A twisted "slave contract" and psychological brainwashing techniques
• The shocking revelation that finally led to freedom

"In my years as a detective, I've never seen a case where psychological control was so complete that a victim could visit her family and still return to her captor." - Bart Smith

Featuring interviews with:

• Criminal psychologists who studied the unprecedented psychological manipulation
• The lead investigators who uncovered the truth
• Experts on survival and recovery from extreme trauma

This episode goes beyond the sensational headlines to explore the human capacity for both cruelty and resilience, asking the haunting question: What does it take to imprison someone's mind?

Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of kidnapping, psychological torture, and sexual abuse. While we handle these topics as responsibly as possible, listener discretion is strongly advised.