Considered by many to be the scariest update ever on unsolved mysteries for some unknown reason, I never got a chance to see it myself and have always wondered what the hype was about. Someone posted it a long time ago but I never got the chance to see it.

Does anyone have access or a link to the famous Elizabeth Campbell lifetime update by chance?

Also, what is it about the update that makes people so scared? Just curious lol.

I saw it here on the board several years ago.

From what I remember it was a tight focus on the purse then it zoomed in or out to the update, while playing ominous music. It definitely was eerie.

It reminds me of the Film Rise ending to the Angela Hammond case seen here with time stamp:

https://youtu.be/D2jhrLbLKGI?t=2398

IDK what it is, but the way they zoom off that picture of her reward poster with that music really creeps me out.

I saw it here on the board several years ago.

From what I remember it was a tight focus on the purse then it zoomed in or out to the update, while playing ominous music. It definitely was eerie.

It reminds me of the Film Rise ending to the Angela Hammond case seen here with time stamp:

https://youtu.be/D2jhrLbLKGI?t=2398

IDK what it is, but the way they zoom off that picture of her reward poster with that music really creeps me out.



Yeah that was unsettling, do you know what music plays for the campbell update by chance?

I will still never understand WHY that purse update is so freaking creepy... but it is. I get chills thinking about it. The combo of the music and the tight focus on the purse? Super unsettling.

No, I don't know what music was playing. Sorry I can't be of more help!

I watched the update as well. But I happened to watch it late night. The whole case was unsettling, tragic and scary. The purse update just made it even scarier for reasons already stated.

I will still never understand WHY that purse update is so freaking creepy... but it is. I get chills thinking about it. The combo of the music and the tight focus on the purse? Super unsettling.

No, I don't know what music was playing. Sorry I can't be of more help!



Seems like that's how most that talk about it feel lmao.

Ugh, I simply must see this update now, there has GOT to be a way damnit!

Hello, though I often visit this forum while rewatching the show, I've only now made an account! I did so because there is an excellent blog post about this that features the picture of the purse. It's not the whole update video from UM but the photo alone is quite creepy. Here's the link:

https://lostnfoundblogs.com/f/elizabeth-campbell-trafficked-or-tragedy

It was so scary that FilmRise chose not to include it on the streaming version of the segment ;)

No, actually I was watching the segment on an old VHS I recorded off Lifetime, and the update says it's a "Lifetime Exclusive" update. That must be the reason it's not included on the streaming ep. What's also interesting is the Farina version of this segment makes no mention of the purse.

I will still never understand WHY that purse update is so freaking creepy... but it is. I get chills thinking about it. The combo of the music and the tight focus on the purse? Super unsettling.

A combo of the two and it doesn't help there's something unsettling about the photo of the purse itself. It's the kind of photo that would be posted on reddit's 'cursed images' subreddit. I guess it just has what I call that "crime scene photo aesthetic" about it.

Ah.. This was not the one I was thinking of.. The creepiest update that I can recall is the one where.. IIRC.. The missing persons skull was found in a courtyard outside of a restaurant or something?

This ring any bells for anyone? Please tell me i'm not just making stuff up again.

That was part of the main story as opposed to an update. Can't remember who it was, but recall that the skull was found in the same parking lot where the lady's car and keys (and maybe purse) were all found quite a bit earlier. The husband/boyfriend was the obvious suspect. I want to say it took place in California.

That was part of the main story as opposed to an update. Can't remember who it was, but recall that the skull was found in the same parking lot where the lady's car and keys (and maybe purse) were all found quite a bit earlier. The husband/boyfriend was the obvious suspect. I want to say it took place in California.

Yeah.. I just suck with remembering names. I've said it before, 95% of you all here just astound me with your recall on these things. I remember the general details of most of the cases, but.. Names, dates and the like. They hang around rattling about in my brain for about 5 minutes after I watch a case and then get purged. If it weren't for the Wiki, probably every case brought up here I'd be posting asking for someone to refresh me on the details.

I had thought that was an update. So, good on you for remembering that it was part of the main case, too.

There are certainly a few here who are impressive with their memories of the finite details! In my part of Canada, UM wasn't on the air anywhere from the end of the pre-Lifetime RS era until Farina came along, so there was a long time where I wasn't watching it at all. I didn't even start finding this site and CD's awesomely eerie VHS compilations until about 2010, so even though I've watched and rewatched everything countless times, I think that huge gap with total UM deprivation impedes my recalling every little thing like some of our friends here are so good at!

Ah.. This was not the one I was thinking of.. The creepiest update that I can recall is the one where.. IIRC.. The missing persons skull was found in a courtyard outside of a restaurant or something?

This ring any bells for anyone? Please tell me i'm not just making stuff up again.

Linda Sherman:

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Linda_Sherman

Very unsettling segment.

There are certainly a few here who are impressive with their memories of the finite details! In my part of Canada, UM wasn't on the air anywhere from the end of the RS era until Farina came along, so there was a long time where I wasn't watching it at all. I didn't even start finding this site and CD's awesomely eerie VHS compilations until about 2010, so even though I've watched and rewatched everything countless times, I think that huge gap with total UM deprivation impedes my recalling every little thing like some of our friends here are so good at!

Sometimes I feel like a UM encyclopedia :lol: But this is the only show I can do it with, if you asked me to do it with another series I couldn't even come close.

Here's the elusive purse update for those who haven't seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS5lyZb36cI

It's a purse. How is that scary?

Here's the elusive purse update for those who haven't seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS5lyZb36cI

Thanks for posting that. For the music it is the “missing” update theme. There’s a different theme in that era as well for the wanted updates. Both feature the bass guitar style that UM used a lot in its music. I have the UM record and these two update themes have their own tracks. This update theme is seldom used in the filmrise segments.

I found a recent article on the Elizabeth Campbell case, which among other things I had not heard before, suggests a new round of tests may be done on the purse. See the link below. https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/investigations/gone-cold-elizabeth-campbell-35-years-later/500-bad8f45c-ac04-47e0-be7d-df6b4e10fe9d

I found a recent article on the Elizabeth Campbell case, which among other things I had not heard before, suggests a new round of tests may be done on the purse. See the link below. https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/investigations/gone-cold-elizabeth-campbell-35-years-later/500-bad8f45c-ac04-47e0-be7d-df6b4e10fe9d

Thank you for sharing that article. It gives new information that UM left out (why, I'll never know). She stormed out of her boyfriend's house (who is not a suspect) and started walking towards her home. A classmate of hers saw her walking and gave her a ride to a 7-Eleven in Copperas Cove. From there witnesses saw her get into "a vehicle that was described to be either white or silver with a maroon vinyl top" which was headed in the direction of Killeen (which is where her boyfriend lived). Perhaps if this information about the vehicle was shared publicly, this case could have been solved a long time ago.

“I don’t know how much information or how much the public knew about the potential of there being a vehicle… there was some talk of it at the time,” he said.

He added that the vehicle could be a Pontiac or GMC, but what makes it unique were the colors the vehicle had, which was “unique” for that time period.

“So, if anybody knows somebody that had a car like that, at that timeframe, or, you know, suspected them of doing, doing bad things or are in any way being involved in this case, and they know that they drove a car like that, they can give us a call, that’d be helpful,” he said.

Instead of trying to find the owner of this vehicle, UM went with the ridiculous insinuation that she was being forced around Texas by an Asian man against her will.

After reading that recent article as well as one written back in 2018, it seems like Elizabeth got off of work at the 7-11 in Killeen, TX and went to her boyfriend's house which was about 5 minutes away. After they got into an argument, she leaves without telling the boyfriend. As she's walking along the highway, a Central Texas College student recognizes Elizabeth and offers her a ride to Copperas Cove, TX. She was trying to get a ride back home to Lampasas, TX which is about 30 miles away from Killeen. She called her boyfriend from the 7-11 work phone and they got into another argument about her leaving without telling him. She hung up the phone with him and went outside to use the payphone to call her brother (she didn't want to use the work phone to call a long distance call). This is when witnesses place her in a white or silver vehicle with a maroon vinyl top, and this is the last sighting of her. Witnesses say that they were traveling back in the direction of Killeen, which is the opposite of where Elizabeth's family lived. The morning after her disappearance, when they called her boyfriend he told them that she was with her sister at a Central Texas College housing complex. IMO, this is what Elizabeth told him over the phone and makes sense as to why this mystery driver was seen driving back in the direction of Killeen (where Central Texas College is located). The timeline is:

-Elizabeth gets off of work sometime in the evening of April 25th, 1988 and goes to her boyfriend's house to study.
-They get into an argument over what to study and she leaves his house without saying anything at around 9:30 p.m.
-The CTC student sees Elizabeth walking along the highway around 10:30 p.m. and gives her a ride to the 7-11 in Copperas Cove. The 7-11 clerk remembers seeing her get dropped off by the student around 11:00 p.m.
-Witnesses see her getting into a white or silver vehicle with a maroon colored vinyl top headed in the direction of Killeen, TX.
-Elizabeth's boyfriend and one of her sisters work together at a 7-11 where her boyfriend tells her sister about their argument that they had and that she was planning on calling her brother for a ride.
-Around 8:00 a.m. the next morning, the boyfriend went to the sister's house looking for Elizabeth because she never made it back to her home and he was in a full blown panic. That is when Elizabeth's family first learns that something is wrong.

^ A couple things of note. One, the boyfriend had to work at 7-11 overnight, which would explain why he didn't want to give her a ride 30 miles away. Also, him being at work was probably his alibi and why he was cleared quickly by law enforcement. The CTC student was never considered a suspect. I would have to assume that the clerk who witnessed him dropping Elizabeth off would have told law enforcement that he left after she got out to use the phone. A 911 dispatcher got a phone call that night from someone claiming to have seen Elizabeth walking east on Highway 190 near Clarke Road towards Killeen. The caller said he lived in Copperas Cove and passed Elizabeth as he was driving home and called 911 when he arrived home. However, when the cops tried to follow up on this lead, the address the caller gave was fake, the name he gave did not exist, and the phone call was placed using a payphone on Clarke Road. This person could not have been a hoax caller, because the call to 911 took place on the same night as her disappearance. Add that as another bizarre wrinkle in this case.

It's a purse. How is that scary?

I don’t know what the context was, but surely I got spooked for something less before.

After reading that recent article as well as one written back in 2018, it seems like Elizabeth got off of work at the 7-11 in Killeen, TX and went to her boyfriend's house which was about 5 minutes away. After they got into an argument, she leaves without telling the boyfriend. As she's walking along the highway, a Central Texas College student recognizes Elizabeth and offers her a ride to Copperas Cove, TX. She was trying to get a ride back home to Lampasas, TX which is about 30 miles away from Killeen. She called her boyfriend from the 7-11 work phone and they got into another argument about her leaving without telling him. She hung up the phone with him and went outside to use the payphone to call her brother (she didn't want to use the work phone to call a long distance call). This is when witnesses place her in a white or silver vehicle with a maroon vinyl top, and this is the last sighting of her. Witnesses say that they were traveling back in the direction of Killeen, which is the opposite of where Elizabeth's family lived. The morning after her disappearance, when they called her boyfriend he told them that she was with her sister at a Central Texas College housing complex. IMO, this is what Elizabeth told him over the phone and makes sense as to why this mystery driver was seen driving back in the direction of Killeen (where Central Texas College is located). The timeline is:

-Elizabeth gets off of work sometime in the evening of April 25th, 1988 and goes to her boyfriend's house to study.
-They get into an argument over what to study and she leaves his house without saying anything at around 9:30 p.m.
-The CTC student sees Elizabeth walking along the highway around 10:30 p.m. and gives her a ride to the 7-11 in Copperas Cove. The 7-11 clerk remembers seeing her get dropped off by the student around 11:00 p.m.
-Witnesses see her getting into a white or silver vehicle with a maroon colored vinyl top headed in the direction of Killeen, TX.
-Elizabeth's boyfriend and one of her sisters work together at a 7-11 where her boyfriend tells her sister about their argument that they had and that she was planning on calling her brother for a ride.
-Around 8:00 a.m. the next morning, the boyfriend went to the sister's house looking for Elizabeth because she never made it back to her home and he was in a full blown panic. That is when Elizabeth's family first learns that something is wrong.

^ A couple things of note. One, the boyfriend had to work at 7-11 overnight, which would explain why he didn't want to give her a ride 30 miles away. Also, him being at work was probably his alibi and why he was cleared quickly by law enforcement. The CTC student was never considered a suspect. I would have to assume that the clerk who witnessed him dropping Elizabeth off would have told law enforcement that he left after she got out to use the phone. A 911 dispatcher got a phone call that night from someone claiming to have seen Elizabeth walking east on Highway 190 near Clarke Road towards Killeen. The caller said he lived in Copperas Cove and passed Elizabeth as he was driving home and called 911 when he arrived home. However, when the cops tried to follow up on this lead, the address the caller gave was fake, the name he gave did not exist, and the phone call was placed using a payphone on Clarke Road. This person could not have been a hoax caller, because the call to 911 took place on the same night as her disappearance. Add that as another bizarre wrinkle in this case.

good details. interesting vehicle, I was only 4 or 5 in 1988, but I remember vehicles being a lot more weird and distinctive back then. that is a very specific description. also the 911 caller, it would be interesting if they could have or at some point come forward to give details. but assuming the 911 caller was not involved I imagine that they would fear being a suspect.

I hate to speculate, but I think she was an army brat. Her disappearance might have nothing to do with anyone affiliated to the base. I know we have talked about Fort Campbell and Fort Hood a lot on these boards and how the local communities sort of feed on the base and vice versa. Fort Hood is known for its violent crime in and around the local communities and its culture to cover it up. It's possible that people there could potentially help this case if someone were to come forward. I have not read the comments on the UM website.

also the 911 caller, it would be interesting if they could have or at some point come forward to give details. but assuming the 911 caller was not involved I imagine that they would fear being a suspect.

It would be incredibly stupid for Elizabeth's killer to call 911 and essentially say he saw her walking on the same road he picked her up on, so it makes more sense, IMO, for this call to have been placed by someone less than friendly to law enforcement, so they didn't want to give their personal information out.

I also think that it's entirely possible that Elizabeth did not know her killer. Her family is insistent that she would have never gotten a ride with someone she did not know. Well that was disproven that night when she got the ride from the CTC student. She did not know him and she accepted a ride with him.

It would be incredibly stupid for Elizabeth's killer to call 911 and essentially say he saw her walking on the same road he picked her up on, so it makes more sense, IMO, for this call to have been placed by someone less than friendly to law enforcement, so they didn't want to give their personal information out.

I also think that it's entirely possible that Elizabeth did not know her killer. Her family is insistent that she would have never gotten a ride with someone she did not know. Well that was disproven that night when she got the ride from the CTC student. She did not know him and she accepted a ride with him.

yeah, and she would have been desperate at that point. when you are all alone at night it can be terrifying and force you to make decisions that you would not otherwise make, like taking a ride from a stranger in hopes that they are actually trying to help. Makes me wonder if Tara Breckinridge suffered the same fate in Houston if her car broke down on the side of the Loop IH 610.

I don’t know what the context was, but surely I got spooked for something less before.

It’s the music. That glorious yet creepy music just makes you feel unsettled.

It’s the music. That glorious yet creepy music just makes you feel unsettled.

true that! I bought the vinyl record mostly because of the update music!

Here's the elusive purse update for those who haven't seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS5lyZb36cI

I was expecting to jump out of my seat a bit more. But while it is unsettling in a way, I don't know if I find it scary. Elizabeth was a pretty girl, nothing scary about her just on the surface, I guess what is scary is what in the heck happened to her?

Here's the elusive purse update for those who haven't seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS5lyZb36cI

THANK YOU! Ugh, that music...it has shown up in a few episodes and it's creepy every time.

It's so strange that they had the purse but no record of it. Just unsettling all around.

I found a recent article on the Elizabeth Campbell case, which among other things I had not heard before, suggests a new round of tests may be done on the purse. See the link below. https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/investigations/gone-cold-elizabeth-campbell-35-years-later/500-bad8f45c-ac04-47e0-be7d-df6b4e10fe9d

Thank you for that, it's a very interesting read. Her poor mother, my heart breaks for her. Thirty-five years is such a long time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrURG2hSITI&t=18s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrURG2hSITI&t=18s

thank you for posting that. It's hard to watch the pain that her mother still has to deal with. I never paid enough attention to where the purse was found. it was turned in at a very small town in west Texas. possibly discounts the ID in Waco and Garland Texas.

THANK YOU! Ugh, that music...it has shown up in a few episodes and it's creepy every time.

It's so strange that they had the purse but no record of it. Just unsettling all around.


Same music used in the update for the Baskins kids. Another update that should not have been creepy was made creepy by the shrieking update music.