EPISODE 3A: Joseph William Smedley II

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EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, we examine the disappearance and death of Joseph William Smedley II, a 20-year-old Indiana University student who went missing in Bloomington, Indiana, in September 2015.

Joseph’s body was recovered from Griffy Lake on October 2, 2015. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement ruled his death a suicide by drowning. The case was administratively closed.

This episode does not argue that ruling.

Instead, it examines how the case was presented to the public, what documentation is publicly available, what information was summarized rather than shown, and how the designation “closed” shaped what followed.

Because Joseph’s case did not enter a courtroom, there was no adversarial testing of evidence, no trial testimony, and no judicial review of investigative conclusions.

The determination was made administratively and remains the official classification in public records.

This episode focuses on process, not outcome, and on what can be examined when documentation is limited.

HOW THIS EPISODE IS DIFFERENT

Joseph Smedley’s case is officially closed. As a result:

There is no criminal court proceeding

No publicly filed probable cause affidavit

No trial testimony

No criminal discovery record

No publicly released investigative narrative explaining how conclusions were reached

While limited call-level and incident-summary documentation has been provided, additional investigatory records are not available in the public record under Indiana public-records law.

Rather than speculate, this episode stops where the record stops.

Episode 3A examines what is publicly visible.
Episode 3B, if and when records are released, will examine what changes when documentation replaces summary.

KEY TOPICS COVERED

Joseph Smedley’s disappearance and the summarized timeline presented publicly

The distinction between missing-person investigations and death investigations

Jurisdictional transition from Indiana University Police Department to Bloomington Police Department

How scene-level conclusions are communicated through summary language

Cause of death versus manner of death

The role of toxicology in narrative framing

Administrative closure versus judicial testing

What “closed” means, and what it does not

THE CASEWALKER EVIDENCE BOOK

For this episode, we built a Casewalker Evidence Book.

An Evidence Book is not speculation.
It is not theory.
And it is not hindsight.

It is a structured examination of:

What exists in the public record

What is summarized rather than documented

What investigatory materials remain unavailable

Every statement in this episode is clearly labeled as documented, stated, or unknown. No assumptions are substituted for records.

IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR LISTENERS

Joseph Smedley’s death was ruled a suicide by drowning.

No criminal charges were filed.

No court reviewed the investigative conclusions.

No finding of criminal wrongdoing was made.

This episode examines process, transparency, and structure, not guilt.

MISSING PERSON SPOTLIGHT

🕊️ HAILEY BUZBEE

Age at Disappearance: 17
Missing From: Fishers, Indiana
Missing Since: January 5, 2026

Hailey Buzbee was last seen at approximately 10:00 p.m. on January 5, 2026, in the Enclave at Vermillion neighborhood in Fishers, Indiana.

If you have information that could help locate Hailey Buzbee, please contact:
Fishers Police Department: (317) 773-1282
Emergency: Call 911

A missing person remains missing until they are found.

SOURCES & DOCUMENTATION

This episode is based on publicly available records and verified sources, including:

Bloomington Police Department - Daily Log / incident-level documentation (records released January 2026)

Indiana University Police Department - Publicly acknowledged involvement during missing-person phase

Indiana public-records law (Indiana Code 5-14-3) - Basis for investigatory record withholding

Public statements and summaries attributed to law enforcement

Reputable media reporting summarizing case timeline and ruling

Family public statements expressing disagreement with classification

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (for Missing Person Spotlight only)

Fishers Police Department official missing-person bulletin (Hailey Buzbee)

A full Evidence Book and source index for this episode are available on our website.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER

This episode discusses death investigation, suicide classification, and closed cases.
Listener discretion is advised.

All information presented is sourced from publicly available documents, official law-enforcement statements, or is clearly identified as summary or secondary reporting where applicable.

The Casewalker Chronicles does not speculate on guilt and does not accuse any individual or agency of wrongdoing unless legally established.

FOLLOW & CONNECT

Instagram: @TheCasewalkerChronicles
Facebook: The Casewalker Chronicles
Website: www.thecasewalkerchronicles.com
Email: casewalkerchronicles@gmail.com