After almost five years since Josiah’s life was brutally taken in a carjacking, I am really starting to succeed in frosting a shit cake. I tell you, at times I have wondered if all of my squeaky-wheeling, pestering, sharing, speaking out, getting knocked down, screamed at, silenced and shat on would ever go somewhere, but I knew that if I didn’t keep going I wouldn’t succeed at the most important piece of this puzzle and that is continuing to be the mother that Josiah still deserves.
It’s kept me sober, stubborn, and never-endingly curious. I keep asking questions, trying to find answers to the nagging thoughts that pop up, frustrate me and keep me awake at night 1759 days after Josiah’s 25 year short life was scrubbed clean from this earth.
Where has this led? To five different social media platforms, some more successful than others, countless hours of shouting into the blackhole of algorithms, throwing handfuls of spaghetti at the wall and finally, first by crossing paths with Lisa Zambetti (casting director, Criminal Minds and co-host of Real Crime Profile) on Threads and now, what feels like a tidal wave of attention on social media has hit.
This past week, the second installment of the interview I did with Lisa Zambetti and Laura Richards (award winning Criminal Behavioral Analyst, ex-New Scotland Yard) dropped telling more of Josiah’s story and the treatment we (his case and me) have received in the judicial system. This is the most thorough telling of the story to date. The response has been incredible. I’ve been receiving emails, private messages and comments across all platforms from people who are outraged by the way Josiah’s case has been handled.
Real Crime Profile Podcast Episode 497: The Murder of Josiah Hilderbrand
“25-year-old Josiah Hilderbrand had dreams of becoming a firefighter in the Northern California county where he lived. He loved animals and helping all kinds of people. Most of all, he loved his mom Liz. For his whole life it had just been the two of them. Like his mom, Josiah was a huge fan of the Grateful Dead and was excited to go to Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington State to see Dead & Company. On Friday June 7th, 2019, Josiah and a friend were traveling along Highway 97 on their way to see the concert when they stopped to help two people stranded on the side of the road. What happened next is every parent’s worst nightmare and would plunge Liz Hilderbrand into an abyss of pain as she desperately tried to find out what became of her son. Liz joins Laura and Lisa to tell Josiah’s story and describe her fight to bring his killers to justice.” —Real Crime Profile Podcast
Real Crime Profile Podcast Episode 498: His Name is Josiah Hilderbrand
“We continue our interview with Liz Hilderbrand who tells us what it was like waiting fourteen agonizing months to finally find her son Josiah. His remains were found off the side of a highway in rural eastern Washington state after he was murdered on his way to a concert. Liz describes the excruciating moment of seeing what was left of her child. She also talks about all the evidence that links Josiah’s murder to the offenders who murdered five other people in White Swan, a remote area on the Yakama Indian Reservation and her frustration that authorities did not include Josiah in their case against the suspects James and Donovan Cloud.”–Real Crime Profile Podcast
On the crest of the wave is what happened on TikTok. Last Thursday, I finally opened an account and posted a video of Smokey at Josiah’s grave from when we visited this past February. Moments after I set down a box of painted rocks and other gifts, I looked over and Smokey was very obviously processing what happened to his papa. I uploaded the clip that I took and was happy to see that I had a follower.
Just one.
And then by Friday afternoon, Smokey went viral. At the time of this blog post, the video has had 1.7 million views, over 213,000 ❤️’s and people have left nearly 6,000 comments. What this says to me is that the world really does care about what happened to Josiah and want to hear this story.
On my list of things to do this week is a meeting with Laura Richards (award winning Criminal Behavioral Analyst, ex-New Scotland Yard and one of the hosts of Real Crime Profile podcast) to be interviewed for her other podcast, Crime Analyst.
Also, the 3rd and last episode of Real Crime Profile will drop in the next day or two giving you the final piece of the conversation that I had with the hosts, Lisa and Laura. This is the most in depth telling of this story to date, however, I can assure you that we are only scraping the surface of what happened.
There is so much more to discuss, all of which will be in Remember the Birds, the book.
I am currently reworking my query letter and will be sending it off seeking the representation of a literary agent to help me secure traditional publishing and traverse other projects related to this story that are on the horizon.
How can you help?
- By liking, sharing and spreading the word across social media.
- Send an email to Yakima County District Attorney Joe Brusic encouraging him to pursue charges in Josiah’s case: Joseph.Brusic@co.yakima.wa.us
- Contact WA State Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office and let them know that you are aware of Josiah’s case and are waiting for charges to be brought. You can contact the Criminal Division through their submission system at: atg.wa.gov/criminal-justice
The only complaint I have is this… All of this activity has reactivated my nervous system, so I’ve had to pay special attention to tending to my mental health. That means I’ve been taking breaks, shutting down, making sure I’m eating well and getting outside to clear my head and get my body regulated.
Until next time,
Liz, Josiah’s mom, advocate and writer
Have you subscribed to this blog? Please do! You’ll receive emails ONLY when I add a new post.
Remember the Birds 
Liz, I have followed you on Facebook and read your blog for quite some time. I live in Eastern Oregon not far from the Yakama Nation… and even closer to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
As a journalist , I have observed the justice system even more muddled when dealing with the two jurisdictions. I’m sorry you’re son has been used as a bargaining chip.
The late singer-songwriter Larry Norman nailed it in his lyrics from “The Great American Novel.”
“And when I was ten you murdered law with courtroom politics. And you learned to make a lie sound just like truth.”
Keep advocating. He Mattered. I can’t wait to read your book.
cheers, tammy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Tammy! Thank you so much for reading and for taking the time to respond. My partner and I queued up The Great American Novel and we loved it… how apropos! I’m going to keep going and am so grateful for the interest in our story which continues to grow!! Liz
LikeLike
I started listening to the podcast, and I was really into it when it went off, and I couldn’t get it going again! I was heading north
LikeLiked by 1 person
Were you able to listen? You can find links to all four episodes on my linktr.ee …. https://linktr.ee/rememberthebirds
LikeLike
Liz, your strength is admirable and unfathomable. I’m glad you’re taking care of your mental health. Josiah mattered, and he’ll never be forgotten. Thank you for sharing his story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Laine! Thank you for witnessing it! Sharing across platforms will help! Liz
LikeLike
Liz, Nothing back from Brusic’s office, I’ll give it another week then hit him up again. Is a Federal case no longer viable because of the plea deal? K Keep frosting that cake! LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jeff! Thanks for trying! I too have not been able to get any response from Joe Brusic’s office. He has gone silent in the past, so it’s not completely new, but of course since the podcasts have dropped and I know many have emailed, he is not responding to my emails. Go figure! I’m not going to go away though… eventually he will have to answer either to me or his constituents in Yakima County. Thanks for the update! I have so appreciated your support all these years!!
LikeLike