Brandon Lawson 911 Tape /// Part 2 /// Episode:86 | Forensic Files

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Let's talk some true crime. Brandon Lawson, an oil field worker and father of four, was last seen when he
left his San Angelo, Texas home on August 8th, 2013 while traveling on Highway 27. 77. He
ran out of gas. He called 911 and he has not been seen since. His cell phone is also missing. Brandon is a Caucasian
male. He was 26 years of age at the time of his disappearance. Brandon is 5'9 in
tall, 230 lb with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a yellow shirt and camo shorts and white Nike Air
Max shoes. If you have any information, go to missingbrandonlawson.com. All right, where we left off, we were
dissecting Brandon Lawson's 911 phone call. >> This has been at the center of this
mystery. A lot of people have speculated if you could just figure out what he is
saying during that 911 call, we could figure out what happened to Brandon, what he was afraid of, and maybe where
he is today. >> So, let's take a listen to that 911 call. And this is going to be in its
original form. 9 2,13 0 50 and 38 seconds. 91 emergency. >> Yes, I'm in the middle of the field.
It's safe. We're just pushing some guys over right here going toward Javelin on both sides. My truck ran out of gas.
There's one car here. Got to take the woods. Please turn. >> Okay, now run that by me. We're not
talking to him. I accidentally ran into him. >> Ah, you ran into him. Okay. >> Got the first guy.
>> Do you need an ambulance? >> Yeah. No, I need the cops. >> Okay. Is anybody hurt?
Hello. Hello. Hello. 9 2,13 0 50 and 38 seconds 91 emergency. >> Yes, I'm in the middle of the field.
We're just push some guys over right here going towards Javelin on both sides. My truck ran out of gas. There's
one car here the woods. Please hurry. >> Okay, now run that by me talking to him.
I accidentally ran into him. >> Oh, you ran into him. Okay. >> Do you need an ambulance?
>> Yeah. No, I need to call. >> Okay. Is anybody hurt? Hello. Hello. Hello. Here's where we're at, Captain. We got
through the first what I would call first two sentences. >> Mhm. >> And what we what we believe we're
hearing there is yes, I'm in the middle of the field. State trooper pulled some guys over.
>> Where we got hung up is what I would call the third sentence. And that was the we're out here, they're out here
going towards Alberlin or GA Gavlin. >> Yeah. >> Uh >> on both sides. >> On both sides. So let's let's hear that.
Let's hear what we're calling the third sentence and try to break that down. out here going towards a on both sides.
Out here going toward both sides. >> So what I'm hearing here is I I hear they're out here going toward blank on
both sides. They're out here going towards Gavlin on both sides, which Gavelin doesn't really register with
anything >> right to us, >> right? But are you hearing the same they're out here? I think it sounds more
like we're out here. >> We're out here going towards blank on both sides, right? Which which seems
>> which either way whether you whe whether we go with what you think it is or what
I think it is, it still gives us, you know, kind of a parameter of what where it makes sense as far as a conversation.
>> Yeah. But going towards something on both sides, what does that mean? Does that mean because there I'm picturing
like two vehicles going in opposite direction on on the same road. You know that that
you can't be going towards the same thing facing opposite directions, >> right? It's a it's a little unclear
>> and unless unless he's talking about people being over on the side of the road,
>> right? >> They're on both sides. Maybe one one's pulled over on one side of the road,
one's pulled over on the other side of the road. You know, that's the best I can come up
with there. Either they're out here going toward blank on both sides or we're out here going towards blank on
both sides. >> Both sides, right? We we both agree on the both sides. So, let's play the next
clip and see if that clears the air on anything. >> My truck ran out of gas. There's one car
here. You got to check the wood. My truck ran out of gas. There's one car here. got chased to the woods.
>> So, I'm hearing here, "My truck ran out of gas." >> Mhm. >> And someone got chased to the woods or I
got chased into the woods. >> It sounds like he's saying woods at the end there. But we we do have a little
information going into listening to this 911 call. We know that his truck ran out
of gas, so that makes it kind of easy to hear, but I but I think we could hear it
in a in a slowed version. >> My truck ran out of gas. There's one car here. Guys taking the woods
ran out of gas. There's one car here. You guys chasing the woods. Now that sounds completely different to me when
you slow it down like that because now I'm hearing there's one car here. >> Mhm.
>> It almost sounds like there's one car here. Guys chased him to the woods. Yeah. I'm going to play you something
that I found interesting when I was dissecting it. If you take the part that everybody it seems like on the internet
agrees upon is my truck ran out of gas. Now I'm just going to loop the my >> sir.
>> When you slow down that beginning part the my to me sounds more like a a f is
coming out. So it's almost front truck ran out of gas. >> Uh now I don't know how much I actually
buy that. Uh, I I think it's I think some of that is when you are slowing things down, it starts kind of messing
with your head a little bit. >> There's there's a couple things in there um that that I question right away. So
it, you know, we've said he sounds to be out of breath, and it almost sounds to me that when he's talking to the
dispatcher, >> that some of these words are distorted because he's like he's inhaling and
exhaling as he's saying these words, >> right? >> And therefore with with me, I do hear
the f but but it almost sounds like that part of that is him kind of exhaling into the word.
>> Yeah. Um, I just want to point it out, not so much to say, hey, look, I think
he's saying front, more to point out the idea that when you do slow down and you
start manipulating these things, you're going to hear things just way different than you're normally used to hearing
something. So again, a my starts sound like front truck. >> Yeah. >> But we do know from, you know, his calls
to other people that his truck did run out of gas. So my makes a lot more sense. Again, take into account that
this guy's scared. >> And now, now you got to take into a couple accounts. One, is he scared
because there's these guys here and this and this state trooper pulled these people over or somebody pulled them
over. >> You know, it it's very possible that he says state trooper, but for some reason he says state
trooper. >> He maybe he only thinks it's a state trooper. It's out there. It's dark. It's
the middle of the night. Who knows how long he's been up. Maybe it's a security car or something with lights on it you
would think was a cop car or a state trooper. >> Well, there's a lot of old cop cars that
they sell to people that don't have the red and blue lights, but they still have
the giant spot. >> Yeah. >> So, by having the spotlight, maybe he thinks, "Oh, well, this this thing
happened and somebody shined a spot. This is a state trooper or this is a police officer." Blue spot.
>> Mhm. Well, >> can I get a blue spot? Well, the the other thing here too, Captain, is that
I'm thinking like, okay, and I know I shouldn't do this. I said throw everything out and and create with a
blank canvas and kind of figure out just let your ears tell you what he's saying.
Don't put any preconceived notions to any of it. But, however, this portion is so garbled to me that I almost have to
use what I think I'm hearing and apply the the previous things to it. So, again, my truck ran out of gas. We know
he ran out of gas. And if we if we believe our first two sentences, yes, I'm in the middle of the field. Staper
state trooper pulled some guys over. What what I'm going at with that is that that that last line I'm getting guys
chased him to the woods. And the reason why I'm kind of coming up with that is he's already referred to a group of
people as guys earlier. >> Um there's one car here. If we're right that he pulled some guys over, we would
assume that there's one car here. And meaning there's one car that it's not marked. It's not the state troopers car,
>> right? Or since he's calling four cops, he's saying, "Hey, look, there's one there's one cop car here."
>> Well, that's a possibility as well. And then, but where I'm going is guys chased
him to the woods. >> Well, the only he refers to the group of guys as guys. So, if he uses that same
word again to to describe these unknown people to him where he says him, I kind of believe that he might be talking
about the state trooper because he's already kind of identified him specifically as a state trooper,
>> right? >> You know, um you know, he pulled some guys over, state trooper pulled some
guys over, guys chased him to the woods. >> Yeah. So, I think as you know, we're not
going to figure it all out, but let's start with the idea that there's him, there's state trooper, and there's guys,
>> at least two, right? >> So, in this story, we possibly have four, maybe five, cuz maybe there's
somebody with the the state trooper. >> Let's dive into the next line. >> Please hurry.
>> Well, that's very clear. You know, he's saying, "Please hurry." That's very easy
for us to detect right there. Let's connect it to the previous line to see if it helps us out any ran out of gas.
There's one car here to the woods. My truck ran out of gas. There's one car here to the woods. Please turn.
>> Okay. A couple initial thoughts when I listen to the whole phrase when he states uh the guy chased him. There's
like a kind of pause. >> If there was going to be a edit, that's a time for a edit. But what we can
clearly hear is, and what I mean by edit is that there's some odd stuff happening
as far as the audio clip goes. >> Okay? >> Where it's like it kind of sounds clipped, not so, you know, uh, he is
running out of breath, >> right? >> And I think that's clear and so we got to take that into account. But that
little phrase, it's kind of clipped. So it's almost like maybe there's an edit there. If there was going to be edit
there, that would make it make the the clip part would make sense if there was an edit. Uh but again, with his
breathing pattern being so kind of erratic and he's like forcing himself to talk and and still trying to catch his
breath, it's hard to know for sure. You know what's weird here? I almost feel like he's started running again at
around this line like because this line is so like the pause you said in the breathing heavy. I almost feel like he
stopped to to make this 911 call. He thought he could make the call very quickly.
>> He's very afraid of something that's going on out there and so he's he's trying to stay on the move. It's almost
like he's at the end of what he's going to tell the dispatcher. He thinks he's provided enough information, right, for
them to send some help and he's going to get on the move again. Please hurry. You
know, meaning that he he did I think he was so afraid that he didn't want to he had to weigh. Do I stop running to make
a phone call and try to save myself or or does that put me in more danger? almost like, "All right, I'll make this
phone call and man, as soon as this thing's done, I'm gonna start up running again."
>> I haven't done any kind of forensic audio before, >> but a lot of people when they're talking
about the the transcription is, you know, the the issue is anytime she talks, we know what she's saying. We
know what the dispatcher is saying. Not a lot of people have been diving into what he's saying, why she's talking.
>> Yeah. Let me >> So, the next line is her talking. And so let's play that line.
>> Let's play that line and then I got some more questions for you. >> Okay. Now run that by me. We're not
talking to him. >> Okay. Now run that. >> Can you play that the slow version? >> Okay. Now run that.
>> Okay. Now run that. >> All right. My first questions that I have for you, Captain, there's a there's
a couple things here that I want to talk about. First off, >> I'm assuming that she sounds a lot more
clearer than he does. Obviously, >> is that must be partially because of the recording. We can assume that she's
being recorded much clearer because she's >> she's she's on a landline. He's on a
cell phone in in a bad area. As far as cell phone reception goes, >> he's labored breathing,
>> right? And it's probably when the calls are coming in, it's probably recorded on
the dispatchers's end. And so probably that would make it clearer, too. >> But furthermore, to make it even harder
to hear, Brandon, is now you know the way you know the way how an ear responds to certain noises and sounds better than
the rest of us. someone if someone's talking in a higher pitch compared to Brandon who has a lower tone,
>> the it's my understanding the higher pitch will be clearer. Is that correct? >> Well, you're right. That's why most
people don't understand me as well as they understand you because I'm so low and manly and sexy and uh No, no, but it
just our ears are adapted to hear higher frequencies and the and normally around
you look at like 5k 6k frequency wise is like roughly the human voice sits nicely
and kind of is is and that and that frequency can also become piercing as well. Okay. The thing here is so she's
saying, "Can you run that by me again?" Um, she almost can't get that whole sentence out,
>> right? She's in the same boat we are. We just can't we can't pick apart everything he's saying.
>> Yeah. >> And he's out of breath and that's clear. And then he cuts her off and he says
like the one I'm talking to him, >> he Yeah. He He starts to talk and I can't hear the first word or if he's
like building up to talk or just breathing. And I hear and we're not talking to him.
>> Yeah. We're not talking to him or the one I'm talking to him or when I'm talking to him.
>> Which which is here's the the other thought that I have on this on this particular line.
>> Mhm. >> This line almost sounds to me like he might be still on the phone with the
dispatcher but actually talking to somebody else that's in front of him. >> Yeah, it's very possible. and we're not
talking to him. Um, like somebody else asked him a question because he almost seems to be saying something that
doesn't go along with what she's asking him. >> And it's almost like he's responding to
somebody else that's asked him a question. >> Yeah. And I think if somebody asked me
my final opinion on that line of what he's saying, I'd say it's inaudible to me.
>> Okay. I'm going I'm going to go with and we're not talking to him. >> And here's the next line.
I need >> I will do that again. Slowed down. >> I'm hearing not till I ran into him or I
totally ran into him. >> Mhm. But but the thing I start to question here, Captain, is is he
correcting himself? I'm almost wondering if maybe that first line maybe he misspoke,
>> right? >> Because the >> because he's trying to catch his breath. >> We're not talking to him.
>> I totally ran into him. I you know I >> really close. Yeah. >> Yeah. I wonder if he's almost correcting
himself that he that he misspoke. Uh partially because the dispatcher is talking. Maybe he's not fully
registering what's going on. There's a lot going on at the moment for Brandon. >> And I think I that's the only way I can
almost make sense out of that first line. You know, we're not talking to him. I totally ran into him.
>> You know what's odd to me? And and maybe you don't find this odd, but it's >> Yeah.
It's just every time I play the stuff over and over >> like this, it's like it's like it gets
sadder and sadder >> be because it it sounds more scary the more we dive into it really. I mean, the
more you like think about the lines and think about what's going on with Brandon,
>> it does get it does get more sad. it, you know, when you listen to it at full
speed, just once through, it doesn't really hit you yet how scared he sounds until until you really get into it here.
>> And I think it's that just uh that protector in me where you just wish that >> you can it's cuz you're hearing it so it
feels like it's it's happening right now and that you there's some way that you could help him.
>> You're exactly right. >> You know, but you can't do anything but just listen and try to dissect. The next
line we will hear is the dispatcher talking. >> Ah, you ran into him. Okay. Ah, you ran into him. Okay.
>> So, a lot of people have speculated that they can hear gunshots. I would say that
you could possibly make something out. There's definitely like a hit in this. Okay.
>> And it'll happen right after like right when she starts talking. You'll hear >> Oh, you ran into him. Okay.
Oh, you ran into him. Okay. Now, that could be distortion. That could be anything happening. It could be her
hitting her hand on a desk or or anything. So, >> Brandon could be coughing. You know,
sometimes when you're out of breath, you're running, there's a cough, >> right? And to me, if he was coughing, it
was he's holding the phone away from him when he coughed, which most people would
do. >> Gotcha. >> So, let's dive into the next line. >> Let's hear that again one more time. Got
the first guy. >> Got the first guy. >> Initially what I hear him say is I got the first guy
>> or got the first guy. Now there's a lot of other speculation that people think
he's saying shot the first guy. >> Yeah, that's that's the scary line that a lot of people go to is he shot the
first guy or they shot the first guy. Um, I hear just the first guy like like he's answering the dispatcher when she
goes, "Ah, you ran into him." >> Just the first guy. >> Just the first guy. Um, but I've also
heard people say, "Yes, the first guy." Um, or he got the first guy. You know, remember we're talking maybe somebody
got chased into the woods. He got the first guy. >> Got the first guy or shot the first guy.
I really to me my ear says he's responding to the dispatcher and he's saying just the first guy. Again going
with the thought that there's more than one guy there that he doesn't know or recognize. He can't put a name or title
to these people. >> Mhm. >> And he's clarifying, yeah, I ran into him, but it was just the first guy.
>> There's a couple things I found during this clip when I was like slowing it down and manipulating it more that I
think we'll you'll find pretty interesting. Uh, but we'll get to that right after this quick beer break.
All right, cheers, mates. Let's uh dive into some of the things I find weird about this clip. I'm going to actually
slow it down and let's see if you could see what I'm talking about. Okay. Or I guess here would be the better word.
>> Before he starts talking, there seems to be about three syllables and you can
visually see it on the waveform. Can you just loop that section? That's not Brandon's voice at all. Like,
it doesn't have the same tone. It doesn't like it doesn't even come off to me as if the phone is away from his face
and and you're hearing Brandon talk. It's doesn't sound to me like him at all. >> And we're going to hear another clip
later, a little, you know, not much later where a lot of people speculate that it's another person talking, but
I've never seen on any message board. And now what I did was I took that clip. It's the, you know, the slow down
version. I took that clip and all I did was, you know, cut off the front part and then I added some volume just so you
can hear it. But that's all I did. And it's it's definitely, you know, it's weird cuz I I hear,
you know, God bless you or confession. Yeah, I >> I heard confession, too. Or is that you?
Or >> Yeah. Is that you? >> The thing here that that's even more scary though, Captain,
>> and look, here's what I can tell you just as far as audio engineer goes. Like
a lot of people talk about that if somebody was far away, maybe a couple feet away.
>> They not everything that they register on a cell phone, >> right? >> But this was loud enough that it it
registered a waveform. Like I said before, you can visually see this. >> Yeah, I saw it on your computer right
there. And and I was actually convinced that there was nothing there until you you pointed it out on the computer to
me, slowed it down, and then we hear it. Confession. The And again, it's not Brandon's voice. I I would put my stamp
on that. >> Uh the thing that scares me big time is >> What would your stamp say?
>> Um >> Captain Morningwood. Morningwood, >> please send beer. Uh the the thing that
scares me though here is where before I thought before you slowed that down, I thought he's saying just the first guy
responding to the dispatcher. >> Right. >> Now it almost sounds like >> this this is somebody asking him a
question, not the dispatcher, and he's responding to whomever that person is. >> No, that's not what I hear it as. What I
hear it as is the guy is talking and saying something and he is telling the dispatcher that's
the first guy. >> Oh, like like Okay, now you got his voice on recording, >> right?
>> That's the first guy, but he Okay, so he >> and so and then the whole idea when he
said, "Well, I ran into him." And then we've talked about, well, just the first guy.
>> Yeah. But but now with this other piece of information, maybe he's saying, "Hey,
that's the first guy." >> Now, I'm going to assume here because I don't know for certain, but he has a
Droid Razor phone, uh, is what's listed as his phone. >> Yeah. >> And I'm assuming that that would work
>> very much the same as the iPhone, the m the microphone on the iPhone. >> Well, it depends on depends on who you
ask. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> There's some, you know, Apple elitist and stuff. I'd say they're all they're
all pretty compatible. >> I'm halfway asking you and halfway thinking through this out loud here, but
I'm just thinking with with my phone, like you said, it's even if I pull it a certain distance from my face, you're
not going to you you may not hear me talk at all. >> Right. That would be a blessing.
>> Um but the thing is this guy, whoever whoever says it's Am I crazy? It sounds
like it definitely sounds like a man's voice to me. >> Yeah. um he he's loud enough or he's
close enough >> that it got picked up by the phone >> that it got picked up. And if you're
right where he's trying to point out to the dispatcher that that's the first guy
>> Mhm. >> then then it's loud enough to Brandon that he thinks it's being recorded and
very clearly as well. >> Well, then it changes your perception. Before we've kind of thought that, you
know, he ran into some bad dudes and there's some stuff going down maybe with the state trooper. Who knows? But that
he was running away. But what if, you know, he ran out of gas, ran into this situation, the cop, uh, you know, ran
after these guys >> and he ran after the other guy. >> Mhm. >> You know, that's like guys trying to get
away or something and he chased him down, >> you know, and that's why he's calling
the cops. I need the cops. >> Yeah. >> Cuz I got, you know, cuz think about this way. If I broke up a fight,
>> you know, who who am I going to call? I can't contain them forever. >> Mhm. I need the cops. You know, I got
one of the guys right here. >> But if he's responding to this person that we cannot see, that we cannot
identify, >> then do you feel like that must be somebody in an authorative an authoritative figure, meaning like he's
he's choosing to talk to this person over the dispatcher at this point. You know, he's the the dispatcher is
essentially his lifeline, >> right? Yeah. >> So, you have to decide whom you're going
to answer if you only think you may have a limited amount of time to speak. Um, clearly if if he is responding to this
person that we don't don't know anything about, this person may may be in a situation to to that Brandon thinks he
it's more important to answer the man than the than the dispatcher. >> No, I I don't think he's answering the
man, though, is what I'm saying. I think he's telling the dispatcher >> that's the first
>> because if he was answering that guy, he might have, you know, sometimes when
you're talking to somebody on the phone and somebody asks you a question, then you move the phone away.
>> Mhm. >> And so then then his volume would have got smaller. Uh it would have been
quieter. It doesn't get smaller. His answer is the same. That's the first guy. >> Yeah.
>> His the phone is the phone at that point is not moving away from his face. >> Yeah. Wherever it's at when he started
the the sentence, it's there the entire time. Mhm. >> Okay. The next line is going to be the
dispatcher. >> Do you need an ambulance? >> Do you need an ambulance? >> So, a lot of people talk. Okay. Again, I
haven't seen a lot of dissection of this. I And the gunshots. A lot of people talk about during the whole tape,
you can kind of hear these gunshots in the background. I some some of them that people claim are gunshots, they they
don't even register, you know, in the wave file. There's really no movement. And this one, I hear a gunshot at the
beginning. So, listen for that. >> Do you need an ambulance? >> Do you need an ambulance?
>> I'm going to just solo that. Just the part where I think I hear a gunshot. And
I'm going to just make it a little louder. But that's the second time that you think that you're hearing a similar
noise that you're describing as a possible gunshot. >> Yeah. And the first time that we, you
know, anytime that we pick a case, it's always about how do we present it and and can we bring anything to it, it's
just like, you know, the the the requests for John Benet Ramsay have kind of, you know, simmered down a little bit
because, uh, you know, the documentary did such a good job. What can we bring to that case? I don't know. Right. And
and there's a lot of other podcasts that cover this, you know, good friends of ours, you know.
>> Yeah. >> The Vanish covered it. >> Uh was really good episode. Generation Y. Those are great guys.
>> Both were fantastic episodes, by the way. Um but we really wanted to dive into just the 911 call because when you
and I looked into this case, we couldn't we couldn't tear ourselves away from the
911 call. I mean, that's I just I sat in my I sat in my car and listened to it a
dozen times at different speeds. And then when I got home, I I was convinced I couldn't hear it clear enough because
I was in my car and there was other noises going on. And so then I listened to it in in the basement at my house in
the quietest room that I could find. >> Yeah. And our like I like I was trying to say before, I was so rudely
interrupted. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry about that. As much as I interrupt you, you you're
allowed. No, I was just trying to say that if we don't think we can bring anything to the case, we don't normally
cover it, right? You know, there's no point of us covering cases that have been covered so many times. But like you
said, you listen to a couple episodes, you kind of dive into what's happening. And
>> I stopped everybody's podcast and started listening to the audio clips over and over. And then I have the
ability to throw this into a recording program, kind of manipulate some of the fre frequencies. I can loop stuff. I can
slow it down. And I spent hours and hours. And there's definitely I don't know, four or five times that
there's possible gunshots. >> Well, let me ask you this because >> Okay, go ahead.
>> Let's not say gunshot, right? Let's just say that there is a bang >> that's happening. a little bit of a
distance from him >> and but it's loud enough to register on the phone. >> And to be clear, you're stating that
this is the second time in the recording that you've heard a similar noise, >> right?
>> And the first time it is more faint. It It seems to be quieter or further away
from him for whatever reason. Am I correct there? Because to me, this this one that you just pointed out, I hear it
a little more clearly than the first time. >> Right. Right. And you hear that initially, but then when I looped it, I
raised the volume, so it's going to be a little bit louder. But here's the thing
that you have to think about. If he's running away from the scene, and it depends on where the phone is facing cuz
we're going to look at the phone as a microphone, >> you know? So if the you know when I'm
talking here it sounds one way but if I start talking here you know it's it's whatever direction the the phone is
facing >> right now any chance. Okay it's not you're saying possible gunshot >> at least a bang
>> at least a bang. It doesn't to be honest with you to me it doesn't sound either
time it doesn't sound like a gunshot but it also is not clear enough for me to decide what it sounds like.
>> Well that's cuz you're not from the streets and I've I've heard one uh one theory that I liked was that somebody
described the noise that like a semitr might make. You know, sometimes when you hear a semi-truck going over a bridge,
uh, and you hear that clack clack, >> right, >> clack and and what what this person's
theory is is that you're hearing the semitr in the distance going over something and that's why he thinks it
gets louder because it's getting closer to where Brandon's phone is. >> That's very possible.
>> That's very possible. The the other thing I I wonder about though too is is this something could this be noise
that's being created because Brandon might be running you know he's stepping on brush or going through going through
uh you know rough terrain >> maybe. Yeah. But to me this sounds more like a hit.
>> But there's more than just the potential gunshot going on right there. >> Yeah. I think one of the things when
people are analyzing this stuff is they're not listening why she's talking and he's clearly saying something. So we
have this bang possible gunshot and when she starts talking he is saying something or somebody else is saying
something in the background. >> Do you need an ambulance? Do you need an ambulance?
>> Slow it down so we can hear it one more time. >> Do you need an ambulance? Do you need an ambulance?
>> Play it again. >> Do you need an ambulance? >> Do you need an amulet? >> So, right before she starts talking,
what I hear is a a clear >> Yeah. >> And that's coming from somebody that's very close to the phone. So, I hear a
or a And then in the background you hear that guy's hurt. >> Yeah, it does sound like it does sound
like someone is saying that guy's hurt. Let me ask you this because not >> that's gunshot or it sounds more to me
like that guy's hurt. >> Yeah. The thing is though, I want to ask you not so much what you're hearing, but
what you're seeing on the screen there, because there's certain there's certain levels here, and you can see certain,
you know, sizes on the screen, which kind of indicate to me how close or how loud something is according to the
microphone. >> Well, right. But the problem is that she's talking. Mhm. >> So, she is setting basically the bar of
how high the wave is going to be >> because it's kind of like, you know, water, right?
>> Okay. >> We got two streams of water. >> Mhm. >> Her stream is pushing more through, but
and there's still other water coming through. >> Gotcha. So, >> and so I can see how loud the the total
file is or how much total water is, but I can't find out how much how loud they are. So if that's Brandon talking
underneath or if it's somebody in the background talking it they're they're low enough that they're being basically
surrounded audio-wise by >> if it is Brandon talking his phone is not by his face at that point.
>> Okay. >> So let's just take a I'll loop that again. >> Do you need an ammo? Do you need an amulet?
Do you need an ambulance? >> Do you need an ambulance? >> If he is saying that guy's hurt,
>> right? >> He it it wouldn't come off to me as he's responding to the dispatcher. And this
is what this is what scares me. This is what is making me very angry sitting here listening to this. It makes me feel
the thing here is he I don't think he's responding to the dispatcher. And the problem I have with that is that he if
he's saying that guy's hurt to somebody else that's there, why is he speaking for them? The the the person must be so
hurt or unconscious or something that they they cannot respond themselves. And the scary thing here to me is if he's
saying that guy is hurt and whoever he's talking to, he's not afraid of, >> right?
>> So then let's just hypothetically state trooper pulls some guys over. He's walking it onto it. [ __ ] starts getting
crazy. He starts running, right? >> Maybe there's two state troopers, right? one, you know, to chase him into the
woods and then all of a sudden he's with this may, like I said, maybe he chased down one of the guys, but the guy was
already hurt for whatever reason. This state trooper or somebody, you know, somebody that he's not a afraid to talk
to comes up to him and he says, "That guy's hurt." >> And then and that's pretty much it. And
so at that point, what if the state trooper or whoever takes his phone? >> I I feel like here that that the person
that he's talking about that he's saying that guy's hurt that whomever he's responding to that that he doesn't
identify that guy that's hurt as being with the person he's responding to. That's just that's just kind of my
>> gut feeling there. um where I think if you saw two people in similar uniforms,
you identify them as being together and you know I I would think he would say he's hurt. I you know I'm I'm really
maybe looking into this far too much but >> I kind of feel like that guy's hurt kind
of he he's talking about someone that he doesn't identify to to be with the person he's responding to.
>> Well, let's play everything that we have up to this point in real time. 911 emergency.
>> Yes, I'm in the middle of the field. We're just pushing some guys over right here going toward Javelin on both sides.
My truck ran out of gas. There's one car here to the woods pretty hard. >> Okay, now run that by me.
>> We're not talking to him. I ran into him. >> Ah, you ran into him. Okay. >> Do you need an ambulance?
>> So, here's what I have so far, Captain. I have. Yes, I'm in the middle of a field. State trooper pulled some guys
over. They're out here going towards blank on both sides. My truck ran out of gas.
>> Mhm. >> There's one car here. The guy's chased him to the woods. Please hurry.
And then he's, you know, then he's interrupted the dispatcher and then he says, "And we're not talking to him. Not
till we ran into him. Just the first guy and we hear that faint to me what sounds
like that guy's hurt. >> Let's uh play the next clip. See if we can find anything odd there.
>> Yeah. No, I need the cops. >> Okay. >> Yeah. No, I need the cops. >> Okay. >> Now, I'm going to play this clip slowed
down twice and then I'm going to make it even slower twice. >> No, I need the cops.
No, I need the cops. No, I need the calls. Okay. No, I need the calls. >> Okay. >> Now, on this clip, there's a lot of
speculation that the first Yeah. is coming from another person. And like I said, I do believe that there's times on
this tape that there's somebody else talking uh on the phone other than uh Brand Brandon.
>> Mhm. So, but in this case, I actually don't hear it as being such. I actually
hear the yeah as being Brandon. If you look also at the waveforms, the the times that I think it's possibly
somebody else talking, the waveforms are a lot smaller. So, meaning it's also just quieter. This one is very
comparable. The yah is almost, you know, it's just a slight it's a hair off of what the no, I need the cops is.
>> Yeah. And I think the situation here is that he's I think he's correcting himself again because I think he is
anticipating that she's going to say we're going to send the cops or you know the police are on their way. Um and it
it's almost like because he doesn't know that she hasn't understood what he has said,
>> right? I think he thinks she knows what he's saying. >> Yeah. That Yeah. And he he's he's
rethinking it. Yeah. No, I need the cops. >> Mhm. Here's the next line, and it's
pretty much just the dispatcher. >> Is anybody hurt? >> Hello. >> I'm going to play this whole end clip um
slowed down and the and the whole length so you'll hear the whole thing. >> Is anybody hurt?
Hello. Hello. Hello. Now, what I'm going to do is actually take the in between parts where she's
not talking. I'm going to make those a little louder. >> Mhm. >> Is anybody hurt?
>> Hello. Hello. Hello. >> I just listening to this like this, it gives me the heebiejibbies.
>> Yeah. So, here's what I think I'm hearing there from, you know, with once we remove the dispatcher. It almost
sounds to me like um like a quick inhale and then an exhale and then >> there's some clicks happening there. And
that could be the phone in the pocket. That could just be having the phone down by its side.
I the the tough thing here for me is there's never a time or or never a time that I can find where there's a spike.
>> Mhm. >> So, it doesn't seem like Brandon dropped the phone. >> No. >> You would think that you'd hear kind of
a rattle or something. Uh and and you you really don't. Do you hear like a there's a portion there towards the last
time that she says hello. There's a portion there that it almost sounds like there's a a droning noise or like a fan
or something. Well, Mike, well, it's it's slowed down. But some of my other thought is when you speed that section
up, it kind of sounds like kind of like a click click and then you get this almost like a car's driving by.
>> Right. That's what I I hear like a like a motorcycle or car. >> Yeah. or or a truck or something.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't know. It's a >> It's creepy. No. >> But you also think you might hear
someone talking. >> I think I can hear somebody talking before the last Hello. I can hear uh
human. And I need to spend more time on that section. Uh, I mean I can try to The
problem is sometimes when you take these clips, you can take a very small clip and you can normalize it and that just
basically boosts the overall gain. Uh, that again makes it more distorted. >> But um, I would I would really like to
take this in with guys I went to school with that that don't really know much about the case at all
>> and have fresh ears listen to it and and in an actual studio. I mean, we we're in
our garage and we have some studio like quality. >> Mhm. >> But nothing like they have. Um,
>> do you think that do you think that if what I think I'm hearing is the inhale
exhale, do you >> that's possibly coming from the the dispatcher as well. >> Okay. And
Okay. >> So, basically uh after listening and dissecting all this, we come to the
conclusion that we know less really than when we started. Well, but here's the thing. I'm looking over what I wrote
down. Um, do you mind if I go through it one more time? >> Go. Yeah. >> Okay. So, I'm going to try to do a um
>> Well, he he's saying that uh people because he can tell that my brain hurts from all this editing.
>> Yes. I'm in the middle of a field. State trooper pulled some guys over. They're
out here going towards Gavlin on both sides. My truck ran out of gas. There's one car here. Guys chased him to the
woods. Please hurry. And we're not talking to him. Not till we ran into him. Just the first guy. That guy's
hurt. Yeah. No, I need the cops. >> Yeah. >> The thing here is, and this is what, you
know, just reviewing what I wrote down, and I'm not saying that I'm right, but but the thing that
>> that's just your guestimation. >> This is my guess after looking at it. But the the line that doesn't make any
sense, let's say to me when I read through this, >> all of the lines seem to work together
in a way. The line that doesn't really make any sense is that one in the middle and we're not talking to him.
>> That that one just doesn't seem to really fit really anything else. And and what I mean is like cuz the next line is
not till we ran into him. according to me that yes, those lines go together. But what I'm saying here is we ran into
him kind of goes with with what story you think you're hearing in the beginning where we're not talking to
him. Doesn't really doesn't really seem to make sense with any of the other stuff here. I mean, there's a lot that
doesn't make sense. And again, the the the issue here is that if he had no, you know, prior drug use, then
people wouldn't jump to that. they jump to maybe he's intoxicated. And I think people start getting that embedded in
their head subconsciously when they keep slowing down the tape. >> He sounds intoxicated. So therefore,
he's intoxicated. When it's played at normal speed, I do not hear an intoxicated guy. I hear a guy
>> that is scared. I hear a guy that uh is, you know, you know, his adrenaline is
racing. >> Mhm. >> And and it's and it's weird. And then the problem with all this is that he the
brother gets a call >> saying, "Hey, I'm down the road and uh and and I think we have evidence from
the 911 tape that he's moving." >> Yeah. >> So he's moving. So that, you know, statement lines up and then he says that
he's bleeding. >> Yeah. >> So did he get hit by somebody? And the thing is, you know, I've heard people
say that at the end of that tape that that they hear someone saying, "Help me." Uh, I don't hear that anywhere. Um,
I don't even hear what sounds like anybody close to the phone saying talking to into the phone,
>> right? >> Um, the thing here though too is, you know, because some people say, "Well,
that was Brandon's last words." It couldn't have been because we know that he later then called his brother. Um,
you know, so one thing though too, Captain, is we we definitely have a situation here with whatever's going
down is not doesn't sound to me like it's going down around his vehicle around Brandon's truck. It sounds to me
like he's in another location. Like he's already started walking and distanced himself from that truck. Did Did he Did
somebody pick him up and offer to help and then they ran into somebody? Not till we ran into him. You know, did they
run into somebody's vehicle? Uh, you know, the the first call goes out to to Kyle at 12:38. The 911 call is at 1250.
Now, I wouldn't think he would have gotten too far on foot. >> The most, maybe a mile.
>> Yeah, let's let's say a mile. Um, and then but we have the Kyle saying he didn't get to the officer until 110. So
now we have 20 minutes go by where where Brandon is reaching out to the brother again
>> after the 911 call. So >> So yeah, again another mile down the road, maybe more.
>> Yeah, but you would think that whatever whatever it sounds like he's trying to
describe sounds like a pretty chaotic scene to me. If if what I think he's trying to describe is going down, to me
it would have had to have happened more than a mile away from his truck. I think
that that Kyle or the deputy would have seen some kind of commotion or heard something at some point.
>> Mhm. Yeah. I don't It's I mean that's why it's this crazy mystery. It's um I don't know if we'll ever know.
>> I'm really frustrated. I'm I I'll I'll I'll type this up and leave it on our uh
on our blog to, you know, to to play what I to write down what I think I heard. >> Yeah, I'm I'm freaking exhausted. So, uh
final thoughts, right? >> Yeah. The final thoughts, if I'm going by what I think I hear, there's him,
there's a state trooper, there's two guys, at least two guys. He may have gotten a car with somebody before he
enter, you know, came across these state trooper and the other guys. >> Um, I think that he's saying that the
state trooper got chased into the woods by these guys. Um, the problem I have with that story is you think you would
have that that's a newsworthy story. That's not something that just happens and and it's never reported. I mean,
state troopers call for backup if if able. uh if a state trooper is missing or goes down.
>> Yeah. Again, it's depends on how you go with it. Was was he being chased or was
he chasing somebody? >> And and I Yeah, I I think it comes down to you either you either believe that
he's on drugs and this is all just fictitious in his head or he's not on drugs and what he's saying is actually
true. >> Yeah. I there there was a report of his cell phone uh pinging near the Colorado
River. Um but I want to be but this is also only like I don't know like three or four miles from his vehicle. The
problem here is that what they have stated is as far as the technology goes is that those pings can be off by
anywhere from a mile and a half to three miles. >> Right? So therefore that I I don't think
that can tell you anything what the where that ping is. >> Yeah. My final thoughts on this are is
kind of simple. I mean I think what he's saying um makes sense with the evidence
that's shown on the tape. >> And I also believe that there's going to be technology and probably some people
out there that have better tools and better skills than I have that could probably uncover some of the things I
can't. And I think that uh like I said, there's a bunch of evidence I think on the tape to kind of coincide with what
he's saying. So, you know, it's it's a tough one and my thoughts and prayers go out to uh his family and his friends and
and I'm going to try to do more diving in and I think it was kind of a interesting experiment to kind of dive
into these this audio clips as as much as we have. Well, you were absolutely able to point out some things to me that
I wasn't able to hear on my own. Um, and and I didn't hear them because you pointed them out to me. I heard them
because you enhanced it and you brought it up to a level or slowed it to a level
that I could hear things that I was missing before. >> And I appreciate you pointing those out
to all of us and and taking the time and and really editing this thing and dissecting it and chopping it up as much
as you did. It was it was a lot of work for you. >> All right, let's get out of here because
it is Taco Tuesday. So, do we have recommended reading for the week? We do. And it is Dark Ambition, the shocking
crimes of Dylan Millard and Mark Schmidt by Anne Brockhurst. Uh this is the true
story of a happy young father with a promising future who listed his pickup truck for sale online. He goes on a test
drive with two strangers and he never returns. Uh this is the story of that man's strange disappearance in May of
2013, which captured headlines across the country and took over social media. Now, when the two men were eventually
arrested and charged with that murder, the mystery only deepens because the these were people of means. They they
they had money. There was no reason to steal this man's truck. It almost looks like a thrill target. And both of these
men are also facing other murder charges, which we will see those trials pan out in the future.
>> Pretty interesting. >> Yeah. So that's Dark Ambition, the shocking crimes of Dylan Millard and
Mark Schmidt. And you can pick that up by going to true crimegar.com and click on the recommended page. And you can get
anything through Amazon. All of our microphones, our mic cables, our preamps, our speakers, pretty much
everything that we got for the garage to do the show came from Amazon. And they give us a little kickback with no charge
to you. And a big huge wet sloppy kiss to all of our listeners. Without you guys, this wouldn't be possible. We hope
you found this uh episode interesting and please share our thoughts uh or share. So, yeah, let me share share your
thoughts with us on the website. And much love to everybody out there. Until next time, be good, be kind, and don't
litter. Heat. Heat.

Brandon Lawson 911 Tape /// Part 2 /// Episode:86

TrueCrimeGarage.com

August 9th - 2013, Bronte, Texas- A young father of four left his home in the middle of the night. While driving his truck to his father's house he runs out of gas. Brandon Lawson is on a dark highway in the middle of nowhere. Armed with only his cell phone Brandon goes walking in search of gas. Something happened that scared Brandon because just before 1 am, he calls 911. I'm in a field... I need the cops... Please hurry...Are these Brandon's last words? Tonight we go through the timeline of Brandon's disappearance and we try to dissect the now famous 911 call.Beer of the week - One Hundred Million Angels Singing by Texas Ale ProjectGarage Grade - 4 and a half bottle caps out of five

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Brief Summary

Brandon Lawson's mysterious disappearance is analyzed through his 911 call, revealing confusion and potential danger he faced before vanishing.

Key points

Brandon Lawson's Disappearance. Brandon Lawson, an oil field worker, vanished after calling 911 on August 8, 2013.
Dissecting the 911 Call. The hosts analyze Brandon's 911 call, searching for clues about his disappearance.
Speculation on Gunshots. Listeners speculate about the sounds heard in the background, questioning if they are gunshots.
The Dispatcher’s Question. The dispatcher asks if an ambulance is needed, heightening the urgency of the situation.
The Unsettling 911 Call. An analysis of a chilling 911 call reveals unexpected audio details.
Mystery Deepens. The investigation into Brandon's disappearance raises more questions than answers.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Please hurry.

Brandon's urgent plea during the 911 call.

6:42WatchOct 13, 2025

Tension

75/ 100High tension

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