There is currently no standalone documentary film about Bethany Markowski’s disappearance. Her case has, however, been covered extensively by national outlets, including a major CNN feature published for the 25th anniversary in March 2026, an NBC News Cold Case Spotlight feature, a multi-part Crime Watch Daily television investigation, and at least one true crime podcast. Below is every major feature we could verify, linked directly.
Has Bethany Markowski’s Story Been Covered by National News?
Yes. The most significant recent coverage came from CNN, which published a full feature on March 28, 2026, timed to the 25th anniversary of Bethany’s disappearance. The piece centers on her mother, Jonnie Carter, and explores what researchers call “ambiguous loss” — the particular, unresolved grief of loving someone whose fate is unknown. You can read it here: “Bethany Markowski vanished 25 years ago. After decades of grieving, her mother still hasn’t given up hope” — CNN.
NBC News also covered the case as part of its Cold Case Spotlight series: “Bethany Markowski still missing 18 years after disappearing in Tennessee” — NBC News, which includes on-record comments from TBI Agent Cathy Ferguson about the volume of tips the case has generated over the years.
What TV Coverage Has Bethany Markowski’s Case Received?
In 2018, Crime Watch Daily aired a multi-part investigation that included the first on-camera interview with Larry Markowski, Bethany’s father, since 2001. Local Jackson station WBBJ covered the same interview and its lead-up: “Missing girl’s father speaks out for first time in 17 years” — WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News. A detailed write-up of the Crime Watch Daily segment itself is available here: “What happened to Bethany Markowski? Girl remains missing after reported mall disappearance” — True Crime News.
Jonnie Carter did appear on the Montel Williams Show, roughly a year after Bethany’s disappearance, where she discussed a woman who attempted to enroll a girl matching Bethany’s description in a school. Though the original broadcast does not appear to have an accessible archive online (the show ended production in 2008), we included clips of it in our 25 year remembrance video of Bethany Markowski.
For the most authoritative record of the case, the FBI maintains an official wanted listing: Bethany Leanne Markowski — FBI.
Are There Any Podcasts About Bethany Markowski’s Case?
Yes, Bethany’s case has been covered by several different true crime podcast series over the years:
- Searching for Ghosts has covered the case most extensively, across a dedicated multi-episode arc referred to as “Where Is Bethany Markowski?” Episodes are available on the show’s official feed and most major podcast platforms.
- Missing in Hush Town devoted its Season Two premiere to the case, fifteen years after Bethany’s disappearance. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
- Missing Persons covered the case as Episode 100, with Jonnie discussing the disappearance and possible sightings directly. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart.
- Where Are They? featured the case in an episode titled “The Unsolved Disappearance of Bethany Markowski.”
- Case Files with Kat and Ashley covered the case in Season 7, Episode 23.
A note on accuracy: podcast coverage of any long-running cold case tends to include theories, unconfirmed details, and secondhand claims alongside verified facts — that’s true here as well. If you’re looking for the verified facts of the case rather than speculation, our full case overview and timeline are the most reliably sourced places to start.
Is There a Full-Length Documentary About Bethany Markowski?
Not at this time. What exists instead is a substantial body of journalism spanning more than two decades — local news coverage from the week Bethany disappeared in 2001, a 2018 television investigation, a 2019 NBC News feature, and a 2026 CNN feature marking 25 years. Taken together, that’s a more complete record of the case than most cold cases ever receive. If that changes, we’ll update this page.
How You Can Help Keep Bethany’s Story in the Public Eye
Media coverage matters because it works — tips still come in decades later, sometimes prompted by nothing more than someone stumbling across an old article or a new one. If you want to help:
- Share this page, or any of the articles linked above, with anyone who lived in West Tennessee around 2001
- Read the full case details and timeline so you know exactly what’s confirmed and what isn’t before sharing
- If you’re a journalist, podcaster, or documentary producer interested in the case, reach out to us directly at media@findbethany.org — we respond to media inquiries as soon as we possibly can
- If you have information about Bethany’s disappearance, contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a documentary about Bethany Markowski?
No standalone documentary film exists as of 2026. Her case has been covered by CNN, NBC News, Crime Watch Daily, and local Tennessee news outlets, along with at least one true crime podcast.
Has Bethany Markowski’s case been on Dateline?
NBC News covered her case as part of its Cold Case Spotlight digital feature series in 2019. This is a different format from the primetime Dateline television program, though both are produced under NBC News.
What podcasts have covered Bethany Markowski’s disappearance?
Several true crime podcast series have covered the case: Searching for Ghosts, Missing in Hush Town, Missing Persons, Where Are They?, and Case Files with Kat and Ashley. Searching for Ghosts has the most extensive coverage, spanning a multi-episode arc.
Where can I read the most accurate coverage of Bethany Markowski’s case?
The Bethany Markowski Foundation’s own case page and timeline are maintained directly with the family and are the most consistently updated sources. CNN’s March 2026 feature and NBC News’s 2019 feature are the most in-depth third-party journalism on the case.
How can I help keep Bethany’s story in the public eye?
Share existing coverage with anyone who may have lived in West Tennessee around 2001, and contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND with any information, however small it may seem.
