Transcript

A Cabin's Hidden Secrets - The Horrifying Case of Joshua Maddux

From Coffeehouse Crime · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 27 min · 4,612 words · 32 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "A Cabin's Hidden Secrets - The Horrifying Case of Joshua Maddux", an episode of Coffeehouse Crime published December 21, 2025 (27 min, about 4,612 words). It mentions 6 people, works and ideas, including Joshua Maddox, Woodland Park, hypothermia, Donald C. Murphy, Air Force Academy.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Joshua Maddox, Woodland Park, Air Force Academy
  2. – 10:00: Woodland Park
  3. – 15:00: Joshua Maddox, Donald C. Murphy, Woodland Park
  4. – 20:00: hypothermia, Donald C. Murphy
  5. – 25:00: Joshua Maddox, Andy Newman, Woodland Park
  6. – 26:52: Joshua Maddox

Notable quotes from "A Cabin's Hidden Secrets - The Horrifying Case of Joshua Maddux"

  • Crime started on YouTube. As many of all of this began with the case of Joshua Maddox. And when I launched on Spotify earlier this year, I revisited that case. It was mostly to…
    about Joshua Maddox · at
  • In the quiet mountain town of Woodland Park, Colorado, a family search for their missing son dragged on for years without answers. Joshua Maddox was only 18 years old when he left his home on a.
    about Woodland Park · at
  • Doorstep. Tourists come here for the garden of the gods, military families for the nearby Air Force Academy, and dreamers for the crisp mountain air that promises a better…
    about Air Force Academy · at
  • Family home. In fact, it was only a mile down the road. The property belonged to a 79-year-old man named Chuck Murphy, who at the time was president of Murphy Constructors. The…
    about Donald C. Murphy · at
  • That he had most likely become trapped after falling down the chimney before then suffering from hypothermia. He also said that Joshua's death was not immediate. Instead, he…
    about hypothermia · at
  • Allegedly bragged about murdering Joshua. And the person that I'd like to focus on here is a man named Andy Newman. Now, Andy was only a few years older than Joshua and also a familiar face from Woodland Park High School.
    about Andy Newman · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

Concepts & topics

Places & events

Full transcript with timestamps

Is this thing on? Yes, it is. Hey there, folks. Okay, so December the 21st, 2025. Today marks 5 years since Coffee House Crime started on YouTube. As many of you know, all of this began with the case of Joshua Maddox. And when I launched on Spotify earlier this year, I revisited that case. It was mostly to see how far this channel has come in the time it's been around. And so, with that being on Spotify, I thought now was the perfect time to share it here on YouTube, too. And with that said, I just wanted to say thank you so much to all of you who are here because, well, Coffee House Crime wouldn't be anything without its community. Truly, I feel so happy and blessed to be here with all of you. So, thank you.

And hey, here's to many more years to come. Anyway, folks, please grab yourself a coffee for the 339th time and let's investigate. This is the revisited case of Joshua Maddox. In the quiet mountain town of Woodland Park, Colorado, a family search for their missing son dragged on for years without answers. Joshua Maddox was only 18 years old when he left his home on a spring morning in 2008. He told his sister that he was going for a walk. However, after that, he vanished. No phone calls, no sightings, and no trace left behind.

A few days later, he was reported as missing to police officers, but their efforts were futile, and for seven gruelling long years, the Maddox family were left with nothing short of a nightmare. It was in the year 2015 that a gruesome discovery in a cabin only one mile from the family home suddenly shattered that silence. You see, several contractors were busy tearing down an abandoned cabin when all of a sudden, they stumbled upon something inside of the chimney. It was the mummified remains of a human body, unnaturally positioned and wedged deep into the brick. Those remains were eventually identified to belong to Joshua. And although he had now finally been found, it was in one of the strangest and most haunting ways imaginable. Despite the discovery, many questions surrounding his death still remained. For example, what precisely happened to Joshua Maddox on the day that he walked out? What did the clues

leave behind? And was this a tragic accident? Or was someone else involved for nefarious reasons? Welcome to Colorado Springs, folks. Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, it's home to breathtaking peaks, endless hiking trails, and a community that thrives on nature's doorstep. Tourists come here for the garden of the gods, military families for the nearby Air Force Academy, and dreamers for the crisp mountain air that promises a better life. It has to be good, right? I mean, it does look tempting if I'm honest. Even I was considering moving there a few years ago. However, beneath that scenic facade, Colorado Springs has long held a darker reputation. With its rather rapid growth, the city has struggled with crime rates that are higher than the national average, and especially when it comes to violent crime. Methampetamine has left deep scars on local communities, often targeting those

suffering with mental health issues. While gang activity and drug trafficking have threaded themselves deep into the city, even its geography plays a sinister role here. The dense forests and vast wilderness surrounding Colorado Springs have hidden more than a few bodies over the recent years. And investigators will always tell you that it is a rather convenient place to disappear. Whether that's by choice or even by force. And it doesn't end there either because some of the country's most unsettling crimes have happened here. From serial killers to unsolved mysteries that still haunt investigators today. Speaking of which, today we're traveling 25 mi northwest of Colorado Springs to a small town called Woodland Park. Founded in 1887, it's home to about 8,000 residents. And with it being found deep in the forests and mountains, it is beautiful in its own right, yet mysterious all the same. And

it's here that you could find Joshua Maddox and his family. Born on March the 9th, 1990 in Woodland Park, Joshua grew up with his father and three siblings, Kate, Ruth, and Zachary. He was the youngest of the family, meaning that his brother and sisters would often try to look after him. Unfortunately, his mother and father had divorced a while prior, leaving him in a fractured household. After being homeschooled for his first 2 years, Joshua then transitioned into the Woodland Park school system, where he quickly stood out as an exceptional student. In fact, teachers remember him as intelligent, bright, and gifted. He was a great guitarist for his age, too. And of course, with a sharp sense of humor and adventurous spark, he was also known to be the troublemaker from time to time thanks to his curious nature. To add to this, friends would also describe Joshua as witty, easygoing, and compassionate.

And key takeaway here, someone who loved to go out for an adventure. Now, Joshua loved the Colorado wilderness, and to be honest, he wasn't afraid to spend a night or two under the stars, which did mean that from time to time, he would disappear for a couple of days. This elusiveness was a bad habit that both of his parents hadn't quite grappled yet. But then again, in a place like Woodland Park, what could possibly go wrong? It also appeared that Joshua had carried a certain resilience about him, too, formed out of tragedy. because sadly only 2 years prior in 2006 his older brother Zachary had taken his own life. This of course devastated the family but none other like Joshua.

Depression hit him hard after this and although he would eventually find himself out of that darkness it was a long and difficult task and then as you know only 2 years later he would then suddenly disappear. And so on that note let's talk about it. It was on May the 8th, 2008 that Joshua told his sister Kate that he was going out for a walk. And although he didn't specify where or how long for, why would he? Because this was just a normal walk. But the thing is, after leaving the property, he never returned. In fact, that would be the last time that anyone would ever see Joshua alive again. Now, one thing to mention here is that Joshua was very casual about this walk. He didn't pack anything extra with him. didn't provide any details and wasn't acting unusual either. What this tells me is that he had every intention to return home later that day, but alas, that would never happen. As the hours slipped by, anxiety

began to rise. Now, at first, people didn't panic too much. After all, Joshua was known for his love of the outdoors and would often go on long hikes through the forests or spend hours catching up with friends. So when he didn't return home that evening, it wasn't entirely unusual, just abnormal. This was how Joshua operated. After all, he was raised to be both independent and freespirited. For most of us, having a child unaccounted for for one night would definitely send alarm bells ringing. But for the Maddox family, it wasn't a cause for panic, at least not at first. But as the days passed by, each and every one of them moved with silence, and each one heavier than the last. And so finally, on May the 13th, with that being 5 days after Joshua was last seen, his father picked up the phone. In an effort to find his son, he called all of his friends. But when none of them knew where he was, that feeling

of dread immediately set in. And so the next thing he did was call the police to alert them. Almost immediately, the community rallied to find him. Volunteers searched through the thick woodlands, trudged through lakes and ponds, and scoured the many mountains surrounding Woodland Park. Search dogs were brought in, posters were put up, and neighbors kept their eyes open. But despite their best efforts, every trail went cold, and every lead went nowhere. It was as if Joshua had stepped out into the wilderness and then simply vanished.

Amidst the grief and worry, Joshua's sister shared a post on Facebook to say, "Since Joshua was 18, it has been reasonable to assume that he may have decided to leave town to start a new life. As one of his two older sisters, I have always chosen to believe that this was the case. I expected Josh to return home to my father's house at any time with a wife and small children. Josh has always been known for his musical and literary talent. So maybe we would one day find him playing music with a band on tour or catch him writing successful novels under a pen name so that he could keep his preferred lifestyle of solitude in the woods.

These words from his sister paint a good impression of the mindset that his family were in at the time that Joshua disappeared. And it's true he was an adult now. So, not only could he make his own decisions in life, but he could come and go as he pleased. In addition to this, it sounds like not only had he played with the idea of leaving, but also remaining anonymous. And so, with him now gone, that doesn't necessarily mean he's in danger, right? And if you look at the facts, there was actually nothing to suggest he was. Joshua was a good kid. He had good grades. He was well-liked and had a good head on his shoulders. So maybe he was just keeping himself out of trouble. Friends would also say that in the months leading up to his disappearance, Joshua wasn't just content, but even happy. And so on that note, police had no reason to suspect foul play. The searches continued for a while. But with no leads, all hope

slowly began to fade. And as the week slipped into months, and months finally into years, all efforts eventually seized. But something didn't quite sit right for his family, especially for his father. In fact, he was so worried that even after he moved, he kept the family home just in case Joshua returned. He figured that that would be the one place he would know where to go if he wanted to find them. But that moment would never come because Joshua was gone. Fast forward 7 years and on Friday, August the 12th, 2015 at around 2:30 in the afternoon, Woodland Park police were called to a property on Meadowark Lane.

Now, as it turns out, Meadowark Lane wasn't far at all from Joshua's old family home. In fact, it was only a mile down the road. The property belonged to a 79-year-old man named Chuck Murphy, who at the time was president of Murphy Constructors. The cabin had been in his family for multiple decades. Originally purchased by his parents on what was once part of the notorious Thunderhead Ranch, a place known for illegal gambling, bootlegging, and wild parties. Now, Chuck's brother had lived in the cabin for more than 30 years before eventually it became a rental. And once that had served its purpose, the property sat empty from 2004 through to 2015, falling into disrepair in the process. Every once in a while, Chuck would check on the property just to make sure that everything was in order. And although no major damage was noted, the place did get broken into on multiple occasions. By the year 2015, the cabin

was finally ready to go. The land was being cleared for a new development which would create 32 family homes in the area. And with this cabin being part of that zone, well, it was basically set to be demolished for a good price. However, this is where things fell apart and the mystery of Joshua Maddox deepened because during the demolition phase, something horrific was discovered. As demolition crews tore the cabin apart, one worker peered into the half-demolished chimney, and that is when he froze. Because wedged just above the lounger's fireplace, and in a fetal position about 1 m off the ground, lay the mummified human remains of a man. It is noted that the body was rigid, dark, and contorted in a rather disturbing posture with the knees pulled tight above the head and one hand raised towards the face. The legs, which were now stripped of flesh, had come loose from the torso. And possibly the most

unsettling detail of all is that the victim was almost naked, wearing nothing but a thermal shirt. The cabin had been silent for over a decade. But now, well, it seemed to be holding a secret that was simply too grim to ignore. When asked what the cabin was like before demolition, Chuck said the place was damp and it smelled like hell. There was raccoon poop all over the place, and we really had no reason to go in there except to tear the building down. Now, at first, officers had no idea who the body belonged to. I mean, I'm sure a couple of them had a hunch, but none of them could be sure. So, their first step was to check local databases and compare the body against all missing people in the area. And of course, that list included Joshua Maddox. And their answer would come pretty quickly after that because after checking dental records, they realized that Joshua's was a match.

And if that wasn't enough already, they were able to confirm this for a second time when they realized that both the body and Joshua had the same joint missing from their index finger. Which means that after seven long years, Joshua had finally been found. And in some sort of cruel twist, it wasn't even a mile away from his family's home. Honestly, it's a thought just as tragic as it is haunting. For several years, friends and family had searched the area hoping for a clue. Meanwhile, Josh's body lay hidden just behind a chimney wall. In fact, when you look at Google Street View images taken during that time, it is eerie to know that his remains were right there, but just out of sight. And obviously, this is the reason why the case of Joshua Maddox would eventually become known as the story of the boy in the chimney. So although this discovery brought closure to the question as to where he was, it

didn't quite explain how he got there, why he was in that position, or what exactly happened in that cabin. And as it turns out, the deeper that you look into this story, the stranger it becomes. So let's take a closer look. So let's start with Joshua's autopsy. When toxicology reports came back, they noted no trace of drugs or alcohol in his system. His body also showed no evidence of trauma, no broken bones, no stab wounds, and no bullets. So in short, on paper, there was nothing to suggest foul play. With that in mind, the coroner, Alborne, officially ruled Joshua's death as accidental, suggesting that he had most likely become trapped after falling down the chimney before then suffering from hypothermia. He also said that Joshua's death was not immediate. Instead, he likely endured a slow, agonizing end, either from, as we mentioned, hypothermia caused by the mountains frozen air around him, or alternatively from

dehydration as the days ticked by in silence. So, at least from the coroner's perspective, a sad but resolved case, right? Well, the story does seem to be straightforward enough. Joshua went exploring that day, climbed onto the roof of a cabin barely one mile from his home, tried to slip in through the chimney, fell, became trapped, and then slowly died. If you look at the story this way, then yes, tragic, but also simple. However, it's when you look at the other details that things begin to make a lot less sense. The truth seems to be far stranger and darker. And the deeper that you look into Joshua's death, the more unsettling that questions become. So, let's first turn our attention to the cabin itself.

Even from the very beginning, its owner, Chuck Murphy, raised serious doubts about the coroner's theory. To begin with, years prior to Joshua's disappearance, Chuck had installed steel rebar across the top of the chimney in an effort to keep raccoons and other animals from slipping inside. He also insisted to officers that there was no way the guy crawled inside that chimney with all of that steel webbing. Quite simply, he didn't come down that chimney. It is also worth saying that this was not merely speculation because as a veteran of the construction industry, he knew his materials and their durability very well, and he was confident that the rebar was still in place at the time that the cabin came down. The only reason that investigators found no trace of that rebar in the rubble was because apparently Chuck had already ordered scrap collectors to salvage the metal the day prior. This

information blew massive holes in Alborne's theory. Because if Chuck was correct, then Joshua didn't actually enter from the roof at all. He must have gone into that chimney from inside the cabin instead. If that wasn't enough already, the scene found inside of the cabin only raised more questions, too. You see, Joshua was found to be wearing only a thermal shirt. And if you're wondering where the rest of his clothes were, well, they were inside of the cabin. It is worth highlighting that reports differ on whether the clothes were neatly fold or simply left scattered on the floor. But either way, it strongly suggests that he had been in the cabin before ending up in that chimney. And this is where things get even more puzzling. Before the demolition even began, Chuck noticed something quite strange inside the cabin. The breakfast bar had been torn from the kitchen wall and dragged in front of the fireplace, almost as if it

was in an effort to block or conceal the chimney entirely. And the bar itself was no small piece of furniture either. In an interview, Chuck even confirmed that it was 10 ft wide and 4 ft tall, which is probably far too heavy for Joshua to have easily moved on his own. Quite understandably, this raises some rather unsettling questions. For example, did Joshua somehow manage to shift the breakfast bar by himself, or was this deliberately placed there by someone who was trying to conceal him? Another potential theory is that maybe it was just moved there by a squatter who was simply moving things around the cabin while trying to keep warm. In that case, it would have been very creepy to know that a body was just meters away behind a wall. And the truth is that if Joshua had entered the chimney from inside of the cabin, then these are technically the only three options.

Either he moved the bar himself, someone moved the bar to try to conceal him, or someone moved the bar without any knowledge that he was inside. As an important side note, it's also possible that he removed his own clothes while experiencing hypothermia. Usually in the late stages of hypothermia, there is this dark irony that people feel abnormally hot and then try to remove their clothes, which basically seals their fate for them. But the thing is that if you look back at historic temperatures on the night that he disappeared, the weather stayed above 48° F or 9° C. And with hypothermia only beginning at 50° Fahrenheit or 10° C, it is quite hard to believe that Joshua would have experienced such a thing.

And as it turns out, the deeper that you look into this story, well, let's just say the stranger it becomes. Only 3 days after ruling Joshua's death as accidental, the coroner quietly reopened the case. But once again, after all evaluations were made, the conclusion was the same. An accident and nothing more. However, while all of this was going on, the police were actually taking dozens of phone calls. This included tips and even potential names, including someone who had allegedly bragged about murdering Joshua. And the person that I'd like to focus on here is a man named Andy Newman. Now, Andy was only a few years older than Joshua and also a familiar face from Woodland Park High School.

However, unlike Joshua, let's just say that Andy's reputation was far from great. Those who knew him described him as volatile, erratic, and sometimes even violent. And not only did he disappear around the same time as Joshua did, but he would go on to have quite the impressive criminal record. A couple of years after leaving Colorado, Andy would eventually resurface in New Mexico. And then in 2012, police discovered that he had murdered a friend of his with a knife before fleeing the state. He was later caught and then convicted of firstdegree murder and then sentenced to life behind bars.

Apparently, he was even accused of murdering another person only a year prior, too. So, this alone was enough to spark new theories that maybe Andy was responsible in Joshua's death. I mean, he had a motive, a means, and history with the area, too. And if that wasn't enough already, it is also reported that Josh and Andy had allegedly been spending time together in the months before the two of them had disappeared. And so, it is no surprise to learn that many people believe that maybe Andy was the one to force him in that chimney. It is also worth highlighting here that his other offenses include grand theft, battery, drunkenness, and attacking a police officer. Now, officially, there is no evidence linking Andy to Joshua's death. Not only do records place him elsewhere at the time of Joshua's disappearance, but police never named him as a potential suspect either. And simultaneously, the coroner

still believes that Joshua's death was an accident. At the time of producing my first video and even this one, Andy still remains behind bars. And if his record is anything to go by, that is precisely where he belongs. In fact, as recently as March of 2019, he made headlines once again when he assaulted a detention officer. It is safe to say that compassion has never been Andy's strength. So, just like my first video, what's my theory on the case of Joshua Maddox? Well, before we get to that, I'd like to add another possible theory that I hadn't actually considered when covering this case for the first time, and that is mental health and relapse.

From everything that has been publicly reported, there is no indication that Joshua had any diagnosed mental health issues. In fact, most reports consistently stress that he was doing extraordinarily well. And not only did he have a good group of friends around him, but he wasn't in any sort of trouble either. However, in these mystery cases, it is really important that we cover every single angle. And there are two potential indicators to suggest that he may have been under some sort of relapse at the time of his death. For example, Joshua was found almost entirely naked. And while this could suggest murder through sexual foul play, it could also suggest something different. During certain types of mental health crisis, people do often remove their clothes for reasons including psychosis, severe mania, confusion, or neurological or substance related issues. So, could Joshua have been going through something?

Technically, it's possible. So, what do I really think happened to Joshua Maddox? Well, after weighing all of the evidence that I have, and even sitting on it for 4 and 1/2 years, I still lean heavily towards murder. I mean, yes, there is a slim possibility that Joshua had an accident or some sort of mental relapse which led him into that chimney. However, when you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, the more plausible explanation is that he crossed paths with the wrong person at the wrong time in the wrong place. I mean, look, put quite bluntly, I simply cannot see why Joshua would decide to be half naked inside a chimney in an abandoned cabin only a mile away from his family's home, either willingly or just for fun. And so, on that note, I think either someone or something must have put him there, whether he was lured inside, forced against his will, or placed there after he had died. The

autopsy and toxological reports reported no knife wounds, no bullets, and no broken bones. However, the condition of his body after 7 years left countless possibilities open, most notably strangulation. And to be clear here, this does not automatically mean that Andrew Newman is to blame. I mean, sure, he might be a potential suspect, but he is only one person among several theories. Tragically, with the cabin being demolished shortly after Joshua's discovery and his body being cremated, it is very unlikely that we will ever find out what really happened to him. If Joshua really were murdered, then I guess the only real closure we will ever receive is if his killer eventually comes forward, but the likelihood is pretty small. And I guess with that said, those are my thoughts on the case of Joshua Maddox for the second time.

So, to those of you who have seen the first version of this video, you'll realize that I've actually added some extra details to this one. But the one thing I'd like to talk about before playing that video is how this case shaped Coffee House crime. The story of Joshua Maddox and the mystery behind his disappearance is the one that really ignited my interest to start this channel. And let me tell you, I had no idea how much this would grow. Throughout that time, a lot has changed, including my process, my team, and even the way of thinking about these cases, believe it or not. But when I first started researching this story, I remember having these recurring nightmares of Joshua being stuck in the wall behind my bed, clawing towards my face. It was genuinely a very disturbing experience and quite honestly it almost made me stop the channel entirely. But I guess over time the process of desensitization eventually kicks in and

now I'm much more grounded with these stories. On that note folks, thank you so much for being here today. I really do appreciate it. If you'd like to follow me over on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, it's all the same handle@ coffee crime. And as always, I'll see you again very soon for another video. Until our moment arrives though, remember to look after yourselves, look after each other, and of course, stay safe and stay curious. Thank you and goodbye.

Questions about this episode

What is discussed in "A Cabin's Hidden Secrets - The Horrifying Case of Joshua Maddux"?

In order: 0:00 Joshua Maddox, Woodland Park, Air Force Academy; 5:00 Woodland Park; 10:00 Joshua Maddox, Donald C. Murphy, Woodland Park; 15:00 hypothermia, Donald C. Murphy; 20:00 Joshua Maddox, Andy Newman, Woodland Park; 25:00 Joshua Maddox.

What is mentioned in this Coffeehouse Crime episode?

6 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Joshua Maddox, Woodland Park, hypothermia, Donald C. Murphy, Air Force Academy, Andy Newman. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "A Cabin's Hidden Secrets - The Horrifying Case of Joshua Maddux"?

The episode runs 27 min; the transcript is about 4,612 words in 32 timestamped sections.

More from Coffeehouse Crime

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.