Found it
Thanks for your help folks, as always. Maybe I can repay the favor.
The leak seems to originate at the seam between the shower pan and the wall (second pic). I can replicate the issue at will. That loud pop/crack I heard was where the shower pan dropped and cracked. The crack is in that corner behind the wall. Only about 1/4-1/2" long, but long enough. And it's no surpise that is the origin of the leak.
I all spray down the walls before I get out of the shower. Why this suddenly started happening baffles me. Supposedly, you're not to caulk the gap there as condensation build-up can cause rot, mold and/or mildew.
I'm going to experiment with a few things before coming up with, what I hope, is a permanent fix. It sure gave me an opportunity to clean up the rats nest along the way. I think they call that a 2fer.
I'll be back if I find something that works.
Thanks again.
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