The Fronczak Files

Disruption. Hardship. Fracture. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey dig into Jack’s maternal roots, a family story shaped by strong Polish Catholic ties, isolation in the Tennessee mountains, and the post-war boom in Ohio. Together these forces helped mold Marie Duncan Rosenthal. What pushed the Duncan family to leave Tennessee for Ohio? Who became involved with an evangelical T...

Trauma. Pain. Horror. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, we turn our focus on Jack’s biological father, Gilbert Rosenthal. As we trace the path of his life, we uncover a story shaped by poverty, relentless physical pain, and an escalating hunger for control. How does a man enlist in the military while facing what may have been a serious medical condition? How does he endure chronic pain while...

Love. Scandal. Abandonment In this episode of The Fronczak Files, we continue our walk through Jack’s family tree with a deeper look at his paternal lines. As we trace these branches, we uncover deep religious roots, stark cultural divides, and a beginning marked by turmoil. Why would a man choose circumcision in adulthood? Why would a woman drink poison in front of her husband? And what drives a...

Secrets. Lies. The making of monsters. In this Season 3 premiere, The Fronczak Files takes you back to the beginning. While many know about the 1964 kidnapping of Paul Joseph Fronczak and Jack’s abandonment in Newark, few understand the full scope of Jack’s genetic beginnings, and what they reveal. For the first time, we will walk through Jack’s full family tree, starting with his immediate Rosent...

Emerging technologies. Cold cases. Long-awaited breakthroughs. In this bonus episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down with Cairenn Binder, Assistant Director of the IGG Center and Director of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Certificate Program at Ramapo College. Cairenn breaks down how civilians trained in investigative genetic genealogy are helping unlock decades-old cold cases...

Children sold. Memories buried. Identities erased. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey uncover the disturbing truth behind Dr. Katherine Cole, a physician who operated an illegal baby adoption ring from the 1930s through the 1960s. Countless children were trafficked through her network, many of whom would later come to be known as “Cole Babies.” They are joined by Bob Lightner,...

A baby abandoned. A secret buried. A chance to uncover the truth. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, the team speaks with Kris, a woman who was abandoned as a newborn in a wooded neighborhood area and adopted shortly thereafter. Years later, her adoptive parents shared what little they knew of her earliest moments, leaving Kris with a lifetime of unanswered questions. Follow along as the team...

A shallow grave. A glass eye. Decades of unanswered questions. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey examine the 1981 cold case murder of Jack Lachow. Known for years only as “One Eye,” his identity remained a mystery for nearly three decades. Though his name was finally restored, the truth behind his death remains elusive. Who was Jack Lachow? What kind of life did he live? And w...

Unanswered questions. DNA testing. Long-awaited results. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, the team continues their conversation with activist and abuse survivor Logan Gifford. After years of uncertainty, Logan will finally receive the DNA results that may confirm the paternity of his younger brother. Join the TFF team as they: • Reveal the DNA findings • Provide an update on the case’s ongoi...

A period of abuse. A child born. A question of paternity. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down with activist Logan Gifford, a man searching for truth through DNA. Logan has long suspected that the younger brother he grew up with may in fact be his biological son, a possibility born from years of abuse and silence. Join Jack and Tracey for the first part of this powerful...

A remote highway. A last sighting at a party. A young man who never made it home. In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey take a closer look at the disappearance of 18-year-old Colin Gillis, who went missing on March 11th, 2012 from Tupper Lake, NY. Join Jack and Tracey as they: • Reconstruct the events leading up to Colin’s disappearance • Explore the leading theories in the case •...

An unexpected DNA result. A leading genealogy company. A story derailed by incorrect analysis. How would you react if an over-the-counter DNA test delivered life-altering information, only for it to be wrong? In this episode, The Fronczak Files team sits down with a family who lived that exact nightmare as they fought to uncover their real genetic story. Join Richard, DeAnna, and Sierra as they sh...

The conversation with The Foundling co-author Alex Tresniowski continues, this time, diving deeper into the extraordinary lengths Jack went to uncover the truth. Join Jack, Tracey, and Alex as they revisit Atlantic City, the place where it all began, and reflect on the moments, discoveries, and emotions that shaped this incredible journey. In this episode, we journey with Alex as he recounts: • Th...

Jack and Tracey sit down with The Foundling and True Identity co-author, Alex Tresniowski. What was it like to write The Foundling as the story was still unfolding? What moments never made it to print? And what was it really like meeting Jack’s biological family for the first time? In this episode, Alex takes us behind the scenes to share: • The journey of writing The Foundling and True Identity •...

When a man’s face bears an uncanny resemblance to the age progression of kidnapped baby Paul Fronczak, his life is turned upside down. Determined to uncover the truth, he begins a journey to find out who he really is. What will he discover? Is he the missing Fronczak child? And if not… then who is he? In this episode, we follow Sam Miller through the unexpected twists and turns of his search for i...

Questions linger. Theories remain. In this special bonus episode, Jack and Tracey revisit Season 1 to shed light on the most frequent listener questions, and offer new insight into the unanswered details of The Fronczak Files. 💬 Tell us where you’re tuning in from 🔔 Subscribe for Season 2 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube ⭐ Join as a Patreon member for e...

Join us for the premiere of Season 2 on October 28th! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1964, baby Paul Fronczak was stolen from a Chicago hospital. Decades later, Paul was finally found, but the mystery of the kidnappers remains. Who were the women behind this shocking crime? What were their backgrounds, and what led them to take a child? In this bonus episode, we uncover hidden details, including: • The criminal records of those tied to the kidnapping • Their unexpected connecti...

From DNA to archives, every clue has been pursued together. In Episode 9: Meet the Team of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey highlight the collective effort—the experts and collaborators who joined them in piecing this investigation together. 💬 Tell us where you’re tuning in from 🔔 Subscribe for Season 2 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube ⭐ Join as a Pa...

The crimes have been uncovered. The witnesses have spoken. Now the team asks the hardest question of all: what really happened? In Episode 8: The Theories of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey begin to piece together the season’s discoveries. Why was baby Paul kidnapped? Who played a role? And who abandoned Jack and Jill? In this episode, we explore: • Possible mob ties to the kidnapping • The Du...

Jack returns to Atlantic City, still searching for answers. In Episode 7: The Investigation (Part 2) of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey continue the hunt for Jill. What were Marie and Gilbert truly like behind closed doors? Could the abandoned lots of Atlantic City be hiding any long-buried clues? And most haunting of all- what really happened to Jill? In this episode, we explore: • The Rosent...

A seemingly ordinary middle-class family. A shocking truth beneath the surface. In Episode 7: The Investigation (Part 1) of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down with Nino Perrotta, private investigator, to reveal the extraordinary lengths the team will go to expose the inner workings of the Rosenthals. For years, the family has tried to bury the truth. But the team leaves no stone unturned...

A baby stolen. The hunt to locate him, decades later. Utilizing federal databases and resources in hopes of a breakthrough. In Episode 6: The Answer (Part 2) of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down with Dr. Angela Williamson to discuss her experience as a forensic DNA specialist. How can missing persons be identified? What type of person kidnaps an infant? And how should cold cases be work...

A baby stolen. A shocking DNA discovery. A search for the truth that only leads to more questions. In Episode 6: The Answer (Part 1) of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down once again with genetic genealogy expert CeCe Moore to unravel the unbelievable journey of identifying the stolen Fronczak baby. After decades of searching, the boy is finally located—but the answers only open new myste...

A knock on the door. A mother’s strange request. A terrified pair of twins hidden upstairs. In this haunting episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracy speak with Susan Woolard, a babysitter who, in 1965, was pulled into a disturbing household secret in Pitney Village, New Jersey. Her memory is vivid. Her guilt has never left. What she reveals may be the last eyewitness account of Jack and Jill...