Cold Case Unsealed

This episode chronicles the life and crimes of Robert Hansen, an Alaskan serial killer known as the "Butcher Baker" who hunted women like prey in the wilderness. The narrative specifically focuses on the 2021 identification of one of his victims, Robin Louise Pelkey, who remained a nameless "Jane Doe" for nearly four decades. It details how modern genetic genealogy and DNA testing allowed investig...

The episode details the vital role of 4Corners K-9 Search and Rescue, a Native-led nonprofit dedicated to resolving missing persons cases within the Navajo Nation. Founded by Bernadine Beyale and her pioneering dog Trigger, the organization addresses a critical resource gap where vast geography and limited law enforcement often stall investigations. These specialized canine teams use their advance...

To address the ongoing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis, the FBI has launched a historic initiative to use the Navajo language as a tool for solving cold cases. By translating "Seeking Information" posters and broadcasting radio advertisements in Diné bizaad, federal investigators are attempting to bypass linguistic barriers that have historically excluded tribal elders and native sp...

This episode details the tragic 1985 abduction and murder of Ed and Minnie Maurin, an elderly couple who operated a beloved Christmas tree farm in Lewis County, Washington. The couple was targeted for their perceived wealth by two brothers, Rick and Greg Riffe, who had previously worked as temporary laborers on their property. After forcing the victims to withdraw cash from a local bank, the assai...

This narrative explores a series of harrowing cold cases and tragic mysteries spanning the diverse landscapes of Canada. It details the unexplained disappearances of indigenous leaders and young hikers in the rugged wilderness, alongside brutal unsolved murders in major urban centers. The episode highlights how advancements in DNA technology and genetic genealogy have recently identified long-anon...

This transcript recounts the 2009 unsolved double homicide of Karetha Carroll and her toddler daughter, Jamaia, in the small town of Cary, Mississippi. Despite the absence of forced entry at the Highway 61 crime scene, the investigation stalled for years due to a lack of forensic evidence and early procedural errors. Authorities initially explored theories ranging from a murder-suicide to the invo...

In June 1973, seven-year-old Susie Joerger was kidnapped from her family’s tent at a Montana campground, sparking one of the largest searches in the state's history. Despite efforts by the FBI and local deputies, investigators struggled with few clues until the discovery of another victim, Sandra Smalligan, led them toward local contractor David Masterson. Though Masterson initially passed polygra...

The episode details the successful identification of Alfonso James Spikes, a man whose remains were discovered in the Florida Keys in 1988. For nearly four decades, the case remained a mystery until modern forensic genetic genealogy and the work of private laboratories allowed investigators to finally name the victim. The sources describe the initial grim discovery by children and the specific per...

The episode chronicles the lengthy investigation and ultimate identification of Yadezia Ladalyn Jones, a young Nashville woman previously known only as "Vandy Jane Doe." Her remains were discovered in a rural ditch in September 2018, where she had been hidden under brush wearing Vanderbilt University apparel. For over seven years, her identity remained a mystery despite various forensic sketches a...

The episode details the 2025 resolution of a 17-year-old cold case involving the 2008 murder of Catherine Daviau in Montreal. Investigators successfully identified her killer as Jacques Bolduc, a career criminal who died in prison in 2021, by utilizing innovative genetic genealogy and surviving DNA evidence. The reports describe how the perpetrator exploited an online car advertisement to target t...

These sources detail the criminal history and eventual apprehension of Gary Michael Hilton, a serial killer who targeted hikers in national forests across the American South. The narrative describes how Hilton’s nomadic lifestyle as a wilderness survivalist allowed him to abduct and murder victims in remote areas during late 2007 and early 2008. His spree ultimately ended when public alerts and wi...

This episode details the protracted legal and forensic investigation into the 2006 murder of Angela Wilds, whose remains were discovered in a remote Colorado canyon. After a dismissal of charges in 2010, the case against suspect John Michael Angerer was revived in 2023 through advanced DNA analysis and new witness testimonies. The narrative highlights the persistent efforts of law enforcement to s...

This episode examines the enduring mystery of the Harpeth River Jane Doe, an unidentified teenager discovered in a Nashville waterway in 1976. A dedicated civilian researcher is currently working alongside cold case detectives to breathe new life into the investigation as its 50th anniversary approaches. The sources highlight several distinctive physical markers, such as a unique "fang-like" tooth...

In 2006, the community of Ipswich was terrorized by the rapid disappearance and murder of five women within a ten-day window. The source details the police investigation into Steve Wright, a middle-aged forklift driver whose ordinary persona masked a violent history and a fixation on the local red light district. Detectives utilized CCTV footage and DNA evidence from a past minor crime to link Wri...

In 1996, the small community of Sitka, Alaska, was devastated by the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Jessica Baggen as she walked home from her birthday celebration. The initial investigation was marred by a wrongful accusation and a coerced confession from a local man who was eventually acquitted due to a lack of physical evidence. Despite the case remaining cold for over two decades, modern...

This source chronicles the investigation into the 2014 murder of Rebekah Bletsch and the subsequent discovery of a serial predator in Muskegon County, Michigan. While police initially scrutinized the victim's husband, the case remained cold until a teenage girl, Madison Nygard, escaped an attempted kidnapping in a silver minivan. This narrow escape led authorities to Jeffrey Willis, whose home and...

The episode details the ongoing efforts to solve the 1996 murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier in rural West Cork, Ireland. It focuses on a 2025 cold case revival involving an American forensic team using advanced M-Vac DNA-harvesting technology to analyze decades-old evidence. The narrative chronicles the brutal nature of the crime, the long-standing suspicion surrounding the...

Following the brutal 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, investigators utilized advanced forensic genetic genealogy to identify a suspect when traditional methods failed. A private laboratory named Othram generated a high-resolution genetic profile from a knife sheath found at the crime scene, which eventually led police to Bryan Kohberger. This breakthrough was achieved by analyzin...

The episode details the chilling criminal history of John George Haigh, a notorious British serial killer known as the “Acid Bath Murderer.” Driven by extreme greed and narcissism, Haigh befriended wealthy individuals only to murder them and dissolve their remains in sulfuric acid to eliminate evidence. He targeted close associates, including the McSwan family and the Hendersons, fueled by a mista...

On the tenth anniversary of the tragic death of Salvador “Chavita” Esparza III, officials in Los Angeles County have increased the reward to $85,000 for information regarding his unsolved murder. The four-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet in 2016 while standing on a relative's porch during a gang-related pursuit in Altadena. Despite a decade of investigation and numerous tips, the shooters...

Recent reports detail the 2026 resolution of the 1985 cold case murder of John Christopher Warren, a traveling salesman killed in a Middletown, Ohio, hotel. Although the investigation stalled for decades, modern forensic technology eventually linked suspect Randy McAllister to the crime by re-examining evidence found 400 miles away in Georgia. These items, discarded behind a Cracker Barrel shortly...

In 2026, advanced forensic genetic genealogy finally identified the skeletal remains of Jeanette Marcotte, a Canadian woman who vanished in the early 1980s. Her body was discovered alongside another victim in a remote area of Malabar, Florida, in 1985, but the case remained cold for over four decades due to a lack of identifying evidence. Investigators utilized Othram Inc.’s genome sequencing to l...

The episode chronicles the four-decade pursuit of justice for Shelley Connolly, a sixteen-year-old girl murdered in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1978. It details how the case remained cold for forty-six years until modern genetic genealogy linked DNA evidence to Donald McQuade, who was living a quiet life in Oregon. The narrative highlights the horrific nature of the crime and the profound, generational...

This transcript chronicles three separate cold cases involving long-delayed justice for victims of brutal violence. The first narrative follows the murder of Deborah Shepard, which remained unsolved for 25 years until DNA technology linked her death to a prolific serial killer already in prison. Similarly, the investigation into the racially motivated killing of Timothy Coggins highlights how syst...

The episode recounts the tragic kidnapping and murder of Dana Ireland in 1991 and the decades-long struggle to identify her true killer. It highlights a significant miscarriage of justice where three men were wrongfully convicted despite DNA evidence excluding them from the crime scene. Through modern genetic genealogy, investigators recently identified Albert Lauro Jr. as the primary suspect afte...