14 episodes

At age 45, Steve Patterson made a shocking online discovery: his own missing person’s page.

Desperate to uncover why he had been included on the list, Steve called Todd Matthews, a missing-persons investigator, in search of answers. Together, Todd and Steve discover a sordid family past that includes long-lost relatives, kidnappings, and murders. It turns out that Steve was presumed dead because around the time he was born, his biological mother had married a serial killer who tore their family apart. Along the way, Steve would have to make sense of a personal story with more twists and turns than he’d ever imagined.

In this ten-episode narrative series, Todd Matthews, an amateur sleuth from Tennessee, tells the story of a family torn apart by tragedy and his quest to bring them back together. From Revelations Entertainment, First and Last Productions, and Neon Hum Media, "Hello John Doe" is a winding, poignant tale that explores what it means to be lost and found

Hello, John Doe iHeart True Crime

    • True Crime
    • 4.2 • 21 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

At age 45, Steve Patterson made a shocking online discovery: his own missing person’s page.

Desperate to uncover why he had been included on the list, Steve called Todd Matthews, a missing-persons investigator, in search of answers. Together, Todd and Steve discover a sordid family past that includes long-lost relatives, kidnappings, and murders. It turns out that Steve was presumed dead because around the time he was born, his biological mother had married a serial killer who tore their family apart. Along the way, Steve would have to make sense of a personal story with more twists and turns than he’d ever imagined.

In this ten-episode narrative series, Todd Matthews, an amateur sleuth from Tennessee, tells the story of a family torn apart by tragedy and his quest to bring them back together. From Revelations Entertainment, First and Last Productions, and Neon Hum Media, "Hello John Doe" is a winding, poignant tale that explores what it means to be lost and found

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Mark Yancey On Floyd's Trial

    CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Mark Yancey On Floyd's Trial

    How was Franklin Floyd able to evade justice and hide from authorities for so long? In this second bonus episode, we spoke with Mark Yancey who prosecuted Floyd for the kidnapping charge that finally put him behind bars. Yancey also explained how Floyd ended up on death row in the Florida for murder and he remembered the day investigators gathered at Suzie's grave site to right a wrong.  

    CHAPTER TWELVE: Dr. Amanda Baden On Adoption

    CHAPTER TWELVE: Dr. Amanda Baden On Adoption

    Only finding out as an adult that you were adopted can throw you into a tailspin, forcing you to reconsider long-held truths. In this bonus episode, we hear from Dr. Amanda Baden, an expert on the experiences of late discovery adoptees. Research has shown the later an adoptee finds out, the more distress they have, and even finding out at 4 or 5 is considered “late.” Dr. Baden discussed why some adoptive parents choose to delay telling their kids and shared some of the long-term ramifications these revelations can have on an adult's life.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 24 min
    CHAPTER ELEVEN: This One’s for Todd

    CHAPTER ELEVEN: This One’s for Todd

    In our first bonus episode, we try to make sense of an unimaginable loss. In early January 2024, our “Hello, John Doe” host Todd Matthews died, suddenly. This episode memorializes Todd, a pioneer and an original. We couldn’t let him go to the other side of the veil without a proper goodbye. And Kate Mishkin, our producer talks to Steve Patterson one last time to discuss the impact Todd had on his life.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 31 min
    CHAPTER TEN: The Reunion

    CHAPTER TEN: The Reunion

    In our season finale, Steve’s sisters roadtrip to his hometown to see him. Their stay in Cherryville and a surprise guest ends up unraveling the goodwill between Steve’s new relatives and his longstanding ones. Todd grapples with his involvement with the family and realizes that decades of John Doe cases haven't necessarily equipped him to handle the living.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 38 min
    CHAPTER NINE: Finding his Father

    CHAPTER NINE: Finding his Father

    A lot of relatives on Sandi’s side came out of the woodwork after Steve found his biological mother. Some of his long-lost relatives on his maternal side he let in, some he kept at arm’s length. In this episode, Todd goes to a family get-together to spend time with Steve’s half-siblings and learn what they make of finding him after all these years. After some disappointing news, Todd doubles down on fulfilling his promise to help Steve figure out who his father is.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 26 min
    CHAPTER EIGHT: The Trouble Closer to Home

    CHAPTER EIGHT: The Trouble Closer to Home

    Soon after Steve started texting with his biological mother, he discovered he had a sister named Amy, a school bus driver in Virginia. At this point, Steve wanted to get to know Amy, who’d grown up under Sandi’s roof. He was curious about her childhood, the road he hadn't taken. But he wasn’t so sure he wanted to know their mother. In this episode, Todd discovers the trauma that shot through Steve’s birth family was worse than he could have ever imagined.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 30 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
21 Ratings

21 Ratings

helsoduzo ,

Enjoying it but

Really interesting but the rambling of the host is exhausting - I’m like who are these boys that are missing but as soon as he starts to talk about it off we go on another tangent. Ok into episode 2 & this podcast is so confusing - I have no idea what is going on. Something about a serial killer, missing boys & an adoption - where is the connection to the serial killer ? - what is going on???? No background information to set the scene - like loads of characters but no plot - so frustrating

Laughing gypsy ,

Wonderful and human

I really enjoyed this podcast and the approach. Loved listening to Todd takes us through Steve's story and the reflection on his own.

I was sorry to hear about his passing. It was really nice to hear from his family and appreciate the follow up episode. What an amazing legacy he leaves behind.

Flack994 ,

Fabulous story

Really enjoyed this series. Host Todd had a wonderful gift as an an engaging storyteller so it was all the more sad to get to the end of the series and hear the updated news.
Highly recommended listening.

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