DNA: ID

AbJack Entertainment
  • 4.9 (65)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
DNA: ID
ABJACK INSIDER

Ad free and exclusive episodes from all our shows

£4.99/mo or £49.99/yr after trial

We all hear stories almost daily now about cold cases being solved by investigative genetic genealogy. This new crime-solving tool answers the “who” question about these often decades-old crimes... but what about the why? This podcast will look at crimes solved by genetic genealogy, and examine the connection - if any - between the victim and the killer, and why the crime occurred. Each case is unique, and has its own story behind the headline. Join us for DNA: ID. New episodes will come out every other week on Mondays.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Doe ID: Melissa Highsmith

    Episode 123 Doe ID: Melissa Highsmith This Doe ID episode is a bit different from most other ones, because the victim in this case is alive and well. In August, 1971, when Melissa Highsmith was just 22 months old, her mother Alta; desperate for a babysitter, allowed a stranger she didn't know to watch over her little girl in Fort Worth, Texas. Alta was terrified when the woman never contacted her again, and took Melissa with her. The woman had provided Alta with fake information, and no real way to contact her. With not much to go on, police were not much help. Alta prayed and believed in her heart that the woman who took Melissa did so because she wanted a little girl and would raise her and keep her safe. Decades later, Alta along with her family members who never gave up hope that Melissa was out there someplace, began to do their own investigation, and called upon genealogy to help find her. After uploading their DNA profiles to a public database, they found family members that they believed to be biological children of  Melissa. More digging proved that they were correct, and they were finally reunited with Melissa who had indeed been raised by a woman she thought was her mother under an assumed name; Melanie Miyoko . Although Melissa had many struggles in her life, she was alive, and happy to reunite with her real family. She now has her real name back; it's Melissa Highsmith, and this is her story. To listen to every episode of DNA: ID ad-free and get other benefits, simply  visit our channel page on Apple Podcasts to get started with an AbJack Insider subscription. Of course, you can also support DNA: ID with a Patreon subscription. For all things DNA: ID, visit the show's homepage Visit this link to buy DNA ID Merch

    32 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO • ABJACK INSIDER ONLY

    Doe ID: Melissa Highsmith

    Episode 123 Doe ID: Melissa Highsmith This Doe ID episode is a bit different from most other ones, because the victim in this case is alive and well. In August, 1971, when Melissa Highsmith was just 22 months old, her mother Alta; desperate for a babysitter, allowed a stranger she didn't know to watch over her little girl in Fort Worth, Texas. Alta was terrified when the woman never contacted her again, and took Melissa with her. The woman had provided Alta with fake information, and no real way to contact her. With not much to go on, police were not much help. Alta prayed and believed in her heart that the woman who took Melissa did so because she wanted a little girl and would raise her and keep her safe. Decades later, Alta along with her family members who never gave up hope that Melissa was out there someplace, began to do their own investigation, and called upon genealogy to help find her. After uploading their DNA profiles to a public database, they found family members that they believed to be biological children of  Melissa. More digging proved that they were correct, and they were finally reunited with Melissa who had indeed been raised by a woman she thought was her mother under an assumed name; Melanie Miyoko . Although Melissa had many struggles in her life, she was alive, and happy to reunite with her real family. She now has her real name back; it's Melissa Highsmith, and this is her story.

    31 min

  3. 21 OCT

    Patricia Stichler Part 2 of 2

    Episode 122 Patricia Stichler Part 2 of 2 This is the conclusion of the Patricia Stichler case. If you have not listened to part 1 yet, please stop now and go back and listen to that part first.   To listen to every episode of DNA: ID ad-free and get other benefits, simply  visit our channel page on Apple Podcasts to get started with an AbJack Insider subscription. Of course, you can also support DNA: ID with a Patreon subscription. For all things DNA: ID, visit the show's homepage Visit this link to buy DNA ID Merch

    1h 8m

  4. 21 OCT

    Patricia Stichler Part 1 of 2

    Episode 122 Patricia Stichler Part 1 of 2   New Years’ Day 1985 should have rung in an exciting new year for Patti Stichler and her three young daughters.  Instead, in the middle of the night on January 1-2, someone slashed and stabbed Patti to death in her bedroom.  Her three girls, ages 11, 9 and 6, were in their bedrooms just feet away.  The oldest, Andrea, was the one to find her mom, and also found the most significant clue the police had – the open window in the blood-stained bathroom, and the gaping curtains that had been cut away from it. A knife sheath was found right outside, but the killer eluded police for decades.  Sylvania, OH investigators focused on people Patti knew, but could not link anyone in her inner circle to the crime. Decades later, a very complex forensic genealogy analysis that required interpreting one-sided DNA matches, piercing adoption records, and a lot of luck, finally provided a name – and it was not who anyone suspected. To listen to every episode of DNA: ID ad-free and get other benefits, simply  visit our channel page on Apple Podcasts to get started with an AbJack Insider subscription. Of course, you can also support DNA: ID with a Patreon subscription. For all things DNA: ID, visit the show's homepage Visit this link to buy DNA ID Merch

    1h 10m

  5. 20 OCT • ABJACK INSIDER ONLY

    Patricia Stichler Part 1 of 2

    Episode 122 Patricia Stichler Part 1 of 2 New Years’ Day 1985 should have rung in an exciting new year for Patti Stichler and her three young daughters. Instead, in the middle of the night on January 1-2, someone slashed and stabbed Patti to death in her bedroom. Her three girls, ages 11, 9 and 6, were in their bedrooms just feet away. The oldest, Andrea, was the one to find her mom, and also found the most significant clue the police had – the open window in the blood-stained bathroom, and the gaping curtains that had been cut away from it. A knife sheath was found right outside, but the killer eluded police for decades. Sylvania, OH investigators focused on people Patti knew, but could not link anyone in her inner circle to the crime. Decades later, a very complex forensic genealogy analysis that required interpreting one-sided DNA matches, piercing adoption records, and a lot of luck, finally provided a name – and it was not who anyone suspected.

    1h 10m

  6. 20 OCT • ABJACK INSIDER ONLY

    Patricia Stichler Part 2 of 2

    Episode 122 Patricia Stichler Part 2 of 2 This is the conclusion of the Patricia Stichler case. If you have not listened to part 1 yet, please stop now and go back and listen to that part first.

    1h 8m

  7. 14 OCT

    Doe: ID 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' Shawna Beth Garber

    Episode 121 Doe: ID 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' Shawna Beth Garber  In December, 1990, a couple discovered a human skull on an abandoned farm on Oscar Talley Road near Lanagan, Missouri. A search of the area by police revealed more bones, and clothing. The remains were determined to be that of a woman, but she carried no ID. A white towel had been wrapped around the woman's head, and she was tied with several types of bindings made up of ropes, cords, and coax cables. Due to the state of decomposition, the cause and manner of death could not be determined, but police were confident that the woman had been the victim of a homicide. The dead woman was given the name 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' and police went about trying to figure out how she died and who was responsible; but first, they needed to find out their victim's name, and it would take decades. Along the way, her remains would even be misplaced, and finding them became an investigation within the investigation. In 2021, after more than three decades, genealogy and DNA were used to identify 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' as Shawna Beth Garber. She was 22 years old when she died in 1990. As tragic as the end of her life was, as investigators dug into her background, it seemed as if Shawna never had an easy life; instead it was filled with abuse, and being separated from her family. Now that police knew who their victim was, they focused on finding the person that killed her, and they zeroed in on a man named Taffey Reeves. Unfortunately, Reeves was dead by the time this case was solved, and when investigators looked into his background, they found a disturbing pattern of crimes that led them to believe he was a serial killer. The investigation into Reeves and whether he has other victims is ongoing. After more than three decades, 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' has her name back; it's Shawna Beth Garber, and this is her story.  To listen to every episode of DNA: ID ad-free and get other benefits, simply  visit our channel page on Apple Podcasts to get started with an AbJack Insider subscription. Of course, you can also support DNA: ID with a Patreon subscription. For all things DNA: ID, visit the show's homepage Visit this link to buy DNA ID Merch

    42 min

  8. 13 OCT • ABJACK INSIDER ONLY

    Doe: ID 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' Shawna Beth Garber

    Episode 121 Doe: ID 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' Shawna Beth Garber  In December, 1990, a couple discovered a human skull on an abandoned farm on Oscar Talley Road near Lanagan, Missouri. A search of the area by police revealed more bones, and clothing. The remains were determined to be that of a woman, but she carried no ID. A white towel had been wrapped around the woman's head, and she was tied with several types of bindings made up of ropes, cords, and coax cables. Due to the state of decomposition, the cause and manner of death could not be determined, but police were confident that the woman had been the victim of a homicide. The dead woman was given the name 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' and police went about trying to figure out how she died and who was responsible; but first, they needed to find out their victim's name, and it would take decades. Along the way, her remains would even be misplaced, and finding them became an investigation within the investigation. In 2021, after more than three decades, genealogy and DNA were used to identify 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' as Shawna Beth Garber. She was 22 years old when she died in 1990. As tragic as the end of her life was, as investigators dug into her background, it seemed as if Shawna never had an easy life; instead it was filled with abuse, and being separated from her family. Now that police knew who their victim was, they focused on finding the person that killed her, and they zeroed in on a man named Taffey Reeves. Unfortunately, Reeves was dead by the time this case was solved, and when investigators looked into his background, they found a disturbing pattern of crimes that led them to believe he was a serial killer. The investigation into Reeves and whether he has other victims is ongoing. After more than three decades, 'Oscar Talley Road Jane Doe' has her name back; it's Shawna Beth Garber, and this is her story.

    42 min
See All (227)

Trailers

Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • Zodiac Speaking explores the infamous Zodiac Killer case which is one of America's greatest unsolved Mysteries. Hosts Mike Morford and Richard Grinell have spent thousands of hours analyzing every aspect of the Zodiac case, and in each episode of Zodiac Speaking, they explore a different piece of the mystery. Whether you are new to the Zodiac case, or well-versed in its lore, listeners are bound to learn something new.

    • 4.7 (35)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • Murder is a crime of many victims. It affects not only the murdered, but also those who loved them. The Murder in My Family tells the effects of murder from the perspective of the family members of the victims and shows how they, too, are victims in this terrible crime.

    • 4.5 (74)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • Campus Killings is a Bi-Weekly true crime podcast that debuts on September 17, 2022, and releases new episodes every other Saturday. Campus Killings is hosted by Dr. Meghan Sacks and Dr. Amy Shlosberg (Women & Crime, and Direct Appeal podcasts). In each episode, Meghan and Amy dive into some of the most shocking and tragic murders to happen on school grounds, and provide their analysis as both Educators and trained Criminologists. They discuss what went wrong, and what could have been done differently to prevent the tragic outcome. As criminologists, Meghan and Amy teach, research, write and podcast about victims, offenders and the issues surrounding our criminal justice system-and each have over 20 years of experience working in the system in various capacities such as law enforcement, mental health and offender reentry. Campus Killings is researched and written by Jessica Bettencourt (DNA: ID, and Missing Persons podcasts) It’s produced by Mike Morford of AbJack Entertainment (Criminology, and The Murder in My Family podcasts) Follow Campus Killings on social media- On Facebook: facebook.com/Campuskillings On Twitter: twitter.com/CampusKillings

    • 4.3 (9)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • At any given time, there are 90,000 missing persons, and that's just in the U.S. This podcast explores some of these cases.

    • 4.5 (41)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • Scene of the Crime is a narrative-style true crime podcast that closely examines one case per season, and enlists experts and people connected to the case to help tell the story. In season 1, Scene of the Crime explores the February, 2017 murders of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi, Indiana.

    • 4.2 (60)
    • TRUE CRIME

  • Citizen Detective is hosted by Mike Morford, Alex Ralph, and cold case analyst Dr. Lee Mellor. Each episode of Citizen Detective is recorded live alongside armchair detectives and Citizen Sleuths, and the team is joined by special guests and experts from the world of true crime in an effort to crowd-solve perplexing mysteries and cold cases

    • 4.6 (33)
    • TRUE CRIME
ABJACK INSIDER

Ad free and exclusive episodes from all our shows

£4.99/mo or £49.99/yr after trial

View Subscription FAQs

Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
65 Ratings

About

We all hear stories almost daily now about cold cases being solved by investigative genetic genealogy. This new crime-solving tool answers the “who” question about these often decades-old crimes... but what about the why? This podcast will look at crimes solved by genetic genealogy, and examine the connection - if any - between the victim and the killer, and why the crime occurred. Each case is unique, and has its own story behind the headline. Join us for DNA: ID. New episodes will come out every other week on Mondays.

Information

  • Channel
    AbJack Entertainment
  • Creator
    AbJack Entertainment
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    227
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright AbJack Entertainment
  • Show Website
    DNA: ID
  • Provider
    michael morford

More From AbJack Entertainment

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada