DNA: ID
About the host:
DNA:ID is hosted by Jessica Bettencourt who co-hosts, co-produces, or writes and researches for other AbJack podcasts including Missing Persons, Scene of the Crime, Campus Killings, and Beyond Bizarre True Crime. She also does research and writing for True Crime Garage.
About the show:
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. DNA: ID is hosted by Jess Bettencourt, and publishes every other Saturday.
For DNA: ID Merch visit this link
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Latest Episodes
Episode 153 A conversation with former FBI agent Julia Cowley
Our guest today is Julia Cowley, who retired from the FBI after 22 years at the agency. She has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Oregon and a master's degree in forensic science from The George Washington University. Before joining the FBI, Julia was a Special Agent/Forensic Scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. When she joined the federal agency, Julia was first posted to the Boston Division. She was also a member and team leader on the Boston Division's Evidence Response Team. Julia then joined the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, and was also assigned to the Evidence Response Team Unit. In her career as an FBI special agent, Julia investigated serial killings and sex offenses, white-collar crime, public corruption, and civil rights. She is certified in Behavioral Analysis by the FBI and was the lead FBI profiler on the Golden State Killer case. She now hosts the hit podcast "The Consult."
Episode 152 Danielle Houchins Parts 1 & 2
In 1996, Danielle “Danni” Houchins was an outdoorsy 15 year old growing up in Belgrade MT. The new driver went for a solo hike at her favorite recreation area outside town, the West Cameron Bridge fishing access site, on a fall Saturday. She did not come home. Searchers found her body face down in inches of swampy water. The ME, coroner and sheriff ruled her death a drowning. But the manner of death was labeled undetermined… even though injuries to Danni’s person, and forensic evidence, said otherwise. And thus began the nearly 30 year quest for justice for Danni. Thanks to a committed new sheriff, a dogged old-school investigator, Danni’s family, and the miracles of modern science, the beloved teen finally got the recognition she deserved, and a form of justice that everyone could live with – except her killer.
Episode 151 Doe: ID Anthony Gulley
In December, 2001, a pair of men cutting firewood in Canton, Ohio made a gruesome discovery not far off into a field from a county road. They found a skeletonized body with no identification. A medical examination concluded that the body was likely that of a young African-American woman between the ages of 22-31, and about 5”7” tall. Later DNA analysis would prove that the victim was actually Male, and not Female. By that point, valuable time and resources had been spent trying to match the victim to case of missing women. DNA and genealogy would also later reveal that the John Doe was actually, a man named Anthony Bernard Gulley who went missing on September 11, 1994 along with his car from Pontiac, Michigan. His vehicle was found burned out the next day over 200 miles away in Akron, Ohio. Police quickly uncovered a suspect in the disappearance of Anthony Gulley; a man he knew named George Frederick Washington who had an extensive criminal record. Washington died via a self inflicted gunshot wound after a shootout with police in 1994. Washington had reportedly told someone that he had killed Anthony Gulley in a hotel room and then dumped his body in a river. When Gulley's unidentified body was found on land, and not water, (and thought to be the remains of a woman), police didn't connect the discovery to Gulley. Now, Anthony Gulley has his name back, and this is his story.
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