DNA: ID

About the host; Jess Bettencourt:

Jess, a cum laude graduate of Georgetown Law School, practiced law for many years, but then decided to follow her passion for true crime. She now researches, writes, hosts and co-produces every episode of DNA: ID, the only podcast about cold case homicides and John and Jane Doe identifications solved by IGG.  She also writes, hosts, and co-produces Missing Persons with Mike Morford.  Her resume includes writing and co-producing Scene of the Crime; writing Season 1 of Campus Killings; and ghost 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 Monday.

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Latest Episodes

Michael Morford Michael Morford

Episode 162 Leslie Preer Parts 1 & 2

Upscale Chevy Chase, MD does not see a lot of violent crime. But that changed in 2001, when loving wife and mom Leslie Preer was beaten to death in her own home in a shocking crime.  Investigators could find no motive for the murder, but certain aspects of the crime scene directed investigators’ attention to Leslie’s husband as the prime suspect.  After all, it was very unlikely that a stranger had broken into the house, killed Leslie, and attempted a clean-up. But they could not pin the crime on Carl Preer, and the case stalled.  Not until the Montgomery County PD cold case unit embraced IGG did they find a name of a suspect – one who had been under their noses the whole time.

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Michael Morford Michael Morford

Episode 161 Doe ID: Wynona Michele

In 1990, Madison County IL authorities recovered the remains of a nude young woman in a soybean field. She had some articles of clothing and jewelry with her, but no identification.  Investigators could not identify her, and she was buried in a church cemetery with a headstone that called her Jane Doe.  But they had the foresight to retain some physical evidence, and with the advent of IGG, were able to use that evidence to locate living relatives of Jane Doe.  She was Wynona Nadine Michel – but her identity is just part of the mystery.  She is now the subject of an active homicide investigation. Who killed Wendy Michel?

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Michael Morford Michael Morford

Episode 160 Robin Lawrence

In this shocking and heart-wrenching 1994 case, a young Northern Virginia mother is killed in her own in a vicious crime that shocked even seasoned members of law enforcement. Not only was the brutality breathtaking, but Robin’s 2 year old daughter was left with her mother’s corpse for two whole days. This case confounded Fairfax County police, because Robin had no enemies, yet the crime of passion clearly targeted her.  A prime suspect emerged whom police were convinced did it, only to be disappointed by DNA results.  It’s not an overstatement to say that were it not for IGG, the murder of Robin Lawrence would never have been solved.  Because the identity of the killer, and his reasons for slaying Robin, were simply impossible to believe.

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