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 165 Doe ID: 'Government Camp Jane Doe' Wanda Herr

In August, 1986, a human skull and some bones were found of Highway 26 near Government Camp, Oregon. There was nothing to help ID the victim, who the authorities believed was a female between the ages of 17 and 30. An expert believed that the skull had been there for as long as ten years, but some time later, that idea would be challenged. 

Eventually, DNA & genealogy would prove that 'Government Camp Jane Doe' was actually Wanda Ann Herr who was described as a "chronic runaway" and had last been seen by her family in Oregon in 1976. Her case is being investigated as a possible homicide, although it's likely due to very little potential evidence, the mystery surrounding her death will never be solved. 

 

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Michael Morford Michael Morford

Episode 164 The Denver Four Parts 1 & 2

Four women were murdered in the Denver, CO area, three in 1980 and one in 1978, in crimes that remained unsolved – and unconnected – for decades.  The victims had nothing in common, the circumstances varied widely.  But modern DNA testing technology provided investigators with some very surprising information – and IGG tied it all together.  They were looking for one man for all four murders – and those were not the sum total of his heinous crimes.  Today’s episode is about one of the more depraved killers identified by IGG, one you’ve likely never heard of. 

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Michael Morford Michael Morford

Episode 163 Doe ID: Roberta Mumma

In 1984, the decomposed remains of a woman wrapped in plastic were found in remote Wizard Wells, Jack County, TX.  Experts posited that she was a young white woman, but without any identification, no fingerprints, and no corresponding missing persons reports, she could not be identified. Fast forward nearly 40 years – when IGG would be used on her bones to identify her as Roberta Mumma.  Roberta hailed from the Lancaster, PA area and was believed to have died around age 25.  Her death is considered a homicide, and the Jack County authorities and the Texas Rangers are seeking information about her case.

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