Episode 137 Doe ID: Nora Castillo 

In June, 1988, a farmer in Baca County, Colorado found skeletonized human remains on his property. Investigators found nothing in the way of identification, and only a 1986 quarter in a pocket. All investigators knew was that they had found the remains of a young woman, who was likely Hispanic, and although a cause of death could not be determined, severe injuries to her legs, and the overall circumstances led police to think that she was the victim of a homicide. Police had no missing persons cases on women in the area that matched their victim, and her case went cold almost immediately. They kept the Jane Doe's remains for years before finally laying her to rest. Over the years, investigators searched databases for DNA links, and frustratingly, a link was missed by the system that could have given Jane Doe her name back sooner. Eventually, genealogy did provide police with their victim's name. It was Nora Castillo, a young mother from McAllen, Texas, who had gone missing in 1986 or 1987 following a string of struggles in her life. Now that police know who their victim is, they still want to find out how she came to be in the farmer's field in 1988, and who put here there. This Jane Doe finally has her name back; it's Nora Castillo, and this is her story. 

If you have any information about Castillo or this case, please contact the Baca County Sheriff’s Office at 719-523-4511 or the McAllen Texas Police Department at 956-681-2221.

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Episode 136 Teree Becker and Cherrie Bridgewater Part 3 of 3 

This is part 3 of the Becker/Bridgewater case. If you have not listened to parts 1 and 2 yet, please stop now and go back and listen to those two parts first. 

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Episode 136 Teree Becker and Cherrie Bridgewater Part 2 of 3

This is part 2 of the Becker/Bridgewater case. If you have not listened to part 1 yet, please stop now, and go back and listen to part 1 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.

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Episode 136 Teree Becker and Cherrie Bridgewater Part 1 of 3

In 1975, 19 year old free spirit Teree Becker was found in a Westminster, CO field, after hitchhiking toward home two days earlier.  Police did everything they could to solve her case, but could not identify the culprit. Then, in 1991, it happened again – this time in Las Vegas, NV.  The victim this time was Cherrie Bridgewater.  The cases bore some similarities, but as they were 16 years and states apart, they were not connected until DNA linked both murders to the same man.  And that man would not be named for another decade, when a complex genealogy analysis finally named the despicable rapist and murderer who had snuffed out the lives of these two young women. 

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Introducing: Killer Communications

AbJack Entertainment, the same network that brings you new episodes of DNA: ID every week, has a brand new show launching March 1,2025. It's called Killer Communications, and it's hosted by Mike Morford. In each episode of Killer Communications, Mike discusses a true crime case where one of the clues is a mysterious form of contact; whether it's a frightening phone call to a victim, a mysterious email to the press, or a taunting letter sent to the press, these bizarre communications happen more often than you might think, and sometimes have deadly consequences.

In this short preview of Killer Communications, Season 1 Episode 1, you'll hear about the case of Dale Williams, a father and husband, who was lured from the Nucla, Colorado body shop he owned by a mysterious caller in 1999. He was never seen again. His abandoned truck was found submerged in a local waterway, but there was never any sign of Dale himself. Despite an ex-friend of Dale's being a longtime suspect in the case, police were never able to make an arrest. But that all changed in 2024 when an arrest and answers finally came.

After you listen to this preview of Killer Communications, head over to your favorite podcast app, and be sure to subscribe to Killer Communications, so you can hear the full episode on Dale Williams, and catch every new episode of Killer Communications. 

Visit the Killer Communications homepage for news about the show, and past episodes.

You can also follow Killer Communications on social media, via X or Facebook.

Episode 135 Doe ID: Maria Telles-Gonzalez

On May 24, 1995, the partially nude body of an unidentified woman was found by a highway worker in a drainage ditch on Cottonhall Road in Yemassee, South Carolina. Authorities believed that the woman, who was Hispanic, had been strangled to death. Police didn't have much to go on, but they scoured missing persons cases across SC and nearby states looking for a victim who might fit the description of their Jane Doe, but they could not find one. They theorized that she had been driven quite some distance before her remains were discarded. With no leads to go on her case went cold. In 2020, officials turned to the victim's DNA for help, and began the process of identifying her through genealogy. They hit pay dirt in 2022. The Yemassee Jane Doe was actually Maria Telles-Gonzalez, a 36 yr old woman who vanished from Kissimmee, Florida in May, 1995 after returning from a trip to Puerto Rico. She was last seen by her husband and children in the weeks before her body was found, but she wasn't reported missing. Due to the fact she wasn't reported missing, and a lack of complete cooperation from her husband, police consider him a person of interest. Police also want to ID a male associate of Maria's who may have been in a relationship with her. They don't know much about him other than he was Hispanic, and his name was Carlos. He stands about 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-10, speaks Spanish and English very well. He may be living in the Orlando or Kissimmee area, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Now police are working to find out who murdered Maria and dumped her body. Anyone with information about Maria Telles-Gonzalez’s disappearance and murder is urged to contact cold case investigator Bob Bromage at 843-816-8013 or by email at [email protected]

Maria Telles-Gonzalez now has her name back, and this is her story. 

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Episode 134 Cathy Sue Swartz Part 2 of 2

This is the conlusion; part 2 of the Cathy Sue Swartz case. If you did not listen to part 1 yet, please stop now, and go back and listen to that part first. 

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Episode 134 Cathy Sue Swartz Part 1 of 2

The brutal, bloody murder of single mom Cathy Sue Swartz in her own home rocked the community of Three Rivers, Michigan. Cathy had been chased down and slain by her killer as her baby lay in her crib in the next room. Investigators had ample evidence to help them identify Cathy’s killer: a fingerprint, a footprint, and a possible eyewitness. Over 1000 people provided finger and footprints to police in this case…and yet the killer eluded them.  It took the powers of forensic genealogy to identify him, and when they did, police were astonished to learn who he was.  But they did not get all the answers they sought – Cathy’s killer had the last laugh. 

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

Episode 133 Doe ID: Pam Wittman

In November, 1980, a road crew doing work along I-95 in Volusia County, Florida, discovered human remains. A medical examiner concluded that the victim was a young woman, but she carried no ID. The strongest clue was a shirt she was wearing with the caption 'Do it in the dirt' on the shirt. Because local police had no missing persons cases that might be a match for the remains, her case went cold, and she was known locally as 'Jane Doe 1980' Police had little to go on but they caught a break when a serial killer named Gerald Stano was caught, and began to share details of his victims. Stano was thought to have dozens of victims in Florida, and other states. He gave details that left little doubt in the mind of investigators that he had killed this Volusia County Jane Doe. Even knowing who had murdered her, they didn't know who she was. Eventually DNA & genealogy came together once again to give this Jane Doe her name back. She was Pam Wittman. Pam from Martinsville, Indiana, had lost touch with her family after moving to Florida and taking a job as an exotic dancer, and sex worker.  For years, her family wondered what happened to her. Now they know she died at the hands of a brutal serial killer who is sure to have many more victims. Stano was put to death in Florida's electric chair. After four decades, this Jane Doe has her name back; it's Pam Wittman, 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.

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Episode 132 Lillian Decloe

There’s a certain level of outrage that arises from the senseless murder of a senior citizen – 89 year old Lillian Decloe had paid her dues in life and deserved a peaceful retirement in her own home.  But in April 1994, someone broke into that home and ended her life in a violent and brutal fashion.  Dignified and gracious Lillian was raped, robbed and strangled by persons unknown.  Pompano Beach police worked her case, but soon it went the way of so many others, and sat in a box on a shelf.  But in that box was Lillian’s sexual assault kit – and the key to finding her killer.  This is not a genealogy case, but a familial DNA searching case. Through this underutilized and often misunderstood method, Lillian’s killer was identified by his own son.

This episode is sponsored by Better Help; convenient and affordable therapy. Listeners of DNA ID can get 10% off of their first month.

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.

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Episode 131 Doe ID: Chester Breiney

In October, 1959, partial skeletal remains of what was believed to be a little girl was found in a culvert in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Surveying the area, investigators found more bones; some of which showed evidence of being fractured, and then healing. The early thought was that this little girl had been abused, and perhaps was killed during one of these attacks, and her body disposed of in a panic. Sure enough, it was determined that the child had been the likely victim of a homicide, but it was also determined that their little girl was actually a little boy. Soon, the boy was linked to the case of a missing boy; Markku Jutila. He has mysteriously vanished without explanation from the home of his parents, William and Hilja Jutila. Michigan police were trying to determine if the little boy in the culvert was actually Markku. Eventually, the Jutilas confessed to police; they had murdered Markku during an abusive attack. Afterwards, they disposed of his body. The mystery wasn't fully solved, because it turns out that Markku had been adopted by the Jutilas, and his birth name was actually, Chester Breiney. Chester finally has his name back, and this is his 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