cover of episode Talking Dateline: The Woman with No Name

Talking Dateline: The Woman with No Name

2024/12/11
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Dateline NBC
People
J
Josh Mankiewicz
K
Keith Morrison
一位以深入报道和独特叙述风格著称的美国新闻记者。
M
Margaret Press
V
Veronica Mazzica
Topics
Josh Mankiewicz: 本集节目的叙事结构与以往不同，从发现尸体开始，而不是先介绍受害者。这突显了案件的特殊性，因为受害者身份不明。在案件侦破过程中，警方起初未能识别受害者身份，但通过DNA Doe Project的协助，最终利用基因系谱学技术成功识别了受害者。这展现了科技在破案中的重要作用，也体现了参与者们的奉献精神。 Keith Morrison: 案件始于猎人发现一具被焚烧的女性尸体，警方通过DNA检测找到了凶手，但凶手却不知道受害者的身份。这引发了对受害者身份的追寻。每个人都应该得到尊重和正义，即使是身份不明的受害者。侦探Eddie Hope坚持要破案，为死者和家属伸张正义。他积极与DNA Doe Project合作，这在以往的案件中并不常见。 Margaret Press: 识别身份不明的死者与帮助被收养者找到亲生父母的工作原理相同，都是通过寻找家谱来确定身份。我被Sue Grafton的小说启发，开始参与到基因系谱学的研究中，并致力于帮助识别身份不明的死者。 Veronica Mazzica: Dateline的“冷案聚焦”系列报道的案例都来自观众的投稿，许多人致力于寻找身份不明的死者，即使他们不认识死者。Dateline利用其平台向公众发布身份不明死者的信息，以期获得线索。我们报道了多个案例，例如Penny Doe、Paratrooper John Doe和Jane Seneca Doe，这些案例都展现了人们对寻找真相的执着和奉献。 Josh Mankiewicz: 警方通常不接受外界的帮助来破案，因为这会带来证据和程序上的问题。但在这个案件中，侦探Hope接受了DNA Doe Project的帮助，这体现了警方的开放态度和对破案的决心。DNA Doe Project利用基因系谱学来识别身份不明的死者，这在当时是一项新兴技术，如今已成为破案的常用手段。基因系谱学不仅展现了科技的力量，也体现了参与者们的奉献和执着。他们不认识受害者，却为了寻找真相而付出了巨大的努力。 Keith Morrison: 侦探Hope认识到基因系谱学和合作的重要性，并与DNA Doe Project的人员进行了合作。基因系谱学在识别凶手和受害者方面具有相同的作用机制，都是通过寻找家谱来确定身份。这是一个耗时费力的过程，需要追踪庞大的家谱，但最终的结果令人欣慰。尽管凶手认罪，但由于Lavender Doe的家庭关系复杂且支离破碎，确认其身份仍然很困难。Lavender Doe童年不幸，成年后生活也充满挑战，最终遭遇不幸。她的死并非完全是她的错，她被欺骗并最终被杀害。人们致力于揭开这些案件背后的真相，以纪念死者。参与寻找Lavender Doe的人们在她的葬礼上聚在一起，展现了他们之间的紧密联系。尽管从未见过面，但他们通过长时间的沟通建立了深厚的联系。如果Lavender Doe的身份能够被迅速确认，她可能不会有那么多人参加她的葬礼。人们对一个人的投入程度决定了他们为其付出的努力。这个故事体现了人们为不认识的人所做的无私奉献。 Margaret Press: 人们可以通过在23andMe或Ancestry等网站上公开自己的DNA信息来帮助破案。将个人DNA信息公开在网上存在隐私风险。 Veronica Mazzica: 公开DNA信息可以帮助破案，即使不是为了寻找亲属。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why was the unidentified woman in the woods of Kilgore, Texas, nicknamed 'Lavender Doe'?

She was found wearing a lavender shirt after being murdered and her body set on fire.

How was the identity of Lavender Doe, later identified as Dana Lynn Dodd, finally discovered?

The DNA Doe Project used genetic genealogy to trace her family and identify her.

What was the significance of the DNA Doe Project in solving the Lavender Doe case?

It was groundbreaking at the time, as genetic genealogy was relatively new and had not yet become a common tool in criminal cases.

What was the role of Detective Eddie Hope in the Lavender Doe case?

He believed everyone deserves justice and was open to collaboration with the DNA Doe Project, despite the usual reluctance of police departments to involve outsiders.

How did the DNA Doe Project co-founder, Margaret Press, become interested in genetic genealogy?

She was inspired by a real-life Jane Doe case mentioned in Sue Grafton's novel 'Q is for Quarry', realizing it was similar to her work helping adoptees find their birth parents.

What challenges did the DNA Doe Project face in identifying Lavender Doe?

The case was complicated by her fragmented family, with 27 cousins and a mother who was not part of her life growing up.

What was the significance of the funeral held for Dana Lynn Dodd after her identity was revealed?

It was a moving ceremony attended by the team that identified her, highlighting the importance of giving her a name and honoring her life.

Who is Penny Doe and why was she given that nickname?

Penny Doe was a Jane Doe found in Pennsylvania in 1990. She was nicknamed because pennies were found in each of her pockets.

What is the Paratrooper Doe case and why is it significant?

Paratrooper Doe was a John Doe found in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1984. He had military-related tattoos, including one that read 'U.S. Paratrooper', which could be key to identifying him.

How was Jane Seneca Doe, found in Illinois in 1976, finally identified?

The DNA Doe Project and Grundy County authorities collaborated to identify her as Joanne Vicki Smith, overcoming challenges due to her adoption status.

Shownotes Transcript

Josh Mankiewicz and Keith Morrison sit down to talk about Keith’s episode, “The Woman with No Name”. In 2006, two men out target shooting discovered the body of a woman in the woods of Kilgore, Texas. She had been murdered and her body had been set on fire. She had no ID and, despite their efforts, investigators were unable to identify her.  The case caught the eye of internet sleuths drawn to the unidentified woman in the lavender shirt who still had some of her baby teeth. She became known as “Lavender Doe”.  Members of an organization called the “DNA Doe Project” took up the cause and offered their help. Using genetic genealogy, they worked tirelessly to track down Lavender Doe’s family and give her back her name – Dana Lynn Dodd. Josh and Keith discuss the dedicated work of the DNA Doe Project and chat about the impact their fathers have had on their lives. Also, Dateline digital producer Veronica Mazaika shares details on some unsolved Doe cases Dateline has covered in our Cold Case Spotlight series. Plus, she asks Josh and Keith a question from a social media follower.

Learn more about the John and Jane Doe cases covered in Dateline’s Cold Case Spotlight series :https://www.nbcnews.com/doe-cases)

Submit unsolved cold cases to Dateline here: https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/have-story-share-dateline-submit-it-here-n1297196)

Watch Keith read Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”: https://youtu.be/Ty_V5h12RHw?si=Z2HeHerNGxz2qak8)