Forensic Files

Talking Dateline: The Woman with No Name

Dateline NBC

  • Dec 11, 2024
  • 27:42
  • Full Episode
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<p>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.</p><p>Learn more about the John and Jane Doe cases covered in Dateline’s Cold Case Spotlight series :<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/doe-cases">https://www.nbcnews.com/doe-cases</a></p><p>Submit unsolved cold cases to Dateline here: <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/have-story-share-dateline-submit-it-here-n1297196">https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/have-story-share-dateline-submit-it-here-n1297196</a></p><p>Watch Keith read Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”: <a href="https://youtu.be/Ty_V5h12RHw?si=Z2HeHerNGxz2qak8">https://youtu.be/Ty_V5h12RHw?si=Z2HeHerNGxz2qak8</a></p><p>Listen to the full episode of “The Woman With No Name” on Apple: <a href="https://apple.co/41xrOCf">https://apple.co/41xrOCf</a></p><p>Listen to the full episode on Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gnH9lOdKkFwqXIiovqZvs">https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gnH9lOdKkFwqXIiovqZvs</a></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Brief Summary

The episode covers the Lavender Doe murder case and the DNA Doe Project's role in identifying victims through genetic genealogy.

Key points

  • The Woman with No Name. Exploring the 2006 murder of Lavender Doe and the efforts to identify her.
  • Groundbreaking Genetic Genealogy. The role of DNA Doe Project in solving cold cases.
  • Lavender Doe's Journey. The emotional story of Lavender Doe and the quest to give her a name.
  • 40th Anniversary of Disappearance. This year marks the 40th anniversary of a significant disappearance case.
  • Jane Seneca Doe Identified. After years of investigation, Jane Seneca Doe is identified as Joanne Vicki Smith.
  • Listener Engagement. Listeners can submit cold cases for investigation consideration.

Tension

55/ 100Some tension

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