Chapter 133: Cold Case Breakthrough-The Murders of The Kern and Ventura County Jane Does In 1980, two unidentified women were found murdered in California, one in Ventura County and the other in Kern County. For decades, they were known only as Jane Does, their names and stories erased by time. Their killer, Wilson Chouest, was identified years ago, but the identities of his victims remained a mystery. Now, through advances in forensic genealogy and relentless investigative work, both women have finally been identified, restoring their names after more than 40 years. In this episode, I revisited a chapter from the earliest days of The Book of the Dead, examine how Chouest was linked to the crimes, and explore how modern DNA technology is rewriting the endings of cold cases once thought unsolvable.This is a story of delayed justice, the power of identification, and why names matter. Connect with us on Social Media! You can find us at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookofthedeadpod/ X: https://twitter.com/Bkofthedeadpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550490186243 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebookofthedeadpod Or visit our website at http://botdpod.com/ Featuring a promo for Murder Unscripted Veteran true-crime producer, Ed (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, City Confidential) and his crime encyclopedia gal pal, Melissa, bring you the most immersive podcast in the genre - breaking down the barrier between fan and creator. https://open.spotify.com/show/2AUGh12ei1wk8x7CvcX9qH?si=83b8efa733b04844 Cramer, M. (2022, April 10). Official describes brutal injuries to Colleen Ritzer. BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/11/30/philip-chism-murder-trial-resumes/zwhZsJ0PUd0olRg3vA9QZK/story.html (Original work published 2015)Crime, P. C. (2022, April 24). Who Is the Ventura County Jane Doe? - Pop Culture Crime. Medium. https://popculturecrime.medium.com/who-is-the-ventura-county-jane-doe-9f3858d6d397Diskin, M. V. C. S. (2018a, May 19). Criminal nature stems from childhood discord, man on trial for 1980 slayings says. Ventura. https://eu.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/conejo-valley/2018/05/18/thousand-oaks-murder-trial-childhood-discord-triggered-crime/624546002/Diskin, M. V. C. S. (2018b, May 24). Past victims testify in felon’s trial over 1980 killings in Ventura, Kern counties. Ventura. https://eu.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/conejo-valley/2018/05/23/wilson-chouest-trial-victim-testifies-murder-trial/638521002/Diskin, M. V. C. S. (2018c, July 12). Man sentenced in 1980 rape, murder of women found in Ventura, Kern counties. Ventura. https://eu.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/conejo-valley/2018/07/12/man-sentenced-1980-murder-women-ventura-kern-counties/765029002/DNA DOE Project IDs Murdered woman in “Toughest case yet.” (2026, February 23). https://www.forensicmag.com/3594-All-News/624259-DNA-Doe-Project-IDs-Murdered-Woman-in-Toughest-Case-Yet/Farr, L. (2021, December 27). She Has a Name. Alta Online. https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a38378086/jane-doe-ventura-steve-rhods-wilson-chouest/Gayle, L. (2026, February 24). Pregnant woman found dead in high school parking lot 46 years ago is finally identified. People. https://people.com/pregnant-woman-found-dead-calif-high-school-parking-lot-1980-identified-11912793Kettler, S. (2022, April 12). Shirley Ann Soosay: Indigenous Murder Victim Went Unnamed for Decades, Until DNA Restored Her Identity. A+E Networks EMEA. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://www.aenetworks.tv/KGET. (2021, April 23). How ‘Kern County Jane Doe’ was identified as Shirley Soosay. KGET. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/how-kern-county-jane-doe-was-identified-as-shirley-soosay/LaVoice, O. (2018, October 24). Kern County and Ventura County Jane Doe may be closer than ever to being identified. KGET. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/kern-county-and-ventura-county-jane-doe-may-be-closer-than-ever-to-being-identified/1547382038/Mohney, G. (2026, February 26). Calif. woman murdered in high school parking lot finally identified. SFGate. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/calif-police-killer-cold-case-21940656.phpMoore, H., & Stewart, C. (2021, May 4). California ‘Jane Doe’ identified as missing Cree woman. ICT. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/california-jane-doe-identified-as-missing-cree-womanPregnant Jane Doe killed in 1980 identified using DNA. (2026, February 25). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pregnant-jane-doe-killed-1980-identified-using-dna-rcna260402Shirley Soosay. (n.d.). Unidentified Wiki. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Shirley_SoosayThe Canadian Press. (2022, May 27). ‘Always hope’: Remains of Cree woman sent home to Alberta decades after disappearance. North Island Gazette. https://www.northislandgazette.com/news/always-hope-remains-of-cree-woman-sent-home-to-alberta-decades-after-disappearance/Unsolved, S. O. T. (2021, August 13). Ventura County Jane Doe. Stories of the Unsolved. https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2021/08/12/ventura-county-jane-doe/Ventura Co Jane Doe. (2021, November 19). DNA Doe Project Cases. https://dnadoeproject.org/case/ventura-co-jane-doe/Whitnall, B. B., & Staff, A. (2026, February 26). District Attorney identifies 1980 cold case victim. The Acorn - Serving Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Oak Park & Westlake Village. https://www.theacorn.com/articles/district-attorney-identifies-1980-cold-case-victim/Worley, D. (2026, February 24). Pregnant woman found stabbed to death in high school parking lot identified 46 years later. https://www.kfyrtv.com. https://www.kfyrtv.com/2026/02/24/pregnant-woman-found-stabbed-death-high-school-parking-lot-identified-46-years-later/

📣 New Podcast! "Chapter 133: Cold Case Breakthrough-The Murders of The Kern and Ventura County Jane Does" on @Spreaker #california #coldcase #coldcasesolved #dnadoeproject #dnaidentification #forensicgenealogy #janedoeidentified #kerncounty #maricelarochaparga #shirleyannsoosay #truecrime

Ventura Jane Doe has just been identified as 22 year old Maricela Rocha Parga. She lived in Downtown LA, worked as a waitress while studying to become a nurse in the evening. She was the second oldest of nine children, and she had a two year old daughter.
#DNADoeProject

abc7.com/amp/post/pre...

screenshot from the Fb post. It reads: "Investigative genetic genealogists with the DNA Doe Project have found that Little Lost Seabrook Doe has roots in Greece, specifically the island of Chios. Based on this information, we commissioned a new facial reconstruction from renowned forensic artist Carl Koppelman. Members of the public who have ancestors from Chios are encouraged to upload their DNA profiles to GEDmatch, DNAJustice and FamilyTreeDNA to help us solve this case. They can also contact case-tips@dnadoeproject.org to provide information about their families, which may be useful as we work to identify this girl." Under is an infographic poster with the reconstruction of the girl.

Can you help DNA Doe Project with the Little Lost Seabrook Doe case? LLSD has roots in Greece, specifically the island of Chios. Check out the infographic poster for surnames of interests! #dnadoeproject #coldcase #LittleLostSeabrookDoe

www.facebook.com/DNADoeProjec...

Mary Maloney, 40, from CT identified as La Vergne Jane Doe remains found in 2007 TN.

dnadoeproject.org/case/lavergn...
#ColdCase
#DNADoeProject has positively identified the remains discovered in Nov 2007 & known as La Vergne Jane Doe as those of Mary Alice Maloney.

DNA Doe Project Identifies Last Child Victim of Bear Brook Murders Nearly 50 years after her serial killer father allegedly murdered her, the DNA Doe Project has identified the little girl found in a barrel in Bear Brook State Park in 2000.

Nesten 50 år etter at faren hennes angivelig myrdet henne -og minst tre andre-, har #DNADoeProject identifisert Rea Rasmussen som ble funnet i en tønne i Bear Brook State Park i 2000. Hun ble født i 1976 og var antagelig mellom 2 og 4 år gammel da hun ble drept.

www.forensicmag.com/3594-All-New...

Kings County Jane Doe | DNA Doe Project

Do you have your DNA in GedMatch, and grew up in California? This is such a cruel, heartbreaking case.
dnadoeproject.org/case/kings-c...
#GeneticGeneology #DNADoeProject #DNA #MissingPersons

Bear Brook Jane Doe 2000 | DNA Doe Project

25 years after her remains were discovered in a barrel in Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire, the “middle child” has been identified as Rea Rasmussen. #dnadoeproject

dnadoeproject.org/case/bear-br...

🧬 DNA Doe Project: Solving Cold Cases with Matthew Waterfield
🗓️ THIS Saturday 10 May, 14:00 (UK) | Zoom
Learn how IGG is giving names to the nameless. Explore real cases, UK connections & how you can help.
🎟️ members.sog.org.uk/e...
#DNADoeProject #GeneticGenealogy #ColdCase #GenHour

🧬 DNA Doe Project: Solving Cold Cases with Matthew Waterfield
🗓️ Sat 10 May, 14:00 (UK) | Zoom
Learn how IGG is giving names to the nameless. Explore real cases, UK connections & how you can help.
🎟️ members.sog.org.uk/e...
#DNADoeProject #GeneticGenealogy #ColdCase