Residents press council for answers after cold-case remains identified Speakers urged the city and police to follow up after remains found in 2009 were identified through new DNA genealogy; family members and long-time residents urged further investigation and asked staff to identify whether a 1976 Chevy Monte Carlo removed during site work is linked to the case.

Decades after a young man went missing, new DNA evidence has reignited hope for justice, but the community fears a murderer may still be at large.

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#FL #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #ColdCaseInvestigation #ForensicGenealogy

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

Cold case murder of teen solved 44 years later using DNA from cigarette A man has been convicted in the 1982 rape and murder of a young girl after investigators were able to use a cigarette to link him to the murder.

And this is why smoking can be bad for you
#genealogy #forensicgenealogy

Cold case murder of teen solved 44 years later using DNA from cigarette
abcnews.com/US/cold-case...

Phoenix’s Arizona Canal became a hunting ground in the 90s.
Victim-first deep dive into Angela Brosso, Melanie Bernas, and Brandy Lynn Myers.

thesassygazette.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...

#TrueCrime #ColdCase #Phoenix #ArizonaCanalMurders #ForensicGenealogy #DickingAroundWithRichie

Calaveras County cold-case task force raised about $250,000 to fund forensic genealogy work Lieutenant Greg Stark said a recent cold-case month and fundraising dinner generated roughly $250,000 to support a task force that has submitted about 350 pieces of evidence for DNA and genealogy testing, yielding new leads on historic cases in Willseyville and elsewhere in Calaveras County.

A recent fundraising dinner has supercharged Calaveras County's cold-case task force, raising $250,000 to unlock new leads and hope for families seeking closure on historic cases.

Click to read more!

#CalaverasCounty #CA #ForensicGenealogy #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

#31: The Many Lives of Lori Erica Kennedy On Christmas Eve morning, 2010, a family in East Texas makes a devastating discovery in their driveway. But the tragedy is only the beginning. When relatives search the deceased woman's home days later, they find a locked strongbox hidden at the bottom of a craft supplies container. Inside are documents, photographs, and cryptic scraps of paper. What follows is a years-long investigation involving a determined federal agent, cutting-edge forensic science, and thousands of amateur detectives on the internet, all trying to answer a seemingly simple question: Who was she? The trail leads through stolen identities, falsified documents, and a woman who went to extraordinary lengths to erase every trace of her past. But the deeper question remains: Why would someone work so hard to become a ghost?

📣 New Podcast! "#31: The Many Lives of Lori Erica Kennedy" on @Spreaker #1980scrime #christmastragedy #coldcase #deadbabyscam #dnaidentification #falseidentity #familymystery #forensicgenealogy #identitytheft #investigativepodcast #kimberlymclean #loriruff #missingperson #reallifemystery

DNA from Hair Sample, Genealogy IDs 1968 Jane Doe After 57 years, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim of a 1968 homicide—a breakthrough made possible through the dedication of partner agencies and advancements in forensic genea...

After 57 years, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office (NC) has identified the victim of a 1968 homicide—a breakthrough made possible through the dedication of partner agencies and advancements in #ForensicGenealogy.

Eva LaRue Shares TERRIYFING 12-Year Stalking Experience in Paramount Plus Documentary Eva LaRue's documentary about her 12-year stalker nightmare premieres Paramount Plus November 13 as she shares her story of survival and advocacy.

Eva LaRue is sharing her terrifying 12-year experience with a stalker in a two-part documentary, My Nightmare Stalker: The Eva LaRue Story.
#EvaLaRue #MyNightmareStalker #ParamountPlus #CSIMiami #FBI #ForensicGenealogy #StalkingAwareness #SurvivorStory

How Forensic Genetic Genealogy Is Unlocking Decades-Old Secrets and Forcing a New Reckoning on Privacy "Forensic genetic genealogy is revolutionizing cold case investigations, but its success raises urgent questions about privacy and consent in the digital age."

Invisible Family Trees: The DNA Revolution Solving Cold Cases Like the Golden State Killer's

#forensicgenealogy #coldcase #dna #privacy #truecrime #science #tech #FactRage #FactRageNews

tglm.us/2pFC9

The Last Close Call The Last Close Call [Griffin, Laura] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Last Close Call

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin #TheLastCloseCall
#LauraGriffin #RomanticSuspense #ForensicGenealogy
#CrimeThriller

(Amazon Affiliate Link)

amzn.to/4iMZkdz

Identifying American soldiers killed in combat is not a waste of government funds. In fact, MORE government funding should be allocated to this effort. There is no legitimate reason for any kind of "pause" on this work. #forensicgenealogy

Forensic Genealogy: Becoming an Expert Witness This workshop equips genealogists with the skills and confidence needed to serve as expert witnesses in legal cases. Participants will learn to navigate the legal requirements of multiple jurisdiction...

Our first #SnapshotInterviews with Catherine Desmarais & Michael Ramage highlighted the rise of #ForensicGenealogy. Could you be an expert witness? Learn how to present findings in court & meet forensic standards in our upcoming course! ⚖️📚 More Info: www.familyhistoryacademy.com.au/forensic-gen...

The True Story Behind Netflix's Swedish True Crime Drama 'The Breakthrough' The drama tells the story of a cold case that went unsolved for 16 years and the arduous journey to finding the killer.

#TheBreakthrough is a well done Swedish #TrueCrime miniseries on #Netflix, based on a book by the same name. I especially liked its covering the crime, the human impact, and the then-developing discipline of #ForensicGenealogy. P.S. It's a very calm, low key production.

time.com/7205773/the-...

Montgomery County detectives outline new DNA process for solving cold cases Detectives explain their updated procedures for utilizing DNA evidence in cold case investigations.

Maryland detectives unveil a groundbreaking DNA process that could crack cold cases wide open—are we on the brink of a forensic revolution?

Click to read more!

#MD #CriminalJustice #ColdCases #MarylandCrime #ForensicGenealogy #CitizenPortal

May she rest in peace. #forensicgenealogy #dna #crime

Honored to join the Family History Academy educator lineup this year. My course is already nearly half full! #genealogy #ForensicGenealogy

Forensic Genealogy: Becoming an Expert Witness This workshop equips genealogists with the skills and confidence needed to serve as expert witnesses in legal cases. Participants will learn to navigate the legal requirements of multiple jurisdiction...

Genies - how is your 2025 education planning going? I'm excited to teach a course through the Family History Academy, "Forensic Genealogy: Becoming an Expert Witness." Learn more here: www.familyhistoryacademy.com.au/forensic-gen...

#genealogy #ForensicGenealogy