#314 - For decades, Robert Eugene Brashers lived in near-total obscurity. While investigators across multiple states worked unsolved cases involving sexual assault and murder, his name never surfaced. Not because evidence was missing, but because the science needed to connect it all didn’t yet exist. In this episode of Forensic Tales, we trace the full scope of Brashers’ crimes: from a brutal attempted murder in Florida, to a series of sexual assaults and homicides stretching across the South and Midwest and finally, to the forensic breakthroughs that would link him to at least eight murders. Most people know Brashers’ name today because of one case: the 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. But that case is only part of a much larger story. Through advances in DNA analysis, ballistics, and investigative genetic genealogy, investigators were able to uncover a serial offender who had operated for years across state lines, evading detection and living an ordinary life in between acts of extreme violence. This episode focuses not just on one infamous crime, but on the many victims whose cases were finally connected and on how forensic science exposed a serial killer who had been hiding in plain sight. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to support the show & get access to exclusive content, early ad-free episodes, and merchandise, consider joining the show's Patreon. To learn more: https://www.patreon.com/c/forensictales You can support the show for as little as $3/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#313 - This week, we’re revisiting one of the most downloaded episodes of 2025. The death of UK spy Gareth Williams in 2010 has become one of the most high-profile unsolved mysteries in years after his naked body was discovered padlocked inside a duffel bag. Described as a genius mathematician who the intelligence service had recruited, Gareth’s exact cause of death remains unknown, and people can’t agree whether he could have locked himself in there on his own or whether someone else was responsible.  There have been a number of theories over the years, including sex games gone wrong and Russian spies. But even today, there are still so many unanswered questions about his death. What happened to Gareth Williams, and how can forensic science help us find those answers? Support If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive rating with a review. You can also tell your family and friends about Forensic Tales. Patreon - If you would like to get early AD-free access to new episodes, have access to exclusive bonus content, snag exclusive show merch or just want to support what I'm doing, please visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/forensictales Support the show for as low as $3/month. Credits: Written and produced by Courtney Fretwell Rockefeller Audio production For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit forensictales.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#312 - In 1991, John Kunco was convicted in Pennsylvania of raping and torturing a 55-year-old woman inside her apartment. There was no DNA evidence tying him to the crime. Instead, the case against him relied heavily on an alleged bite mark and a delayed voice identification. Kunco spent nearly 28 years in prison before advances in forensic science began to unravel the evidence used to convict him. DNA testing excluded him from key physical evidence, and the forensic dentists who testified at his trial later withdrew their conclusions, acknowledging that bite mark analysis is not a reliable forensic method. In 2018, Kunco’s conviction was vacated — but the case did not end there. Subsequent legal developments, including guilty pleas to reduced charges, complicated public understanding of whether Kunco was wrongfully convicted, raising difficult questions about how forensic failure, legal strategy, and justice intersect. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. To listen to new episode early & ad-free, please consider joining the show's Patreon at patreon.com/forensictales Support the show for as little as $3/month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#311 - In November 2008, 24-year-old Arpana Jinaga was found murdered in her Redmond, Washington apartment—just hours after attending a Halloween party with neighbors in her building. Arpana was a bright, accomplished software engineer with no known enemies, yet the crime scene was chaotic and filled with conflicting forensic clues. Despite multiple suspects, extensive DNA testing, and even a criminal trial, her killer has never been identified. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In March 2008, 21-year-old Juliana Redding was found murdered inside her Santa Monica apartment. Juliana had moved to Los Angeles to study communications and pursue modeling, building a life close to the beach and staying closely connected to her family in Arizona. When she stopped responding to calls and messages, police conducted a welfare check and discovered signs of a violent struggle — along with attempts to start a fire inside the home. Investigators collected a significant amount of forensic evidence, but the case would take an unexpected turn in court. This episode examines Juliana’s life, the investigation into her death, and the questions that remain today. Despite the volume of forensic evidence, no one has ever been convicted of her murder. A stark reminder that even strong forensics don’t always lead to a clear resolution. For a complete list of sources, visit ForensicTales.com. To support the show and access early, ad-free episodes, join us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/forensictales Forensic Tales is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. A Rockefeller Audio Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A respected veterinarian is found dead under mysterious circumstances in an upscale Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood. What first looked like a car accident quickly turned into a homicide investigation filled with unanswered questions — a wrecked vehicle, blunt-force trauma, and no clear explanation of how Dr. Robert Stonebreaker ended up in a nearby driveway. Nearly 15 years later, the case remains unsolved. In this episode, we break down the timeline, the forensic inconsistencies, and the theories that still surround his death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we revisit the shocking murder of 23-year-old law student Jane Mixer, long believed to be a victim of Michigan’s “Co-Ed Killer.” When modern DNA testing finally pointed to an unexpected suspect, Gary Leiterman, the case was reopened, re-examined, and fiercely debated. Was the forensic evidence clear-cut? Or did lab contamination muddy the truth? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When 41-year-old Peggy Carr suddenly fell gravely ill, doctors were stumped. Her symptoms made no sense—burning limbs, hair loss, and paralysis with no clear cause. But when her teenage son and stepson became sick too, investigators uncovered a chilling truth: the Carr family had been poisoned. The substance was thallium—a deadly, nearly undetectable metal once used in rat poison. The discovery launched a full-scale forensic investigation that led detectives to a single suspect: a brilliant but disturbed neighbor with a background in chemistry and a fascination with murder. This is the story of how science, persistence, and an undercover operation exposed one of Florida’s most shocking poison cases. For a complete list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Support the show and get early, ad-free access to episodes by joining us on Patreon. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. Hosted and produced by Courtney Fretwell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1983, 19-year-old Barbara Grams was found murdered behind a dental office in Tampa, Florida. Detectives said a small mark on her cheek was a bite — and that 18-year-old Robert DuBoise’s teeth matched it. That single piece of forensic “evidence” sent him to death row. But nearly four decades later, new DNA testing proved what Robert had said all along — he was innocent. The mark wasn’t even a bite. This week on Forensic Tales, we uncover how junk science, unreliable witnesses, and a discredited forensic method stole 37 years of an innocent man’s life. Because in forensic science, the smallest mistake can destroy a life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was Valentine’s Day, 2007, when 39-year-old Jodine Serrin’s parents stopped by her Carlsbad, California condo to check on her. Moments after walking into her bedroom, they realized something was terribly wrong. Jodine had been brutally attacked—and the man they’d seen inside her home had vanished. For over a decade, her murder went unsolved. No witnesses. No leads. Just a single piece of DNA left behind. In this episode, we examine how cutting-edge forensic technology—and one company’s groundbreaking use of genetic genealogy—finally revealed the truth about who killed Jodine Serrin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#304 - In 1981, 31-year-old single mother Linda Slaten was found murdered in her Lakeland, Florida apartment. Her sons were asleep just down the hall. For decades, detectives chased every lead — a violent ex-husband, a mysterious boyfriend, even a convicted predator who once lived next door. But the trail always went cold. Nearly forty years later, a revolutionary forensic tool — genetic genealogy — finally revealed the truth. And the answer shocked everyone: the killer had been hiding in plain sight the entire time. This is the story of how one preserved palm print, a decades-old rape kit, and the persistence of science brought long-awaited justice to Linda Slaten’s family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January 1984, 29-year-old Teresa Solecki walked to a payphone in Vista, California, to make a quick call to her sister. She never came back. Hours later, her body was discovered along a remote stretch of Gopher Canyon Road—brutally beaten and strangled. For decades, investigators held onto the evidence: a bite mark, a drag trail, and an unknown male’s DNA. But without modern technology, Teresa’s case went cold. It would take 35 years, new forensic science, and the power of investigative genetic genealogy to finally reveal the truth—and identify her killer. This is the story of the murder of Teresa Solecki—and how DNA preserved for decades helped bring justice to her family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In June 1991, 70-year-old grandmother Dorothy Donovan was found brutally murdered inside her farmhouse in Harrington, Delaware. The crime stunned the small town—and suspicion immediately turned to the person who discovered her body: her own son. Charles Holden told investigators a strange and terrifying story about a violent hitchhiker he’d picked up earlier that night, a man who threatened him with a screwdriver and chased him through the dark. But detectives weren’t convinced. To them, it sounded like a desperate attempt to cover up something far worse. For years, Dorothy’s family was torn apart by grief and suspicion. Was Charles telling the truth, or had he concocted an elaborate alibi to hide his guilt? This is the story of a brutal crime, a family divided, and the forensic evidence that finally uncovered the truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On New Year’s Eve 1989, Mansfield, Ohio was rocked by the disappearance of Noreen Boyle. Her husband, prominent neurosurgeon Dr. John Boyle, insisted she had walked out after an argument. But Noreen’s son, 11-year-old Collier, told a very different story—a scream in the night, suspicious behavior from his father, and threats to stay silent. When investigators dug deeper—literally—they uncovered the truth buried beneath the floor of Boyle’s new home in Pennsylvania. Forensic science, from dental records to a Rolex watch frozen in time, dismantled Boyle’s lies and secured his conviction. This case became one of the most publicized trials in Ohio history, second only to Sam Sheppard. It’s a story of hidden abuse, the power of forensic evidence, and the extraordinary courage of a child who refused to be silenced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our 300th episode of Forensic Tales, we’re tackling one of the most infamous and puzzling unsolved cases in American history—the Zodiac Killer. Between 1968 and 1969, a mysterious figure terrorized Northern California with a string of murders, chilling phone calls, and cryptic letters sent to local newspapers. Despite decades of investigation, the Zodiac’s identity remains one of the greatest mysteries in true crime. In this milestone special, we’ll retrace the Zodiac’s crimes and focus on the forensic evidence: the ballistics that linked his attacks, the fingerprints and palm prints that led nowhere, the handwriting analysis that divided experts, and the DNA testing that continues to fall short. We’ll also look ahead at how advances in forensic science—like genetic genealogy—could one day solve this case. Thank you for joining me on this journey through 300 episodes. Here’s to the stories we’ve told, the voices we’ve remembered, and the breakthroughs still to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#299 - In June 1983, 37-year-old Noelle Russo was found beaten to death and left naked in a patch of weeds behind a real estate office in Rohnert Park, California. For decades, her case went cold—suspects were interviewed, rumors circulated, but without forensic evidence, detectives had nowhere to go. Nearly forty years later, modern DNA testing finally identified a suspect: a man who had been on investigators’ radar since the very beginning. His arrest has reignited questions about Noelle’s final night, unresolved leads, and what justice looks like after four decades of waiting. This is the story of the murder of Noelle Russo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2014, Florida State law professor Dan Markel was shot in his driveway in what prosecutors called a calculated murder-for-hire plot. Over the years, three people—including Donna Adelson’s son, Charlie—were convicted for their roles. But investigators always believed the real mastermind was Donna herself. In September 2025, after nearly a decade of speculation, Donna Adelson finally stood trial. Prosecutors leaned on phone records, wiretaps, financial transfers, digital breadcrumbs, and even testimony from jailhouse informants to argue she orchestrated the killing. The defense insisted the evidence was circumstantial and that Donna was nothing more than a grieving grandmother. On September 4, 2025, a jury found Donna Adelson guilty on all counts. She now faces a mandatory life sentence without parole. This special episode of Forensic Tales breaks down the forensic evidence, courtroom drama, and the final verdict that brought the Adelson matriarch to justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In February 1996, 36-year-old Jasmine “Jazzie” Porter was found dead in her Bronx apartment while her five-year-old son was left to survive alone for days. For more than two decades, her case went unsolved—until a cold case detective uncovered long-preserved evidence that changed everything. A DNA match pointed to a man with a violent past, already convicted of killing another woman years earlier. The case is still pending, with no clear motive identified, but after 25 years, Jasmine’s family may finally be closer to justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July 2002, the body of 15-year-old Katie Hamlin was discovered in a remote area of Cherokee County, Georgia. She had been brutally murdered, and her killer attempted to erase every trace of evidence by setting her on fire. What followed was a years-long investigation that left a quiet community shaken. Police quickly focused on two suspects who pointed fingers at each other, but with crucial forensic evidence destroyed, the case stalled. It wasn’t until a determined mother, new forensic findings, and unexpected jailhouse confessions that prosecutors finally had enough to bring Katie’s killer to justice. This is the story of Katie Hamlin, the search for truth, and the fight to bring her killer down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#295 - In December 1988, a road crew in rural Ware County, Georgia, discovered an abandoned television console on the side of Duncan Bridge Road. Inside was a black suitcase. Inside that suitcase, a duffel bag. And inside the bag — the body of a little girl. For decades, no one knew her name. She was remembered only as “Christmas Doe.” Thirty-four years later, advances in forensic genealogy finally gave her identity back. Now, investigators say they know who is responsible for her death. This episode follows the heartbreaking story of Christmas Doe, the decades-long mystery of who she was, and how modern forensic science finally brought her justice. Support If you love the show, the easiest way to show your support is by leaving us a positive rating with a review. You can also tell your family and friends about Forensic Tales. Patreon - If you would like to get early AD-free access to new episodes, have access to exclusive bonus content, snag exclusive show merch or just want to support what I'm doing, please visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/forensictales Support the show for as low as $3/month. Credits: Written and produced by Courtney Fretwell Rockefeller Audio production For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit forensictales.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices