Ep 15. Who Killed Jane Doe 59?

In season 3, episode 15 of People Magazine Investigates, titled "Who Killed Jane Doe 59?," the series delves into the unsolved murder of an unidentified woman in California in 1991.

The episode begins with a startling discovery as a hiker finds a human skull in a remote area of the Angeles National Forest. The remains are posited to be those of a woman in her thirties, and initial investigations reveal that she may have been murdered as long as a year prior to her discovery.

The investigators on the case highlight the challenges they face in identifying the victim, as her fingerprints do not match any records in the national database, and the dental records in her file are incomplete. Moreover, the way in which the body was disposed of and the lack of available evidence make it difficult to determine not only the cause of death but also the identity of the perpetrator.

With no leads or clues, the investigation goes cold, until a break in the case emerges nearly two decades later. A woman named Bella Vista contacts the police, stating that she believes the Jane Doe could be her sister, Anna. Bella explains that Anna had disappeared in 1990, and that she had received a letter from Anna's husband stating that he had killed her and disposed of her body in the Angeles National Forest. Bella's claims lead the investigators to explore the case anew, and they begin by reaching out to Anna's ex-husband, Michael.

The interview with Michael is tense and fraught with contradictions, and despite his claims of innocence, the investigators find evidence that suggests otherwise. In the hope of finally solving the case, the team contacts Anna's family and prepares to exhume her remains for DNA testing.

As the investigation unfolds, People Magazine Investigates explores the power of familial DNA testing in solving cold cases, and the emotional toll that cases like this can take on victims' loved ones. Ultimately, the episode builds to a climax as the forensic team receives the DNA results from Anna's remains and comes one step closer to solving the mystery of Who Killed Jane Doe 59?

With powerful testimonies from Anna's family members, forensic experts, and investigating officers, "Who Killed Jane Doe 59?" is a poignant and gripping exploration of a case that has mystified investigators for over three decades. Through revealing interviews, unseen footage, and dramatic reconstructions, the episode paints a vivid portrait of a woman who died alone and unloved, and the ripple effect of her death on her family and friends.