She Goes by Jane: A True Crime Podcast

Latest Episodes:

13: Episode 13: Bitter Creek Betty with guest reader Ginger Strand Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

In 1992, a truck driver pulls onto an interstate turnout on I-80 in Wyoming. There, she spots the body of a woman laying face down in the snow. The unidentified woman becomes known as Bitter Creek Betty or Rose Doe for her rose tattoo. The only clue to her identity is a tattoo artist from Tucson who remembers giving her the distinctive tattoo. In this episode we discuss what investigators have released about her, her link to another unidentified woman, and the arrest of their killer.

This week, we’re joined by Ginger Strand, the author of one novel and three books of narrative nonfiction, as well as many magazine features. Her book Killer on the Road: Violence and the American Interstate, tells the entwined stories of the American interstate highway system and the serial killers who haunted it, looking at how America became more mobile and more violent at the same time. You can find Ginger on Instagram.

Join us on Patreon! Your support helps us continue to shine light on America’s missing and unidentified women. Flashlight level members also get access to additional content like Behind the Poem, a weekly conversation about the episode’s featured poem, and our monthly true crime/mystery book club. Our November ‘23 selection is the true crime selection Lay Them to Rest by Laurah Norton.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

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12: Episode 12: Cynthia Hernandez with guest reader Gabrielle Ruiz Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

When a teenager disappears from a movie theater in Covina, California, police initially believe she’s run away. In the decades to come, Cynthia Hernandez stays a missing person despite her remains being found just a month after her disappearance. We cover one of our rare solved cases to talk about what happened in those years and why it took so long for Cynthia to come home.

This week, we’re joined by actress Gabrielle Ruiz who is best known for her starring role in the CW series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She can be seen next in the upcoming feature film Man in the Long Black Coat opposite Christopher Lloyd and Dermont Mulroney. You can find Gabrielle on Instagram and TikTok.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11: Episode 11: Norma/Bexar County Jane Doe with guest reader Jeané Coakley Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

What if a serial killer has the only clues to an unidentified woman’s identity? When a serial killer on death row begins talking about his crimes, investigators are shocked to learn of the 1986 murder of a woman in Texas that indicates his killings began much earlier than they thought. Despite this confession, that woman, whose name he thinks could be Norma, remains unidentified even now.

This week, we’re joined by Emmy-Award winning Jeané Coakley. With more than twenty year’s of broadcast experience, Jeané serves as SNY’s lead New York Jets reporter and regularly contributes to SNY’s sports and entertainment news shows. She has covered everything from the Super Bowl to March Madness to the Indy 500. You can find Jeané on Instagram and X.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10: Episode 10: Nahida Khatib with special guest reader Kathy Najimy Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

Who or what scares witnesses so much that many of them ask to remain anonymous when speaking to investigators? That’s what happened in the disappearance of Nahida Khatib who suddenly vanished from her home one October morning in 1976.

This week we’re joined by award-winning actress and activist Kathy Najimy. Kathy Najimy is well-known for her over 40 film roles including Sister Act and Hocus Pocus. She is also known for her television roles which include, most recently, on The Big C, and prior work as Peggy Hill on the Emmy Award-winning King of the Hill. As an activist, she was named Ms. Magazine’s Woman of the Year enthusiastic supporter of women’s and girls’ rights, AIDS awareness, animal rights, and a woman’s right to choose, and frequently travels around the country to keynote speak on these issues. You can find Kathy on Instagram.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9: Episode 9: Pierce County Does Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

What happens to unidentified remains when their cases go cold? Most often, they’re held in evidence or buried. That’s not the case for three unidentified people who were found in Washington’s Pierce County in the 1970s. Instead, two were sent to a local landfill and one was lost.

This week, we’re joined by one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, singer-songwriter Stephanie Quayle, who is one of the most active female artists with a consistent presence on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and ranks in the Top 10 of Current Female Airplay over the last two years. This Rebel Engine Entertainment singer-songwriter has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, historic Ryman Auditorium, and taken the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Brett Eldredge, Jon Pardi, and more. You can find Stephanie on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and listen to her music on Spotify.

Find more about Stephanie here: https://linktr.ee/stephanie.quayle

Stream Stephanie's song Jane here: https://orcd.co/janesq

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8: From “Buckskin Girl” to Marcia King: A Jane Doe Identified Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

As one of the most recognizable unidentified persons cases in the United States, she was known for decades as “Buckskin Girl.” For 37 years, her identity remained unknown.

In 2018, she was finally identified as Marcia Sossoman King through advances in forensic DNA and genetic genealogy.

In this episode, we explore Marcia’s life, the circumstances that led to her becoming unidentified, and the investigative work that helped restore her name after nearly four decades. Her case is one of the earliest and most well-known examples of how modern DNA technology can bring answers to long-standing cases.

📍 Troy, Ohio | 1981

🎙️ Featuring a guest reading by actress and voice actor Mercedes Rose, known for her work in What the Bleep Do We Know?, Portlandia, Leverage, and as the voice of Rosalina in Nintendo titles.

📖 Featuring an original poem written in their honor, read by our host, Aimee Baker

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—subscribe and share this episode.

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook.

📚 Get Aimee’s book, Doe, now available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

📰 For more women-centered true crime content, subscribe to Aimee’s newsletter, GIRLHUNT.

More About Mercedes Rose:
Mercedes has appeared in films such as What the Bleep Do We Know? and television shows like Portlandia and Leverage. She’s also done voice-over work, most notably for Rosalina in several Nintendo titles, and is the one of the stars and creators of Haunting of a Sunshine Girl. Find her on Instagram.

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7: Episode 7 : Theresa Bier with guest reader Lauren Ash Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Bigfoot took her. That’s the explanation a 43-year-old man gives after he takes 16-year-old Theresa Bier out hiking and doesn’t return with her. But despite extensive ground and air searches for the teenager, there’s little evidence about what truly happened to Theresa in 1987.

If you know anything about the disappearance of Theresa Bier contact the Fresno Police Department at (559) 621-7000.

This week, we’re joined by Canadian Screen Award winning actress Lauren Ash. Lauren currently stars in the ABC Comedy Not Dead Yet and is well-known for her role is Dina in NBC’s Superstore. You can find Lauren on Instagram and TikTok as well as hear her on her award-winning true crime podcast True Crime and Cocktails.

Join us on Patreon! Your support helps us continue to shine light on America’s missing and unidentified women. Flashlight level members also get access to additional content like Behind the Poem, a weekly conversation about the episode’s featured poem, and our monthly true crime/mystery book club. Our October ‘23 selection is Louise Penny’s Still Life.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6: Episode 6: Girly Chew with special guest Raven Goodwin - Part 2 of 2 Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

Alien queens, evidence planting, witness threatening: just three ways in which the trials for Girly’s murder become so outlandish that the media starts to lose sight of Girly Chew and the fact that she’s still missing. In this second part to Girly’s story, we talk about what happened during the trial and what was done to try to bring Girly home to her family.

If you are experiencing intimate partner violence or domestic violence, please call: 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

This week, we’re joined by actress Raven Goodwin. Raven Goodwin has recently starred in Being Mary Jane, SMILF, The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, and Single Black Female. Follow Raven on Instagram and TikTok.

Join us on Patreon! Your support helps us continue to shine light on America’s missing and unidentified women. Flashlight level members also get access to additional content like Behind the Poem, a weekly conversation about the episode’s featured poem, and our monthly true crime/mystery book club. Our October ‘23 selection is Louise Penny’s Still Life.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5: Episode 5: Girly Chew with guest reader Raven Goodwin - Part 1 of 2 Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

What if everything you believed about your partner wasn’t true at all? Not where they went to school. Not their job. Not even their name. That’s what happened to Girly Chew when she left her home in Malaysia and married the monster who would eventually murder her. This week, we’re joined by Raven Goodwin as we shine light on Part 1 of Girl’s story.

If you are experiencing intimate partner violence or domestic violence, please call: 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

Join us on Patreon! Your support helps us continue to shine light on America’s missing and unidentified women. Flashlight level members also get access to additional content like Behind the Poem, a weekly conversation about the episode’s featured poem, and our monthly true crime/mystery book club. Our October ‘23 selection is Louise Penny’s Still Life.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.

To buy Aimee’s book, Doe, it’s available now with University of Akron Press, at Bookshop.org, and Amazon.

To see Vanessa’s latest film projects, check out Birdy & Bean Films.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4: Honolulu Jane Doe: The Unidentified Woman Found Alive in Hawaii | Unsolved Case with guest reader Louise Penny Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

In 2004, an unidentified woman was found living in a beach park in Honolulu, Hawaii—alive, but unable to say who she was.

Known as the Honolulu Jane Doe, she was diagnosed with dementia and schizophrenia, leaving her without a name, a history, or a way to return to whatever life she once had.

In this episode of She Goes by Jane, we examine her case and the broader, often overlooked reality of living Jane Does in the United States. What happens when someone is found alive but cannot identify themselves? Why are these cases so difficult to resolve? And what does it reveal about the systems meant to protect the most vulnerable?

We situate her story within larger conversations around mental health, identity, and the gaps in investigative processes that leave some women unnamed, even in life.

📍 Honolulu, Hawaii | 2004

📖 Featuring an original poem written in her honor, read by Louise Penny, bestselling author of the Inspector Gamache series (Three Pines).

➡️ Help bring attention to missing and unidentified women—follow, rate, and share this episode.

➡️ Join us on Patreon! Your support helps us continue to shine light on America’s missing and unidentified women.

📍 Find us on Instagram & Facebook

📚 Doe by Aimee Baker — available via University of Akron Press, Bookshop.org, and Amazon

📰 Subscribe to GIRLHUNT for more women-centered true crime

About Louise Penny:
Louise Penny is the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of the Inspector Gamache series, adapted into the television series Three Pines. Her work has received numerous awards and is internationally acclaimed.

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