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True Crime

The Fronczak Files

Mysteries, DNA, and the Search for Who We Really Are.

The Fronczak Files is a gripping podcast that delves deep into the investigation of the abduction of Paul Fronczak, the abandonment of Jack Rosenthal, and the disappearance of Jack’s twin sister Jill. This true crime podcast takes you on a rollercoaster ride through Paul’s experiences, searching for his family and uncovering new mysteries along the way. In April 1964, a woman disguised as a nurse walked into a Chicago hospital room and took a one-day-old infant from the arms of a young mother named Dora Fronczak. That day, Chicago police kicked off the biggest manhunt in the city’s history in an effort to find the kidnapped “Baby Fronczak.” Weeks passed without any sign of the kidnapper or the infant. Two years after the kidnapping, the case went cold… Co-hosted by Paul Jack Fronczak and Tracey Hastings, Season 1 pulls you into the decades-long search for answers, identity, and justice. No theories. No holding back. Just the raw, unfiltered truth – told straight from the source.

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Latest Episodes:

The LAST Babysitter | The Fronczak Files S5 Ep. 2 Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

One evening. Neglected twins. The last sighting.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files Jack and Tracey welcome back Susan Wohlert, the babysitter who cared for Jack and Jill Rosenthal shortly before they both disappeared. As new details emerge, the team begins to piece together a clearer picture of life inside the troubled Rosenthal household and the world of 1960s Atlantic City.

What did Susan remember about the condition of the twins? How did the Rosenthal family respond after Jack and Jill vanished? And could neighbors who lived nearby still hold the missing pieces needed to solve Jill’s disappearance?

Join Jack and Tracey as they interview one of last known living witnesses to see Jill Lynn Rosenthal before she disappeared.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Revisit Susan Wohlert’s firsthand memories of babysitting Jack and Jill

• Explore the history of Atlantic City and the Ducktown neighborhood during the 1960s

• Reconstruct the events surrounding Jill Lynn Rosenthal’s last known sighting

💬 Share your reactions

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🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Twin That VANISHED | The Fronczak Files S5 Ep. 1 Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

A secret. A DNA test. A missing twin.

The Season 5 premiere of The Fronczak Files begins with the extraordinary journey that uncovered Jack’s true identity. In 2012, a DNA test revealed the unimaginable: he was not Paul Joseph Fronczak, the infant kidnapped from a Chicago hospital in 1964. What followed was a years-long search for the truth, one that uncovered an even deeper mystery: a missing twin.

How did Jack finally discover who he really was? Who were the parents who left him behind in Newark, New Jersey? And what happened to his twin sister, Jill Lynn Rosenthal?

Join Jack and Tracey as they launch Season 5: The Search for Jill Rosenthal, a new investigation into a decades-old mystery that remains unsolved.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Recount Jack’s remarkable journey to uncover his true genetic identity

• Explore the complex and deeply troubled Rosenthal family

• Begin unraveling the disappearance of Jill Lynn Rosenthal

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 5 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Help Us FIND Her | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 9 Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

A kidnapper. A cold case. A call to action.

In the Season 4 finale of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey bring together everything currently known about the team’s new kidnapping suspect: Marcelle. We’ll walk you through every known location connected to her, explore maps of 1960s Chicago, and ask for your help in uncovering the truth.

Who was Marcelle? How did the actions of one woman in 1964 ripple through generations, forever changing the lives of countless people? And could the answer to this 62-year-old mystery still be out there? Join Jack and Tracey as they conclude Season 4 by reflecting on the lasting emotional toll this kidnapping inflicted on Paul, Dora, the Baty family, and everyone whose lives were forever changed. Then, as the investigation enters its next chapter, discover how you can help bring long-awaited answers to one of America’s most enduring child abduction mysteries.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Present everything currently known about Marcelle

• Explore the key locations connected to the investigation

• Discuss the lasting emotional impact of the kidnapping

• Explain how you can help provide answers in the search

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for upcoming Season 5 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Profiling a KIDNAPPER | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 8 Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

A new suspect. A psychological profile. A search for the truth.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey take a deep dive into the world of infant abductions, examining the behavioral patterns, motivations, and psychological profiles of those who steal children. Armed with official research and historical data, the investigation turns toward a new suspect: Marcelle.

Who typically abducts infants? What drives someone to take a child and raise them as their own? And how closely does Marcelle align with the profile developed by experts and law enforcement? Join Jack and Tracey as they journey back to 1964: a time when hospital nurseries were open, security was minimal, and newborns were frighteningly vulnerable. As the team compares documented abductor characteristics with known facts of the case, a clearer picture of the person behind one of America’s most infamous child kidnappings begins to emerge.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Examine official statistics and research on infant abductions

• Compare Marcelle’s known history to established psychological profiles

• Explore the security vulnerabilities at Michael Reese Hospital in 1964

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 4 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A NEW Suspect | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 7 Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

A plea for help. A search for answers. A revelation that changes everything.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down with Doyle Batey, the younger brother of Billy Ray Baty. Through Doyle’s memories, a complicated portrait begins to emerge: one that fills in missing pieces surrounding the 1964 kidnapping of Paul Joseph Fronczak.

Who was Billy Ray Baty? What did Doyle reveal about Billy’s marriage to Alice Suane? And what startling information has led TFF to a new suspect? Join Jack and Tracey as the trail stretches from Blytheville, Arkansas to Chicago, and a long-buried connection begins to come into focus.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Share a never-before-seen interview with Doyle Batey

• Revisit Billy Ray Baty’s history in Arkansas and Chicago

• Introduce Marcelle, TFF’s new kidnapping suspect

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 4 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Arkansas CONNECTION | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 6 Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey follow a clue hidden in plain sight: the surname Baty. What begins as a simple question…where did the name come from?…leads the investigation hundreds of miles from Chicago to Blytheville, Arkansas.

As they trace records, timelines, family connections, and forgotten histories, a network of people connected to the real Paul Fronczak kidnapping begins to emerge. Along the way, they uncover links between Arkansas and Chicago, examine the life of Billy Ray Baty, and explore whether a Chicago woman with deep roots in the city could have been far closer to the kidnapping than anyone realized.

Could a decades-old paper trail reveal new suspects? Why does Arkansas keep appearing in the investigation? And what happens when family histories, criminal connections, and eyewitness descriptions begin to overlap?

Join Jack and Tracey as they follow the paper trail into Arkansas and uncover one of the most intriguing leads in the search for answers.

🎙 In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Explore how the surname “Baty” became a critical clue in the investigation

• Trace connections between Chicago and Blytheville, Arkansas

• Examine the backgrounds of individuals potentially connected to the kidnapping

• Investigate whether long-overlooked records may point toward new suspects

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 4 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📱 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Shadow of CORRUPTION | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 5 Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Corruption. Conspiracy. Lies.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey take a deeper look at Marlin Johnson, the head of the FBI’s Chicago office and the principal investigator in the kidnapping of Paul Joseph Fronczak. But Johnson’s story stretches far beyond the walls of Michael Reese Hospital. His name was tied not only to one of Chicago’s most infamous kidnappings, but also to the Chicago Outfit, power criminals, and whispers of corruption inside law enforcement itself.

Why was the head of the FBI leading the Fronczak kidnapping investigation? Why did a famous mobster sue Marlin Johnson? And what was really happening inside Chicago’s FBI office during the 1960’s?

Join Jack and Tracey as they pull the curtain on one of Chicago’s most well-known law enforcement figures, and the shadow of corruption surrounding the case.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Examine Marlin Johnson’s role in the Paul Joseph Fronczak kidnapping

• Explore the FBI’s complicated relationship with the Chicago Outfit

• Question whether corruption may have shaped the course of the investigation

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 4 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trail Goes COLD | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 4 May 26, 2026

Show notes

Tips. Leads. Dead ends.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey continue tracing the Chicago Police Department’s investigation into the kidnapping of Paul Joseph Fronczak. After a surge of public tips, witness interviews, and possible suspects, the momentum begins to fade, and the search for Paul’s kidnapper slowly stalls.

What strategies did investigators use to find baby Paul? How many people were questioned, cleared, or eliminated? And at what point did one of Chicago’s most haunting kidnapping investigations truly go cold? Join Jack and Tracey as they return to the original Chicago PD case file, following the leads investigators chased, and the silence that followed.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Reveal how many women were eliminated as suspects

• Recount a significant lead involving an abandoned child in Marietta, Georgia

• Examine when the investigation into Paul’s kidnapping began to turn cold

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 4 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

VOICES From 1964 | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 3 May 19, 2026

Show notes

Tips. Suspects. Eyewitnesses.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey continue their deep dive into the original police case file on the kidnapping of Paul Joseph Fronczak. Through eyewitness statements, public tips, and the suspects pursued by Chicago detectives, the chaos of 1964 begins to come into sharper focus.

What did witnesses at Michael Reese Hospital reveal about the woman who took baby Paul? Which suspects did the Chicago Police Department investigate? And how organized was the search for the kidnapper in the hours and days that followed? Join Jack and Tracey as they uncover never-before-released details from the 1964 kidnapping investigation and continue the effort to unmask the woman behind one of Chicago’s most infamous crimes.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Review eyewitness descriptions of the kidnapper

• Revisit Michael Reese Hospital, the scene of the crime

• Present descriptions of suspects interviewed by Chicago detectives

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 4 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The KIDNAPPER’S File | The Fronczak Files S4 Ep. 2 May 12, 2026

Show notes

Police files. Eyewitness descriptions. A kidnapper hiding in plain sight.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey open the Chicago Police Department’s original case file on the kidnapping of Paul Joseph Fronczak. Through handwritten notes, typed reports, and eyewitness accounts, the file reveals the chilling movements of a woman bold enough to walk into Michael Reese Hospital and take a newborn from his mother’s arms.

What type of records were preserved in the Chicago PD case file? What did the kidnapper look like? And what clues may still be waiting to be uncovered? Join Jack and Tracey as they continue the investigation into one of Chicago’s most infamous kidnappings.

In this episode, Jack and Tracey:

• Examine the original Chicago Police Department case file

• Review eyewitness descriptions of the kidnapper

• Revisit Michael Reese Hospital, the scene of the crime

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 4 episodes

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

📲 Connect with us: thefronczakfiles.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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