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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:

Case Files OPENED | The Fronczak Files S3 Ep. 1 Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

Secrets. Lies. The making of monsters.

In this Season 3 premiere, The Fronczak Files takes you back to the beginning. While many know about the 1964 kidnapping of Paul Joseph Fronczak and Jack’s abandonment in Newark, few understand the full scope of Jack’s genetic beginnings, and what they reveal.

For the first time, we will walk through Jack’s full family tree, starting with his immediate Rosenthal family and tracing back generations to add context to the events of the 1960s that set his journey in motion.

Where did Jack come from? What does his family tree really look like? And how did it all lead to the making of monsters? Tune in this season for new research, new leads, and a deeper exploration into Jack’s life.

Join Jack, Tracey, and Emily as they:

• Present Jack’s family tree in full for the first time

• Recap the major events in Jack’s search to find his genetic identity

• Set the stage for Season 3

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Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

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

S2 Bonus Episode: Training DNA Detectives | The Fronczak Files Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Emerging technologies. Cold cases. Long-awaited breakthroughs.

In this bonus episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down with Cairenn Binder, Assistant Director of the IGG Center and Director of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Certificate Program at Ramapo College. Cairenn breaks down how civilians trained in investigative genetic genealogy are helping unlock decades-old cold cases, identify the unknown, and even exonerate the wrongfully convicted.

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Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

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

SOLD at Birth | The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 10 Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

Children sold. Memories buried. Identities erased.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey uncover the disturbing truth behind Dr. Katherine Cole, a physician who operated an illegal baby adoption ring from the 1930s through the 1960s. Countless children were trafficked through her network, many of whom would later come to be known as “Cole Babies.”

They are joined by Bob Lightner, a man directly impacted by Cole’s operation, who shares his personal adoption story and the lifelong consequences of having his identity taken from him at birth.

How many children were involved? How did Dr. Cole evade oversight for decades? And how can surviving Cole Babies, and their descendants, begin the process of reclaiming their genetic truth?

Join Jack and Tracey as they:

• Uncover the history and inner workings of Dr. Katherine Cole’s illegal adoption ring

• Speak with Bob Lightner about his own adoption and search for identity

• Explain the steps other “Cole Babies” can take to pursue answers and genetic truth

This is a powerful episode about lost identities, systemic failures, and the long road toward truth.

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⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

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Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

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

UNKNOWN Identity | The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 9 Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

A baby abandoned. A secret buried. A chance to uncover the truth.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, the team speaks with Kris, a woman who was abandoned as a newborn in a wooded neighborhood area and adopted shortly thereafter. Years later, her adoptive parents shared what little they knew of her earliest moments, leaving Kris with a lifetime of unanswered questions. Follow along as the team uses genetic genealogy and DNA analysis to help piece together her biological story.

Who are Kris’ biological parents? Why was she abandoned? And how does she process the answers she’s waited her entire life to find?

Join the team as they:

• Revisit the known details of Kris’s abandonment and early life

• Walk through the genetic genealogy process used to build her family tree

• Explore the emotional impact of discovering one’s genetic truth

💬 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.

BURIED Without a Name | The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 8 Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

A shallow grave. A glass eye. Decades of unanswered questions.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey examine the 1981 cold case murder of Jack Lachow. Known for years only as “One Eye,” his identity remained a mystery for nearly three decades. Though his name was finally restored, the truth behind his death remains elusive.

Who was Jack Lachow? What kind of life did he live? And who left his body in a shallow grave in South Florida?

Join Jack and Tracey as they:

• Lay out the known details of the cold case

• Explore what is known about Jack Lachow’s life

• Examine South Florida’s organized crime landscape in the early 1980’s

💬 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.

BREAKING THE SILENCE: A Brother’s Burden Part Two | The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 7 Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

Unanswered questions. DNA testing. Long-awaited results.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, the team continues their conversation with activist and abuse survivor Logan Gifford. After years of uncertainty, Logan will finally receive the DNA results that may confirm the paternity of his younger brother.

Join the TFF team as they:

• Reveal the DNA findings

• Provide an update on the case’s ongoing legal proceedings

• Discuss Logan’s next steps and what this means for his family

The Fronczak Files is honored to support Logan in his search for truth. We continue to stand with all individuals navigating similar circumstances and encourage anyone in need to seek help, guidance, and support.

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⭐ Join as a Patreon member for extra bonus content

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Theme Music by Paul Jack Fronczak and Rick Holland

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

BREAKING THE SILENCE: A Brother’s Burden Part One | The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 6 Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

A period of abuse. A child born. A question of paternity.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey sit down with activist Logan Gifford, a man searching for truth through DNA. Logan has long suspected that the younger brother he grew up with may in fact be his biological son, a possibility born from years of abuse and silence.

Join Jack and Tracey for the first part of this powerful conservation as they:

• Examine the prevalence and hidden nature of abuse within families

• Explore the complex background of Logan’s story

• Set the stage for the revealing DNA results to be discussed in Part 2

Through Logan’s courage, The Fronczak Files continues its commitment to uncovering truth and supporting those seeking answers.

💬 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.

VANISHED: The Disappearance of Colin Gillis | The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 5 Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

A remote highway. A last sighting at a party. A young man who never made it home.

In this episode of The Fronczak Files, Jack and Tracey take a closer look at the disappearance of 18-year-old Colin Gillis, who went missing on March 11th, 2012 from Tupper Lake, NY.

Join Jack and Tracey as they:

• Reconstruct the events leading up to Colin’s disappearance

• Explore the leading theories in the case

• Share the latest updates and ongoing efforts to find him

Colin has now been missing for 13 years. By revisiting his case, The Fronczak Files reaffirms its commitment to honoring cold cases and standing alongside families still waiting for answers.

💬 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.

Mistaken Roots: When DNA Tells the Wrong Story | The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 4 Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

An unexpected DNA result. A leading genealogy company. A story derailed by incorrect analysis.

How would you react if an over-the-counter DNA test delivered life-altering information, only for it to be wrong? In this episode, The Fronczak Files team sits down with a family who lived that exact nightmare as they fought to uncover their real genetic story.

Join Richard, DeAnna, and Sierra as they share:

• The emotional toll of confronting a DNA surprise

• The financial cost of receiving flawed genealogical findings

• The unexpected joy and connection found with new family

A powerful reminder that behind every test result is a human story, and sometimes truth takes its own path.

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 2 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.

On the Road with the Foundling- Part 2| The Fronczak Files S2 Ep. 3 Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

The conversation with The Foundling co-author Alex Tresniowski continues, this time, diving deeper into the extraordinary lengths Jack went to uncover the truth.

Join Jack, Tracey, and Alex as they revisit Atlantic City, the place where it all began, and reflect on the moments, discoveries, and emotions that shaped this incredible journey.

In this episode, we journey with Alex as he recounts:

• The process of writing “The Foundling” and “True Identity”

• Walking alongside Jack as he searches for his genetic identity

• The anguish behind the search for Jill

💬 Share your reactions

🔔 Subscribe for new Season 2 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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