Digest

This podcast delves into the chilling case of Mary Cooper and Susanna Stodden, a mother and daughter who were brutally murdered on a hiking trail in Washington State in 2006. The episode begins with the discovery of their bodies and the initial investigation, which was hampered by a lack of leads. The focus then shifts to David Stodden, Mary's husband and Susanna's father, who was initially a person of interest but was later ruled out as a suspect. The episode details his desperate search for his family and his cooperation with the media. The podcast explores the ongoing investigation, including the collection of evidence, the examination of the bodies, and the use of DNA testing. The episode discusses the lack of a clear motive and the challenges faced by detectives. It also highlights the media attention surrounding the case and the public's response. The episode examines David Stodden's alibi and his multiple polygraph tests, which were inconclusive. The episode explores the challenges of ruling out a loved one as a suspect. It then details the FBI's involvement in the case, including the creation of a criminal profile that suggests the killer was a cold, detached, and goal-oriented individual. The podcast describes the years of dead ends in the investigation, including the emergence of Israel Keys as a potential suspect, who was later ruled out. The episode also discusses the discovery of a partial male DNA profile under Susanna's fingernails. The episode explores the potential of using genetic genealogy to identify the unknown DNA profile and the possibility of re-examining other evidence for DNA. The episode reveals a high P-30 test result from one of Mary's sexual assault kit swabs, which could indicate the presence of male DNA. The episode discusses the possibility of further testing to confirm this. The podcast concludes with David Stodden's perspective on the case and his hope for closure. He discusses the challenges of living with the unknown and his desire for detectives to continue their efforts.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Unsolved Murder of Mary Cooper and Susanna Stodden

This podcast investigates the unsolved murder of Mary Cooper and her daughter Susanna Stodden, exploring the investigation's twists and turns, the potential suspects, and the hope for closure. The episode begins with the discovery of their bodies and the initial investigation, which was hampered by a lack of leads. The focus then shifts to David Stodden, Mary's husband and Susanna's father, who was initially a person of interest but was later ruled out as a suspect. The episode details his desperate search for his family and his cooperation with the media.

00:11:26

The Investigation and the Search for Answers

The podcast explores the ongoing investigation, including the collection of evidence, the examination of the bodies, and the use of DNA testing. The episode discusses the lack of a clear motive and the challenges faced by detectives. It also highlights the media attention surrounding the case and the public's response.

00:23:52

The Suspects and the Challenges of the Investigation

The episode examines David Stodden's alibi and his multiple polygraph tests, which were inconclusive. The episode explores the challenges of ruling out a loved one as a suspect. It then details the FBI's involvement in the case, including the creation of a criminal profile that suggests the killer was a cold, detached, and goal-oriented individual.

00:30:49

New Leads and the Potential of Genetic Genealogy

The podcast describes the years of dead ends in the investigation, including the emergence of Israel Keys as a potential suspect, who was later ruled out. The episode also discusses the discovery of a partial male DNA profile under Susanna's fingernails. The episode explores the potential of using genetic genealogy to identify the unknown DNA profile and the possibility of re-examining other evidence for DNA.

00:33:08

The P-30 Test and the Hope for Closure

The episode reveals a high P-30 test result from one of Mary's sexual assault kit swabs, which could indicate the presence of male DNA. The episode discusses the possibility of further testing to confirm this. The podcast concludes with David Stodden's perspective on the case and his hope for closure. He discusses the challenges of living with the unknown and his desire for detectives to continue their efforts.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the initial response to the discovery of Mary and Susanna's bodies?

  Robert Mathis and his girlfriend, Rebecca, discovered the bodies while hiking. They were initially in fear and ran to get help. Sergeant Daryl O'Neill was the first officer to arrive at the scene and encountered Richard Brown and his wife, Dr. Tehik, who had also come across the bodies.

• What was the initial focus of the investigation?

  The initial focus was on identifying the killer and determining the motive. Detectives interviewed witnesses, collected evidence, and conducted a thorough search of the crime scene. They also investigated the victims' lives to see if there were any potential suspects.

• How did David Stodden become a person of interest?

  David Stodden was initially a person of interest because he was the husband of Mary and the father of Susanna. He was also the owner of the vehicle that was found at the trailhead.

• What was the significance of the partial male DNA profile found under Susanna's fingernails?

  The partial male DNA profile found under Susanna's fingernails was significant because it eliminated David Stodden and Susanna's boyfriend, Norm, as contributors. This suggests that the killer was someone Susanna did not know well.

• What are the potential next steps in the investigation?

  The next steps in the investigation include using genetic genealogy to identify the unknown DNA profile and re-examining other evidence for DNA. Detectives are also hoping to get further testing done on Mary's sexual assault kit swabs.

Show Notes