Folded Cardigan, Frozen Soil: Who Returned to Valerie Rafferty?
Unable to add items
Sorry, we're unable to add the item because your cart is already full.
Add to basket failed.
Please try again later
Add to wishlist failed.
Please try again later
Failed to remove from Wish List.
Please try again later
Adding to library failed
Please try again
Unable to follow podcast
Unable to unfollow podcast
Folded Cardigan, Frozen Soil: Who Returned to Valerie Rafferty?
-
Narrated by:
-
By:
Summary
The discovery that stopped Donna Speight was a neatly folded dark green wool cardigan with a laminated library ID placed on top, found forty yards from Valerie Rafferty's body in frozen soil - and forensic review later suggested the cardigan arrived one to two days after the body was left. Who made a return trip to that drainage cut and why was the cardigan folded like someone putting something away?
In this episode, we follow the timeline from Valerie Rafferty's last confirmed sighting at 5:20 p.m. on December 6, 2004 to the discovery five days later and the 31-year investigative thread that led from a preserved hair follicle to a partial male DNA profile and a genetic genealogy match. How did a partial profile from a follicle in evidence lead investigators toward Roger Gray?
Person: Valerie Rafferty
Date: December 6-11, 2004
Location: drainage cut off the Alan Hayes trail, Harwick County
Case: cold case with 31 years of evidence transfer
Event: partial male DNA profile matched via genetic genealogy
- Valerie Rafferty was 52 years old and had worked 14 years at the Harwick County Public Library, six as circulation supervisor.
- Last confirmed sighting was 5:20 p.m. on December 6, 2004; Nora called Fenwick PD at 9:53 p.m. the same night.
- Valerie’s body was found five days later, with the folded cardigan discovered 40 yards away and a laminated library ID placed on top.
- A partial male DNA profile was recovered from a hair follicle inside the cardigan, preserved in evidence since winter 2001.
- Genetic genealogist Howard Brooks traced a match from a public database to Sandra Kohler and, after four months of research, identified Roger Gray as a person of interest.
Tired of ads? Listen to this podcast and 200+ more ad-free on OBOMEDIA.
Try it free for 7 days, cancel anytime: https://obomedia.com/en/gratis?ref=desc-7192292
© 2026 Created by an independent creator of the OBOMEDIA Network. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the property of their respective creator, who is solely responsible for them, and are distributed by the OBOMEDIA Network on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without the creator's prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet
