What Remains Coverage

NamUs database connects law enforcement, families in search for missing people

DNA, medical and dental records -- shared across the country -- can help identify more missing people and provide closure for more families.

National database offers law enforcement, families new way to connect in the search for missing people

On the day North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared Missing Person's Awareness Day, the State Bureau of Investigation teamed up with RTI International to host an event to offer new tools for families of the missing.

Shelle Jackson, WRAL reporter

DNA in dust could be new source of evidence to solve crimes

Dr. Kelly Meiklejohn sees dust as a source of evidence. It can contain some of the hundreds of thousands of skin cells shed by the human body each day.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Robeson County podcasters pursue true crime for people like them

In Episode 20 of What Remains, the hosts of 'The Red Justice Project' podcast share the details of some of the most horrendous cases they've covered

'The Red Justice Project' covers stories of missing, murdered indigenous people

A new generation of podcasters is investigating old cases to make sure all people get justice.

NC podcast seeks justice for indigenous women and girls

In Episode 20 of What Remains, the hosts of 'The Red Justice Project' podcast share the details of some of the most horrendous cases they've covered

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Philanthropist helps law enforcement test DNA in cold cases

DNA testing is very expensive and small law enforcement agencies don't have the resources for this. But in recent years laboratories that test DNA in cold cases are turning to crowdfunding with great success to get the cost covered.

Money from the crowd pays for DNA tests on cold case remains

There's an entire online community dedicated to helping solve these cases.

Crowdfunding supports cold case DNA analysis

Episode 19 of the What Remains podcast is about Carla Davis and her generous gifts of time and money to solving cold cases. It's a cause that is personal to her. In the episode she talks about the murder case that originally sparked her interest in funding DNA analysis.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

'What Remains' podcast episode 18: 'Finding Brittanee'

When a 17-year-old girl from New York goes missing in Myrtle Beach during spring break, at first it appears to be no big deal. Very soon, the entire country is invested in the search for Brittanee Drexel.

The disappearance of Brittanee Drexel

When a 17-year-old girl from New York goes missing in Myrtle Beach during spring break, at first it appears to be no big deal. Very soon, the entire country is invested in the search for Brittanee Drexel.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Two cold cases solved in Chatham County after 40 years

DNA technology was able to solve cases were 43 and 46 years old, the oldest cases to be solved with forensic genealogy in North Carolina to date.

Nonprofit puts new eyes on cold cases

In this episode of the What Remains podcast: how new eyes and new DNA technology are solving even the oldest cold cases. And Alec's niece walks us through their decades-old search for answers that finally paid off.

New tech unravels a missing persons mystery after more than 40 years

Most people give up trying unravel a mystery after a short period of time. Unraveling mysteries and figuring out complicated puzzles are both mentally and emotionally exhausting. But sometimes, taking another look at a cold case with fresh eyes can give you the clarity you need to solve it.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

What's in the water? Clues to cold cases

Isotope analysis can show where someone has spent time, narrowing a identity for otherwise unknown crime victims.

Isotope analysis: A roadmap through someone's past

In episode 16 of the What Remains podcast, we explore the growing field of isotope analysis and how it may just be better than a GPS at telling scientists where someone has been in the world.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Forensic genealogy solves Aussie man's identity after 75 years

A man was found dead on Somerton Beach in South Australia in 1948. The case stumped so many people for 75 years until a college professor and a genealogist in California got together and unraveled it.

Forensic genealogy helps to solve the mystery of The Somerton Man

In this episode of the What Remains podcast we tell you how a professor and a genealogist teamed up to solve one of the oldest mysteries in the world.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

After 60 years, a cold case solved by new DNA technology

Episode 14 of the What Remains podcast reexamines the case of "Little Miss Nobody," and the unknown remains that would take 62 years to identify.

Who was 'Little Miss Nobody?'

Episode 14 of the What Remains podcast reexamines the case of "Little Miss Nobody," and the unknown remains that would take 62 years to identify.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Surprising law explained in 'What Remains' episode 13

Amanda Lamb, the host of "What Remains," talks about a law involving missing persons that surprisingly does not apply in every state.

Alice's father was there all along: States can help in the heartbreaking search for missing persons

In Episode 13 of the What Remains podcast, we take you on a journey with two heartbroken families who turn their grief into action along with the help of a young state lawmaker who made good on her campaign promise to help them.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

What Remains: Investigator's work opens door to solve more cold cases

WRAL's Amanda Lamb explores law enforcement's aim to connect human remains to the missing and the murdered. The North Carolina Unidenfied Project is a non-profit that tries to identify unidentified remains in the state.

What Remains: Charlotte solves cold case with help from Wake forensic genealogist

Human remains found by a construction crew. WRAL's Amanda Lamb explains what it takes to connect these finds to the missing and the murdered.

The challenge of identifying people who lived in the shadows

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Lt. Brian Crum calls the mission to identify all unidentified remains "a solemn responsibility."

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter