How DNA Forensic Genetic Genealogy Brought A Monster To Justice

How DNA Forensic Genetic Genealogy Brought A Monster To Justice

Author: Robert Riggs May 9, 2023 Duration: 39:21
50 Sexual Assault Victims Will Never Forget The Stare of Serial Rapist David Hawkins When He Held A Gun To Their Heads

This is the third episode in my series about how new DNA technology solves previously unsolvable cold cases.  It’s called FGG — Forensic Genetic Genealogy.

I’m investigative reporter Robert Riggs taking you inside the crime scene case into how the first use of forensic genetic genealogy in Dallas County, Texas, caught a serial rapist responsible for over 50 victims.

76-year-old David Thomas Hawkins – Serial Rapist – Serving Life Sentence – Michael Maximum Security Prison – Texas

75-year-old David Thomas Hawkins of Fort Worth, Texas, left a trail of victims along his truck route for at least ten years.

The investigation by the office of District Attorney John Creuzot was made possible by a Sexual Assault Kit Initiative federal grant known as SAKI.

Leighton D’Antoni — Cold Case Prosecutor Dallas County

You will learn more about SAKI in this episode from cold case prosecutor Leighton D’Antoni who is solving cases once thought to be unsolvable.

D’Antoni is on the cutting edge of using sophisticated DNA technology that stems from research on the human genome project to solve murders and sexual assault cases.


You Can Reach D’Antoni at: leighton.dantoni@dallascounty.org


FOLLOW the True Crime Reporter® Podcast 

SIGN UP FOR my True Crime Newsletter

THANK YOU FOR THE FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON APPLE Please leave one – it really helps.

TELL ME about a STORY OR SUBJECT  that you want to hear more about


Robert Riggs has spent decades as an investigative reporter, and in True Crime Reporter, he applies that relentless, document-driven approach to the stories that haunt us. This isn't just a retelling of grim headlines; it's a meticulous walk through active case files, historical injustices, and the societal undercurrents that allow crime to flourish. Each episode feels like you're sitting across from Riggs as he lays out his notes, connecting dots between evidence, witness accounts, and the often-overlooked details that change a narrative. You'll hear the tension in the pursuit of truth, the weight of unresolved questions, and the quiet impact on communities and families left in the wake of violence. The podcast moves beyond the sensational to examine the cultural and systemic factors at play, offering a sober, deeply researched perspective. Listen for long-form narratives that build like a detective's board, where every piece of audio, every interview, and every document serves a purpose. It’s for those who want to understand the 'why' and the 'how' as much as the 'who,' presented with the clarity and authority of a seasoned journalist who knows the terrain. This is a journey into real stories, handled with the care they demand, and it naturally becomes an essential listen for anyone fascinated by the intersection of human behavior, justice, and the news.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

True Crime Reporter
Podcast Episodes
NCIS From Evidence to Arrest: Analyzing Murder Cases Step by Step [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:38
If you are a fan of the NCIS television drama, you are in for a treat. My guest is homicide investigator Joe Kennedy, a former Special Agent for the real-life NCIS. NCIS Special Agent Joe Kennedy Teaching Police In The P…
Rise And Fall Of A Pro Pitcher: From the Bull Pen To The Texas Pen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:58
The high school baseball player hung a homemade motivational sign on the wall of his bedroom. It read Brandon Puffer will be a Major League Baseball player. Indeed, Puffer made it to what ballplayers call “The Show.” Onl…
Fearless In The Face Of Murder: Unstoppable Detective Johnny Bonds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:52
God forbid if I ever was murdered, I would want Johnny Bonds on the case. His name sounds like a film noir detective. Johnny Bonds is the stuff true crime legends are made of. In 1972, he became the youngest officer ever…
She Lived Next Door To America’s Most Infamous Killer: The UNABOMBER [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
Before, there was Osama bin Laden. Before, there was Timothy McVeigh. There was Ted Kaczynski. The UNABOMBER. FBI codename for “UNiversity and Airline BOMBER.” For sixteen years, Jamie Gehring grew up next door to Ted Ka…
The Enduring Fascination of Bonnie and Clyde: A Love Story Gone Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:26
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were two of the most notorious outlaws in American history, forever linked to the public consciousness. They were young, daring, and dangerous, and they captured the imagination of a countr…
Inside the Minds of Death Row Inmates: A Terrifying Journey Into Evil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:38
Jerry “Animal” McFadden Pastor Wayne Whiteside says, “there are people that seem to be hell-bent on being held bound.” Whiteside knows of what he preaches after ministering to prison inmates for thirty-nine years. He spe…