The Disappearance of Bobby Dunbar:
From Crime at Bedtime by Jack Laurence
May 2, 2026 · 32 min · Season 2 · Episode 51
About this episode
This episode explores the mysterious disappearance of Bobby Dunbar and the subsequent case of mistaken identity revealed by DNA testing.
In 1912, four-year-old Bobby Dunbar vanished beside Louisiana’s Swayze Lake . After eight desperate months, a child was found hundreds of miles away with a travelling handyman — and the Dunbars swore he was their son. The story became a national sensation: a miracle return, a family reunited, faith rewarded. But ninety years later, a simple DNA test exposed one of America’s most haunting cases of mistaken identity. This episode follows the Dunbar mystery from the muddy bayous of Opelousas to a 21st-century laboratory — uncovering a century-old lie, a mother who was never believed, and the family legend that outlived them all. Become a Patreon or Apple + subscriber now for ealry and ad free access from as little as $1.69 a week. All the details here Subscribe to Crime at Bedtimes Youtube channel HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Jack Laurence
Topics covered
- disappearance
- mistaken identity
- family reunion
- DNA testing
- true crime
- historical case
Keywords
- Bobby Dunbar
- disappearance
- DNA test
- mistaken identity
- true crime
- family legend
- Louisiana
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Louisiana, Swayze Lake, Opelousas
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