503: The Body in the Sand (from "Naming the Dead")

503: The Body in the Sand (from "Naming the Dead")

From True Crime Obsessed by True Crime Obsessed

May 28, 2026 · 50 min · Episode 503

About this episode

This episode discusses the identification of an unidentified young woman found in the Arizona desert and the efforts of forensic genealogists to piece together her story.

The body of an unidentified young woman was found in the Arizona desert in August 1992. Over thirty years later, the incredible efforts of the forensic genealogists at the DNA Doe Project would identify her as Melody Harrison. But how they pieced together her story traces a puzzle that brought together long-lost relatives and shed light on a little known adoption program from post-WWII Germany. Learn more about the DNA Doe Project's work on this case here , and for more information on Mabel Grammer's work, check out this article . Find and watch "The Body in the Sand" on Hulu LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? On our Patreon feed , you'll find over 400 FULL AD-FREE BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW , including our episode-by-episode coverage of popular documentary series like Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God , LulaRich , and The Curious Case of Natalia Grace ; classics like The Jinx , Making A Murderer , and The Staircase ; and well-known cases like The Menendez Murders , Casey Anthony: American Murder Mystery , and The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann , and so many more! Episode Sponsors: Batch - Expertly crafted hemp blends to help you relax, sleep deeper, and feel balanced day to day…

People in this episode

Host: True Crime Obsessed

Topics covered

  • forensic genealogy
  • unidentified bodies
  • adoption programs
  • Arizona desert
  • DNA Doe Project

Keywords

  • Melody Harrison
  • DNA Doe Project
  • forensic genealogy
  • Arizona desert
  • unidentified body

Sponsors

Batch, O Positiv, ButcherBox

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: DNA Doe Project

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