America's Crime Lab Season 1, Episode 5: "What Remains" Release Date: August 6, 2025

Introduction

In the gripping fifth episode of America's Crime Lab, titled "What Remains," hosts from iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope delve into a haunting cold case from Ogden, Utah. This episode illuminates the silent epidemic of unidentified human remains (UHRs) and showcases how advanced DNA technology from Othram reignites hope for resolution and closure for families left in the dark for decades.

The 1992 Case: Discovery and Initial Investigation

The episode begins by painting a vivid picture of Ogden, Utah—a picturesque town with a rich history reminiscent of old Westerns. In April 1992, firefighters respond to what appears to be a routine field fire adjacent to a highway, gas station, and truck stop. However, they quickly realize the blaze centers around an abandoned boat engulfed in flames.

[04:34] Aylin Lancelosser: "It's springtime April, and firefighters are called to a fire in a field in Ogden, Utah, which is about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City."

Detective Ty Hebden from the Weber County Sheriff's Office recounts the initial chaos upon discovering a burned body inside the boat.

[06:40] Detective Ty Hebden: "Initially, it was just a grass fire or a field fire that then as they got there and saw that it was a boat, and then that's when they notice that there's actually a burned body within the fire itself."

The victim was determined to be a male, approximately six feet tall and aged between 30 and 45, who suffered smoke inhalation, indicating he was alive during the fire. Despite basic DNA testing and extensive searches through missing persons databases like NAMUS, the victim remained unidentified, and the case quickly went cold.

[09:28] Detective Ty Hebden: "They were able to determine that he did have some smoke inhalation. They were able to see that in his lungs to show that he would have been alive at the time of the fire based on the fact that he was breathing in smoke."

Cold Case Reopens: New Efforts and Collaboration

Fast forward to 2024, the Weber County Sheriff's Office establishes its first cold case unit. Detective Hebden reviews twenty stagnant cases, with the 1992 boat discovery catching his attention due to its lingering mysteries: the unidentified remains and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

[11:17] Detective Ty Hebden: "I definitely, definitely always kept homicide there on my mind as a strong possibility."

Recognizing the need for advanced forensic analysis, Detective Hebden reaches out to Steve Ocam, an investigator with the Utah State Bureau of Investigations, known for his expertise in cold cases and sex crimes.

[17:53] Steve Ocam: "We got to solve this case for these guys. So, yeah, let's collaborate and see what we can do."

Othram’s DNA Breakthrough

With preserved evidence from the original investigation—vials of the victim's blood and a sample of pubic hair—Detective Hebden engages Othram, a leading laboratory specializing in forensic DNA analysis, to re-examine these samples. Despite the body's extensive burns, these preserved specimens provide a rare opportunity for identification.

[12:34] Detective Ty Hebden: "But then we actually had the vials of his blood that were collected by the medical examiner's office. We still had them, as well as a bag with the pubic hair."

Approximately six weeks later, Othram delivers groundbreaking news: the victim is identified as Kevin Capps.

[24:44] Host: "And about six weeks later, he hears back from Othram with the name Kevin Capps."

Detective Hebden receives a comprehensive genetic report from Othram, tracing Kevin's lineage and confirming the identification through a solid genetic match.

[24:51] Detective Ty Hebden: "They gave me, like, family, relatives, people that were still alive. It was a pretty cool report that they gave just of tracing down that family tree of this relative and this relative, and he's got all of this genetic makeup that brings it back to a pretty solid match that it was him."

Reconnecting with the Capps Family

The identification opens a new chapter in the investigation—reaching out to Kevin Capps' surviving family members. Detective Hebden contacts Chelsea Laro, Kevin's daughter, who was only four years old when her father disappeared.

[32:53] Aylin Lancelosser: "She was the least likely suspect... she would probably be the one kind of questioning the most of what happened."

Chelsea recounts the emotional turmoil of growing up without her father, the constant hope her sister held onto sightings of him, and the enduring impact of his absence.

[35:55] Detective Ty Hebden: "I did always wonder what it would be like to have a dad in my life... So for me, it was really hard not having him around... a big weight off my shoulders."

The identification brings immense relief but also unearths more unanswered questions about how Kevin ended up burned on a boat in a remote field.

Emotional Closure and Ongoing Investigation

While the identification of Kevin Capps brings closure to his immediate family, the circumstances of his death remain shrouded in mystery. Detective Hebden emphasizes the challenges in determining whether Kevin's death was accidental or homicidal, given the limited evidence available due to the fire's destructive nature.

[39:06] Aylin Lancelosser: "So it is still an open investigation... the case up even more."

Detective Hebden acknowledges that while major strides have been made in identifying the victim, uncovering the truth behind his death is an ongoing pursuit.

[39:13] Detective Ty Hebden: "One of the things with dealing with a body that's burned up to that extent is it makes it very difficult for us to be able to determine if there were other injuries."

Conclusion and Teaser for Next Episode

The episode concludes with a poignant reflection on the power of modern forensic science to resolve decades-old mysteries and the profound impact such resolutions have on the families involved. As Detective Hebden and Steve Ocam continue to unravel the complexities surrounding Kevin Capps' death, listeners are left anticipating further developments in this compelling case.

[40:32] Chelsea Laro: "Next time on America's Crime Lab takes..."

Notable Quotes:

• Detective Ty Hebden [06:40]: "Initially, it was just a grass fire or a field fire... that's when they notice that there's actually a burned body within the fire itself."

• Steve Ocam [17:53]: "We got to solve this case for these guys. So, yeah, let's collaborate and see what we can do."

• Detective Ty Hebden [24:51]: "He still has family here in Utah... what hit me hard was realizing that he also had a daughter."

• Chelsea Laro [36:30]: "I did always wonder what it would be like to have a dad in my life... So for me, it was really hard not having him around."

Key Takeaways

• Unidentified Remains: Thousands of unidentified bodies linger in medical examiner's offices, awaiting identification that can bring closure to families and communities.

• Advances in DNA Technology: Labs like Othram are revolutionizing the process of identifying victims through sophisticated DNA analysis, even decades after discovery.

• Emotional Impact: Identifying a victim not only solves a criminal or accidental death but also profoundly affects the lives of surviving family members who have lived in uncertainty.

• Ongoing Investigations: While identification is a significant first step, determining the cause and circumstances of death remains a complex challenge, especially in cases with limited evidence.

Episode Credits: Produced by Rococo Punch for Kaleidoscope. Story edited by Erica Lantz, sound design by David Woje. Executive producers include Kate Osborne, Mangesh Hadi Kadur, David and Kristen Mittleman, with contributions from the team at Othram.

Thank you for listening to America's Crime Lab. Stay tuned for more episodes uncovering the hidden truths behind America's most perplexing cold cases.