Cold Case Files — "The Campfire Mint Murderer"

Podcast: Cold Case Files
Host: Paula Barros (A&E / PodcastOne)
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Episode Theme:
Unraveling the decades-long cold case of nine-year-old Candy Rogers' 1959 abduction and murder in Spokane, Washington—a story marked by community tragedy, relentless investigation, profound loss, and 21st-century forensic breakthroughs that finally named her killer after 62 years.

Episode Overview

This episode of Cold Case Files meticulously recounts the haunting disappearance and murder of Candy Rogers, the enduring impact on her family and the Spokane community, and the relentless efforts of investigators whose innovative use of modern DNA and genetic genealogy finally solved a case that was cold for over six decades. Through first-person recollections, interviews, and forensic details, listeners experience both the emotional toll and the scientific journey behind one of America’s rare solved cold cases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Candy Rogers: Innocence Lost (00:29–03:33)

• Family Life and Community Roots

  • Candy Rogers, a shy, smiling 9-year-old, lived with her single mother and grandparents. She was active in the Campfire Girls and loved dolls.
  • "Candy was the cutest little bug…She had a smile always. She was very shy and an only child." — Joanne Poss (Candy’s Cousin), [02:20]

• The Day of the Disappearance

  • March 6, 1959: Candy excitedly sets out to sell Campfire mints around her neighborhood, aiming to surpass the goal of 20 boxes.
  • She never returned home as darkness fell, sparking immediate concern and the start of an intensive search.

2. The Search and Tragedy Strikes (03:33–07:43)

• Search Efforts and Setbacks

  • Community members, local authorities, and Air Force personnel mobilized for a sweeping search. Volunteer-driven, the search even saw a tragic helicopter crash that killed three airmen.
  • "When daylight came, people turned out in droves…Every walk of life came and volunteered their time." — Narrator, [04:40]

• Discovery of Remains

  • After two weeks of searching, Candy’s remains were found discreetly covered by brush in the woods, symbolizing the community’s worst fears realized.
  • "All we saw was a little kneecap of a child's sticking out of the brush pile." — Detective/Investigator, [06:49]
  • The emotional devastation for Candy’s family and community was palpable.
  • "You don't lose a cousin this way." — Joanne Poss, [07:57]

3. Initial Investigation and Frustration (07:43–18:12)

• Key Early Evidence

  • A latent fingerprint was found on a box of Candy’s mints but never identified.
  • Grape gum found on her jacket hinted at a potential clue but led nowhere.

• Suspect Trails

  • The investigation considered multiple suspects, including a neighbor who committed suicide, a known serial rapist, and the notorious serial killer Hugh Morris, but each avenue ended with either lack of evidence or cleared polygraph results.
  • "For someone to take their own life, that's a big red flag that somebody is experiencing a great deal of guilt, perhaps over Candy." — Detective/Investigator, [10:12]

• Family Impact

  • The series of tragedies—including Candy’s death, the helicopter crash, and eventually her father’s suicide—deeply scarred her family.
  • "First Candy and then these airmen, and then my uncle kills himself." — Joanne Poss, [17:45]

4. The Cold Case Years and DNA Hopes (18:19–24:44)

• Case Goes Cold

  • Despite dogged efforts, leads dried up by the mid-1960s. Candy’s family remained haunted and changed by her unsolved murder.
  • "Every year at the candy sale. I would think, why? Why did this have to happen?" — Joanne Poss, [18:25]
  • Her murder sparked procedural changes such as "the buddy system" for Campfire Girls.

• Forensic Breakthroughs Fail—Until They Don’t

  • In 2001, excitement over a possible fingerprint match faltered when it proved inconclusive.
  • A new investigator re-examined Candy’s evidence, discovering that her preserved underwear contained viable DNA.
  • Advances in forensic science led to a DNA profile, but it matched none of the suspects in CODIS; another dead end.
  • "The DNA profile was then uploaded to the CODIS database…and there were never any hits obtained." — Brittany Wright, Forensic Scientist, [20:53]

5. Genetic Genealogy and the Road to Resolution (24:44–31:26)

• Genetic Genealogy

  • Twenty years later, forensic scientist Brittany Wright used genetic genealogy to pursue new leads.
  • "Genetic genealogy is the use of ancestry databases to build a family tree around the DNA obtained from the crime scene." — Brittany Wright, [21:49]
  • Efforts were hampered by degraded DNA and accident during shipping, straining hope but never extinguishing it.

• Technological Leap: Whole Genome Sequencing

  • Cutting-edge technology at Othram Labs handled the tiny, degraded DNA fragments, producing a critical result.
  • "I decided at that point to double down. And I felt like this could still absolutely get solved." — Brittany Wright, [24:14]
  • Finally, in 2021, a familial link in Spokane narrowed suspects down to three deceased brothers.

6. "It Was Him": The Final Identification (31:06–32:58)

• Direct DNA Comparison
  • With only one of the brothers, John Ray Hoff, having surviving children, his daughter Kathy Baird provided DNA that linked her to the crime scene evidence—but her paternity needed confirmation.
  • "I can't imagine not giving DNA to cover up for somebody, no matter how much I love them." — Kathy Baird, [27:15]
  • Investigators exhumed Hoff’s body; after initial failure, they obtained DNA from a tooth, linking Candy’s murder to John Ray Hoff conclusively.
  • "The match between John Hoff's TOOTH and the DNA evidence was a complete match. It was 25 quintillion times more likely that the profile originated from John Hoff than anybody else." — Brittany Wright, [32:33]
  • After 62 years, the case that haunted Spokane received its answer.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "She wouldn't have gone willingly. She would have fought. I think in Candy's mind, she was giving the police a trail to follow." — Joanne Poss, [04:14]
• "When Candy Rogers' body was discovered, everything changes. The chief is quoted as saying, 'we're dealing with a maniac.'" — Narrator, [07:34]
• “You have to kind of put it in the back of your mind or you wouldn't retain your sanity, I don't think.” — Detective/Investigator, on discovering Candy’s body, [07:19]
• "There's no making him pay for it. There's no punishment. But I'm going to expose him. It's not like I feel guilty like I did it, but I feel responsible, like I wish I could fix it." — Kathy Baird, [33:25]
• "Good overcomes evil." — Joanne Poss, reflecting on her unlikely friendship with the killer's daughter, [35:22]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:29–03:33 — Introduction to Candy Rogers, her family, and her fateful day.
• 03:33–07:43 — Search efforts, helicopter tragedy, and discovery of Candy’s remains.
• 07:43–18:12 — Early investigation, suspects considered and dismissed, devastating impact on the family.
• 18:19–24:44 — DNA evidence emerges, but leads prove frustratingly inconclusive.
• 24:44–31:26 — Application of genetic genealogy and whole genome sequencing brings a break in the case.
• 31:06–32:58 — Exhumation and DNA match finally solve the case.
• 32:58–35:22 — Family reactions, the forging of new bonds, and final reflections.

Emotional Tone and Reflections

• The episode alternates between investigative tension and deep personal sorrow. It highlights not only the science and persistence required to solve cold cases, but also the long shadows they cast over families and communities.
• Closure remains bittersweet. As Joanne Poss says, "I don't feel there's ever justice in a case like this...She might have been a doctor. She could have been a great scientist. We'll never know..." ([34:00])

Conclusion

The Campfire Mint Murderer illustrates the evolution of crime-solving, from community searches and analog forensics to the revolutionary impact of DNA technology and genetic genealogy. Beyond the forensic details, the episode tells a human story—of enduring grief, the ripple effects of tragedy, and the possibility of connection amidst loss. As the case finally closes after 62 years, the program reminds listeners of both the enduring mysteries and the new hope offered by modern science.