Culpable: “Domino Effect” | Episode 8

Podcast: Culpable – Tenderfoot TV & Audacy
Host: Dennis Cooper
Date: October 13, 2025

Overview

This episode of Culpable delves into the enduring mystery behind the death of 17-year-old Danny Violette, who went missing for 11 days in the fall of 1998 and was later found dead under suspicious circumstances in a cornfield. Host Dennis Cooper explores the impact of Danny’s unsolved murder on his family, the evolution of the investigation over 25+ years, and the powerful “domino effect” sparked by persistent family members and advocates pushing for DNA testing. Cooper highlights the renewed hope, ongoing frustrations, and lingering grief that have shaped the Violette family’s journey, culminating in the long-awaited sending of evidence for advanced DNA analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. The Lasting Impact of Loss

• Family's Struggle for Answers
  The podcast opens with the Violette family and advocates expressing their frustration with stalled investigations, lack of movement from authorities, and the yearning for justice (01:24, 31:16).

  "It's infuriating really, that there's been no movement or real effort to hold somebody responsible." — Danielle, 31:16

  • The emotional toll is apparent: family members recount their different ways of coping, ranging from emotional shutdowns to pouring themselves into work and advocacy (14:16, 15:01).
  • For 25 years, silence and confusion dominated family interactions; only in recent years, partly thanks to the podcast, has the family spoken openly about Danny and his case (16:50, 17:17).

B. Remembering Danny Violette — A Life Cut Short

• Childhood Memories and Sibling Perspectives
  Through a series of touching interviews, family members recall Danny’s vivacious personality and his protective role among siblings (05:15, 06:01, 07:07).

  “He would always confront each of the perpetrators...Danny was an excellent older brother.” — Drew, 06:26

  • Danny’s adventurous spirit, budding wrestling talent, and close family bonds shine through the recollections (08:14, 08:29).
  • The show poignantly reflects on the family’s pain after his disappearance and the devastation following the discovery of his body (10:34, 11:35).

• The Aftermath
  The Violet family is candid about their struggle to heal and move forward, with parents Jane and Daniel divorcing and the siblings growing up largely without closure (16:02).

  “Who’s got the roadmap for what you do when your kid dies?” — Jane, 15:01

C. The Community and Case Advocacy

• Vigil and Community Support
  Fast-forwarding to the present, the host attends a vigil honoring Danny and another local victim, Regina Hicks. Community members, university cold case students, and the Violette family gather to renew their call for justice (18:06–24:08).

  “Together we are stronger and we won’t give up. Please join me in lighting a candle in their honor.” — Danielle at the vigil, 22:34

• Regina Hicks’ Case – An Arc of Hope
  Regina Hicks’ murder, once also cold, sees an arrest after the vigil, providing hope for Danny’s case (24:18).

D. The Push for DNA Testing & Institutional Roadblocks

• Initiative for DNA Testing
  Inspired by advances in forensic science, the family pushes for retesting preserved evidence using private lab Sorenson Forensics and the highly sensitive M-Vac system (27:00–28:56).

  • Cost was lower than anticipated ($6,000), and the community rallies with donations (28:13).

  “It’s less than $6,000. It costs less than our transmission estimate on our van.” — Danielle, 28:13

• Law Enforcement Impediments
  Despite momentum, the family faces bureaucratic stagnation from the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, with delayed communications and extra requirements stalling the process (29:00–32:10).

  “I’ll jump through whatever hoops they tell me to jump through… But nothing.” — Danielle, 30:44

• Frustration with the System
  Michael Curtis, professor and legal counsel to the family, voices his exasperation at the lack of response or progress (33:03–35:56).

  “I was so optimistic… and here we are... You’re at the whim of bureaucracy.” — Michael Curtis, 35:30

E. A Turn in the Case: Renewed Cooperation

• Breakthrough in 2025
  Persistence pays off as a key meeting results in law enforcement’s renewed commitment to test the evidence and consider reopening the case based on results (38:03–39:55).
  • The assigned lead investigator, Detective Gillum, expresses a desire to help (38:03).
  • Family members reflect on the journey’s emotional toll and their desire for closure (41:25–44:50).

F. Grief, Hope, and Messages to Danny

• Family Reflections
  Each family member shares personal impacts—strength, continued grief, and hope for answers. They speak with deep emotion, contemplating what life might have been like had Danny survived (45:25–48:46).

  “I love you, Danny. I miss you. And I’ll see you someday.” — Daniel (father), 46:13

  “We still love him. We have always loved him. He’s my little boy. He’ll always be my little boy.” — Jane (mother), 48:19

• Renewed Hope
  The episode ends with the news that the evidence has finally been sent to the lab—marking a new chapter for the investigation, and a collective sigh of relief for everyone involved (49:11–49:47).

  “It feels like there’s finally a possibility that we’ll get some answers. And I haven’t felt that way in a long, long time.” — Jane, 49:11

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “There’s enough there that DNA would make a difference. We can speculate, but until we know for sure, that’s just a huge area that needs to be investigated.”
  — Danielle, 01:24

• “When you set up a domino run and give that first tile a nudge, there’s joy in watching each one topple along the way…but you’re not really all that satisfied until you see the last domino fall.”
  — Dennis Cooper, 02:49

• “He would always confront each of the perpetrators of whatever. Like, no matter how big or small. Danny was an excellent older brother.”
  — Drew (brother), 06:26

• “Who’s got the roadmap for what you do when your kid dies? Who’s written a book that says what to do now?” — Jane (mother), 15:01

• “I am done with not knowing…If anybody did know something, I would hope that after this amount of time that’s passed that they would have the decency to come out and tell our family…”
  — Drew, 39:55

• “Give to God and just try to live my life the way that I think Danny would want me to live it. I know he’s looking down on me…As flawed as we are as a family, I think he’s proud of us.”
  — Ross, 41:41

• “I love you, Danny. I miss you. And I’ll see you someday.”
  — Daniel (father), 46:13

• “We still love him. We have always loved him. He’s my little boy. He’ll always be my little boy.”
  — Jane (mother), 48:19

• “It feels like there’s finally a possibility that we’ll get some answers. And I haven’t felt that way in a long, long time. It feels like there’s real interest, there’s real work going into it, and it might bear fruit.”
  — Jane, 49:11

Important Segments, with Timestamps

| Segment | Time (MM:SS) | |-------------|------------------| | Frustrations with lack of movement (Danielle) | 01:24, 31:16 | | Dennis Cooper introduces the domino effect metaphor | 02:49 | | Memories and early life of Danny | 05:15–09:47 | | Danny’s disappearance and discovery | 10:34–12:28 | | Coping with Danny’s death – Family perspectives | 14:16, 15:01, 16:02 | | Emergence of family dialogue after podcast | 16:50, 17:17 | | Community vigil and university cold case involvement | 18:06–24:08 | | Arrest in Regina Hicks case provides hope | 24:18 | | DNA testing initiative begins | 27:00–28:56 | | Law enforcement stalls efforts | 29:00–32:10 | | Michael Curtis expresses frustration with bureaucracy | 33:03–35:56 | | Breakthrough meeting: law enforcement starts cooperating | 38:03–39:55 | | Family reflections and renewing hope | 41:25–46:48 | | News: Evidence finally sent to lab | 49:11–49:47 |

Overall Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode’s tone is somber but determined, blending intense grief with cautious optimism. Dennis Cooper and the Violette family openly navigate their pain, the stagnation and setbacks with authorities, and the relief as progress is finally made. The “domino effect” metaphor recurs, underscoring how one act—an email, a vigil, a donation—can shift entire trajectories in cases like these.

The episode powerfully closes by urging anyone with information to come forward, reinforcing the podcast’s dual purpose as both story and platform for justice.

For more information, to submit tips, or to support the case, visit culpablepodcast.com. The family is offering a $10,000 reward for info leading to conviction or closure. Tip line: 470-300-0238.

If you haven’t listened:
This episode is a moving, comprehensive look at the human cost of unresolved violence, the persistence needed to seek justice, and the hope that even cold cases can find resolution—one domino at a time.