DNA: ID – Episode: Brad Bellino (April 6, 2026)

Host: Jessica Bettencourt
Produced by: AbJack Entertainment

Overview

This episode of “DNA: ID” meticulously explores the tragic 1972 murder of 12-year-old Brad Bellino in Boardman Township, Ohio—a cold case only resolved fifty years later through the application of investigative genetic genealogy. The host, Jessica Bettencourt, dissects not only how DNA and genealogical science finally led investigators to Brad's killer, Joseph Norman Hill, but also delves into the “why,” the web of suspects, the devastation wrought on families and communities, and the broader implications for other unsolved crimes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brad Bellino’s Disappearance and Discovery

• Background: Brad Bellino, a typical, outgoing 12-year-old, was reported missing by his family on April 1, 1972, after not returning home from a sleepover at his best friend Don Templeman's house.
• Last known movements:
  • Left the Templeman residence at 7:30 pm, intending to walk home (about four miles).
  • Attempts to call home for a ride went unanswered.
  • Multiple unsubstantiated sightings throughout the Easter weekend complicated the investigation.
• Discovery of the body:
  • [57:00] On April 4, Brad’s body was found by sanitation workers in a dumpster behind Isaly’s dairy store at Boardman Plaza, 1.5 miles from the Templemans’ and 2 miles from his own home.
  • Evidence of sexual assault and strangulation; time of death estimated within hours of his last meal on Friday, suggesting he died the night he disappeared.

2. Initial Investigation & Widespread Panic

• Shock and horror in the Boardman community upon learning of Brad’s sexual assault and murder.
• Heavy police involvement: Sought out any and every possible suspect, including local men with any history of sexual misconduct or suspicious behavior. Polygraphs and character references were heavily relied upon.
• Notable quote:

  “As you can imagine, the news that Brad had been found molested and murdered shocked and horrified the community.” – [01:10:00]

3. The Long List of Suspects

• Widespread scrutiny: Dozens of men, mostly those with criminal records relating to indecent exposure or abuse of minors, were investigated, polygraphed, and sometimes cleared by unreliable means—polygraph technology.
• Detailed example: Kenneth LeClaire, a local special police officer and Boy Scout troop leader with a long history of predation toward boys, was the main suspect for nearly 30 years.
  • Notable moment:

    “Leclair was a sexual predator who preyed on young boys who trusted him and he threatened them so they would never reveal what he had done.” – [01:45:00]

• Other notable suspects included known offenders Ralph Martin, John Diamond, Anthony G., Richard J., and others; most were ruled out by late 20th/early 21st-century DNA technology.

4. Forensic and DNA Breakthroughs

• Difficulty with physical evidence: Original semen samples from autopsy destroyed, clothing found negative for DNA in 1972.
• 2001: Brad’s body exhumed for reference DNA; improved analytical methods detected a partial male DNA profile from semen on Brad’s jeans.
  • “[02:30:00] They now had a DNA profile that almost certainly came from Brad's killer and they could use it for direct comparison...”
• Main suspects ruled out by DNA: LeClaire, Diamond, and others all excluded.
• Major leap: In 2018, BCI sent the DNA sample to Parabon Nanolabs for phenotype and genealogical analysis, kickstarting the painstaking process of tracing distant relatives, finally narrowing to the Rydell family network.

5. Investigative Genetic Genealogy’s Role in the Case

• The process: Multiple family matches, dead ends, and the need for agreement from living family members for reference testing.
• Breakthrough: Identification pointed to Joseph Norman Hill, deceased in 2019 and previously completely unknown to authorities.
• Confirmation:

  “Lab analyst Erica Jimenez ... reported ... the tests showed the DNA collected from the son of Joseph Norman Hill confirmed that his father was the man who had deposited the sperm on Brad Bellino’s jeans.” – [03:45:00]

6. The Profile and Background of Joseph Norman Hill

• Who was Hill?
  • Born 1939 in Youngstown, Ohio; lived in Boardman at the time of Brad’s murder.
  • Drove a delivery truck, owned a goldish 1970 Monte Carlo and a dark-colored van (matching descriptions of vehicles seen in the area).
  • Later moved to California, limited known criminal history (one lewd conduct conviction in L.A.).
  • No known connection to Brad, his family, school, or organized youth activities; considered an opportunistic predator.
• No prior link: His name never appeared in the vast case files despite hundreds of suspects.

  “Now, he said, when he thinks about the case of Bradley Bellino going forward, he will do so knowing the boy is finally at peace.” – Retired Officer Robert Rupp [04:05:00]

7. Link to the David Evans Case

• Another victim:
  • David Evans, a 13-year-old Boardman boy, disappeared and was found dead in January 1975, less than a mile from Brad.
  • Original cause labeled “diabetic coma;” new forensic review determined homicide.
• 2023: Post-Bellino solution, DNA from David’s underwear matched Joseph Norman Hill, confirming him as a serial offender.
• Expansion: Hill, posthumously, identified as the perpetrator for both murders; further cases in Ohio and California are under review.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On community impact:

  “That kind of thing just didn’t happen. Bear in mind also that this was 1972. Gay men were pariahs and often had to remain closeted, their sexual activity banned by law...” – [01:15:00] (contextualizing era and investigation focus)

• On advances in forensic science:

  “The original testing found nothing, but both David Evans and Brad Bellino’s clothing items were retained and tested again 50 years later. The miracles of modern science. The testing…cost $29,000, but answers are priceless.” – [04:50:00]

• On closure vs. justice:

  “While Hill cannot be fully held accountable for this horrendous crime, our hope is that after 50 years, knowing who is responsible for Brad Bellino’s death can bring some sense of closure to his family and friends.” – Boardman Police Chief Todd Worth [04:20:00]

• On the relentless work of investigators:

  “Ever since that day that I stood at the dumpster and saw them pull that boy out, I’ve thought of that case every day of my life.” – Retired Officer Robert Rupp [04:06:00]

• On the future of cold case work:

  “If you are one of the bad guys, they are coming for you.” – Host Jessica Bettencourt [04:53:00]

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [00:42] – [06:44]: Brad’s disappearance, last known activities, and discovery of his body.
• [06:45] – [01:15:00]: Background, early investigation, and a litany of tips, unconfirmed sightings, and suspect profiles.
• [01:15:00] – [01:53:00]: In-depth focus on local predators including Kenneth LeClaire; wrongful focus and shifting theories.
• [02:30:00]: The emergence and importance of DNA evidence; difficulties and setbacks in obtaining viable samples.
• [02:45:00] – [03:55:00]: The arrival of genetic genealogy; tracing distant family lines, reference testing milestones, and identifying Hill.
• [04:00:00] – [04:20:00]: The press conference and official case closure, with emotional reflections by police, prosecutors, and attending media.
• [04:22:00] – [04:40:00]: The discovery that Hill was also the killer of David Evans.
• [04:50:00] – [end]: Reflections on the impact of the case, forensic advancements, and the hope for more future resolutions using IGG.

Tone & Style

Jessica Bettencourt delivers this episode with a mix of clinical detail and deeply empathetic narration. She addresses the horrors of child crimes with dignity, offers context about societal attitudes of the 1970s, and maintains hope in law enforcement’s evolving pursuit of justice. The tone balances the gravity of the crimes, respect for the victims, and recognition of technological progress.

Conclusion

This episode powerfully demonstrates the painstaking, decades-long dedication required to resolve cold cases—and how investigative genetic genealogy is revolutionizing justice for victims even a half-century later. Through countless dead ends, false leads, and evolving forensic science, Brad Bellino’s and David Evans’s families, classmates, and communities finally received the answers—and a measure of closure—they waited so long for.

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