DNA: ID – Doe ID: 'Davie Canal Jane Doe' Lori Kearsey

Host: Jessica Bettencourt (AbJack Entertainment)
Episode Date: March 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, the host examines the case of the “Davie Canal Jane Doe,” a young woman who was found murdered in a Florida canal in 1984 and who remained unidentified for nearly 40 years. Using the latest investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) techniques, her identity as Lori Jane Kearsey was finally established in 2023. The episode explores how genetic genealogy helped solve this decades-old mystery, offers a detailed portrait of Lori’s life, and probes the possible connections between her unsolved murder and organized crime, touching upon the mafia’s pervasive influence in New England and Florida during the 1980s. The host highlights the personal and investigative journey that led to Lori’s identification and the ongoing quest for justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discovery of the Davie Canal Jane Doe

[02:24 – 07:40]

• The Crime Scene:

  • On February 18, 1984, a half-naked woman was found face down in a canal in Davie, Florida—a remote area favored as a dumping ground.
  • Victim details: White female, 24–30 years old, 5'4", 120 lbs, bleached blonde hair, distinctive dental work.
  • Cause of death: Asphyxiation. Unclear whether by strangulation or smothering.
  • Only wearing cutoff jean shorts, with a rope tied around her midsection. No ID, no useful evidence found initially.

• Early Investigation Stalls:

  • Police attempts to identify via fingerprints failed.
  • No witnesses and minimal physical evidence.
  • Initial suspicion of involvement by serial killer Christopher Wilder, but no evidence surfaced.

• Cold Case Status:

  • Entered into NamUs as UP1258.
  • DNA extracted in 2011, but no matches for years.
  • Multiple facial reconstructions were made; none led to an ID.

Breakthrough via Investigative Genetic Genealogy

[07:40 – 11:11]

• Renewed Scientific Efforts:

  • In 2022, Detective Eddie Velazquez and CSI Bertha Hurtado employed modern forensic anthropology and IGG.
  • LSU’s FACES Lab produced updated forensic images; bone samples sent for a SNP profile after several attempts.

• Genealogy Research by CeCe Moore:

  • Used GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA; encountered complicated family trees due to endogamy (intermarriage in regional populations).
  • Traced DNA links back to Richmond, Nova Scotia, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.
  • Breakthrough: Linked genetic networks leading to Bob Kearsey of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

• Family Confirmation & Emotional Impact:

  • Contacted Bob’s surviving daughter, Sharon: “Yes, I have a missing sister.”
    [Notable Moment – 09:29]
  • Sharon’s niece, Megan Smith (Lori’s daughter), quickly confirmed possibility and provided a DNA sample.
  • “We may have found your mother… She was strangled and dumped in a canal in Davie, Florida.”
    —Davie investigator to Megan Smith, [09:54]
  • Family photos matched the forensic composites.
  • “Once everybody saw the pictures and composites, we knew 100% it was her.”
    —Megan Smith, South Florida Sun Sentinel, [10:19]
  • “I thought I would probably never know what happened to her. The feeling of picking up her remains and I haven’t touched a part of her in 41 years is surreal.”
    —Megan Smith, WSVN, [10:40]

Lori Kearsey’s Story: Life, Family, and Circumstances

[12:03 – 17:40]

• Background & Early Life:

  • Born around 1962 to Robert Kearsey and Linda Catherine McLeod; raised in Massachusetts.
  • Mother died in a tragic shooting (ruled suicide) when Lori was five.

• Adolescence & Young Motherhood:

  • Left home young; gave birth to daughter Megan at age 17.
  • Worked as a cocktail waitress in a Saugus nightclub.

• Marriage into Organized Crime:

  • In June 1983, at age 21, Lori married James W. Anguillo Jr., linked to the notorious Anguillo mafia family in Boston.
  • Family reports Lori was “love bombed” and swept up before vanishing eight months later.

The Mafia Connection and the Witness Protection Ruse

[17:40 – 21:02]

• Crime Family Ties & FBI Interest:

  • Anguillo family notorious for illegal gambling, loan sharking, and extortion—targeted by the FBI.
  • Lori’s husband’s relatives: prominent figures in New England mafia.
  • Just months after the wedding: major federal racketeering indictments.

• Rumors of Witness Protection:

  • Family lore: Lori made a deal with the FBI, went into witness protection.
  • Sharon recounts Lori’s fearful late-night visit and subsequent pickup by a “police officer” purporting to take her into protection.
  • “She said she made a deal with the FBI and she was going into witness protection.”
    —Sharon, recalling Lori’s words, [15:44]
  • FBI records show Lori was never in their protection programs; no official documentation of her being a witness.
  • Host: “I asked Detective Velazquez, did Laurie make up the witness protection thing or was she forced into it? No. He said he believes Laurie was fooled… and they used witness protection as a ruse to get rid of her for unknown reasons.” [16:46]

• The Role of Corrupt Police:

  • The officer who picked up Lori was likely on the Anguillo family payroll.
  • Organized crime utilized both legitimate and corrupt law enforcement to manipulate outcomes and cover tracks.

Theories and Ongoing Investigation

[21:49 – 25:20]

• Lori’s Last Movements:

  • Evidence she may have willingly moved to Florida, believing she’d be “safe,” having sold her furniture beforehand.
  • Her husband, Anguillo Jr., now resides in Florida. He told police his wife left him in late 1983, did not report her missing, and later remarried without listing Lori on his certificate.

• Pattern of Canal Murders:

  • Several women were found murdered in canals in Davie during the 1980s.
  • Police do not link Lori’s case with serial killer Donald Lawless, but consider Anguillo Jr. or associates as key persons of interest.

• Current Efforts:

  • Testing of Lori’s shorts and the rope for male DNA to possibly identify the killer.
  • Continuing appeal for public help and new leads.

Family’s Reflections & the Power of Closure

[25:20 – 26:28]

• Enduring Impact on Family:

  • “She dropped me off over the weekend and just didn’t come back.”
    —Megan Smith, WSVN, [25:28]
  • “I never actually knew how much I needed that closure until it happened… My whole life I knew something happened to her. But now to have the closure… she never got a chance.”
    —Megan, South Florida Sun Sentinel, [25:48]
  • The identification brought peace to Lori’s family, especially for her daughter and granddaughters.

• On Her Former Husband:

  • “I always knew that she was married to someone in a crime family…It's so painfully obvious, but it's hard to prove cases.”
    —Megan, South Florida Messenger, [26:06]
  • On Anguillo Jr.: “Him going to jail doesn't do anything for my life, but he probably won't sleep very well for the rest of his life. Whoever did this can always be wondering. There’s so many new answers in testing evidence. They’ll be scared that the one thing they thought would never come up came up. That’s good enough for me.”
    —Megan, Fox News, [26:18]

• Law Enforcement's Commitment:

  • “We…want to bring to justice those who were involved in this criminal case.”
    —Davie Police Sergeant Kevin Urbez, press conference October 2023, [26:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Once everybody saw the pictures and composites, we knew 100% it was her.”
  —Megan Smith, [10:19]
• “The feeling of picking up her remains and I haven’t touched a part of her in 41 years is surreal.”
  —Megan Smith, [10:40]
• “She said she made a deal with the FBI and she was going into witness protection.”
  —Sharon (Lori's sister), [15:44]
• “He [Detective Velazquez] said he believes Laurie was fooled and believed that she was being taken away…for her own safety...They used witness protection as a ruse to get rid of her for unknown reasons.”
  —Host paraphrasing Detective Velazquez, [16:46]
• “Him going to jail doesn’t do anything for my life, but he probably won’t sleep very well for the rest of his life. Whoever did this can always be wondering...That’s good enough for me.”
  —Megan Smith, [26:18]
• “We...want to bring to justice those who were involved in this criminal case.”
  —Sgt. Kevin Urbez, [26:24]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Brief Description | |-----------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:24 | Crime Discovery | Found body, initial investigation details. | | 07:40 | IGG Initiated | Forensic genealogy approach, CeCe Moore’s work. | | 09:29 | Family Contacted | Contact with Kearsey family, emotional moment. | | 10:19 | Confirmation & Photos | Family recognizes Lori, photo composites. | | 10:40 | Megan’s Emotional Account | Daughter recounts experience of reclaiming her mother. | | 12:03 | Lori’s Life | Detailed biography, family circumstances, and marriage to Anguillo Jr. | | 15:44 | Witness Protection Ruse | Sharon recounts Lori’s FBI story. | | 16:46 | Host on Mafia Ruse | Host analysis: Lori manipulated, police corruption. | | 21:49 | Ongoing Investigation | What happened in Florida, interviews, and new evidence. | | 25:28 | Megan on Closure | Reflections on finally knowing her mother’s fate. | | 26:18 | Megan’s Statement on Justice| Acceptance of the situation, unresolved but with peace. | | 26:24 | Police Press Conference | Sgt. Urbez’s commitment to seeking justice for Lori. |

Episode Tone & Style

The episode blends empathetic storytelling with diligent investigative analysis, using a tone that is both respectful to the victim and family and sharply inquisitive about the enduring mysteries and the power of DNA technology to bring answers and justice even after decades.

Conclusion

Through careful research and modern DNA science, the podcast reconstructs both the life and tragic fate of Lori Jane Kearsey. Despite the decades-long gap and persistent myths about witness protection, the episode illustrates how organized crime ties, police corruption, and family secrets can keep answers hidden—but also how technology and perseverance can finally bring them to light. The case remains unsolved, but as forensic science advances, hope remains for both justice and closure.