Podcast Summary: DNA: ID

Episode: Doe ID: 'Lime Lady' Tammy Tigard
Host: Jessica Betancourt (AbJack Entertainment)
Release Date: February 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of DNA: ID delves deep into the decades-old mystery of an unidentified homicide victim known for years as the “Lime Lady.” The host, Jessica Betancourt, recounts the tragic story of Tamara “Tammy” Lee Tigard: the discovery of her body in Oklahoma in 1980, the decades-long struggle to identify her, and the eventual breakthrough using investigative genetic genealogy. The episode examines not only the resolution of the “who” but the enduring questions of “why,” unearthing the factors in Tammy’s life that may have contributed to her fate and the persistent uncertainties that remain around her unsolved murder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discovery of the "Lime Lady" [02:41]

• April 18, 1980: Fishermen found a human-shaped mound encased in white powder (quicklime) by the North Canadian River near Jones, Oklahoma.
• The quicklime—often incorrectly thought to accelerate decomposition—actually preserved the body due to river moisture, leaving it almost mummified.
• The victim: a young white woman, shot three times in the chest with a .45 caliber handgun.
• Notable detail: one bullet was found together with a dime and fabric, indicating she was shot while clothed (“almost certainly from a shirt”).

  "She had been shot three times in the chest with a .45 caliber handgun. The bullets pierced her lungs and heart... The pathologist was able to remove intact the bullet, the dime, and two fabric fibers..." (Jessica Betancourt, [04:05])

Initial Investigation: Identity and Theories [09:08]

• Victim Details: 18–25 years old, fair skin, freckles, dark blonde hair, 5'6", 115–120 pounds, tattoo of a heart, appendectomy scar and expensive dental work.
• The location was remote; investigators theorized that her killer was likely local or familiar with the area.
• Focus on biker gangs, who were known to frequent the area and often carried .45 caliber firearms.

  "You'd have to know that road was there to drive down it." (Chief Deputy Carson Marshall, via Jessica Betancourt, [09:30])

• Efforts to identify included fingerprints, clay facial reconstructions, and widespread bulletins, but nothing matched missing persons in Oklahoma.
• Remains were eventually buried in an unmarked grave; the skull and jaw were kept for future dental comparisons.

Persistent Detective Work and Advances in DNA [10:45]

• Captain Bob Green became personally invested:

  "She has got to be someone, somebody, and they need closure as well." (Captain Green, [10:58])

• In 2014, a DNA STR profile was extracted and used to rule out a series of candidates, but still no identification was reached.
• The case appeared stalled until genetic genealogy gained attention after the Golden State Killer arrest in 2018.

Breakthrough with Genetic Genealogy [14:16, 16:08]

• 2018: Captain Green contacted the DNA Doe Project (DDP), a nonprofit specializing in resolving unidentified cases through genealogy.

  "It took nine months to get a SNP profile using a blood card...The blood was very degraded, but finally the genetic sequencing was done..." (Jessica Betancourt, [16:08])

• In October 2019, after uploading the profile to GEDmatch, the DDP quickly identified a likely candidate: Tamara Lee Tigard, a missing young woman from California with a military background.
• Dental record comparison confirmed the identity in December 2019.

Tammy Tigard’s Story: Life and Disappearance [17:15]

• Born in California, 1959. Joined Women’s Army Corps in 1978, discharged after suffering assault in service.
• Post-military, drifted through financially and emotionally unstable circles in Las Vegas, including marriage to “C.R. Carr” (a biker with a criminal record) and association with a man named Hennessy.
• March 21, 1980: Reported missing by Hennessy, who claimed she left their Las Vegas apartment on foot and never returned.
• Unbeknownst to loved ones, her body was discovered in Oklahoma within weeks, on what would have been her 21st birthday.

Missteps and Misdirection: The Challenges of Identification [19:50]

• In 1997, a woman in Ohio was found using Tammy’s identity, which led authorities to cancel the missing person’s report. This turned out to be a case of identity theft; the impersonator’s connection to Tammy (if any) remains unknown.
• This derailed investigations for years, as the family assumed Tammy was alive, and clues pointing to her real fate were overlooked.

The Emotional Fallout and Family Involvement [22:41]

• The uncertainty haunted Tammy’s relatives for decades. Family believed she was in witness protection; others thought she’d been arrested or was living under an alias.
• Powerful moment recounted by Nicole, Tammy’s cousin:

  "Nicole told me that thanks to Captain Green, whom she called a godsend...her mom finally got to have a little bit of closure. The not knowing where Tammy was for years and years was torturous to those who loved her..." (Jessica Betancourt, [28:02])

Continuing Mystery and the Unsolved Crime [23:51]

• The episode highlights persistent questions: motive, murderer’s identity, location of murder, and the possible involvement of Tammy’s ex-husband and others.
• Captain Green believes more than one person was involved, citing the physical effort to dispose of the body and the calculated attempt to destroy evidence.
• CR Carr remains a suspect; he denies involvement and shows little cooperation.

  "This was someone very callous, someone with criminal experience, someone who was on a mission to ensure Tammy was dead and never connected to him."
  (Jessica Betancourt relaying Captain Green’s thoughts, [23:51])

• The investigation is currently dormant, with Tammy’s family pressing law enforcement to re-examine the case.

Resolution and Memorial [27:59]

• Tammy’s remains were reunited, cremated, and reinterred beside her parents in Oregon, with full military honors.
• The episode closes with a call to action to those in Oklahoma County for renewed justice efforts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Discovery and Forensics

  "The pathologist was able to remove intact the bullet, the dime, and two fabric fibers, almost certainly from a shirt."
  — Jessica Betancourt ([04:05])

• Investigator's Commitment

  "I always just wanted to bring dignity to the victim in this case...I just couldn't give up. And now we know who she is."
  — Captain Bob Green ([17:02])

• Family's Pain and Relief

  "The not knowing where Tammy was for years and years was torturous to those who loved her. So having resolution at long last was a relief."
  — Jessica Betancourt, reflecting family’s views ([28:04])

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Focus | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 02:41 | Discovery of the “Lime Lady” and forensic details | | 09:08 | Early theories and investigation effort | | 10:45 | Captain Green’s ongoing commitment | | 14:16 | Introduction of DNA Doe Project and geneaology | | 16:08 | DNA breakthrough and confirmation as Tammy Tigard | | 17:15 | Tammy’s background and disappearance | | 19:50 | Identity theft and investigation misdirections | | 22:41 | Family’s emotional journey and new contact | | 23:51 | The enduring mystery and theory about the crime | | 27:59 | Final resolution, burial, and call for justice |

Conclusion

Through the thoughtful narration of Jessica Betancourt, this episode powerfully demonstrates both the wonders of modern investigative genealogy and the enduring pain unanswered questions inflict on victims’ families. The story of Tammy “Lime Lady” Tigard is one of persistence—by detectives, genetic genealogists, and family members—proving that no Jane Doe is ever truly forgotten. Yet even with closure on her identity, the chapter on justice for Tammy remains unfinished, as the mystery of her murderer lingers.

If you have information that may help, or wish to support efforts for justice and resolution in cold cases like Tammy’s, consider reaching out to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and elevating public awareness.