Julie’s Gone — Episode 8: "Lost Twice?"

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Helen Thomas (Casefile Presents)
Main Theme:
A poignant investigation into the ongoing mystery of Julie Ann Garciacelay’s disappearance in 1975 and the legacy of her mother’s search, the power and limitations of forensic identification, and the possibility that Julie’s body may have been "lost twice"—first as a missing person, then as an unidentified deceased.

Episode Overview

This emotionally charged episode examines how Julie’s mother, Ruth Garcia Soleil, dedicated her life to seeking answers about her daughter’s fate after she vanished from her Melbourne apartment in 1975. With Ruth's recent passing, investigative journalist Helen Thomas explores the hope DNA has brought the family, gaps in historical forensic procedures, and the renewed push to review unidentified bodies to possibly bring Julie home at last.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ruth Garcia Soleil's Lifelong Search

• Ruth's wishes: For decades, Ruth hoped to see her daughter Julie return home or, failing that, to lay her to rest in the US.
  • "She wanted to bury her daughter on home soil even more than she wanted justice for her murder. Neither wish was granted." — Helen Thomas (01:41)
• Ruth's recent passing: Ruth died mere weeks after this podcast series began airing, never receiving closure, but leaving behind DNA that may be crucial for identification.
  • "Several weeks after this podcast was released, Ruth Garcia Soleil passed away in Northern California. Julie's body has never been found." — Helen Thomas (01:41)

2. DNA and Forensic Identification

• Importance of parental DNA:
  • "If I’m missing, for example, my mum provides a sample. … it’s a good comparison, so that in future, if my remains are found, then my DNA can be compared to my mum…" — Dr. Dadna Hartman (02:38)
• Ruth’s DNA: Her sample, collected in 2003, has long been in the Australian system and is routinely checked against unidentified remains and missing persons.
• Historical gaps: Many unidentified remains recovered before 2000 lack DNA samples due to the absence of profiling technology and archival procedures at the time.
• Processes today:
  • "There is a DNA database for missing persons…in the hope that they would match a reference sample that's been provided by families..." — Dr. Dadna Hartman (07:35)
• Limitations:
  • "Not all unidentified...cases that have been reported to the coroners are on the database, unfortunately." — Dr. Dadna Hartman (09:29)
  • Exhumation is presently the only way to obtain DNA from those buried without prior sampling, requiring "credible information before allowing an exhumation." — Helen Thomas (11:01)

3. The Theory: Lost Twice?

• Potential scenarios: There’s a real possibility that Julie's body was found as an unidentified person before DNA sampling was common, buried as a "Jane Doe."
  • "Is there a chance that Julie's been lost twice? First when she went missing from her apartment ... and then again sometime through the next 25 years?" — Helen Thomas (11:47)
• Investigative recommendation: Dr. Hartman supports reviewing burial records for unidentified women matching Julie’s profile from 1975–2000.
  • “It’s always worthwhile asking the question…there may only be a handful of cases you could then do further investigation to either include or exclude them as possibilities.” — Dr. Dadna Hartman (12:39)

4. Family and Friends Weigh In

• Consent for exhumation: Family members, such as cousin Ken Theobold, and Ruth’s friend Diane Johnson, support further investigation and would back any effort to exhume if evidence suggests it could be Julie.
  • “I truly believe Ruth would have no problem with that. ... I know Ruth would not have a problem with that at all.” — Ken Theobold (14:20)
• Importance to the family:
  • “Not knowing what happened to Julie was tough on everybody, obviously Ruth for sure, and that never went away for her.” — Ken Theobold (06:29)

5. The Human Toll and Resilience

• Ruth’s strength: Helen observes that Ruth’s lengthy search for answers never wavered, propelled by her love, hope, and connection to the landscape around her.
  • “God sent me out here for a purpose, and I have healed a great deal out here because of the beauty of nature.” — Ruth Garcia Soleil (17:22)
• Memories from loved ones: Friends and family reflect on Ruth’s resilience and warmth, and their ongoing desire for closure.
  • “We would catch salmon … take meals up to her. … She was quite the pioneer, very resilient, doing her own painting and … quilting projects…” — Diane Johnson (15:44)
  • “...It would take an hour, hour and a half... to chat with Ruth. ...So yeah, we always had a great chat multiple times a year. We miss her.” — Ken Theobold (16:17)

6. Memorialization and Community Support

• Julie’s legacy: The plaque at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Melbourne has become a site of remembrance, and community voices, like Pastor James Winderlich, advocate for resumed efforts to find Julie.
  • “We still want to honour Ruth’s wishes in respect of remembering Julie and if possible, giving Julie the burial that she deserves. … That’s my motivation, and I think that’s the motivation of many other people…” — Pastor James Winderlich (20:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ruth’s unwavering hope:

  • "DNA was new to her, but it did give her hope. This made her feel much better in regards to what was being done with the case." — Diane Johnson (05:59)

• On the limits of forensic history:

  • “There was no such thing as DNA profiling in 1975. So many bodies were buried without any DNA taken.” — Helen Thomas (11:01)

• Ruth’s relationship to her Californian refuge:

  • “I have healed a great deal out here because of the beauty of nature.” — Ruth Garcia Soleil (17:22)

• On continued community commitment:

  • “I think many of us feel as though we still want to honour Ruth’s wishes … giving Julie the burial that she deserves.” — Pastor James Winderlich (20:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 01:41 | Ruth Garcia Soleil’s wishes and passing | | 02:38 | Scientific explanation: DNA & parental identification | | 07:35 | Dr. Hartman explains missing persons DNA processes | | 09:29 | Limitations of unidentified remains in the database | | 11:01 | Challenges of exhumation and historic cases | | 12:39 | Recommendation to review historic unidentified burials | | 14:20 | Family supports further investigation and exhumation | | 15:44 | Personal memories of Ruth from friends/family | | 17:22 | Ruth’s own words about her healing in nature | | 20:07 | Pastor James advocates for ongoing search | | 20:56 | Dedication of the episode to Ruth’s memory |

Conclusion

"Lost Twice?" is a moving meditation on the persistence of love and unanswered questions. The episode thoughtfully explores the technical and bureaucratic barriers to closure in cold cases from the pre-DNA era while foregrounding the lived reality of those left behind. With the passing of Ruth, the responsibility of the search is now communal—a poignant shift, underscored by the enduring hope that Julie's story might yet find an ending.