Park Predators — “The Wife” (January 20, 2026)

Host: Delia D’Ambra
Podcast: Park Predators
Running Theme: How natural beauty in parks hides sinister secrets

Episode Overview

In this riveting episode, investigative journalist Delia D’Ambra takes listeners to the breathtaking but remote Uncompagre National Forest in Colorado to unravel the shocking 1995 murder of Bruce Dodson. What first appeared to be a hunting accident soon exposed a chilling story of betrayal, calculated murder, and a tangled web of relationships. Through meticulous storytelling and investigative insight, Delia guides us through the investigation that led to the stunning arrest and conviction of Bruce’s own wife, Janiece Dodson.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setting and The Crime ([00:00]–[08:30])

• Location: Uncompagre National Forest, nearly 1 million acres of rugged terrain popular with hunters.
• On the morning of October 15, 1995, Doug Kyle (a hunter and off-duty Texas sheriff’s deputy) hears gunshots near his campsite.
• Doug interacts with a woman, Janiece Dodson, who claims to be looking for her husband, Bruce.
• Moments later, Doug hears a scream and finds Janiece apparently discovering Bruce dead, exhibiting a distressed reaction.
• Notable Detail: Doug observes that Bruce's body and the crime scene change before law enforcement arrives.
  • “What was super weird though was… they found 48 year old Bruce laying face up and covered with a blanket and vest, which was a completely different position than Doug had seen him in initially.” ([10:20])

2. Early Theories & Unusual Evidence ([08:30]–[15:45])

• Authorities initially consider a tragic hunting accident—there had been other recent hunting-related fatalities in the vicinity.
• Oddities emerge: Bruce’s body positioning, the clarity of the landscape, evidence that Bruce was wearing a visible hunting vest, trajectory anomalies.
• Physical evidence collected: shell casings, clothing, rifles, Janiece’s muddy gear, a bullet-pierced fence post.

3. Reconstructing the Event ([13:00]–[22:15])

• Trajectory analysis suggests deliberate targeting. The shooter likely stood 75–90 yards away in a patch of oak brush, firing from a vantage point.
• Bruce appears to have been shot at, tried to signal with his vest, yet was hit by subsequent shots.
• Forensic Finding: Unlikely Bruce’s death was an accident.
• Attention turns to Janiece for her account and connections.

4. Janiece Dodson’s Background & The Marital Dynamic ([23:00]–[36:20])

• Janiece recounts the couple’s routine before the shooting and claims to have gotten muddy, changing her clothes.
• Janiece alleges an encounter with an unidentified camouflaged hunter.
• Important clue: Her ex-husband Jaycee Lee also camped nearby, with a history and unresolved feelings between Janiece and him.
• Their past: A long relationship, two kids, a subsequent rocky divorce, and continued contact even after Janiece married Bruce.
  • Catherine Matthews (Janiece’s friend) described:
    • “She had some issues and left to escape her home life. She had to get out.” ([36:00])

5. The Ex-Husband & The Missing Rifle ([36:20]–[46:50])

• Jaycee Lee is eventually interviewed; he denies involvement, provides an alibi, and fully cooperates.
• A crucial discovery: Jaycee’s.308 Remington rifle and matching ammunition were stolen from his camp; these match ballistics at the crime scene.
  • “Jaycee also clarified...some of his .308 ammunition had been stolen. And of course, that was the same brand that investigators had found at the crime scene.” ([45:10])

6. Suspicion Intensifies on Janiece ([47:00]–[56:10])

• Post-murder, Janiece’s actions raise red flags:
  • Rapid disposal of Bruce’s belongings and ashes, euthanizing his dog, cashing out his accounts and life insurance.
  • Quote (Bruce’s brother):
    • “Janiece got rid of all of Bruce's things and took his name off their mailbox.” ([53:45])
  • Janiece lied about her whereabouts (claimed to mourn with family—found gambling in Louisiana).
• Authorities discover Janiece held substantial life insurance policies on Bruce.

7. Break in the Case: Soil Samples & Ballistics ([56:10]–[67:00])

• 1998: With continued investigation, a forensic breakthrough is made.
  • Soil on Janiece's muddy clothing contains bentonite clay—unique to the artificial pond near Jaycee’s campsite, not the alleged bog.
  • This disproves Janiece’s original alibi and suggests she passed by Jaycee’s camp the morning of the murder.
• Further ballistic analysis resolves discrepancies in bullet calibers, tying recovered bullets from Bruce’s body to Jaycee’s missing rifle and ammunition.

8. Arrest, Trial, and Aftermath ([67:00]–[80:00])

• Arrest: On October 23, 1998, Janiece is arrested in Texas, extradited to Colorado, and charged with first-degree murder.
• Preliminary hearing and trial details:
  • Key soil and ballistic evidence presented.
  • Janiece’s history with insurance fraud and her mental health claim (dissociative identity disorder) noted by the defense.
• Trial Outcome:
  • “After three and a half days of deliberation, they found Janiece guilty of first degree murder and sentenced her to life in prison without the possibility of parole.” ([79:35])
  • Janiece’s appeal was denied.
• Memorable statement from Janiece (post-conviction):
  • “I still do love Bruce Dodson. The only way I can live with this is that I have the peace of knowing I didn’t do it and the prayer in my heart that someday the truth will win out.” ([79:55])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the changing crime scene:

  • “They found 48 year old Bruce laying face up and covered with a blanket and vest, which was a completely different position than Doug had seen him in initially.” ([10:20])

• On Janiece’s background and motivation:

  • Catherine Matthews:
    • “She had some issues and left to escape her home life. She had to get out.” ([36:00])

• On the missing weapon:

  • “Jaycee also clarified...some of his .308 ammunition had been stolen. And of course, that was the same brand that investigators had found at the crime scene.” ([45:10])

• On Janiece’s suspicious post-murder behavior:

  • “Janiece got rid of all of Bruce's things and took his name off their mailbox.” ([53:45])

• On justice and resolution:

  • Delia D’Ambra:
    • “Personally, I’m convinced that the best outcome would have been for Bruce to come home. For him to have simply hunted instead of being hunted.” ([80:40])

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |:-------------------------------------------------|:------------| | Introduction & Setting the Scene | 00:00–04:00 | | Discovery of the Body and Initial Investigation | 04:01–10:20 | | Evidence Collection and Scene Analysis | 10:21–15:45 | | Profiles: Janiece and Bruce | 23:00–36:20 | | Jaycee Lee Interview & Rifle Discovery | 36:20–46:50 | | Janiece's Odd Behavior Post-Murder | 47:00–56:10 | | Soil & Ballistic Forensic Breakthroughs | 56:10–67:00 | | Arrest, Trial, Verdict, Aftermath | 67:01–80:00 |

Final Thoughts

Delia D’Ambra expertly dissects a convoluted murder hidden within the vast Colorado wild, illustrating how methodical police work, forensic science, and unrelenting suspicion of even those closest to the victim unraveled a plotted killing disguised as a hunting tragedy. Janiece Dodson’s conviction is framed not simply as justice for Bruce but as a chilling reminder that “sometimes the most beautiful places hide the darkest secrets.”

Listen to Park Predators for more detailed episodes and untold stories lurking within the world’s most stunning yet sinister landscapes.