The Hand in the Window: Episode 1 – "Covert Court"
Podcast: The Hand in the Window
Host: John Quinones (ABC News)
Date: November 4, 2025
Theme: The harrowing rescue of a kidnapped woman in rural Ohio, and the initial discovery that links her abductor, Shawn Grate, to a string of disappearances.
Episode Overview
This riveting episode details the astonishing 911 rescue of a woman (referred to as Jane Doe) who risked her life to call emergency services while her captor slept nearby. Through first-hand accounts, listeners are taken moment by moment through the dispatcher's calm management, the officers’ unfolding realization, and the eventual capture of a man who would soon be suspected as a serial killer. The story explores heroism, community, faith, and the chilling aftermath as police begin to suspect the full extent of the crimes committed.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Role and Experience of Dispatcher Sarah Miller
- Multi-tasking and Readiness: Sarah Miller, a seasoned 911 dispatcher, describes the unpredictability of the job and how she manages multiple information feeds simultaneously.
- Quote: “You never know when the call will come in or what kind of call it's going to be.” – Sarah Miller [00:35]
- Staying Calm Under Pressure: Emphasizes the importance of emotional control and focus in life-threatening situations.
- Quote: “Good dispatchers train not to react to emotions. You have to stay calm.” – Sarah Miller [03:06]
- Critical Thinking and Information Gathering: Sarah’s main objective was to extract as much information as possible from the terrified caller, all while balancing urgency and caution.
2. The 911 Call – Jane Doe’s Ordeal
- Jane Doe’s Courage: She manages to place the call from her captor’s phone, speaking in whispers, describing her location, and relaying information about her kidnapper and the house.
- Quote: “Please hurry.” – Jane Doe [02:03]
- Details Extracted:
- Captor’s appearance: white, about 6ft, 175 lbs, brown hair [04:19]
- Location details: yellow abandoned house by 4th Street laundromat, entered via side door [02:03]
- Captor had a taser; she’d been tied up but freed herself [04:47, 05:24]
- Danger throughout the Call: Jane’s fear is palpable, especially as she reports being in the same room as her sleeping captor.
- Quote: “I don't know without waking him and I'm scared.” – Jane Doe [04:59]
- Operational Challenges: Officers needed more specific information to differentiate between two similar houses, as both fit her description [11:12].
3. Police Response – Officer Kurt Dorsey
- Unfamiliar Territory: Officers in Ashland, a typically quiet, rural, religious community, were unaccustomed to violent abduction cases.
- Quote: “This wasn't a call that we typically got in Ashland.” – Officer Kurt Dorsey [09:13]
- Stealth and Caution: Officers respond without sirens, quietly searching to avoid alerting the suspect and further endangering Jane Doe [10:46].
- Breakthrough Moment: Jane Doe spots police at the side door and signals with her hand, a pivotal act leading to her rescue.
- Quote: “I saw her hand.” – Officer Kurt Dorsey [16:46]
- The Rescue: Officers persuade Jane Doe to unlock the side door, risking her safety for her chance at escape. She emerges, traumatized but alive.
- Quote: “She stood there in the doorway fully nude and just looked like she had seen a ghost. The shock on her face was unreal.” – Officer Kurt Dorsey [18:25]
4. Aftermath and Emotional Impact
- Rescue Coordination: Jane Doe is rushed to safety; Sarah Miller and officers reflect deeply on the relief and trauma.
- Quote: “She saved herself. I was just doing my job.” – Sarah Miller [19:31]
- Faith as Solace: Both dispatcher and officer express their reliance on faith to process the aftermath of such traumatic events.
- Quote:
- “I got God. That's all I need.” – Sarah Miller [20:03]
- “When I look back at that morning, I think something told me to look at that window... maybe some divine intervention and a good dispatcher led us to that house and ultimately that door.” – Officer Kurt Dorsey [20:48]
- Quote:
- Recognition: Sarah Miller is awarded “Ohio Dispatcher of the Year” for her extraordinary performance that day [19:36].
5. Apprehending the Kidnapper – Shawn Grate
- Clues in the House: Officers find the suspect asleep in squalid conditions, note disturbing surroundings and the suspect’s demeanor.
- Description: The house is filthy and cluttered, with items like a shopping cart and stuffed animals scattered about [21:49].
- Initial Interview: Officer Dorsey maintains a gentle approach, attempting to glean information about the crimes committed.
- Quote: “What happened? We're trying to figure out what the hell is going on.” – Officer Kurt Dorsey [23:50]
- Unraveling a Bigger Case: The tension rises as suspects emerge that this may not be an isolated crime, leading into the broader investigation into Shawn Grate’s possible serial offenses.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You never know when the call will come in or what kind of call it's going to be.” – Sarah Miller [00:35]
- “Good dispatchers train not to react to emotions. You have to stay calm.” – Sarah Miller [03:06]
- “Please hurry.” – Jane Doe [02:03]
- “I saw her hand.” – Officer Kurt Dorsey [16:46]
- “She saved herself. I was just doing my job.” – Sarah Miller [19:31]
- “I got God. That's all I need.” – Sarah Miller [20:03]
- “When I look back at that morning, I think something told me to look at that window... maybe some divine intervention and a good dispatcher led us to that house and ultimately that door.” – Officer Kurt Dorsey [20:48]
- “She stood there in the doorway fully nude and just looked like she had seen a ghost. The shock on her face was unreal.” – Officer Dorsey [18:25]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment/Content | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:03 | Introduction to Sarah Miller and the dispatcher role | | 01:10 | Start of Jane Doe’s 911 call | | 04:06 | Sarah Miller's strategy during high-stakes calls | | 09:13 | Officer Dorsey’s first-person account as police respond| | 12:15 | Officers try to identify and locate the correct house | | 16:46 | Jane Doe signals with her hand through the window | | 18:25 | The moment Jane Doe is rescued | | 19:36 | Sarah Miller reflects on the experience and reward | | 20:03 | Discussion of faith and coping after trauma | | 21:49 | Police secure the house, arrest the suspect | | 23:50 | Officer Dorsey interviews the kidnapper |
Episode Flow Summary
- Opening: Sets the stage with Sarah Miller's background and mindset as a dispatcher.
- Emergency Call: Jane Doe’s whispered plea to 911, conveying details while risking discovery.
- Investigation On Scene: Officers rush, struggle to confirm the precise location, and stealthily search two nearly identical houses.
- Breakthrough/Rescue: Jane Doe’s hand on the window and the coordinated, urgent rescue.
- Emotional Aftermath: Raw reaction from Sarah and the officers, with faith as a source of healing.
- Apprehension and Interrogation: Capture of the kidnapper, initial questioning, and hints at a wider, darker story.
- Lead-in to Series: Episode closes as police confront the larger mystery of missing women in Ashland.
This episode is a tense, empathetic deep-dive into a singular act of bravery, the composed professionalism of emergency responders, and the chilling beginnings of a larger criminal case. Perfect for true crime listeners intrigued by the intersection of human courage and investigative suspense.