The Unforgotten – Episode 6 Breakdown: "Moving On"

Hosts: Adam Rittenberg & Kyle Bonagara
Date: September 10, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Adam and Kyle break down Episode 6, "Moving On," from Season 3: Finding Dolores Wulff. This pivotal "bridge" episode explores Carl Wulff's troubled post-investigation years, the impact on his family, and how unresolved questions fueled modern cold case efforts by online sleuths and database technology. The hosts examine Carl’s decline, the family fallout, and tease the groundwork for upcoming breakthroughs in the investigation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Focus on Carl Wulff’s Origins and Family Dynamics

[00:15–03:18]

• The first two-thirds highlight Carl’s life, roots, and how his actions after Dolores' disappearance affected his Minnesota family.
• Introduction to Richard "Dick" Wulff: Adam notes, “We introduce you to his brother Dick Wolf...he’s an older man, lives...in Minnesota with his wife Pat. And we were able to interview them...” ([00:43])
• Richard’s confusion after Dolores vanished; he traveled to California with sister Mercedes, unclear what to believe about Carl.
• Upon Carl’s return, Richard and Pat quickly saw a change: erratic, confrontational behavior and a lack of remorse.

2. Carl’s Deterioration and Family Betrayal

[02:03–04:37]

• Memorable moment: Kyle recalls the shock at Carl’s mistreatment of his only supportive family:

  “Carl’s mother told her caregiver that she had become afraid of Carl...then he steals money from his parents...then sells his brother’s farm equipment and hits the road...to be so unabashed in behaving that way...it’s just shocking behavior.” ([02:36])

• Carl’s mental state is repeatedly called out:
  • Adam: “Pat...definitely thought Carl was mentally ill. Anxiety, all sorts of things...One theme that I think does trace back...was his relationship to money and the fear, having grown up poor...” ([03:55])
  • Financial desperation is cited as a lifelong issue for Carl.

3. Attempts at Closure and Missed Confession

[04:37–05:51]

• Documentation of Carl’s return to California and interactions with family:
  • Anna and Tom, relatives who visit, hope to elicit a confession but find Carl too mentally diminished.
  • Kyle: “...they wanted to go down there...to try to pry a confession out of him...he was in such a declined mental state...” ([05:02])
• Dramatic failure to obtain closure:
  • Kyle: “Paul getting the call that his dad’s in bad shape...‘Well...don’t do anything.’ Which I’m sure was a strange and difficult phone call...” ([05:37])

4. Acceptance of Carl’s Guilt and Family Reconciliation

[05:51–07:27]

• Adam provides a snapshot of each family member’s process accepting Carl’s guilt, especially Anna:
  • “Tony Roach is driving her back...says, ‘Hey, before we go, we got to agree your dad killed your mom or we’re not moving essentially.’ And Anna is, ‘You’re right, I know.’” ([06:21])
• Carl dies having never confessed, escaping legal reckoning.
• The family’s struggle with ambiguity and unresolved tension lingers.

5. Internet Sleuths and Cold Case Technology

[07:27–08:55]

• Transition to community efforts—Doe Network and NAMUS (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System):
  • Adam: “[We] introduce you to this community of, of Internet sleuths...DOE network, who look into these types of cold cases...We introduce namus, this national database...” ([06:57])
• Kyle: “It kind of made me appreciate technology, I think...a lot of those barriers to getting the conviction were, were solved over the years...” ([07:27])
• Groundwork laid for upcoming episodes—these modern resources shift the investigation.

6. Teasing Episode 7 and What’s Next

[08:55–End]

• Kyle hints that the next episode features Detective Kenny Hart, promising major developments.
  • “I’m excited for the listeners to...hear episode seven and eight...the introduction of NAMUS and the DOE network really becomes clear...” ([08:13])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kyle on Carl’s Betrayals:

  “We already know he was a bad person, despicable person. But...to be so unabashed in behaving that way to the only person in the world...who is giving you a chance to live a normal life...it’s just shocking behavior.” ([02:36])

• Adam on Multi-faceted Guilt:

  “Was Carl Wolf always like this?...By the end of his life, absolutely a despicable person. But was there a turning point?...Mental health was involved.” ([03:31])

• Kyle on Internet Sleuths:

  “It was really interesting to me to see how many people are dedicated to helping solve cold cases who have no real connection to them...either fascinated with the process or came into it in another way.” ([07:55])

• Adam foreshadowing:

  “There is a major development in episode seven that all the listeners will want to tune in for.” ([08:55])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:15] – Episode and character focus introduced (Carl’s life, Richard’s perspective)
• [02:03] – Carl’s post-California return, erratic behavior, key betrayals
• [03:31] – Exploring Carl’s mental health and financial paranoia
• [04:37] – Family efforts for a confession, last encounters
• [05:51] – Family acceptance of guilt; emotional fallout
• [07:27] – Online cold-case communities and tech resources
• [08:13] – Transition to upcoming breakthroughs; Detective Kenny Hart preview

Conclusion

This episode serves as both a conclusion for Carl Wulff’s narrative arc and as a setup for the investigation’s next phase. Through candid interviews, family recollections, and a focus on contemporary investigative tools, Adam and Kyle emphasize the human cost of unresolved disappearances, the complexity of familial relationships, and the vital role of modern technology—and passionate outsiders—in closing cold cases like that of Dolores Wulff.

Next Episode: "41 Years" – A focus on Detective Kenny Hart and a significant break in the case.