The Unforgotten – Season 3 Bonus: "Five Years Later with Detective Kenny Hart"
Podcast: The Unforgotten
Hosts: Adam Rittenberg, Kyle Bonagura
Guest: Detective Kenny Hart (Retired, Benicia Police Department)
Air Date: October 29, 2025
Main Theme / Purpose
This bonus episode marks the five-year anniversary of the identification of Dolores Wulff's remains, bringing closure to a 41-year-old disappearance. Hosts Adam Rittenberg and Kyle Bonagura interview retired Detective Kenny Hart, who played a pivotal role in solving the case, and reflect with him on transformative relationships, personal impact, and lessons for unresolved cases. The conversation offers a heartfelt look at the human side of cold case investigations, the evolution of law enforcement cooperation, and ongoing efforts to reunite missing persons with their families.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Impactful Anniversary — October 20th
- Significance: Five years since Kenny Hart made the life-changing call to Paul Wulff, confirming the identification of Dolores’ remains after decades of uncertainty.
- Hart reflects on how October 20th has become a personal and communal milestone, symbolizing not only closure, but also the forging of enduring friendships between the detective and the Wulff and Rocha families.
- Quote:
"I always look at October 20th as the day that I gained new friends and family."
— Kenny Hart [06:36]
2. Building Bonds Through Tragedy
- Unexpected closeness: Hart's ongoing, almost daily contact with family members, especially Anna Wulff, underscores how solving a cold case can create lasting, meaningful relationships.
- Breaking barriers: Initially, Anna was skeptical of Hart speaking at the celebration, but they connected instantly—discovering shared pasts in music and forming tight friendships.
- Quote:
"Ann and I met just seconds later... That started like a four-hour conversation between the two of us about our history and the music career. A lot of the same people that we knew..."
— Kenny Hart [07:37]
3. Kenny Hart’s Journey: From Musician to Investigator
- Personal background:
- Hart had a music career in bands and as a sound engineer before joining law enforcement, which surprised the hosts and facilitated bonding with Anna.
- Humor and humility: Hosts recount searching for "hair band" photos, and Hart lightheartedly discusses how age and policing have changed him.
"I definitely don't look like I do now. Thirty years as a cop really ages you..."
— Kenny Hart [09:46]
4. Why This Case Was Different
- Hart explains the unique intimacy he developed with the family, much deeper than in most professional cases:
- Serendipity: He received the case hours after the previous detective passed away.
- Shared interests: Age proximity with family members, common backgrounds, and mutual openness.
- The case's complexity: Multiple jurisdictions, unresolved victims, and overlapping mysteries expanded the detective's involvement.
- Prompted further action: Inspired Hart to volunteer with the Doe Network to help solve more cold cases post-retirement.
"I don't know why, but I actually think Dolores is kind of putting this all together for a reason, you know? Whether I needed them more or vice versa..."
— Kenny Hart [10:30]
5. Reflections on Law Enforcement Practices & Cold Cases
-
Jurisdictional challenges:
- Historical lack of inter-agency communication led to lost opportunities (e.g., with the Zodiac case); today, improved collaboration speeds up case resolution.
- Record-keeping issues: Old cases sometimes purged due to being classified as non-homicide or simple information reports, inspiring Hart to push for better preservation practices.
"Nowadays, we can't wait to share information... having multiple agencies work on cases, the solvability is much higher and much faster."
— Kenny Hart [21:37] -
Evolving motivations:
- Hart’s determination not to let old cases be shelved; sees giving families closure as a moral imperative.
- Technology’s role: Hart credits advancements for helping confirm Dolores’ identity, emphasizing that prior investigators laid the real groundwork.
"I may have just helped facilitate things, but I don't like taking credit for it because, really, I had the advantage of technology. Ron would have completely had this wrapped up had he had the same tools..."
— Kenny Hart [22:54]
6. The Doe Network and the Push to Bring People Home
- New chapter:
- Hart has applied to volunteer with the Doe Network, aiming to solve cold cases and reconnect families with missing loved ones.
- Stresses that every missing person is important, regardless of how long they've been gone.
"No one gets left behind. It's really... I don't want anybody getting left behind... If I can bring one more person home, that's one more family that has a little bit of information."
— Kenny Hart [31:11]
7. Family Memory and Enduring Legacy
- Resonance:
- Hart frequently visits Dolores' grave with his wife, pays tribute to the bonds forged, and recognizes the bittersweet nature of closure—answering some questions but also surfacing others.
"We will toast, you know, to Dolores every October 20th... and thank her for bringing us all together."
— Kenny Hart [33:49]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
- "I always look at October 20th as the day that I gain new friends and family." — Kenny Hart [06:36]
- "I get the little, 'hey, baby brother', and I swear I hear my wife talk more than I do with her." — Kenny Hart, about daily chats with Anna Wulff [07:00]
- "Ann and I met... that started like a four hour conversation between the two of us talking about our history and the music career." — Kenny Hart [07:37]
- "I definitely don't look like I do now. Thirty years as a cop really ages you." — Kenny Hart [09:46]
- "I actually think Dolores is kind of putting this all together for a reason, you know?" — Kenny Hart [10:30]
- "The stars aligned for some reason and we got close." — Kenny Hart [12:40]
- "I don't want to hear any negative, nothing, but we're bringing her home. And that was the attitude I had." — Kenny Hart [17:30]
- "No one gets left behind... If I can bring one more person home, that's one more family that has a little bit of information." — Kenny Hart [31:11]
- "We will toast, you know, to Dolores every October 20th... and thank her for bringing us all together." — Kenny Hart [33:49]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:26 – Introduction to Kenny Hart’s five-year anniversary reflection
- 06:15 – Hart discusses the personal impact of the case and his evolving relationship with the Wulff family
- 07:37 – Hart details his first meeting and immediate bond with Anna Wulff
- 08:45 – Backstory: Hart’s previous music career and its role in relationships with the family
- 10:09–12:25 – Explaining why this case was unique among decades of law enforcement work
- 15:47 – Hart’s plans to volunteer with the Doe Network and continue aiding cold cases
- 17:23–20:00 – Challenges caused by COVID and jurisdictional issues; evolution of cross-agency cooperation
- 22:54 – The advancement of technology and its decisive role
- 24:25–26:40 – Communication breakdowns in case file routing and the need for better procedures
- 31:01 – Why bringing closure to families remains so important to Hart
- 33:49 – Annual private toasts to Dolores and the affirmation of family bonds
Episode Takeaways
- Personal transformation: Hart’s involvement went beyond professional obligation, reshaping his definition of family and community.
- Cold cases demand champions: Dedicated investigators like Hart, motivated by empathy and persistence, are crucial for resolving long-standing mysteries.
- Lasting change: Improved record-keeping, sharing across agencies, and use of new technologies can help avoid past mistakes and reunite more families.
- Legacy: The enduring theme—nobody should be left behind, and closure, even when incomplete, brings comfort and connection to those left searching.
For listeners new and old, this episode is a powerful meditation on dedication, interconnectedness, and the continuing quest to bring the forgotten home.