Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
Unidentified: A Team Recovers an Unknown Victim’s Name
It’s not at all unusual to know the name of a murder victim, but not the name of the killer. But today we’re going to look at a case where the killer has most likely been identified while at least one of his victim’s names was unknown for decades. Today I’m going to feature one of those cases, and this one has a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction backstory.
Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for another captivating true crime story, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us.
This is Season 5, Episode 10. With thousands of unidentified murder victims just in the United States, giving a name to one can be like finding a needle in a haystack. A woman know for decades as 1985 Desoto County Jane Doe had a family and friends who needed to know what had become of her. This case highlights how anyone can be what I call a different kind of P.I. - not a private investigator like me but a person of impact in your community.
Every church has physical, emotional, and spiritual safety issues. Most just don’t know it. Are you going to wait for a trainwreck to occur before you address them? Helping churches be proactive about safety is why I wrote“Reclaiming Sanctuary: Enhancing Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Safety in Our Churches”. I know how hard it can be to address unpleasant issues because I’ve been where you are - in a leadership position needing an intentional approach customized to the needs of my unique church.
I’m offering a free 20 minute strategy call for church leaders to see if my work might be a good fit for you. Email me today at lori@theunlovelytruth.com and we’ll start a conversation about your church’s needs and how we can work together to create a customized plan for your church. Schedule your no risk, all reward call today!
1 Corinthians 3:5-8
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.
It took a lot of people doing what God gifted and equipped them to do in order for a set of human remains to be identified as Lorie Ann Mealer Pennell, a woman who was more than just a victim. She had a family and friends who loved her. She had dreams and hopes for her future - just like you and I do. It took a number of people who each played a unique role to restore her identity and give her family some answers they’d been waiting for for so long
How this all came together is a lot like the Apostle Paul’s ministry. He did amazing things, but he didn’t do them alone.
Appollos wasn’t the only person giving Paul a hand. He had quite a few traveling companions like Barnabas, Silas, John Mark, and others. He also had the support of the disciples, once they realized that God had transformed Paul from a zealous killer of Christians to an apostle of Jesus. And let’s not forget the ladies! Lydia helped support Paul’s work as did Priscilla and her husband Aquilla. Paul specifically mentioned Phoebe as a benefactor to him and many others. It took so many people working together for Paul to be able to accomplish all that he did.
God has wired us to work together. Moses had his siblings, Aaron and Miriam, and later his father in law Jethro. Jesus had a whole twelve man team. We just saw how Paul’s team was almost too numerous to count! It should make all of us wonder - whose team am I on? What mission can I help reach more people or have a greater impact?
That’s how we’re going to make ourselves, our families, and our communities safer. We need to make those connections to help each other get a little further down the road. So my challenge to all of us this week is to think about something from this episode that really resonated. Maybe it was the role forensics plays in helping reclaim identities for unknown murder victims. OR maybe you really felt that check in your gut when I mentioned high school students doing incredible real world work in their classrooms. How many of you have already decided to check out that podcast, Murder 101? I did and it’s fantastic! Or maybe you know someone with a missing family member or dear friend who just needs you to listen to them and now you’ve decided to reach out. Whatever it is, don’t wait. I believe God put that on your heart, and when you join that team He’s calling you to, you will see amazing things happen.
Let me know what you thought of this episode! Send me an email a lori@theunlovelytruth.com or message me on social media. I love it when people are willing to have those hard, but impactful conversations!
Visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com.
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