Years, a Stopped Timex, and the Secret That Broke Karen Rafferty

Years, a Stopped Timex, and the Secret That Broke Karen Rafferty A stopped Timex, a partial arm threaded through its bracelet, and thirty-one years of unanswered questions - all set in motion by a woman who mailed a saliva kit to an ancestry website. How did a casual DNA submission in Columbus, Ohio, finally unravel a case frozen since 1992? In this episode, we walk through the discovery, the small but telling details that framed the investigation, and the single break that redirected everything: a familial DNA lead. What changed between March 1992 and March 2023 to make identification possible? Person: Karen Rafferty Date: March 5, 1992 (last confirmed alive) and March 14, 2023 (discovery) Location: Dunmore Township, Indiana (silver maple site) and Dellwood, Indiana (Cleary Avenue residence) Status: Remains identified by dental records Case: Partial arm found with Timex watch stopped at 11:47; remains in soil for 31 years - The watch hands were stopped at 11:47 when county surveyor Ryan Webb found a partial arm threaded through a cream-faced Timex on March 14, 2023. - Dental records confirmed the remains belonged to Karen Rafferty, who had been missing since the night of March 5, 1992 - a span of 31 years. - Karen administered insulin to her diabetic cat Pocket at 6:30 PM on March 5, 1992; the cat was found alive but thin, establishing a forensic window until 7:00 AM the next morning (~12.5 hours). - A tan Oldsmobile Cutlass registered to Karen was found near a bus terminal on March 11, 1992 with keys missing and no signs of forced entry or planning to travel. - Biological material collected under Karen’s fingernails in 1992 was frozen, submitted to CODIS with no match, and later became pivotal after a Columbus, Ohio woman mailed a saliva sample to an ancestry website. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].