# Who Killed This American Hero?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771/who-killed-this-american-hero
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771/who-killed-this-american-hero.md
Podcast: [Forensic Files Unsealed](https://stenobird.com/podcast/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771)
Published: 2026-07-23T13:31:15+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/who-killed-this-american-hero--73125607
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73125607/dna_finally_caught_pamela_cahanes_killer.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771/episodes/who-killed-this-american-hero
Duration seconds: 2496

## Resource

This true crime transcript recounts the 1984 murder of Pamela Cahanes, a young Navy recruit found dead in an abandoned Florida lot. Though investigators collected DNA evidence at the scene, the case remained cold for over three decades due to the limitations of forensic technology. The mystery was eventually solved through investigative genetic genealogy, which allowed experts to build a family tree that identified Thomas Garner as the primary suspect. Police confirmed his guilt by surreptitiously collecting his DNA from discarded trash, linking him not only to Cahanes but to a second unsolved homicide in Hawaii. Garner was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder in 2021, providing long-awaited justice for the victim's family. This account highlights how the diligent preservation of evidence combined with modern scientific breakthroughs can hold violent predators accountable years after their crimes. This episode includes AI-generated content.

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## Transcript

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