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The Forgotten DeadEpisodes

  1. New episodes coming soon

    Following up on leads in a journey of sadness, trauma, mystery and shock.

  2. 9. Are you my missing mum?

    Matthew emails the Forgotten Dead team to find out if Mary Ellen is his missing mum.

  3. 8. One Step Closer

    More details emerge about investigative genetic genealogy.

  4. 7. Hope from America

    An American case with similarities to 'Mary Ellen’s' story emerges.

  5. 6. A Storm of Speculation

    The original police theory about 'Mary Ellen' faces more scrutiny.

  6. 5. Accident or Murder?

    Former crime reporter Steve Howarth reveals his theory of what happened to 'Mary Ellen'.

  7. 4. Hunting for Clues

    The search for clues about 'Mary Ellen’s' identity widens.

  8. 3. DNA results

    Test results prove whether or not 'Mary Ellen' is really missing mother Ruth Hanratty.

  9. 2. Digging up the Dead

    Police follow a lead that 'Mary Ellen' is a missing mother from Liverpool.

  10. 15. 'I know who this lady is'

    A message arrives from Jean. It says, “I know who this lady is".

  11. 14. The Runaway

    An unexpected link to the mystery woman is uncovered.

  12. 13. An impossible situation

    A listener tip-off suggests a link to the disappearance of Isabella Skelton.

  13. 12. The Saviour of Souls

    Looking into whether Eileen could be a charity worker known as the Saviour of Souls.

  14. 11. Triggering memories

    A new lead and a new name emerges, Eileen the Irishwoman.

  15. 10. When everything turns upside down

    Detectives have made an unexpected discovery and Matthew reveals shocking news.

  16. 1. The Body in the Cellar

    New homeowner John Baxendale makes a gruesome discovery on a winter's day in 1982.