For 30 years, a young woman found in an Albuquerque motel room in 1991 was known only as Albuquerque Jane Doe, and later as Becca Doe. Her death was ruled a suicide, yet a photo-booth picture and a locked door kept online sleuths asking questions for decades. In March 2026, Ramapo College's genetic genealogists identified her as 18-year-old Becca Mallekoote.
Maxine Spellman, a civilian researcher and host of The Butterfly Effect, joins us to discuss the case and her involvement, her deep dive into records and investigative work she undertook, and the FIGG that restored Becca's identity. We also dive into some of the most lingering mysteries surrounding Becca's case: the man in the photo, the man in the hotel room, and the photo booth picture that made her case famous across the internet.
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The Butterfly Effect Podcast: https://thebutterflyeffectpodcast.podbean.com/
The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold cases, unsolved murders, missing persons, and unidentified John and Jane Does in the United States. We deliver in-depth reporting and interviews with law enforcement and forensic experts, examining unsolved homicides, disappearances, serial crimes, and the evidence behind them. Victim-centered and research-driven, we focus on cases still seeking answers.
Learn more about our cold-case coverage at our Episode Guide
Submit a case to The Fall Line: https://www.thefalllinepodcast.com/case-submissions
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