The DNA request that revealed my child had gone missing
Feb 3, 2025
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Cathy Terkanian, a retired nurse, embarked on a heart-wrenching journey after receiving a letter revealing that her long-lost daughter, Alexis, was missing. As she unraveled disturbing details surrounding her daughter's fate, including her adoptive father's potential involvement, Cathy's determination turned her into a sleuth. She reflects on her painful past while fighting for answers over a decade. Her relentless quest for the truth has been shaped into a documentary, highlighting both her love and the complexities of seeking justice.
Cathy Terkanian's painful journey began with a letter revealing her daughter Alexis was missing, reigniting a decade-long quest for answers.
Through relentless investigation and collaboration with sleuths, Cathy uncovered alarming details about her daughter's adoptive father, which heightened her pursuit for justice.
Deep dives
A Letter of Hope Turned Tragic
Kathy Dukanian received a long-awaited letter from Virginia's Department of Social Services, which she hoped would lead her to her daughter, Alexis, whom she had given up for adoption. Instead, the letter revealed that a young woman's body was discovered in Wisconsin, prompting authorities to seek her DNA for comparison. This shocking news stirred a whirlwind of emotions as Kathy learned her daughter was missing, reigniting her decade-long search for answers. The identification process soon began, marking a significant but haunting turning point in Kathy's quest for closure.
Uncovering a Troubling Past
As Kathy delved into her daughter's history, she uncovered unsettling details regarding Alexis's adoptive father, Dennis Bowman, whose past included a serious criminal record. This revelation escalated her anxiety over what may have happened to Alexis, particularly given Bowman's violent history with another female victim. The emotional turmoil intensified as Kathy reached out to Alexis's childhood friends, revealing a previously vibrant girl who had become increasingly withdrawn over time. These insights painted a distressing picture of the life Alexis may have experienced after her adoption.
A Fight for Justice
Kathy's determination led her to take drastic measures, including accusing Dennis Bowman of murdering Alexis and putting up billboards offering a reward for information. This public declaration aimed to provoke Bowman into taking action that could lead to justice for her daughter, as Kathy sought to expose the truth. With relentless resolve, she collaborated with investigators to connect the dots in her daughter’s disappearance while advocating relentlessly for action against Bowman. The persistent pursuit for justice culminated in new developments that unfolded over years of mounting pressure on law enforcement.
A Grievous Revelation
After a decade of searching, Kathy ultimately received confirmation that her daughter was deceased, following a confession from Dennis Bowman regarding Alexis's murder. With forensic teams excavating Bowman's backyard, Kathy felt a mixture of relief and sorrow upon learning that human remains identified as Alexis had been discovered. The news brought an emotional finality to her long quest, alongside a grim realization of the harsh truth surrounding her daughter’s fate. Kathy's unwavering pursuit of justice ensured that Bowman's crimes were uncovered, providing her with a sense of closure, even as she mourned the loss of her daughter.
In April 2010, Cathy Terkanian received a letter that turned her world upside down. It revealed that her daughter, Alexis, whom she’d had to place for adoption in 1974, had gone missing. Then she was given more shocking news—the police had a new lead, could the unidentified body of a young woman found in Wisconsin be Alexis? They needed Cathy’s DNA to confirm it. As Cathy began to process this, her own painful past surfaced. She had run away from home as a teenager, joining a circus before getting pregnant with Alexis aged 15. In the years after Cathy was pressured to have Alexis adopted, she became a nurse and married, but never had any other children, always thinking about the daughter she had to say goodbye to.
Following the news of Alexis’ disappearance Cathy couldn’t sit and wait for the DNA test results, she needed answers. Determined to find them she turned detective, connecting with Carl Koppelman, an amateur sleuth investigating cold cases. Together they started to unearth evidence that made Cathy suspect the worst—that Alexis’ adoptive father, Dennis Bowman, had something to do with her disappearance.
Cathy had always hoped her daughter Alexis would come looking for her; instead she spent a decade searching for Alexis. This mother’s quest for truth and justice has also been made into a Netflix documentary called Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder
Get in touch: liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784
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