28: Ep.28 The Tale's of Two Tonya's: One Murder, One Reunion

What happens when a simple Ancestry.com subscription reveals a 50-year-old kidnapping? In this gripping episode, I'm untangling the viral Instagram story that left thousands confused between two women both named Tonya, both kidnapped as children, and both discovered through DNA testing decades later.

Dive deep into the heartbreaking true crime case of Suzanne Marie Sevakis (known as Sharon Marshall and Tonya Hughes), whose identity remained a mystery for 24 years after her suspicious death in 1990.

Then discover the miraculous reunion story of Tonya Kellett, who was days away from canceling her DNA subscription when a life-changing phone call revealed her biological family in Kansas had been searching for 50 years.

This episode explores:

- Franklin Delano Floyd’s decades-long crimes and the Netflix documentary “Girl in the Picture”

- How Ancestry.com DNA matching reunited separated families

- The dark reality of parental kidnapping in the 1960s-70s

- FBI cold case investigations and genetic genealogy breakthroughs

- Why these two cases are constantly confused online

- The power and limitations of consumer DNA testing

Perfect for true crime enthusiasts, cold case fans, and anyone fascinated by genealogy mysteries, missing persons cases, and stories of survival and reunion.

**Content Warning:** Child abduction, abuse, and murder discussed (non-graphic)

## RESOURCES & REFERENCES

Tonya Kellett Case

- **KFVS12 News** - “50-year-old cold case helps solve another decades-long mystery” (May 2016)

- **Emporia Gazette** - “Long lost sisters reunited after nearly 50 years” (January 2016)

- **Ancestry.com** - DNA matching service used in reunion

Suzanne Sevakis Case

- **Netflix Documentary** - “Girl in the Picture” (2022)

- **FBI Cold Case Investigation** - Published report (January 2017)

- Available at: fbi.gov/news/stories/cold-case-investigation

- **Books:**

- “A Beautiful Child” by Matt Birkbeck

- “Finding Sharon” by Matt Birkbeck

Additional Information

- **National Center for Missing & Exploited Children** - missingkids.org

- **DNA Doe Project** - Uses genetic genealogy to identify Jane/John Does

- **NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System)** - namus.gov

Legal & Historical Context

- Parental kidnapping laws evolved significantly between 1960s-1980s

- Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (1980)

- Missing Children Act (1982)

**Note:** All information presented is based on verified public records, court documents, news reports, and official FBI case files. No claims or statements have been fabricated or exaggerated.