Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words is a podcast that strips away the sensational headlines and lets the people at the heart of true crime stories speak for themselves. From survivors and families to investigators, journalists, and insiders, these are raw, unfiltered conversations that rarely make it into mainstream coverage.
Hosted by Justin Shepherd, a creator and advocate with millions of followers across platforms, Unheard brings a new dimension to true crime by centering voices that are often overlooked. Each episode offers an intimate, human perspective on cases that shocked communities, shaped public opinion, or exposed flaws in our justice system. This isn’t about sensationalism. It’s about listening. It’s about giving people the chance to reclaim their narrative, share their truth, and be truly heard.
In this episode of Unheard, I sit down with E. Monique Smith, a woman whose story almost defies belief.
As a baby, she was taken from her biological family and raised by people who were not who they claimed to be. She grew up without knowing her real name, her real identity, or where she came from. For decades, she lived without documentation, without answers, and while enduring severe abuse behind closed doors.
At 28 years old, everything began to unravel. What followed was a decades-long search for the truth that would take her through law enforcement agencies, national databases, and eventually DNA genealogy.
She became known as the longest living Jane Doe.
After more than 50 years, she finally uncovered her true identity and was reunited with the family she had been taken from as a child.
This is her story, in her own words.
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