About

A Little about Lori

And I do mean a LITTLE. I’m a tad reluctant to go overboard with putting stuff on the internet — Ironic, huh!? 🤣  (Data aggregators scrape these sites and I find dealing with that annoying.) 🤷‍♀️ Also, I thought I had already published this bit and later realized apparently I got distracted or forgot! haha! 🤣 That happens a lot.

So, this is a long and twisted story, but here’s the “Reader’s Digest” version of how a kid from a small town in South East Kansas winds up on Dateline NBC and Investigation Discovery.

In the Beginning

How small? Class of around 45-ish people small — but full of smart and treasured friends. I was in the marching band, did a stint as our school mascot, and was also a cheerleader. I attended the state university and received a BS degree. 🤣 Shockingly, I was named the “Outstanding Graduating Senior.” I’m still perplexed by that! 🤣 I loved working on that degree though and I was very inspired by my talented classmates!

Graphic Design and Marketing

After college, I became a professional graphic designer in Alabama after being promised a trip to Disney Land. 🤷‍♀️ 

I wound up working in Marketing as a graphic designer at Fort Rucker (which is home of Army Aviation) and Fort Hood. Those two fun jobs eventually led me to my next adventure. Our Marketing Division at Fort Hood was the largest (except for the HQ in Washington DC). What great jobs serving with even greater people!

Army Aviation

I never thought I would get picked up for flight school and join the army at age 30, but I did. I became a Black Hawk pilot, scored an Air Medal in combat (OIF II with B Troop, 1-158th Aviation Regiment [Feb 2004 – Jan 2005 — Balad, Iraq), and the rest is history. 🎖

I’m sure many people looking me up likely suspect I’m a poser (because there are so few female aviators), but I have a lot of witnesses, a DD214, and pictures to verify my service and combat time. 🤣 

Genealogy Stuff

Forensic Genealogy

Then — one momentous day, I was surfing a social media site when I randomly met the founder of the DNA Doe Project in a genetic genealogy group. I volunteered to help them with genealogy and social media. I coordinated their social media efforts, set up their FB page, and created the graphics for the first couple of years for most of their social media and case wayfinding needs. 

The first Doe case I was added to was “Mill Creek Shed Man.” Then I think the next was “Belle in the Well.” Soon we were able to begin working on “Joseph Newton Chandler,” “Buck Skin Girl,” “Lyle Stevik,” “Sheep Flat Jane Doe,” and “Lavender Doe.” The next few years were a blur as more cases came, and we spent countless hours excitedly chasing DNA all over the country and the world. 

I was only a tiny part of the amazing DDP Forensic Genealogy effort, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to have participated with such a phenomenal group of talented and professional volunteers.

I resigned from the DDP in November 2020 to focus on personal projects and to catch up on sleep and all the stuff I have put off in the last several years. ha! 🤣  When I mentioned on “Dateline NBC” that forensic genealogy “will consume your life if you let it,” I meant that! 🥴

Happened That Way Going West?

What else?

Later (much later) I tacked on a Master’s Degree in Texas, which I like to joke and say was in “Strategery” (Communications). Sometimes people hire me to use my superpowers to edit and refine stuff like military proposals. Tedious but I have mad skills.

I still love to do social media and graphic design, but I am limited due to the aforementioned vicious circle of technological woes, sporadic internet, and other random mishaps.

Currently, I live in Central Texas with my husband and two rescue dogs — all of whom are awesome. We are full-time RV’ers, and I am sick of that. I drink a lot of HEB sparkling water and am still fairly obsessed with true crime.

Those interested, please feel free to hang out with me on social media. Lately, I’ve had less time to play online, but I’m still there. Start with @The LGFC on FB.

Thank You So Much for Stopping by! 🌺 🌷

Please remember to buy kits for all your older family members interested in genetic genealogy and advocate for participation in efforts to help bring resolution to the thousands of Jane and John Does and other victims who need our help! 💗 

No Pressure, But if Y’all Insist! 💞

People I have assisted, often ask how they can help or repay us for the work we have done. I think most of us are reticent to ask for or accept help (or charge for our services) because of the nature of the work, but indeed researching can be overwhelmingly costly at times. To properly conduct research for genetic genealogy cases, we need expensive equipment and costly subscriptions to a lot of services. The expenses and time devoted to research definitely adds up and even takes away from time spent investin in our families, friends, careers and personal hobbies! But this work is incredibly important to so many seeking their truth, so too often, we give til it hurts. 💗  In fact, I feel weird even sharing about this.

So, zero pressure, but if someone wants to buy me a beer — Thank you! 😊 I have a Patreon and a Ko-Fi account.

The DNA Doe Project is a very worthy cause which is near and dear to my heart, so I hope those who have the ability to contribute to defraying their expenses will lean forward when possible. 💞

Thank you for your kindness and support! 🌺