What is the series about?
Naming the Dead: The Hitchhiker (2025) is the premiere episode of National Geographic's documentary series on Disney+, which sheds light on the complex work of giving unidentified crime victims their names back. The series follows forensic experts and genealogists from the organization DNA Doe Project , who use genetic genealogy to solve cold cases. This episode focuses on one of the USA's most notorious serial killers, Larry Eyler, also known as 'The Highway Killer', and his many anonymous victims from the early 1980s.
The true case
The true case behind the documentary centers on the discovery of four bodies on a farm in Newton County, Indiana, in October 1983. One of the deceased was known for over 40 years only by the name 'Brad Doe'. The perpetrator was Larry Eyler , who systematically abducted and murdered young men along the highways of Illinois and Indiana. Eyler was known for extreme brutality, often stabbing his victims between 21 and 31 times in a violent rage. To avoid detection, he deliberately removed identification from his victims before leaving them in remote areas.
The breakthrough in the case came when Newton County Coroner Scott McCord decided to send biological material from 'Brad Doe' for analysis at the DNA Doe Project. By comparing the DNA profile with public genealogy databases, they were able to find distant relatives, which ultimately led investigators to the Brandenburg family. The victim was officially identified as John Brandenburg Jr., a young man who disappeared while hitchhiking in 1983.
Timeline of the case
- 1983: John Brandenburg Jr. disappears. His body is later found the same year along with three other victims on a property in Indiana.
- 1984: Larry Eyler is arrested and later convicted of the murder of Danny Bridges, leading to the revelation of his extensive killing spree.
- 1990: Eyler confesses to 21 murderous assaults in an attempt to avoid the death penalty, including the murder in Newton County.
- 2025: Through modern science, 'Brad Doe' gets his real name back, and his family finally receives closure after four decades of uncertainty.
Watch the series
Viewers can stream Naming the Dead: The Hitchhiker on Disney+ as part of National Geographic's true crime catalog. The series is produced with access to the forensic archives and includes interviews with the investigators who never gave up on finding the truth about the forgotten victims along America's highways.
Similar series on Truecrime News
If you are interested in cases involving genetic genealogy and serial killers, you can read more about The Golden State Killer or explore our coverage of DNA Doe Projects other successful identifications of historical victims.
Sources
Reviews
"The first episode hit me wrong... there was a general sentiment from a parent that 'he will come back when he's ready'." — Heaven of Horror (Mixed)
