When a hand is unearthed in a popular meadow in Yosemite National Park, investigators hunt for answers for years. When an ID is finally made, even more questions emerge.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
NPS Investigative Services Branch Cold Cases
Website: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/cold-cases.htm
Tip Line: 888-653-0009
Email: nps_isb@nps.gov
NPS Investigative Services Branch
1849 C St NW Mailstop 2560
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: 202-379-476
PHOTO SOURCES
Patricia Marie Hicks Dahlstrom
Source: Find A Grave
Patricia M. Hicks
Source: 1971 Rogers High School Yearbook via ancestry.com
Patricia Hicks
Source: 1970 Rogers High School Yearbook via ancestry.com
2020 Summit Meadow Jane Doe NPS Image
Source: National Park Service News Release and National Park Service Facebook Post
Episode Source Material
- Wild Crime: Season 2 Episode 1: “A Gruesome Discovery”. Published October 24, 2022. Accessed January 26, 2026.
- Wild Crime: Season 2 Episode 2: “A Suspect?”. Published October 24, 2022. Accessed January 26, 2026.
- Wild Crime: Season 2 Episode 3: “The Skull”. Published October 24, 2022. Accessed January 26, 2026.
- Wild Crime: Season 2 Episode 4: “Answers”. Published October 24, 2022. Accessed January 26, 2026.
- Merced Sun-Star: Cultist charged with LSD possession, sodomy. Published December 20, 1980. Accessed July 27, 2026. Via newspapers.com.
- Merced Sun-Star: Molestation, sodomy, trial begins for religious cult leader Gibson. By Staff. Published September 16, 1981. Accessed February 20, 2026. Via newspapers.com.
- The Modesto Bee: Sentencing scheduled for ‘guru’. By Anthony T. Walker. Published October 6, 1981. Accessed February 20, 2026. Via newspapers.com.
- Merced Sun-Star: Man who claims to be God flees Merced. By Staff. Published December 1, 1981. Accessed February 20, 2026. Via newspapers.com.
- The Fresno Bee: Mass-murderer Lucas tied to Yosemite death. By Gene Rose. Published October 31, 1984. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via newspapers.com.
- Merced Sun Star: Yosemite Rangers interview mass murderer about cases. By Staff. Published October 31, 1984. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via newspapers.com.
- The Modesto Bee: Yosemite officials tie deaths to Lucas. By Gene Rose. Published November 1, 1984. Accessed February 15, 2026. Via newspapers.com.
- International Center for Unidentified & Missing Persons: The Doe Network: UFCA 1557: Unidentified Female. By Staff. Last Updated May 23, 2020. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via doenetwork.org.
- FOX 26 News: Investigators hope facial reconstruction leads to murdered woman’s identity. By Stephen Hawkins. Published December 22, 2020. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via kmph.com.
- People: Remains of Murdered Woman Were Found in Yosemite in 1983: Will Facial Reconstruction Identify Her? By Christine Pelisek. Published December 23, 2020. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via people.com.
- Forensic Magazine: Phenotyping, Genetic Genealogy Help ID Jane Doe Found at Yosemite in 1983. By Staff. Published November 22, 2021. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via forensicmag.com.
- ABC Press Release: ABC News Studios’ second season of ‘Wild Crime,’ chronicling mysterious death in Yosemite National Park, premieres Oct. 24 on Hulu. By Staff. Posted October 19, 2022. Accessed February 19, 2026. Via detpress.com.
- The Fresno Bee: A hand was found in 1983 in Yosemite. TV series tells how ‘Jane Doe’ murder victim was ID’d. By Brianna Vaccari. Last updated October 24, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via fresnobee.com.
- ABC News: An unsolved death in Yosemite leads investigators to a strange, rumored cult. By Michela Moscufo. Published October 24, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via abcnews.com.
- SF Gate: A woman was found dead in Yosemite. Now she’s been linked to a cult and a serial killer. By Katie Dowd. Published November 12, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2026. Via sfgate.com.
- Toronto Sun: Crime hunter: Was she murdered by cult guru, serial killer, or someone else? By Brad Hunter. Last updated November 26, 2022. Accessed February 19, 2026. Via torontosun.com.
- National Park Service News Releases: Cold case resolved: “Summit Meadow Jane Doe” identified. By staff. No date. Accessed February 19, 2026. Via nps.gov.
- Washington State Archives, Washington State Divorce Indexes 1969–2014.: Patricia M. Dahlstrom via ancestry.com
- Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Boise Idaho Marriage Index for Years 1947–1973. Via ancestry.com
- National Park Service Facebook Post. Updated Image. Posted August 18, 2020.
- Spokane Chronicle: Spokane Man Victim on Coast Guard Cutter. By staff. Published March 8, 1971. Accessed July 27, 2026. Via newspapers.com
- Spokane Chronicle: Fatal shot said self-inflicted. By staff. Published March 11, 1971. Accessed July 27, 2026. Via newspapers.com
- Spokane Chronicle: Edwin Gilbert Hicks Obituary. Published January 20, 1976. Accessed July 27, 2026. Via newspapers.com