#565 Maggie Freleng with Jane Dorotik
Wrongful Conviction
Lava for Good Podcasts
4.4 • 5.8K Ratings
🗓️ 12 March 2026
⏱️ 38 minutes
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Summary
On Sunday February 13, 2000, 53-year-old Jane Dorotik reported her husband Robert missing after he failed to return home from a jog in Valley Center, CA. An avid runner, Robert’s body was found the next morning. He had been strangled with a rope and his skull was fractured. After investigators found what they purported to be human blood throughout the Dorotik residence, the state developed a theory of Jane’s guilt. She was quickly arrested and tried. The trial, riddled with junk science and faulty forensic testimony, resulted in a jury finding Jane guilty. Despite the defense’s continuous discovery of evidence both during and after jury deliberations, the trial court reinforced the conviction and sentenced Jane to 25 years to life.
To learn more and get involved, visit:
https://csw.ucla.edu/research/feminist-anti-carceral-studies/uc-sentencing-project/
https://womenprisoners.org/
https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/390-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-bloodstain-pattern-evidence-update/
Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Jane and Bob D'Ottick raised three kids and eventually settled outside San Diego, |
| 0:10.9 | but old issues often resurface when the kids leave the nest. |
| 0:16.0 | You know, the kids were seemingly gone quickly, almost all at once, and it was just Bob and I. It was just difficult. |
| 0:24.3 | And we did talk about divorcing. In fact, we actually filed and then decided after living apart |
| 0:33.1 | for a short period of time that we wanted to go to therapy and we wanted to work this out. |
| 0:37.8 | We were together for 30 years. We truly loved each other and wanted to kind of honor this new |
| 0:44.2 | phase in our lives. They managed to bounce back and reinvent themselves. Bob even took up running |
| 0:50.4 | in marathons, occasionally inviting his daughter Claire along. |
| 0:55.3 | To me, that was like, what incredible modeling for a parent. |
| 0:59.0 | You know, like this is a hill, like any hill you might face in life. |
| 1:03.8 | And you can make it to the top. |
| 1:05.9 | Both Jane and Bob continued to model that can-do spirit through Valentine's weekend 2000. |
| 1:12.2 | We had a stay-at-home, give each other gifts, make a little cake, and a fancy meal Saturday night. |
| 1:20.7 | The next day, Bob went out for a run and never returned. |
| 1:25.8 | And I'm the one that invited the detectives into the house, |
| 1:29.2 | so we don't need a search warrant. |
| 1:30.7 | We're welcome in here. |
| 1:31.9 | And look at everything. |
| 1:32.9 | Help us find these answers. |
| 1:35.0 | And it appears that a witness came forward with a lead |
| 1:37.9 | that pointed at two unknown men. |
| 1:40.4 | But it seems the police went in a different direction. |
... |
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