Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter

This is how all documentaries should be. It's a story that appears to be more fiction than fact and at times I was literally gobsmacked at the revelations and the dedication of this mother to find out what happened to her daughter after she gave her up for asoption at the age of 9 months so she could give her better opportunities with the encouragement of her own mother. Cathy., the mother, is only 16 and the pressure applied was immense.

The twists and turns of the story starts when Cathy receives a letter from an Adoption Agency, outlining that her daughter went missing years and years before and requesting a DNA sample..

From then on Cathy goes on a relentless mission to find her daughter. Her courage and stamina is amazing.

At no point does this doc falter or swerve its focus. The uncovering of all that happened is complete dog work and my only curiosity lay in where Cathy's financial resources lay as she had to pay many of the investigators who did not come cheaply.

I won't lay down any spoilers as even the slightest one would reveal too much.

Suffice to say and with relentless police work on a "dead file" the shocking truth is revealed and justice, though far too late, prevails.

Gripping and well paced.

Hat tip to Neflix.

9/10

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Stumbling upon this was enthralling. I had never heard of this story before, and I'm a true crime enthusiast. So I sat down and watched without looking the story up (what I would usually do) and was so disturbed by how warped and demented reality can be over any fiction you could come up with. You really at times don't want to accept the depravity and sheer evil that could be right next to any of us in any community. The fact that our system of adoption in this country and the vetting that goes into finally getting an approval along side the fact that the people who were responsible for the wellbeing of this child, from literal cradle to her grave failed her is beyond comprehension. This true crime piece is an uncomfortable yet excellently executed documentary and will probably live in my head for a while. Sadly...

I am ADDICTED to true crime, like pretty much everyone, but this story is such a heartfelt one. It shows the incredible bond between a mother and daughter that only had 8 months in each other's lives before the daughter was given up for adoption. Cathy is such an amazing, hilarious, force to be reckoned with. She partners up with an "armchair" detective Carl who has helped solve a few unsolved murders with his extreme passion for justice and spreadsheets. It is truly God ordained that this story came together the way it did and as soon as you see all the circumstances that have to happen, you will know how true that is.

After having to give up her daughter for adoption at a young age, Cathy receives a letter years later from The Adoption Agency, stating that Alexis, now Aundria is missing, Cathy makes it her mission to find out what happened.

This is one of the best documentaries I've seen for a while. First off, it is an incredibly shocking story, almost unimaginable, it's full of unbelievable twists and revelations.

I think I was most shocked by Dennis's interviews, absolutely unbelievable, what an absolute monster, he didn't accept any responsibility, nor show any signs of remorse.

Even though it's fairly long, at no point does it feel overly long or padded, the second episode in particular will just have you on tenterhooks.

Cathy must have gone so much, and she must have so many gaps, hopefully Aundria's friends can fill in the blanks for her.

I'm not sure if I'm more sickened by Dennis or Brenda, him for doing what he did, or her for sticking by him, what sort of person could?

The one question I am left with, just how many other victims of Dennis Bowman.

9/10.

For those who lost a close family member under unacceptable circumstances this piece is extremely painful to watch. It's incredible how this predator has managed to survive all these years. DNA evidence was really a game changer for many cold cases but it's still hard to believe that no one ever suspected him. Kudos to Cathy for her strength and determination!!

And the wife... oh my goodness that woman is the textbook example of being delusional. You do not have to be the smartest but still have some kind of common sense, but this "lady" lacks almost all instincts and feelings a mother should have. I only can guess how healthy their biological child can be having these parents.