Stolen Identity: Nicole Alston

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: For sixteen years, the brutal murder of 24-year-old Nicole Alston went unsolved — her name buried under unanswered questions. When DNA finally revealed her identity, investigators uncovered a chilling twist: her friend had been living under her name, collecting thousands in benefits, and hiding in plain sight.

This is the story of Nicole Alston. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that happened. In December two thousand and seven,
a horrifying discovery was made along a rural roadside in Hogansville, Georgia.

(00:25):
A burning bag containing human remains. The victims hands, feet,
and head had been removed, making identification nearly impossible. For years,
investigators knew her only as Jane Doe, a nameless victim

(00:45):
of an unthinkable crime. But sixteen years later, a DNA
breakthrough revealed her name and exposed a shocking secret, accusations
of stolen identity. This is the story of Nicole Allston.

(01:09):
Nicole Alston was twenty four years old when she left
New York with her friend Angel Marie Thompson, hoping for
a fresh start in Atlanta, Georgia. She was young and optimistic,
but what Nicole didn't know was that Angel Thompson was
running from her past authority say Thompson had outstanding warrants

(01:33):
for theft and identity fraud. Moving south wasn't just about
starting over, it was about staying ahead of the law.
On December sixth, two thousand and seven, a call came
into Hogansville Police in Troop County. Someone had spotted a

(01:54):
mysterious smoldering bag by the side of the road. When
the first responders arrived, they found something far more sinister
than just trash. Inside the bag were human remains, dismembered,
partially burned, and deliberately mutilated. The victim's head, hands, and

(02:19):
feet were missing, making identification even harder for authorities. Investigators
recorded the case as an unidentified female. For sixteen years,
those remains sat in evidence storage, without a name and

(02:39):
without a story. But in December twenty twenty three, technology
finally caught up with the truth. Genetic genealogy is a
process that compares DNA from unidentified victims to public ancestry
databases to locate relatives. Use this technology, investigators finally matched

(03:04):
the sample. The woman found in that burning bag was
identified as Nicole Alston, the twenty four year old who
had vanished from New York in two thousand and seven.
Her mother, Sylvia Austen, had been searching for answers ever since.
Now she finally knew what happened to her daughter, and

(03:27):
the truth was devastating. Once investigators confirmed Nichole's identity, they
turned their attention to the last known person to be
with her, her friend, Angel Marie Thompson. What they uncovered,
according to authorities, was a disturbing pattern of control, abuse,

(03:50):
and deception. Investigators believed Nichole was exploited and isolated by Thompson.
When Nicole decided she wanted to go home home, Angel
feared her past would catch up with her. Police alleged
that when Nicole decided to leave, Thompson's next moves would

(04:11):
end in tragedy. Police alleged Angel Thompson killed Nicole Olston
in two thousand and seven and dismembered her body to
prevent identification. The remains were placed in a bag, set
on fire, and left on a roadside in Hogansville, Georgia.

(04:32):
But the horror didn't end there. After allegedly ending Nichole's life,
Angel did something even more sinister. She assumed her identity.
For years after Nichole's murder. Investigators say Angel Thompson lived

(04:52):
under her name. She used Nicole Olston's Social Security number
to apply for benefits, including Supplemental Security income, food stamps,
and Section eight housing. According to federal records and local reporting,
she allegedly collected nearly two hundred thousand dollars in fraudulent

(05:16):
benefits while posing as Nicole. Nicole's identity was stolen, first
her life, then her name. In August twenty twenty three,
Angel Marie Thompson was arrested and initially charged with concealing
a death, but as investigators gathered more evidence, the case deepened.

(05:42):
By twenty twenty five, Thompson faced additional charges murder and
identity theft. As of this recording, she remains in custody
awaiting trial. When Nicole's mother, Sylvia, had learned the truth,
she was heartbroken. In an interview with Fox five Atlanta,

(06:07):
she said she didn't deserve this, and I wish I
had never let her come to Georgia. For years, Sylvia
had held on to hope that her daughter could still
be alive somewhere. This case raises difficult questions. How could

(06:29):
someone live under another person's identity for years without being caught,
and how did Angel Thompson manage to collect government benefits
in Nicole's name without flagging it sooner It also shows
the power of science, because without DNA technology, Nicole Olsen's

(06:50):
identity could still be unknown. My thoughts and prayers are
with the family and friends of Nicole Alston. She was
just twenty four years old, with her entire life ahead
of her. For sixteen years, the woman who allegedly killed
her lived freely using her name to build a life

(07:11):
funded by stolen benefits. But now Nicole finally has her
name back and her family finally has the answers that
they've been looking for. Angel Marie Thompson awaits trial as
the legal process moves forward. This case is a reminder

(07:31):
that cold cases can be solved and that justice, though delayed,
can still be served. As we close out this episode,
remember that sharing Nicole's story helps spread awareness and helps
to keep her name alive. Don't forget to click the
follow button to stay updated on Nicole's case and others

(07:54):
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watching us on YouTube, share your thoughts on this case
and the comments below. Thank you so much for joining
us on another episode until next time. Hunting for Answers

(08:30):
is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network. For
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