Johnny Dodd
Verified
PEOPLE Magazine staff writer. Sporadic penner of nonfiction books. Currently serving the Fourth Estate, deployed in the trenches of pop culture.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Johnny Dodd
Confessions of the Pentagon’s UFO Hunter
Jay Stratton can pinpoint the instant everything he knew was turned upside down. On an autumn day in 2005, a colleague walked into his office in Washington, D.C., and asked if he could make sense of a strange video on their classified system. Moments later Stratton—a career military professional who joined the Army while in high school and ascended the ranks to be the chief of air and space warfare for the Defense Intelligence Agency—found himself staring at the screen in unease and confusion.
Pentagon’s UFO hunter reveals himself and what he learned, including the video he can’t forget (exclusive)
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
Pentagon’s UFO Hunter Reveals Himself and What He Learned, Including the Video He Can’t Forget (Exclusive) Original
Before he retired from a long career in the military and government, Jay Stratton led the Pentagon’s UAP task force and spent nearly two decades looking into reports of alien life Now, in a new memoir and an interview with PEOPLE, he speaks out — describing an 80-year-long “disinformation campaign” “I shared as much [in the book] as I legally could,” says the married father of two If Jay Stratton had to pinpoint the instant when everything he knew was turned upside down, it would be on an...
Pentagon’s UFO Hunter Reveals Himself and What He Learned, Including the Video He Can’t Forget (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW Before he retired from a long career in the military and government, Jay Stratton led the Pentagon's UAP task force and spent nearly two decades looking into reports of alien life Now, in a new memoir and an interview with PEOPLE, he speaks out — describing an 80-year-long "disinformation campaign" "I shared as much [in the book] as I legally could," says the married father of two If Jay Stratton had to pinpoint the instant when everything he knew was turned upside down, it would...
Pentagon’s UFO Hunter Reveals Himself and What He Learned, Including the Video He Can’t Forget (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW Before he retired from a long career in the military and government, Jay Stratton led the Pentagon's UAP task force and spent nearly two decades looking into reports of alien life Now, in a new memoir and an interview with PEOPLE, he speaks out — describing an 80-year-long "disinformation campaign" "I shared as much [in the book] as I legally could," says the married father of two If Jay Stratton had to pinpoint the instant when everything he knew was turned upside down, it would...
How a Kidnapping Survivor Started to Heal Thanks to Her Friendship with Miranda Lambert’s Family (Exclusive) Original
Lauren Burns was abducted by her father in 1987 and rescued in a high-stakes mission in Jordan Burns lived with Miranda Lambert’s family as a teen, which she credits as the start of her healing process Miranda Lambert calls Burns “one of the bravest people I know” for sharing her story to inspire hope in others Minutes after Cathy Mahone learned that her ex-husband — Aly Bayan — had abducted their 7-year-old daughter in October 1987 and taken her to Jordan, the desperate mother located a pay...
How a Kidnapping Survivor Started to Heal Thanks to Her Friendship with Miranda Lambert’s Family (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW • Lauren Burns was abducted by her father in 1987 and rescued in a high-stakes mission in Jordan • Burns lived with Miranda Lambert’s family as a teen, which she credits as the start of her healing process • Miranda Lambert calls Burns “one of the bravest people I know” for sharing her story to inspire hope in others Minutes after Cathy Mahone learned that her ex-husband — Aly Bayan — had abducted their 7-year-old daughter in October 1987 and taken her to Jordan, the desperate...
7-Year-Old Was Abducted by Dad on Halloween Outing, Then Rescued by Commandos Hired by Mom. That Was Just the Beginning Original
Lauren Burns was abducted by her dad in 1987 and taken to Jordan, sparking an international rescue mission that made headlines and inspired a TV movie Her mother, Cathy Mahone, hired retired Special Forces soldiers and spent her life savings to bring Burns home In a new memoir, Stolen, and an interview with PEOPLE, Burns shares the aftermath back in the U.S., including living in hiding and healing in Texas — with some help from Miranda Lambert’s family Don Feeney knew he was running out of time.
A Very Long Way Home
Don Feeney knew he was running out of time. It was Jan. 28, 1988, and early that morning he and JD Roberts,,another retired U.S. Special Forces soldier, had grabbed 7-year-old Lauren Burns from a school bus in the small city of Jerash, Jordan. The men were hired by Burns’s mother, Cathy Mahone, to retrieve her after Mahone’s ex-husband Ali Bayan abducted the little girl from her suburban Dallas townhouse three months earlier and returned to his native country.
Couple Met While Stranded on 9/11. Their Unexpected Love Story Became a Hit Musical They’ve Seen 160 Times (Exclusive) Original
From left: Diane and Nick Marson. Credit : Courtesy Nick and Diane Marson Nick and Diane Marson first bonded in Gander, Newfoundland, after their flight was diverted on Sept. 11, 2001 Their love story is depicted the Tony-winning musical Come From Away, “When we tell people we’ve seen it over 160 times, they look at us like we’re crazy, but as Diane always says, ‘It takes us back to that happy time.
First Responder Miraculously Survived 13 Hours Buried in Rubble of 9/11. 25 Years Later, He’s Raised a ‘Beautiful’ Family (Exclusive) Original
Twenty-five years ago, the Sept.
Will Jimeno: Saved from 9/11 Rubble: ‘Everyone Focuses on the Darkness. I Focus on the Light’
In the minutes before he was buried alive in hundreds of thousands of tons of concrete, steel beams, filing cabinets and toxic jet fuel on Sept.
Penn State Fraternity Scandal: Drug Lords on Campus? Original
The Pennsylania Attorney General announced the arrest of members—even pledges—of two Penn State fraternities in connection with a large-scale cocaine trafficking ring The drug selling operation allegedly catered to fraternity members and other students on the university’s campus in State College, Pa. Among those arrested was the father of one frat brother accused of trying to conceal a safe with drugs and cash for his son Fraternity houses are, by definition, notoriously rowdy places.
Penn State Frat Scandal: Drug Lords on Campus?
Fraternity houses are, by definition, notoriously rowdy places. So perhaps it’s understandable that when police in State College, Pa., descended on the Pennsylvania State University’s Delta Upsilon house in December 2024 and made their way to Thomas Robinson’s room, the 22-year-old from Pittsburgh was convinced it was a crazy gag.
Desperate Pilot Dropped a Giant Hydrogen Bomb Near Popular Vacation Island. Nobody’s Sure Where It Is (Exclusive)
From left: Howard Richardson and Tybee Island, Ga. Credit : Dignity Memorial; Getty A U.S. Air Force bomber dropped a 7,600-pound hydrogen bomb off of Tybee Island on Georgia’s coast in 1958 after a mid-air collision Now Derek Duke, a retired Air Force officer, looks back on his yearslong hunt to locate it “The story,” he says, “had so many twists and turns” The wind was howling and the moon was almost full over Georgia’s Tybee Island in the early hours of Feb.
Why Famed Pilot Capt. ‘Sully’ Is Revealing Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger has long defined his life by service. Now the retired pilot, famous for landing his jet in the Hudson River in 2009 after a bird strike took out both engines and for saving all 155 people onboard (Tom Hanks played him in a 2016 film), has a new challenge. He was recently diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s.
Laci Peterson's Mom Sharon Rocha's 5-Word Response to Scott Peterson's New Evidence Claims
A big swirling bucket of the latest rumors, celebrity news and Hollywood gossip. The premier celebrity gossip app. The only apps that gives you a comprehensive real time celeb news stream. Gossip Bucket aggregates and streams the latest gossip news and headlines from the top sources in one place.
Laci Peterson's Mom Sharon Rocha's 5-Word Response to Scott Peterson's New Evidence Claims Original
Laci Peterson’s mother, Sharon Rocha, says Scott Peterson’s latest bid to overturn his conviction has reopened old wounds Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife, Laci, and the couple’s unborn son in 2002 A new A&E documentary examines claims raised by the Los Angeles Innocence Project, whose latest petition was denied in April Sharon Rocha has grown used to hearing claims that new evidence has been discovered that could overturn the guilty verdict of her former son-in-law, Scott...
Capt. Sully, Who Saved 155 in ‘Miracle’ Plane Landing on the Water, Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis (Exclusive) Original
Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger is sharing his early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis and how it is impacting his daily life as well as his decision to speak out for families “living in the shadows” His wife, Lorrie, says they are navigating the diagnosis with “hope” and finding joy in everyday moments Sully plans to use his platform to raise awareness and support others affected by the disease: “We will be courageous together” A little over a year ago, Capt.
5 pieces of forensic evidence that could lead to Scott Peterson's freedom (exclusive)
; ; ; Continue reading More for You
5 Pieces of Forensic Evidence That Could Lead to Scott Peterson's Freedom (Exclusive)
A big swirling bucket of the latest rumors, celebrity news and Hollywood gossip. The premier celebrity gossip app. The only apps that gives you a comprehensive real time celeb news stream. Gossip Bucket aggregates and streams the latest gossip news and headlines from the top sources in one place.
5 Pieces of Forensic Evidence That Could Lead to Scott Peterson's Freedom (Exclusive) Original
Scott Peterson; the orange van connected to the investigation into Laci Peterson's killing.
Scott Peterson’s Quest for Freedom: A New Doc Features the New Evidence (Exclusive) Original
Credit : CDCR; REUTERS/Lou Dematteis Scott Peterson, convicted of killing his pregnant wife Laci in 2002, has spent half of his life in prison A new A&E documentary explores claims of new evidence and theories that challenge Peterson’s conviction Laci Peterson’s family remains steadfast in their belief that Scott is guilty despite ongoing appeals and investigations The decades have taken a toll on Scott Peterson.
Scott Peterson’s Quest for Freedom: The New Evidence
The decades have taken a toll on Scott Peterson. The 53-year-old former fertilizer salesman, who was convicted of killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, in 2002, steadfastly maintains his innocence yet has now spent half his life behind bars.
Husband and Wife Narrowly Escaped Fourth of July Floods. Months Later, Strangers Helped Get Them New Home (Exclusive)
Valerie Mares credits a neighbor’s warning for saving her and her husband during the deadly Texas flooding last July 4 The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has since raised $150 million to help families like hers rebuild after the disaster Mares and her husband now live in a new home but have not returned to the Guadalupe River Looking back on that July night, Valerie Mares has no doubt that the only reason she and her husband, Danny, are alive today is because of a neighbor who...
Making Change & Starting Over One Year After the Texas Floods: ‘Use Our Grief’
|
Turning Unspeakable Pain Into New Purpose Mary Grace Baker’s family is on a mission KATIE, CLARKE AND JEB BAKER The human heart craves routine, especially after it has been battered by chaos and inconsolable loss.
By Johnny Dodd Verified, Brian Brant, Paloma Chavez Verified, David Chiu Verified, Sam Gillette Verified, Janelle Griffith Verified
|
People
Verified
After 8-Year-Old Daughter Died at Summer Camp, Her Broken-Hearted Parents Are Determined to Save Others (Exclusive) Original
Clarke and Katie Baker lost their 8-year-old daughter, Mary Grace, in the devastating Texas floods on July 4, 2025 As they grieve and process their new normal, the Bakers have helped pass the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act to improve standards at summer camps nationwide Mary Grace, says her dad, “was full of life, full of energy, she never really came across a stranger” The human heart craves routine, especially after it has been battered by chaos and inconsolable loss.
Months After the FBI Raided His Garage Chemistry Lab, Teen Science Prodigy Graduates from College (Exclusive) Original
Amalvin Fritz, 18, was raided by the FBI after a maintenance worker reported his home science lab Fritz, a college prodigy who skipped high school, will graduate with a biological sciences degree this June Inspired by his aunt’s cancer battle, Fritz plans to pursue medical research and launch a startup focused on drug innovation One morning in February, 17-year-old Amalvin Fritz was polishing off his breakfast and getting ready to hop in the shower before heading off to his classes when he...
Months After the FBI Raided His Garage Chemistry Lab, Teen Science Prodigy Graduates from College (Exclusive)
"It was all an unfortunate misunderstanding," says 18-year-old Amalvin Fritz, who is applying to medical school and launching a biological science startup Johnny Dodd Sat 13 June 2026 at 12:29 pm UTC 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Months After the FBI Raided His Garage Chemistry Lab, Teen Science Prodigy Graduates from College (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW Amalvin Fritz, 18, was raided by the FBI after a maintenance worker reported his home science lab Fritz, a college prodigy who skipped high school, will graduate with a biological sciences degree this June Inspired by his aunt’s cancer battle, Fritz plans to pursue medical research and launch a startup focused on drug innovation One morning in February, 17-year-old Amalvin Fritz was polishing off his breakfast and getting ready to hop in the shower before heading off to his...
Mom Fell in Love with Sperm Donor 12 Years After Giving Birth. Turns Out, They ‘Work Really Well Together’ (Exclusive)
Jessica Share and her longtime partner, Aaron Long, first made headlines in 2018 after Long wrote an essay about his history as a sperm donor and discovering his biological children “Most people,” Long tells PEOPLE, “don’t consider 23andMe to be a dating site” Share admits that “it’s a weird situation to be in” but she and Long, together now for about a decade, “work really well” It’s not the simplest thing being one of the few women in the world — if not the only one — to have fallen in love...
U.S. Government's Top UFO Hunter Will Break His Silence on Alleged 'Coverup' of Alien Life Original
Jay Stratton, a former Pentagon official, is releasing his memoir Out of the Shadows on Oct. 13 Stratton claims to have witnessed non-human craft and beings His book comes amid growing public interest in UAPs and UFOs following military declassifications and high-profile congressional hearings A hotly-anticipated memoir among UFO enthusiasts from one of the U.S. government’s most seasoned and senior former alien hunters now has a release date.
Dad of 2 Was on Brink of Divorce and Death When Illegal Hallucinogen Saved Him. Now He's Helping Other Veterans (Exclusive) Original
Navy SEAL dad Marcus Capone credits the hallucinogen ibogaine — a powerful, if illegal, psychedelic — with saving his life after years of PTSD and suicidal thoughts Experts are increasingly exploring the healing potential of ibogaine for select mental health conditions Marcus and wife Amber’s nonprofit, VETS, has now funded treatment for nearly 1,300 veterans with the drug while advocating for psychedelic research One day in late 2017, four years after Amber Capone’s Navy SEAL husband,...
Inside Kyle Busch’s lasting NASCAR legacy and the shocking illness that ended his life at 41 (exclusive)
; ; ; Continue reading More for You
Inside Kyle Busch’s Lasting NASCAR Legacy and the Shocking Illness That Ended His Life at 41 (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW • Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, was widely regarded as one of the sport's most talented drivers • Busch’s sudden death at 41 shocked fans and the racing community, leaving a significant void in motorsports • He and his wife Samantha founded the Bundle of Joy Fund, which has helped over 100 families through IVF grants Like nearly everything in Kyle Busch’s life, his death happened quickly.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Johnny
Contact Johnny, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack