Killer Cases
Upcoming episodes
Jan 22nd
700a
The Arson Murders
Ohio v. Stanley Ford. Firefighters made a desperate effort to save a young family from a blazing fire, but rescuers were too late. Police declared the fire was no accident and began an arson investigation, which included another unexplained fire a few blocks away that killed a beloved elderly couple. Detectives found their first clue in surveillance footage from neighborhood security cameras — a hooded figure, dressed in white, with no face visible — seen dousing both homes with lighter fluid, igniting the flames and running away. Who was the mystery man?
Jan 22nd
800a
The Mennonite Murder
Arizona v. Mark Gooch. A camper gathering firewood in Arizona's scenic Sunset Crater National Park was shocked to discover the body of a young woman in a traditional long dress, wearing black dress shoes. Her Mennonite family and friends were stunned — she had no known enemies and was a beloved, studious young woman, who loved books. How did she end up dead so far from home? Using sophisticated investigation techniques, police analyzed cell phone tower records and grainy surveillance videos that led them to their number one suspect.
Jan 24th
500p
The Farmer's Wife
When Shirley Carter was found murdered in her farmhouse kitchen, her abusive husband Bill was considered a prime suspect. But Bill Carter pointed the finger at someone else--his son Jason. It was up to the jury to decide whom to believe.
Jan 24th
600p
Murder in the Barnyard
In a frantic 911 call as he raced his bleeding wife to the hospital, hog farmer Todd Mullis told dispatchers Amy Mullis accidentally fell on a four-pronged corn rake in their barn. But when investigators found more than four holes in Amy’s body, they knew her death was no accident.
Jan 24th
700p
Mommy is Dead
Charities lavished gifts on Gypsy Lee Blanchard, a sympathetic young girl confined to a wheelchair. The Make-a-wish foundation sent her on trips and Habitat for Humanity built her a home. But it all came to end when her mother was found murdered and Gypsy went missing, leaving her wheelchair behind. As the murder investigation got underway the local Sheriff reported “Things aren’t exactly what they seemed to be”.
Jan 25th
900p
The Pizza Delivery Murder
Ohio v. Erica Stefanko. In a tale of jealousy, betrayal and revenge, 25-year old Ashley Biggs, a single mom and pizza delivery driver, was murdered on a late night run for Dominos. Police arrested her former boyfriend Chad Cobb, saying he killed her over a bitter custody dispute involving their seven-year old daughter. For eight years, Cobb had refused to tell police who had helped him lure Ashley to her death, protecting his then-wife Erica Stefanko. But once he learned that Erica had become romantically involved with his best friend and that she was allegedly abusing his daughter, Cobb revealed Erica’s role in the murder.
Jan 25th
1000p
Murder and The Sex Cam Model
Florida v. Grant Amato. The Amatos were a close knit, middle class family with three professional sons, who enjoyed Florida Gators football games together. So it was a shock when Margaret and Chad Amato and their youngest son Cody were found dead, shot execution-style in their suburban Seminole Florida home. Suspicion quickly turned to middle son Grant, a trained nurse, who had quarrelled with his family over money he had stolen from them to pay for the attentions of a Buglarian sex model on a pay-per-view website. Grant’s high powered public defense team argued that despite the horrific bloody scene there was no blood found on their client and no forensic evidence of any kind linking him to the murders. The drama in the courtroom heightened as Grant’s sole surviving brother, Jason Amato, took the stand.
Jan 29th
700a
The Exchange Student Murder
Missouri v. Joseph Elledge. An exchange student found a career and a love match in the idyllic Missouri university town of Columbia. It was a shock to their friends and family when she disappeared, leaving both her child and cell phone behind. The missing persons case made headlines as police divers painstakingly searched a nearby river without success. But then a discovery - hikers stumbled on the remains of a corpse in the woods, and forensic experts confirmed it was Mengqi. The “no body” case was now officially a murder case with strong forensic evidence matching dirt on the killer’s boots to the dirt at her gravesite.
Jan 29th
800a
The Murder of a Basketball Star
Tennessee v. Billy Ray Turner. Ten days after NBA player Lorenzen Wright went missing, the player's body was found in a swamp, shot 11 times. His death made headlines – Wright had played in the NBA for 13 seasons, was a first-round draft pick in 1996, and played for the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers. But police initially had no clue who killed him and reporters speculated it was a drug deal gone bad. Lorenzen’s mother was tireless in her pursuit for justice and kept the case in the headlines as the murder went unsolved for a half dozen years. Finally, a break in the case led police to a suspect who had been hiding in plain sight.
Jan 31st
500p
Murder on the Panhandle
Florida v. Russell Holbrook. The quiet community of Crestview, Florida was shaken following the vicious murder of beautiful 33 year old nurse Melissa Howard, described as a caring angel, found with her throat slashed in her own living room. Friends were immediately suspicious of Melissa’s ex-husband who had just lost a nasty custody battle over their son Taylor but he had a strong alibi. The case remained unsolved for ten years, until Florida State Agent Detective Meaghan Palumbo, newly assigned to the homicide squad, took a personal interest in the cold case. Using modern day forensics, Palumbo re-tested Melissa’s sweatshirt preserved all those years and found clues to lead them to the DNA of her ex-husband’s best friend, Russell Holbrook, and a dramatic trial as witnesses recounted the true story of Melissa’s last days.