Unusual Suspects

In January of 1972, US Postal worker and part-time bouncer Gerald Jackson is found brutally murdered in his San Diego apartment. His identification, car and stereo are missing, and evidence suggests the victim was attacked in his sleep. Was Gerald the victim of a robbery gone wrong, or did someone bear a deadly grudge? The investigation heats up when Gerald's missing car and stereo turn up in a town near the Mexican border, but there isn't enough to warrant an arrest. In 2008, old evidence and new forensic technology brings the cold case back to life. More than three decades after his tragic murder, Gerald Jackson's killer is finally brought to justice.

Seventeen-year-old Michele 'Missy' Avila is an attractive, popular high school student from the Los Angeles suburb of Arleta, CA. On October 1, 1985, Missy leaves home to hang out with friends at a nearby park, but by day's end, she has yet to return. Three days later, hikers discover Missy's battered body in the Angeles National Forest. With a close-knit family and plenty of friends, investigators wonder, who had motive to murder this lovely, well-liked girl? As the investigation ensues, detectives run through a network of classmates, rivals, love interests and troublemakers in their search for the culprit. Did Missy cross paths with a dangerous crowd? Was she the victim of some secret grudge? Years of dogged investigation are spent before a break in the case finally exposes the shocking truth behind Missy's murder.

In late December of 1988, 36-year-old Beverly Eller is found brutally murdered in her apartment in Griffin, Georgia. The crime scene is shocking, but the killer left few clues behind. Investigators learn everything they can about Beverly, sifting through countless tips and rumours in search of a break. By all accounts, Beverly planned to have dinner with her boyfriend on the night of her murder. Did a lovers' spat turn deadly? Was Beverly the latest victim of a serial murderer plaguing the area? After years without an arrest, a critical piece of evidence surfaces that ties an unlikely suspect to the crime. Dedication and good police pay off as investigators unravel the bizarre chain of events that led to Beverly's tragic murder.

On Oct. 24, 1988, fire fighters discover the stabbed and brutalised body of 29-year-old Robert Haugen in his burnt-up apartment in Sunset Beach, CA. In spite of the blaze, physical evidence is recovered from the scene. By all accounts, the victim was a well-liked local with ties to the community, but the vicious nature of the crime suggests a killer with a serious grudge. Did Robert run afoul of some local drug dealers, or was he the victim of someone closer? Nearly two decades later, a claim of abuse in Las Vegas reveals a connection to Robert's murder. Finally, a surprising culprit with a sadistic dark side is brought to justice.

On a cold February night in 1992, the body of Maryland businessman J. Schuyler 'Sky' Alland is found on a remote stretch of federal land. He's been shot, execution-style, and his luxury sedan is missing. Due to the location, the US Park Police is assigned to the case. Who had motive to murder the self-made millionaire? Was it a crime of passion, or a professional hit? Veteran detective Tim Squires follows a trail of clues up and down the eastern seaboard, encountering a cast of shady characters, all with secrets to hide. Dogged investigation unravels a series of escalating lies that drove one individual to commit murder.

In 1992, St. Louis, Missouri is terrorised by a serial rapist targeting the city's south side. Physical evidence is collected from multiple victims, but after hundreds of DNA tests for comparison, investigators are no closer to catching their culprit. A multi-agency task force follows up on hundreds of leads, interviewing peeping toms, sex offenders, and even law enforcement officers in hopes of rooting out the sexual predator. As years pass and investigators exhaust every lead, more victims come forward. Finally, in 1998, a concerned citizen reports a suspicious man fleeing in a white van. It's the break investigators have been waiting for. Within a week, the frenzied search for the notorious South Side Rapist leads to an unlikely culprit that no one saw coming.

In 1992, a church deacon from Upland, CA is found murdered in Tijuana. Did a secret double life lead to the death of this married father of four? Years later, a fresh look at the case helps investigators unravel the complex plot to murder the deacon.

On the night of March 9, 1992, 52-year-old Martha Doney is discovered in her Las Vegas home, assaulted and brutally stabbed. Homicide detectives work around the clock to find justice for the single mother of three. Could the killer be someone close- the ex-husband who shared a tumultuous relationship with the victim, or the hot-tempered boyfriend who left town within hours of the crime? Was Martha the victim of a robbery gone wrong, or was an act of kindness used as a ruse for murder? Investigators believe they know the answer, but without solid evidence, no arrest is made. Years later, modern technology breathes new life into the investigation, bringing the case to a surprising conclusion.

In December of 1997, the bodies of three men and one woman are discovered in a Bartow, Florida manufacturing plant. One victim is a partner in the factory. The other three are the adult children of a second partner. All were shot, execution-style. The investigators are left to wonder; was this a robbery gone horribly wrong, or was there a more personal motive at play? In the months prior, multiple employees had been fired. They all had axes to grind with management, but was it enough to commit quadruple homicide? Or was this a random act of violence by a local bar fly who seems to know a little more than he should about the crime? After months of investigation, a crucial alibi crumbles, revealing an intricate murder plot and its devious mastermind.

In April of 1985, 11-year-old Christopher Alan Brown goes missing from his father's home in Flint, Michigan. As family and the community at large launch a full-scale search for the missing boy, investigators consider every possible scenario. Did he run away of his own free will, or was he snatched off the street by sexual predator on the prowl? Three weeks after his disappearance, Alan's body is found in the nearby Flint River. Some believe an accidental drowning is the cause, but the boy's mother and a dedicated investigator see things differently. Years later, a mother's tireless pursuit of justice leads to the discovery of a crucial clue, and to the devastating truth behind her son's death.

In October of 2004, family and co-workers grow concerned when 32-year-old factory worker, Jonathan Blackwell goes missing from his North Carolina home. Hopes are high for a safe return until the former marine's car is found torched in a remote field. Shifting gears from their missing persons case, investigators dig into Blackwell's life in search of a potential killer. Did the son of Blackwell's ex-girlfriend harbour a secret grudge? Did rumours of an affair drive an angry husband to exact unwarranted revenge? After countless interviews and a mountain of tips, a surprising witness may hold the key to Jonathan Blackwell's sudden disappearance.

In July of 2000, 63-year-old Leonard Houda is doused with a cooler of acid in a grocery store parking lot. After suffering agonising burns over more than half his body, he dies in the hospital 11 days later. Investigators are left to wonder, what could have prompted such a vicious attack in broad daylight? Prior to his untimely death, Leonard was manager of a small beachside hotel in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida. Was there a connection between the attack and the recent acts of vandalism on the hotel property? Was the assault payback for some unpaid debt? Detectives must contend with bum tips, false identities, and a motley crew of eccentric characters before the shocking mastermind behind the attack is revealed.

In 2005, fortune teller Ha Jade Smith and her adult daughter Anita Vo are the victims of a brutal double homicide in their Westminster, CA home. Investigators wonder, which was the primary target? Was daughter Anita targeted by a jilted lover, or was Ha Jade the prey of an angry client from her fortune telling business? Both victims were found with white paint covering their head and hands. Could this be the macabre calling card of a ritualistic serial killer? After weeks of investigation, detectives follow a trail of clues that leads to a cold-blooded culprit.