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Cops Think Roommate Killed Her—Until They Find This Footage | The Case of Amie Harwick

By Unseen .Jan 12, 2026

Unseen .

Driven by the belief that there’s always more to the story, Unseen delves beyond the headlines to uncover the quiet resilience, courage, and humanity at the heart of real cases. With a focus on the untold and the overlooked, Unseen shines a light on what’s often left in the shadows, creating moments of connection and understanding.

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Victim Solves Her Own Murder | The Case of Kristil Krug

By Unseen .Jan 12, 2026

Unseen .

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WELFARE CHECK LEADS TO GRUESOME DISCOVERY

On December 14th 2023, the Broomfield police do a welfare check at this house, where Kristil Krug lives with her husband Dan, and their 3 loving children. The footage you’re about to see was filmed just minutes after Kristil’s family life, took a disturbing turn for the worse. One month earlier, Kristil walks into the Broomfield police department, claiming that her crazy ex boyfriend, has been stalking her. Detectives send units to follow Kristil around, and her husband installs security cameras on their property. The problem is, police have been unable to track down the suspect… and the stalking, doesn’t stop.

On December 14th, at 8:56am, Kristil sends this text message to her husband. She is never heard from after that. After going around the house, officer O’Hara notices the garage door has windows. But they’re too high for him to see. The footage then shows him returning to his vehicle. Before he pulls his car up the driveway, close to the door, so he can use it to climb up. That’s when he sees it. Right there, on the floor of the garage, is 44 year old Kristil Krug, unconscious. She has a head injury, but officer O’Hara is not sure if she simply fell, or if she was attacked.

THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH AND FAMILY REACTION

Outside, Kristil’s mother Linda walks up to the house, just as officer O’Hara opens the garage door, for the paramedics. As other family members start arriving, police secure the rest of the house. Police can tell Kristil was attacked getting into or out of her car. She was hit over the head, before the person stabbed her. Soon after, a scream is heard coming from down the road. It’s Kristil’s husband Dan. He’s just learned the news, that his wife was murdered, and runs into the arms of Kristil’s family. Dan is in shock. He suddenly goes weak in the knees, and can no longer stand on his own.

With the killer still at large, Dan is brought in for further questioning. But when Detective Martinez goes to see him, he’s in no state to be interviewed. To make things easier for him, detective Martinez tells Dan, that he has people in his team who can help break the news to their children. But Dan insists. He wants to be the one to tell them.

KRISTIL' S CALL FOR HELP

For now, Detective Martinez is worried about protecting Dan and his 3 kids, before the killer claims another victim. Kristil’s other family members are also brought in, each put into separate interrogation rooms. But while investigators are hoping to gain any information on the identity of Kristil’s stalker, there’s one person that holds the key to solving the case. Kristil Krug herself.

One month before her murder, Kristil makes a phone call to the Broomfield police department. Detective Martinez is the one assigned to her case. When she sits down to talk with Detective Martinez, Kristil tells him that for the last few weeks, a stalker has been following her around, and harassing her online. Kristil has come prepared. She’s gathered all the information about the stalking instances onto a spreadsheet.

THE STALKER TIMELINE BEGINS

The first date on the stalker log, is September 23rd, 2023. This is when everything started. On that day, her husband Dan saw an intruder running out of their home.When the officer shows up at the house, Dan is already waiting outside, in the middle of his driveway. He explains to the officer that he saw the intruder, when he got back home that afternoon.

When Kristil learns about the incident, she’s more annoyed than afraid. Dan takes care of changing the locks, so there no longer seems to be anything to worry about. Just a few days later, on October 2nd, Kristil receives a strange text from a number she doesn’t recognize. It reads “Hi Kristil it’s Anthony. Hope it’s ok I looked you up. I go to boulder every few weeks and thought we could hook up. You game?” Kristil’s log details her relationship with Anthony over the years, starting in 1999, when she graduated high school.

THE ESCALATION OF THREATS

About a year later, while studying to get her degree in chemical engineering, Kristil met Dan. In the years that followed, while Kristil was building her life with Dan, Anthony would still reach out, from time to time, on social media. So when Kristil gets a text from Anthony in October of 2023, she doesn’t reply. The next day, she receives a more disturbing message. “You should say yes when I offer pity sex. Whatever. Saw your pics. You got fat. Bet your loser husband won’t fuck your fat ass.”

Kristil is shocked. This doesn’t sound like the Anthony she knows. Kristil doesn’t answer, hoping things will just blow over, and if this is in fact Anthony, he’ll get the hint, and leave her alone. But she has no idea that her nightmare is only just beginning.

After researching online, Kristil discovers a classified ad, with her name and phone number on it. The ad solicits men to send her obscene photos of themselves. Kristil is convinced, someone posted the ad, to torment her. But she can’t be sure if Anthony is behind this.

DIGITAL HARASSMENT AND SURVEILLANCE FEAR

Whoever it was, this bizarre incident is causing tension between her and Dan.

On October 31st, almost a month after those first text messages, she gets an email, with a picture of her husband, Dan. It was taken at his work, without him knowing. The email was sent by an A. Holland Kicks at gmail dot com. (a.holland.kicks@gmail.com)

The message comes with a threat, against Dan. It reads, “This your husband? Can’t believe you wanna fuck his dick but not mine. He needs to drive safe. Don’t wanna clear rubber hose in his tailpipe.”

Kristil now has a clear indication, that she and her family are being followed. And she’s terrified. But the thing that bothers her the most, is she never thought her ex-boyfriend Anthony Holland would be capable of doing something like this.

PROTECTING HER FAMILY AT ALL COST

When her parents come to visit her that weekend, Kristil doesn’t hide what’s been happening. Kristil has already hired a private investigator, to find Anthony, so she can serve him the restraining order. But tracking him down proves to be much harder than expected. Dan installs security cameras on their house, and both buy dash cams for their car, in case Anthony follows them while they’re driving.

First and foremost, Kristil is worried for the safety of her children, and her husband Dan. So she starts carrying a Sig Sauer 9mm. With everything that’s happened, Kristil’s children have started to notice that their mother is upset. She now has to explain to them what’s been going on. Kristil is doing her best to keep their lives as normal as possible. She makes sure her oldest daughter, can focus on her dance classes, instead of worrying about her mommy’s stalker.

THE FINAL DAYS BEFORE THE MURDER

With Christmas just around the corner, Kristil’s daughter will be performing in 2 productions of the Nutcracker, something she’s been looking forward to this whole year. But because of what’s been going on, and because no one knows where the stalker is, Kristil is asked by the artistic director, and the company, to stop volunteering, and to stay away from her daughter’s performances.

The first thing Detective Martinez wants to do is confirm the identity of the stalker. He serves search warrants to Verizon, TextNow, and Google. Their records could prove that Anthony Holland is in fact the one behind these threats.

November 9th, just 2 days after her meeting with Detective Martinez, Kristil receives another text message, that only makes things worse. It reads “Saw you at dentist. U got so ***** an ******* in my car. So I came on yours. See you soon.” Kristil immediately notifies detective Martinez, who sends an officer over to her house. That “saw-you-at-dentist-text” has gotten Kristil worried her stalker might have put a tracker on her car.

The constant paranoia is taking a toll on Kristil, causing more strife in her relationship. She and Dan have been fighting more and more, to the point where Kristil tells her parents, they’re headed for divorce. And then, more texts come in, making it clear, what Anthony is planning next, and who he’s aiming for. “I’ll get rid of him, and then we can be together. So easy. Give me the signal, and he won’t come home.” So Dan also comes in, to talk to detective Martinez.

The anxiety has become unbearable, and Kristil fears she won’t be able to prevent the worst from happening. That sooner or later, someone will get killed. But what she fears the most, is that her children will get hurt, and she can’t let that happen.

THE LAST TEXT SHE EVER SENT

On December 13th, the last day before her murder, the dashcam in Kristil’s car catches a rare glimpse into her life. Instead of showing her stalker following her car, the footage only shows how exhausted she’s become, and how the last three months have visibly worn her down.

Thursday, December 14th. The security cameras around the Krug residence show the activity that morning. At 6:45am, Dan drives their eldest to the bus stop, before returning minutes later, just before 7.

At 7:42am, Kristil is seen driving away, as she takes their younger two kids to school. She returns just before 8. Then, at 8:24am, Dan pulls out, heading off to work about a half hour away.

Dan is on the road, when at 8:56, he receives a text from Kristil, asking him to pick up their daughter after school, because she has a meeting with Detective Martinez. Dan responds when he arrives at the office, 20 minutes later. “Sure thing, FYI, I forgot my chicken on the counter, please put it in the fridge.” But Kristil doesn’t message back, which has Dan worried. He tries calling her, but gets no answer. For the next three hours, he keeps trying to reach her. Until at 12:01pm, Dan asks for that welfare check. He also calls Kristil’s mother, who lives close-by.

THE TRUTH NO ONE EXPECTED

When Kristil’s mother Linda arrives at the house, she walks up the driveway. As the garage door opens, she peaks inside. Kristil’s family is completely distraught. When Dan arrives, he breaks down crying, held close in their arms. With the killer still at large, Detectives begin combing through the crime scene, while others start looking for the suspect.

They haven’t been able to locate Anthony in the last few months, but what they do have, is a license plate attached to his name. Police put out a nationwide alert to be on the look out for his vehicle. Almost immediately, they get a hit. Only, it’s not on any roads leading out of Colorado, but in North Central Utah. Investigators contact authorities there. Multiple deputies in Utah zero in on Anthony’s vehicle, parked outside a residence. They have a warrant for Anthony’s arrest, on stalking charges. The most shocking thing, is that Anthony is already home, just a couple of hours after the murder. Anthony invites the officers inside, waiting to be told what all this is about.

The deputies go through the events of Anthony’s morning. Apparently, he had been shopping for clothes at a store in American Fork, just 10 miles outside Salt Lake city. He shows them the receipt from his purchase, and the officers are able to confirm, Anthony is telling the truth. The strange thing is, Anthony admits to having texted Kristil after their split, but says the last time he messaged her, was in 2016.

Colorado Police are now left without any legal basis to arrest Anthony. They have no proof he was Kristil’s stalker, or her killer, as he was provably 500 miles away at the time of the murder. Detectives might have lost their prime suspect, but with a murder on their hands, they can now escalate those search warrants. Martinez has been waiting for nearly a month, for the digital information that would tell him where those stalking messages came from. But now, almost immediately, the companies respond. And what he discovers in the data, is shocking.

Dan Krug is arrested, for the murder of his wife Kristil. He was pulled over on his way to their daughter’s performance of the Nutcracker.

JUSTICE WRITTEN IN DATA

The data provided by Verizon, TextNow and Google, showed that the stalker had been using the wifi at Dan Krug’s office. The burner phone first used to text Kristil was traced back to a store in Broomfield, and it had been purchased using a gift card, registered to Dan Krug.

Police also did a digital analysis of that photo of Dan outside his office. It showed the photo had been taken in selfie mode, with a timer. But what about the text message sent from Kristil’s phone at the time Dan was arriving at work? Investigators found out the text was scheduled to be sent after he had already left the house.

As it turns out, not everyone was surprised to discover Dan had killed his wife. Just hours after Kristil’s death, her mother Linda tells Detectives, that maybe Anthony isn’t the only suspect they should look at. But the most shocking statement comes from Donna, Kristil’s stepmother. It appears Kristil was about to discover, that Dan was her stalker all along. And it’s possible that Dan decided to kill her, before she found out the truth.

April 4th 2025, Dan Krug pleads not guilty to first degree murder, and stalking. While all the digital information points to Dan, the physical evidence against him is thin. If Dan Krug walks free, he will have full custody of Kristil’s children, and their lives will be in danger. But there’s one witness, that will change everything. One of Dan’s ex-girlfriends. To this day, she’s still terrified of him, so much so, that she asked to remain anonymous. She says that after she broke up with him, she began receiving disturbing messages and phone calls, from someone she did not know.

At the time, the messages were investigated by police, and traced back, to Dan’s college, on the East Coast. The woman got a temporary restraining order against him, but he was never charged with any crime. Until now. After 7 days of testimony, the jury in Kristil Krug’s murder case is asked to deliberate. When the jury returns with a verdict, Kristil’s parents are holding their breath.

Dan Krug thought he could fool everyone, and get away with his crimes. He just never thought Kristil would outsmart him. It was her efforts that helped police, solve her own murder, and put a monster behind bars. At the cost of her own life, she made sure her children would always be safe. Now, with their mother gone, and their father in prison, Kristil’s children live with her parents.

It’s only been 2 years since her death, and for her parents, the pain is still hard to bear. But they do all they can, to make sure Kristil’s memory lives on with her children.

To help support Kristil’s children, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-krug-fa...

LAPD Detective Gets Exposed For Murder | The Case Of Sherri Ramussen

By Unseen .Nov 26, 2025

Unseen .

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THE LAPD DETECTIVE UNDER SUSPICION

29-year-old Sherri Rasmussen is celebrating Christmas with her family. She is married to John Ruetten, a devoted husband who adores her. But on the night of February 24th, 1986, things would take a turn for the worse.

After John claims he found his wife, Sherri, dead on the floor, investigators turn to a polygraph to see if he’s telling the truth. After the interrogation, the results show John failed the polygraph, and investigators are convinced he did it. But with no concrete evidence, he’s set free.

For over 20 years, it remains a cold case — no arrests, no answers. Nobody knows what really happened to Sherri. But after all this time, Sherri’s father becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to his daughter. As the last person to have spoken with her, he knows that their final conversation may hold the key to solving the case. According to Sherri's father, John's ex-girlfriend Stephanie, an LAPD detective, matches the description Sherri had given. Investigators are stunned because Stephanie is one of their own, but they decide to question her anyway.

DISCOVERY OF THE CRIME SCENE AND EARLY DOUBTS

Los Angeles. February 24, 1986. 6:00 p.m. — John Ruetten returns home from work. As he approaches the townhouse, the garage door is open, and his wife’s car is missing. Odd, but Sherri runs the nursing wing at Glendale Adventist, and emergencies are common. John climbs the steps. The front door is ajar. He pushes it open. Inside, on the living room floor, lies Sherri, in a pool of blood. He picks up the phone and calls 911.

The scene suggests a break-in, with stereo equipment scattered all across the floor. Without doing a complete examination, the officer notices that someone has tied up Sherri, bitten her deep on the left forearm, brutally struck her on the head with various objects, and shot her three times in the abdomen. She has also left deep claw marks on the front door in some sort of desperate struggle. As he outlines all of the gruesome details to his colleagues, the officer can’t help but hear quiet sobbing coming from the adjacent dining room.

When asked about his security system, John admits he forgot to set the alarm that morning and isn’t sure if he locked the door. He explains that Sherri was still in bed and that the neighborhood felt safe. As suspicious elements begin to add up, the police can’t help but question: why would the burglar pick a townhouse right in the middle of the street instead of a corner unit?

SHERRI’S BRILLIANT LIFE AND PROMISING FUTURE

Sherri Rasmussen. A young woman with a bright future ahead of her. Gifted in school, she entered college at sixteen, skipping two grades. Her father had hoped she would pursue a career in medicine, but Sherri became a nurse instead, convinced it would allow her to balance her career with the family life she longed for. By the age of twenty-three, she had already obtained her master’s degree and was teaching at UCLA.

Everywhere, people complimented Sherri for her intelligence, calming presence, and natural leadership. By her late twenties, she had already become the director of nursing at Glendale Adventist, and in the spring of 1984, she met her future husband, John Ruetten.

THE RASMUSSENS’ GROWING SUSPICIONS

However, Sherri’s dad, Nels, pushes aside these feelings when he receives the phone call announcing Sherri’s passing, as it wasn’t from John himself but from his father.

When the Rasmussens arrive at the police station, they finally reunite with John. But to their surprise, he still refuses to talk, insisting that the police won’t allow him. For them, the exchange is unsettling, and John’s secretive attitude is difficult to read. The Rasmussens wonder if this is the reaction of a man in shock, or if he’s holding back to protect himself—or someone else.

STALKING, HARASSMENT, AND IGNORED RED FLAGS

As John is escorted into an interrogation room by a detective, Nels ponders their exchange — or lack thereof. The 51-year-old is sure his son-in-law is lying, because Sherri’s family, friends, and colleagues all know that in the year leading up to her murder, something disturbing was happening: a strange figure in disguise was constantly stalking her. On top of that, John’s ex-girlfriend also began harassing Sherri after their wedding. A colleague of hers witnessed one of the encounters.

As detectives question John, another officer speaks with the Rasmussens. Nels struggles to process what he’s hearing. According to the authorities, thieves killed his daughter in a failed robbery where they stole nothing but her purse and car. Nels immediately starts talking about the stalking and harassment his daughter suffered during the months leading up to her murder. Still, the officer in front of him retorts that, without a name, there’s nothing they can do.

Nonetheless, Nels follows up with one alarming incident where John’s ex-girlfriend broke into Sherri’s townhouse and started fighting with his daughter in her own living room before running away.

YEARS OF STONEWALLING AND A COLD CASE

This is the last time John ever speaks publicly about Sherri. In the audience, Nels Rasmussen sits filled with grief and anger. A month has passed, and the police haven’t moved an inch. Nels doesn’t know what John has told them, but they never consider his son-in-law a suspect. On the contrary, the police stick to their burglary theory, even stating that the Rasmussens had been watching too much TV when Nels and his family tried to convince them to investigate Sherri’s stalker and John’s ex-girlfriend.

The next month, less than a mile from Sherri’s townhouse, an actual burglary takes place. A woman coming home is surprised by two men inside. One runs for the door, while the other points a revolver at her.

Same neighborhood, same time, same weapon. However, this time, no one is hurt. Either the police are actually onto something, or fate is playing a cruel trick on the Rasmussens. Convinced the burglary and Sherri’s murder are linked, detectives plaster the city with the suspects' faces. Weeks go by with no leads, then months. The police eventually find the two items the thieves stole from Sherri’s property — her car and purse — both cleaned free of prints. And then, silence. For almost 15 years, the Rasmussens remain entirely in the dark.

By 1991, Nels Rasmussen is back home in Arizona, still carrying the weight of Sherri’s unsolved murder. Determined to get justice for his daughter, he follows every development in forensic science, watching closely as DNA testing begins to revolutionize the field. Around the same time, the case’s lead detective retires, handing over his stalled investigation to someone else. For Nels, it feels like an opening. He wastes no time and contacts the new man in charge, with a plan he believes could break the case.

Before Nels can convince anyone at the LAPD to give his idea a shot, something very strange happens: various pieces of evidence related to the case mysteriously disappear. Not only that, but someone trims the murder book — containing the entire investigation — of half its content on the premise that it has grown too large for the cold case office storage room. The mishandling of the case is becoming increasingly difficult for the Rasmussens to bear, who continue to try to get in touch with the police or speak with someone, anyone, who’ll take them seriously.

For the next 10 years, every time the case changes hands, the family flies from Tucson to Los Angeles to meet the new detectives. And each time, Nels and his two remaining daughters return home heartbroken by their lack of progress.

DNA BREAKTHROUGH AND EVIDENCE OF A COVER-UP

It’s now November 2001. The LAPD can no longer ignore advances in forensic science and establishes a Cold Case Unit dedicated to DNA profiling. Sherri’s file, now fifteen years old, lands on the desk of an overextended detective with no time to treat it properly. Instead of letting it gather dust, the case is handed off to a criminalist, Jennifer Francis. She begins combing through the boxes of evidence herself and eventually stumbles across a detailed entry about a bite mark Sherri received during the struggle with her killer.

Strangely, the file claims investigators sampled only one blood type, but bite marks should always yield two profiles, one from the victim and one from the perpetrator. The entry seems to suggest Sherri might have bitten herself — a theory Francis finds baffling. She knows the original detective failed to recover prints and other key evidence from the scene, but surely someone from his forensic team had swabbed the wound. With her boss’s help, she digs through boxes upon boxes of paperwork until she uncovers an old property log from 1986, listing the crucial swab she has been searching for.

But Francis refuses to give up. She calls every coroner in the city until she finally gets a lead. After spending six hours combing through the morgue’s freezers, an LA County coroner informs her he has found a torn envelope with its fading label damaged. Against all odds, the glass tube containing the swab is still inside, and in one piece. She immediately runs a battery of tests, and the result points towards an unknown female, directly contradicting the theory of a male duo. Further down the file, Francis also learns about Nels Rasmussen and his numerous attempts to inform the police about Sherri’s stalker and John’s ex-girlfriend. Francis’s own theory begins to take shape: what if the two were one and the same, and she was the one who bit and killed Sherri? But when Francis brings this to the detective, he dismisses it outright. He insists that everything else still points to a burglary — and adds one detail Francis has yet to learn: John’s ex-girlfriend is not just any woman. She is an LAPD detective.

RETALIATION AGAINST FRANCIS AND A SECRET ALLIANCE

Unbeknownst to Nels, his only ally at this time is within the LAPD. Jennifer Francis relentlessly pushes the case — first to the Cold Case Unit, then to the Scientific Division, later to Robbery-Homicide, and even to Internal Affairs. Yet everywhere she goes, supervisors turn their attention not to the evidence, but to her. They question her mental state, claiming she is too emotional, paranoid, and obsessed with Sherri’s case. By May 2010, Francis is ordered into mandatory counseling with an LAPD-sanctioned therapist — a move that, inside the department, brands her as unstable and potentially unfit for duty. Even worse, the sessions aren’t at all concerned with her well-being, but rather with what she knows about the case and who she has talked to. For Francis, this is no longer a matter of paranoia or conspiracy. This feels like retaliation.

A Deputy DA calls her crazy, colleagues treat her as a liability, and systematically push her off major cases. Around the lab, people belittle her, telling her to get a hobby or joking that she watches too much TV. What she doesn’t realize is that she is retracing the same path as Nels Rasmussen, who, decades earlier, had also been ridiculed by the authorities, despite being the only one able to see through the conspiracy at the time.

Then, in November 2009, everything changes. Francis receives a call from Robbery-Homicide. A detective named James Nuttall is asking about her findings. She has been waiting more than five years for this moment — the Rasmussens, twenty-three. But fear holds her back. She feels like she can’t trust anyone anymore. She tells the detective that she doesn’t believe it was a burglary and that the evidence may have been tampered with, but doesn’t share her theory with him.

Yet Nuttall has her results right in front of him and quickly puts two and two together. He knows the case has been closed four times, that the only DNA not matching Sherri's belongs to another female, and has already read the dozens of letters Nels sent over the years, urging police to investigate John’s ex-girlfriend. From this point on, the detective decides to form a secret circle within the homicide department. With Jennifer, who comes to trust him over the first few months of the investigation, himself, and three other detectives, Nuttall sets out to prove once and for all that someone from within their ranks violently attacked and killed the innocent Sherri Rasmussen inside her own home back in 1986.

REOPENING THE CASE AND JOHN’S CRUCIAL REVELATIONS

Nuttall and Francis don’t waste a minute. Digging deep within the case files, they find John's original 1986 interview with the first detective in charge of the case, who, to say the least, was quick to jump to conclusions and not very insistent toward the man who should have been his first suspect.

To Nuttall, something's off with the interview. Why did the detective jump to conclusions so fast? Why did John Ruetten lie? According to Nels and Sherri’s colleague, his ex-girlfriend was quite problematic, and Sherri wasn’t afraid to bring it up in conversation. But what really throws Nuttall off is that there’s nothing else to listen to. In 23 years of investigations, three other detectives reopened the case, but none of them ever considered conducting a second interview with John to ask about Nels's claims. Nuttall doesn’t know what might have caused the investigation to go astray, but he knows he won’t be the fourth to pass on the idea. He contacts John, who has relocated to the Bay Area, remarried, and had children since then, and sets up an interview. From the get-go, he adopts a very different tone, wasting no time bringing up his ex, the story at the hospital, the home invasion, the stalking; he doesn’t miss a beat and even recalls information that had never been recorded in their files until recently.

TRAPPING A KILLER 23 YEARS LATER

Not only does John give their suspect a name, he also explains that while he and Sherri were engaged, he had been cheating on her with Lazarus, even though he knew she was obsessed with him. In college, when the two were dating, she used to steal his underwear and sneak into his dorm to take pictures of him as he slept.

By that point, Lazarus is no longer a police officer but a full-fledged detective. She’s armed, and her office is just down the hall from Nuttall. To make sure nobody intervenes with their investigation as they had with Francis, the detective decides to send men to follow her around and recover anything she throws into the trash. From this endeavor, they recover a used soda cup and send it to Francis, who then confirms that Lazarus' DNA matches the one found on the bite mark. Nuttall then prompts his team to lure her into the LAPD suspect treatment unit, the only place in the building where no guns are allowed, and to falsely claim that they need her help for an interrogation with a difficult suspect. But little does she know, she is the suspect.

BITTERSWEET JUSTICE AND SHERRI’S LEGACY

For the first time since Sherri’s murder, everyone is on the same side, facing the same culprit. Jennifer Francis presents her DNA test results and recounts the retaliation she endured within the LAPD. Nels Rasmussen steps forward with the warnings he tried to give from the start, and how he was ignored for decades. And John Ruetten, whose testimony had been tempered with and whose contact with Sherri’s family was restricted by police, finally speaks openly. Together, along with dozens of other witnesses, they testify.

Nuttall's investigation takes four months. The trial lasts three weeks. The jury comes to a conclusion in less than a day. After 26 years of struggle, Sherri and her family finally receive justice.

In 2023, Lazarus admits — 37 years too late — that she killed Sherri. In exchange for her confession, she’s offered a shot at parole. By then, Nels has already passed away, but before his death, he recorded a statement to be used at hearings. The board saw it in 2023, and it will be shown again whenever Lazarus attempts to get released in the future.

Today, Sherri’s legacy continues — not only through her family’s long-lasting fight for justice, but also in the lives of the Rasmussens’ next generation.

Texas Cop Wrongfully Convicts 3YO's Dad For Murder | The Case of The Morton Family

By Unseen .Nov 25, 2025

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THE TODDLER IN THE ROAD

This 3 year old boy is found walking alone in the street, with a soiled diaper. His parents are known to be good people, and would never let him out of their sight. Cops quickly discovered that his mom was brutally murdered. They think the husband did it, after they find a suspicious note on her dresser. Michael Morton is sentenced to life in prison.

The problem is, the husband is innocent. And worse yet, the cops knew about it, and hid it for 25 years. But no one could have imagined that the truth would finally come from the only person who saw the real killer. The 3 year-old boy, who lost both his parents. He will come back, to take down his mother’s killer, and to save his own father.

HORROR INSIDE THE MASTER BEDROOM

North Austin, Texas. August 13th 1986. Early that morning, a man finds a 3 year old boy wandering alone, outside the Morton residence, at 9114 Hazelhurst Drive. When the man walks the boy back inside, he calls out for his mother Christine, but gets no answer. After searching through the house, the neighbour heads to the master bedroom and stumbles upon a horrific scene. When Sheriff Jim Boutwell from Williamson County is called to the location, he finds Christine’s body hidden under a blanket, covered with a blue suitcase and a wicker basket.

Upon removing the items, he sees Christine is no longer recognizable. She has been killed, with a large blunt object. After searching the rest of the house, he can see no sign of forced entry, no sign that anything has been stolen. It’s determined that Christine was not sexually assaulted, which has investigators puzzled.

Until they find a note left on the dresser. It’s written by Christine’s husband Michael.Later that day, Michael leaves work to go pick up his son at the daycare, but finds little Eric was never brought in. He calls home, to ask his wife what happened. To his surprise, it’s Sheriff Boutwell who answers the phone. He says nothing to Michael about what happened, and asks him to come home at once.

THE ARREST OF MICHAEL MORTON

September 25th, not long after Christine’s funeral, Michael is at home with his son, when the door bell rings. He takes Eric in his arms and goes to answer. When he opens the door, it’sSheriff Jim Boutwell, with several deputies. They’re here to arrest Michael.

One of the deputies grabs 3 year old Eric, and pulls him out of his father’s arms, while Sheriff Boutwell handcuffs Michael. All the while, Eric is screaming for his father, with his arms out stretched as he’s being taken away.

THE TRIAL BUILT ON A LIE

February 9th 1987, less than six months after the murder, Michael Morton’s trial begins. The prosecutor is district attorney Ken Anderson, who is known for being aggressive, sarcastic, and smart. For him, Christine’s murder trial is his biggest case yet. If he wins, it will propel his career. And he’s ready to do anything to put Michael in prison, even breaking the rules.
He begins his attack on Michael by focusing on the note found at the scene. It spoke of an argument the couple had the night before... about sex.

The story Anderson sells to the jury, is that Michael wasn’t happy with Christine, and he wanted out of the marriage. And when she refused to have sex with him on his birthday, he killedChristine in a fit of rage. When Michael takes the stand, the jury hears his side of the story, how Christine was alive when he left for work, where he clocked in at around 6am. According to his testimony, Christine must have been killed after he’d left.

He tells the court he wasn’t angry when he left the note, that it was meant as a playful banter with his wife. But the jury no longer believes him, after prosecutor Anderson brings his last witness to the stand.

Doctor Roberto Bayardo testifies under oath, that after examining Christine’s stomach contents, he estimates the time of death to be at around 1am. 4 hours before Michael says he sawChristine alive, when he left for work. The defense is devastated. With scientific proof against him, Michael’s alibi falls apart. And the jury is now sure to see him as guilty.

But what no one knows, is that in reality, Doctor Bayardo was unable to determine the time of death accurately, but Ken Anderson still used him as an expert witness, to give his damning testimony.

A FAMILY DESTROYED BY LIES

February 17th, the trial comes to an end. During the closing arguments, prosecutor Ken Anderson puts the final nail in the coffin. He fabricates a claim that Michael sexually assaulted Christine after the fact, while having no proof her real killer did anything of the sort. But it no longer matters, no one will contradict him now.

As he describes the scene to the jury, Anderson has tears coming from his eyes. The performance is effective. It doesn’t take long for the jury to deliberate.

After the sentencing, Anderson tells the media a life sentence is too good for Michael Morton, and that he should’ve been given the death penalty. As he’s escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs, Michael continues to claim his innocence. But no one believes him.

Ken Anderson has just put an innocent man in jail, for life. All the while, the real killer is still out there. Free to kill again.

As for Michael, he languishes in his cell. Year after year, he files for appeals, but is rejected every time. His only solace comes from the visits of his son Eric, whom he’s allowed to see once every six months.

Because the visits are under court order, Eric needs his dad’s permission, to stop coming to see him in prison. Michael is heartbroken. All he wants, is to see his son one more time.

District attorney Ken Anderson has convinced Christine’s family that Michael is guilty. So Eric, who is being raised by Christine’s sister, has been brought up to believe his father killed his mom. Michael knows the only way he can ever get him back, is to find a way to prove his innocence in court. Or he may never see him again.

JOHN RALEY & THE INNOCENCE PROJECT

It’s 2004, Michael has been in jail for the last 17 years, when he finally gets in contact with the Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal organization that works to overturn wrongful convictions, through DNA testing.

John Raley, a civil attorney who became known to the Project, because of a medical Malpractice case, agrees to take on what would be his first ever murder case. When he’s given the court documents from Michael’s trial, he immediately finds red flags. As he reads through the file, Raley is stunned, to find no real evidence of guilt.

He also finds key issues with the statements made by the medical examiner. According to the records, Roberto Bayardo didn’t get access to Christine’s body until a few days after her murder, which would make any assessment of the exact time of death impossible.

John Raley is determined to find out the truth, about Christine Morton’s murder. His first step, is to go meet Michael in person. When he arrives at the Mark W. Michael Unit in East Texas, he’s taken to the family room, where Michael is waiting for him.

A LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST POWERFUL OBSTRUCTION

John Raley doesn’t waste any time, and puts a team together. When they get their hands on the list of evidence still on file, they learn about a blue bandana with blood on it, which never made it into the actual trial. According to the 1986 investigation of the murder, one of the deputies saw a dirty bandana near a construction site, about one hundred yards from the house.

To prove Michael’s innocence, Raley is hoping the bandana will contain Christine’s DNA, as well as her killer’s. In order to do the analysis, his team needs to get their hands on the actual evidence. But when they show up at the Sheriff’s department, they are denied access.

John files a motion, which would force them to turn the evidence over. But by 2005, they still haven’t heard back from the district attorney’s office. So John decides to give him a call.

It just so happens, John Bradley’s mentor, is none other than Ken Anderson, the prosecutor inMichael’s case. Anderson, has since been appointed district judge, and has made some powerful friends in Williamson county, but now, he’s become one of its most influential figures himself. If the DNA testing proves Michael is innocent, it would look terrible for Anderson. But more importantly, there’s something in the prosecutor files that Anderson doesn’t want anyone to see. John Bradley understands this, and he rejects Raley’s request. Michael’s life hangs in the balance, but Ken Anderson didn’t just take away his freedom, he also took away his son.

March 7th 2008, over three years after he filed his motion, John Raley has his first hearing in the case. He tells the judge about the bandana with blood on it, that it was never subjected toDNA testing. He also says the state has been blocking their efforts since day one. He hopes the judge will force them to hand over the evidence. But he has no idea, that district attorney JohnBradley has already arranged for the judge to reject his request. And that his battle was lost before it began. In fact, John Bradley isn’t even at the hearing. Raley is furious.

Right away he gets in his car, and heads off to go see Bradley at his office, which is in Georgetown, nearly 200 miles away.When he arrives in Bradley’s office, Raley’s blood is still boiling. And he does something completely out of character.

THE APPEALS COURT AND HIDDEN EVIDENCE

A few days later, on a Saturday morning, John Raley gets a call he never expected. It’s Michael.And he has news.Michael has been in jail for 21 years. He has no idea where his son is. John Raley wouldn’t be surprised if, after all this time, he decides to take the deal. But admitting his guilt, would mean Michael would lose his son forever.

The year is 2010. John Raley has been fighting to free Michael Morton for six years, when they go in front of the Third Court of Appeals. While the court is deliberating, John Bradley takes to the media, in an attempt to sabotage their efforts.

It will take months before they get the results back from the test. During that time, John Raley’s office sends a Freedom of Information Act request to gain access to Ken Anderson’s files on the trial. They wanna know, what else could John Bradley, and Ken Anderson want to hide. But the truth, is far more disturbing than Raley ever expected.

The investigation done in 1986 showed Michael should never have been the prime suspect.There was a footprint in the mud behind the home, that no one had ever done a plaster cast of. There were strange fingerprints on the sliding glass door, but no one had ever run those prints. There was a sighting of a strange man in a green van, in the days before the murder, in the same area where the blue bandana was found, and the man was seen walking into the woods behind Christine and Michael’s house.

This information was concealed for 25 years. It was with held from the defense, from the court, and from the jury. Ken Anderson knew that Michael was innocent, but he still sent him to prison for life, and let the monster who killed his wife go free, to kill again.

Christine’s mother Rita was later told by detectives, that the man 3 year old Eric called the monster, was probably his dad. He just didn’t recognize him. As for Eric, he was so young when he witnessed his mother's murder, that he no longer remembered.

UNMASKING THE REAL CRIMINALS

June 2011. Michael has been in jail for 25 years. It’s been months since the evidence has been sent for DNA testing, and still no news. There’s a chance the bandana is a dead end, and they don’t find what they’re looking for. Still, Michael hopes. Until one day, he’s called to the family room, where John Raley is waiting for him... with a smile on his face.

The DNA testing showed that the bandana with blood on it did contain Christine’s DNA. Along with the DNA of a man, that was NOT Michael. Then, the team ran the DNA results through the database, to see if it matched one of the millions of profiles already in the system.

Norwood had escaped detection for the last 25 years. And Raley was convinced, Christine was not his only victim. While searching through cold cases in Travis County, his team stumbled upon a victim, whose murder looked a lot like Christine Morton’s. They both had been killed with a large blunt tool, both had household objects piled over their bodies, neither had been sexually assaulted. What’s worse, both women lived within 10 miles of each other. And yet, investigators had never connected the two crimes.

After looking upNorwood’s address at the time of both murders, Raley found out that his house, was only one street corner away from Debra’s house. To confirm their theory, Raley’s team got access to the evidence in the Baker case, and after running DNA tests on a few hairs found at the crime scene, they were able to definitively identify Debra Baker’s killer, as Mark Allen Norwood.t back together.

JUSTICE AFTER 25 YEARS IN HELL

When the truth finally comes out, that Michael Morton had been wrongfully convicted, DistrictJudge Ken Anderson takes to the media, in an attempt to salvage the situation.

What he doesn’t know, is that Debra Baker’s daughter, Caitlin, is in the crowd.Ken Anderson not only put an innocent man in jail for 25 years, he also allowed the real killer, to take Debra Baker’s life. After Mark Allen Norwood is arrested, and evidence of Michael’s innocence has come to light, Anderson becomes the subject of a special criminal inquiry, for deliberately hiding evidence from the court. And after a long battle led by Michael’s attorneys,John Raley and the innocence project, Ken Anderson is disbarred, disrobed, and for the crime of misconduct resulting in wrongful conviction, will become the prosecutor to ever be sent to jail.

As for Norwood, he's convicted of the murders of Christine and Debra, and received two life sentences. While officials believe Norwood was most likely a serial killer, his reign of terror has finally come to an end.

After Michael’s release, John Raley arranged a special dinner for him, at his house. A dinner to which he also invited Michael’s son, Eric.

Killer Pastor Thinks He Got Away | The Case Of Kari Baker

“How close was he to getting away with murder? Really close.”

By Unseen .Jul 14, 2025

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FAITHFUL IMAGE SHATTERED

This is the voice of Matt Baker — he has just found his wife, Kari, lifeless in their bed with a typed letter beside her. But there’s one problem: Kari didn’t write the letter.
Everybody is shocked. Matt and Kari are pillars of their community — a loving couple with two young daughters. But Matt isn’t just a husband. He is a respected Baptist pastor, a rising star in the church.
After Kari’s death, Matt becomes the face of faith through tragedy — speaking at pulpits, appearing on television, even landing magazine covers. He tells the world how he lost the love of his life… and how God carried him through it.
But Kari’s mother, Linda Dulin, isn't convinced. Something about Matt’s story doesn't sit right — especially after she learns he’d been having an affair.The death of Kari Baker might have remained a mystery — if not for a mother who refused to give up, driven by the fear that her grandchildren were living with a murderer. Eventually, a clue is uncovered — A secret message written by Kari herself, hidden in the pages of her bible. A message that will expose the truth… and help Linda avenge her daughter, before it’s too late.

A SHOCKING DISCOVERY

It’s April 7th, 2006. Matt Baker is driving home in the small Texas suburb of Hewitt. It’s past 11:00 p.m. on a Friday night. His wife, Kari, might still be awake, waiting for him—while their two young daughters, Kensi and Grace, are likely already fast asleep. But, as the 38-year-old father pulls in the driveway, he has no idea that things are about to take a disturbing turn. That night, Matt had only stepped out for a quick errand—renting a movie and filling up the car with gas. Now, just before midnight, he walks in and heads to the bedroom, only to find the door locked. When he finally gets it open, he’s met with a chilling sight: Kari, his wife, is lying motionless and unresponsive.

In Hewitt, everyone knows the young couple: Matt and Kari’s love story has all the magic of a fairy tale. Both college students, they met at camp in the summer of 1994. Working side by side, they quickly fell in love, and within just three months, the pair got married. They later settled on the outskirts of Waco to raise their family, welcoming three daughters: Kensi, Kassidy, and Grace. Matt, the local Baptist minister, is a respected and familiar figure in the deeply religious community, while Kari—after completing her master’s in education—is a devoted mom and beloved third grade teacher. Faith has always been the foundation of their family, and their life appeared picture-perfect… until now.

CASE CLOSED?

The 911 dispatcher coaches Matt through the CPR process, hoping to revive Kari while the ambulance is on its way. Remarkably, he keeps his composure, clearly giving their address so first responders can race to the scene. As they stay on the line, Matt makes another request—his two young daughters are in the house. He can’t risk them walking in and seeing their mother like this. He asks if they can call Kari’s parents, the Dulins, to come care for the girls.

When the ambulance finally pulls up to the Bakers’ home, the paramedics find Kari, still lying motionless on the floor. They check her pulse, and start compressions, but her body isn’t responding. After a few minutes of work, the paramedics know it’s too late. That’s when Kari’s mother, Linda, also arrives at the scene. The family is in shock. Kari— a loving mother, a daughter, a loyal wife and beloved teacher—is gone.

As everyone tries to make sense of the situation, the medical staff briefly consider if she had a potential hidden medical issue no one knew about, or maybe this was all a tragic accident. But as police search the room, they find something unusual. A letter, typed and left on the nightstand. It appears to be from Kari.

In Texas, when someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly, it’s up to a justice of the peace to decide what happens next–there isn’t necessarily a doctor or autopsy involved. So for Kari, instead of a thorough medical examination, police describe the scene over the phone to Justice Billy Martin. They tell him about what was found in the bedroom and the overall circumstances, and Judge Martin makes his ruling: it’s an overdose, therefore, there’s no need for an autopsy.

GRIEF & SUSPICION

It’s April 9th, 2006—the day after Kari’s sudden death. The family is in shock, overwhelmed and barely able to process what’s happened. But despite the grief, Matt insists the memorial and burial must happen immediately. He begins making arrangements at their family’s Baptist church, planning the service for the very next day.

By Monday, April 10th—only 48 hours since Kari’s body was found—she is already laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery. Her memorial, originally planned at the family’s church, is moved to one of the city’s largest funeral homes to accommodate the overwhelming response from the community. To Linda, it’s all moving too quickly—no time to breathe, let alone grieve. But Matt, the Baptist preacher, tells the family it’s best not to delay the healing process.

Waco, Texas, OakCrest Funeral Home. 3:00PM. Hundreds gather in sorrow. Kari’s family, her children, and the entire community have come together to mourn. Even at the largest funeral home in the city, the space is overflowing—folding chairs fill the aisles, friends and neighbors stand shoulder to shoulder along the back walls, spilling into the foyer and leaning through the open doors.

During the service, Matt sits motionless in the front row, head in his hands, silent through every eulogy and remembrance. And then, at the end, the grieving husband stands at the pulpit with his daughters beside him, promising to everyone he’ll return to Crossroads Baptist in only one week, Easter Sunday. “God has not abandoned me,” he says. “He will give me the strength to carry on.”

It’s Sunday April 16th, less than a week after the funeral, and only 8 days since Kari’s death, Pastor Matt keeps his promise and delivers the Easter sermon at Crossroads Baptist church. He tells the congregants that just as Jesus has risen, so too has Kari— into heaven. Ministers from across the county send emails and letters to the family, and to Matt specifically, praising his unwavering faith and courage in the face of tragedy. One woman even offers to teach him how to do his daughters’ hair: a beautiful gesture for a father, now parenting girls alone. From the outside, it looks like a community supporting a grieving man, as he tries to put his life back together.

A MOTHER’S INSTINCT

In the month following Kari’s death, her family is overwhelmed, trying to come to terms with the tragedy, but Linda, along with her sisters, can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more to Kari’s death, something police have missed. They knew Kari better than anyone: she was vibrant, loving, and full of life; a hands-on mother who adored her daughters. The idea that she would have willingly left them behind is completely out of character.

Linda and her family start examining the evidence themselves: and realize that beneath the surface, there are several small inconsistencies – each one minor on its own, but together, suggesting that something more sinister may have happened.

The first red flag: only 10 pictures were taken of the crime scene by the investigators. For any sudden, unexplained death, this is an unusually low amount of photos – there’s barely any evidence in the records. Next, everything in the room looked a little too perfectly arranged. Alone, it’s possible that the family had simply kept a tidy house – but, upon a closer look, it could seem like the scene might’ve been staged, as if someone carefully planted evidence to have it appear like a tragic death. The letter left beside the bed should have raised immediate suspicion on its own. It was typed – not handwritten – and unsigned. In theory, anyone could have written it. Another unusual detail about the letter is the amount of spelling mistakes; Kari was a third-grade teacher and an educated woman with her Master’s, known for her attention to detail. The typed letter misspelled words, like “too” spelled with a single “o” in the wrong context. It seemed like it didn't quite match her character, or her background.

In spite of the many inconsistencies obvious to anyone looking closely at the crime scene, it seems police are in no rush to question the only person actually at the scene of Kari’s death. Matt is interviewed nearly two months after his wife’s passing – and even then, it’s only a casual discussion, seemingly only to tick a box, not to further any actual investigation into Kari’s death.

Matt is calm, cooperative, and consistent in his account. He’s able to remain rational, eager to help detectives with any questions they have. Matt even willingly takes a polygraph test, and passes – to the police, there’s no reason to think he had anything to do with Kari’s death. According to detectives, there’s simply nothing pointing to him, or to anyone else for that matter, in the death of Kari, and the case is open and shut. After talking to Matt, the police are able to walk away, confident with their initial assessment of Kari’s death. But in spite of the police’s conclusions, Linda Dulin, and her whole family, continue to search for anything, anything at all, that could uncover the truth, and explain what really happened with Kari.

CLUES FROM BEYOND

Then around the beginning of May 2006—a clue appears in an unlikely place. As Linda looks through their family phone plan bill, which includes herself, Matt, and Kari, she stops cold. In the days following her death, Kari’s phone has been used hundreds of times—even calling Matt’s number several times. If her daughter is dead, who could possibly have been using her phone?
Matt’s explanation is that he gave it to a church member who was in need of a phone after a difficult divorce. Being a generous pastor is one thing, but giving away your dead wife’s phone so recently after her passing seems very strange. And something about his tone feels rehearsed. To Linda, there is a shift—not just in his story, but in him.

Matt’s daughters, 5-year-old Grace and 9-year-old Kensi, who have been living with their father ever since their mom’s passing, also notice something strange. All the pictures of Kari have been removed from the family’s house. As weeks go by, Linda and her husband find themselves increasingly pushed out of their granddaughters’ lives as well. There were fewer visits, shorter phone calls, and many excuses from Matt about their busy schedules and hectic routines. It’s starting to feel as though Matt is removing Kari from their lives, in small but significant ways.

Linda and her husband Jim take their growing suspicions to the police, pleading for the case to be reopened. But the response is indifferent. The department refuses to budge and the original ruling stands. Meanwhile, the evidence is sealed away, and out of reach. They know they can’t wait for the system to act. If they want justice for Kari, and make sure her daughters are safe, they’ll need to build the case themselves.

NEW TEAM, NEW FIGHT

That’s when a new ally joins Linda’s team: Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Johnston. After listening to their story, Johnston sees what they see—too many red flags to ignore. He assembles his own team of investigators, including Matt Cawthon, a respected former Texas Ranger.

On July 30th, almost 4 months after Kari’s death, Linda and Attorney Johnston file a wrongful death lawsuit against Matt, giving them the legal authority to gather records, conduct depositions, and reexamine everything piece by piece. Their next move is hiring a digital forensics expert, whose first priority is to go through Matt’s computer—and what he finds, shocks Johnston’s team of investigators. Matt, a respected pastor, had been watching adult content during work hours — literally inside the church. Adult sites are interspersed right next to Matt’s searches for Internet sermons. On top of that: the expert uncovers that on March 9th, exactly one month before Kari’s death, Matt searched “overdose on sleeping pills.”

But when they discover a message, handwritten by Kari just 5 days before her death, it puts the final nail in the coffin. Hidden in the margins of her Bible, Kari’s voice speaks from beyond the grave, pointing the finger at her own husband:
“Lord, I have so much worry and I cannot get a hold on it. I'm asking for you to protect me from harm; I'm not sure what is going on with Matt, but Lord, help me find peace with him.”
Kari had written down her suspicions about Matt, only days before she was found dead. It seems her intuition was telling her that she was in danger. But, frustratingly, despite all the circumstantial evidence, there’s still no clear-cut link tying Matt directly to Kari’s death that Linda can bring to prosecutors to have him convicted of murder.

PASTOR OF THE PEOPLE?

It’s now October 2007. More than a year and a half has gone by since Kari’s death. In spite of growing suspicion, Matt continues to deny any wrongdoing and begins to take even more drastic measures—moving himself and Linda’s grandkids 200 miles away to a different city. He takes a new job preaching at a local church, far from Kari’s family. From the outside, he has completely moved on. In fact, as Linda and her family keep fighting to gather evidence that proves that Kari was murdered by her husband, Matt now seems eager to tell his side of the story. In an unbelievably arrogant move, the case even goes national, as Matt sits down with ABC News for a televised interview.

Kari’s parents are stunned when they see their former son-in-law on national television. To them, not only does he have the nerve to keep denying what happened, but he also doesn’t hesitate to include his young daughters, Linda’s granddaughters, in his publicity tour, using them—and his pastor image—to garner sympathy. To many viewers, Matt's media presence is persuasive. He appears to be a grieving husband—a pastor leaning on his faith in the face of unimaginable loss. But for Kari’s family, every public interview feels like another setback. While they are fighting just to be heard, Matt is controlling the narrative, using another unspeakable family tragedy to garner sympathy: the death of their second daughter, Kassidy, at only fourteen months old. In 1999, seven years before Kari’s passing, Kassidy, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor, lost her fight. Kari was destroyed by this awful loss, but decided to honor her little girl by taking care of her surviving family, including Matt. She had to stay strong and went to see a grief counselor to navigate this devastating time. But according to him, this overwhelming loss is the exact reason why Kari was so depressed.

Public opinion, however, remains divided. Some believe his story, convinced of his innocence. But Kari’s family never wavers. They are certain Matt is involved in Kari’s death. And their fears run deeper: Linda is concerned that her two young granddaughters might be living with a murderer.

A WITNESS STEPS FORWARD

At this point in the investigation, Linda and her team need something solid—something, or someone, who can tie the whole case together. Someone who knows the full story of what really happened to Kari. And that someone is the very person Matt had given Kari’s old phone to just days after her death: a young woman named Vanessa Bulls.

Newly single, 23-year-old churchgoer Vanessa had recently started attending Crossroads Baptist—where Matt was the pastor. Just weeks after Kari’s death, Vanessa was seen attending Matt’s daughter’s 10th birthday party. Friends also reported seeing the two together often, looking unusually affectionate. And when Linda had looked at the family’s phone records back in May of 2006, the call logs were damning: Matt and Vanessa had been in close contact both before and after Kari’s death, with Vanessa using Kari’s old phone.

Matt and Vanessa had continually insisted that their relationship was only a friendship—Matt as a pastor counselling Vanessa through her divorce. But with so much contact—and such a quick emotional connection—it raises serious questions. What had really gone on between them before Kari died? Could Vanessa hold the key to the entire case? And will she come forward to help bring Matt to justice?

THE COURTROOM RECKONING

It’s January of 2010, four years after Kari’s murder, and Vanessa is subpoenaed; she's legally forced to show up and testify at trial, on what she knows about Matt Baker. And because prosecutors believe she knows something critical, they offer her a deal: tell the truth, and you won’t be charged with anything yourself.

The courtroom is packed. Linda and her family are sitting on the wooden bench, ready to fight for justice. When Vanessa enters the courtroom, all eyes are on her as she takes the stand in front of Kari’s whole family and Matt himself. When she starts to speak, the courtroom is silent, everyone hangs onto her every word, as she describes exactly what happened, and Matt Baker's true face is finally revealed.

Matt, who was at first, counseling Vanessa about her recent divorce, quickly changed his behavior from attentive, caring pastor to a predator. In front of the entire courtroom, Vanessa finally reveals what Matt had always denied. In March of 2006, just one month before Kari’s death, she and Matt were having an affair. Then, Vanessa drops another bombshell: she says she knows what really happened to Kari Baker. Under oath, she testifies that Matt had been openly planning her death.

TRUTH & CONSEQUENCES

The courtroom is stunned. The truth is finally coming out—and it’s devastating. Kari was betrayed by the man she trusted and loved the most. But despite the heartbreak, Vanessa’s testimony aligns with the evidence that Linda and her family have spent years tirelessly collecting. And Vanessa isn’t the only one to break the silence and expose the man Matt truly is. Dozens of other women step forward too, women from Matt’s past, who, one by one, bravely share their stories of Matt’s behavior over the years.

In total, 12 different women come forward. Their testimonies, back to back, corroborate Vanessa’s version of Matt Baker. The pastor has always been a dangerous predator who thought he was untouchable, and would walk away unscathed, never being held accountable. But today, he is forced to face the consequences for his actions.

JUSTICE DELIVERED

At the sentencing, Linda can finally confront the man who took her daughter almost 4 years ago, during her impact statement. Matt was her son-in-law. She used to see him through Kari’s loving eyes and now he can’t even look at hers. Kensi and Grace were thrust into a chaotic situation after their mom’s death, but thankfully, Linda and Jim gained full custody and now provide a loving supportive home for the two girls to grow up in. Kari’s legacy is living through her daughters, and Linda can still see Kari in them, her light shining through, and despite being gone, she will never be forgotten.

On January 21, 2010, Matt Baker is sentenced to 65 years in prison with the possibility of parole in Anderson County, Texas. He won’t be able to hurt any other women or destroy Kari’s reputation. Without her family’s persistence, Matt would have more than likely gotten away with the murder but Kari, through her loved ones, got justice after all. In the end, it was their perseverance —and the real strength of a family—that brought the truth forward.

WHAT HAPPENED TO PAIGE BIRGFELD?

This video hides a disturbing secret. On June 28 2007, single mother of three Paige Birgfeld is hiding out in her car. Outside, a dangerous man, is hunting her down.

3 hours later, Paige’s daughter leaves her a frantic voicemail.

24 hours later, her nanny does the same.

And 2 days in, her father follows.

It’s now July 1st, they find her car, on fire. Paige is nowhere to be found.

But less than a week into the search, everything changes. It turns out Paige is living a double life. And as her secret gets out, disturbing rumors begin to spread.

At this point, everybody gave up on Paige—except her father. Alone, he moves to Colorado to continue the search, unaware that someone else is working just as hard to keep the truth buried.

THE DISAPPEARANCE

It’s June 28, 2007, a big day for divorced single mother of three, Paige Birgfeld. She had recently rekindled a relationship with her high school sweetheart, Ron Beigler, following an 8-year separation. The two are meeting for an afternoon picnic, and, after a pleasant date, the pair part ways. Paige promises to let him know when she gets back home. He waits, but as the evening goes on, he never hears from her. A worried Ron rings her cell phone a dozen times over the next three days – every attempt goes unanswered.

But it's when he calls her home number that he finally realizes something's wrong. At the other end of the line, 8-year-old Jess Dixon, Paige’s daughter, picks up the phone. The little girl is seemingly upset with her mom for not coming home in the past three days: Jess and her two siblings had been left alone with their confused nanny this whole time. Ron immediately reports Paige missing to the police, and then quickly gets in touch with her father, Frank Birgfeld.

THE SEARCH BEGINS

Frank doesn’t waste a minute. He immediately takes his car and heads towards Grand Junction with his wife. They worry that something terrible might have happened. Looking at Paige’s everyday routine, it’s clear she lives a busy life, owning and operating 3 small businesses, leading a local moms support group, all while raising her 3 young children. Despite her chaotic life, she seemed to be thriving; she had even recently bought her ex-husband’s half of the three-story house they used to share. Nothing seems out of order, so why did she disappear? As Paige’s parents arrive in Grand Junction, they meet with the police to organize a search effort. Although Paige is well-known and respected in the community, that doesn’t stop rumors from spreading after the media reports her disappearance. Some are quick to assume she abandoned her children— an idea Frank immediately dismisses.

But things take a turn for the worse on the second day of the investigation, when a woman driving home from work calls 911. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s just stumbled upon the charred remains of Paige's red Ford Focus.

A HIDDEN CLUE

The fire department was able to subdue the flames overnight. When Frank arrives at the scene the next morning, forensic investigators are already hard at work. They conclude that the fire was started on purpose; someone first torched the driver's seat and let the flames engulf the rest of the car. But, stashed in the glove compartment, investigators find Paige’s planner, still intact. Upon further inspection, they see that the three days leading up to Paige’s disappearance had been deliberately ripped out. This seemingly calculated cover-up helps police conclude that Frank was right all along: his daughter never ran off; someone is after her. These revelations send shockwaves throughout local media, which had previously ignored his plea for help. Posing in front of the still-smoking remains of his daughter’s car, Frank asserts that he’s still hopeful they’ll find Paige alive, but cannot get to the end of the interview without tearing up in front of the camera.

Later that afternoon, under the burning 118-degree sun, over 200 people show up to look for Paige. In the next few days, people from all over Colorado crowd the mesa to join the effort. 4 days into the search, something new comes up; a trucker who stopped by the roadside of Highway 50 found some out-of-place litter in the bushes; a blank cheque, under Paige’s name. This changes everything. The search teams move up to the highway, and together, they find more of Paige’s belongings – over 90 items, spread over 13 miles of road.

THE MODELS INC REVEAL

The police meticulously catalog their findings, which include her checkbook, business cards, a driver’s license, and a single high-heeled shoe. The trail of clues suggests something incredible—Paige must have deliberately left it behind for them to find. However, amongst all the items, something stands out: a business card for an adult service called “Models Inc”. The investigators are puzzled. Why would Paige leave them this clue? As they speak with some of her close friends, the mystery deepens. Paige’s boyfriend mentions that she may have done some shady things to keep her house and provide for her three kids following her divorce. Her friends also add that she once worked at a massage parlor as a side hustle. Investigators eventually examine Paige’s laptop—and that’s when everything clicks into place. Paige was not merely dabbling in sex work; she was the owner and sole operator of a full-fledged escort service: the aforementioned "Models Inc". Before long, the media inevitably finds out, exposing the truth for all to see.

As the weeks go by, less and less people show up for the search. Eventually, the public loses all interest, and the search effort is shut down altogether.

NARROWING THE SUSPECTS

In total, the search lasted 5 months, and nothing was ever found past Paige’s trail of clues. The police are at a loss. Paige has dozens of elusive clients, and, according to investigators, having too many suspects can be as damning as having none. But they need to start somewhere. So they begin with Paige's ex-husband, Rob Dixon, the same man who had previously threatened her and the kids.

But this call had been recorded 5 years before the ordeal, and detectives are quickly able to confirm her ex-husband's alibi: he was 14 hours away in his Philadelphia residence the night of the disappearance. So the police switch gears and look into Paige's boyfriend instead. His multiple calls, all placed before he declared her missing, are traced back to Denver, 4 hours away, clearing him as a suspect. As detectives work their way down Paige's list of clients, they identify 6 individuals with criminal records. One man stands out, not because he fits the profile, but because he doesn’t. Lester Ralph Jones, a car mechanic and family man, has kept himself out of trouble entirely in recent years. However, once they dig deeper into his past, they uncover two deeply disturbing events involving a woman named Lisa Nance.

LISA COMES FORWARD

Hotchkiss Colorado, December 1996. Like Paige, Lisa Nance was a single mom raising her children alone. When she met Lester, the two immediately clicked and were married within 6 months. He was funny, attentive, and good with her kids. However, soon after the two tied the knot, things began falling apart. Lester became increasingly controlling, obtaining copies of her phone records and a second key to go through her mail. Over the next 2 years, things kept escalating as Lester began bugging their house to spy on her while he was out. Lisa couldn’t live like this anymore, and filed for divorce.

Things only got worse after Lisa invited her new date to stay over for the first time. The next morning, as she drove him back to work, she noticed a car tailing them. One quick glance at the rearview mirror confirmed her fear – it was Lester’s truck, closing in on them. The pair was in the middle of an hour-long stretch of road in the middle of nowhere before the sun had risen, and it was 1999; neither of them had a cell phone. With no other option, Lisa floored it, and a high-speed chase with Lester followed. Within minutes, he caught up and slammed into the side of their car, sending them spinning into a ditch. Lisa and her date had no time to react before another violent jolt hit the vehicle. Lester rammed into them again, this time from behind, pushing their car further into the ditch. Then, they heard Lester’s truck door slam shut. Lisa spotted him in the side mirror, walking towards them, holding a gun. Her date frantically lowered the passenger window, grabbed her arm, and tried to pull her out. But Lester was already at Lisa’s side. He cracked the door just enough to force his arm inside, grabbing her violently and smashing his pistol against the window. Lisa yelled at her date to save himself. The terrified young man successfully pulled himself out, but two deafening bangs suddenly pierced Lisa’s ears. From afar, she saw her date’s cap flying through the air, and then, silence. For a few seconds, everything stopped. Lester dragged Lisa out of the car and threw her into his truck. From behind his windshield, she spotted her date’s cap on the ground… beside a trail of blood. But her fight wasn’t over. Lisa tried to convince Lester to let her use a phone, that they couldn’t leave her date to die in the desert, that she’d do anything, even get back with him – if that's what he wanted. Against all odds, and to her surprise, Lester pulled into a gas station, allowing her to make a single phone call. Realizing this was her only chance, she immediately called the police and begged the clerk to lock the doors. Cops were there in minutes, and Lester was arrested. Lisa's date ended up in the hospital, but survived—both bullets barely grazed him. Unbelievably, Lester only spent one night in jail; someone bailed him out the very next day.

THE DESERT KIDNAPPING

A few weeks passed, and Lester's court hearing was approaching. Lisa knew he was still out there, but the last weekend went by without a sign of him. On June 12th, a Monday like any other, Lisa was back into her Hotchkiss house, alone. The clock showed 7 PM when she stepped out of the shower and into her bedroom to dress. As she opened the door to head back into her kitchen, she saw a silhouette in the shadows—at the far end of the room.

No answers, not even a look. Lisa’s heart was pounding. She knew she needed to do something. Assuming that moving into a public setting would ensure her safety, she masked her fear and casually suggested they go out to eat. Without a word, Lester grabbed her arm, dragged her out of the house, and into her car. He then got behind the wheel and started driving. The farther they went, the harder it became for Lisa to deny what was happening.

Time was running out for Lisa; the last exit before the lake was approaching. Remembering how she had outsmarted her kidnapper before, she said she still had feelings for him, hoping it would buy her time. But Lester was no fool, and violently retaliated. Out of options, she endured his blows until he paused, then plunged toward him, suggesting she wanted to prove how much she loved him, before quickly pulling back. She claimed that the car was too cramped for intimacy and that they should find a motel. Lester hesitated for a minute, but ultimately fell for it.

After an interstate manhunt that lasted months, Lester was arrested and charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, and sexual assault. He was released a few years later, remarried, and seemingly never meddled with Lisa again. However, the reason why the police are interested in Lisa’s case is that there are many similarities between it and Paige’s. Both took place along Highway 50. Both involved kidnappings perpetrated via the victims’ own vehicles. And both happened on the day their respective victims started dating again.

A FATHER DETERMINED

Sadly, even though everything points toward Lester Ralph Jones, Paige’s body isn’t found at the lake Lisa identified, but instead of going back home to Oklahoma, she agrees to stay and help police build a profile on Lester. Meanwhile, Frank is forced to accept the truth: no one else is coming to help. With the police shifting their focus towards Lester and the town slowly losing interest, the desperate father finds himself completely alone. He moves from Denver to Grand Junction, rents a one-bedroom apartment, and keeps the search going—all on his own. Pooling together what’s left of his retirement savings, he puts up a $10,000 reward for anyone who can help him find his daughter.

With Frank out on the field, the police thoroughly question Lisa. She explains how, even back when they were married, Lester, too, lived a double life. He played the role of devoted husband and father, all while hiring sex workers daily, often using her own money to pay them. On top of that, she indicates that, even though she never pressed charges against him following his release from jail, he continued to harass her. Strangely, his obsession suddenly stopped a few years ago… right around the time Paige started Models Inc. Following these revelations, Lisa returns to Oklahoma, and the police review the case's initial findings with Lester in mind. Less than a mile from where Paige’s burned car was found sits a large RV garage. Back in the early days of the case, cadaver dogs tried to track a scent from the vehicle, but the trail kept leading back to that same garage, so they dismissed it. Turns out this is the garage where Lester works. And then come Paige’s phone records. Investigators knew that the last number to contact her was linked to a burner phone, which was activated the same day she vanished. They pull CCTV footage from every store in town, and sure enough, at the local Walmart, they spot a familiar face. Lester Jones. Frank and the police push the D.A. to press charges. But the answer they get is crushing. Quote: “Because the victim had a double life and had been lying to her entire family, a defense attorney could just claim she ran off with some rich client and was living on a beach in Brazil or something. Without a body, we have no case.” Not exactly the kind of answer Frank had been looking for.

THE TRIAL & THE STAKES

For the next five years, nothing changes, but as investigators go back through the case over and over, they notice something strange: evidence has been lost. CCTV footage. Interviews. Even some of Paige’s personal items are gone. And on Frank’s side, nothing either. After scouring the mesa thousands of times, he had to face the truth: his daughter was gone… or was she? After a string of heavy rainstorms near Grand Junction, a hiker spots something in a dry creek bed—just a mile east of where Paige once scattered her belongings: a human skull. It takes weeks, but dental records confirm what Frank already fears. It’s Paige. With her remains finally found, the D.A. feels confident enough to move towards a trial. But first, he wants to reopen the investigation into Lester Jones. Armed with a new warrant, police seize the vehicles belonging to Lester and his wife, hoping to find new forensic evidence. But five years in, it’s just too late for that. Then, something unexpected happens.

Following this interaction, the police arrest Lester, and the DA greenlights the trial. Over the next few weeks, dozens of witnesses, on both sides, take the stand.

Lisa faces Lester, the first time she has done so in almost twenty years.

On the defense side, Lester’s attorney never really tries to prove her client's innocence. Instead, she focuses on attacking the credibility of the other suspects, especially two men, who died in tragic circumstances, not long after it was discovered they had been secretly seeing Paige. After three days of deliberation, the jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict, and the procedure ends in a mistrial. Frank’s disappointed, but not defeated. He’s just glad the case made it this far. Now, he braces himself for the retrial, set to begin in six months.

If that’s the case, who will be the next target of his obsession? Lester won’t stop after Paige. Everybody on the defense team knows it. Frank and the prosecution can’t let him make another victim. They refocus on everything that went missing during the early investigation. With help from the sheriff’s office, they recover key evidence: an interview that clears one of the original suspects, the packaging for Jones’s burner phone, and even CCTV footage of Paige’s final moments before the abduction. But when December comes and the second trial begins, the defense is ready. They target lead investigator Beverly Gerald, hoping to discredit her, and by extension, the entire case.

But this doesn’t deter the prosecution. Because now they have something new: video evidence placing Lester at the scene. This footage shows the outside of Paige's office the night she disappeared. It’s 9 PM on a Monday. Only two cars appear: Paige’s red Ford Focus, hidden behind the building, and a white Chevy Impala circling the lot. The issue is that this isn’t just any car—it belongs to Lester’s wife. The Impala stops four times. Each time, Paige’s phone rings, every call comes from Lester's burner phone. The footage cuts off just as the Impala crosses paths with Paige’s car. The rest of the tape is lost. The evidence may be circumstantial, but its sheer quantity is becoming overwhelming. Just like before, the jury takes three days to deliberate. But this time, they come back, with a verdict.

The judge continues and sentences Lester to life for Paige’s kidnapping and murder. Sighs of relief can be heard in the audience, but one man, in the front row, remains stoic.

JUSTICE FOR ALL

Frank’s feelings are his own, but for Lisa, things are different. After nearly two decades of living in fear and battling survivor’s guilt, she’s finally able to turn the page.

Frank passed away in 2019, never truly experiencing the closure so many seek in cases like this. No father should outlive his daughter, and this caused him and his wife immense suffering. Yet, Frank leaves a legacy that goes beyond this tragedy. When Paige was younger, he was her soccer coach, helped her with ballet class, and became the chief of her Girl Scout troop. He did everything to spend time with his precious daughter. Even though the last stretch of his life had been a difficult one, he successfully put the man responsible for her murder behind bars and was able to lay his daughter to rest before following her.

In addition to Frank and Lisa’s personal tragedies, it’s important to understand that Paige’s story isn’t some rare outlier, but one of countless examples of the violence that women face every single day around the world. Entering sex work wasn’t a decision Paige took lightly. To those who knew about this part of her life, she often talked about how much she wanted to stop and how unsafe she felt. Because of her work, prosecutors were more hesitant to stand up for her in court, and the public was less willing to search for her. It took almost 10 years to bring a violent man behind bars and, ultimately, to bring Paige, her friends, and her family peace. She wasn’t just a victim—she was a mother, a friend, and a fighter who never stopped trying to build a better life for the people she loved. For that, she deserves to be remembered with the dignity she was so often denied. Paige’s case reminds all of us that everyone, no matter their circumstances, deserves justice.