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Cold case heats up in Pennsylvania crime lab

May 14, 2015 / 02:17

This episode covers the 1979 homicide of Janet Walsh, the investigation, and the recent DNA breakthrough. Guests include Janet's brother Francesco Celier and assistant district attorney Britney Smith.

Francesco Celier shares memories of his sister Janet, describing her as a happy 23-year-old with a vibrant social life. He recounts the moment he learned of her death and the initial investigation.

In 1979, police officer recounts arriving at the crime scene and the challenges faced in gathering evidence. The investigation stalled due to insufficient evidence, leaving the case cold for decades.

In the late 2000s, the Pennsylvania State Police Cold Case unit reopened the investigation. Assistant district attorney Britney Smith discusses the discovery of Janet's purse and its significance.

The episode culminates in a shocking revelation when DNA is found at the scene, leading to a potential breakthrough in the case.

TLDR

The episode reveals the cold case of Janet Walsh's 1979 murder and a recent DNA breakthrough.

Episode

2:17
00:00:01
Janet was a very very happy person and Janet seemingly had everything to look forward to in life my name is Francesco
00:00:09
celier and I am Janet Walsh's brother Janet was very wellik she had a lot of friends she was both on the
00:00:16
musical and the geeky side so to speak she's just a kid she's just a 23y old she had been out the night before with a
00:00:23
couple of girlfriends we found out that she didn't show up for work that morning I'm and go and in 1979 I was the
00:00:32
first police officer at the Janet Walsh homicide scene I walk in and I pull the sheet
00:00:40
back slightly there was no need to even check for a pulse because you could tell
00:00:45
by the her face and the scarf around her neck that she was dead I have a plot from an old TV show like Murder She
00:00:54
Wrote where we have five suspects and I can't put a finger on any of them one of
00:01:01
the things that we were told early on in the investigation was that even if the killer walked into the police station
00:01:08
and confessed today we would not be able to take them to trial because we do not
00:01:13
have enough evidence in the late 2000s the Pennsylvania State Police Cold Case unit began to relook at the
00:01:20
investigation assistant district attorney Britney Smith was assigned to prosecuted Britney what do we have here
00:01:27
this is Janet's purse this would have been the purse she used the night she went
00:01:32
out from August 31st 1979 into the early morning hours of September 1st 1979 mint gum makeup brush Keys those
00:01:43
types of things are in every woman's purse it definitely makes you feel as if there's a connection to her I
00:01:50
was shocked I could have fallen over when I get the phone call from Trooper De Milo that tells me that they found
00:01:59
DNA and where it was found I was literally standing at my desk my knees buckled I
00:02:04
said I sat down I said are you you kidding me they didn't know at the time who it was but they knew that whoever's
00:02:10
DNA this was would be the Killer

Badges

This episode stands out for the following:

  • 80
    Most shocking
  • 80
    Biggest twist
  • 75
    Most heartbreaking
  • 75
    Most surprising

Episode Highlights

  • The Homicide Scene
    The first police officer on the scene describes the grim discovery of Janet's body.
    “I have a plot from an old TV show like Murder She Wrote...”
    @ 00m 28s
    May 14, 2015
  • Cold Case Breakthrough
    In the late 2000s, new evidence emerges in Janet's cold case, reigniting hope for justice.
    “I was shocked... they found DNA.”
    @ 01m 50s
    May 14, 2015

Episode Quotes

  • She's just a kid, she's just a 23y old.
    Cold case heats up in Pennsylvania crime lab
  • I could have fallen over when I get the phone call.
    Cold case heats up in Pennsylvania crime lab
  • Are you kidding me?
    Cold case heats up in Pennsylvania crime lab

Key Moments

  • Tragic Discovery00:28
  • DNA Evidence01:50

Words per Minute Over Time

Vibes Breakdown