Show Notes
A young man commits suicide in his truck. But after investigators look through his text messages, the suicide investigation becomes something else altogether.
More from My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty
When Marty Tankleff was convicted for murdering his parents in 1990, some people still had their doubts about his guilt, including Jay Salpeter, a retired detective turned private investigator. Jay found a new witness who claimed he was the getaway driver for two hitmen who had been hired to murder the Tankleffs. After nearly two decades behind bars, Marty finally got another shot at freedom. In this season finale, Erin Moriarty and retired 48 Hours producer Gail Zimmerman discuss the conclusion of Marty Tankleff's wrongful conviction case and why it's one of the most memorable stories they've ever reported.
On September 6, 1988, a wealthy couple, Seymour and Arlene Tankleff, were brutally attacked and killed in their home on Long Island, New York. The main suspect was their 17-year-old son, Marty, who was the sole survivor in the house. Detective James McCready was convinced Marty was to blame and prepared a written statement for him to admit he killed his parents. But the physical evidence at the crime scene didn't match the murder weapons described in Marty's so-called confession. Erin Moriarty and retired 48 Hours producer Gail Zimmerman go behind the scenes on a case that spanned nearly two decades and was one of the first wrongful conviction stories they worked on.
A retired attorney in California revolutionized the field of crime fighting — all from her home. Barbara Rae-Venter identified the notorious Golden State Killer as Joseph James DeAngelo thanks to investigative genetic genealogy, a technique using DNA to build the family tree of the killer. Barbara recalls how a hobby turned into an unexpected career and how her work has been able to help other cold case victims finally find justice with the help of genetic genealogy.
Jim Krauseneck's first wife, Cathy, was found dead in 1982 with an ax in her head. 40 years later, Jim was accused of her murder. One of the coldest cases in the country to go on trial took decades to solve... and tore apart a family. Erin Moriarty goes behind-the-scenes of Jim's trial, from Dr. Michael Baden's opinion on the estimated time of death to fourth wife Sharon Krauseneck's steadfast faith in her husband. Eventually, Jim's fate came down to key details about what occurred that night. Erin takes you deeper into the "48 Hours" investigation, "The Brighton Axe Murder".
Sometimes the person you love isn't who you think they are. Sharon Krauseneck says she and her husband Jim were happily married. But in 2016, to Sharon's surprise, her husband's alleged dark past caught up to him. In 1982, Jim's first wife, Cathy, was murdered with an ax lodged in her head. The case went cold until a well-known forensic pathologist shed new light on crucial evidence 34 years later. Erin takes you deeper into the "48 Hours" investigation, "The Brighton Axe Murder".