Ep 5. Daddy Knows Best/Dawn of the Dead

In the third season of Cold Case Files, the fifth episode titled "Daddy Knows Best/Dawn of the Dead" looks at two intriguing cases from the past. The show delves into the police files, court transcripts, and crime scene photos to provide an in-depth analysis of the two cases.

The first case, "Daddy Knows Best," is about a teenage girl named Heather who disappeared in August 1987. She was last seen leaving a party with her father, Tony, who was supposed to take her home. However, her mother grew suspicious when Heather did not return home and called the police. Tony initially denied knowing anything about Heather's whereabouts but later confessed to killing her accidentally during an argument. However, he claimed that he disposed of her body in a dumpster and did not know where it was.

The police were unable to find any evidence to support Tony's story and he was eventually charged with second-degree murder. However, because of a lack of evidence, Tony was only sentenced to four years in prison. Heather's mother continued to search for her daughter's body and finally found it in a landfill in May 1995, eight years after her disappearance. The case was reopened, and Tony was charged again with first-degree murder. He went to trial and was found guilty of the crime.

The second case, "Dawn of the Dead," is about a triple murder that took place in a small town in Missouri in 1989. The victims were three members of a local family – a man, his wife, and their teenage daughter. The authorities initially had no suspects or witnesses and were unable to find a motive for the killings.

The case went cold, but in 1999, a new detective took over the investigation and began looking at DNA evidence that had been collected at the crime scene. They were able to match the DNA to a man named Mark Woodworth, a neighbor of the victims who had been friends with their son. Woodworth was arrested and charged with the murders, but he maintained his innocence.

The case went to trial, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict, and the judge declared a mistrial. Woodworth went to trial again, and although the evidence was circumstantial, he was found guilty of the murders and sentenced to life in prison. However, many people, including Woodworth's family, believe that he is innocent and that he was wrongfully convicted.

Overall, "Daddy Knows Best/Dawn of the Dead" is a fascinating episode of Cold Case Files that offers insight into two complex cases from the past. It showcases the diligent work of detectives who never gave up on solving these crimes and provides a glimpse into the harrowing journey that family members of victims often go through when seeking justice for their loved ones.