A Crime to Remember Season 2 Episode 8 Baby Come Home

In "A Crime to Remember" season 2 episode 8, titled "Baby Come Home," viewers are taken back to the 1950s and the vicious murder of the Grimes sisters. On December 28, 1956, 15-year-old Barbara and 12-year-old Patricia Grimes set out from their Chicago home to see the Elvis Presley movie, "Love Me Tender." They never returned home and their disappearance sparked one of the largest missing persons searches in the city's history.

The episode weaves together archival footage, interviews with law enforcement officials, family members, and Chicago historians to explore the tragic events surrounding the sisters' disappearance. Viewers get an intimate look at the emotional devastation that the Grimes family faced when their daughters were reported missing. The episode details the exhaustive search efforts undertaken by hundreds of police officers and volunteers, from canvassing neighborhoods and checking local hospitals to dragging Chicago River and combing the highways surrounding the city.

Despite the massive search operation, the girls remained missing for several weeks until a man named Leonard Prescott came forward with information that would ultimately lead to the discovery of their bodies. Prescott had previously been arrested for theft and during his interrogation, he claimed that he saw the Grimes sisters at a diner in suburban Chicago on the night of their disappearance. He also implicated a man named Benny Bedwell as the person responsible for their murders.

The episode delves into the investigation that followed Prescott's confession, which included questioning Bedwell, searching his home, and ultimately discovering the bodies of the two sisters in a ditch near a roadside. The medical examiner determined that the girls had been asphyxiated and Bedwell was charged with their murders.

As the trial unfolds, viewers see how the case against Bedwell was built, with witnesses testifying about his erratic behavior on the night of the murders and his attempts to evade police. The prosecution also presented evidence of Bedwell's obsession with the Grimes sisters, including newspaper clippings, pictures, and love letters found in his home.

The episode goes on to explore the societal context of the case, with commentary from a historian about the impact that the murders had on Chicago and the broader cultural climate of the era. The case highlighted the dangers of sexual predators and the limitations of law enforcement to protect young women in a rapidly changing urban environment.

Overall, "A Crime to Remember" season 2 episode 8 provides a compelling and nuanced look at a tragic case that has haunted Chicago for over 60 years. The episode balances the emotional weight of the Grimes family's loss with the detailed investigation that ultimately led to justice being served. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime and the cultural context that underlies even the most heinous crimes.