Ep 14. Daddy Dearest/A Pastor's Wife

In the fifth season of Cold Case Files, episode 14 titled "Daddy Dearest/A Pastor's Wife," viewers are taken through two separate investigations into murder cases that had gone cold for years. The episode is divided into two parts, each focusing on one case and the detectives who worked tirelessly to solve it.

The first case follows the murder of a young woman named Angela Monroe, who was found brutally murdered in her apartment in 1994. The case had gone cold for over a decade until Detective Brad Griesenauer and his team re-opened it in 2006. With the help of Angela's family and friends, detectives were able to piece together her last days and form a list of suspects. However, as time passed, the case still remained unsolved.

It wasn't until 2010, sixteen years after Angela's murder, that a tip finally led detectives to the killer. The investigation was then handed over to Detective Steven McCormack, who worked alongside the district attorney to build a case against the suspect. With DNA evidence and witness testimony, they were able to secure a conviction and justice was finally served for Angela and her family.

In the second part of the episode, viewers are taken through the investigation into the murder of a pastor's wife, Donna Janell Jackson, who was found dead in her home in 1981. The case had gone unsolved for nearly twenty years until Detective Chris Anderson took on the case in 2000.

Donna's murder was a shocking and brutal crime that rocked the small town of New Caney, Texas, where she and her husband were well-known and respected members of the community. It quickly became clear that the murder had been premeditated and that Donna had been violently attacked in her own home.

Detective Anderson, who had worked on the case for years, finally got his breakthrough when he learned that the killer may have been someone who was close to Donna and her family. With this new information, he was able to trace the suspect to California, where he had been living under an assumed name for years.

After a lengthy extradition process, the suspect was finally brought back to Texas to face trial. The case was difficult to prove, as it relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, but with the help of a witness who had come forward with new information, the suspect was finally convicted of Donna's murder.

Overall, "Daddy Dearest/A Pastor's Wife" is a gripping episode of Cold Case Files that takes viewers through the intricate and often frustrating process of investigating and solving cold cases. The episode highlights the importance of persistence, patience, and collaboration in bringing justice to victims and their families.