Ep 5. The Sunday Morning Slasher

In the fifth episode of the fifth season of Cold Case Files, viewers are taken on a chilling journey through the investigation of the Sunday Morning Slasher. The episode opens with a brief explanation of the crimes committed by the slasher, who targeted young female victims on their way to Sunday morning church services in Chicago during the early 1980s.

Detectives Tom Schenk and Jack Ridges are introduced as the lead investigators in the case, both of whom express their frustration at the lack of leads and evidence in the murders. The first half of the episode focuses on their initial investigation and interviews with witnesses and potential suspects, including a man who had been spotted in the area of one of the crime scenes and a mentally ill individual who had a history of violence towards women.

As the investigation progresses, a potential break in the case presents itself in the form of a fingerprint found on a piece of tape used to bind one of the victims. The fingerprint is eventually matched to Andrew Wilson, a man with a history of sexual assault and violence towards women who had been previously interviewed but cleared as a suspect due to a lack of evidence.

The second half of the episode delves into the trial of Wilson, who is eventually convicted of the Sunday Morning Slasher murders. Viewers are given a glimpse into the trial proceedings, including the testimony of witnesses and the presentation of evidence, such as fibers found on the victims' clothing that matched those found in Wilson's home.

The episode concludes with an interview with Schenk and Ridges, who express their satisfaction in finally bringing justice to the families of the victims. They also reflect on the challenges they faced during the investigation, including the difficulty in obtaining DNA evidence at the time and the emotional toll of working on a case involving such heinous crimes.

Overall, The Sunday Morning Slasher is a gripping episode that successfully captures the intensity and complexity of a high-profile murder investigation. It offers insight into the dedication and perseverance required of law enforcement officials in order to solve a case, and highlights the importance of developing and analyzing evidence in a thorough and meticulous manner.