Ep 2. The Interrogation; The Slide

The episode "The Interrogation; The Slide" of Cold Case Files season 6 revolves around two cases that took place in different parts of the United States. The first case is about the murder of a young woman, Linda Jean Carpenter, who was found dead in her own home in Montana in 1972. The second case is about the disappearance of a young girl, Ashley Freeman, and her friend's mother, Kathy Freeman, from their Oklahoma home in 1999.

The first case begins with the investigation conducted by a young detective named Mark Munson, who tried to solve the murder of Linda Jean Carpenter in 1972. Munson questions the prime suspect, Wayne Nance, and tries to obtain a confession from him. Wayne Nance was a known criminal who was involved in several burglaries, thefts, and murders in the area. However, Nance denies any involvement in the murder and Munson has to let him go due to lack of evidence.

Years later, in 1985, a new detective, Bob Stinson, takes over the case and reviews the evidence. He discovers a slide from a microscope that contains a fingerprint of the killer. The fingerprint matches with that of Wayne Nance. Stinson decides to interrogate Nance again, but this time he has a stronger case. He confronts Nance with the evidence and finally gets a confession from him. Nance reveals that he killed Linda Jean Carpenter in a fit of rage and stole some of her valuables.

The second case is about the disappearance of Ashley Freeman and Kathy Freeman. The two were last seen on December 30, 1999, when a fire broke out in their home. The bodies of Ashley and Kathy were never found, and it was believed that they died in the fire. However, the case was reopened in 2017 when a witness claimed that the girls were still alive after the fire.

The investigation reveals that the fire was intentionally set to cover up the murders of Ashley's parents, who were shot and killed before the fire broke out. The prime suspect in the case is a man named Ronnie Busick, who was part of a group that was involved in a drug ring in the area. Busick and his accomplices are believed to have killed the Freemans due to a drug debt.

The episode showcases the efforts of the investigators to find Busick and his accomplices, who were on the run for 18 years. The investigation involves interviews with witnesses, tracking down leads, and analyzing DNA evidence. The investigators finally locate Busick in Kansas, and he is extradited to Oklahoma to face trial for the murders.

Overall, "The Interrogation; The Slide" is an intense and gripping episode that highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving cold cases. The episode showcases the dedication and persistence of investigators who never give up on finding justice for the victims and their families.