Ep 5. Home Alone

Cold Justice is a reality crime show that follows former prosecutor Kelly Siegler and former crime scene investigator Yolanda McClary as they attempt to solve long-cold murder cases around America. The show relies heavily on forensic science, witness interviews, and legal knowledge to bring justice to victims and their families. In Season 4, Episode 5, titled Home Alone, Kelly and Yolanda travel to Floyd County, Georgia, to investigate the death of Tammy Lawrence, a 36-year-old mother of two who was found dead in her home on Christmas Eve in 1996.

The episode begins with a brief recap of the case. Tammy's husband, Keith Lawrence, came home from work on the evening of December 24, 1996, to find his wife dead on the floor of their living room. She had been beaten and strangled with a phone cord. Keith immediately called 911, and the police arrived shortly thereafter, but they were unable to solve the case. The investigation went cold for more than 20 years, until a new detective named John Corbin took over the case in 2017.

Kelly and Yolanda meet with Detective Corbin to review the case file and discuss their plan of action. They learn that Tammy's two young children were in the house at the time of her murder, but they were unharmed. Keith, who was working on the day of the murder, is now a suspect, but he denies any involvement in his wife's death. Another lead in the case is a man named Michael Hamrick, who was a neighbor of the Lawrences in 1996 and who was seen in the area on the day of the murder. Hamrick has a criminal history, including a conviction for child molestation, but he has never been charged in relation to Tammy's death.

Kelly and Yolanda begin their investigation by visiting the Lawrence home. They notice that the home is situated on a quiet street, and it would have been easy for an intruder to enter without detection. They bring in a forensic team to process the scene for any new evidence, and they talk to Keith, who is now remarried, to get his perspective on the case. Keith tells Kelly and Yolanda that he has always believed that Hamrick was involved in his wife's murder, but the police were never able to prove it. The detectives decide to focus their investigation on Hamrick, and they begin by speaking to his ex-girlfriend, who claims that he confessed to the murder.

Next, Kelly and Yolanda interview several other people who knew Hamrick in 1996, including his former employer and a former roommate. They learn that Hamrick has a history of violence and drug use, and that he may have been involved in other criminal activity in the area at the time of Tammy's murder. They also learn that Hamrick had a distinctive tattoo on his forearm, which could be used to identify him if he was involved in the crime.

Through their interviews and forensic analysis, the detectives develop a strong circumstantial case against Hamrick. They believe that he was in the Lawrences' neighborhood on the day of the murder, that he had a motive to kill Tammy, and that he had the means to enter the home undetected. However, they are unable to find any direct evidence linking him to the crime. Despite this, Kelly and Yolanda bring their findings to the Floyd County District Attorney's office, which agrees to present the case to a grand jury.

The episode ends with Kelly and Yolanda meeting with Tammy's sister and mother, who have been waiting more than 20 years for justice. The detectives tell them that they have presented the case to the grand jury, and they are hopeful that Hamrick will be indicted for Tammy's murder. The family is emotional, and they express their gratitude to Kelly and Yolanda for their hard work. The episode concludes with a title card explaining that Michael Hamrick was indicted for murder in connection with Tammy Lawrence's death, and that he is currently awaiting trial.