Ep 9. Deadly Denial
- March 8, 2015
In this episode of Dateline On ID, titled Deadly Denial, viewers will delve into a harrowing murder case that remains unsolved to this day. The victim, a well-respected and successful businesswoman named Cristie Schoen Codd, was found brutally murdered alongside her husband J.T. Codd in their home in North Carolina. The couple had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first child together, and their murders sent shockwaves through the small community.
As investigators began to piece together the events leading up to the murders, they discovered that the couple had recently hired a young man named Robert Jason Owens to do some odd jobs around their property. Owens had a shady past, having been convicted of breaking and entering in the past, but was trying to turn his life around. However, as details emerged about the night of the murders, Owens became the primary suspect in the case.
Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Owens maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. However, as authorities began to dig deeper into his past, they uncovered a disturbing pattern of behavior. Owens had a penchant for destroying evidence and had been caught stealing from his employers in the past. Additionally, it was discovered that he had taken items from the Codds' home after their murders and had attempted to conceal them.
As the case went to trial, the prosecution painted a picture of a ruthless killer who had been motivated by greed. Owens had allegedly stolen from the Codds' home in an attempt to pay off debts and had murdered them in order to cover his tracks. The defense, on the other hand, argued that there was no concrete evidence linking Owens to the murders and that he had been the victim of a rush to judgement.
In the end, the jury found Owens guilty of all charges, including first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case remains a haunting reminder of the brutal nature of some crimes and the lengths that some individuals will go to in order to cover their tracks.
Through interviews with investigators, friends and family members of the victim, and legal experts, Deadly Denial shines a light on one of the most shocking murder cases in recent years. The episode offers a glimpse into the painstaking work that goes into solving a murder case and the emotional toll that such cases can take on those involved. Viewers will be left with a sense of both horror and awe as they witness the lengths that law enforcement officials will go to in order to bring a killer to justice.