Ep 5. Fractured Glass

In the eighth season of Homicide Hunter, retired homicide detective Lieutenant Joe Kenda is back to share some of his most compelling and complex cases. In episode 5 of season 8, titled "Fractured Glass," Kenda takes on a case involving the brutal murder of a young woman that took place in Colorado Springs in 1979.

Kenda begins by recounting the details of the crime scene, which he describes as particularly gruesome. The victim, whose identity is initially unknown, was found in a ditch by a passerby. She had been stabbed numerous times and her body was badly beaten. Kenda notes that the killer had also used a broken bottle to mutilate the victim's genitals, indicating a particularly brutal and violent attack.

As Kenda and his team investigate the case, they begin to piece together a profile of the victim. She is eventually identified as 20-year-old Kathy Adamson, a young woman from a nearby Air Force base who had recently moved off-base with her husband. Kenda and his team quickly learn that Adamson had been struggling with low self-esteem and depression, and had been having affairs with multiple men.

With this information, Kenda and his team begin to question Adamson's lovers and acquaintances, hoping to find a lead on her killer. They eventually narrow in on a man named George Zepeda, a married Air Force sergeant who had been having an affair with Adamson. When Zepeda is brought in for questioning, he denies any involvement in the murder. However, after further interrogation and a failed polygraph test, Zepeda eventually confesses to the crime.

Kenda reflects on the brutality of the murder and the fact that Zepeda had no real motive for killing Adamson. He notes that sometimes the most senseless and horrifying crimes are the hardest to solve. The episode ends with Kenda reflecting on the case and the impact it had on him as a detective. He notes that while he saw many terrible things during his career, the murder of Kathy Adamson will always stick with him as one of the most disturbing.

Overall, "Fractured Glass" is a gripping episode that showcases the complexities of homicide investigations and the toll that these cases can take on detectives. Kenda's expertise and experience make him a compelling narrator, and viewers will be on the edge of their seats as he talks through the twists and turns of this dark and challenging case.