Ep 1. Posed to Kill

Mark of a Killer is a true crime series that focuses on the signature ways in which killers leave their mark on their victims. In season 1 episode 1, titled "Posed to Kill," the series delves into the case of a woman who was found dead in her home with a single gunshot wound to the head.

The episode begins with an introduction to the case, which took place in Louisville, Kentucky in 1994. The victim, 45-year-old Karen Potter, was a mother of two who worked as a clerk at a convenience store. She was found dead in her home by her husband, Dale Potter, who had just returned from a fishing trip.

The police arrived on the scene and began to investigate. They quickly ruled out the possibility of robbery, as there were no signs of forced entry and Karen's purse was still in the house. They also ruled out the possibility of suicide, as the gun found at the scene did not belong to Karen and there were no signs of a struggle.

As the investigation continued, a witness came forward to report that he had seen a suspicious vehicle parked outside of Karen's house on the night of the murder. The vehicle was a red Ford Mustang, and the witness was able to provide a partial license plate number.

The police began to track down leads, but they hit a dead end. The partial license plate number did not lead them to anyone who owned a red Ford Mustang, and no other witnesses came forward with any information.

Several months went by with no progress in the case, until a breakthrough came in the form of a tip from an informant. The tipster provided the name of a man who had recently purchased a red Ford Mustang and matched the description of the suspect seen outside of Karen's house on the night of the murder.

The man's name was Michael Dale St. Clair, and he had a criminal record that included charges of burglary and robbery. The police brought him in for questioning, but he denied any involvement in the murder.

However, when the police searched his car, they found a bag containing a variety of items that were later determined to be consistent with items stolen from Karen's house on the night of the murder. They also found handwriting samples that matched the signature on a forged check that was cashed at the convenience store where Karen worked.

St. Clair was arrested and charged with Karen's murder. At trial, the prosecution argued that St. Clair had posed as a flower delivery man in order to gain access to Karen's house, and that he had shot her execution-style in order to silence her. The defense argued that there was no physical evidence connecting St. Clair to the murder, and that the prosecution's case was based solely on circumstantial evidence.

In the end, St. Clair was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The show explores the various clues and methods used by law enforcement to crack the case and bring the killer to justice.