Ep 12. Newlywed Murders

On The Case With Paula Zahn is a true-crime series that shines a light on some of the most shocking and mysterious murder cases from around the world. In season 1, episode 12 titled "Newlywed Murders," Paula delves into the complex investigation of a double homicide.

The episode centers around the murder of a young couple, Sam Herr and Julie Kibuishi, who were found dead in Sam's apartment in Orange County, California. The gruesome discovery was made by Sam's friend, who had gone to check on him after not hearing from him for several days. Upon entering the apartment, he found Sam's lifeless body bound and gagged in a closet, while Julie's partially nude body was discovered on the bed.

The case quickly made headlines due to its shocking nature, and the authorities were under immense pressure to solve the case. The investigation proved to be challenging, as there were no signs of forced entry, no apparent motive, and no murder weapon found at the scene.

As Paula delves deeper into the case, she uncovers several clues that take the investigation in a new direction. She interviews Sam's father, who reveals that his son had served in Iraq and had been deeply affected by his experiences there. She also speaks to Sam's ex-girlfriend, who sheds light on his troubled past and drug addiction.

Paula also speaks to the detectives involved in the case, who took a unique approach to solving the murders by enlisting the help of a criminal profiler. Through their collaboration, they were able to identify a suspect who had a tenuous connection to the victims and a motive that initially seemed far-fetched.

The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of a man named Daniel Wozniak, who had recently married and was acting in a musical at a nearby theater. Wozniak was known to have a gambling problem and had asked Sam for a loan shortly before the murders occurred.

Upon interrogation, Wozniak initially denied any involvement in the murders, but eventually confessed to the crimes. He had planned to rob Sam of his savings and had lured him to his apartment under false pretenses. Once there, Wozniak shot and killed Sam and then staged the crime scene to make it look like Sam was the killer before killing Julie to cover his tracks.

Paula's investigation into the case offers a fascinating insight into the world of criminal profiling and police investigations. Through interviews with those close to the case and exclusive access to never-before-seen footage and evidence, she unravels the complex web of clues and leads that ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of Daniel Wozniak for the horrific murder of Sam Herr and Julie Kibuishi.