Six Degrees of Murder Season 1 Episode 1 A Deadly Drive

In the first episode of Six Degrees of Murder season 1, titled "A Deadly Drive," viewers are introduced to the case of 21-year-old college student Kelly Nolan. Kelly was a popular and outgoing student at the University of Delaware, known for her friendly and approachable nature.

On November 22, 2007, Kelly was leaving a bar with friends after a night out when she decided to walk home alone. She lived less than a mile away, and it was a route she had taken many times before. However, she never made it home that night.

The next day, Kelly's body was discovered in a wooded area near a local housing development. She had been strangled and her body was concealed under a pile of leaves.

The investigation into Kelly's murder quickly became one of the largest and most complex in Delaware state history. Police combed through hours of surveillance footage from the night of her disappearance, interviewed dozens of witnesses, and followed up on countless leads. Despite their efforts, the case went cold.

That is, until a year later when a witness came forward with new information. The witness reported seeing a suspicious car in the area around the time of Kelly's disappearance. Through a stroke of luck, police were able to locate the car, which belonged to 29-year-old Dwight Smith.

During questioning, Smith initially denied any involvement in Kelly's murder. However, when presented with DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene, he eventually confessed. Smith claimed that he had randomly encountered Kelly on the street, and that they had gotten into an argument that escalated into a physical altercation. He admitted to strangling her and dumping her body in the woods.

However, the case took another shocking turn when Smith's ex-girlfriend came forward with a startling revelation. She claimed that Smith had confessed to her that he had not acted alone in Kelly's murder. Rather, he had been accompanied by another man, who had held Kelly down while he strangled her.

With this new information, police set out to identify and apprehend Smith's accomplice. This proved to be a daunting task, as they had no description of the suspect and only a vague timeline of his involvement.

The investigation ultimately led police to a man named Gerard Schweiger, who had a criminal history and lived just a few blocks from where Kelly was last seen alive. Through DNA evidence, police were able to link Schweiger to the murder.

In court, both Smith and Schweiger were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"A Deadly Drive" is a chilling and fascinating look at the intricate web of connections that can lead to murder. Through interviews with law enforcement, journalists, and experts in criminal psychology, the episode explores the factors that contributed to Kelly's tragic death and the painstaking work that went into solving her case.