Ep 2. Live to Tell: The Railroad Killer

In season 3 episode 2 of 48 Hours: Live to Tell, titled "Live to Tell: The Railroad Killer," viewers are taken on a journey through the chilling case of Angel Resendiz, a man who terrorized the railroad tracks of the United States in the 1990s. Over a period of six years, Resendiz would board trains and brutally murder unsuspecting passengers, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake.

The episode begins with an introduction to the "Railroad Killer" case and a brief overview of Resendiz's early life in Mexico, where he experienced an abusive childhood and struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction. The segment then moves on to detail Resendiz's violent rampage across the U.S., which began in 1986 and ended with his eventual capture in 1999.

Through interviews with law enforcement officials, surviving victims, and family members of the deceased, viewers gain a deep understanding of the impact Resendiz had on the lives of those he attacked. One particularly emotional moment comes when a survivor recalls how Resendiz jumped onto the train she was riding and began to attack her with a knife, leaving her seriously injured and traumatized.

As the episode progresses, viewers are presented with evidence of Resendiz's erratic behavior, including his habit of travelling from city to city by hopping on freight trains and his belief that he was a supernatural being chosen by God to carry out his brutal acts. Through expert analysis and eyewitness accounts, the show sheds light on the twisted ideology that drove Resendiz to commit these horrific crimes.

Ultimately, the episode builds towards the climactic moment of Resendiz's capture, which came after a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse with the authorities. Through interviews with the investigators who eventually captured him, viewers are given a behind-the-scenes look at the strategies and tactics used to finally bring Resendiz to justice, as well as the emotional toll the case took on those involved.

Overall, "Live to Tell: The Railroad Killer" is a compelling and deeply disturbing look at one of the most shocking crime sprees in modern history. Through a combination of expert analysis, gripping survivor testimonies, and archival footage, the episode tells the story of a man whose crimes left an indelible mark on the lives of many Americans, and whose legacy continues to haunt the nation to this day.