Ep 6. The Snapchat Clue

In 48 Hours season 35 episode 6, "The Snapchat Clue," the show investigates the murder of a young college student named Christy Mirack. On December 21, 1992, Christy was found brutally beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted in her apartment in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The case remained unsolved for more than 25 years until a break in technology led to the arrest of a suspect.

The episode opens with a recap of the case, including interviews with Christy's friends and family, who describe her as a kind and caring person who loved children and was planning to become a teacher. The police investigation at the scene of the crime is also revisited, highlighting the brutal nature of the attack and the lack of any apparent evidence or leads.

In 2017, the Lancaster County District Attorney's office decided to take a new approach in their investigation, utilizing a new technology called genetic genealogy. This technique involves uploading crime scene DNA to a public genealogy database in order to find a match with known relatives, ultimately leading to the identification of a suspect who can be investigated and arrested.

The episode then delves into the details of how genetic genealogy was used to solve Christy's case. The DNA evidence from the crime scene was sent to a private lab, Parabon NanoLabs, which specializes in genetic genealogy. From there, the lab was able to identify a match with a distant relative of the suspect, and using public records and social media, they were able to build a family tree that eventually led them to a suspect.

The suspect, Raymond Rowe, was a local DJ and well-known figure in the Lancaster community. He was arrested in June 2018, and his DNA was a match with the DNA found at the crime scene. In November 2019, he pled guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Along with the details of the investigation, the episode also explores the personal impact of Christy's murder. Her family and friends share how deeply her death has affected them, and how they never gave up hope for justice.

What makes "The Snapchat Clue" unique is the role that social media played in the investigation. As part of their investigation, police discovered that Rowe had been in the same gym as Christy the day before her murder, and they were able to access his Snapchat account through a search warrant. They found that he had been filming himself working out at the gym, which placed him in the location at the right time. This evidence was crucial in linking him to the crime.

Overall, "The Snapchat Clue" is a compelling episode that showcases the power of new technology in solving long-cold cases. It also highlights the devastating impact that violent crimes can have on families and communities, and the importance of seeking justice for the victims.