Ep 6. The Disappearance of Andrew Sadek:What Really Happened To Him?

As a warning, this episode may contain themes of drug use and sexual assault. Cold Case Detective season 1 episode 6, entitled "The Disappearance of Andrew Sadek: What Really Happened To Him?", delves into the disappearance of college student Andrew Sadek in May of 2014.

Andrew Sadek was a 20-year-old student at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He went missing on May 1st, 2014, and his body was found on June 27th in the Red River near Breckenridge, Minnesota. His death was ruled a suicide, but there are many questions surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance and death.

The episode starts off with a brief introduction to Andrew Sadek and the basics of the case. It then dives into interviews with his family and friends, who describe him as a hardworking and kind person who was determined to succeed in college and eventually become a game warden. As the episode unfolds, it becomes clear that there were several factors at play in Andrew's disappearance and death.

One of the biggest factors was his involvement in a drug bust at the college. Andrew was caught selling marijuana to a confidential informant in November of 2013. He was facing up to 40 years in prison, and in exchange for a reduced sentence, he agreed to become an informant for the police and help them bust other drug dealers on campus. Andrew's family and friends had no idea he was working as an informant, and they express shock and disbelief that the police would use a young, inexperienced college student in such a dangerous role.

The episode touches on the controversial practice of using young, nonviolent offenders as confidential informants, which has been linked to multiple cases of abuse, exploitation, and even death. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of drug policies that prioritize harsh sentencing and use of informants over harm reduction and rehabilitation.

Another factor in Andrew's disappearance was his alleged sexual assault by a member of the campus football team. Andrew's family and friends say that he was traumatized by the assault and feared for his safety. They believe that he may have been targeted and killed by someone who wanted to silence him or retaliate for his cooperation with the police.

The episode features interviews with several experts, including retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Jim Clemente, who provide insights into the psychological and criminal aspects of the case. There are also clips of news reports and police interviews from the time of Andrew's disappearance, which give a sense of the media frenzy and the conflicting information that was circulating about the case.

Overall, "The Disappearance of Andrew Sadek: What Really Happened To Him?" is a gripping and thought-provoking episode that raises important questions about justice, privacy, and accountability. It sheds light on the tragic story of a young man whose promising future was cut short by a combination of flawed policies, systemic injustices, and personal tragedies. It is a reminder that even in cases that seem straightforward, there are often hidden layers of complexity, ambiguity, and nuance that must be explored in order to uncover the truth.