Ep 17. The Bedroom Basher

In this episode of Cold Case Files Classic, titled "The Bedroom Basher," viewers are taken through a chilling case from the 1970s involving a serial rapist and murderer in San Diego, California.

The episode begins with a young woman named Mary, who was raped and beaten almost to death by the Bedroom Basher. Despite her injuries, Mary manages to survive the attack and provide the police with a description of her attacker. However, despite the efforts of law enforcement, the perpetrator continues to terrorize the city, breaking into homes and attacking women in their bedrooms while they sleep.

As the case gains national attention, the police department is flooded with leads and tips, many of them false. However, detectives are able to link a few of the crimes to the same suspect through DNA evidence, but they still do not have enough information to make an arrest.

The case goes cold for over a decade until a small clue leads detectives to a man named Philip who had been arrested for unrelated crimes in the area. As they investigate, they find that Philip's DNA matches that of the Bedroom Basher's, and they finally have enough evidence to bring him to trial.

What follows is a dramatic courtroom battle between the prosecution and the defense, as the defendant's attorney tries to argue that the DNA is circumstantial and does not conclusively prove his client's guilt. However, the prosecution is able to bring in multiple victims who identify Philip as their attacker and his own past criminal record is used to strengthen the case against him.

Ultimately, the jury finds Philip guilty on multiple counts of rape and murder and he is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The episode ends with an emotional statement from one of the victims who says that finally getting justice has allowed her to begin to heal from the trauma of the attack.

Overall, "The Bedroom Basher" episode of Cold Case Files Classic provides a fascinating look into a real-life investigation and the tireless work of law enforcement to solve a brutal crime spree. With interviews from investigators, survivors, and family members, the episode provides a well-rounded perspective on the impact of the case and the continued efforts to bring closure to those affected by the Bedroom Basher's crimes.