Ep 4. The Merry Widow/The Bad Cop

In season 3 episode 4 of Cold Case Files titled "The Merry Widow/The Bad Cop," viewers are taken on a journey through the investigation of two separate cases. The episode follows the cases of Diane Cunningham and Sherri Scherer, two women whose lives were taken too soon.

The first case, Diane Cunningham, takes place in 1989 in Hamilton County, Ohio. Diane was a wealthy widow who had recently lost her husband and was living alone in her large mansion. One evening, she was brutally attacked and strangled in her own home. Despite intensive efforts by local law enforcement, no leads surfaced and the case eventually went cold. However, with the advancements in DNA technology over the years, the case was taken up once again and the evidence was re-analyzed. Through DNA found at the crime scene, investigators are able to make a surprising find that would lead them down a path they never expected.

The second case, Sherri Scherer, is a case that is largely centered around one bad cop. Sherri and her husband lived in a small town in Texas where her husband worked as a doctor. One day, Sherri and her husband are found shot to death in their home with no apparent motive. After an investigation was opened, it was discovered that one of Sherri's husband's former patients, David Dooley, was a police officer who had stolen the case file and withheld evidence from the investigation. This complicated the case and it took years to finally convict Dooley of the crimes.

Throughout the episode, viewers are taken along the investigation process, seeing first hand the tireless efforts of investigators to solve the cases. The use of DNA evidence in the Diane Cunningham case is of particular interest, as it shows just how sophisticated technologies have become in solving criminal cases. The Scherer case, on the other hand, provides a stark reminder that sometimes even those who are supposed to serve and protect can be the cause of great harm.

Overall, "The Merry Widow/The Bad Cop" is a fascinating look into two very different cases and the work that goes into solving them. Viewers are sure to be kept on the edge of their seats as each case unfolds and the twists and turns keep coming.