Ep 19. Man in the Shadows/The Hitchhiker

In Cold Case Files season 4 episode 19, viewers are taken through the investigation of two separate cases. The first case involves the murder of Sherri Rae Rasmussen, a woman who was found beaten and shot in her home in 1986. Despite some initial evidence pointing towards an intruder, authorities eventually suspected that Rasmussen's husband's ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Lazarus, was responsible for the crime. The episode delves into the investigation of Lazarus as a suspect, including how DNA evidence was obtained from a discarded coffee cup years after the murder and ultimately led to her conviction.

The second case featured in this episode is that of a man known as the "Hitchhiker" killer, who was believed to have murdered at least five people in California and Oregon in the 1970s. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, the killer was never caught and the case went cold. However, advancements in DNA technology in the early 2000s allowed authorities to revisit the evidence and reexamine potential suspects. The episode follows the new investigation into the case, including the use of familial DNA testing to identify the killer's likely relatives and subsequent interviews with family members to try and pinpoint a suspect.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given a detailed look at the investigative techniques used in each case, as well as the emotional toll that these types of cases can take on those involved. The interviews with family members of the victims and suspects provide insight into the impact that the crimes had on their lives and the ongoing struggle to find closure.

Overall, this episode of Cold Case Files highlights the importance of persistence and the use of advancements in technology in solving even the most cold and perplexing cases.