Ep 1. Holiday Homicide

The show Cold Justice is a true-crime series that follows former prosecutor Kelly Siegler and her team of investigators as they attempt to solve unsolved murder cases. In season 7, episode 1, titled "Holiday Homicide," the team heads to a small town in Oklahoma to investigate a brutal murder that took place on Christmas Eve.

The episode opens with dramatic reenactments of the events leading up to the murder, which took place in a rural area on the outskirts of town. The victim, a 25-year-old woman named Sarah, had been out Christmas shopping with her mother earlier in the day. She later left to run some errands and never returned.

When Sarah's family couldn't reach her by phone, they became worried and called the police. A search of the area around Sarah's house turned up her abandoned car, with no sign of Sarah. It wasn't until the following afternoon that a couple out walking their dog discovered Sarah's body in a nearby field.

The investigation into Sarah's murder was hampered by a variety of factors. The crime scene was poorly secured and contaminated by foot traffic. The rural location made it difficult to gather evidence and track down potential witnesses. And perhaps most importantly, there were no obvious suspects or motives.

Kelly and her team begin their investigation by combing through the case file and interviewing witnesses. They quickly discover that there was more going on in Sarah's life than her family knew about. She had recently broken up with her boyfriend and was involved in a complicated web of relationships with several men in the area.

As the team delves deeper into Sarah's life, they uncover a dark underbelly of drugs, sex, and violence. They interview ex-boyfriends, friends, and acquaintances, looking for any clues that might help them identify a suspect. After weeks of tireless work, they begin to piece together a timeline of events that could lead them to the killer.

One of the most challenging aspects of the case is the lack of physical evidence. There were no fingerprints, DNA, or murder weapon found at the scene. To make matters worse, potential witnesses are reluctant to come forward, either out of fear for their own safety or because they don't want to get involved.

Despite the obstacles, Kelly and her team refuse to give up. They leverage their many years of experience in law enforcement to connect the dots and build a compelling case against the killer. Along the way, they must navigate the complex emotional terrain of a family coping with the loss of a loved one during the holiday season.

In the end, the team's persistence pays off. They are able to identify a suspect and gather enough evidence to bring him to trial. It is a bittersweet victory, however, as Sarah's family must grapple with the fact that their beloved daughter and sister will never come home.

Overall, "Holiday Homicide" is a gripping episode that highlights the complexities of solving a murder case. Kelly Siegler and her team show skill, determination, and compassion as they work tirelessly to bring justice to a grieving family. Fans of the true-crime genre won't want to miss this captivating episode.