Ep 10. The Cookie Lady

The episode titled "The Cookie Lady" is the 10th episode of the eighth season of See No Evil. The show follows real-life crimes and how surveillance footage played a pivotal role in solving them. This episode tells the true story of the 2016 murder of 25-year-old Diana Duve in California.

The episode begins by introducing the victim Diana Duve, a vivacious young woman who was loved by her family and friends. We see home videos and photos of her, which create an emotional attachment to the viewer. The show then sets up the night of the murder, walking us through the series of events as they occurred. Diana had gone out with friends one night, and the last anyone heard from her was when she texted her roommate that she'd be home soon. However, Diana never made it home.

The police begin their investigation, and footage from surveillance cameras becomes crucial in piecing together what happened to Diana. The police discover that Diana had stopped at a gas station/convenience store on her way home. It was at this store where she encountered "The Cookie Lady," a homeless woman who was known for panhandling outside the store. The Cookie Lady was seen picking up Diana's purse and walking away with it.

What follows is a thrilling manhunt for The Cookie Lady, and the footage from the gas station becomes critical in the investigation. The video footage shows The Cookie Lady walking away with Diana's purse, but they could not identify her from the footage. To make matters worse, the police discover that the store's cameras were on a loop and hadn't recorded anything earlier than 12 hours before the incident. This left the police with a huge missing piece of evidence.

Diana's family is devastated, and the police work tirelessly to find the woman who took her purse. They consider multiple theories, including the possibility that the woman may have accidentally gotten hold of Diana's purse. The police contact local shelters, hospitals, and community centers, but they come up empty-handed.

The investigation's turning point occurs when a billboard advertising the show "See No Evil" catches the attention of a witness. This witness recognizes the woman on the billboard as The Cookie Lady, a regular face in the local area. The police now have a name and conduct an extensive search for her. They eventually track down and arrest The Cookie Lady, who gives contradictory statements and changes her story multiple times. The police subpoena phone records for her phone and find crucial evidence that helps solve the case.

The episode concludes with a bittersweet ending, as it's revealed that Diana's murderer was not The Cookie Lady, but someone else who was soon apprehended. However, this episode underlines the importance of surveillance footage in the modern crime solving process, and how critical it is to communicate with the public in solving cases. It also highlights how even the smallest piece of information can lead to a breakthrough in a case, with the billboard ultimately playing a crucial role in identifying the suspect.

In summary, "The Cookie Lady" episode of See No Evil tells an emotional and gripping story about the investigation into the murder of Diana Duve, and the role surveillance footage played in solving the case. It highlights the importance of public outreach in investigations and serves as a testament to the power of video surveillance technology.