Ep 5. Out of Lies

The Case That Haunts Me season 3 episode 5, titled "Out of Lies," dives into the investigation of a brutal murder that has remained unsolved for years. The episode begins with retired Detective Sergeant Jim Smyth recounting the moment he first stepped onto the crime scene—an abandoned farm in rural Ontario. The victim, a young mother named Julie Crocker, had been found beaten, strangled, and left lying in a field.

The case had quickly gone cold, as there appeared to be no suspects, no motives, and no clear evidence. For Smyth and his team, it was a frustrating and heartbreaking case—one they were determined to solve, no matter how long it took.

With the help of other officers who worked on the case, including Detective Constable Fraser McColl and Detective Constable Chris Nicholas, Smyth revisits the details of the investigation, from the initial interviews with Crocker's family and friends, to the forensic analysis of the crime scene, to the countless dead ends and false leads that eventually led the investigation astray. The episode also includes interviews with experts in forensic science and criminal psychology, who provide insight into the challenges of solving complex homicides.

As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Julie Crocker lived a complicated and troubled life, with a history of drug abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues. Her relationships with men were often volatile and unpredictable, and many of them had criminal records or affiliations with dangerous gangs. Researchers explain that deciphering the motives and actions of people with such complex backgrounds can be incredibly difficult for investigators, and often requires advanced psychological and behavioral analysis.

Despite the many obstacles and setbacks they faced, the team eventually identified a possible suspect—one of Crocker's former partners, who had a history of violence and had been seen in the area on the day of the murder. However, the leads they had were circumstantial at best, and they struggled to find concrete evidence linking him to the crime.

In the end, the case remained open, and Julie Crocker's family was left without closure. The episode ends with a poignant reflection on the toll that unsolved crimes take on the families of the victims, as well as on the detectives who dedicate their careers to solving them. Despite the difficulty of the work, the officers involved in the case express pride and compassion for their colleagues and for the community they serve, vowing to keep working until justice is served. The Case That Haunts Me season 3 episode 5 serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of persistence and dedication in the face of even the most daunting challenges.