Ep 6. Missing Witness

In the sixth episode of season one of Unsolved Mysteries, titled "Missing Witness," the show delves into the mysterious disappearance of a key witness in a high-profile case. The case in question is the murder trial of wife and mother Patrice Endres, who vanished from her hair salon in Georgia in broad daylight in 2004.

The episode begins with a recap of the Endres case, which was covered in depth in episode four of this season. Endres' husband Rob was initially a suspect in her disappearance, but with no evidence to link him to the crime, he was eventually cleared and the case went cold. However, in 2005, a new lead emerged in the form of a man named Gary Michael Hilton. Hilton had been arrested for the murder of a young hiker in the same area where Endres disappeared, and during an interview with police, he made several incriminating statements about Endres' case. He claimed to have known Endres and even said that he had been in her salon on the day she disappeared.

The prosecution was eager to use Hilton's statements against him in court, but there was a problem - Hilton had no reason to lie. In fact, he seemed to be confessing to the crime. Without any other evidence, the prosecution was left with a weak case, and they knew that they needed more. That's where the missing witness comes in.

The witness in question was a woman named Mary Shotwell Little. Little was a former law enforcement officer who claimed to have seen Hilton with Endres on the day of her disappearance. She gave a detailed statement to police, which included descriptions of Hilton's car and license plate number. Little was supposed to testify at Hilton's trial, but she never showed up. And when investigators went to her home to check on her, they found that she too was missing.

The rest of the episode focuses on the search for Mary Shotwell Little. The investigators working on her case believe that she could be the key to solving the Patrice Endres case, and they are desperate to find her. They interview Little's friends and family, and they uncover some disturbing details about her personal life. Little had a history of mental health issues, and she had recently gone through a messy divorce. She also seemed to be paranoid about Hilton, believing that he was stalking her and that he had even broken into her home.

The investigation leads the team to a small town in Florida, where Little was known to have spent some time after disappearing. They talk to people who may have seen her and search for any clues that could lead them to her whereabouts. Along the way, they encounter some strange characters and even some potential suspects. But despite their best efforts, they are unable to find Mary Shotwell Little.

Throughout the episode, there are several interviews with experts on witness protection and missing persons cases. They offer insight into the challenges of finding missing witnesses and the ways in which law enforcement agencies can address these challenges. They also discuss the importance of witness testimony in criminal trials and the devastating impact that the disappearance of a witness can have on a case.

In the end, the episode leaves viewers with more questions than answers. Mary Shotwell Little remains missing, and no one knows what really happened to her. But as the investigation into her disappearance continues, there is hope that she may one day be found and that her testimony could bring justice to the families of Patrice Endres and the other victims of Gary Michael Hilton.