Episode Details

After nearly thirty years, the Indiana State Police used forensic genetic genealogy to identify the killer of Angela Saco, a young mother murdered in 1997. Although investigators originally interviewed scores of people, the case remained cold until DNA technology linked the crime scene evidence to Stephen L. Shlater. Shlater, a local man with a prior federal conviction, died in 2021, meaning he can no longer face criminal prosecution for the fatal stabbing. This breakthrough offers a degree of closure to Saco’s family, who long sought answers regarding her disappearance from a Fort Wayne club. The resolution highlights how modern science and the meticulous preservation of old evidence can eventually solve historic cold cases. Under the direction of a specialized Cold Case Unit, this investigation demonstrates the powerful impact of genetic database research on the pursuit of justice.

This episode includes AI-generated content.