Episode Details

The episode details the extraordinary resolution of a 35-year-old cold case involving the 1987 murder of Roxanne Wood in Niles, Michigan. For decades, investigators wrongfully suspected her husband, Terry Wood, until advancements in forensic genetic genealogy and the efforts of university students transformed the investigation. By analyzing a microscopic DNA sample, researchers identified Patrick Gillum, a man with a prior history of violence who lived just miles from the crime scene. An undercover operation involving a discarded cigarette butt eventually provided the conclusive DNA match needed to secure his arrest. In 2022, Gillum was sentenced to prison, finally exonerating the victim's husband and bringing long-awaited closure to the Wood family.

This episode includes AI-generated content.