As you guys know, earlier this year, I had the fantastic opportunity of working on the filming of TNT's Cold Justice with Kelly Siegler and Yolanda McClary.
Tonight's episode is probably the most gripping case we worked on all season and it deals with the murder of a young mother in Thatcher, Arizona in 1995. It is one of the scariest cases I've ever worked on.
If you only watch one episode this season, this is the one to catch. Tonight at 9 p.m. on TNT.
22 comments:
Please give us some details on which camera and/or vehicle you are operating during the episode.
Actually, I drove Picture Car 1 on the way to interview Phil Turley on this one. I was hauling ass, too.
Yolanda griped the whole time!
IMDB credit?
Scariest case you've ever worked on? Ive had three scarier this week...
Kelly has become an incredible hero for many on this show but some problems outside of her own control do linger. The reality is that she is dealing with cases that have gone for decades along with memories of witnesses. She has to deal with corrupted, old or unreliable evidence and forced to use the talent of doing more with less. While she is diligent and wants to make sure the facts are accurate sometimes she seems ready to bring a case that is not completely conclusive but rather a combination of circumstantial evidence. Although Kelly is cautious about this, the circumstantial evidence is all she has to work with. This episode represents the third time that she has been unable to bring an formal indictment or charge against the suspect (the first being the hit and run case and the second being the former Ms. Escalante and the second being Mr. Baxter). This is a difficult undertaking and she and Yolanda might have bit off more than even Wonder Woman could chew. Their personal dedication is admirable although they have a very difficult emotional reality to deal with when they have to go back to the victim's loved ones and explain that they were unable to bring justice. Having to go back and report failure to the families and friends of the victim that placed all the dwindling hope they had for justice in their hands is visibly heartbreaking Kelly and Yolanda. It takes a lot of character (specifically courage, hope and purpose) for them to continue the war even in the face of lost battles.
Wow 11:58 a.m.,
Three cases that are worse than a burg hab/sexual assault Capital Murder with small child witnesses in one week is really amazing!
Just read this on line:
"On the heels of its strong debut, the Dick Wolf-produced TNT unscripted series Cold Justice has been renewed for a second season to air in early 2014. It is the second TNT reality series to earn a sophomore-season renewal, after Boston’s Finest. The procedural, from Wolf Films and Magical Elves, pulled in 2.9 million viewers total with 942,000 among adults 25-54 in its September premiere, by far the biggest opening for a TNT reality series, with the No. 2, Boston’s Finest, at 1.3 million total viewers. The series, which wraps its first season on October 22, has averaged 2.5 million viewers season to date (most current ratings) to rank as one of basic cable’s Top 5 new unscripted series of Q3 2013. Cold Justice follows female investigators Kelly Siegler, a Texas prosecutor for 21 years who has successfully tried 68 murder cases, and Yolanda McClary, a crime scene investigator, as they dig into cold murder cases. Wolf, Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz and Tom Thayer executive produce."
So I guess what goes around comes around---congrats to you and Kelly!
Lee,
If at the end of the day you can say that you worked as hard as you could with what was available then you have not failed in your effort.
Perhaps some cases will never be solved, while others will have new direction and hope and some will even be solved.
Regardless, offering victims left behind a real second chance at "maybe" that they, in all reasonable probability, never would have had is a worthwhile endeavor.
Just Sayin'
Wow, 11:58. It's only Wednesday, too.
Good luck on your snow-filled, two mile, uphill walk home this evening - and in the morning.
I saw the last show, I really like Allen Brown's style of interview. It has some old school style which is sometimes just what's needed. For my money the guy who worked at the school was the likely offender. I would love to run a search warrant at his house; I bet it would be a house of horrors. Guys like him usually keep momentos of their conquests.
My husband and I love the show and happy to see the renewal of it. We have friends trying to reopen a 20+ year old investigation into a death of their baby in AZ, I told them to look into the show. After Tuesday's show, we wondered if since the main suspect formerly worked at a prison if maybe the prison guard handcuffs are traceable? They seemed to know handcuffs were used so if they have them, are they somehow traceable? Maybe tying them to the prison he worked at? Just a thought from a couch-sitting fan :)
For Lee at 12:27pm: On one hand I agree that is very hard for Kelly and Yolanda to tell the family of a murder victim that they haven't been able to find enough evidence to indict anybody.
But on the other hand, I think it serves a very worthwhile purpose for them to do that because it shows that it's just not possible to solve every murder case. Some cases will just go unsolved forever.
So many families cling to a feeble and futile hope that someone will be punished for killing their loved one. I think Kelly and Yolanda are doing a serious public service by including their failures in this program.
I am so glad I checked your blog to find out that there will be a renewal. YES!!!
So Murray do you think the show will still be a hit by the 2016 filing deadline?
I don't know, Clint. Why? Not happy at the S.O.?
Clint you need to run! We will back you.
The use of a thin cord as a "dog leash" and the object rape are both similar to the JonBenet Ramsey murder that took place in Bolder, Colorado a year and a half later. Is there any chance of comparing Phil Turley's DNA to the unknown male DNA of the Ransey case? Or was this already done?
Phil Turley is guilty as they come. He will one day be brought to justice for what he did to Mary Ann Holmes.
Phil Turley is guilty. He will one day be painfully punished for what he did to Mary Ann Holmes.
Looks like that day may have arrived!
Unknown, you must be referring to the fact that Phil Turley was arrested for attempted murder in Modesto, CA 2 days ago. This is the chance to nail him for the murder of Mary Ann Holmes! Everyone who has seen the episodes of Cold Justice and people who know the case very well KNOW that Phil Turley did the savage crime! I am close with Ashleigh Holmes (the 4 year old daughter at the time of the murder), who now has a daughter of her own. The detectives in Modesto, CA and Thatcher, AZ cannot drop the ball on this! This is their chance to get him to admit that he brutally raped and murdered Mary Ann Holmes, mother of 2 precious little girls!
I hope for nothing more than to have the truth prevail and for justice to be served, and I hope that there will be some evidence found to positively link whoever has done these unspeakable things back in Arizona.
I've known Phil for a couple of years, having worked with him side by side for a number of months. I am just now hearing all of this, having been busy over the holidays and cannot believe it, almost as if it's a spoof show using his image in the place of someone else.
Phil was always bright and well-mannered, social and had lots of friends. He was always the first person to offer help to anyone in need, whether it was financial or with his time and tools. He once volunteered and drove tens of miles out of his way at an ungodly early time to pick me up and give me a ride to the airport before he then went to work (where he usually brought donuts or bagels for everyone).
Regarding the horrible murder in Arizona, I'm reading that he "fled" to Mexico, but Phil was always traveling around to visit friends and support immediate family with their pursuits which were held in venues all over the desert states and Mexico.
I never witnessed any side of Phil Turley that would indicate that he was capable of such a horrific series of acts.
I will repeat this again. I hope for nothing more than to have the truth prevail and for justice to be served, and I hope that there will be some evidence found to positively link whoever has done these unspeakable things back in Arizona.
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