Could a bloody footprint at the scene of a murder help solve the case? | Full Episode + Post Mortem
Cold Case Solved: DNA and Bloody Footprints Link Businessman to 1993 Murder
Discover how two decades of forensic stagnation broke wide open when investigative genetic genealogy matched unknown DNA to a local businessman, leading to the conviction for the brutal 1993 murder of Jeanie Childs.
Short Summary
- Solve a 27-year-old murder using advanced investigative genetic genealogy techniques on trace evidence.
- Key evidence involved bloody bare footprints and consistent unknown DNA profiles found across multiple surfaces in the crime scene.
- The eventual suspect, Jerry Westerm, was a long-time community member with no prior history of violent crime.
- The resulting trial hinged almost entirely on the interpretation of latent friction ridge patterns from the bloody footprints.
This report details the shocking identification of Jerry Westerm as the killer of Jeanie Childs, who was stabbed over 65 times in 1993. We explore the critical role forensic science played—from initial DNA collection failure to the triumphant identification via genealogy—and the evidentiary battle over bloody footprints that sealed the conviction.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Related videos
The Blue River Murder | Full Episode
48 Hours
103.1k views
The Girl from Wahoo | Full Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
55.9k views
The Sneak Attack on Katlyn Lyon | Full Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
86.7k views
Woman convicted of murdering her husband tries to incriminate her son | Full Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
296.8k views
First Love, Then Murder | Full Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
560.9k views
The Day My Mother Never Came Home | Full Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
72.7k views
Unraveling the Case Against Melissa Calusinski | Full Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
297.6k views
How Angela Prichard helped solve her own murder | Full "48 Hours" Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
338.1k views
The Ivy League Murder | Full Episode + Post Mortem
48 Hours
398.3k views
The Footprint | Full Episode
48 Hours
2.1m views
Top Comments
No comments available
Unlock the Data Inside
Turn Videos into Knowledge
- Get FREE 10/day: transcripts, summaries, chats
- Chat with videos, export text & PDF
- $1 free API credit for RAG, chatbots & research
Free forever plan • All features unlocked
Top Comments
No comments available