Dateline: Secrets Uncovered Season 10, Episode 31: The Secrets of Cottonwood Creek

1

The Devil in Disguise

Frank Rodriguez was a Navy vet who dedicated his life to helping needy children, not a guy with many enemies. Figuring out who would want him dead was a challenge. How he died was also a mystery investigators needed to solve to catch his killer.

43 min

2

While He Was Sleeping

When Eric Somuah was found shot in his bed, it was hard to imagine who would want the outgoing salesman dead. One dogged detective refused to give up. His investigation put him on a path filled with twists, turns and an ending few saw coming.

43 min

3

The Root of All Evil

The life of a married father of two and successful real estate appraiser ends all too soon; investigators wonder if money is a motive, or if the murder is the result of a family rift.

43 min

4

Deadly Betrayal

Sabrina admits to killing Lisa, but no one understands why, which complicates the case immensely.

43 min

5

Lethal Weapon

A successful, seemingly healthy doctor collapses at home and is rushed to the ER, leaving friends and colleagues puzzled.

43 min

6

Secret Lives

Missing wife. Grieving husband. Turns out, both had secrets. Jen Ramsaran vanished just before Christmas and detectives needed to know if her online life held the key to this mystery or if the answer was closer to home.

43 min

7

What Lies Beneath

Investigators go to unexpected depths to solve the mystery of missing Lynn Friend, a devoted mother who had wedding plans when she vanished.

43 min

8

Fatal Attraction

A top doctor known for saving lives found himself fighting for his own after he was poisoned. Investigators immediately started looking into the women in his life, wondering if one relationship was toxic.

43 min

9

Shining Star

Chiquita Tate was growing her reputation as a tenacious defense attorney but her promising career was cut short when she was murdered. Police had a challenge. At work, she dealt with tough clients, and at home, she was going through a rough time.

43 min

10

Queen of the County

The Harkey name was famous for pecan harvesting in Texas; the matriarch, with a powerful grip on the family fortune, went missing, so investigators focused on the family; in fact, the plot was more tangled than the branches of a pecan tree.

43 min

11

After Midnight

A college freshman is found brutally beaten, a crime scene so bloody police can't identify the victim, but identifying the killer was easier -- and his motivation for the killing becomes the foundation for his defense.

43 min

12

Miami Heat

Police probe the shooting of the father and his infant son on the streets of Miami -- while the child survives, the father does not. English

43 min

13

Someone Was Out There

One murder in broad daylight. Then another brutal attack almost exactly a year later. Police discovered a chilling connection between the victims, and many feared they had a serial killer on their hands. It was a race to connect the dots.

43 min

14

Secrets at Sunshine Motel

Vern Holbrook, the owner of a thriving estate company and beloved patriarch of a family, fails to show up at a meeting with his daughter-in-law and she grows concerned.

43 min

15

Indiscretion

It was a violent and bizarre crime scene: #1 scrawled next to the lifeless body. The victim’s boyfriend had an alibi and the case went cold. Then, a DNA hit. But investigators couldn’t figure out the link between two people separated by 1,500 miles.

43 min

16

The Evil to Come

She was a wealthy, beloved socialite in the suburbs of New York City and an unlikely target for such a brutal murder. Police immediately zeroed in on the most likely suspect but solving this crime wouldn’t be easy or quick.

43 min

17

True Lies

A woman is brutally murdered in her bed and her husband and son both immediately begin pointing fingers at each other after two rapid-fire calls are made to 911.

43 min

18

Finding Savanna

It was a custody battle, then baby Savanna was gone. The mystery of her whereabouts spanned two decades. Solving it took investigators nearly 10,000 miles around the world, driven by a determined dad trying to learn what happened to his daughter.

43 min

19

Mystery on Sunrise Drive

Real estate developer Gary Triano lived large; his murder was a bold statement; there were whispers of a mob connection, an angry investor, or a mad ex, and the mystery took nearly two decades to unravel.

43 min

20

The Wire

Lynne Knight was a vibrant young nurse whose love of adventure made her stand out. Then, she was murdered. The savage crime haunted detectives for decades. The killer thought his secret was safe, until new investigators put fresh eyes on the case.

43 min

21

The Long Road

A chance meeting at a nightclub ends in murder; those involved in the gruesome crime thought they had buried the secrets of the past, but a relentless team of investigators will stop at nothing to unearth the truth.

43 min

22

Jagged

Detective identify multiple suspects after a mother disappears, but they later face scrutiny from the woman's family due to the lack of answers they have provided.

43 min

23

Stone-Cold

Nick popped the question and Kristy said yes; they were busy planning their future when she found him dead in the bedroom; police questioned spurned lovers and office enemies before a tip from Nick's brother helped reveal the true killer.

43 min

24

The Early Shift

Michelle Mockbee met her husband at the warehouse where they both worked; it was also where she met an untimely death; security footage led police to a suspect, but when it appeared justice had been served, a scandal turned the case upside down.

43 min

25

Prairie Confidential

Angila Wilder was a busy mom, working to make her dream of becoming a nurse come true, then she was murdered; at first, investigators thought it looked like an open-and-shut case, but it would take an elaborate sting to uncover the truth.

43 min

26

Noises in the Night

Emma Walker was a fun-loving teen with her whole life ahead of her, then she was shot dead in her bed; detectives were facing a tough investigation.

43 min

27

Before the Storm

When a recently divorced mom vanished, the search to find her was halted by a hurricane; as the floodwaters receded, investigators discovered the same deadly storm that slowed their investigation was about to flush out her killer.

43 min

28

The Alibi

Private First Class Karlyn Ramirez had a job she loved and a baby she adored. Then, she was shot dead in her home. Her killer thought he'd covered his tracks, but investigators uncovered a plot so devious, it defied imagination.

43 min

29

Suspicion in Silver City

Cassy Farrington had two beautiful kids, a doting boyfriend and an exciting new job. Then she was found dead in her bathtub. Cassy's parents were determined to solve the mystery, stopping at nothing until they found justice.

43 min

30

After the Storm

A woman is found strangled after a powerful storm; police focus on a fiancé and a co-worker with a crush until they hear from a flood of women who've had chilling encounters with a stranger; It seemed a predator was stalking the women of Austin.

43 min

31

The Secrets of Cottonwood Creek

It was supposed to be happy weekend at their cabin. They went on a hike, pausing at a perfect spot for pictures. But something went wrong, and the frigid currents below took a life. Investigators wondered if they also swept away a secret.

43 min

32

Unthinkable: The Menendez Murders

In a case made for Hollywood, they were camera ready. Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of murdering their own parents more than two decades ago. Now hear chilling new details about the gruesome double slaying from the brothers themselves.

43 min

33

The Match

Diane Marcell walked into her home and found her daughter covered in blood. Then, she felt pure terror. The attacker said she was next. A single drop of blood was the key to finding him, but it took nearly a decade to unlock its secrets.

43 min

34

Finding Sarah Goode

Single mom Sarah Goode went missing after a night out with friends; her family was determined to find her; police turned up four possible suspects and two tantalizing clues; the killer left a signature.

43 min

35

The Last Day

After Erin Corwin told her husband she was scouting hiking trails in Joshua Tree National Park, she suddenly vanished -- police quickly uncovered a steamy love triangle and a mystery with a deep pool of potential suspects.

43 min

36

The Valentine's Day Mystery

He was a wealthy doctor with a perfect life and the perfect wife; then, he found her dead on Valentine's Day; she was beloved but did have enemies; investigators followed a bloody trail of evidence, leading to a big courtroom twist.

43 min

37

Mean Girls

When Ricky Cowles and his girlfriend moved in together, her best friends moved in too; at first, it was like a big sleep over, then Rickie was found shot dead; his killer would let a secret slip, but turns out, he was keeping more than one.

43 min

38

Bitter Pill

Rosie and Yazeed Essa seemed to have an ideal life, two beautiful children, no financial worries and a loving extended family; a fatal fender bender shattered it all; investigators discovered her marriage was full of secrets.

43 min

39

Taken

He was a drummer who never missed a beat, then vanished; his family and the police were determined to work together; it was a race against the clock to find him.

43 min

40

The Night Brianna Vanished

When a college student vanishes, investigators launch a massive manhunt and quickly discover she is not the kidnapper's first victim; police are inundated with leads before an anonymous tipster divulges a secret that helps crack the case.

43 min

41

In Plain Sight

Amber Dubois disappeared in the San Diego area, and the search turned up nothing. Then, a year later, Chelsea King disappeared in a neighboring town. Investigators were determined to find out if the two cases were connected. Will these girls be found together and alive?

43 min

42

The Prussian Blue Mystery

Young mom Brigida Uto loved running and chasing her toddler around, and when her health suddenly failed, doctors had to unravel a medical mystery to save her life; then, the FBI joined the confounding case and uncovered a sinister plot.

43 min

43

11 Minutes

Madison Holton’s parents had reached their wit’s end. They called a family meeting to confront their rebellious teen. When it was done, two of them were dead and police were left with a puzzling mystery.

43 min

44

She Didn't Come Home

Investigators didn’t know if Kathy Heckel was a missing person or murder victim. The case grew cold until, decades later, a new detective dusted off the old files. They couldn’t catch the elusive suspect then, but he hoped to solve the mystery now.

43 min

45

Facing the Music

Twenty-five-year-old Christy Mirack always wanted to be a teacher. She was just getting her start when she was murdered. It took police twenty-five years to find her killer. Turns out, he was hiding in plain sight the whole time.

43 min

46

Before Midnight

Financial advisor Pam Zimmerman was everything to her children. Then she was gone, shot dead in her office. Detectives focused on three men in Pam’s life, wondering if the motive was professional or personal.

43 min

47

The Secret Keepers

Randy Baker battled addiction as a young man, then found his calling as a counselor later in life. When Randy was found dead, investigators wondered if someone from his past put an end to his future, or if trouble was closer to home.

43 min

48

Evil Was Watching

Michella and Jenni were from the same town and both loved riding bikes. They did not know each other but were forever connected by their unsolved murders. Someone else their age grew up to become a detective. Now, she was trying to solve their cases.

43 min

49

The Target

As a love triangle between a podiatrist, his estranged wife and his new girlfriend took shape, a luxury car salesman got a surprising visit from a beautiful former customer. She was not looking to buy a car. She wanted someone murdered.

43 min

50

The Disappearance of Laci Peterson

After following the case for more than fifteen years, Dateline delivers a comprehensive report with rarely seen interrogation video, new insight from prosecutors, and surprising details from the other woman, Amber Frey, who helped uncover the truth.

43 min

51

Secrets in the Smoky Mountains

Bob McClancy was a beloved detective. When his death was ruled a suicide, loved ones were suspicious. United by grief, his widow and good friend found themselves falling in love. Then Bob’s son started asking questions and uncovered a secret.

43 min

52

Mystery in Big Sky Country

When a handsome veterinarian is found dead in a small Montana town, it launches a mystery that remains unsolved for years. After nearly two decades, investigators think they can solve it, but know convincing a jury will be no easy task.

43 min

53

Before Dawn

Lisa Techel was newly married and pregnant when a shotgun blast ended everything. Police questioned the neighbour, who had a gun and a grudge. There were whispers that her husband had a secret. The case tested three juries then took one final twist.

43 min

54

Scorned

Dave Kroupa and Cari Farver began a casual fling. Then Cari disappeared, but Dave was getting disturbing texts from her. It was a mystery that linked three women with one man in a case of jealousy, secret identity and murder.

43 min

55

The Halloween Party

This wasn't just any Halloween party. It was the big event of the season. Chelsea had her costume ready, sewed the leaves on herself. She was dressed as Poison Ivy, but never imagined she would encounter real evil that night.

43 min

56

The Mystery of Effingham County

Publicly they were a prominent family highly respected for their success. But privately a jury heard something else. It was case that pitted father against son, husband against wife and brother against brother.

43 min

57

Something Sweet

On a warm August day, Ray Kotomski quenched his thirst with a cool drink. Kotomski was dead within hours. Investigators had to figure out what killed the happily retired Pennsylvania man, and also whether this was even a crime at all.

43 min

58

A Perfect Spot

They were a married couple meeting for a secret Valentine's Day rendezvous. The secluded spot became a crime scene when Richard Schoeck was found shot dead there. Turns out, the rendezvous wasn't the only secret in their lives.

43 min

59

Friends Until Death

Jessie Blodgett was a budding musician and actress; the morning after a performance, Jessie's mother found her dead.

43 min

60

One Small Dose

Tara Fitzgerald loved hanging out with friends. Like a lot of teens, she kept a few secrets from her folks. One turned out to be deadly. Detectives uncovered a disturbing trend endangering teens in their community and across the nation.

43 min

61

Deadly Devotion

An Army captain, back from serving abroad, is found dead in her El Paso home. The news stuns her tight-knit military community. Her husband has an alibi, but what about her family and friends? Andrea Canning reports on a case with many twists and turns.

43 min

62

The House on Badger Lane

Jason and Julie Harper live the American dream in a picture-perfect home with three beautiful children, until the morning comes when Jason is found murdered; police are quick to discover who did it but proving why is much harder.

43 min

63

Without a Trace

Carrie Olson had a heart of gold and a new man in her life. Then, she went missing. Loved ones launched a desperate search for answers, but investigators wondered if one of them was hiding a dark secret.

43 min

64

A Place on the Sand

Sabine Buehler moves to an island off the coast of Florida for her own slice of paradise. When she vanishes, friends know she hasn't left on her own. Finding out what happened to her leads police down a long and winding path in the sand.

43 min

65

The Night Before Halloween

It takes a special eye to spot the thing that's out of place at a crime scene; in this case, that thing looks so insignificant, no one even knows what it is or what it means; it takes a team of determined investigators almost two decades to find out.

43 min

66

The Mystery on Albion Road

A young woman was found in the middle of the road, nearly dead. With little evidence to go on, investigators hoped to find out what happened from the victim herself. The problem was, she couldn't remember.

43 min

67

As Darkness Fell

Some who knew the couple in this story saw two people in love. Others saw a marriage in trouble. They loved hunting and were both excellent shots. So good, they rarely missed, whatever the target.

43 min

68

Haunting Images

A young mother was killed and her family hoped for quick justice; nearly three decades later, small traces of DNA evidence reveal an ugly truth.

43 min

69

The Beauty and the Beast Mystery

When a young, physically fit woman died suddenly, her friends and family were told it was a freak accident in a gym; equipment can malfunction, but so can relationships.

43 min

70

Deadly Exposure

Hundreds of Americans die every year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning; according to police in Ohio, one of those deaths was no accident; if anyone knew how to use a deadly gas, it was their prime suspect.

43 min

71

Secrets of Lake Seminole

Mike Williams goes out duck hunting before dawn and never returns; authorities declare his death an accidental drowning, but Mike's mother believes he was murdered; after a dramatic secret comes to light, police believe she may be right.

43 min