Press release - Series

January 28, 2026

A MOTHER’S UNWAVERING CRUSADE FOR JUSTICE FOR HER SLAIN DAUGHTER AND HOW A HIDDEN CLUE HELPED CATCH A KILLER IN AN ALL NEW ‘20/20’

‘What the Killer Left Behind’ Airs Friday, Jan. 30, on ABC and Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu 

 

 

ABC News*

When 20-year-old Amanda Plasse was discovered violently stabbed to death in the kitchen of her apartment in the quiet New England town of Chicopee, Massachusetts, the community was left reeling. A beloved waitress at the local Friendly’s restaurant, Amanda was known for her outgoing, bubbly personality, making her sudden and brutal murder all the more shocking. As investigators began their search for answers, the crime appeared senseless and random; and despite early efforts, no suspect stuck. Years passed with no arrest, but Amanda’s mother, Michelle, refused to give up. Relentlessly pursuing the truth in hopes that someone would come forward with information, Michelle hosted events and passed out flyers, and justice paid off as investigators kept looking at the case and discovered a clue on a whiteboard that ultimately led them to a killer hiding in plain sight. “20/20” correspondent Ryan Smith reports in the all-new episode, “What The Killer Left Behind,” on FRIDAY, JAN. 30 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

ABC News’ “20/20” is the No. 1 award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, “20/20” features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports, and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories. Janice Johnston is the executive producer. The two-hour “20/20” events air Fridays from 9-11 p.m. ET on ABC and are available to stream on ABC News digital platforms, Disney+ and Hulu.

*COPYRIGHT ©2026 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All photography is copyrighted material and is for editorial use only. Images are not to be archived, altered, duplicated, resold, retransmitted or used for any other purposes without written permission of ABC News. Images are distributed to the press in order to publicize current programming. Any other usage must be licensed.

RELEASE: ABC News (detpress.com/abcnews)

 

Media Contacts

You must be logged in to view this content. Please log in or create an account.

`