20/20

Releases

‘20/20’ AND ESPN EXPLORE THE 2018 MURDER OF UNIVERSITY OF UTAH STUDENT-ATHLETE LAUREN MCCLUSKEY

When Lauren McCluskey, a student-athlete at the University of Utah, met a bouncer at a local bar, it seemed like the start of a fairy-tale romance. However, Lauren’s friends grew concerned by his increasingly controlling behavior and urged her to stop seeing him. Soon after, Lauren discovered that her boyfriend wasn’t who he said he was ― his real name was Melvin Rowland, a 37-year-old sex offender who had recently been released from prison. Shocked and afraid, Lauren ended the relationship and contacted campus police when he began extorting and harassing her. After over a week of repeatedly asking campus police, local law enforcement and school officials for help, Lauren was kidnapped on her way back from class and later found dead in a car. In a two-hour “20/20,” anchor David Muir and ESPN journalists T.J. Quinn and Nicole Noren explore the events leading up to Lauren’s murder and investigate the institutional failures of the systems she trusted to protect her. This two-hour episode

Press Release - Series

August 18, 2025

‘20/20’ CO-ANCHOR DAVID MUIR INVESTIGATES HOW CUTTING-EDGE FORENSIC DNA TECHNOLOGY HAS LED TO LONG-AWAITED JUSTICE IN TWO MURDER CASES THAT REMAINED UNSOLVED FOR DECADES

“20/20” co-anchor David Muir reports on the murders of two young women — each unsolved for decades — and how they are linked by cutting-edge forensic DNA technology that cracked open the cases and led to long-awaited justice on “20/20,” FRIDAY, AUG. 22 (9:01-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 03/07/25) In 1988, 19-year-old Cathy Swartz was a young mother living with her fiancé, Mike Warner, and her 9-month-old baby, Courteney, in Michigan. One afternoon, Mike returned to their home to find Cathy dead in the couple’s bedroom. She had been strangled with her throat cut in multiple places. Cathy’s killer left behind a bloody fingerprint, and even though law enforcement officials ran thousands of prints and tested DNA evidence, they never found a match to the evidence left at the scene. Detectives worked the case for several decades without identifying a suspect. A few years later, 31-year-old beloved Texas schoolteacher Catherine Edwards failed t

Press Release - Series

August 13, 2025

‘20/20’ UNPACKS HOW THE MURDER OF A BELOVED MOTHER IN A NEW JERSEY SUBURB SPARKED AN INTERNATIONAL CHASE

When Angela Bledsoe — a beloved mother and successful financial analyst — is found dead in her home in an upscale New Jersey suburb, all eyes turn toward her longtime boyfriend, James Ray III. After abruptly leaving their young daughter in the care of his brother, the high-powered lawyer and former police officer skipped town and led investigators on an international chase. In a new “20/20,” co-anchor Deborah Roberts reports on the shocking twists and turns of the case, including the investigation that led FBI agents to Cuba, where Ray was apprehended in a rare extradition case. “20/20” airs Friday, Aug. 15 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC, next day on Hulu. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 12/8/2023) ABC News’ “20/20” is an 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

Press Release - Series

August 6, 2025

‘20/20’ EXPLORES THE CASE OF A TEXAS BORDER PATROL AGENT WHO WAS UNMASKED AS THE VERY SERIAL KILLER HE WAS PRETENDING TO HUNT

When authorities found Melissa Ramirez and Claudine Luera murdered and abandoned on the outskirts of Laredo, Texas, they came to a terrifying conclusion over the similarities between the two crime scenes: the city’s red-light district had become the hunting ground of a serial killer. How many more women would become victims? “20/20,” ABC News correspondent John Quiñones reports on the investigation that ultimately led to one of their own, border patrol supervisor Juan David Ortiz, who was assisting on the case. “20/20” also examines key witness testimony and police body camera video, as well as unpacks Ortiz’s nearly nine-hour interrogation that led to his shocking confession. “20/20” airs Friday, Aug. 8 (9:01-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC and next day on Hulu. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 11/17/2023) ABC News’ “20/20” is an 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, charact

Press Release - Series

July 29, 2025

‘20/20’ EXPLORES FRIENDSHIP TURNED FATAL IN A SHOCKING MURDER OF A WELL-KNOWN ARKANSAS POLITICIAN AND BUSINESSWOMAN

When authorities found well-known former Arkansas State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith murdered outside her home, rumors began to fly. Could it have been her ex-husband, a former judge, after the pair went through a contentious divorce with millions of dollars on the line? Had Collins-Smith made a fatal enemy along her meteoric rise in state politics? Or was it someone in her inner circle? This Friday, “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts reports on the murder, unpacking how friends and family initially wrongly suspected ex-husband Philip Smith of murdering Collins-Smith after their divorce. The program highlights the shock to the local community when police arrested Becky O’Donnell, Collins-Smith’s best friend and business manager, as she was on her way to the memorial service and explains how footage from security cameras installed by Collins-Smith ultimately led to O’Donnell’s conviction. The two-hour episode features exclusive interviews with jailhouse informants who were pivotal in helpin

Press Release - Series

July 22, 2025

WHEN A WOMAN IS FOUND MURDERED, HER KILLER’S WRITTEN CONFESSION GIVES INSIGHT INTO THE MIND AND MOTIVES OF A MURDERER

In 1987, when authorities found Susan Woods naked and murdered in her home in Stephenville, Texas, the tight-knit community was quick to place the blame on Michael Woods, her estranged husband. But when fingerprints at the scene did not match Michael’s, the case ground to a halt. Twenty years later, a different detective took a fresh look at the evidence and was able to find a match for the fingerprints: Scott Hatley, a local man with a violent history. However, the details of the gruesome murder and Scott’s motives remained a mystery until 2022, when Scott’s writings about his life and crimes found in a trailer next to his dead body shed new light on the case. “20/20” correspondent Chris Connelly takes viewers inside the shocking murder and the decades-long search for answers. The two-hour program includes in-depth interviews with Michael Woods, Susan Woods’ husband; Shannon Myers Barrientos, who played a key role in cracking the case; and Don Miller, a retired lieutenant and the det

Press Release - Series

July 15, 2025

A RUNAWAY CASE OR FOUL PLAY? ‘20/20’ EXPLORES THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF ALISSA TURNEY

When 17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared on the last day of her junior year, it initially looked like a classic runaway case ― there was even a goodbye note. But over time, authorities grew suspicious that something more sinister had happened.“20/20” explores the twists and turns of the case, including a false confession from a serial killer, the discovery of pipe bombs, and a murder trial acquittal, building on original ABC News reporting from when Alissa disappeared in 2001. The two-hour program features an interview with Alissa’s stepfather, Michael Turney ― recently acquitted of murdering Alissa — whose 2009 interview with ABC News authorities played a key role in the investigation and his trial. As authorities continue to look for answers over two decades after her disappearance, the program also includes exclusive interviews with Stuart Somershoe and William Anderson, the lead detectives on the case; James Turney, son of Michael Turney; true crime podcaster Ottavia McHenry, wh

Press Release - Series

July 8, 2025

‘20/20’ INVESTIGATES A MYSTERIOUS BRUTAL MURDER AND THE BIZARRE HOME RENOVATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOTIVE

When Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, a beloved mom and successful businesswoman, is found dead in the Florida home she shared with her husband, David Tronnes, police suspected it was a robbery gone wrong. Why else would her $15,000 diamond ring be missing? When investigators dismiss that theory, they turn their attention to a home renovation that the couple had undertaken, which was to be profiled on the A&E show “Zombie House Flipping.” In a new episode, “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts investigates the brutal murder and the bizarre home renovation that may have been the motive and details what investigators say was a secret that David Tronnes was keeping from everyone. The episode also profiles Shanti Cooper Tronnes’ son, now age 15, who courageously fought for justice for his mother. The two-hour program includes the first post-trial exclusive interviews with Jackson Cooper, Shanti’s son, and Jim Cooper, Shanti’s ex-husband. The episode also includes exclusive interviews with Detectives Te

Press Release - Series

July 2, 2025

‘20/20’ INVESTIGATES A YOUNG WOMAN’S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE AND THE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE OPERATION THAT LED POLICE TO A BARN FULL OF DARK SECRETS

In the summer of 2016, 20-year-old Sierah Joughin vanished while biking home from her boyfriend’s house. The community quickly mobilized in a massive search-and-rescue operation, but as days went by without any sign of Sierah, her family and friends feared the worst. “20/20,” ABC News correspondent John Quiñones reports on Sierah’s disappearance and the investigation that led police to James Worley — a local man with a sinister past and a barn full of dark secrets. The two-hour program includes a tell-all interview with Robin Gardner, who survived an earlier abduction attempt by Worley. The episode also includes interviews with Sheila Vaculik, Sierah’s mother; Tara Ice, Sierah’s aunt; and Josh Kolasinski, Sierah’s boyfriend at the time. Exclusive interviews include Major Matt Smithmyer from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, who led the investigation; Kelsie Langenderfer and Bailey May, Sierah’s friends; Cathy Shaffer, Sierah’s grandmother; and FBI Special Agent Devon Lossick and FBI

Press Release - Specials

June 25, 2025

STAR CYCLIST GUNNED DOWN BY FRIEND’S JEALOUS GIRLFRIEND — ‘20/20’ REPORTS ON THE MURDER, INTERNATIONAL CHASE AND TRIAL

In May 2022, Anna Moriah Wilson, a promising young cyclist bringing new energy to the emerging sport of gravel racing, was suddenly gunned down in Austin, Texas, just days before a major race. The last person to see her alive was fellow cyclist Colin Strickland, who had a brief romantic relationship with Wilson before turning platonic again. Authorities quickly identified a suspect: Colin’s on-again/off-again girlfriend, Kaitlin Armstrong. ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman investigates the details of the grisly murder, the 43-day hunt for Armstrong that crossed state and international lines, and the trial that reached a verdict in November 2023. Armstrong is currently appealing the verdict and a decision is still pending. The two-hour episode includes exclusive interviews with Mike Armstrong, Kaitlin’s father; Nicole Mertz, Kaitlin’s former friend who tipped off police to disturbing comments she allegedly made about Moriah; and a neighbor at the crime scene who provide

Press Release - Series

20/20

Releases

‘20/20’ AND ESPN EXPLORE THE 2018 MURDER OF UNIVERSITY OF UTAH STUDENT-ATHLETE LAUREN MCCLUSKEY

‘20/20’ CO-ANCHOR DAVID MUIR INVESTIGATES HOW CUTTING-EDGE FORENSIC DNA TECHNOLOGY HAS LED TO LONG-AWAITED JUSTICE IN TWO MURDER CASES THAT REMAINED UNSOLVED FOR DECADES

‘20/20’ UNPACKS HOW THE MURDER OF A BELOVED MOTHER IN A NEW JERSEY SUBURB SPARKED AN INTERNATIONAL CHASE

‘20/20’ EXPLORES THE CASE OF A TEXAS BORDER PATROL AGENT WHO WAS UNMASKED AS THE VERY SERIAL KILLER HE WAS PRETENDING TO HUNT

‘20/20’ EXPLORES FRIENDSHIP TURNED FATAL IN A SHOCKING MURDER OF A WELL-KNOWN ARKANSAS POLITICIAN AND BUSINESSWOMAN

WHEN A WOMAN IS FOUND MURDERED, HER KILLER’S WRITTEN CONFESSION GIVES INSIGHT INTO THE MIND AND MOTIVES OF A MURDERER

A RUNAWAY CASE OR FOUL PLAY? ‘20/20’ EXPLORES THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF ALISSA TURNEY

‘20/20’ INVESTIGATES A MYSTERIOUS BRUTAL MURDER AND THE BIZARRE HOME RENOVATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOTIVE

‘20/20’ INVESTIGATES A YOUNG WOMAN’S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE AND THE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE OPERATION THAT LED POLICE TO A BARN FULL OF DARK SECRETS

STAR CYCLIST GUNNED DOWN BY FRIEND’S JEALOUS GIRLFRIEND — ‘20/20’ REPORTS ON THE MURDER, INTERNATIONAL CHASE AND TRIAL

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