In this Season 6 opener, you’ll hear the jaw-dropping, twisty case of Barbara Carr Villarreal.  Barbara was stabbed to death in her Garland, TX home in 1986. Her husband was also attacked in the home invasion.  But stories and evidence did not match up, and police were left chasing their tails, and chasing their prime suspect who was in the wind. Nothing in this case was as it seemed to be, and justice for Barbara seemed unattainable.  Modern investigators had to solve an identity theft case to find the true name of the person they believed was behind Barbara’s murder, and then had to use kinship testing to finally name her murderer.

Our guest today is Julia Cowley, who retired from the FBI after 22 years at the agency.  She has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Oregon and a master's degree in forensic science from The George Washington University.  Before joining the FBI, Julia was a Special Agent/Forensic Scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.  When she joined the federal agency, Julia was first posted to the Boston Division. She was also a member and team leader on the Boston Division's Evidence Response Team. Julia then joined the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, and was also assigned to the Evidence Response Team Unit. In her career as an FBI special agent, Julia investigated serial killings and sex offenses, white-collar crime, public corruption, and civil rights. She is certified in Behavioral Analysis by the FBI and was the lead FBI profiler on the Golden State Killer case.  She now hosts the hit podcast "The Consult."

In 1996, Danielle “Danni” Houchins was an outdoorsy 15 year old growing up in Belgrade MT. The new driver went for a solo hike at her favorite recreation area outside town, the West Cameron Bridge fishing access site, on a fall Saturday.  She did not come home. Searchers found her body face down in inches of swampy water.  The ME, coroner and sheriff ruled her death a drowning.  But the manner of death was labeled undetermined… even though injuries to Danni’s person, and forensic evidence, said otherwise.  And thus began the nearly 30 year quest for justice for Danni.  Thanks to a committed new sheriff, a dogged old-school investigator, Danni’s family, and the miracles of modern science, the beloved teen finally got the recognition she deserved, and a form of justice that everyone could live with – except her killer.