Cold Justice

When Melissa Howard was found dead in her Crestview, FL home on January 6th, 2006, the case left investigators stumped. There was no shortage of possible suspects with motive to kill her. But there was a near total lack of physical evidence. Melissa would wait over a decade for justice, as her case proved impossible to solve until investigators used technology that wouldn’t be developed until long after her murder.

Written by Angela Jorgensen, Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. 

Support Our Sponsors: 

Fabric by Gerber Life: Protect your family today with Fabric by Gerber Life by applying at https://www.meetfabric.com/invisible

Rocket Money: Cancel unwanted subscriptions and manage your expenses the easy way by going to https://www.rocketmoney.com/invisible 

StoryWorth: Go to https://www.storyworth.com/invisible to save $10 on your first purchase!

WildGrain: Go to https://wildgrain.com/choir or use code “CHOIR” at checkout to get $30 off the first box, PLUS free Croissants in every box!  

Visit Invisible Choir on the web: 

Patreon - Invisible Choir Premium:  https://www.patreon.com/InvisibleChoir 

Website:  https://www.invisiblechoir.com/ 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/InvisibleChoirPodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisiblechoir/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InvisibleChoir

Written/Audio Sources: 

Prosecution presents case

David Russell Holbrook Murder Trial Watch Live | Law & Crime

Accused Melissa Howard killer offers an alibi

David Russell Holbrook Found Guilty in 2006 Murder of Melissa Howard

1 arrested following threat to kill girlfriend & family, another arrested for handgun: OCSO | WKRG

Holbrook guilty of murder

Alabama Man Charged in 2006 Crestview Murder Case

Okaloosa County man convicted of killing nurse requests new trial | WEAR

Suspect on trial 13 years after stabbing murder of Crestview woman | WEAR

Jury finds Okaloosa man guilty of killing Crestview nurse

Melissa Howard murder trial begins 

Melissa Lynn Soldatek Howard (1972-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial

Man charged with killing Melissa Howard was family friend

David Russell Holbrook vs State of Florida

Melissa Howard's lawyer testifies in murder trial | WEAR

Deputies: Crestview man stalks, threatens girlfriend and her family | WEAR

Crestview Area Man Faces Aggravated Stalking Charge | Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

Pensacola News Journal 08 January 2006 

Tallahassee Democrat 10 January 2006

More people are getting away with murder. Unsolved killings reach a record high

Cold Case Homicide Stats - Project

The Crisis of Cold Cases | Office of Justice Programs

Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Instructions 

Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Opening Statement 

Russell Holbrook Trial Defense Opening Statement

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 1 Victim's Daughter Keri Winkler Testifies 

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 2 Victims Daughter Keri Winkler Daniel Brethauer & Chris Cadenhead

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 3 Sherri Cadenhead William Welch & Haley Hill Testify

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 1 Part 4 CSI Haley Hill & Vaughn Porter Testify

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 1 Former Forensic Manager Amanda Julian Testifies

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 2 Dr Cameron Snider Victims Son Taylor Howard & Correna Schiltz

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 3 Tyler Schiltz Jared Jones Nicole Walden Alison Fox

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 2 Part 4 Janice Burke Testifies

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 1 Proffer of Janice Burke

Russell  Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 3 Chris Cadenhead & Jon Cook Testify

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 4 Fmr Officer James Land Holbrook Jr & Police Interview

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 3 Part 5 Inv Kenneth Pinkard & Holbrook Police Interrogation

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 1 Jenny Tomalin William Bullough Jennifer Hatler Testify

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 2 DNA Expert  Jennifer Hatler Testifies 

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 4 Part 3 DNA Expert  Jennifer Hatler Testifies 

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 1 Jennifer Hatler Sukhan Warf Testify

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 2 Sukhan Warf  Curtis Browning Testify 

Russell Holbrook Trial Day 5 Part 3 Robert Davis & Meagan Palumbo Testify

Russell Holbrook Day 6 Part 1 Agnt Meagan Palumbo Inv Dennis Haley Inv Gregory Grover Testify

Russell Holbrook Day 6 Part 2 DNA Exprt Candy Zuleger Darlene Cooper Danielle Holbrook Vicky Zapata 

Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Instructions

Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Closing Argument

Russell Holbrook Trial Defense Closing Argument

Russell Holbrook Trial Prosecution Rebuttal Closing Argument

Russell Holbrook Trial Jury Charged & Alternates Chosen

Russell Holbrook Trial Verdict Sentencing & Victim Impact

Music & Sound Effect Sources

Opening Track: “Blood Money” by Hampus Naeselius

Closing Track: “Glimmering Galaxy” by Eniede

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.