The Cross-Examination Podcast

Episode 8: The Cold Case of Terrie Ladwig

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In this compelling episode of Cross-Examination, hosts Ted Asregadoo and Brian Feinberg dive deep into one of Contra Costa County's most significant cold case breakthroughs: the 1994 murder of 28-year-old Terrie Ladwig in Concord, California.

Terrie, a transgender woman whose birth name was Larry Earl Thompson, was brutally murdered on December 2, 1994. For nearly three decades, her case remained unsolved—until advances in DNA technology and the dedication of law enforcement finally brought her killer to justice.

Featured Guests:

  • Deputy District Attorney Satish Jallepalli - The prosecutor who successfully tried the case and secured justice for Terrie
  • Sergeant James Cartwright - Concord Police Department investigator who worked tirelessly on the case that led to the arrest of suspect James Grimsley
  • Paul Holes - Former Contra Costa Sheriff's Office cold case investigator, bestselling author of "Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases," and renowned podcaster. Paul's groundbreaking work with DNA evidence was instrumental in solving the Golden State Killer case, and he was involved in the early forensic work on Terrie's case

    • What You'll Learn:

    • How investigators approach a fresh homicide scene and what evidence they prioritize
    • The evolution of DNA technology from 1994 to today and how it cracked this cold case
    • The legal challenges prosecutors face when building a case decades after the original crime
    • How evidence preservation techniques from the 1990s made modern DNA analysis possible
    • The investigative process that identified James Grimsley as the suspect
    • Details about the night of the murder, including Terrie's final phone call to her husband

      • This episode provides a fascinating glimpse into how cold case units operate, the importance of meticulous evidence preservation, and how modern forensic science can ultimately deliver justice for victims and their families, even after decades have passed.

      Paul Holes' podcasts: Buried Bones, and Small Town Dicks. 

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      The Cross-Examination PodcastBy Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
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