Blood and Water: Eugene

Summary

20/20: Blood and Water – "Eugene"

Date: May 27, 2026
Host: Stephanie Ramos (ABC News)

---

Episode Overview

This episode of “Blood and Water” focuses on Eugene Glegor—his complicated past, his relationship with Lauren Preer, and the investigative journey that led to his identification as the killer of Leslie Preer, Lauren's mother, more than two decades after the murder. The episode provides an in-depth look at Eugene’s background, the evidence that implicated him, and the emotional impact on the Preer family and friends as the cold case unravels.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Lauren Preer's Chance Encounter with Eugene

• [01:08–02:29] Lauren Preer recounts an unexpected run-in with her ex-boyfriend Eugene Glegor at a D.C. restaurant, years after they’d amicably broken up and before new evidence emerged in her mother’s case.
  • “He just came up and was like, hi. I was like, hey, I haven’t seen you in so long. Looked me right in the eyes.” – Lauren Preer [01:52]
  • They hugged and parted ways; Lauren gave the meeting little thought at the time.

2. Remembering High School, Love, and Leslie Preer

• [03:57–06:12] Lauren, old friends, and detectives recall the deep bond between teenage Lauren and Eugene. The group reminisces about prom night and the welcoming atmosphere at Lauren’s family home, especially due to Leslie Preer.
  • “He was very charismatic. He was a ladies man. All the girls loved him, but I got him... I mean, I loved him back then. I really did.” – Lauren Preer [05:57]

3. Lauren and Eugene’s Relationship Dynamics

• [06:12–08:15] The couple remained close through high school, with Eugene integrating into Lauren’s family life deeply—Lauren’s mom adored him and welcomed him even when Lauren wasn’t home.
• Their eventual breakup was mutual and drama-free.
  • “We just had a talk and... mutual breakup. We were kids.” – Lauren Preer [08:44]

4. Suspicion Rises: Eugene’s Absence After the Murder

• [09:28–11:41] Friends and detectives found it odd and troubling that Eugene skipped Leslie Preer’s funeral, especially as his family attended.
  • “I remember asking Lauren specifically... where is Eugene? And her saying to me it was too much for him to handle. ... That’s the most selfish thing I’ve ever heard.” – Bryce Thomas [10:01]
• After the murder, Eugene abruptly left the area, taking a spontaneous trip cross-country to Oregon, which caught friends (and later, detectives) by surprise.
  • “He had been pulled over by police in a state in the middle of the country... He took a spur of the moment trip to Oregon... caught the friend by surprise.” – Detective Tara Augustin [11:10]

5. Eugene’s Life After High School

• [13:40–16:09] Eugene’s adult life appeared successful at first glance—food service industry in NYC, later work at a tech startup in D.C., two marriages/divorces.
• Former co-worker Jordan Wires describes Eugene as outgoing, charismatic, and a self-help enthusiast.
  • “He was a very bubbly, friendly, gregarious person... a classic salesperson.” – Jordan Wires [14:06]
  • Shared advice based on “The Four Agreements” and spoke openly about impulse control and self-actualization.

6. A Darker Side Emerges

• [18:50–22:27] As detectives dig deeper, troubling aspects of Eugene’s character come to light, especially connected to his substance abuse and volatile behavior.
• His second ex-wife filed (unsuccessful) petitions for protection after incidents of verbal and emotional abuse, threats, property damage, and fear for her safety.
  • “He throws objects, punches walls, and I fear for my safety when he has these outbursts.” – Ex-wife’s statement from the petition [20:56]
• Both ex-wives described a “Jekyll and Hyde” personality, particularly when he drank.

7. The DNA Breakthrough

• [22:51–26:12] The pivotal segment details how detectives, using genetic genealogy, zeroed in on the Glegor family and, finally, on Eugene. To confirm Eugene’s involvement, they orchestrated a covert DNA collection operation at Dulles airport.
  • “We wanted to try to do it in the safest way possible... have some officers follow him and try to obtain a discarded DNA sample.” – Detective Tara Augustin [23:37]
• Eugene’s water bottle, left in a customs interview room, yielded DNA that matched the crime scene sample.
• This forensic confirmation was a massive relief and vindication for the investigative team.
  • “It’s always a huge sense of satisfaction when you can finally say, oh, we solved it. We know who did it.” – Detective Tara Augustin [26:12]

8. Closure—But Not for Everyone

• [26:19–27:08] The discovery brought long-awaited answers for the Preer family, including clearing the name of Lauren’s father, once considered a suspect.
  • “Being able to give that answer to the entire family... and to clear her dad’s name is huge. It was just really satisfying on multiple levels.” – Detective Tara Augustin [26:53]
• The episode concludes with a lead-in to the next chapter: Eugene, now in custody, finally being confronted face-to-face with investigators.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He just became part of the group. We just became a crew. It was us. It’s like us against the world.” – Lauren Preer [05:40]
• “He would put one persona out there and try to make himself look like one type of person. But behind closed doors, he was a different person.” – Detective Tara Augustin [02:51]
• “A person who thinks they’ve gotten away with a crime for 20, 40 years... they know why [police ask for DNA]. Because they killed someone. And then it turns into a bad situation sometimes.” – Detective Tara Augustin [23:37]
• “We obtained the sample on a [Monday]. And by Friday, we had a report saying that it was a match.” – Detective Tara Augustin [25:48]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:08 — Lauren’s chance encounter with Eugene
• 03:57 — Prom night memories; Eugene’s closeness with the Preer family
• 09:28 — Leslie Preer’s funeral and Eugene’s conspicuous absence
• 11:10 — Eugene’s spontaneous cross-country trip after the murder
• 13:40 — Eugene’s adult life and impressions from work colleagues
• 19:31 — Discovery of Eugene’s history of emotional and physical abuse
• 22:51 — Obtaining Eugene’s DNA and the genealogical breakthrough
• 25:48 — DNA match and the resolution of the case

---

Episode Flow and Tone

The episode blends emotional recollection with methodical investigative narrative. The tone alternates between nostalgic sincerity when friends and family remember the past, and journalistic rigor as cold case detectives reconstruct the path to justice. There is a subtle undercurrent of relief and closure juxtaposed with the tension of long-held suspicions finally being resolved.

---

Summary

“Eugene” peels back the layers of a decades-old cold case through personal memories, careful detective work, and the marvels of forensic science. The episode spotlights the complexities of relationships, the haunting nature of unanswered questions, and the relentless pursuit of truth—culminating in the conviction of a killer who thought he’d escaped justice.

---

Next: The investigators finally confront Eugene in custody—an interrogation years in the making.

Transcript

[Stephanie Ramos]

This is Debra Roberts here with another weekly episode of our latest true crime series, Blood and Water. Remember, you can get new episodes early by following Blood and Water on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you're listening right now. Here's the next episode of Blood and Water. You survived the Miami weekend, nailed the speech, and maxed out your credit card in the name of friendship. Now you've got one hangover, four pastel dresses, and zero reasons to wear them again. Sell them on Depop. Just snap a few photos and we'll take care of the rest. And you at least get some of your dignity money back. Someone on Depop wants what you've got. Start selling now, Depop. Where taste recognizes taste. The Montgomery County Cold Case Unit began re examining Leslie Preard's murder in 2022. It was around this time that Lauren Preer, now in her 40s, ran into an old flame at a restaurant in D.C.

[Lauren Preer]

there is some type of not like a party, but just a gathering. And Eugene was there.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Eugene Glegor, her high school boyfriend. The two had split up amicably some 25 years earlier. Since when?

[Lauren Preer]

Probably like three years ago. It wasn't that long ago, let me put it that way.

[Stephanie Ramos]

This chance encounter was before detectives had the breakthrough we discussed in the last episode, before genetic genealogy led police to a blog written in Romanian containing a family's history and the name Gligor. What was he like? Did he say anything to you? What was his demeanor?

[Lauren Preer]

He just came up and he was like, hi. I was like, hey, I haven't seen you in so long. Looked me right in the eyes.

[Stephanie Ramos]

The conversation, Lauren says, was perfectly civil. A brief catching up between two 40 somethings who'd known each other a lifetime ago.

[Lauren Preer]

And I was like, how have you been? He was like, I got married again. I said, well, that's great. You know, just casual conversation. And it wasn't a big deal. I didn't think anything of it. We hugged like, good to see you. Bye.

[Stephanie Ramos]

This would not be the last time Lauren Preer would see Eugene Clegor. And the next time would be under vastly different circumstances. Because not long after this chance run in, detectives set their focus on Eugene Glegor.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

He would put one Persona out there and try to make himself look like one type of person. But behind closed doors, he was a different person.

[Stephanie Ramos]

So who was Eugene Glegor? And did he kill Leslie Prier? From abc audio in 2020. I'm stephanie ramos and this is blood and water, episode five, eugene. As I mentioned, Eugene Gligor and Lauren Prier broke up a few years prior to Leslie's murder. Before the breakup, the two were inseparable. They were part of a close knit friend group. Lauren and her high school friends still remember those times fondly, including one particular night in the spring of 1995. So here you are. This is the night of prom.

[Lauren Preer]

Correct. And that's Bryce.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Bryce Thomas, one of Lauren's friends from high school.

[Bryce Thomas]

Yeah, this was the night of prom. Class of 95, you know, gathered at Lauren's house. Kind of couple of the parents were out front taking pictures.

[Stephanie Ramos]

The photo shows three young couples. The boys are dapper, if a little awkward in what might be rented tuxedos. The girls look pure 90s with spaghetti strap mini dresses and face framing curls. Lauren remembers Leslie playing cool mom that night.

[Lauren Preer]

My mom had got us, which she shouldn't have done, but she did gotten us a thing of wine coolers. So we were having fun even though we were obviously under 21.

[Bryce Thomas]

I remember just getting a limousine after then and dancing more than I've ever danced in my life.

[Stephanie Ramos]

The song atop the Billboard charts for seven weeks that spring was Montel Jordan's this is how we do It. So yeah, lots of dancing.

[Lauren Preer]

We had fun. We stayed up all night. It was a beautiful evening. We had a blast. That was our prom night. And that's my best friend Lisa. That's me, that's Eugene.

[Bryce Thomas]

There were couples and then there was Eugene and Lauren type of couple. And they were together always.

[Stephanie Ramos]

The two began dating in Lauren's junior year. After that, Bryce says they started seeing each other all the time.

[Bryce Thomas]

It was always, let's go hang out. It was Eugene and Lauren, not just Eugene. It wasn't hanging out with Lauren. It was let's go hang out with Eugene and Lauren.

[Lauren Preer]

He just became part of the group. We just became a crew. It was us. It's like us against the world.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Friends remember Eugene as a talker, a conversationalist, good with girls and good with parents.

[Lauren Preer]

He was very charismatic. He was a ladies man. All the girls loved him, but I got him. So we just became a thing. I mean, I loved him back then. I really did.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Another friend, Lisa Wood, saw this young love up close.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

I would say the relationship between Eugene and Lauren was as serious as one could be for high school.

[Stephanie Ramos]

The couple stayed together even after Lauren left for college.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

I know for her it was, you know, it felt very special. And she loved him. They were in a long term committed relationship for years. Lauren's parents, her mom in particular, was definitely Very welcoming of Eugene.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Lauren says Eugene even joined the Pre ers on a couple of family vacations.

[Lauren Preer]

My mom was just open door, you know, she loved him, she adored him. And he come to my parents house and I wasn't even home yet.

[Stephanie Ramos]

So he would be there at the house sometimes kind of waiting for you to come home. So he'd be there with your parents just hanging out?

[Lauren Preer]

Absolutely.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Without you there.

[Lauren Preer]

Correct.

[Stephanie Ramos]

So they had their own relationship. I'm sure they had their own conversations. Your mom would engage, right?

[Lauren Preer]

I'm sure my dad was part of that. But my mom and Eugene, my dad was like, I'm gonna go watch sports or something.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Like we said in our last episode, Sandy prearranged, never liked Eugene. Whether that paternal instinct was justified or not, it was true that Lauren and some of her friends were no strangers to some light mischief. Bryce remembers smoking cigarettes with Eugene after school and spending time at his place.

[Bryce Thomas]

His house was very, very nice. Big backyard with concealed in with bushes around the back. So easy to hide from the parents. We would probably end up, we would cut class together eventually and go hang out at his house and play video games the afternoon.

[Stephanie Ramos]

You guys were rebels. I mean smoking cigarettes, cutting class.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Yeah.

[Bryce Thomas]

Let's just say we were a little bit more resourceful than a lot of other kids at that early age.

[Stephanie Ramos]

But some teenaged mischief aside, Bryce was clear about who Eugene was.

[Bryce Thomas]

He would have been the last person to jump in if like we got a scuffle with any guys from like a different school and like there was any kind of altercation, he would be one of the last people you want to have your back.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Not really a fighter.

[Bryce Thomas]

No, not a fighter at all.

[Stephanie Ramos]

And by all accounts, Eugene and Lauren's breakup after four years or so together was amicable.

[Lauren Preer]

We just had a talk and we both kind of agreed, like we just had a mutual breakup. We were she were kids.

[Stephanie Ramos]

The two went their separate ways. Their lives went on. And then Lauren lost her mom. By the time Leslie Prier was murdered, Lauren and Eugene had been broken up for about three years. For all intents and purposes, Eugene was out of the prayers lives and had been for years. But as cold case detectives looked into Eugene Glegor's history, one date in particular stood out. May 11, 2001, the day of Leslie Preer's funeral.

[Lauren Preer]

I remember this church service and my dad and I were obviously sitting together and we sang Beatles songs.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Lauren and her dad were surrounded by loved ones that day.

[Bryce Thomas]

Just the amount of people there, the amount of friends from high school it was very well attended. Very well attended.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Lauren's friend Bryce was there, along with droves of others. Friends, family, acquaintances, all there to pay their respects. But Bryce noticed one person was missing from the church.

[Bryce Thomas]

I remember asking Lauren specifically. I was like, where is Eugene? And her saying to me that it was too much for him to handle. And I just remember being so upset, just being. I can't believe that he would make this about him. That's the most selfish thing I've ever heard. It just rubbed me so wrong. I was like, where the hell is Eugene?

[Stephanie Ramos]

Sure, Eugene and Lauren had broken up a few years earlier, but other members of the Glegor family did attend the funeral. Eugene's parents and brother were there. Two decades later, when Cold Case detectives were looking into Eugene, his absence on this day was suspicious. Detective Tara Augustin.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

His mom and dad and brother went to the funeral, felt compelled because their families had this close relationship at one point. But yet Eugene decided he didn't want to go. It made no sense.

[Stephanie Ramos]

So where had Eugene been just a

[Detective Tara Augustin]

few days after the murder? He had been pulled over by police in a state in the middle of the country. And later on, after talking to some of his friends, we realized that he took a spur of the moment trip to Oregon, all the way across the country to visit a friend that had moved there. And he called him while he was on the way and said, oh, I'm in Iowa. I'll be there in however many hours. And caught the friend by surprise.

[Stephanie Ramos]

So he took off right after the murder. He was on the road, headed west.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Yep.

[Stephanie Ramos]

It was a troubling detail. And there would be others. Authorities scrutinized what Eugene Glegor had been up to in the years after Leslie Preer's death. What kind of man had he become? And what exactly was he capable of? No. Oh, no. Welcome to Get Real. I got Something to say. A weekly talk show for the reality TV obsessed. Oh, my God. It's gotta be deliciously desperate. Why do these girls forgive him?

[Jordan Wires]

Well, she has a soft spot for troubled men. Boo.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Bloody this is your show. Find Get Real.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Wherever you get your podcasts, Love Runs

[Stephanie Ramos]

Deeper than we Know. And stream new episodes that Thursdays on Hulu and Hulu on Disney. Day or night. VRBO Care is here 247 to help make every part of your stay seamless. If anything comes up or you simply need a little guidance, support is ready whenever you reach out. From the moment you book to the moment you head home. We're here to help things run smoothly because A great trip starts with the right support. And hey, a good playlist doesn't hurt either.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

When it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want, like all the way. Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha chings from every channel right in one spot. And turn real time reporting into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today.

[Stephanie Ramos]

In the years after high school, Eugene Glegor worked in the food service industry in New York City. At one point he was a maitre d at a Michelin starred restaurant. He reportedly hosted super bowl parties and joined fantasy football leagues. He was married twice, divorced Twice, and by 2018 he was back living around Washington D.C. where he working at a tech startup.

[Jordan Wires]

My first impression of Eugene was that he was a very bubbly, friendly, gregarious person. You know, a classic salesperson.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Jordan Wires had just begun working at the same startup as Eugene.

[Jordan Wires]

People liked him a lot. Everyone's like, oh, you know, that's Eugene. He was like a salesy kind of guy. So I think probably that turned some people off of like okay, well you know, he's a fast talker and that kind of a thing in the way that like a lot of salespeople will turn people off, you know.

[Stephanie Ramos]

But Jordan liked Eugene.

[Jordan Wires]

You know, my boss at the time set up some time with him, just say, you know, talk to Eugene about what he does and his job. And I just remember leaving the meeting with good vibes and like, I mean I was a young employee navigating how to be a professional. You know, I went to him for advice all the time.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Their office had a workplace mentorship program and Eugene became Jordan's mentor. Over countless trips to a Starbucks near their office, Jordan's mentor doled out what seemed like hard earned wisdom.

[Jordan Wires]

I didn't probe too much into his background. Everybody knew it was open knowledge that he didn't drink, he was a recovering alcoholic. He had clearly been to AA and internalized a lot of self help best practices, so to speak.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Jordan described Eugene as having a certain Zen quality. Jordan says that at one point Eugene gave him a gift. It was a copy of the self help classic the Four Agreements, A practical guide to personal freedom.

[Jordan Wires]

Can I remember the Four Agreements right now? No. Some of the things I remember are you need to agree to not take anything personally. How other people interact with you and go through the world is not a reflection of you. It's a reflection of them.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Jordan says Eugene talked about concepts like self actualization and the importance of impulse control.

[Jordan Wires]

I remember distinctly having lunch with him and him telling me, you know, having control over your thoughts and being able to see them as they come in and not just impulsively react to them is, you know, the first step toward being able to have control over your life. He was clearly a guy who had done some readings, some self help books, who had like, I assumed, been to therapy. Maybe a little woo woo. Not in the sense of like, you know, he was into like mysticism or anything, but like he just wasn't afraid to have conversations about difficult topics. Egos, setting your ego aside about things. I mean, he really taught me a lot. He did.

[Stephanie Ramos]

But a few years later, as detectives continued their investigation, they found more details that suggested Eugene might not always have been as Zen as he seemed.

[Lauren Preer]

This podcast is brought to you by Carvana. Selling your car should feel like one less thing on your list. Not one more. With Carvana, it is just go to Carvana.com Enter your license plate or VIN and get a real offer. Down to the penny. No back and forth, no surprises. Just an experience you can trust. Like your offer. Accept it. Schedule pickup and we'll come to you with a check in hand. Your car, your timeline, your terms. Visit Carvana.com to sell your car today. Car pickup fees may apply.

[ZipRecruiter Advertiser]

Finding great candidates to hire can be like, well, trying to find a needle in a haystack. Sure, you can post your job to some job board, but then all you can do is hope the right person comes along. Which is why you should try ZipRecruiter for free at ZipRecruiter.com Zip ZipRecruiter doesn't depend on candidates finding you. It finds them for you. It's powerful technology identifies people with the right experience and actively invites them to apply to your job. You get qualified candidates fast. So while other companies might deliver a lot of hay, ZipRecruiter finds you what you're looking for. The needle in the Haystack.

[Stephanie Ramos]

See why 4 out of 5 employers who post a job on ZipRecruiter get

[ZipRecruiter Advertiser]

a quality candidate within the first day.

[Stephanie Ramos]

ZipRecruiter the smartest way to hire. And right now you can try ZipRecruiter for free.

[ZipRecruiter Advertiser]

That's right, free at ZipRecruiter.com Zip that ZipRecruiter.com Zip ZipRecruiter.com Zip this episode is

[Stephanie Ramos]

brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates from multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy. Cold case detectives Tara Augustin and Allison Dupois had their big breakthrough in June 2024. That was when genetic genealogy led them to the name Gleegore. As they looked into Eugene, they found hints of a volatile past.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

So this is a petition for a protective order. And this was from his second wife after they got divorced.

[Stephanie Ramos]

The petition was one of the documents laid out on a table during my interview with detectives last summer. It was filed in Maryland Court in 2021.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

There's a lot of details in here about the verbal and emotional abuse.

[Stephanie Ramos]

So she was frightened? Yeah.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Yeah, she was.

[Stephanie Ramos]

She was afraid of something. She thought. Thought he might go after her. Detectives Augustine and dupois would interview the woman who filed this petition.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

I felt scared when I went to do the protective order. It was actually because he had threatened my boyfriend at the time.

[Stephanie Ramos]

In the petition, she said Eugene came into her home unannounced, the home they used to share, to collect his belongings.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

He had moved out, and he showed up. He was supposed to let me know and get my approval before coming over. And he just came in, and it was very scary. And I ended up calling the police, and I ended up leaving that house that night. I did not stay there again because I was afraid of him. Yeah, probably the only time that I was like, oh, my God, like, this is really scary.

[Stephanie Ramos]

She wrote in the petition, eugene is an addict and has two guns. His behavior has been erratic and scary for a couple of years. Off and on, Eugene repeatedly calls me a and yells into my face. He throws objects, punches walls, and I fear for my safety when he has these outbursts. I am seeking protection from this verbal abuse and escalation. The petition was ultimately denied by the court, which said there were, quote, no reasonable grounds to believe that abuse as defined in the statute occurred. Detectives also spoke with Glegor's other ex wife. She said Glegor could be a different person when he drank.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Was he, like, a danger to himself? Like, saying he would, like, harm himself or just being impulsive, going out, drinking and driving or what kind of stuff? Second ladder. Okay, okay. He definitely started taking two different directions where my crutch was making celery juice

[Stephanie Ramos]

and his was hiding a bottle under,

[Detective Tara Augustin]

you know, kitchen counter while working kind of thing. But he did a really Good job of, I guess, Jekyll in hiding. I don't know what you want to call that. It got to a point with both of them that they ended up getting divorced because of his substance abuse issues.

[Stephanie Ramos]

For detectives, an image of Eugene Glegor was coming into focus.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Seeing that one of his ex wives had filed for a petition for a protection order immediately, that kind of put red flags in my mind because I'm like, okay, well, that's because of either a threat of violence or a fear of violence.

[Stephanie Ramos]

When detectives suspected that Glegor might have killed Leslie Preer, they still needed more evidence. Remember, at this point, the detectives have the crime scene DNA from an unknown male. They had used genetic genealogy to find possible relatives of whoever's DNA that was. That process led them to the name Glegor. What detectives did not have was Eugene Glegor's DNA. Without that, they couldn't be sure that his DNA matched what was at the scene. But as Detective Augustin points out, getting a suspect's DNA is no easy task. It can quickly go sideways in similar

[Detective Tara Augustin]

cases to this when a suspect has been identified. There have been a couple of times where it hasn't worked out well, where a person who thinks they've gotten away with a crime for 20, 40 years, the police are coming to finally ask them for their DNA. They know why. Because they killed someone. And then it turns into a bad situation sometimes. So we wanted to try to do it in the safest way possible before we confronted Eugene with any of the evidence. So we decided that we were going to have some officers follow him and try to obtain a discarded DNA sample.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Toothbrushes, discarded chewing gum, flicked cigarette butts. Police have surreptitiously recovered DNA from all these objects and used them to crack cold cases. Detectives Augustine and Dupois decided to do something similar to obtain a sample of Eugene Gligor's DNA.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Doing our research, I realized that he was a frequent traveler, and we got information that he was actually overseas and that he would be returning to the United States on a certain date. And we had the flight information.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Detectives learned that Glegor would be flying into Dulles Airport in Virginia.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

I relayed that information to our officers, and they decided, okay, well, we'll pick up on him at the airport and see if we can get him getting rid of anything.

[Stephanie Ramos]

According to court documents, when Gligor arrived at customs and he was pulled out of line by customs and border patrol officers, they took his passport and escorted him to an interview room. The room was mostly bare There was a couch and a coffee table stocked with snacks and miniature bottles of water. Glegor sat on the couch while a CBP officer interviewed him. At some point, Glegor drank one of those bottles of water and left it on the coffee table. Sometime after that, the officers let Glegor leave. He disappeared among the throngs of anonymous travelers, seemingly unaware that Montgomery county police had collected a potentially key piece of evidence.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

They were able to obtain a discarded water bottle, and we collected that, submitted it to the lab. We obtained the sample on a. And by Friday, we had a report saying that it was a match.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Finally, after more than two decades, you finally have a DNA match.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Yeah.

[Stephanie Ramos]

What was that like?

[Detective Tara Augustin]

I mean, it's always a huge sense of satisfaction when you can finally say, oh, we solved it. We know who did it.

[Stephanie Ramos]

For detectives, there was no longer any doubt Eugene Glegor had killed Leslie Preyer. The DNA proved it. The news spread to the county prosecutor's office. State's Attorney John McCarthy, the lead prosecutor,

[Bryce Thomas]

she literally was jumping up and down, my God, we got a hit on this case. If you put two years of your life as an investigator and as a prosecutor into building probable cause for an arrest, it's a pretty joyful moment to realize you've got your guy.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Being able to give that answer to the entire family, to Lauren, and to clear her dad's name is huge. It was just really satisfying on multiple levels.

[Stephanie Ramos]

But before Detective Augustin could share the news with Lauren and with the world, there was one more thing to do. With Eugene Glegor in custody, detectives finally have the opportunity to talk to him face to face and confront him with what they had found.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

Hygiene.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Hello. It's interrogation unlike any other. Blood and water is a production of abc audio in 2020, hosted by me, stephanie ramos. Produced by madeline wood, shane mckeon and kiara powell, with help from emily schutz and caitlin schiffer. Edited by gianna palmer. Our supervising producer is susie lu. Music by evan viola. Mixing and mastering by bob mallory. Scoring by kiara powell. Special thanks to katie dendoz, janis johnston, sean dooley, chris donovan, camille peterson, christina corbin, gail deutch, amanda carr, ellie joestad, ng adam and michelle margulis. Josh cohan is our director of podcast programming. Eamonn mcniff is our executive producer.

[Jordan Wires]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with

[Stephanie Ramos]

a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway.

[Jordan Wires]

Give it a try at mintmobile.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Com. Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.

[Detective Tara Augustin]

See full terms at mintmobile.

[Stephanie Ramos]

Com.