20/20 True Crime Vault: Cold to the Touch

Podcast: 20/20
Host: ABC News
Original Air Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of 20/20’s “True Crime Vault” investigates the mysterious and ultimately murderous death of Christy Harris, a young Michigan mother who died unexpectedly in 2014. Initially ruled an accidental heroin overdose, her family's tenacious insistence and the discovery of frozen breast milk would expose a chilling tale of betrayal, premeditation, and the pursuit of justice. Through interviews, never-before-shared evidence, and gripping testimony, the episode reveals how tiny clues and relentless familial love cracked a case many assumed closed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Shocking Discovery in Small-Town Michigan

• The tragedy unfolded in Davison, MI, a town "where people know each other. Nobody would have expected it here." (A, 03:05)
• Christy Harris was found cold and unresponsive in bed by neighbor Sheila Coop after her husband Jason Harris texted her, claiming Christy had overslept (A, 05:05).
• Immediate impressions, even from law enforcement, suggested a peaceful death with no evidence of struggle or obvious drug use.

2. An Unthinkable Cause of Death

• Christy, a vibrant, outgoing woman and devoted young mother, died just four months after giving birth (13:00).
• The autopsy ruled her death a heroin overdose, stating it was “inferred it was eaten” since no needle marks or other usage signs were found (21:45).
• “I have never, in all my years of doing things in law, heard of someone eating heroin,” commented the assistant prosecutor (A, 23:10).

3. Family Suspicion, Marital Troubles, and Hidden Motives

• Christy’s family and friends were adamant: there was “no way in the world did Christy do this” (25:10).
• Evidence mounted that Jason was unfaithful, texting multiple women—sometimes even during Christy's C-section (29:15).
• Jason’s brother, Jeff, revealed Jason had previously asked him to buy a secret plane ticket to meet another woman, saying, “He couldn't get a divorce…He didn’t want to pay child support again” (A, 39:18).
• Notably, Jason told his sister, Rachel, he saw murder as his only solution—a conversation Rachel would later claim she forgot.

Notable Quote:

"I could not wrap my head around a reason for her to not wake up."
— Kathy Mays, Christy’s mother (09:30)

4. Jason Prospers—But Doubts Grow

• After Christy's death, Jason quickly cashed in on a $100,000 life insurance policy, bought a home, vehicles, and started anew (44:45).
• He integrated into the community and “was moving on with his life without a pause” (A, 46:10).
• Friends, family—and even Jason’s own brother—suspected foul play.

5. The Crucial Mistakes and the Power of Persistence

• The Harris family’s persistence proved vital. Despite little attention from initial investigators and scant evidence collection at the scene, they methodically kept records and pressed authorities for years (01:12:30).
• Jason’s laptop, given to Christy’s father under the guise of needing repair, contained a photo of Jason with drug paraphernalia (A, 01:06:35).

Notable Quote:

“If he had remained silent, I think this would have been very difficult to prove.”
— Prosecutor (01:52:07)

6. The Breast Milk Breakthrough

• Christy was pumping breast milk during her maternity leave, and her family had dozens of frozen, dated samples (01:35:05).
• Lab analysis revealed “absolutely clear of any drugs. There was no heroin within her breast milk.” (A, 01:40:45)
• This critical clue proved Christy was not a heroin user, undercutting Jason’s defense.

Notable Quote:

“The breast milk vindicates her… we were able to flip the script."
— Prosecutor (01:41:20)

7. Unusual Legal Tactics: Civil Before Criminal

• The family filed a civil wrongful death suit to force Jason to testify under oath, as “Jason Harris had to be deposed. This was the first time that Jason Harris had faced any scrutiny” (01:22:55).
• In deposition, his story around the night of Christy’s death shifted; he struggled to explain a photo of him with drug paraphernalia, saying it was to “show my daughter how not to do drugs” (01:29:00).

8. Case Reopened, Homicide Declared

• The state medical examiner, after finally considering the full context, changed the cause of death from accidental overdose to homicide (01:44:25).
• With the original ruling overturned, the case intensified: “Once the forensic pathologist changed his opinion, we started a much more aggressive investigation.” (A, 01:45:30)

9. The Arrest and the Trial

• Jason was arrested at work, “read his Miranda rights,” and “there was no emotion—almost like he knew this was coming” (01:48:00).
• The trial relied heavily on motive, witness testimony, and the breast milk evidence. The defense argued accidental overdose, but the forensic findings undermined that.

10. Verdict and Reflections

• On November 17, 2021, the jury found Jason Harris guilty on all counts: homicide, solicitation of murder, and delivery of a controlled substance causing death (01:57:00).
• He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Notable Quote:

“You are a murderer, and you are alive… The breast milk was huge. I don’t think I could have gotten a guilty verdict without the breast milk.”
— Prosecutor’s closing remarks (02:00:50)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the power of persistence:
  “If it wasn’t for Kathy Mays’ relentless pursuit of justice, I don’t know that we would have ever paid enough attention to this case...” (02:02:20)
• On justice and trauma:
  “The thought of this happening and then the world being okay with it was so traumatizing. I actually started getting sick from the stress…” (01:17:45)
• On the family’s unwavering effort:
  “We were raised by a strong, vocal mother who taught us to stand for what we believe in…” (01:20:00)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–05:30 | Discovery of Christy Harris’s body and immediate aftermath | | 13:00–22:00 | Autopsy results, initial determination of heroin overdose | | 25:00–44:00 | Family suspicions, Jason’s infidelities, siblings’ testimonies | | 56:00–01:13:00 | Jason’s lifestyle after Christy’s death, ongoing family push | | 01:15:00–01:32:00 | Family seeks legal recourse, wrongful death civil suit | | 01:35:00–01:43:00 | Breast milk discovery and groundbreaking toxicology testing | | 01:45:00–01:49:00 | Arrest and charging of Jason Harris | | 01:53:00–02:00:00 | Trial, defense tactics, & the jury verdict | | 02:02:00–02:05:00 | Reflections on justice and the family’s resilience |

Episode Takeaways: Why This Case Matters

• Relentless family advocacy can be as critical as forensics in solving a “perfect crime.”
• Small details—like a frozen bag of breast milk—can shift the course of justice decades later.
• Premeditation goes beyond physical evidence; digital footprints, financial moves, and even idle threats can become key testimony.
• The courage to pursue the truth, even at great personal risk or discomfort, is often the difference between justice served and a perfect crime left unsolved.

In the words of Christy’s family:

“Our goal is just keep her alive so that [her girls] can be proud of their mom.” (02:03:00)

Listen to 20/20 True Crime Vault weekly for more cases where dedication and detail make all the difference.