The Footprint

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Footprint" 48 Hours Host/Author: CBS News
Release Date: May 19, 2025

---

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "The Footprint," CBS News' award-winning "48 Hours" delves into the harrowing unsolved murder of Jeannie Childs in 1993 and the subsequent pursuit of justice that spanned over three decades. Hosted by Anne-Marie Green, the episode meticulously examines the intricate details of the case, the breakthroughs in forensic science, and the profound impact on those involved.

Case Background: The Murder of Jeannie Childs ([01:15])

On June 13, 1993, Jeannie Childs, a 35-year-old woman, was brutally murdered in her high-rise Minneapolis apartment. Detective recounts the discovery of the crime scene:

Detective ([01:15]): "On 13th of June 1993, I was on call as a team leader for our crime scene team... We got a sergeant requesting our assistance on the 21st floor of this high rise apartment building."

Upon entering, the scene was gruesome:

Detective ([02:15]): "When I proceeded to where the body was on the side of the bed, I could see the imprint in blood that looked like a left foot and a right foot. It's an actual bare foot. I mean, wow."

Jeannie's defensive wounds indicated a violent struggle, with over 65 stab wounds inflicted even post-mortem. Initial DNA evidence collection ultimately led to a dead end, leaving the case unsolved for years.

Initial Investigation and Cold Case ([03:38] - [09:00])

The initial investigation focused on gathering various pieces of evidence, including blood stains, blood spatters, and potential murder weapons. However, without concrete leads, the case went cold. Retired forensic scientist Bart Epstein emphasized the critical role of blood evidence in understanding the sequence of events:

Bart Epstein ([06:56]): "The blood wasn't confined to just the area where she was. The blood was on the walls, the comforter, the floor... It leads one to believe that a struggle happened, that she was fighting to save her own life."

Despite extensive efforts, including analyzing bloody footprints under Jeannie's bedroom window, the identity of the perpetrator remained elusive.

Reopening the Case: Advances in Forensic Science ([12:57] - [19:26])

In 2015, a cold case unit decided to revisit Jeannie's murder, utilizing advancements in DNA technology and genetic genealogy. Forensic scientist Andrea Faya notes the improved precision of modern techniques:

Andrea Faya ([17:03]): "Technology is so much more refined and rigorous than it was in 1993."

By uploading Jeannie's DNA profile to MyHeritage.com, investigators identified potential matches, leading to the discovery of Jerry Westrom as a prime suspect.

Identification of Suspect: Jerry Westrom ([19:26] - [22:14])

Jerry Westrom, a 52-year-old husband, father of three, and respected businessman, emerged as the main suspect through genetic genealogy. Westrom's background portrayed him as a model community member:

Friend of Westrom ([20:39]): "He and I were on a 4H trip when we were 14... He was a good friend... Very low key. Gentlemen easily can make friends with people."

Despite no prior history of violent crimes, the evidence against Westrom included his DNA presence at the crime scene and matching footprints.

Evidence Against Westrom: DNA and Footprints ([22:44] - [35:55])

The prosecution's case hinged on two primary pieces of evidence: DNA remnants and bloody footprints.

DNA Evidence:

• Westrom's DNA was found on the comforter and towel in Jeannie's bathroom, identified as semen by Andrea Faya ([29:05]).

• However, Faya clarified that the type of DNA couldn't definitively place Westrom at the time of the murder:

  Andrea Faya ([29:50]): "But she says her team couldn't determine the type of DNA that she says Westrom left on the red T-shirt, the bathroom sink, and the washcloth. You can't say definitively that his blood or any other kind of DNA was found at the scene."

Bloody Footprints:

• Seven bloody footprints were analyzed, with forensic scientist Mark Ulrich asserting four belonged to Westrom:

  Mark Ulrich ([35:05]): "E1 and E2 were identified to Mr. Jerry Westrom... B was identified to the right foot of Mr. Jerry Westrom."

• Defense expert Alicia McCarthy challenged the identification, agreeing only with the footprint labeled E2 as Westrom's.

Trial and Conviction ([35:58] - [43:52])

In August 2022, Jerry Westrom stood trial for Jeannie's murder. The prosecution presented the DNA and footprint evidence as definitive proof of his guilt. Despite Westrom's steadfast denial and a lack of clear motive, the jury convicted him of both first and second-degree murder after an eight-day trial.

Forensic Scientist ([43:41]): "The jury came back quite quickly and convicted Jerry Westrom of the top count, which was murder in the first degree. They also found him guilty of murder in the second degree."

Defense Arguments and Lingering Doubts ([43:52] - [32:10])

The defense highlighted several inconsistencies and gaps in the prosecution's case:

• Alternative suspects, including Arthur Gray and James Luther Carlton, were initially considered but ultimately ruled out by the judge due to insufficient evidence.
• The eyewitness account of a tall blond man conflicted with Westrom's appearance, leading defense attorneys to suggest potential misidentification.
• Concerns were raised about the DNA evidence, particularly the presence of other DNA profiles at the crime scene that did not match Westrom, suggesting possible involvement of additional individuals.

Wayne Triplett ([22:43]): "Definite no? Not a chance."

Verdict and Sentencing ([43:41] - [45:29])

On September 9, 2022, Jerry Westrom was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jeannie Childs. Despite the conviction, questions lingered regarding the completeness and conclusiveness of the evidence presented.

Detective ([44:23]): "We’re saying now, you've got the wrong guy. We are sorry for the loss of Jeannie Childs' life."

Remaining Questions and Additional DNA Evidence ([30:43] - [35:05])

Further examination revealed that other DNA types were present at the crime scene, including semen matching unknown individuals and blood traces linked to John S. Wein. These findings suggest the possibility of additional perpetrators or contamination, fueling ongoing skepticism about Westrom's sole culpability.

Julie Rendelman ([31:55]): "According to lab reports, there was other DNA from semen discovered on Jeannie's purple panties that does not match Westrom. Whose DNA it is remains even today, a mystery."

Conclusion: Ongoing Controversy and Search for Truth ([45:29] - [46:17])

"The Footprint" underscores the complexities of criminal investigations and the profound implications of forensic evidence. While Westrom's conviction brought a semblance of closure to Jeannie's family, lingering doubts and unanswered questions persist, highlighting the quest for absolute justice in the face of scientific limitations.

Family Member ([44:12]): "The victim didn't deserve what they got. It's terrible sitting here. Jerry's paying for that, but it's not Jerry."

The episode invites listeners to reflect on the interplay between technology, human error, and the pursuit of truth within the justice system, leaving the door open for future developments and reevaluations of the case.

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Notable Quotes:

• Detective ([02:15]): "It's an actual bare foot. I mean, wow."
• Andrea Faya ([17:03]): "Technology is so much more refined and rigorous than it was in 1993."
• Friend ([20:39]): "He was a good friend... Very low key."
• Mark Ulrich ([35:05]): "E1 and E2 were identified to Mr. Jerry Westrom."
• Wayne Triplett ([22:43]): "Definite no? Not a chance."
• Julie Rendelman ([31:55]): "Whose DNA it is remains even today, a mystery."

---

This detailed exploration of "The Footprint" episode captures the essence of Jeannie Childs' tragic murder, the meticulous investigative efforts, and the enduring quest for justice, all while highlighting the critical role of forensic science in modern criminal cases.

Transcript

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[Detective]

On 13th of June 1993, I was on call as a team leader for our crime scene team. We had pagers then, no cell phones, and I got a page who was a sergeant requesting our assistance on the 21st floor of this high rise apartment building.

[Forensic Expert]

When you entered into the apartment, you didn't really see anything. You wouldn't have known that a crime had occurred. When you went a little further.

[Forensic Scientist]

And.

[Forensic Expert]

You ended up going into the bedroom, it was catastrophic.

[Detective]

When I proceeded to where the body was on the side of the bed, I looked down, I could see the imprint in blood that looked like a left foot and a right foot. It's an actual bare foot. I mean, wow.

[Family Member]

I turned the TV on, I saw the apartment. They said they just found a young woman in her early 30s. Oh, my. I just got chills all over. Don't tell me that was Jean. I called the coroner's place and he said, are you all alone? You better get somebody over there with you because it was your daughter. I couldn't believe it.

[Reporter]

Jeannie Childs had defensive wounds on her hands when they found her. She had been stabbed at least 65 times, including after she had died. Investigators took DNA evidence at the time. They could not find who it belonged to, and they hit a dead end at some point and moved on. And it wasn't until 2015 that a cold case unit reopened the case. A DNA profile, it was uploaded into MyHeritage.com. and they found what could be a match. Jerry Westrom is a husband, a father of three, a businessman. He attended church. He was a hockey dad. Police expect Westrom to be charged with murder by noon tomorrow.

[Friend]

Jerry doesn't have a demeanor of being a violent person.

[Narrator]

Have you ever seen him lose his temper?

[Friend]

No, I believe that my toes. He's not capable, okay? He didn't do it.

[Forensic Expert]

There was DNA from other individuals that did not belong to Jerry Westrom, but clearly belonged to a male source. We know that there were experts that viewed multiple footprints and they're in her blood.

[Detective]

The person who put the footprint down had to step in wet blood and it had to be after she was stabbed or bleeding.

[Narrator]

How important did those footprints in blood become in this case?

[Forensic Expert]

Without the footprints, we would not be sitting here. I think that the footprints defined the path of this case.

[Friend]

Erin Moriarty reports.

[Narrator]

The footprint. Minnesota crime scene investigators captured this footage when they got their first look inside a high rise apartment in Minneapolis. The camera's pointing west at this time. According to police reports, at around 5:30pm June 13, 1993, a tenant reported water seeping into their apartment. A building caretaker and a security guard were called to check it out and discovered the water was coming from apartment 2104.

[Detective]

They went into the apartment and they found that the shower was still running and causing all this flooding next door.

[Narrator]

After the shower was turned off, they came upon a gruesome scene in the bedroom. 35 year old Jeannie Child's body was part partially under the bed. That's when police were called to investigate.

[Detective]

This was a violent, bloody crime scene. This is one of the bloodiest that I'd been to.

[Narrator]

Retired forensic scientist Bart Epstein says carefully documenting that scene was crucial. Blood stains and blood spatter tell a story.

[Detective]

Yes, they sure can. In this case, we could establish that Jeannie Childs was hit in front of the bathroom door.

[Narrator]

Epstein says Jeannie then moved into the bathroom. She was stabbed and slashed dozens of times.

[Detective]

She was down on the floor smearing blood along that area.

[Narrator]

While the shower had been turned off earlier, investigators noticed water was still running from the sink faucet.

[Detective]

There was a lot of activity going on there. Why was the sink faucet still dripping? Was he trying to clean up?

[Narrator]

Jeannie apparently made it back to her bedroom where her body was found.

[Forensic Expert]

The blood wasn't confined to just the area where she was. The blood was on the walls, the blood was on the comforter, the blood was on the floor.

[Narrator]

Julie Rendelman is a defense attorney and legal consultant for 48 hours.

[Forensic Expert]

It leads one to believe that a struggle happened, that she was fighting to save her own life.

[Narrator]

The living room appeared untouched. A sitcom was still playing on the tv. There was no evidence of forced entry. If Jeannie knew her killer, what could have prompted so much violence?

[Forensic Expert]

This, to me, seems like more rage. Someone who got upset. At the time that the crime was committed.

[Narrator]

Jeannie's mother, Betty Ekman, was watching television news when she saw a report about a woman who had been murdered.

[Family Member]

I called my husband at work. I said, I just seen them on the news taking a stretcher out of that building that she lives in.

[Narrator]

Betty soon got the news. No mother wants to hear. The victim was her eldest child.

[Family Member]

I just wanted to hold her. I couldn't believe it.

[Narrator]

Betty says she spoke with her daughter the day before her murder. Jeannie, she says, wasn't expecting visitors because she was nursing a toothache. What were her plans that weekend?

[Family Member]

She went to the emergency room. She was in so much pain. Jeannie always had problems with her teeth, and I don't know why. So I said, let me come and get you. No, mom. Stop worrying about me.

[Narrator]

Jeannie was dead by Sunday afternoon. As the crime. As the crime investigation continued, authorities focused on gathering evidence. A blue washcloth, a red T shirt, a bath towel. Blood scrapings from the sink, along with a comforter were collected and taken for DNA testing. Investigators observed dishes in the kitchen sink and a knife in the drying rack. Did you take that knife in?

[Detective]

Did not take that knife in. I looked at it, and there was no apparent blood on there. We never found any actual weapon there. That was a murder weapon.

[Narrator]

Investigators were able to identify some blood stains found in the stairwell near Jeannie's 21st floor apartment. Did any of the blood belong to the victim, Jeanne Child? Do you think it's possible that the person who stabbed her was also cut?

[Detective]

Well, it could be. That's why we took the samples.

[Narrator]

Epstein says whoever murdered Jeannie Childs unknowingly left behind something investigators rarely encounter. Bloody, bare footprints under the bedroom window.

[Detective]

That drew my attention right away. And right next to it, I see the socked foot of Jeanne Childs.

[Narrator]

The footprints were dusted with the black powder at the crime scene. When you first saw these, you said, because she's wearing socks, this. These belong to the killer.

[Detective]

That would be my feeling. That's most likely the perpetrator's footprint. If there's the friction ridge on the feet, like the friction ridge on your fingers, there's potential to identify the person's foot that made that that was very, very significant.

[Family Member]

I knew that God was going to make sure that I was going to know what happened.

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[Family Member]

Everyone said she looked like me.

[Narrator]

These are pretty precious. Very few pictures I have of us together. Cindy Blummer remembers the deep loss she felt after the murder of her big sister Jeannie. A lot of sadness when you wanted to pick up the phone and call your sister. I needed my sister. I wanted to talk to her, wondering what actually took place, who did this? Although her sister was 12 years older, Jeannie's daughter playful spirit made an impression on Cindy. Growing up, Lionel Richie was one of her favorite and as soon as she would hear him play, I mean her fingers would start snapping and she would dance around. But those good times were few and far between. Betty Ekman says she first noticed a change in her eldest daughter when she was a preteen.

[Family Member]

She kind of lost her way when she was probably around 12, 13, Betty says.

[Narrator]

It wasn't until decades later that Jeannie claimed she had been abused by a male relative. Jeannie started running away from home.

[Family Member]

I took my life in my own hands many a times to track her down. I could have been killed, but I had my Great Dane and a gun.

[Narrator]

Would you sometimes find her?

[Family Member]

Oh yeah. When she would come home, she was like a cat on a hot tin roof. She was so antsy she couldn't stay very long.

[Narrator]

As the time passed, she feared her daughter was using drugs and soon learned how Jeannie was making ends meet. And what did your daughter do?

[Family Member]

Prostitution. I just hoped and prayed that she would Stop.

[Narrator]

At one point, it seems she settled down long enough to get married. But her family says it didn't last long. Soon after, she married again to a man with children. And Jeannie became a stepmom.

[Family Member]

And they depended on her. She was the only mother they really knew.

[Narrator]

Even when Jeannie split with their father, she remained in the children's lives. They needed anything. They knew how to get ahold of her. She was really good that way. At the time of her murder, she was living with a man named Arthur Gray at that apartment complex. After Jeannie's murder, he became a person of interest.

[Forensic Scientist]

Investigators immediately looked at whether Arthur Gray was involved in the murder.

[Narrator]

Retired FBI agent Chris Bogers would later join the investigation. According to police reports, Jeannie, who was a sex worker, claimed she worked for Gray, and there was a history of violence between them. At the crime scene, authorities found hairs stuck to Jeannie's left hand. And one of those hairs matched Gray. But Boker says the case against Gray started to fall apart pretty quickly.

[Forensic Scientist]

Arthur Gray as a resident of that apartment, it makes sense that his hairs would be throughout the bedroom.

[Narrator]

And Arthur Gray said he wasn't even in town, but on a motorcycle trip in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the weekend Jeannie was murdered.

[Forensic Scientist]

He had a really solid alibi that he was out of town that weekend. That was corroborated by others.

[Narrator]

Authorities compared the unknown bloody footprints in the apartment to Gray's footprints and determined they weren't his. Do you know how many other possible suspects, persons of interest whose footprints were compared to those left in Jeannie's apartment?

[Forensic Scientist]

There were multiple people whose footprints were compared to the footprints that were left in Jeanne's apartment. You could see that in the case files that a lot of effort was put in attempting to solve Jeannie's case.

[Narrator]

According to the case file, on the day of the murder, a witness in the apartment building told police she saw Jeannie with a tall blond man wearing a trench coat.

[Forensic Scientist]

We had no way to track down who that may or may not have been.

[Narrator]

Investigators never found the man. Despite efforts to find Jeannie's killer, the case slowed to a crawl. Months turned into years and then decades. How often would you call the police trying to get an update to find out if they had anything new on this case?

[Family Member]

Many times as I could, but I never let a year go by without reminding them.

[Narrator]

In 2005, the Minneapolis Police Department began digging deeper into unsolved cases, and Jeannie Childs murder was one of them. Jeannie's family had no idea, but investigators were hoping Science would help them solve the case.

[Forensic Scientist]

Technology is so much more refined and rigorous than it was in 1993.

[Narrator]

Agent Boker says they discovered that a blood sample found near Jeannie's blood in the stairwell of her apartment building had matched to a man named John Eswine. In 2015, investigators interviewed Eswine, who was in prison for violating probation on a drunk driving offense.

[Forensic Scientist]

Do you have any idea why your DNA would be in that building, Your blood would be in that building? No.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Detective]

My blood was in that building, yeah.

[Narrator]

If you found my blood somewhere, all.

[Forensic Scientist]

I can think of is that I.

[Narrator]

Must have fallen down somewhere. Eswine told investigators he was in the building once in 1991, two years before Jeanne's murder.

[Forensic Scientist]

He easily volunteered his DNA. He also allowed himself his footprints to be taken. Then his footprints were compared to the bloody footprints in Jeannie's bedroom.

[Narrator]

According to a lab report, the footprints were inconclusive. And S wine's DNA was not found inside Jeannie's apartment. The mystery only deepened. Investigators knew from the case file that there were DNA profiles discovered at the crime scene that had never matched to anyone. Andrea Faya, a forensic scientist with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, performed additional testing on the evidence that was collected back in 1993. And she noticed something unusual about one of the unknown DNA profiles. That DNA profile repeated itself throughout the crime scene. It was on the comforter, it was on the blue towel. It was found on the blue washcloth and the red T shirt. Correct. And on the sink. Yes. Those were the only areas that we tested that ended up matching each other, essentially. Investigators then turned to investigative genetic genealogy for answers. The unknown DNA profile was submitted to genealogy websites, including MyHeritage.com the forensic genealogist.

[Forensic Scientist]

Indicated that she had a match, potentially two brothers here in Minnesota.

[Narrator]

And one of the brothers was a man named Jerry Westrom.

[Reporter]

He was a well respected member of the community. People were surprised.

[Narrator]

More than 25 years after Jeannie Childs was murdered, unknown DNA at the crime scene was matched to 52 year old Jerry Westrom. What did you know about him?

[Forensic Scientist]

He was living north of Minneapolis St. Paul, that he was working for a company up in St. Cloud, Minnesota area. He'd been a businessman.

[Narrator]

Retired FBI agent Chris Boker says the married father of three wasn't hard to find.

[Forensic Scientist]

Had a Facebook account that we could follow. He was leading a seemingly normal family life.

[Narrator]

Westrom had grown up in rural Minnesota.

[Friend]

He and I were on a 4H trip when we were 14 to Washington.

[Narrator]

D.C. wayne Triplett and Jerry Westrom Were farm kids. They later became college buddies. And when wayne got married, he was.

[Friend]

One of the groomsmen in our wedding.

[Narrator]

That means he was a good friend of yours.

[Friend]

Yes, that's true. He got along well with a lot of people. Very low key. Gentlemen easily can make friends with people.

[Narrator]

Westrom and his family were well respected in isanti, Minnesota, about 40 miles away from Minneapolis. They owned a sears store. And in the year 2000, Westrom built his own field of dreams, A convenience store and gas station known as westrom's corner. But in 2008, the turbulent economy took it all away. Was that tough on him to lose westrom's corner?

[Friend]

I think it was tough on him. That'd be tough on anybody.

[Narrator]

Westrom returned to his roots. He began raising organic corn and soybeans and cultivating a business selling crop insurance.

[Friend]

He's a very good salesperson. He understands the need to fill the need. He understands how to communicate. And people have to be comfortable with you to close on business.

[Narrator]

Wayne never imagined that the even tempered friend he's known since their teenage years would become the prime suspect in a violent murder case. Did he have any history of violent crimes?

[Forensic Scientist]

No apparent criminal history involving violent crime.

[Narrator]

Jeannie was stabbed over 60 times, and here's this man. No history of violence, and this is the guy who might have killed her.

[Forensic Scientist]

Well, it gave some pause that that level of violence and that type of crime, we kind of expected it would be somebody that maybe had been arrested multiple times. So, yes, that does give a little pause.

[Narrator]

Investigators were anxious to confirm that the unknown crime scene DNA Was indeed Jerry Westrom's. But to do that, they needed to track him down.

[Forensic Scientist]

We needed to obtain DNA from Jerry in order to compare it to the unknown DNA from the scene.

[Narrator]

Forensic scientist Andrea feya. And what did you tell them would be the best DNA if they could get it? Best DNA is something that has been in a person's mouth, like if they drank out of a drinking container, A straw, if they spit out chewing gum, Anything that could have saliva on it. Why is saliva the ideal? Why did you say get something that had touched his mouth? There's a lot of DNA in saliva. Westrom, a devoted hockey dad, Frequently attended his daughter's College Games. In January 2019, Westrom traveled to a game in Wisconsin. Agent bokers, along with his partner, Surreptitiously followed him there.

[Forensic Scientist]

Westrom went out to the lobby concession stand and made a food order. We watched him sit at the table and eat his order. And when he finished, he took a Napkin, and he wiped his mouth.

[Narrator]

Westrom tossed that napkin and food container in the garbage can. And when he returned to the rink, Agent Bokers made his move.

[Forensic Scientist]

I was gloved. I just reached down and got the container and we bagged it up for evidence.

[Narrator]

I tested and got a DNA profile from that napkin and compared it to the unidentified profile on the comforter and the blue towel. And what was the result? They were consistent with each other. A month later, in February 2019, Jerry Westrom was arrested and charged with the murder of Jeannie Childs. As you sit here right now, Wayne, do you believe that Jerry Westrom is the one who killed Jeanne Childs?

[Friend]

Definite no? Not a chance.

[Narrator]

Definite no.

[Friend]

Definite no. Not a chance.

[Narrator]

In a videotaped interview at the jail, Agent Bokers and his partner question Westrom.

[Forensic Scientist]

Does this lady look familiar to you at all?

[Narrator]

Hmm.

[Forensic Scientist]

Okay. Her name is Jeannie Childs.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Forensic Scientist]

And she was found in her building, in her apartment, deceased.

[Narrator]

Do you know anything about that at all?

[Forensic Scientist]

No.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Forensic Scientist]

Do you think you would have ever had sex with her? I doubt it. In 93, would you have been with a prostitute?

[Reporter]

No.

[Narrator]

WCCO TV senior investigative reporter Jennifer Meyerle.

[Reporter]

He doesn't give more much in the interview, but what he doesn't say almost says more.

[Narrator]

What do you mean?

[Reporter]

He doesn't ask any questions about what happened, about why he's there, about why they're looking at him.

[Narrator]

Jerry Westrom had no history of violent crime, but it seems he had been keeping a few secrets from his friends. Westrom had told Wayne about two DWI arrests but never shared he had been arrested twice for soliciting sex workers. You didn't know anything? No. What was your reaction?

[Friend]

It was hard to understand. That's the hard pill to swallow. Meaning? How does a person with a good family and loving wife have the need for solicitation? What's going on there?

[Narrator]

Investigators questioned Westrom for 11 minutes until he asked for a lawyer. He was then handcuffed and spent the night in jail.

[Forensic Scientist]

And the following morning, we went to the jail with Minneapolis crime lab personnel, and they obtained his footprints.

[Narrator]

48 Hours Legal Consultant Julie Rendelman says the footprints were important because Westrom's DNA was not the only DNA recovered there.

[Forensic Expert]

DNA that was recovered was from multiple individuals. If you don't have anything else, that in and of itself does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Jerry Westrom is the person that committed this crime.

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[Reporter]

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[Narrator]

For more than 25 years, Betty Ekman had prayed for a break in her daughter's unsolved murder case. In February 2019, her prayers were answered.

[Family Member]

I got a phone call and he said, I'm the detective that worked on your daughter's case. And I said, okay, what's going on? We found him, and I got goosebumps all over me. And I said, are you sure? He said, yes, we got him.

[Narrator]

But when Cindy Blumer learned the name of the suspect in her sister's murder, she had trouble believing it. I said, no way. No way. Jerry Westrom was a familiar face who lived in their town of Isanti, Minnesota. I'd seen Jerry because our boys played hockey.

[Forensic Expert]

He's tall.

[Narrator]

He kind of stands out. He also owned the business, the gas station. The hockey dad and local businessman was now charged with murder. Westrom was later indicted by a grand jury and pleaded not guilty. Westrom's DNA, according to forensic scientist Andrea Fea, found on the comforter and towel in the bathroom, was identified as semen. But she says her team couldn't determine the type of DNA that she says Westrom Left on the red T shirt, the bathroom sink and the washcloth. You can't say definitively that his blood or any other kind of DNA was found at the scene. You know it's his DNA, but you don't know what kind. Is that correct? Correct. I don't know how it was deposited.

[Friend]

Essentially, you say DNA to general Joe Q. Public, well, that's a slam dunk.

[Narrator]

Wayne Triplett, however, has questions about how and when the DNA was left there.

[Friend]

There's no time stamp on DNA.

[Narrator]

Despite advances in DNA technology, there's no way to know how long Westrom's DNA had been there. And Wayne says the evidence only suggests.

[Friend]

One thing that just doesn't mysteriously show up. He had to be there.

[Narrator]

So you think he probably was in that apartment at some point.

[Friend]

You know, you can't run from that evidence. He had to been there. Don't get there by accident.

[Narrator]

You don't believe he was there the day that Jeannie Childs was murdered?

[Friend]

I don't.

[Narrator]

48 hours legal consultant Julie Rendelman says the evidence in this case does raise questions. According to lab reports, there was other DNA from semen discovered on Jeannie's purple panties that does not match Westrom. Whose DNA it is remains even today, a mystery. And that wasn't all.

[Forensic Expert]

There was DNA from other individuals that did not belong to Jerry Westrom, but clearly belonged to a male source.

[Narrator]

Rendelman points to that DNA found in the stairwell close to blood stains identified as belonging to Jeannie Childs.

[Forensic Expert]

Jerry Westrom's DNA is not in the stairwell. But we know that there's at least one other person whose DNA blood is found in that stairwell.

[Narrator]

Remember that stairwell? DNA matched John S. Wein. When investigators interviewed him, he couldn't recall how his blood ended up in the stairwell not far from Jeannie Childs apartment on the 21st floor.

[Forensic Expert]

His answers were a bit peculiar, I found. And the reason I say that is because he actually describes being there one time.

[Narrator]

And why does that bother you so?

[Forensic Expert]

It bothers me because how the heck would he remember when he's interviewed all these years later that he was there, but only there once. And the one time he says he was there was years before the murder. It just. It felt a bit convenient.

[Narrator]

We reached out to John S. Wyme for comment, but he didn't respond. He has never been charged in this case. Rendleman also points out that before Jerry Westrom's DNA was identified at the crime scene, authorities had discovered a mixture of DNA types on the comforter. According to a 2012 lab report, a man named James Luther Carlton couldn't be excluded as one of the contributors.

[Forensic Expert]

We know this is an individual that had committed multiple sex crimes in the past.

[Narrator]

And what makes Carlton so significant? A little more than a year after Jeannie childs murder in July 1994, sometime.

[Reporter]

Between last Thursday and Monday, someone entered this one bedroom uptown apartment and murdered Jody Dover.

[Narrator]

26 year old hospitality hospital worker Jody Dover was stabbed to death in her Minneapolis apartment. Jody's murder was eerily similar to Jeannie's murder. Jody's killer had also left behind bloody footprints. Authorities arrested Carlton and determined a footprint found inside Jody Dover's apartment belonged to him. He was convicted of her murder in 1995 and is serving a life sentence. 48 Hours can't confirm if he was ever questioned around the time of Jeannie Child's murder. We reached out to Carlton. He declined our interview request. Carlton's criminal history was a red flag for Westrom's defense team. Attorney Stephen Meshbescher told our CBS station WCCO that it was a rush to judgment. In this case you need to do the investigation first. Find out what the facts are, find out what the evidence is and then determine the charge. Now they're charging it first. Were the footprints Jerry Westrom's. As both sides prepared for trial, it became clear that it would all come down to this unique evidence.

[Forensic Scientist]

In Minnesota. Here people are not committing crimes a lot of times with their socks and shoes off.

[Narrator]

Mark Ulrich, a supervisor with the Minneapolis police forensic division, examined the footprints. He says he focused on the friction ridge skin, the arrangement of ridges and furrows unique to every person.

[Forensic Scientist]

Friction ridge skin is found on your fingers, your palms and the soles of your feet.

[Narrator]

Seven bloody footprints were photographed and labeled A through G. Defense attorneys hired their own forensic scientist, Alicia McCarthy, a professor at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine to analyze the bloody footprints for them. You call this case a beast?

[Reporter]

It was a beast. It was definitely very challenging.

[Narrator]

What conclusions would the experts reach? At Capella University, you can learn at your own pace with our Flexpath learning format. Take one or two courses at a time and complete as many as you can in a 12 week billing session. With Flexpath, you can even finish the bachelor's degree you started in 22 months for $20,000. A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at capella.edu fastest 25% of students cost varies by pace, transfer credits and other factors. Fees apply. This episode is brought to you by Rakuten. If you're shopping while working, eating or even listening to this podcast, then you know and love the thrill of the hunt. But are you getting the thrill of the best deals? Rakuten shoppers do they get the brands they love with the most savings and cash back and you can get it too. Start getting cash back at your favorite stores like Samsung, Expedia and Sephora and even stack sales on top of cash back. It's easy to use and you get your cash back through PayPal or check. The idea is simple. Stores pay Rakuten for sending them shoppers and Rakuten shares the money with you as cash back. Download the free Rakuten app and never miss a deal or go to rakuten.com to start getting the most bang for your buck. That's R A K u T E N Was Jerry Westrom just a customer who had left his DNA in Jeannie Child's apartment previously? Or was he the one who stabbed her to death more than 60 times? Investigators believe the bloody footprints found in her apartment would provide the answer. That looks like a left foot.

[Forensic Scientist]

Correct. I completed the reference files.

[Narrator]

Mark Ulrich at the Minneapolis police lab was tasked with comparing the crime scene prints to Westrom. He determined that four of the seven prints were suitable for comparison. One of them, he says, revealed the impression of a left foot. He labeled the heel E1 and an area below the big toe as E2. When Ulrich analyzed it, this was his conclusion.

[Forensic Scientist]

E1 and E2 were identified to Mr. Jerry Westrom.

[Narrator]

And he says there was more. This one, B.

[Forensic Scientist]

That one was identified to the right foot of Mr. Jerry Westrom.

[Narrator]

Ulrich believed that all four prints, E1, E2B and another left footprint he labeled D1, belonged to Westrom. As the trial date approached, forensic scientists Alicia McCarthy, who had been hired by the defense, was asked to verify Ulrich's work.

[Reporter]

They wanted me to come in and look and double check the work that was done by the Minneapolis lab.

[Narrator]

McCarthy believed that only the print labeled E2, the area below the left big toe, was suitable for comparison. This is the crime scene photo.

[Reporter]

This is E2 crime scene.

[Narrator]

During her analysis, she began comparing E2 to the footprints of alternate suspects and didn't get anywhere.

[Reporter]

I was sort of in limbo for about a year where I was comparing to other people, and then I said, I'm inconclusive. I can't say it's these people. I can't say it's not these people.

[Narrator]

McCarthy showed us what unique characteristics she was looking for.

[Reporter]

We have what we call a recurve yes, it comes down and recurves back up. And for a friction ridge examiner, that's pretty exciting.

[Narrator]

When she compared E2 to Jerry Westrom's footprint, she followed the curves and finally. And who do you believe left that footprint at the crime scene?

[Reporter]

That was Jerry Westrom's left foot.

[Narrator]

And you're sure of that?

[Reporter]

Positive.

[Narrator]

McCarthy agreed with Mark Ulrich. E2, the small area below the left big toe had been placed there by Jerry Westrom. But she disagreed with Ulrich on the other three footprints.

[Reporter]

I went through and did the comparisons that Mark had made identifications with. I didn't agree with him.

[Narrator]

She believed those three prints didn't have enough detail.

[Reporter]

There wasn't enough for that very high threshold to say an identification and go to court in front of a jury and tell them that this impression belongs to Jerry Westrom.

[Forensic Scientist]

That's her decision. And I have no qualms about what she did. I just know the quality of my work and I know what I stand by.

[Narrator]

When McCarthy determined E2 belonged to Westrom, she was immediately released by his defense team. Both experts would then testify for the prosecution. Opening statements today in the trial of a hockey dad accused of a murder nearly 30 years ago. In August 2022, Jerry Westrom went on trial for Jeannie Childs murder. He had been out on bond. The judge ruled there'd be no cameras in the courtroom. 48 Hours asked Westrom and his family for on camera interviews, but they declined.

[Reporter]

Jerry's wife and three kids were there for most of the trial.

[Narrator]

Jennifer Merrily covered the trial.

[Reporter]

Jerry and his wife would walk into the Hennepin county government center holding hands.

[Narrator]

In the courtroom, prosecutors painted a different picture. They said the evidence points to Jerry Westrom as the killer. The bloody footprints combined with his DNA is proof, they said, that he was in her apartment when she was murdered.

[Reporter]

The bloody footprint put a timestamp of when the killer was there.

[Narrator]

But the defense tried to poke holes in the footprint evidence. They also called that witness who had told police she saw Jeannie Childs with a blonde man wearing a trench coat the day she was murdered. And she said she saw the same man later running down the stairwell without a coat.

[Forensic Expert]

Jerry Westrom has dark hair. There's no evidence he ever had blonde hair or anything like that.

[Narrator]

The defense also named Arthur Gray, who died in 2012, as an alternate suspect. Jeannie had accused him of domestic abuse.

[Forensic Expert]

And then when you put the hair of Arthur Gray in her hand, it starts to become more significant.

[Narrator]

The defense, who declined our request for an interview, was dealt a blow when they couldn't introduce James Luther Carlton and John Eswine as alternate suspects. The judge ruled there wasn't enough evidence against either man and prosecutors cleared them both. So the jury never heard that expert analysis of their footprints had been inconclusive.

[Forensic Expert]

I think it was incredibly damaging to the defense's case.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors declined our request for an interview. Jerry Westrom did not testify. And after eight days, the jury quickly reached a verdict. Guilty.

[Forensic Scientist]

The jury first and second degree murder.

[Forensic Expert]

The jury came back quite quickly and convicted Jerry Westrom of the top count, which was murder in the first degree. They also found him guilty of murder in the second degree.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors didn't present a motive. Wayne Triplett says he still believes his lifelong friend is innocent and says that both families have paid a terrible price.

[Friend]

The victim didn't deserve what they got. It's terrible sitting here. Jerry's paying for that, but it's not Jerry.

[Narrator]

On September 9, 2022, Jerry Westrom was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jeannie Childs. As we said in the beginning, and.

[Detective]

We'Re saying now, you've got the wrong guy. We are sorry for the loss of Jeannie child's life.

[Narrator]

Jeannie's mother, Betty, believes justice has been served and that the right man is behind bars. But her grief will always be there. She poured her heart out in a letter, a love letter she never got to send.

[Family Member]

My emptiness will never go away since you were taken that fatal day.

[Narrator]

It.

[Family Member]

Wasn'T fair you had to die. I never got to say goodbye. I love you and miss you so much. Love and peace, Mom.

[Friend]

The Minnesota Supreme Court reversed Jerry Westrom's second degree murder conviction, but upheld the conviction for first degree murder. Westrom filed a petition with the U.S. supreme Court.

[Narrator]

It was denied. Join me Tuesday for postmortem from 48 hours, where we'll dive even deeper into today's episode and answer your questions about the case. Now streaming. When everything's on the line, real heroes rise to the occasion.

[Friend]

TV's hottest show is Fire Country.

[Narrator]

We're firefighters. We're gonna find a way to get.

[Reporter]

You out of here.

[Friend]

We take the hits together.

[Reporter]

We're on the same team.

[Narrator]

I'm right here with you. No matter what.

[Reporter]

I would never leave you hanging in the deep end.

[Narrator]

This place is a way of giving you new family. Fire Country. All episodes now streaming on Paramount. Summer is heating up. The shy's back on Paramount. It's the season of the women. This is a chance. It's time to get to work. But the men aren't giving up without a fight. The shy new season now streaming on the Paramount with Showtime plan.