48 Hours – The Killing of Theresa Fusco

Date: April 27, 2026
Podcast: 48 Hours
Host: CBS News
Correspondent: Erin Moriarty

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, “48 Hours” recounts the haunting story of Theresa Fusco’s murder, a case that spanned four decades, devastated families, exposed profound flaws in the criminal justice system, and was finally reignited and seemingly resolved by cutting-edge DNA science. The episode traces the fates of three teenage girls from Long Island—Theresa Fusco, Kelly Morrissey, and Jackie Martarella—whose stories became entwined in a chilling mystery. Through candid interviews, courtroom drama, and the emotional toll on families and friends, listeners are transported through time, witnessing first-hand how an investigation can go wrong—and, ultimately, how new technology can bring long-overdue answers.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Disappearances of Kelly Morrissey and Theresa Fusco

• [02:48] Detective Freddie Goldman introduces the context: Kelly Morrissey, 15, went missing in June 1984, after being seen at a Lynbrook payphone.
• [03:18] Five months later, her friend, 16-year-old Theresa Fusco, also vanishes after leaving her job at Hot Skates roller rink.
• [04:13] Lisa Johnson (Teresa's Best Friend) recalls expecting Theresa for a sleepover:

  "She was going to come to my house after she got off work and sleepover."

• When Theresa did not arrive, her absence triggered concern among friends and family.

2. The Discovery and Impact of Theresa’s Murder

• [04:57] 25 days after her disappearance, Theresa's body was discovered—she had been raped, beaten, and strangled.
• [05:21]

  "It truly was shattering at 16 to never have lost anybody that you loved in such a horrific way. You just can't get over that." – Lisa Johnson

3. Investigation Focuses on John Kogut, Restivo, and Halstead

• [05:35] Detective Freddie Goldman describes how police suspected John Kogut, who quickly confessed (and implicated friends John Restivo and Dennis Halstead) under intense interrogation.
• [05:52, 22:44]

  "We decided that I had to kill her." – John Kogut’s confession (later recanted)

• [06:15] Yet, crucially, DNA collected did not match any of the three men.
• [28:24] Alibi evidence and the condition of the van used in the alleged abduction later cast doubt on police theory.

4. Parallel and Possibly Linked Cases

• [07:43, 19:27] The episode explores the era: Long Island teens in the 1980s, absence of cell phones, and a culture of trust—a context in which the girls' disappearances seemed, at first, out of character but not immediately alarming.
• [13:07] Kelly's case was initially handled as a runaway, not a crime.
• [17:32] The community's shock at Theresa's body's discovery sparked a sense of fear and transformation in suburban life.

5. Jackie Martarella’s Disappearance Deepens the Mystery

• [23:17] In March 1985, another young woman, Jackie Martarella, vanishes and is later found raped and murdered—eerily similar to Fusco’s case.
• [26:16] Investigators debated connections among the cases, hindered by lack of DNA or witnesses.

6. The Convictions and Imprisonment of Kogut, Restivo, Halstead

• [27:52] All three men—Kogut, Restivo, and Halstead—are convicted based on confession and questionable physical evidence, despite DNA inconsistencies.
• [28:55]

  "By February of 1987, Kogut, Halsey, and Restivo had been convicted... and sentenced to more than 30 years to life."

7. Overturned Convictions and New DNA Evidence

• [29:38] In 2003, new DNA technology exonerated all three, overturning their convictions and revealing a different, unidentified male’s DNA on the evidence.
• [30:42]

  "Wait a second. There was investigations. We trusted the detectives. We trusted the police to do the right thing. How could they do this to us?" – Lisa Johnson

8. The Retrial, Legal Wreckage, and Ripple Effects

• [34:07] Prosecutors retry Kogut based on his confession, but his defense highlights coercive tactics and inconsistencies.
• [35:57] Defense attorney Paul Castillero explains police deception regarding the polygraph:

  "No, John Kogut passed this polygraph test with flying colors."

• [39:19]

  "The court will not accept the confession and accordingly finds the defendant not guilty of murder..."

• [40:20] Families are left devastated and without closure.

9. Breakthrough Arrest: The Role of Modern DNA

• [41:05] In October 2025, Nassau County DA Ann Donnelly announces that genetic genealogy identified Richard Bilodo as Teresa’s killer.

  "And after two decades of this case running cold, we have indicted Theresa's killer."

• [41:21] Surveillance and DNA from a discarded smoothie cup sealed the match.
• [43:18] Bilodo had no link to Teresa's friends or family; the motive and means of connection remain unknown.

10. Debate Over the New DNA-Led Prosecution

• [44:17] DA Donnelly is confident:

  "When you have a DNA match, 100% match. We got the guy."

• The defense contests that DNA alone is overstated and points to earlier judicial errors.
• [45:06] Donnelly stands by the new prosecution, emphasizing science:

  "...the difference now is we have science behind us, which they didn’t have 40 years ago."

• [47:15] Donnelly refuses to apologize for earlier wrongful convictions, noting she was not involved at the time.

11. Lingering Pain and Unresolved Cases

• [47:43] Kelly Morrissey and Jackie Martarella’s cases remain unsolved, adding to families' heartbreak.
• [48:15] Iris Morrissey laments for her missing daughter:

  "You know, I look at women in their 50s now and think... that could be Kelly."

• [48:42] Theresa's family and friends prepare themselves for one last trial, hoping for closure.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lisa Johnson, on the hell of losing her best friend ([05:21]):

  "It truly was shattering at 16 to never have lost anybody that you loved in such a horrific way. You just can’t get over that."

• Ann Donnelly on the culture shift after the murder ([18:49]):

  "It changed the way we saw the world back in the 80s. It changed all that. Not for the better."

• John Fusco, on the effect of acquittal and judicial reversals ([40:02]):

  "It makes you feel like you got hit in the face with a frigging shovel and you don't know how to bounce back from that."

• DA Donnelly, staking her case on DNA ([44:17]):

  "When you have a DNA match, 100% match. We got the guy."

• Lisa Johnson, on whether this will finally bring closure ([49:02]):

  "I trust in the DNA this time. I am so hopeful that there will be a conviction and we can finally put this to rest."

Important Timestamps

• [02:48] – Detective Goldman introduces Kelly Morrissey's disappearance
• [04:57] – Discovery of Teresa’s body; case becomes a homicide
• [20:26] – Kogut’s confession and the introduction of Dennis Halstead and John Restivo as suspects
• [23:17] – Disappearance of Jackie Martarella, another parallel case
• [27:52] – Trials and convictions of Kogut, Halstead, and Restivo
• [29:38] – 2003: DNA clears the three men, convictions are overturned
• [41:05] – 2025: DA Donnelly announces indictment of Richard Bilodo via genetic genealogy
• [44:17] – Prosecutors and defense debate the meaning and decisiveness of DNA evidence
• [48:42] – Families express hope and immense fatigue, seeking closure at last

Summary & Reflection

The story of Theresa Fusco’s murder is a devastating and far-reaching saga—an account of tragedy, investigative tunnel vision, judicial error, and, finally, the promise of justice through modern science. This episode spotlights the life-altering consequences when law enforcement gets it wrong: false confessions, ruined lives, and years lost for both the innocent and the families of victims. Yet, it also affirms the relentless yearning for truth and closure, embodied in the persistence of family, friends, and technological advances.

The episode concludes with cautious hopes for finality, as a new suspect faces trial, but tempered by the reality that Kelly Morrissey and Jackie Martarella’s mysteries may never be solved.

For those who haven’t listened:
This episode offers a masterclass in true crime storytelling, blending personal anguish with systematic analysis, eliciting empathy for all affected, and evoking sobering questions about justice, memory, and the ongoing search for closure.