Blood and Water: “Looking for Leslie”
ABC News | 20/20 | April 28, 2026
Episode 1 Recap & Detailed Summary
Main Theme & Purpose
The first episode of Blood and Water, titled “Looking for Leslie,” introduces listeners to the 2001 murder of Leslie Preer, a well-liked office administrator and mother living in the affluent suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Using interviews, original police tapes, and first-hand accounts from those closest to Leslie, the episode explores the confusing and traumatic initial hours surrounding her disappearance and the shocking crime scene at her home. The episode sets up the decades-long case, shifting suspicion, and the groundbreaking forensic advancements that would ultimately bring answers.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Scene & Leslie’s Character
- Opening Context ([00:27–01:26])
Linda Lyle (colleague): Recalls the strikingly beautiful, reserved Leslie, who had an “almost Grace Kelly-esqe beauty,” and was “dainty,” but reliable in her work.
“She was beautiful. She had a quiet manner. She was dainty to me.” — Linda Lyle [01:18]
2. Leslie’s Absence & Mounting Concern
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Office Response ([01:26–03:53])
Brett Reedy (operations manager, Leslie’s boss): Describes how Leslie’s unexplained absence was atypical, especially since “she was on probation for punctuality.” He made several unsuccessful attempts to locate her and describes the growing worry among colleagues.
“When she didn’t show up at 10:15, I just assumed she had a doctor’s appointment... but by 11:15, I said, something’s really wrong.” — Brett Reedy [02:32 | 03:32]
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Brett decides to drive to Leslie’s house, retracing her usual bus route while hoping to find an explanation.
3. Discovery of the Crime Scene
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Arrival & First Impressions ([05:38–08:16, 10:03–15:42])
Brett recalls his personal connection to the neighborhood, describing both nostalgia and the shock of what he would soon find.
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On arrival, he and Leslie’s husband, Sandy, enter the home and discover a “significant amount of blood” in the foyer, smeared on the walls and stairs, with signs of attempted cleanup.
“As soon as I walk in, I look to my right and there’s a large pool of blood… maybe about a 3 foot diameter.” — Brett Reedy [10:51]
“I noticed a lot of blood on the steps leading upstairs. Splattered blood all over the steps. Oh God. Something’s happened here.” [11:54]
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Brett describes the tension and dread, heightened when the basement door suddenly opens – only for the family dog to emerge. [12:37–13:14]
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Sandy repeatedly insists Leslie might have “fallen,” seemingly ignoring the gravity of the scene.
“He goes, she must have fallen. Well, that’s... my reaction probably was, that’s a hell of a fall.” — Brett Reedy [13:58]
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Search for Leslie & 911 Call ([15:42–18:45])
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After 15 minutes searching the home and seeing more blood in the kitchen, Brett calls 911.
“There’s blood in the, in the, in the foyer and looks like something possibly happened.” — Brett Reedy to 911 [16:00]
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Police arrive quickly, discovering Leslie’s body in the upstairs bathroom shower; her murder is clear.
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Brett recalls police informing Sandy:
“I knew right then. And he walked right up to Sandy and said, sir, your wife is dead.” — Brett Reedy [18:15]
4. Family Reaction & Memories
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Lauren Preer’s Grief & Childhood Memories ([21:09–23:39])
Lauren Preer, Leslie’s only child, describes an idyllic childhood with a loving mother who was her “best friend” and comforted her through nightmares.
“My mom and I were best friends. Yeah, she was. To me, everything. And I just couldn’t believe it.” — Lauren Preer [23:25]
- She recalls the horrifying moment she learned of her mother’s death.
“I saw my dad and a police officer get out of the car. And I said, oh God, what the hell’s happening? ... He’s like, Lauren, your mom has been in an accident … she’s no longer with us anymore.” — Lauren Preer [24:18]
5. The Investigation: Early Theories and the Scene
- Mysterious Details ([25:26–26:38])
The Preer house shows no sign of forced entry. Leslie’s body is found upstairs, but her blood is in multiple locations downstairs — some of it haphazardly cleaned, some on kitchen appliances, and the back door ajar.
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Police initially treat the case as a suspicious accident, but autopsy confirms homicide.
“This was not an accident. Homicide.” — Lauren Preer [26:29]
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Leslie was beaten and strangled, then dragged upstairs and placed in a scalding shower, apparently in an attempt to destroy evidence.
6. Community & Police Suspicions
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Immediate Aftermath ([26:38–29:03])
Residents of Chevy Chase are sent into shock and fear, unable to comprehend such violence in their safe enclave.
- Investigators quickly look to Sandy, Leslie’s husband, as the prime suspect, a development that Lauren adamantly resists:
“And the scary part was, is that they tried to put it on my father. I said, no. I’m like my dad loved my mom. Loved, adored her.” — Lauren Preer [28:07]
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Under questioning, Sandy admits to conflicts in the marriage, exposing family secrets and strain but no clear motive or evidence at this stage.
7. Lingering Uncertainty
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Open Case, Public Fear ([28:40–29:03])
- Brett captures the frustration and fear that follow an unresolved murder:
“It makes you paranoid in a way to think that there’s somebody that could commit this brutal crime and then just be walking free.” — Stephanie Ramos [28:40]
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The episode concludes by referencing stunning DNA evidence—“the presence of an ‘unknown male’”—that would soon change the course of the case.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote |
|-----------|---------|-------|
| 01:18 | Linda Lyle | “She was beautiful. She had a quiet manner. She was dainty to me.” |
| 03:32 | Brett Reedy | “Something’s really wrong.” |
| 10:51 | Brett Reedy | “As soon as I walk in, I look to my right and there’s a large pool of blood...” |
| 13:58 | Brett Reedy | “He goes, she must have fallen. Well, that’s... my reaction probably was, that’s a hell of a fall.” |
| 16:00 | Brett Reedy | “There’s blood in the, in the, in the foyer and looks like something possibly happened.” (to 911) |
| 18:15 | Brett Reedy | “Sir, your wife is dead.” (Recounting police words to Sandy) |
| 23:25 | Lauren Preer | “My mom and I were best friends. Yeah, she was. To me, everything. And I just couldn’t believe it.” |
| 24:18 | Lauren Preer | “Lauren, your mom has been in an accident ... she’s no longer with us anymore.” |
| 26:29 | Lauren Preer | “This was not an accident. Homicide.” |
| 28:07 | Lauren Preer | “And the scary part was, is that they tried to put it on my father. I said, no. I’m like my dad loved my mom.” |
| 29:03 | Stephanie Ramos | “It makes you paranoid in a way to think that there’s somebody that could commit this brutal crime and then just be walking free.” |
Timestamps of Key Segments
- [00:27–01:26] — Introduction to Leslie and colleagues’ memories
- [05:38–08:16] — Brett revisits Chevy Chase neighborhood and the Preer home
- [10:03–15:42] — Discovery of the crime scene, first thoughts, 911 call
- [18:45–19:37] — Notification of death, impact on Brett and Lauren
- [21:09–23:39] — Lauren’s memories of her mother and their relationship
- [24:18–26:29] — Lauren receives the news and discusses the aftermath
- [26:38–28:07] — Crime scene findings, confirmation of homicide, initial suspicion
- [28:40–29:03] — Community unease and unresolved questions
Tone and Style
The tone is deeply empathetic, alternating between the methodical calm of the investigation and the raw shock and pain of those left behind, especially Leslie’s daughter, Lauren, and Brett, her longtime colleague. The speakers often interject warmth, nostalgia, and disbelief—a balance of true crime intrigue and human drama.
Episode Takeaways
- The episode powerfully sets the stage for the series, immersing listeners in Leslie’s life and the events of the tragic day.
- It highlights the jarring contrast between an idyllic suburban life and unimaginable violence.
- The narrative establishes key players—Leslie, her family, and her colleagues—while foreshadowing dramatic investigative twists to come, especially via forensic revelations.
- Listeners become invested in the pursuit of justice as both a personal and societal necessity.
For Listeners New to the Series
This opening episode tightly weaves personal testimony and investigative chronology, drawing the audience into both the case and the lives forever changed by Leslie’s murder. It combines thorough storytelling with emotional candor, laying the groundwork for an exploration not just of a murder, but of a community’s trust, suspicion, and hope for resolution.
