Cold Case Files – Episode Summary
Episode Title: "A Drop of Blood"
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Paula Barros (with narrator/voice actors Marissa Pinson, Greg Bricker, Thomas Kolb, Leslie Harmon, Mark Heffelfinger, Stephen Clouse, and others)
Podcast: Cold Case Files (A&E/PodcastOne)
Episode Overview
This episode of Cold Case Files explores the brutal 1996 murder of 86-year-old Julia Gardy in Avilla, Indiana—a case that went unsolved for nearly four years. Through determined investigative work and advances in DNA forensics, detectives managed to identify and convict her killer, Donald Hauser. The episode delves into the crime, initial investigation, how the case went cold, and, ultimately, the forensic and testimonial breakthroughs that led to justice for Julia's family.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Discovery of the Crime [02:08–03:01]
- Mary Lou Gardy's Visit: Julia Gardy's daughter-in-law, Mary Lou, finds Julia's farmhouse ransacked and Julia dead in her bed, suffocated with a pillow and a footstool atop it.
- “It looked like somebody had totally ransacked the house and a lot of things were really like thrown around, torn up. Things were out of a cabinet.” (A, 02:08)
- Shock and Panic: Mary Lou's familial shock and immediate response are vividly described, highlighting the terror and surreal horror of the moment.
- “It was just kind of like a nightmare, like something was happening, but it really shouldn't be happening.” (A, 02:31)
2. The Initial Investigation & Crime Scene [03:01–05:36]
- Early Leads: Investigator Greg Bricker characterizes the crime as senseless and the perpetrator as likely a professional burglar.
- “It was a vicious, cold blooded murder, no reason whatsoever… somebody that had been doing burglaries for a long time, maybe a professional.” (A, 03:06)
- Forensic Clues: Crime scene technician Thomas Kolb notes two different shoe print types (suggesting a male and female perpetrator) and distinct ransacking patterns on each floor.
- “There was also two different sets of shoe prints. So I knew there was two people.” (A, 03:50)
3. Crucial Evidence: The Drop of Blood [04:16–05:04]
- Breakthrough Discovery: Kolb finds a blood spot on the curtain near the broken window, suspected point of entry.
- “As soon as I saw the blood, I said, ah, that's great, you know, we have hope.” (A, 04:25)
- Cataloging Stolen Items: Missing items include TVs, a VCR, a phone, and silverware.
4. The Struggle for Leads [05:14–08:06]
- Canvassing: Investigators struggle with an uncooperative public and few viable tips, despite a suspect's description from police officer Tracey Broxon, who previously observed a suspicious man near her home.
- “It was very frustrating because we weren't getting any information from the public. We had very little information to go on...” (A, 06:25)
- Frustration and Stagnation: All known burglars in the area are eliminated as suspects, leaving the investigation at a standstill.
5. DNA Forensic Advances & The Case Goes Cold [07:16–08:06]
- Forensic Testing: Leslie Harmon, DNA analyst, confirms the curtain stain is blood and enters the DNA profile into CODIS—yielding no match.
- Case Suspension: With no further leads, the case is shelved as a cold case for almost four years.
6. The Breakthrough: CODIS Hit and Key Witness [09:49–11:35]
- DNA Match: In October 2000, Indiana police receive a CODIS match to Donald Hauser, a convicted burglar. Detective Mark Heffelfinger takes on the case.
- “Well, we got a DNA match from the blood that was taken from occurred on the window of that house. Comes back to a guy by the name of Donald Howser.” (A, 10:09)
- Connecting Partners in Crime: Heffelfinger finds Hauser's ex-girlfriend and former burglary accomplice, Angela Stone, and brings her in for questioning.
- Angela’s Confession: After hours of interrogation, Stone recounts the events, describing Hauser suffocating Julia and her own helpless witnessing of the act.
- “I remember him grabbing the pillow, and I said, no, don't do that. Don't. I knew. I knew what was gonna happen.” (A, 11:35)
- “Because what I heard was her saying, no, sweetie. No, sweetie.” (A, 11:35)
- Physical Evidence Corroborated: Stone confirms the silverware stolen from Julia's house was given to Hauser’s mother.
7. Confronting Hauser: The Interrogation [12:44–15:36]
- Investigation Strategy: Heffelfinger plays Hauser against Angela during interrogation, presenting mounting evidence (DNA, witness, stolen goods).
- “I got just more ammunition, you know, he can't say, no, it wasn't me. Your girlfriend at the time says, you did it. She saw you do it.” (A, 12:44)
- Partial Confession: Hauser, in trying to implicate Stone, inadvertently incriminates himself, describing the suffocation.
- “She kept saying that we needed to kill her. And so how did you do it? We smiled with a pillow. Explain. How did you do that?” (A, 14:44)
- “Whether he was just ignorant of the fact that he's incriminating himself, or whether he didn't care... he couldn't do that without implicating himself also.” (A, 15:36)
8. The Trial and Justice for Julia Gardy [15:46–16:54]
- Prosecution: Stephen Clouse leads the trial with DNA and testimony as central evidence.
- “This is the state's exhibit number 28... the piece of the curtain... that contained Donald Hauser's blood stain. And right here in this hole is the place where his blood was left as he cut himself entering Mrs. Garty's residence. And it's from that small little spot there that the case was broken.” (A, 15:57)
- Outcome: Jury finds Hauser guilty after twenty minutes of deliberation. He is sentenced to life without parole; Angela Stone receives 30 years for burglary.
- “We had an eyewitness who testified. Well, we had a confession. We had physical evidence from the scene that the suspect left. And we also had physical evidence recovered four years later from his mother's home that he had stolen. All this together really made for a great case to prosecute.” (A, 16:37)
9. The Impact and Unanswered Questions [17:08–17:36]
- Community Relief: Investigators express satisfaction and relief for getting justice for Julia and the community.
- “I was happy. Happy for the family, happy for the community, happy for law enforcement that we could clear this up.” (A, 17:08)
- Lingering Senselessness: The question of "Why?" remains unanswered, underscoring the episode's tragic senselessness.
- “She was definitely no threat to anyone. But it was just really, really senseless because she would have let them have anything just to leave her alone. But they wanted, wanted more. And a really, really great woman was lost.” (A, 17:36)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “As soon as I saw the blood, I said, ah, that's great, you know, we have hope.” — Thomas Kolb (Crime Scene Technician) [04:25]
- “It was a vicious, cold blooded murder, no reason whatsoever.” — Greg Bricker (Investigator) [03:06]
- “I remember him grabbing the pillow, and I said, no, don't do that. Don’t. I knew. I knew what was gonna happen.” — Angela Stone (Accomplice/Witness) [11:35]
- “...right here in this hole is the place where his blood was left as he cut himself entering Mrs. Garty’s residence. And it's from that small little spot there that the case was broken.” — Stephen Clouse (Prosecutor) [15:57]
- “All this together really made for a great case to prosecute.” — Stephen Clouse (Prosecutor) [16:37]
- “She was definitely no threat to anyone. But it was just really, really senseless because she would have let them have anything just to leave her alone. But they wanted, wanted more. And a really, really great woman was lost.” — Unnamed speaker (Reflecting on Julia’s death) [17:36]
Timeline of Important Segments
- 02:08–03:01: Mary Lou Gardy discovers the murder scene.
- 03:01–05:36: Initial investigation and forensic evidence gathering.
- 04:16–05:04: Discovery of the bloodstain on the curtain.
- 05:36–08:06: Investigation stalls; case goes cold.
- 09:49–11:35: CODIS match to Donald Hauser; Angela Stone implicates him.
- 12:44–15:36: Interrogation and confession of Donald Hauser.
- 15:46–16:54: Trial, conviction of Hauser, and sentencing.
- 17:08–17:36: Reflections on justice served and the lingering question of motive.
Conclusion
"A Drop of Blood" embodies both the painstaking nature of cold case investigations and the incredible power of forensic breakthroughs. The episode balances procedural detail with human emotion, chronicling not just how detectives solved the case, but the lasting impact of Julia Gardy’s loss. Through a drop of blood, justice was finally delivered—even if some questions will forever remain.