Cold Case Files: REOPENED – Murder By Moonlight

A&E / PodcastOne—Jan 29, 2026
Host: Paula Barros

Episode Overview

This emotional and meticulously detailed episode tells the story of Lisa Ziegert, a beloved young woman from Agawam, Massachusetts, whose 1992 abduction and murder became one of the state’s most infamous cold cases. The episode follows the decades-long quest for justice by Lisa’s family, friends, and investigators, culminating in the shocking confession and conviction of her killer—thanks in large part to advancements in DNA and forensic technology. Through personal accounts and procedural details, listeners are given a window into the heartbreak, determination, and eventual relief experienced by all those touched by Lisa's life and loss.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Disappearance and Immediate Aftermath (01:01–10:13)

• Lisa’s Character and Life

  • Lisa Ziegert was remembered as someone who "drew people to her because she always had a smile. And when Lisa giggles, everybody giggles." – Dee Ziegert (Lisa's mother) [01:01]
  • She was working two jobs: student teaching by day, Brittany’s Card and Gift Shop by night.
  • Close siblings and loving family highlighted.

• Night of Disappearance

  • Lisa’s sister, Lynn, described her last visit to the shop and their normal, loving goodbye [02:06].
  • The next morning, Lisa failed to show up to work—immediately prompting concern as Lisa was known for her reliability.

• Discovery of Crime Scene

  • The card shop was found open, Lisa’s belongings left behind, and nothing appeared stolen.
  • Early police work detailed: lack of surveillance, signs of struggle, unlocked back door, and small traces of blood [06:12–06:26].
  • Police and community quickly mobilized; intense search ensued.

2. Community Impact and Fear (10:13–16:26)

• Lisa’s Body is Found

  • Discovered by a local resident on Easter Sunday, a mile from the shop [09:16].
  • The autopsy revealed multiple stab wounds and sexual assault [10:13, 10:37].
  • Early use of DNA profiling, though technology was limited in 1992.

• Effect on Agawam

  • Community members, especially women, were terrified—many began taking self-defense classes and altered their routines.
  • Lisa’s family, though buoyed by community support, struggled with fear and uncertainty [15:30, 15:54].

3. Dead Ends and Decades of Heartbreak (16:26–25:28)

• Investigation Focus

  • Police’s first suspect: Lisa’s boyfriend Blair. He had an alibi and was eventually cleared by DNA [17:05–17:41].
  • Investigators were inundated with leads – over 400 people of interest logged [18:48].

• Limits of Early DNA Efforts

  • Early DNA required blood samples; lack of technology limited covert sample collection [19:06–19:19].
  • Some suspects refused to provide voluntary samples.

• The Case Goes Cold

  • Despite efforts, the trail went cold, marking years of heartache and frustration for Lisa’s loved ones.
  • "My heart breaks for them and nobody deserves this." – Community Member/Investigator [19:49]

4. New Hope: Forensic Advancements and Renewed Resolve (24:22–25:53)

• New District Attorney Anthony Gallooney

  • Takes office in 2015, reprioritizes Lisa’s case: "This case is solvable and we're gonna get there." – Dee Ziegert recalling Galuni’s commitment [24:26]
  • Case files, suspects, and evidence are systematically reviewed.

• DNA Phenotyping

  • Parabon Nanolabs creates a composite sketch from the old DNA, narrowing down the suspect pool by identifying physical characteristics [25:28].

5. The Breakthrough: Confession and DNA Match (25:53–34:57)

• Narrowing the Suspects

  • The suspect list is reduced from 400 to 11, via DNA and phenotyping [25:53–26:10].
  • Grand jury compels suspects to provide DNA; key moment arises from a confession letter [26:37].

• Confession of Gary Schara

  • Schara’s girlfriend delivers a handwritten confession left behind after his disappearance: “[He] wrote that he took Lisa from her family and that he will never forgive himself.” [26:51–27:12]
  • Investigators link Schara to the case, learning he’d been reported as a person of interest during contentious divorce proceedings years earlier [28:50–29:31].
  • Schara always refused to provide a DNA sample, claiming fear of cloning [21:36, 30:12–30:43].

• DNA Evidence Seals the Case

  • Police obtain Schara’s toothbrush; the DNA matches the crime scene [32:13].
  • Emotional reaction from Lisa’s family: "It was a no way moment." – Lynn Rogerson [32:39]
  • "I have never felt anything like the feeling of relief from Dee when we were able to tell her that at least she finally had an answer." – Detective Sergeant Mark Pfau [32:46]

6. Justice and Reflection (34:08–36:38)

• Guilty Plea and Sentence
  • Schara pleads guilty to murder, rape, and kidnapping, receiving a life sentence without parole [34:57–35:14].
  • Lisa’s family finds solace in avoiding a trial: "All of our family heard for the first time how hard she fought. And I was so proud of her." – Lynn Rogerson [35:39]
  • Dee Ziegert reflects on Lisa’s enduring influence: “When I get a little down, I honestly feel a proverbial kick in the butt to say, come on, mom can’t do that … So she made such a difference in so many that she touched.” [35:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Why wouldn't they just let her go? After the first couple of years, do I think that the light burned as bright in my soul that it would be solved? It dimmed at times. I'm human, but my faith is stronger than that.”
  — Dee Ziegert (Lisa's mother) [01:01]

• “I still had faith, but I'm a realist too. And everyone knows the longer someone's missing, the less likely you are to have a happy ending.”
  — Dee Ziegert [08:28]

• “The key task to solving this case was going to be to figure out who that [DNA] belonged to.”
  — Detective Sergeant Mark Pfau [20:48]

• “We knew right away this was going to break the case right open. We all went to the Westfield State Police barracks and sure enough, four pages of handwritten notes."
  — Detective Sergeant Mark Pfau [27:12]

• “Once I read the letters, I was … Like, we gotta find this guy.”
  — Community Member/Investigator [28:28]

• “We learned that the profile developed from Gary's toothbrush matched the single source male DNA profile obtained in 1992 from Lisa Zeigert's killer.”
  — Detective Sergeant Mark Pfau [32:13]

• “I have never felt anything like the feeling of relief from Dee when we were able to tell her that at least she finally had an answer. It was without a doubt, one of the most meaningful moments of my entire life.”
  — Detective Sergeant Mark Pfau [32:46]

• “But Lisa continues to influence in many ways … So if you need a bright spot in your life, think of her. If you see a bright blue sky, think of her bright blue eyes. And if you see the sun, think of her bright warm smile.”
  — Dee Ziegert (Lisa’s mother) [35:52]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Lisa’s Disappearance Reported: [01:34]–[03:36]
• Crime Scene & Investigation: [05:45]–[07:47]
• Body Found & Community’s Response: [09:16]–[16:26]
• Early Suspects and Dead Ends: [16:43]–[18:48]
• Case Goes Cold: [19:06]–[20:33]
• DA Gallooney’s Renewed Effort & DNA Breakthroughs: [24:22]–[25:53]
• Confession Letter Received: [26:37]–[27:33]
• Schara’s Background & Evasion: [28:50]–[30:43]
• DNA Match & Family Informed: [32:13]–[32:39]
• Guilty Plea & Reflection: [34:57]–[36:38]

Summary Takeaway

Through moving firsthand recollections and meticulous procedural breakdowns, this episode captures both the heartbreak of loss and the hope kindled by relentless pursuit of justice—even after decades. The story is a tribute not only to Lisa, but also to the strength of her family and the power of forensic technology to bring long-awaited answers, and closure, to those left behind.

For more Cold Case Files, visit aetv.com