REOPENED: Nacole's Killer: Part 1

Summary

Cold Case Files – REOPENED: Nacole’s Killer: Part 1

Podcast by A&E / PodcastOne | Hosted by Paula Barros
Air date: September 25, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This gripping episode revisits the haunting murder of 14-year-old Nicole Smith in Atlanta's summer of 1995, a crime that devastated her family and community and went unsolved for nearly a decade. Host Paula Barros, along with legendary narrator Bill Curtis, chronicles a renewed investigation by cold case detectives Vince Velazquez and Russell Popham as they revisit evidence, pursue old leads, and leverage DNA technology—especially after a shocking DNA match links Nicole’s case to a nearly identical assault in 2004. The episode lays bare the emotional toll on Nicole’s loved ones and the persistence of law enforcement as they get closer to unmasking a child predator who may still be in their midst.

---

Key Discussion Points and Timeline

1. Remembering Nicole Smith and the Day of Her Murder

[00:00–03:25]

• Nicole Smith, an adored 14-year-old, was looking forward to her eighth-grade graduation in June 1995. She went missing after taking a shortcut home through the woods to retrieve forgotten homework.
• “Nicole combed out her hair and said to her mom, ‘You’re so crazy but I love you,’ and then left for school.” (Narrator, 00:54)
• Nicole was attacked, raped, and murdered in a quiet wooded area, sending shockwaves through her Atlanta community.

2. Cold Case Detectives Take Over

[03:25–05:23]

• Detectives Vince Velazquez and Russell Popham reopen the case more than 10 years later. They painstakingly review the original investigation and revisit the scene.
• Velazquez notes, “At about 8:30, she was walking to school with her sister and some friends where Nicole forgot something and turned around... shortly thereafter people reported hearing gunshots.” (03:42)
• Extensive canvassing at the time failed to yield a suspect; the trail went cold until 2004.

3. A Chilling Pattern and a DNA Breakthrough

[04:08–04:55]

• In 2004, another 13-year-old girl was assaulted in almost identical circumstances. DNA matches revealed the same perpetrator in both crimes.
• Popham points out the disturbing similarity: “It’s exactly nine years and 13 days apart and there’s no other DNA in nine years. You know, we carry this everywhere we go.” (04:31)
• Detectives now hunt an active serial predator, pushing urgency back into the case.

4. Revisiting the Crime Scene and Ruling Out Suspects

[05:23–11:16]

• Detectives reconstruct the original crime, highlighting “point-blank stippling” on Nicole's skin, indicating execution-style violence (06:28).
• They profile the killer as a local, someone “very comfortable walking through or being in this area” (Popham, 06:47).
• Interview with prison inmate Jermaine Gray, who claims in 1995 that a man named “Mac” confessed to the murder and threatened him.
  • “He said, if I tell anybody, I’m gonna kill you. I know where you stay and everything.” – Jermaine Gray (09:36)
  • Gray gives detectives names of possible associates: Keisha (couldn’t be located), Reeves (address found for follow-up).

5. Chasing Down Leads and Neighborhood Memories

[14:38–18:40]

• Detectives visit houses and conduct interviews, including with Kenneth Reeves, who went to school with Nicole. Emotional moments emerge as Reeves shares a memorial tribute: “Just a week earlier, he painted a pair of shoes in her honor.” (17:12)
• “I just did some shoes from Rest in Peace Shoes and put Nicole’s name on.” – Kenneth Reeves (17:22)
• This shows enduring community trauma and bonds, fueling investigative resolve.

6. Meeting the Mother of 2004 Survivor and the Human Toll

[18:40–20:27]

• Detectives check in on Miriam Brown, mother of the 2004 victim, reaffirming commitment to persevere:
  • “We’re not gonna rest until we do.” – Detective Velazquez (19:18)
• Brown’s words capture the agony of the families: “It feels like somebody just stuck something in your heart and pulled it out.” (19:21)

7. Engaging the Public and Following Tip Lines

[20:47–27:07]

• Detectives take the investigation public with a large billboard near the original crime scene and extensive TV news coverage.
  • “These victims deserve justice. These victims’ families deserve justice. And this is just another step... to generate more information.” – Velazquez, at the billboard unveiling (22:46)
• Almost instantly, police receive a surge of tips—though many are dead ends, as described in real time.
  • “Everyone, it seems, knows someone who looks like the sketch.” (Narrator, 25:48)

8. Revisiting Old Lead—Richard Mitchell

[27:07–29:32]

• Investigators pursue a lead from their files: Richard Mitchell, cousin of Nicole’s friend, mentioned in a 1995 tip as the possible killer.
• Mitchell is cooperative, provides a DNA sample, and offers to assist.
  • “When I saw your photo... I did say you kind of look like the sketch a little bit. Okay. And especially the gap tooth.” – Velazquez (28:41)

9. Barriers in Forensic Technology and Family DNA

[29:32–33:08]

• Forensic consultant Sharon Pagaling Hagan suggests searching the CODIS DNA database for partial matches to identify relatives of the killer.
• This "familial searching" is forbidden under current CODIS/FBI rules.
  • “What you’re talking about is a lower stringency search... We could look at that person and his family tree and see how... another male fits into this investigation.” – Velazquez (30:36–31:12)
  • “I don’t know why we couldn’t do a partial search and then leave it up to us to eliminate everybody that we get from that partial search.” – Forensic Expert (32:13)
• Investigative frustrations with privacy restrictions are laid bare, possibly hampering resolution.

10. Cliffhanger and Tease for Part 2

[33:34–33:59]

• The episode closes with a hint: a fresh tip could crack open the case—next week’s episode promises new revelations.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s nothing short of an execution is what it was.” – Det. Vince Velazquez (06:28)
• “He confessed that he killed the girl, but he didn’t say it like, he said if I tell anybody, he gonna kill me.” – Jermaine Gray (09:36)
• “It’s almost like you feel like you’re close to this guy... the carrot's dangling in front of us, and we just can’t catch it.” – Det. Velazquez (18:40)
• “No mother, no one ever wants to go through that—it feels like somebody just stuck something in your heart and pulled it out.” – Miriam Brown (19:21)
• “These victims deserve justice. These victims’ families deserve justice. And this is just another step...” – Det. Velazquez (22:46)
• “When I saw your photo, right. I did say you kind of look like the sketch a little bit. Okay. And especially the gap tooth.” – Velazquez to Richard Mitchell (28:41)
• “Some things don’t make any sense to me at all. I don’t know why we couldn’t do a partial search...” – Forensic Expert (32:13)

---

Episode Structure & Tone

• The episode moves between heartfelt interviews, methodical investigative steps, and procedural frustrations.
• Tone is somber, urgent, and empathetic, reflecting both the enduring pain of Nicole’s family and investigators’ relentless pursuit of justice.
• The dialogue uses plain, direct language true to the voices of detectives, victims' families, and community members.

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Nicole’s last morning: 00:00–01:45
• Crime scene revisit: 03:25–06:28
• Interview with Jermaine Gray: 07:11–10:33
• Follow-up visits in neighborhood: 14:38–18:40
• Family impact, meeting Miriam Brown: 18:40–20:27
• Billboard/public appeal: 22:20–24:21
• Lead with Richard Mitchell: 27:07–29:32
• CODIS/familial DNA debate: 29:32–33:08
• Ending teaser: 33:34–33:59

---

Conclusion:
Episode 1 of “REOPENED: Nacole’s Killer” masterfully interweaves cold case detective work with the emotional landscape of a grieving community and the limitations of forensic systems. The episode closes on a cliffhanger, promising that a crucial, potentially case-solving tip is on the horizon. Listeners are left with a sense of hope–tempered by frustration–for long-awaited justice in Nicole Smith’s tragic case.

Transcript

[Narrator]

From 1989 to 1995, nurse Kristen Gilbert murdered four of her patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical center in Massachusetts, and she's suspected of killing dozens more. On Mind of a Monster, a podcast from ID, criminal psychologist Dr. Michelle Ward dives into Kristen Gilbert's twisted mind to try and find out why she killed her patients and and how she was able to do it in front of her colleagues. She speaks with detectives, journalists, nurses and victims families to unpack Gilbert's life and crimes on Ward C. Listen to Mind of a Monster the Killer Nurse wherever you get your podcasts An A and E original podcast, this episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Use your best judgment. Nicole Smith was 14 years old in June of 1995. She was excited that it was almost time for summer break and she couldn't wait to pick out a dress for her eighth grade graduation. On Wednesday, June 7, Nicole woke up, got dressed for school, played with her baby cousin for a few minutes and threw her hair into a ponytail. Her mom told her she should pay more attention to her hair since they were going dress shopping after school. Nicole combed out her hair and said to her mom, you're so crazy but I love you and then left for school. Nicole walked to school with her older sister and some friends, but when they arrived, she realized she had left her homework at her house. Wanting to keep her a student status, Nicole took a shortcut through the woods to go home and get it. She was never seen alive again. Inside those woods, a man attacked, raped and murdered Nicole Smith. Her case, like so many other cold cases would never be solved. At least not as of the recording of this podcast. But the evidence gathered in her case file plays a key roll when the killer strikes again. From A and E. This is Cold Case Files. I'm Brooke and here's the legendary Bill Curtis with a special two part episode, Nicole's Killer.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

I want to picture myself here and try to picture how this happened.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Vince Velazquez is a cold Case detective.

[Captain Russell Popham]

This is not an area that a stranger would have just staked out to sexually assault a 14 year old girl.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Russell Popham is his partner.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Are we going to walk away today with the name of the person did it know? But it gives us a better concept.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Of what we're dealing with in these woods. More than 10 years ago, 14 year old Nicole Smith was raped and murdered. Now Cold Case Files is given complete access as Fulton County's Cold Case squad renews the hunt for Nicole's killer.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Okay, this is our conference room slash war room as it relates to the Nicole Smith case. This here would be the murder in 95.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Velazquez and Popham begin with a review of the Smith homicide.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

At about 8:30, she was walking to school with her sister and some friends where Nicole forgot something and turned around. They were in a wooded path. And shortly thereafter people reported hearing gunshots. The neighborhood was canvassed, hundreds and hundreds of homes were canvassed and people were talked to, statements were taken and basically this case went cold and of course, rustled until 2004.

[Captain Russell Popham]

June 20th of 2004, at around 9:50pm, 13 year old victim was walking up the street, approached by mail, pulled into a wooded lot, overgrown lot, and raped.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Detectives knew their killer was back when DNA from the 2004 rape matched to the 1995 Smith murder.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

You know, automatically we know our guy's back, but, you know, I guess the troubling thing is the fact that it's exactly nine years and 13 days apart and there's no other DNA in nine years. You know, we carry this everywhere we go.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Besides the DNA profile, cold case detectives have one other piece of compelling evidence tacked to the walls of their squadron.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

This is what he looks like right here. According to the rape victim. This is him that he was. She was raped. This is what she says he looked like right here.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Papa Men. Velazquez need to find this man before he finds another child. They start by returning to the woods where Nicole Smith was raped and murdered and recreating the crime scene.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

This is it. This is where we were last time we were here. All right, so we're gonna start with that.

[Forensic Expert]

We do not have a crime scene sketch in the Nicole Smith case that is critical for trial.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Well, we had word that that area is going to be developed. And so our fear was in a year the trees would be torn down and commercial development would take place and we would lose that opportunity. But this is the position she was in when she was shot. Based on the fact that she was shot above the eye and the bullet exited at her left ear would suggest that she was looking at him when he shot her.

[Forensic Expert]

The only viable defense would be consent, that is that he had consensual sex with her, left her, and then someone came by and shot her. A crime scene sketch can help you disprove that defense because it can help you recreate the crime. And when you recreate the crime, you're able to see the truth of exactly what happened to Nicole.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Point blank stippling on the, on the skin, which means the gun was in close contact to the skin when he shot her. And it's nothing short of an execution is what it was.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Whoever killed Nicole Smith most likely knew these woods. In other words, the killer could be a local.

[Captain Russell Popham]

We feel the person was very comfortable walking through or being in this area because it's not an area that. That a stranger would really know about.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

You know, like I said, this same guy is somebody who is probably still living in this neighborhood. And it's not so much now. We need to find the person from back then. Those are the people we're looking for, people who would know this guy from back then.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Detectives next step, pay a visit to a man from back then. A man who detectives suspect might know the name of Nicole's killer.

[Captain Russell Popham]

We're going to prison in northwest Georgia, and we're going to talk to an inmate at this prison that back in 1995, he had shared some information and some knowledge, possibly about the murder of Nicole Smith.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The inmate's name, Jermaine Gray.

[Captain Russell Popham]

So Jermaine Gray knew Nicole Smith. He knew her sister, he knew her mother. You know, he grew up with him.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

He mentioned that he knew who killed her. That was his statement in 95. And he mentioned a guy named Mac.

[Captain Russell Popham]

I guess the adrenaline is flowing because it's going to take just an inch of information for us to gain to go a mile with it.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Just after 10am Gray is brought down from his cell.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Hey, Jermaine, you doing okay? Come down, sit over here. I think you, you know why we're here. Okay? You knew Nicole, you knew her mother. So obviously you want to help us, you know, have the person arrested that did this and convicted, right?

[Jermaine Gray]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Okay. You know, I just want to talk to you again about this. In 1995, you know, what you were doing the day that Nicole got killed.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

He's not a suspect through DNA, he's been eliminated. So he seems like he wants to help. He seems sincere, but he's either really, really confused or he is just, you know, yanking our chain, for lack of a better word. So we're not quite sure what he's doing yet. We're gonna try and figure that out.

[Jermaine Gray]

I was in class. I was going to Thera High School back then.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Okay?

[Jermaine Gray]

That's when we walked up the hill. And I seen everything. The crime scene police with the tape around her, and I seen her sister crying. We like, what's wrong with you? She, like, her sister in the woods, dead. You know what I'm saying? Somebody killed her sister. But we had just told her, according.

[Narrator/Reporter]

To Gray Rumors surfaced that a man.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Named Mac had killed Nicole when Jermaine was by himself. That's when this Mack character confronted him and said, basically, if you tell anybody or I hear you mention it again, I will kill you.

[Jermaine Gray]

And just out of nowhere, he just. You know what I'm saying? Jumped out with a gun in his hand. He said, if you tell anybody, I'm gonna shoot you. I know where you stay and everything. So I went back and told all my homeboy. I said, man, you know, Matt just pulled the gun out on me. He confessed that he killed the girl, but he didn't say it like, he said, if I tell anybody, he gonna kill me.

[Captain Russell Popham]

As far as saying, is it like McCain McElroy? Is it something like that? Or is this a nickname off the street or whatever? And we can never get a definite answer on who Mack was. I met, you know, was there some. Some girl that we can go to today that can point us in the right direction onto who Mac is?

[Jermaine Gray]

He had 12 girls. You know what I'm saying?

[Captain Russell Popham]

You remember their names?

[Jermaine Gray]

I just know one name.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Keisha.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Keisha. Right now, I'm in a rock and a hard place, so I have to rely on him. I mean, you know, like I said, he gave us a couple leads here, and I'm going to hopefully be optimistic about it and turn into something positive. Thank you, Jermaine.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

All right.

[Captain Russell Popham]

He mentioned a girl named Keisha that lived in Landrum Arms.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Back in the squadroom, Popham shares specifics of the Greg interview with his partner and this Keisha.

[Captain Russell Popham]

And he explained right where the. Right where her apartment was. It's like, at the end, right across from the Candy Lady. The Candy lady was the last building on the left.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Okay. And I was like, hold on a second. You know what? There's a Keisha. Hold on. Let me grab the file for a second.

[Captain Russell Popham]

I remember there is a Keisha Menu.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Does that name ring about you?

[Captain Russell Popham]

I mean, he talked about Keisha. He said that, you know, that Mac, that was one of Mac's girlfriends.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Okay.

[Captain Russell Popham]

He also talked about, you know, he believes that there's a little core group of people that know everything.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The woman ID'd as Keisha cannot be located by detectives. A second name mentioned by Gray, however, appears to hold some promise.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Try this. Reeves. He lives on Kimberly Road.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Kimberly Road.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Dad drives a taxicab and lives in a pink house. We were just able to figure out the address on Kimberly Road where both of these people live. We're going to go there tomorrow and just see what's going on. See if I've got a couple of names for detectives.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It's the break they've been waiting for, I think.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

I mean, I think the visit with Jermaine was definitely worthwhile today. Definitely. So I'm looking forward to seeing these guys tomorrow.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Tomorrow, cold case detectives will head out in search of a pink house and a man named Mac.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Well, first, just take a look at this man and tell me, does that look like anybody you Remember back from 95?

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

This episode is brought to you by IQ Bar, our exclusive snack and hydration sponsor. IQ Bar is the better for you Plant protein based snack made with brain boosting nutrients to refuel, nourish and satisfy hunger without the sugar crash. One of the best ways to try IQ Bar is with their Ultimate Sampler Pack. You get nine of their protein bars, eight IQ Mix sticks and four IQ Joe sticks all in one box between the bars, the hydration mixes and the instant coffee and it feels like there's something for every part of my day. I love knowing these snacks are made with clean ingredients. No gluten, dairy, soy, GMOs or artificial sweeteners. Just fuel that actually makes you feel good both physically and mentally. And here's the best IQ Bar isn't just smart fuel. It actually tastes amazing. From mint chocolate chip protein bars to blueberry pomegranate hydration mixes and toasted hazelnut IQ Joe, there's a flavor for every mood. With over 20,000 five star reviews and counting, it's no wonder more and more people are making IQ Bar part of their daily routine. Their Ultimate Sampler pack is the perfect way to start for me. IQ Bar has become part of my everyday rhythm. I'll kick off the morning with an IQ Joe. Keep an IQ Bar in my bag for when the afternoon slump hits and refuel after a workout with an IQ Mix. It makes it so easy to stay energized and focused without the crash. And right now, IQ Bar is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQ Bar products including the sampler pack, plus free shipping. To get your 20% off, text cold to 64,000. Text cold to 64,000 that's cold to 64,000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details.

[Narrator]

Nine years after Nicole was raped and murdered, her cold case came back to light. In 2004, a 13 year old girl who preferred not to be identified by name was also assaulted by the same man with a DNA match to prove it. This time the victim lived and was able to provide details to a police Sketch artist about the suspect's appearance. Now police are hunting a serial rapist, one who could strike a gun.

[Captain Russell Popham]

This is one of the houses that Mrs. Gray told us about yesterday.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Vince Velasquez and Russell Popham are tracking a killer. A man who murdered 14 year old Nicole Smith more than 10 years ago and who detectives believe might still live in this neighborhood.

[Captain Russell Popham]

And we were able to search on the. Just the database of police calls, and we think this is the right house. We'll go see East Point police in Atlanta. Police, can we talk to you?

[Narrator/Reporter]

An informant named Jermaine Gray has id'd a man who might have information on the murder. His name? Steve Reeves.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Steve is one of the. One of the guys that Jermaine Gray said that used to hang out with him back in 1995.

[Captain Russell Popham]

We're here. We're sort of at a shot in the dark. So you know the Reeves that live around here? The Reeves family?

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Right there.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Okay.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

They live right there.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Their house used to be pink or something.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Yes, it did.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Used to, huh. I'm Captain Popham. I work with the East Point Police Department. And Detective Velasquez is right here. He works at Atlanta Police Department.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Oh. You okay? All right. Nicole Smith. Yeah, that's what we're doing. We're investigating that case. We work cold cases. So we talked to a couple individuals and somebody gave us a name. Steve, perhaps Steve Reeves. It might be your son.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The woman says there is no Steve Reeves, but she has a son named Kenneth who might be able to help.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

We're gonna go see her son now. So I talked to him on the phone. He's really, really willing to help us. So he's right down the street. So we're gonna go over there real quick and go see him. This is what we do. Knocking on doors and getting information. I'm Detective Velasquez. This is Captain Popham. He's with East Point. Do you know anybody named Mac from back then? I used to go by the name of Mac. Not really. You don't have no real name? No real name. She was a good friend to me or whatever. I wish I could help you out, you know, like you knew her. You knew the. Yeah, I knew. Yeah, we was all in the same class and stuff. Well, here's the thing, man. Here's where we're at with this. The guy that killed Nicole that you remember back in the day from the crime, has now raped the girl nine years later in East Point. Didn't kill her, though. So he's back and you See what I'm saying? Was there anybody that kind of looked like this back when you was going to school, hanging out around there? Cause this is him. According to the girl that got raped, this is the guy that killed Nicole. See what I'm saying? That's a picture.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Kenneth doesn't recognize the face and tells police Nicole's murder still haunts him. Just a week earlier, he painted a pair of shoes in her honor.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

I just did some shoes from Rest in Peace Shoes and put Nicole's name on. Did you really? What made you do that, man? All of a sudden? What'd you think about that? Just was on your mind? Yeah. When he brought the shoe out and he showed me, I really was surprised, you know, because I didn't know what to expect. It really showed me that this guy is somebody who. One of many people from that community who, you know, still think about that, you know? And that's. You know, that's what keeps us going. Really?

[Captain Russell Popham]

People still talk about this out here.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Or kind of like it just looks like it ain't never diet? Yeah, whatever you can come up with, man. I mean, even if you don't think it's good, let me know about it, because you never know. I mean, it could be something that you think is nothing, and that little something could turn into something big. So, you know, put your ear to the ground, man. See what you can come up with. I definitely. I definitely will get back with you or let you know, whatever I can find out, sir. Okay. Sounds good, man. Appreciate it. Thank you. It's almost like you feel like you're close to this guy. It's like we're knocking on the right doors, and we're talking to the right people, so it's almost like the carrots dangling in front of us, and we just can't catch it. We just can't grab it yet.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Velazquez and Popham find themselves in the neighborhood of Miriam Brown, the mother of the rape victim from 2004. They decide to stop in.

[Captain Russell Popham]

We're here, you know, 15 months, basically, after. After the incident happened. And we're just letting you know that, you know, we're still out here. We're still doing. And, of course, I'm fortunate. I get to see you a lot.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

We're just gonna ask her to tell us what she remembers again. And, you know, who knows what she'll say? Who knows what she'll remember?

[Captain Russell Popham]

It's obviously taken a lot longer than I wanted it to take, and a minute is too long, but it's taking A lot longer.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

So that means we're gonna catch.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Exactly. And we're not gonna rest until we do.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Okay, well, at some point what we want to do also is we want to re interview your daughter. You know, and just because every little detail, sometimes it takes a while for little things to come back out. You guys are part of my family and you just don't know how that makes me feel. Cause that's a terrible feeling. No mother, no one ever wants to go through that because it feels like somebody just stuck something in your heart and pulled it out, you know, I know you guys are working hard and it don't matter how long it take, we're gonna catch him.

[Captain Russell Popham]

We come over here and see her and she just again gives us energy and gives us a reason to do what we do. And this is the whole reason of being an investigator, to solve cases like this, so other families won't have to go through what she is going through, but also to give her some kind of satisfaction and closure.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

It makes you want to hug your children a little tighter because you see what they're going through and I can only imagine what I would be going through.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The Nicole Smith investigation is moving forward slowly, one source at a time. Detectives decide to up the ante and go public with their hunt.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

We want you to take a look at this picture. If you think you saw anything or know any information, please call the number on your screen.

[Captain Russell Popham]

We still feel that this guy is right here with us. We've got the DNA profile, but still getting out here, just knocking on doors, talking to people, that type of, of work we feel is really what's going to solve this.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Captain Russell Popham and Detective Vince Velazquez are tracking a killer. A man who murdered 14 year old Nicole Smith in 1995. It's a crime this community has not forgotten.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

What do we want? Justice. We want it. Nicole Smith could not make this walk. But her mother, aunt and countless others did. In her name. It's not a day go by that I don't think about her often. It's not a day go by that I don't cry, cry. I sure miss him. And if I didn't love her, I wouldn't be out here today trying to get some answers.

[Narrator/Reporter]

More than 10 years after her daughter's death, Aquanella Smith is still waiting for answers.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

I have my moments. Sometimes I get home from work, I pull out every piece of paperwork, every article in the newspaper, every picture. Well, we're gonna keep going so, you know, we're not, we're not stopping. You know, as long as I'm working in apd, I'm, I'm on this case. So.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Detectives Velasquez and Popham have good reason to offer Acquinella fresh hope.

[Captain Russell Popham]

We're very excited about this. This, this billboard going up. And it's going up again right in the killer's backyard, the victim's backyard.

[Narrator/Reporter]

On a gray morning In December of 2005, a billboard with the sketch of the suspect will be unveiled less than a mile from the spot where Nicole Smith was murdered.

[Captain Russell Popham]

Wow.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Looks real good.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Just after 10am Cold case detectives as well as the local media got their first look.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

What we have behind us is a billboard and it's showing a composite of a suspect that we that has been linked from a 1995 murder in Atlanta of a young girl and a rape in East Point in June of 2004. Why are you taking this step now? These victims deserve justice. These victims families deserve justice. And this is just another step that we want to take as law enforcement to get this information out, to try to generate some more information.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Homes.com knows that when it comes to home shopping, it's never just about the house or condo. It's about the home. And what makes a home is more than just the house or property. It's the location and neighborhood. If you have kids. It's also schools, nearby, parks and transportation options. That's why homes.com goes above and beyond to bring home shoppers the in depth information they need to find the right home. And when I say in depth, I'm talking deep. Each listing features comprehensive information about the neighborhood, complete with a video guide. They also have details about local schools with test scores, state rankings and student to teacher ratio. They even have an agent directory with the sales history of each agent. So when it comes to finding a home, not just a house, this is everything you need to know all in1place.homes.com We've done your homework.

[Narrator/Reporter]

A new efforts to catch a killer spark interest in a cold case. Within the hour, the image of the killer is carried live on TV screens across Atlanta. Good afternoon, Eleanor.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Well, good afternoon. Now many people not just here in southwest Atlanta, but also all across the metro area, remember the death of 14 year old Nicole Smith.

[Captain Russell Popham]

The media to us, I've always used it as a tool, a very positive tool because television media, I mean it goes out to hundreds of thousands of households every evening. And if we can just get. All it takes is one person that has the right information to give us a call. And this Case is solved.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

We want you to take a look at this picture. If you think you saw anything or know any information, please call the number on your screen. 1888-old-TIPS. They want you to call it right now. We are live in southwest Atlanta. Eleanorora Andrews, Channel 2 Action News at noon.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Cold case tip line. As soon as they aired that Live at noon, I had the tip line folded into my phone immediately started ringing. We started getting calls in. Yes, I was calling to see if there was a way to get more information on. I was watching the Channel 5 news. I didn't think it would take take long, but that was pretty quick. How you doing, victim?

[Captain Russell Popham]

I called you a while ago with information about.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Yeah, yeah, I remember. I remember what you said. You got some new information.

[Narrator/Reporter]

He's a regular in the area.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Okay. I mean, he resembles the picture, but you can tell he's aged a little bit. He's aged.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Tipsters point detectives to a cabled guy, a card shark, and a regular at a local bar. Everyone, it seems, knows someone who looks like the sketch.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

These are very sketchy. One guy's somebody knocking on doors. The other guy's a guy walking around downtown. So there's not much we can do with that right now. Here we go. Here's another one. Cold case tip line. Well, what do you got? He looks like your boyfriend. Does he wear glasses, your boyfriend? Does he. Has he ever been arrested before? So she was a little apprehensive to meet us at first, but we kind of convinced her everything would be okay. Leaving now. I'm gonna be right at the entrance in a black car with dark windows. Okay, this is probably the best one we got. She's got a photo, she's got a name, and we can follow up with that. So what we'll do is sit over there and I car and then let her come up.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Detectives hunker down in the parking lot. Fifteen minutes later, the tipster pulls in.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

How you doing today? All right. The initial appearance of the photograph, it didn't appear to look anything like the composite to us. On a scale of one to ten, I'm like eight and a half that it's not him.

[Captain Russell Popham]

I mean, it doesn't look like him.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

It doesn't look like him. And you won't hear from him.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The tip appears to be a dead end. Velasquez and Popham, however, forge ahead. Back at the office, they dig into a stack of fresh leads.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

How are you? I think you called our cold case tip line yesterday. Yeah, I did. Okay.

[Narrator/Reporter]

What you Got one lead in particular catches the detective's attention. It involves a name Velazquez noticed in the old murder file.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Basically, we're going to see a guy whose name was mentioned in the file on the note, a scribbled note by a detective back in 1995. It was a call that was received, an anonymous caller saying that this person killed Nicole Smith.

[Narrator/Reporter]

This person is named Richard Mitchell.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Richard Mitchell is the cousin of one of Nicole's good friends from back in the day. There's no statement from him back in 95, but someone phoned in and said Richard Mitchell killed Nicole Smith. We're trying to eliminate as many people as we can. So what we're going to try and do is ask him to submit to an oral swab so we can test his DNA against our sample. Russell, if you want to come too.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Just after 2pm, Velazquez and Papa meet Richard Mitchell.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

This is a consent for oral swabs. This is in relation to the Nicole Smith case. And he was more than willing to give us that. No hesitation whatsoever. Very cooperative. So what we're doing is we're trying to contact everybody that's in that file and swab them. Now, I will say this. When I saw your photo, right. I did say you kind of look like the sketch a little bit. Okay. And especially the gap tooth.

[Narrator/Reporter]

After he gets the DNA, Velazquez switches gears, treating Mitchell less like a suspect and more like an ally in the hunt for Nicole's killer.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

You know, our initial reaction is that, you know, probably it's not going to be. Our guy told us if we needed anything else, we can come back to him. He remembered the case. He remembered Nicole. He felt very bad about what happened to her, and he was willing to help us in any way he could remember. This is what he looked like in 2004. This is what she said somebody said he looked like back in 95. But it's supposed to be the same person, right? So anybody that looked like either of these two guys that you know of from back in the day is who we want to know about. See, what I'm gonna do with these is ask some people that I think might know, too. Might know more than me, right? You know, Right? Cool. All right, man. Appreciate it, man. Appreciate the cooperation. We'll be talking soon.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It could be months before Richard Mitchell's DNA work is returned from the laboratory. The person by person elimination is tedious, expensive, and time consuming. Back in the office, detectives take a conference call from a woman who offers the equivalent of a forensic shortcut Hello?

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Hey, Sharon. Hey. Hey, it's Vincent Russell here.

[Narrator/Reporter]

For the past year, Sharon Pagaling Hagan has been working up a profile of Nicole Smith's killer. Today, however, Sharon wants to talk DNA and tells detectives about an innovative way to use the CODIS system.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

I think this is a DNA case, right? And as soon as the chances. I still like the idea of searching.

[Forensic Expert]

CODIS for, you know, any people that.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Are, you know, 50% or more match.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Hagan is suggesting detectives broaden the parameters of their CODIS search, looking not only for an exact match, but also for any partial matches. In other words, to search for individuals who have a similar genetic makeup as the killer.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

What you're talking about is a lower stringency search. And the reason that these guys want.

[Narrator]

To do it is because then we could possibly get the names of relatives.

[Forensic Expert]

They could go check out these individuals.

[Narrator]

And see if they've got siblings, you.

[Forensic Expert]

Know, fathers, sons, that possibly could be.

[Narrator]

The person that murdered and a couple.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

And then we can actually look at those hits, those 50% hits, and then see how they fit into our investigation. Those people, Right? Yes. We could look at that person and his family tree and see how some. Another male fits into this investigation. I would suspect that if we did get a hit on a male relative of him, I think it would just be a matter of minutes. I mean, it would literally be. Once I look at that person and look at every male relative, you know, four times removed, I think we'd have them.

[Forensic Expert]

I contacted the GBI to attempt to run a partial CODIS search, and they advised that the to do that would violate their contract or their license agreement with the FBI and codis so that they cannot do that at all. It's a very powerful database. It is, you know, it's storing a person's genetic code and it stores hundreds and thousands of genetic codes across the country. So I can, through privacy concerns, I can understand why they wouldn't want to do certain things, but some things don't make any sense to me at all. I don't know why we couldn't do a partial search and then leave it up to us to eliminate everybody that we get from that partial search.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It is not the first time detectives have been stymied by CODIS guidelines. A second significant restriction involves suspects themselves who agree to give a voluntary sample to detectives.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Like, today, we swab somebody today. That DNA profile can only be compared to what we have. It does not allow that profile to be entered in codis. Although that person might have offended, it might be Perhaps, you know, he very well could have a sample out there floating around in codis. That this person is responsible for a crime, we'll never know because the only thing we can do is compare it to our sample and that's it, you know, which is another guideline and rule of CODIS that you can't do that. So I guess this is just another, you know, one of those obscure rules that, you know. And if it's a rule, you know, I'm of the opinion that, you know, we can change those, you know, we just, you know, it's a matter of finding the right people, you know, so that's something I'm certainly going to work on.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Despite the optimism, coda's rules prohibit the expanded search. Meanwhile, a child rapist and killer remains at large. And detectives turn up a hot lead.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

This 13 year old girl came up with this description of the man a brother wanted for rape and murder.

[Narrator]

Almost 10 years after Nicole Smith was brutally murdered, detectives were yet again facing a dead end. Privacy laws prevented them from expanding their search in the CODIS DNA database. And this newest roadblock threatened to put Nicole's case back on the shelf. That is, until a tip came in that might crack the case wide open. Next week on Cold Case Files, that tip will come to light.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Foreign.

[Narrator/Reporter]

CBS hits are streaming free on Pluto tv. Coming in for this month only. Stream full episodes of Matlock.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

I'm a lawyer.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Like the old TV show Fire Country.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Elsbeth, I do love a mystery.

[Narrator/Reporter]

NCIS origins, Watson and ghosts.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

What the hell? This is the most amazing sight I've never seen.

[Narrator/Reporter]

All for free. The CBS shows you love this month only on Pluto tv. Stream now. Pay never.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Not great with finances. That's okay. Experian is your big financial friend. Explore credit card offers, some labeled no Ding decline, which means if you're not approved, they won't hurt your credit scores. See experian.com for details. Applying for no Ding decline cards won't hurt your credit scores if you aren't initially approved. 2025 Experian.

[Detective Vince Velazquez]

Experian.