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.