BONUS: Kristi Koslow and Brian Salter (Snapped: Killer Couples)

Summary

Snapped: Women Who Murder – Bonus Episode: Kristi Koslow and Brian Salter (Snapped: Killer Couples)
Release Date: February 12, 2025

---

Introduction to the Case

In this gripping bonus episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves into the chilling murder of Karen Koslow and the subsequent unraveling of a deadly conspiracy involving her own daughter, Kristi Koslow, and Kristi's boyfriend, Brian Salter. This true crime narrative explores themes of wealth, betrayal, and the dark complexities of familial relationships.

---

The Horrifying Crime

On the early morning of March 12, 1992, the affluent River Crest neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas—a community known for its low crime rates and high-profile residents—was shattered by a brutal attack on the high-society couple, Karen and Jack Koslow.

Host 2 sets the scene:
"An affluent community is rocked when a high society couple falls victim to a horrifying crime." [01:59]

Narrator adds chilling details:
"There was a near massacre inside that bedroom. He is beaten severely and lucky to get out of it alive." [02:06]

Upon arrival, investigators were met with a gruesome sight. Karen Koslow had been brutally attacked; her throat was nearly severed, leaving her partially clothed and lifeless on the bedroom floor. Her husband, Jack Koslow, was found battered but alive, bloodied, and struggling to communicate his ordeal.

Detective 1 poignantly describes the scene:
"Her throat had been cut. It was an extremely bloody crime scene." [02:18]

---

Initial Investigation and Suspicion

The Fort Worth Police began piecing together the chaotic crime scene, initially suspecting a motive related to financial disputes. Host 2 muses:
"Had the couple been targeted for their wealth?" [02:06]
Detective 2 responds:
"There were a lot of disagreements over money?" [02:27]

However, as the investigation deepened, inconsistencies emerged. Despite River Crest's reputation for security, detectives found no evidence of a typical burglary. Valuable items remained untouched, and the manner of the assault suggested a more personal motive.

Detective 3 reflects:
"There was no ransacking for jewelry, no picking up of valuable items that weren't even hidden." [13:40]

---

Jack Koslow’s Account and Growing Suspicion

Jack Koslow provided his account of the night, claiming that intruders forced their way into the home, leading to the tragic assault. However, discrepancies in his story raised red flags among investigators.

Detective 3 questions:
"He stated that because of the blood in his eyes, he couldn't see the keypad well enough to dial 911. Even when you can't see, you know where the 9 and the ones are on the telephone. That didn't make a lot of sense to me." [17:48]

Additionally, the presence of blood on Jack's hands and the nature of his injuries led detectives to scrutinize his testimony closely.

Detective 1 comments:
"You have her husband who survived it with, on the surface, a lot less injury than what she had. That automatically raises questions." [15:11]

---

Unveiling Family Dynamics: Introduction of Christy Koslow

Jack and Karen Koslow were not only prominent figures in the banking industry but also known for their philanthropic efforts within the community. However, beneath the veneer of success and generosity lay underlying marital tensions, exacerbated by Jack's decision to retire from banking and venture into a new business.

Host 2 notes:
"They had gone to some counseling." [23:26]

Karen's substantial trust fund of $4 million added another layer of complexity, positioning her as the primary financial pillar of the family.

Detective 3 explains:
"Jack actually left the banking industry. He was looking at buying a business that dealt in ceiling fans." [23:39]

Amidst the turmoil, attention began to shift towards Jack's 17-year-old daughter, Christy Koslow, especially as the investigation revealed strained relationships and potential motives rooted in inheritance and familial entitlement.

---

A Break in the Case: Paul Carrillo’s Testimony

Two weeks into the investigation, a pivotal breakthrough occurred when Paul Carrillo, a 20-year-old man, contacted investigators with information that redirected the inquiry towards unexpected suspects.

Detective 3 recounts:
"He sat there with me and told me about Jeffrey Dillingham, how this guy had come to him and confessed to murdering Karen Koslow." [29:00]

Carrillo presented physical evidence linking Jeffrey Dillingham and Brian Salter, Christy's boyfriend, to the crime scene. Among the items was Jack Koslow's wallet, a bloody pry bar believed to be the murder weapon, and other incriminating artifacts.

Detective 3 emphasizes the significance:
"There was blood on the crowbar that turned out to have very high evidentiary value." [30:04]

---

Confronting the New Suspects

With the new evidence in hand, detectives apprehended Jeffrey Dillingham and Brian Salter for interrogation. Contrary to expectations, Jeffrey chose to cooperate, leading to the shocking revelation that Christy Koslow orchestrated the murders.

Detective 3 reveals:
"Christy told Brian she would inherit millions of dollars if her dad and stepmom were out of the way. She was going to share that inheritance with Brian and Jeffrey. I think the two of them were going to get a million dollars a piece." [34:19]

This revelation painted a vivid picture of a calculated plot driven by greed and youthful manipulation.

---

The Role of Christy Koslow

Further investigation into Christy's motivations uncovered deep-seated resentment towards her parents. Despite conspicuous wealth, Christy felt entitled to inherit her father's fortune, despite clear stipulations in Karen's will excluding her from any inheritance.

Detective 3 laments:
"Christy felt that she deserved to live a lifestyle that she could only get if her dad and stepmother were dead and she was willing to do whatever it took to get to that end." [40:25]

Christy's manipulation of Brian and Jeffrey underscored a tragic narrative of ambition and moral decay, leading them to commit heinous acts under her influence.

---

Trial and Convictions

The legal proceedings swiftly unfolded following the confessions and the mounting evidence against the trio.

Jeffrey Dillingham faced trial first, where his detailed confession sealed his fate. On August 11, 1993, he was convicted on all charges and sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Detective 3 summarizes the outcome:
"He rolled the dice and he lost. The jury looked at the facts of this case and thought it's so horrible that he simply deserved to die for it." [43:21]

Brian Salter opted for a plea deal, testifying against Christy in exchange for a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 35 years.

Christy Koslow's trial was equally swift. Despite her initial confessions, she pleaded not guilty, claiming minimal involvement and denying her role as the mastermind. However, the overwhelming evidence and testimonies led to her conviction. On June 30, 1994, Christy was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 35 years.

Detective 3 reflects on the tragedy:
"It's such a tragic story. This astounded me. One of the most bizarre cases that I'd ever been involved in. The real tragedy was the death of Karen Koslow and the loss by Jack Koslow of his wife." [46:57]

---

Aftermath and Reflections

The case left an indelible mark on all involved, particularly Jack Koslow, who not only lost his wife but also grappled with the betrayal by his own daughter.

Narrator poignantly captures the emotional devastation:
"She was going to share that inheritance with Brian and Jeffrey. I think the two of them were going to get a million dollars a piece." [34:19]

Jack's discovery that Christy was behind the meticulously planned murders added layers of heartbreak and fury, highlighting the depths of familial betrayal.

---

Conclusion

This poignant episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder underscores the destructive power of greed and manipulation within family dynamics. The tragic loss of Karen Koslow and the subsequent unraveling of deceit within the Koslow family serve as a stark reminder of how ambition and entitlement can lead to unimaginable horrors.

Detective 1 concludes:
"This is a 17-year-old girl. How in the world she got to the point where she somehow felt that this was the only way to get what she wanted. And she didn't care what happened to everybody else." [46:25]

The Koslow case remains a haunting example of how appearances can be deceiving, and how beneath the surface of success and philanthropy can lie dark, destructive motives.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Detective 1:
  "Her throat had been cut. It was an extremely bloody crime scene." [02:18]

• Detective 3:
  "There was blood on the crowbar that turned out to have very high evidentiary value." [30:04]

• Detective 1:
  "This is a 17-year-old girl. How in the world she got to the point where she somehow felt that this was the only way to get what she wanted." [46:25]

---

This detailed examination provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate and tragic events surrounding the Koslow family murders, highlighting the complexities of human relationships and the darkest corners of ambition and betrayal.

Transcript

[Host 1]

Finding a therapist you trust shouldn't be stressful or cost you a fortune. That's why today's sponsor, Rula was formed. RULA connects you with high quality, vetted, licensed mental health professionals that are suited for you. And here's the best part. They take most major insurance plans. That means instead of paying hundreds out of pocket, you could pay as little as $15 per session. Rula helps you with the process of finding a therapist who is the right match for your needs. Plus, getting started is easy. They ask you a few questions about what you're looking for in a therapist. Then RULA matches you with in network providers who fit your criteria. You can book your first session and begin your journey to better your mental health. Thousands have already trusted RULA to support them on their journey toward improved mental health and overall well being. Head over to rula.com snapt to get started today. After you sign up, they ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them our show sent you. Go to rula.com snapped and take the first step toward better mental health today. You deserve quality care from someone who cares.

[Host 2]

If you're a woman over 40 dealing with hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, moodiness or weight gain, you don't have to accept it as just another part of aging. The experts at MIDI Health know all these symptoms can be connected to the hormonal changes of menopause and MITI can help with safe, effective, FDA approved solutions covered by insurance, 91% of MITI patients get relief from symptoms within just two months. Book your virtual visit [e-mail] hi Snap listeners.

[Host 1]

We are bringing you a special bonus episode today from Oxygen's hit series Killer Couples. You can also watch full episodes live or on demand on the free Oxygen app or or on Peacock by clicking the link in our description. Enjoy.

[Host 2]

An affluent community is rocked when a high society couple falls victim to a horrifying crime.

[Narrator]

There was a near massacre inside that bedroom. He is beaten severely and lucky to get out of it alive.

[Detective 1]

Her throat had been cut. It was an extremely bloody crime scene.

[Host 2]

Had the couple been targeted for their wealth?

[Detective 2]

There were a lot of disagreements over money?

[Host 2]

Or were there more personal motives at play?

[Detective 3]

There were some that believed that this was a staged crime scene.

[Detective 1]

You have her husband who survived it with, on the surface, a lot less injury than what she had.

[Host 2]

In the midst of a chaotic investigation, a twisted romance emerges. And at the heart of it all is a deadly conspiracy fueled by desperation and greed.

[Witness 1]

She said that she would pay him she told us to plan. She just said, do it quietly.

[Narrator]

That just completely open wide the investigation. And there was no turning back after that.

[Detective 2]

They plotted a cold murder.

[Detective 1]

They felt that this was the only way to get what they wanted.

[Witness 2]

That sense of betrayal, it has to rip your heart in two.

[Host 2]

On the west side of Fort Worth, Texas, lies the affluent neighborhood of River Crest.

[Narrator]

The Rivercrest neighborhood is some of the wealthiest people, not only in the city, but in the state and the country. Billionaires who are known all over the world. They live in this neighborhood. It was very low crime. Seldom did you hear on a police scanner any sort of ruckus that would be going on in that neighborhood.

[Host 2]

But on March 12, 1992, the community's veneer of safety is shattered when Fort Worth police receive a disturbing 911 call from a River Crest residence.

[Detective 3]

I received a call about 4:00 in the morning, and I was told that There was a signal 11 stabbing.

[Host 2]

The dispatcher relays to officers that the caller is the victim's neighbor.

[Witness 2]

He opened up the door and to his surprise, it was his neighbor, Jack Koslow. His head and his neck covered in blood. The only other thing that Jack was wearing was a pair of boxer shorts.

[Detective 3]

He did say that Jack was articulate in talking to him and telling him, some people came into the house and I think Karen may be dead.

[Host 2]

Police and EMTs arrive on the scene moments later. While one EMT tends to Jack, police rush next door to check on his wife, Karen.

[Detective 3]

We proceeded up the stairs to the master bedroom. The victim's body was the first thing that my eyes went. She was partially clothed and lying face down on the floor at the foot of the bed.

[Detective 1]

All of it, it was just an overwhelming kind of scene, trying to look at it and try to piece this thing together.

[Host 2]

Born in 1951, Karen Koslow came from a long line of Texas oil tycoons.

[Witness 2]

Karen was an oil heiress. When she was younger, her uncle set up a trust fund for her that was a total of $4 million. So she didn't have any financial concerns at all.

[Host 2]

When Karen and Jack Koslow met In the early 1980s, both enjoyed successful careers in commercial banking.

[Detective 1]

Jack was a banker at a big, big, major bank in Fort Worth.

[Detective 3]

He worked his way up to a management position and was very well liked.

[Witness 2]

Jack and Karen met at the bank where Karen also worked.

[Detective 1]

He was head over heels in love with her.

[Host 2]

The couple married in the late 1980s. While their wealth had made them players at the high levels of Fort Worth's social scene, The Coslows were known for giving back to their community they were.

[Detective 2]

Big patrons of the arts of the ballet, of the symphony they helped raise a lot of money for the local children's hospital Karen one year was the.

[Witness 2]

Chairman of the Jewel Charity Ball and that's no small accomplishment in upper society in Fort Worth, North Texas they all.

[Host 1]

Send their patients, their children, the sick children to this hospital it's good not only for the but for this part of the state.

[Host 2]

At their sprawling brick house in the esteemed neighborhood of Rivercrest the couple had also helped raise Jack's adopted daughter Christie from his previous marriage Jack he had.

[Detective 2]

First married his first wife Paula and they adopted a little girl Christy Ann Coslow Jack and Paula were married for several years but when Christy was they got divorced Christy and her mom Paula only lived a half mile away they lived in a very nice upper middle.

[Detective 3]

Class neighborhood Christy was in the care of Paula but visited and stayed with Jack and Karen a lot she grew into her teens she went to an ice school was paid for By Jack.

[Host 2]

By 1990 Jack Koslow decided to retire from the banking industry and pursue a new chapter in his career he was.

[Witness 2]

Planning on buying a ceiling fan company and going into more of a service business than the banking business Karen was.

[Host 2]

Supportive of her husband's new career goals and the couple along with Jack's daughter seemed to be living the good life until the tragic night in March of 1992 Karen Koslow has been found dead in the couple's bedroom it appears that Jack Koslow has also been wounded but survived and has been rushed to the nearest hospital Jack was quite bloody his.

[Detective 3]

Face was covered in blood, his hair matted with blood blood on his hands he was swollen he seemed very groggy, maybe somewhat even incoherent he was transported to Harris Hospital.

[Host 2]

Around 4:45am Homicide investigators arrive at the Coslow's home and try to piece together exactly what happened they carefully examine Karen's body for possible clues.

[Detective 3]

We noticed bloody handprints on the back of her her T shirt indicating that maybe she had been moved Somebody with bloody hands had grabbed her and either rolled her over or drugged her or moved her.

[Detective 1]

She had obviously had major trauma to her head area her face when the.

[Detective 3]

Body was turned over we could see this horrendous cut to the throat her throat was cut severely to the point that I remember thinking it almost decapitated her.

[Host 2]

Investigators find more evidence as they survey the rest of the room.

[Detective 3]

We saw a buck knife lying on the floor it was open still had A very ornate handle and was covered in blood. We were obviously suspicious that might be one of the murder weapons.

[Host 2]

Inside a nearby hallway closet, police find evidence of ransacking.

[Detective 3]

There was a rack in there that held several firearms and drawers that were open. Shotgun shells on the floor. Blood everywhere in there. Obviously somebody was going through and looking for something.

[Host 2]

In this closet behind the residence, detectives find evidence where the attackers entered the property.

[Detective 3]

The gate had been pried open. It appeared to be a pry bar because you could see the points of the pry bar embedded into the wood. And there was a little piece of what looked like a latex glove that had been torn off. We saw that the back door had also been pried open using. It looked like the same.

[Witness 2]

To first thought. When there is a crime in a wealthy household, the police naturally turn to thinking a burglary. That's sensible. These people have a lot of things worth a lot of money.

[Host 2]

Coming up, new evidence points to a person of interest.

[Detective 1]

Whoever did this wanted Karen Koslow dead. But then looking at Jack, we had a lot of questions on how come you're not dead?

[Host 2]

And an unexpected tip exposes dark secrets within the Koslow family.

[Witness 2]

Was he smitten? He was bowled over by her.

[Detective 1]

They were willing to do whatever it took to get to that end.

[Host 2]

In Fort Worth, Texas, investigators are searching the home of wealthy socialites Karen and Jack Koslo after a brutal attack that left Karen dead and Jack fighting for his life. Between the signs of forced entry and the ransacked closet inside the home, it appears that the attack on the Coslows might have been a home burglary gone terribly wrong.

[Detective 1]

I think anybody under those circumstances would assume they were getting robbed. I mean, they're in a very affluent neighborhood and they're obviously security conscious.

[Host 2]

But what had the attackers been looking for?

[Detective 1]

The rest of the house was, I mean, beautiful home and didn't really see anything out of place.

[Witness 2]

It made no sense. There was no ransacking for jewelry, no picking up of valuable items that weren't even hidden.

[Detective 3]

So there was more going on than just a robbery or home invasion. The entire crime scene was very confusing.

[Host 2]

Hoping for answers, detectives head to the hospital around 3pm that afternoon to speak with Jack Koslow. Doctors inform police that, like his wife, Jack had been beaten with a blunt object. His neck had also been cut, but not deep enough to cause a life threatening injury.

[Detective 3]

Jack had been talking, but he seemed to be in a confused state about what had happened. He seems very groggy and very confused.

[Host 2]

Detectives also get a better look at some of his injuries, his hands were swollen.

[Detective 3]

There were little angular marks that looked to me and everybody else remarkably like bite marks.

[Detective 1]

That immediately raised the level of our concern on how did that happen.

[Witness 2]

When he was confronted about the marks on the back of his hands, he just really didn't have anything to say about it at all.

[Detective 1]

It was obvious that whoever did this wanted Karen Koslow dead. But then looking at Jack, we had a lot of questions on how come you're not dead. You have her husband who survived it with, on the surface, a lot less injury than what she had. You know, it automatically raises questions.

[Host 2]

Detectives ask Jack to walk them through the events leading up to the attack.

[Witness 2]

Jack said he retired about 10. Karen joined him a little while later.

[Detective 3]

He went to bed and then was later awakened by what he described was noise downstairs.

[Detective 2]

Jack said he was awakened by an alarm going off.

[Host 2]

Jack says the alarm was quickly followed by a crash and the sound of footsteps running up the stairs.

[Detective 3]

Jack said these two men kicked open the door and that's when they ordered him down on the floor and carry him down on the floor.

[Host 2]

Jack says both men had guns and flashlights, but it was too dark to get a good look at either of the intruders.

[Detective 3]

They started beating him with a heavy object.

[Witness 2]

They hit his wife. They hit him just back and forth. And at one point he went unconscious. He was totally unaware of everything that was going on. At some point, he regained consciousness. He is bleary. He's lost blood.

[Host 2]

Jack tells detectives that when he woke up, the intruders were gone.

[Detective 3]

He checked on Karen and couldn't get her to wake up. He grabbed the phone and was trying to dial 91 1, but because of all the blood in his eyes, he couldn't see.

[Narrator]

He staggered over to a neighbor's house directly across the street and woke them up in the middle of the night.

[Host 2]

It's a harrowing story, but detectives can't help but be suspicious. They're particularly skeptical of his explanation for why he didn't call 911.

[Detective 3]

Even when you can't see, you know where the 9 and the ones are on the telephone. That didn't make a lot of sense to me.

[Detective 1]

It raised our level of suspicion. There's no doubt about it.

[Host 2]

Questions about Jack's story are still hovering over the case the next day when the medical examiner completes Karen's autopsy report.

[Detective 3]

The medical examiner's report indicated that she was killed from a crushing blow to the throat, which crushed larynx. She can no longer breathe. Swallow. She is gasping and choking It's a horrible way to death.

[Witness 2]

As if that wasn't enough, after she was dead, someone slit her throat and even cut her carotid artery. Her head was nearly removed from her neck.

[Narrator]

It's heart wrenching to think what what all she went through. Why would someone just butcher a person like that?

[Detective 3]

So many times there's family violence, situations, a sudden rage, a fight. Something happens and it turns into a homicide. And then the killer tries to set up the scene to match his story. We believe that Jack very possibly was involved in it. To obtain some of this evidence, I was required to write search warrants. And in the search warrant I was required to name a suspect and why we wanted the warrant. And in these affidavits I named of course Jack Coswell.

[Host 1]

Who doesn't Love the Good things in Life Even though I enjoy a little luxury, it doesn't mean I can always afford it. Until I discovered Quince. Quince is my go to for luxury essentials at affordable prices. Quince offers a wide array of high quality items at prices that work for my budget, like a 100% Mongolian cashmere sweater starting at $50. Add that to the cart. They even offer 14 karat gold jewelry, organic cotton sweaters and washable silk tops and dresses. All Quint's Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. I love my Mongolian cashmere scarf. It keeps me warm and looking sleek and stylish. I would never have found a scarf at this level of quality at this price point if it wasn't for Quince. It makes me want to take care of my items because I know they'll last longer even though they were more affordable and I'll wear them time and time again. Give yourself the gift of luxury you deserve with quince. Go to quince.comsnapt for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q U I N C E dot com snapt to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comsnapt for the month of Love what better way to treat yourself than with shapewear that makes you feel confident and comfortable? Honeylove is my favorite shapewear. Whenever shapewear is an afterthought before an event, it always becomes a regret for me once I see the pictures. When it came to wedding dress shopping, I knew I wanted to go with Honeylove so everything went and looked smooth. And Honeylove offers shapewear with different dress styles in mind and even offers white, which I have found to be a rarity in shapewear. Honeylove's super Power short has length I like for formal dresses. The targeted compression gives you support without being too much or too tight. Their signature X targets and sculpts your midsection, too. It's designed to work with your body, not against it. Treat yourself to the most comfortable shapewear on earth and save 20% off site wide at honeylove.com snapped use our exclusive link to get 20% off honeylove.com snapped after you purchase, they'll ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them we sent you. Treat yourself to Honey Love because you deserve it.

[Host 2]

24 hours into the investigation of Karen Koslow's brutal murder, police in Fort Worth, Texas, are looking at her husband Jack as a person of interest after he survived the same attack that left her dead.

[Detective 1]

I thought there were some explanations for some of the evidence that we were seeing. That could mean that he was our guy.

[Host 2]

To find out more, investigators dig deeper into the Coslow's marriage and learn that the wealth the couple shared came mostly from Karen.

[Detective 3]

Karen Koslow had a trust fund that was considerable, around $4 million.

[Witness 2]

That kind of money always raises suspicion. Jack had his own money, but in comparison to hers, it wasn't a fortune.

[Host 2]

According to most of their family, the couple's relationship had seemed perfect on the surface for many years. But police learned that not long before her death, Karen had confided to some of her friends that she and Jack were having marital problems.

[Detective 3]

They had, at some point in time, gone to some counseling.

[Host 2]

Authorities theorized that the expense of Jack's new business venture might have led to some of the tensions between the couple.

[Detective 2]

Jack actually left the banking industry. He was looking at buying a business that dealt in ceiling fans.

[Detective 3]

It was going to be a considerable.

[Detective 1]

Investment that made us look at Jack trying to finance his new business by doing this.

[Host 2]

Further incriminating information is revealed when police asked the couple's family about one of the weapons found at the scene.

[Witness 2]

That knife that was involved in the death of Karen that was laying on the floor beside her body belonged to Jack Kozlo.

[Host 2]

While police continue to investigate, news of the heinous crime leaves many in the community reeling.

[Detective 1]

People were panicked. All kinds of wild rumors started flying. Certain people were convicting Jack Koslow just based on, you know, news reports that they were hearing and stuff.

[Host 2]

Four days after her passing, Karen Koslow is laid to rest.

[Witness 2]

Jack Koslow left the hospital on March 16 to attend his wife's funeral and assume the position of pallbearer some people were absolutely outraged. They had already become convinced that he was responsible for his wife's death. Some people, even not sure of his guilt, still thought that with that question mark hanging over his head, he had no right to attend the funeral.

[Host 2]

Eager to stamp out the rumors and defend her father, Jack's 17 year old daughter, Christy Koslow, holds an impromptu press conference on the front yard of the family home. It was scary almost losing my dad.

[Host 1]

But he looked good.

[Host 2]

I was happy to be able to see him and see that he was alive.

[Narrator]

She talked very fondly about her dad. She talked very fondly about Karen. She said unequivocally that her dad couldn't have done this. She couldn't imagine who did it.

[Host 2]

I talked to the hospital and they said he was just seriously injured. They didn't want to give any details right now.

[Narrator]

She did reach out and encouraged anyone with information about the case to contact authorities.

[Host 2]

On March 18, detectives meet with Jack's ex wife, Paula, to see if she can shed light on Jack's relationship with Karen. Accompanying Paula to the station is Jack's daughter Christy, as well as Christy's 19 year old boyfriend, Brian Salter.

[Detective 3]

Paula and Christy and Sulter came to the office with their attorney and we talked to them.

[Host 2]

Paula tells detectives she wasn't close to her ex husband or his new wife, but she doesn't think Jack would hurt Karen. Kristi agrees with her mother.

[Detective 3]

She had no idea about whether it would have been a robbery or something, but she suspected that because everybody loved her dad and her stepmom.

[Host 2]

Detectives ask Brian if he knew Jack and Karen. He tells them he'd met them a few times since he and Kristi started dating four months earlier.

[Detective 3]

Brian and Christy were just members of the same social circle. They knew each other from young people that they hung out with and such.

[Detective 2]

Brian came from a very middle class background and he was more of the unassuming quiet type.

[Witness 2]

He hadn't been exposed to the kind of affluence in Jack Koslow's house and he was dazzled by it and it added to the glamour that he saw in Christy.

[Host 2]

Brian says the Coslows had always been kind to him. Like Christy, he has no idea who would do this to them. While investigators worked diligently to gather evidence for the next week, they continue to receive concerned calls from the community.

[Detective 3]

There was never a point in time when we had decided to arrest Jack Koslow. There was never a point in time where anybody said, we need to arrest him. Let's get a warrant to Arrest him. He was a suspicious person that we had to clear.

[Host 2]

But on March 24, nearly two weeks after the crime, a man calls investigators with information that completely changes the direction of the case.

[Detective 3]

He said, I really need to talk to you. I know what happened. I asked him where he was and he gave me an address. And I said, I'll be right there. And I jumped in the car and drove out there and met him.

[Host 2]

The caller is a 20 year old man named Paul Carrillo, and he says he knows who killed Karen Koslow.

[Detective 2]

Paul was friends with disguised Jeffrey Dillingham. Jeffrey had told Paul that he had committed a murder. He had been involved in something that was very dark and he needed to cover it up.

[Detective 3]

He sat there with me and told me about Jeffrey Dillingham, how this guy had come to him and confessed to him.

[Detective 1]

He actually had physical evidence that he had been given by Jeffrey Dillingham and asked to dispose of it, but he had kept it.

[Detective 3]

Paul Korea gave us a backpack which contained several items. We got Jack Koslow's wallet, which had his ID and business cards, a bulletproof vest.

[Host 2]

Also inside the backpack is a bag of bloody clothes as well as an 18 inch metal pry bar, the same pry bar police believe was used to break into the home.

[Detective 1]

There was blood on the crowbar that turned out to have very high evidentiary value.

[Host 2]

But why would 19 year old Jeffrey Dillingham target the Coslows? According to Paul Carrillo, Jeffrey had an accomplice who knew the couple he had.

[Detective 3]

Gone into the house with. Brian Salter.

[Host 2]

Detectives recognize Brian Salter as Christy Coslo's boyfriend. But what could possibly motivate Brian to hurt Christy's father and stepmother?

[Narrator]

It was just another bizarre chapter to this whole investigation.

[Host 2]

Coming up, detectives confront Brian Salter and Jeffrey Dillingham.

[Witness 2]

They expect this is going to be a tough interrogation.

[Host 2]

But what one of the new suspects reveals leaves police stunned.

[Detective 2]

He dropped a bombshell that they did not see coming.

[Narrator]

It shocked everybody.

[Host 2]

Ever since Karen Koslow's body was found on the floor of her master bedroom, the primary person of interest in her murder has been her husband, Jack. But 12 days into the investigation, Jack is ruled out. When Fort Worth police get a tip that two 19 year olds, Brian Salter and Jeffrey Dillingham, are the real killers.

[Detective 3]

Jeffrey Dillingham, I was curious about his criminal history and found out very quickly he'd never been arrested for anything. Salter, that guy was so weak acting. I didn't think that guy could do anything to anybody.

[Host 2]

In fact, both teenagers had excelled as honor roll students in high school, Brian.

[Detective 1]

Seemed like he had been a straight up kind of guy all his life.

[Witness 2]

Jeffrey had a girlfriend. He was planning on getting married in the summer. He had no record of trouble.

[Host 2]

Detectives secure arrest warrants for both Brian Salter and Jeffrey Dillingham. They set their sights on apprehending Jeffrey Dillingham. First, officers head to the video store where the teenager works and take him into custody without incident.

[Witness 2]

They sat him down and questioned him. They expect this is going to be a tough interrogation. What they didn't expect was that Jeffrey would start cooperating immediately.

[Host 2]

According to Jeffrey, he was recruited by his friend Brian Salter to break into the Coslows house.

[Detective 3]

They were supposed to kill both Karen and Jack Coslo. When I questioned him about how he hit Karen as she was on the floor, she rolled over on her side. At one point, he struck her in the throat with the crowbar, which is consistent with what the medical examiner's report showed.

[Host 2]

Jeffrey confesses to beating the couple with the pry bar, but that it was Brian who found Jack's buck knife in the couple's bedroom.

[Detective 3]

At some point in time. Brian Salter then takes the knife. They find the new zip cut Jack's throat and Karen Cosmos throat so severely it almost severed your head. He talked about these things with seemingly no remorse.

[Host 2]

But why had the two teenagers targeted the Coslows in the first place? Jeffrey shocks investigators when he explains that the attack hadn't been his or Brian's idea.

[Witness 2]

He told him that the plot was mastermind by Christy Kozla.

[Host 2]

According to Jeffrey, Christy told Brian she would inherit millions of dollars if her dad and stepmom were out of the way.

[Narrator]

She was going to share that inheritance with Brian and Jeffrey. I think the two of them were going to get a million dollars a piece. When we hear that the investigation has shifted and that suddenly Mr. Koslow is not the suspect. Christy Koslow and her boyfriend and a friend, they're the suspects. Just threw everybody in a tizzy.

[Detective 3]

It was one of the shockers of my career.

[Host 2]

Following his confession, police charged Jeffrey Dillingham with murder. They also arrest Christy Koslow and Brian Salter at their homes.

[Detective 3]

I personally arrested both of them. I put Brian in the car with me. And another detectives transported Christie from that location straight up to our homicide office.

[Host 2]

When questioned by detectives, Brian admits to his role in the crime. He says he was willing to do anything to make Kristi happy when they started dating.

[Witness 2]

Oh my. Was he smitten. He was bowled over by her.

[Detective 1]

She was in charge in the relationship. She called the shots. And he pretty much showed up and jumped when she said jump.

[Host 2]

Brian says that Christy had first brought up the idea of murdering her father and stepmother only a few weeks into their relationship.

[Witness 1]

She told me to talk to Jeff about doing it. She said that she would pay him. And she told us to plan. She just said do it quietly.

[Detective 3]

She could draw out a map, which she did, of the interior of residents. Show them exactly where they slept.

[Host 2]

Brian tells police he and Jeffrey plan to carry out Christy's plan. On the evening of March 12, Brian.

[Witness 2]

Stole the two guns from his parents house. And then he and Jeffrey drove over to Christy's house.

[Witness 1]

We had a backpack, leather backpack, had latex gloves. My father's two guns. And Jeff had a pry bar.

[Host 2]

Brian says Jeffrey was also wearing a bulletproof vest.

[Detective 3]

They were concerned that Jack had firearms there in the house. And that according to Christy, kept them up there in the bedroom.

[Detective 2]

Brian and Jeff came in from the back of the house. There's a little alleyway there. They used an air conditioning unit. Hopped up on there to get over the fence.

[Witness 1]

Jeff pried open the back gate. He pried open the back door. He went upstairs and into their bedroom. As I entered the alarm code which I had gotten from Chrissy.

[Host 2]

Brian says it was Jeffrey Dillingham who kicked in the Coslow's bedroom door.

[Witness 1]

By the time I was finished punching in the code, Jeff was already up the stairs in the bedroom and had them on the floor. He told me to go listen for noises. And I walked out into the the home.

[Detective 3]

Jeffrey Dillingham has the pry bar. And he starts striking both Jack and Karen Coslo.

[Witness 1]

I turned around and I saw him swing the pry bar.

[Witness 2]

While Jeff is brutalizing Jack and Karen, Brian is rummaging through drawers looking for some easy money, some ready cash.

[Detective 3]

You know who got that knife?

[Witness 1]

Al Jeff.

[Detective 3]

Did you see him with it?

[Witness 1]

No, I did not see more of it. He told me later.

[Detective 1]

Jeffrey claimed Brian retrieved the knife and ended up cutting Karen's throat. But now Brian said Jeffrey Dillingham had done it.

[Host 2]

It's clear that Brian Salter and Jeffrey Dillingham are trying to pin the murders on each other. The only parts of their story they agree on is that the crime's mastermind was Christy Coslo. But what will she say when confronted by police?

[Detective 3]

I went in and sat down with her. And I told her, you need to tell me the truth. Everything you know.

[Host 2]

Fort Worth, Texas Police have arrested three suspects for the deadly attack that took the life of Karen Coslo and left her husband Jack severely injured. 19 year olds Jeffrey Dillingham and Brian Salter have confessed to their roles in the crime. Now police are ready to question the purported Mastermind, Jack Koslow's 17 year old daughter, Christy.

[Detective 3]

Christy Koslow admitted she hated Karen and came to hate her dad. She became tearful and stated that she resented Karen Koslow for taking her father away from her mother, Paula.

[Narrator]

She also felt she and her mom lost out on some of the nicer things in life. That they didn't have it as nice as Jack Koslow and Karen Koslow had.

[Host 2]

Christie admits to the murder for hire plot. But she tells investigators that she never thought it would turn out this way.

[Witness 2]

She thought it would be a quick and painless death. She had no idea that it would be this brutal.

[Host 2]

But investigators don't buy it.

[Detective 1]

Christy felt that she deserved to live a lifestyle that she could only get if her dad and stepmother were dead and she got their money. She thought that somehow she was entitled to that and she was willing to do whatever it took to get to that end.

[Host 2]

But unbeknownst to Kristi, she never stood to inherit even a penny.

[Detective 3]

During the course of the investigation, I had acquired a copy of Karen Koslow's will. Karen Koslow had expressly eliminated Christy Koslow from receiving any money in the event of her death. So this plan to kill and and to murder her parents was really for nothing. Jack was both angry and sad about Christy being involved in this. He was furious that she could do something like this and arrange this and take his wife away and destroy his life like she had done.

[Narrator]

What he had to go through is unimaginable. First he loses his wife to murder. He is beaten severely, lucky to get out of it alive. And then he finds out his own child was responsible for this.

[Witness 2]

That sense of betrayal must feel so overwhelming.

[Host 2]

Prosecutors announced the three suspects will face the death penalty if convicted. Jeffrey Dillingham is set to go on trial.

[Detective 3]

First, Mr. Dillingham was offered a sentence of life in prison if he would testify against Mr. Salter and Ms. Coslow. And he turned that down.

[Host 2]

In August 1993, a year and a half after Karen's murder, Jeffrey Dillingham's murder trial begins in a Tarrant county courtroom.

[Detective 2]

The jury got to hear his confession and the confession said it all. And that was the nail in the coffin for Jeffrey Dillingham.

[Host 2]

Jeffrey Dillingham is convicted on all charges on August 11, 1993. The 20 year old is sentenced to death by lethal injection.

[Detective 1]

He rolled the dice and he lost. The jury looked at the facts of this case and thought it's so horrible that he simply deserved to die for it.

[Host 2]

To avoid a similar fate, Brian Salter agrees to plead guilty and testify against his girlfriend.

[Witness 2]

I think at some point, Brian realized he's been used by Christie. Christy saw him, nothing more but as a tool to get what she wanted. And that realization made it easy for him to agreed to testify against her.

[Host 2]

Per his plea deal, Brian Salter receives a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 35 years. Kristi Koslow's trial begins in May of 1994. Despite her previous confession, Christie pleads not guilty.

[Detective 3]

Her basic defense was, while I might have discussed this with these two guys, they took the ball and ran with it.

[Host 2]

But the jury doesn't buy her story. After just three hours of deliberations, they find her guilty on all charges.

[Detective 3]

The question was, was she going to get a life sentence or was she going to get the death penalty?

[Host 2]

On June 30, 1994, a judge sentences her to life with the possibility of parole in 35 years.

[Narrator]

There was surprise that Christie and Brian both escaped execution, especially Christie, because Christie was the mastermind of this whole thing.

[Detective 3]

Brian was such a weak personality, and Christie was such a forceful, demanding personality. Brian just fell right in line with her. And whatever Christie wanted, Brian was up for it. He wanted to do anything to please Christy. And he believed that they're gonna be rich and they're gonna have nice cars and live in a big house. That's what it was all about. Brian Salter was a weak person who fell for whatever Christie told him. And he was willing to go kill people to realize this dream he had.

[Detective 1]

This is a 17 year old girl. How in the world she got to the point where she somehow felt that this was the only way to get what she wanted. And she didn't care what happened to everybody else. You know, it was strictly all about her and what she wanted. And Karen and Jack were just in the way and they were just a means for her to get what she was looking for.

[Detective 3]

It's such a tragic story. This astounded me. One of the most bizarre cases that I'd ever been involved in. The real tragedy was the death of Karen Coslow and the loss by Jack Koslow of his wife. He was furious that Christie could do something like this.

[Host 1]

In 2001, at age 27, Jeff Dillingham was executed by the state of Texas. Christy Koslow will be eligible for parole in 2027 at the age of 52. Brian Salter will be 54 when he is eligible for parole in 2027.

[Advertiser]

Have you ever gotten a message out of the blue? Maybe you ignore them, or maybe you end up in conversation. Maybe they tell you about an amazing offer. I can really show you how to make some money, and maybe that gets you into a lot of trouble. But this isn't a story about people like you, the people receiving these messages. This is a story about the people behind the messages on the other end of the line, thousands of them, working in a microcity built for scammers. From Wondery, the makers of Dr. Death and Kill List, come Scam Facts, a new series about survival at the expense of others. Follow Scam Factory on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Scam Factory early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.