The investigation slowed down because there were no strong leads or physical evidence, and the search for Katelyn turned up nothing. As time passed, fewer tips came in, and the case went cold.
The discovery of Katelyn's remains only confirmed that she had been murdered, but it did not provide information on the cause of death, how it happened, or who was responsible. The forensic evidence was limited and did not point to a specific suspect.
John Carter became a suspect because of inconsistencies in his story, his behavior, and new information from Katelyn's friends and family. They revealed that Katelyn was unhappy in the relationship and had doubts about her engagement to John.
John Carter's actions were suspicious because he left the party and returned home, but his phone records showed his phone went dark around the same time Katelyn's did. Additionally, a neighbor heard a heated argument and a thud at around the time Katelyn disappeared.
The investigators decided to charge John Carter with murder after finding new evidence, including poems and writings that suggested he was grappling with the truth of what he had done to Katelyn. They also found evidence consistent with the forensic findings on Katelyn's body.
The prosecutors offered a plea deal to ensure that John Carter would admit to his role in Katelyn's death, providing some finality to the process and giving her family the acknowledgment they deserved. They may have also considered the strength of their evidence and the uncertainty of a trial outcome.
An unexpected phone call breathes life into the decade-old murder investigation of a 21-year-old. Two investigators are determined to get answers for her family and get them their day in court.
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