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This episode of True Crime All The Time examines the 1987 murder of 23-year-old college student Kathy Spazito in Prescott, Arizona, and how modern genetic genealogy and a dedicated cold case volunteer team helped solve the case over three decades later. The hosts detail how Spazito, an avid hiker and Prescott College student originally from Brooklyn, was brutally attacked on the Thumb Butte Trail. Investigators struggled for years with no known suspects until 2020, when familial DNA connected the crime to Brian Scott Bennett, a serial sex offender who was only 16 years old at the time of the murder and died by suicide in 1994. The episode explores the devastating impact on Spazito's family and other survivors of Bennett's subsequent attacks, highlighting the critical role that DNA technology and cold case volunteers play in delivering answers when traditional investigations stall.
Hosts begin with a promotional ad for DraftKings Casino before welcoming listeners to the episode.
Mike and Gibby shift to the main topic, announcing the murder of college student Kathy Spizito in 1987.
The hosts discuss Kathy’s life, education, and personality, setting context for her murder.
They recount the day of the murder, the brutal assault, and the early police findings of no suspects.
The conversation moves to the 2023 DNA identification of Brian Bennett as the killer after decades of silence.
They explore the emotional toll on Kathy’s family and survivors like Renee Sandoval, and the community’s response.
The discussion turns to potential additional victims, ongoing investigations, and the role of volunteers.
Hosts wrap up with personal reflections on the tragedy and the importance of justice.
Maintaining A Weekly Recording Schedulestory
The hosts discuss their intense behind-the-scenes production schedule, noting that they record multiple podcast episodes in a single weekly session to maximize efficiency.
Brutal And Overkill Crime Scenedata
Investigators discovered that Kathy Spazito had been shot in the eye with a .22 caliber gun, stabbed, and struck in the head with both a rock and a wrench.
Lack Of Sexual Assault Evidenceinsight
Police noted that despite the extreme brutality of the attack, there were no initial signs that an attempted sexual assault had taken place.
Authorities revealed that the suspect, Brian Scott Bennett, was only 16 years old and a high school student in Prescott at the time of the 1987 murder.
Returning To The Same Trailstory
In April 1990, Bennett attacked and sexually assaulted a second woman on the exact same trail and at the same time of day as the Spazito murder.
Exhuming The Suspect's Bodystrategy
To obtain a definitive DNA sample after Bennett's 1994 suicide, authorities successfully petitioned to exhume his body in November 2022.
The Vital Role Of Volunteersinsight
Sheriff David Rhodes emphasized that full-time paid detectives lack the time for decades-old cases, making cold case volunteers essential to solving them.
Contaminated DNA Evidenceinsight
Investigators faced analytical challenges on the murder wrench because a helpful hiker had picked it up and carried it to an officer at the scene.
“But I just wonder if, you know, is this overkill?”
“The biggest bullet, you can kill somebody with a 22 caliber.”
“In 2022, Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes said a cold case team was working to get DNA results from evidence that could turn into a new lead.”
“The majority of the DNA on the wrench did belong to Brian Bennett.”
Catherine “Cathy” Sposito was a 23-year-old Prescott College student who was murdered on June 13, 1987, while hiking the Thumb Butte Trail in Prescott, Arizona. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Cathy Sposito. Cathy was shot, stabbed, and beaten, and the case quickly went cold with no known suspects. Investigators kept the case open for 36 years, but advances in DNA technology eventually provided the breakthrough. You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetime Visit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation information An Emash Digital production See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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