"When they got to the kitchen, they noticed something a little strange. All of the knives from a butcher block on the counter, and a set of keys were soaking in the sink, and the liquid that they were soaking in smelled a lot like bleach." — Ashley Flowers
"There was blood everywhere. It was splattered on the walls, it was pooled on the carpet floor, and it was even spotted across the ceiling, and there, in the middle of all of it, was Al." — Ashley Flowers
"If you're cutting somebody and stabbing them with kitchen knives, and they get bloody, let me investigate and tell you that your hand slips up to the blade of the knife and you'll cut yourself. And with a number of cuts in the stab wounds, we felt that he had to cut himself." — Agent Tom Sobieski
The episode opens with the discovery of Oki Al Kite's murder on May 24, 2004, in Aurora, Colorado. Al's employer reported him missing after he failed to show up for work. His cell phone was found by a stranger named Joe, who offered to return it. Al's colleagues, after retrieving the phone, contacted his sister, Barbara, who advised calling the police. Responding officers found Al deceased in his basement, the scene described as horrific with extensive blood spatter. Preliminary observations noted an organized victim and a meticulously cleaned crime scene, including knives and keys soaking in bleach.
The investigation, led by Agent Tom Sobieski, quickly revealed the victim had been brutally attacked. Evidence suggested Al was restrained with rope, severely beaten, and suffered multiple stab wounds before his throat was cut. Key initial leads included a rental agreement for the basement space signed by "Robert Cooper" and a note with a phone number and the name "Robert" found on a torn bank statement. Al's wallet and vehicle were missing. The discovery of a blood transfer spot on the basement stairs and a small piece of rope were the only significant physical evidence found outside the immediate crime scene.
Further investigation revealed that "Robert Cooper" had provided a fake address, social security number, and driver's license on the rental agreement. Al's phone records indicated calls to a number belonging to a homeless man, who had acquired the phone from another individual. While attempts were made to trace the phone's origin and previous users, the investigation into "Robert Cooper" remained challenging due to the fabricated identity. The episode also highlights witness accounts of a man believed to be Robert, including one who saw him with a cane and another who saw him well-dressed. The autopsy results detailed the extensive torture Al endured, suggesting the killer might have sustained injuries during the attack.