"The most crucial piece of evidence came from those four digits on a key that eventually unlocked the truth and gave her family the justice they deserve." — Ashley Flowers
"According to a media analyst named Andrew Tendell, Morning Shows gave 941 minutes to talking about Lacey Peterson. 135 minutes to Lori Hacking and 98 minutes to a college student in Wisconsin who fakes her own abduction. So there is this huge disparity and they go missing under a very similar circumstances, but no matter how hard Rebecca tries, she can't get this national coverage." — Ashley Flowers
"Christopher tells police that he and Tamika had sex before he got up to iron his clothes and then get ready for work. While he was ironing, Tamika allegedly confronted him about his relationship with another woman who was now pregnant, and she asked to borrow some money. Christopher said no, and according to him, they got into a fight, which led to him hurling a red-hot iron in his hand at Tamika hitting her in the head." — Ashley Flowers
The episode chronicles the investigation into the disappearance of Tamika Houston, a 24-year-old woman from Spartanburg, South Carolina, who was last seen in early June 2004. Initial concerns were raised when Tamika's aunt could not reach her for several weeks. A wellness check at Tamika's home revealed disturbing signs: her car was missing, her personal belongings like her cell phone and driver's license were left behind, and her dog, Macy, was found in a dire state, having given birth to puppies and resorted to eating them due to starvation. This indicated Tamika would not have voluntarily left.
Early in the investigation, Tamika's ex-boyfriend, Terrance, emerged as a person of interest due to a history of domestic violence accusations and pending charges against him. However, lack of direct physical evidence and untraceable bank and phone records initially hampered progress. A significant break occurred when Tamika's car was found abandoned, containing a set of unidentifiable keys with a coded inscription "AA-14." This led investigators on a meticulous search, eventually connecting the code to a public housing complex, the Fremont School Apartments. A hidden, unlisted apartment within this complex was discovered, showing signs of blood damage, although initial forensic sweeps yielded little concrete evidence.
Further investigation, driven by Tamika's aunt's persistent public relations efforts and a tip from a friend, identified Christopher Lamont Hampton, a casual acquaintance of Tamika's, as a potential suspect. Although Christopher's fingerprints did not match those found in the car, a crucial piece of evidence emerged when Christopher's ex-girlfriend, prompted by media coverage, provided police with his wallet containing a photo with a speck of Tamika's blood. This, coupled with a witness account of a stain in Christopher's former apartment and his admitted use of a carpet steamer, led to the discovery of significant blood evidence matching Tamika's DNA within his apartment. While Christopher initially confessed to an accidental death during a fight and the subsequent disposal of Tamika's body, he later admitted to dismembering her body and hiding her skull, which was never recovered. Christopher was ultimately charged with murder and sexual misconduct and pleaded guilty, receiving a life sentence without parole.