"While this is a rare, solved case where the victim actually survived, it will have you questioning the reliability of memory and how stories, even the ones that feel straightforward, are always so much more complicated and live in the gray when you dig deep into the details." — Ashley Flowers
"The state's case, which has become front page news by this point, rests on her shoulders. Without much other evidence, is Diana's account enough and what about the emotional and physical demands of a trial is Diana up to testifying in court." — Ashley Flowers
"But the DNA, the DNA that proves that Kevin didn't attack Diana, that Kevin wasn't the one who killed their daughter. Those by this point had been available for like 12 of the 16 years he'd been in prison." — Ashley Flowers
This episode chronicles the harrowing case of Diana Diallo, who, in 1979, was brutally attacked in her Tustin, California home, suffering severe head trauma and the death of her infant daughter, Chantal Marie. Her husband, Kevin Green, was subsequently convicted of attempted murder and murder. However, years later, advances in DNA technology linked serial killer Gerald Parker to the crime, as well as other unsolved assaults and murders across Orange County, including the death of Deborah Kennedy, which occurred shortly after Diana's attack.
The investigation into Diana's case was complicated by her significant memory loss due to the head trauma, leading to initial reliance on Kevin's account and the assumption that he was the perpetrator. This narrative highlights the challenges faced by investigators, the victim's struggle to recall the events, and the eventual exoneration of Kevin Green after DNA evidence conclusively identified Gerald Parker as the attacker. Parker, who had a history of violent crimes, admitted to the assault and sexual assault of Diana, as well as multiple other murders, offering details that only the perpetrator would know.
The story underscores the fallibility of memory, particularly in the context of severe trauma, and the critical role of forensic science in correcting judicial errors. Diana's resilience is a central theme, as she navigated immense personal loss and physical recovery, eventually testifying against Parker for his crimes, including the murder of her daughter. The episode concludes with Kevin's release and compensation, and Diana's continued pursuit of understanding and closure, emphasizing her strength as a survivor.