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Bill Kurtis may not be a household name, but if you’re a fan of true crime shows, you’ll recognize his iconic voice. As a veteran Chicago TV journalist, Kurtis has served as the host, narrator, and producer for some of the most popular and long-running true crime docuseries, including A&E’s “Investigative Reports,” “American Justice,” and “Cold Case Files,” which earned nominations for two primetime Emmy Awards in 2004 and 2005.
“Cold Case Files” has recently been revived on both A&E and Netflix, and now Kurtis is back on Hulu with “Cold Case Files: DNA Speaks.” This 10-part docuseries showcases decades-old cases that were solved using DNA evidence, some of which was collected long before the technology to analyze it and identify suspects existed.
In a recent interview with HuffPost, Kurtis discussed some of the most memorable crimes he’s covered, including ones that still keep him awake at night. He also shared his thoughts on whether a life sentence is a sufficient punishment for certain killers. According to Kurtis, most solved cold cases have one thing in common: the unwavering pursuit of justice by the victims’ loved ones and the dedication of investigators to provide closure for these families. He refers to these individuals as the “grandmother solutions” – family members who continuously engage with the police, reach out to news outlets, and hold public memorials to ensure that the memories of the murder victims are not forgotten.
The first episode of the new “Cold Case Files” focuses on the 1995 murder of Nacole Smith, a 14-year-old girl from Atlanta. Smith was sexually assaulted and shot twice in the face after taking a shortcut through a wooded path on her way to school. Despite identifying several potential suspects in the years following the murder, none of their DNA matched the attacker’s profile. Nearly 20 years later, DNA from the sexual assault of another 13-year-old girl in 2004 was linked to Smith’s case. Through genetic genealogy, investigators narrowed down a suspect, whose DNA was obtained from a cigarette after detectives observed him smoking. Unfortunately, the suspect, Kelvin Arnold, passed away from organ failure before he could face prosecution. While some may feel disappointed by this outcome, Kurtis sees it as a form of justice being served.
While Kurtis has been a vocal opponent of the death penalty, advocating for its abolition due to the high number of wrongful convictions, he admits to making exceptions in cases involving particularly heinous crimes. He cites recent incidents, such as the deliberate shooting of a 9-year-old girl by a man in Chicago, as examples of acts that challenge the notion of viewing these individuals as mentally ill. Kurtis believes that such killers are wired differently.
Reflecting on his years in true crime journalism, Kurtis reveals that the first episode of “Cold Case Files,” which aired in January 1999, still haunts him. The episode focused on the case of Doris McLeod, a runaway who was sex-trafficked and brutally murdered. Her hands were severed, and her identity remained unknown until a facial reconstruction image helped identify her. The killer, her own father Joseph White, was sentenced to life in prison. Kurtis shares that this episode garnered significant attention, even among the inmates, to the point where White had to be moved for his own safety.
Kurtis also discusses his encounters with notorious killers Richard Speck and Charles Manson. Speck, who killed eight nurses in 1966, was sentenced to death but later resentenced to life in prison. Kurtis received a disturbing videotape of Speck engaging in illicit activities, including admitting to the murders and flaunting his actions. Manson’s trial for the killings of seven people also left a lasting impact on Kurtis, as he sat close to the cult leader in the courtroom and listened to witnesses testify about the gruesome crimes committed by Manson’s followers.
In regards to these cases, Kurtis admits that they have challenged his stance on the death penalty. Despite his overall opposition, he concedes that there are exceptions to be made for certain individuals. He acknowledges that the details of these crimes, such as the killings of Sharon Tate and the pregnant actor, continue to haunt him and affect his sleep patterns.
As a parting piece of advice, Kurtis jokingly advises readers to have a good night’s sleep and to avoid answering phone calls after midnight.
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