ABC 20/20 “The Code Breakers” August 22 2025
On Friday, August 22, 2025, from 9:01–11:00 p.m. EDT, 20/20 airs a rebroadcast of its groundbreaking special on how forensic DNA technology finally brought justice in two haunting cold cases. Co-anchor David Muir reports from Texas, where state-of-the-art science is transforming the way unsolved murders are investigated.
The Case of Cathy Swartz
In 1988, 19-year-old Michigan mother Cathy Swartz was brutally murdered in her home. Her fiancé returned to find her body and their infant daughter unharmed nearby. Detectives discovered a bloody fingerprint at the scene and collected DNA, but despite decades of searching, no suspect matched the evidence. For years, Cathy’s case remained unsolved, leaving her daughter Courteney and loved ones without answers.
The Case of Catherine Edwards
Just a few years later, 31-year-old Texas schoolteacher Catherine Edwards was found murdered in her home, handcuffed and left on her bathroom floor. A DNA sample was collected from her bedspread, but once again, no match surfaced in national databases. The case went cold, devastating her parents and her identical twin sister, Allison.
Forensic Breakthroughs With Othram
Decades later, investigators turned to Othram, a Houston-based private forensic lab specializing in advanced DNA analysis for cold cases. Founded by David and Kristen Mittelman, Othram uses cutting-edge technology to help solve cases once thought unsolvable. Their work has not only been instrumental in solving Cathy and Catherine’s murders but has also been linked to other high-profile investigations, including the Idaho student murders and the Gilgo Beach serial killings.
Exclusive Interviews
20/20 features interviews with family members, including Cathy’s daughter Courteney Swartz, Catherine’s loved ones, and friends who kept their memories alive. Investigators, including retired Texas Ranger Brandon Bess, walk viewers through the critical breakthroughs that turned cold evidence into convictions. Muir also speaks with Othram’s forensic scientists, highlighting the revolutionary tools that gave grieving families long-awaited justice.
20/20’s two-hour special, There Is No Hiding From DNA, airs Friday, August 22 on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu. This powerful report showcases how science, perseverance, and determination finally answered questions that lingered for more than three decades.
