A Killing On the Cape

A Killing On the Cape

Host: ABC News

It was a crime that rocked an idyllic seaside town in Cape Cod -- the 2002 murder of Christa Worthington, found stabbed to death with her 2-year-old daughter, unharmed at her side. What came next was a three-year search for her killer that would involve unorthodox steps by police, a lengthy list of potential suspects, and an entire town under suspicion. Christa's trash collector, Christopher McCowen, would eventually be convicted of the crime, but his trial would raise questions about the evidence, investigative methods, and whether racial prejudice played a role. Now, ABC Radio and "20/20" take a look at all the...

Episodes

Bad Rap: Party's Over
01March 26, 2025 10:00pmExplicit

Bad Rap: Party's Over

Introducing a new podcast from 20/20 and ABC Audio, "Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy." In this six-part series, ABC News legal contributor Brian Buckmire takes listeners inside the rise and fall of Diddy, tracing how whispers of abuse came …

Trailer: 'Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery'
02November 12, 2024 2:00pm

Trailer: 'Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery'

Introducing a new investigative true crime series: "Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery." Karen Silkwood’s death 50 years ago this November continues to haunt Oklahoma and the nation. The 28-year-old plutonium plant worker died in a fat…

Introducing 'The King Road Killings: An Idaho Murder Mystery'
03June 13, 2023 4:00am

Introducing 'The King Road Killings: An Idaho Murder Mystery'

It began as a weekend of football, parties, late-night food and good friends -- a normal Saturday night in the college town of Moscow, Idaho. But Sunday morning, four University of Idaho students are found stabbed to death in their beds. Th…

Introducing "Truth and Lies: The Boston Strangler"
04March 20, 2023 2:00am

Introducing "Truth and Lies: The Boston Strangler"

Sixty years later, the story of the Boston Strangler still has a hold on the public imagination. The new ABC Audio podcast, "Truth and Lies: The Boston Strangler," retraces the tragic fate of the victims and explores why a killer’s confessi…

Introducing 'In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson'
05March 01, 2021 1:30am

Introducing 'In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson'

Lady Bird Johnson’s audio diaries reveal how one vastly underestimated woman navigated the power, politics and polarization of her time to become arguably one of the most influential first ladies in history. From ABC News, makers of "A Kill…

The Interview
06November 29, 2017 3:21am

The Interview

More than 10 years after Chris McCowen's conviction for the rape and murder of Christa Worthington, his defense continues its efforts to get him a new trial. And for the first time, we hear directly from Chris to get his side of the story. …

The Verdict
07November 21, 2017 11:45pm

The Verdict

The prosecution lays out its case against Christopher McCowen for the rape and murder of Christa Worthington, while his defense looks to poke holes in that case and raise doubts in the minds of jurors. The high-profile trial took weeks and …

The Garbage Man
08November 14, 2017 9:00pm

The Garbage Man

Three years into their investigation, police arrest and charge Christopher McCowen for the murder of Christa Worthington, but the arrest of a black man in the murder of a wealthy white woman would immediately ignite controversy. Support thi…

More Leads, More Dead Ends
09November 07, 2017 9:00pm

More Leads, More Dead Ends

Police expand their search for Christa Worthington's killer, looking at an ex-boyfriend and even Christa's own father. But a match on a crucial piece of D.N.A. evidence continued to be elusive, forcing police to take an unorthodox approach …

The Shellfish Constable
10October 31, 2017 10:00pm

The Shellfish Constable

Police begin their search for the person who killed 46-year-old fashion writer and single mother, Christa Worthington in 2002. To understand where they would look first, we learn about Christa and her fast-paced career as a writer, as well …

The Murder
11October 24, 2017 10:00pm

The Murder

On January 6, 2002, fashion writer and single mother Christa Worthington was found stabbed to death in her home in a small town on Cape Cod -- her 2-year-old daughter, Ava, was unharmed at her side. We start with a look at the crime that wo…

Introducing 'A Killing On the Cape'
12October 18, 2017 7:03am

Introducing 'A Killing On the Cape'

Launching Oct. 25, 2017, "A Killing On the Cape" is the story of Christa Worthington's murder, the search for her killer, and whether the right man was convicted. ABC Radio's Mark Remillard joins the award-winning team at "20/20" to investi…