Desperate Measures

48 Hours

CBS News

True Crime, Tv & Film

4.1 • 7.8K Ratings

🗓️ 14 May 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In May 2010, wealthy married couple, Dennis and Merna Koula, were found shot dead in their Wisconsin home. There was little evidence from the crime scene, but one clue - computer keystroke - became critical. And one person who knew the couple very well would become the prime suspect. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 8/3/2013.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	La Crosse is a very beautiful community.
0:07.0	It's a college community.
0:10.0	A lot of tourism with the Mississippi River.
0:14.0	There is minimal amount of crime, so in a situation where you have a homicide. It's rare.
0:28.6	May 24th, 2010, starting out was the same as any other day. I got up at about quarter to seven.
0:31.6	I got a phone call.
0:33.6	It was from the school.
0:35.6	Mom was supposed to be teaching that day.
0:38.3	She enjoyed her job as a teacher.
0:42.3	She was outgoing, fun-loving.
0:49.3	A great mom.
0:52.3	I called my mom's cell phone and there was no answer.
0:58.0	So I called my dad's phone and he didn't answer.
1:02.0	I knew my father was supposed to be working.
1:05.0	I did not know my father had not showing up for work.
1:08.0	Got in a vehicle and headed out there.
1:11.6	Drive up the road to the house.
1:14.6	I opened the door and
1:16.6	I saw my dad in the floor.
1:18.6	And I'm yelling, Dad, you know.
1:21.6	9-1-1-1-0.
1:23.6	Okay, what's going on?
	...

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