Hi Cold Case Case listeners, I'm Marissa Pinson and if you're enjoying this show I just want to remind you that episodes of Cold Case Files as well as the A&E Classic Podcast, I Survived, American Justice, and City Confidential are all available ad-free on the new A&E Crime and Investigation channel on Apple Podcasts and Apple Plus for just 499 a month or 3999 a year. And now onto the show. This program contains disturbing

accounts of violence and sexual assault. Listen or discretion is advised. There are over 100,000 cold cases in America. Only 1% are ever solved.

This is one of those rare stories.

It's summer in 1982 in Laurel, Maryland, a Washington, D.C. suburb, and 25-year-old Stephanie Watson

is looking for a fresh start. She's recently divorced and planning a move to Texas.

This is Peg Adam, Stephanie Watson's sister.

Stephanie started working at the local hospital in Laurel

and she worked in the emergency department. She was packed to go to Texas and then she was going to go to Texas and then she was going to go to work one last night and then meet our cousin Chris and go on a little vacation for the weekend to Ocean City, Maryland.

By 10 a.m. Stephanie's cousin Chris is packed and ready to hit the beach, but Stephanie doesn't show.

Chris waits for an hour, then calls Stephanie. to hit the beach, but Stephanie doesn't show.

Chris waits for an hour, then calls Stephanie.

There's no answer.

By noon, Chris knows something's wrong.

My cousin Chris called me and said,

I can't find Steph.

Have you heard from her?

And I said, no, I haven't heard from her.

There was panic in Chris's voice.

This is not like her. Sergeant Richard Fulginiti,

formerly of the Prince George's County Police Department, recalls the events of that

morning. The cousin became very concerned. She went ahead and she called a friend and even jumped in her car to check on Stephanie.

She made her way into the house and Stephanie and her car were nowhere to be found.

...