I recently received the sad news that Nicole, who recorded this episode, Jeffrey

McDonald and the four intruders with me, has died at the age of 45.

Nicole used the alias nurse Marin for this episode, which speaks both to her love of her

profession of nursing and her sense of humor.

Nicole possessed a rare combination of enthusiasm, energy, and intelligence. Did I mention she was

funny? Her sense of humor could distract you from the fact that she was a serious, disciplined, true crime researcher

with an encyclopedic knowledge of the cases that piqued her interest. You'll recognize all of

Nicole's great qualities in this episode and probably some more I miss. I feel so lucky

to have recorded this episode with her and so lucky to have known her.

Take a listen.

In the early morning hours of February 17, 1970 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Captain Dr. Jeffrey

McDonald awoke to the screams of his wife and

children. Before him stood four intruders, one a woman with blonde hair and a floppy hat, holding a

candle chanting, As it is groovy, kill the pigs, and three men, two white, one black.

McDonald said they fought in the living room where he was knocked unconscious.

When he came to, he found his five-year-old daughter, Kimberly, two-year-old daughter, Kristen,

and pregnant wife Colette all brutally murdered.

The Army investigated McDonald's story and in Article 32 hearing was held July 5, 1970,

to determine whether McDonald himself was the murderer of his own family.

Colonel Rock issued a report dismissing the charges against McDonald in October of 1970. However, Colette's stepfather,

Freddie Kasab, in the years following the murder, turned for McDonald's biggest supporter to

greatest enemy, convinced that

...