Matthew Donald Spalding, simply known as Don, had retired from the Navy after 22 years

of service.

He married a woman named Shirley and they began their new life together.

The couple bought a house in the country where they raised horses.

Don also had a day job working at a local power company.

Though a quaint sounding, this story isn't as ideal-exceiving as you might imagine, because

on July 12, 1985, Don Spalding was murdered, execution-style, and his own barn.

One-third of all murder cases in America remain open.

Each one is called a cold case, and only 1% are ever solved.

This is one of those rare cases.

From A&E, this is Cold Case Files, the podcast.

Don Spalding's daily routine consisted of waking up early, tending to the animals, and

going to work.

On that particular Friday, July 2, 1985, Don didn't make it to work.

Out of concern for their typically consistent employee, the company called Don's home to

make sure he was okay.

Shirley Spalding was the one who answered the phone.

Don wasn't home.

Shirley stated that she had assumed Don had fed the horses and went to work like usual.

That call was received at 8 a.m., but apparently, Shirley wasn't overly concerned, because

it wasn't until after 10 a.m. that she found Don's body.

A neighborhood noticed Don's truck parked near the horse barn, the same location where

...