This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault.

Use your best judgment.

In 1981, Susan Shoemaker was a 21-year-old college student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

As a radio and broadcast major, it only made sense that she

worked at the local radio station, W-I-D-B. Susan earned a promotion quickly, and on May 18th,

she would begin her new position as a sales executive. On May 17th, Susan left her dorm room

in Wright Hall to attend a meeting at the station.

She headed down a path known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a shortcut that a lot of students used.

The trail led through a grassy knoll, passed some railroad tracks, and continued on by the

university's physical plan.

Susan didn't make it to the end of the shortcut that day.

She didn't make it to the meeting.

And she didn't start her new position on May 18th.

Because Susan met someone on the trail that day.

The person responsible for her murder.

From A&E, this is cold case files.

I'm Brooke, and here's the spectacular Bill Curtis,

with a classic case exhuming the truth. On August 17, 1981, I'd been a Carbondale police officer for one week.

That's the same day that Susan Chewmate was murdered.

Susan and I had a class in one of the buildings behind me here.

In 1981, Paul Eccles is 21 years old.

The rape and murder of a local co-ed named Susan Schumack

...