Digest

This podcast delves into the chilling case of Heather DeWalt's murder, meticulously tracing the investigation and the roles played by her husband, Daniel DeWalt, and his twin brother, David. The story begins with Heather's disappearance and the tireless efforts of her father, a retired Denver cop, to find her. The investigation, initially hampered by conflicting accounts and a lack of concrete evidence, gains momentum with the arrival of a new district attorney, Scott Story, who vows to uncover the truth. The podcast highlights the crucial role of Investigator Russ Boatwright, who meticulously builds a circumstantial case against the DeWalt brothers, ultimately leading to David's confession. David admits to helping his brother dispose of Heather's body after Dan killed her. This confession, coupled with other evidence, including a sex tape found in the DeWalt's home, strengthens the case against Dan. The podcast then focuses on Dan DeWalt's trial, where his twin brother, David, testifies against him. Despite the lack of direct physical evidence, the jury finds Dan guilty of conspiracy and accessory to murder, sentencing him to 74 years in prison. The podcast concludes with a reflection on the impact of the case on Heather's family and the complexities of the justice system in dealing with such a challenging case.

Outlines

00:00:00

The DeWalt Homicide Case

This podcast explores the complex and tragic case of Heather DeWalt's murder, detailing the investigation, the DeWalt twins' involvement, and the eventual conviction of Dan DeWalt for conspiracy and accessory to murder.

00:00:06

The Search for Heather

This chapter focuses on the efforts of Heather's father, Dave Springer, a retired Denver cop, to find his daughter after she disappeared.

00:04:34

The Investigation Begins

This chapter details the initial investigation by the Edgewater police and the involvement of Detective Mark Criter from the Denver PD.

00:07:22

The DeWalt Twins and the Investigation

This chapter introduces the DeWalt twins, Dan and David, and their close relationship, as well as the investigation of David DeWalt's suburban, which led to the discovery of decomposing human scent, suggesting that Heather's body had been in the vehicle.

00:12:49

The Case Takes a Turn

This chapter recounts the discovery of Heather's body in a canyon road by Curtis Johnson, a construction worker, and highlights the frustration of Heather's family with the police investigation and the arrival of Scott Story as the new district attorney, who promised to reopen the case.

00:18:52

The Trial and Sentencing

This chapter describes the renewed investigation led by Investigator Russ Boatwright, who meticulously built a circumstantial case against the DeWalt brothers and Rosanne, culminating in David DeWalt's confession and Dan DeWalt's trial, where his twin brother, David, testifies against him. The chapter concludes with Dan DeWalt's sentencing to 74 years in prison.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the main evidence that led to the arrest of the DeWalt brothers?

  The main evidence was David DeWalt's confession, in which he admitted to helping his brother dispose of Heather's body after Dan killed her.

• Why was the DeWalt homicide case so difficult to solve?

  The case was difficult to solve because there was no direct physical evidence linking either brother to the murder. The investigation relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony.

• What was the role of Scott Story in the DeWalt homicide case?

  Scott Story was the district attorney who reopened the case in 2005 after Heather's family expressed frustration with the initial investigation. He was determined to get justice for Heather and assembled a task force to investigate the case.

• What was the outcome of Dan DeWalt's trial?

  Dan DeWalt was convicted of conspiracy and accessory to murder, but not first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 74 years in prison.

• What was the role of David DeWalt in the case?

  David DeWalt initially denied any involvement in Heather's murder but later confessed to helping his brother dispose of her body. He accepted a plea deal in exchange for his testimony against his brother.

• What was the significance of the sex tape found in the DeWalt's home?

  The sex tape showed Dan DeWalt's fascination with bondage and ropes, which was similar to how Heather's body was found. This provided circumstantial evidence linking Dan to the murder.

• What was the role of Rosanne in the case?

  Rosanne was David DeWalt's girlfriend and later his wife. She was initially suspected of involvement in Heather's murder but was later released due to lack of evidence.

• What was the impact of the DeWalt homicide case on Heather's family?

  The case had a devastating impact on Heather's family. They were left to deal with the loss of their loved one and the trauma of the investigation and trial.

• What was the significance of the jury's decision in Dan DeWalt's trial?

  The jury's decision to convict Dan DeWalt of conspiracy and accessory to murder, but not first-degree murder, was a significant victory for the prosecution. It showed that the jury believed that Dan was involved in Heather's death, but they were not convinced that he was the one who actually killed her.

Show Notes