Episode
The Cold Case of the Lipstick Killer
- Podcast
- Forensic Files Unsealed
- Published
- Sep 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3492
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
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Summary
This episode details the lengthy investigation into the 1996 murder of Heidi Bernesakowski, whose throat was slit in her Maryland home. Though her boyfriend, Steven Cook, initially provided a solid alibi and claimed the couple was happily planning a wedding, detectives eventually uncovered a sinister murder-for-hire plot fueled by life insurance policies. The case remained cold for eleven years until DNA evidence under the victim's fingernails identified Alexander Bennett, a Colorado man with a distinct tattoo, as the killer. Investigations revealed that Cook and an associate named Grant Lewis coordinated the hit through an online advertisement for "professional cleaning." Following a dramatic trial where Bennett confessed, all three men were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The narrative highlights how persistent police work and advancing forensic technology finally brought justice to a grieving family over a decade later. This episode includes AI-generated content.