In the Summer of 1993, a leak in a south Minneapolis high-rise led a caretaker to a horrifying discovery: 35-year-old Jeanie Childs, murdered inside her apartment. On the floor beside her, a haunting clue: a trail of bloody bare footprints. Today we start at the beginning of a decades-long search for answers, tracing Jeanie’s story, the evidence left behind, and the first threads investigators followed as they tried to uncover what really happened that night.
Please be aware that today’s episode contains descriptions of violence, and a brief reference to child abuse. Please take care while listening.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
Action Items Related to Today’s Episode:
Before we wrap up today’s episode, we want to connect Jeanie’s story to the present.
Like so many women whose lives have been marked by violence, Jeanie’s story is also about survival, resilience, and the need for communities that listen and care. That’s why today we’re highlighting Thistle Farms, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction find healing and hope. Through safe housing, meaningful employment, and a strong community of support, Thistle Farms provides women with a path to recovery and lifelong freedom. Their motto says it best: Love heals.
If you’d like to honor Jeanie’s story in a tangible way, consider supporting Thistle Farms. You can shop their line of handcrafted products — from candles and body care to home goods — all made by the women they serve. Every purchase helps provide shelter, job training, and a second chance. To learn more or make a donation, head to thistlefarms.org.
And before we go, a special thank you to WCCO and journalist Jennifer Mayerle, whose tireless reporting brought new attention to Jeanie’s case. Her work and the WCCO team’s documentary Footprint to Murder were invaluable resources for this episode. You can watch the full documentary for free on YouTube — and I highly recommend it.
As always you can also find a full list of today’s sources and action items at truercrimepodcast.com.
Audio Used:
YouTube: The Footprint | Full Episode, uploaded by 48 Hours.
YouTube: Golden State Killer is Caught, uploaded by Idaho News on Demand.
YouTube: Golden State killer captured, uploaded by CBS 42.
Sources Used:
CBS News: Footprint to Murder, Timeline of the Case.
YouTube: The Footprint | Full Episode, uploaded by 48 Hours.
Fox 9: Minneapolis police make arrest in woman’s 1993 murder.
Minnesota Reformer: Crime fell in every major category in 2023, according to early data, by
Simplyforensic: Forensic Podiatry: Unlocking Clues One Footstep at a Time.
MPR News: Defense attorney disputes evidence against Jerry Westrom, by Matt Sepic.
Justia: State of Minnesota vs. Westrom.
MPR News: Hennepin jury convicts Jerry Westrom in cold case killing, by Matt Sepic.
