Who Killed the Prosecutor?
Summary
This 48 Hours episode investigates the 2002 murder of Bakersfield prosecutor Steve Towser, who was stabbed to death in his garage. The case centers on the complex relationship between Towser and Christopher Hillis, a former cop whose son, Lance, was a meth addict that Towser aggressively tried to save through rehabilitation. Hillis, who believed Towser was sexually abusing his son and enabling his addiction, was arrested and charged with murder based on DNA evidence found on a knife and beer bottle. After pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, Hillis revealed that Towser’s alleged admis…
Topics discussed
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Introduction to the murder of prosecutor Steve Towser
Discovery of the body and initial police response
Steve Towser's background and personality
Crime scene details and shift in investigation focus
Arrest of Christopher Hillis and his claim of innocence
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The complex relationship between Hillis and Towser
Lance Hillis's struggle with methamphetamine addiction
Conflict over treatment: Prison vs. Rehabilitation
Lance's fatal car accident and Towser's legal leniency
Towser's journal and his emotional connection to Lance
The fatal crash and Hillis's growing resentment
Media rumors of a sexual relationship between Towser and Lance
Hillis's hostility and the lack of evidence for abuse
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Hillis in solitary confinement and defense theories
Prosecution's case: DNA evidence and reconstruction
Defense challenges to the DNA evidence and motive
Family reactions and potential sentencing
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Hillis pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter
Hillis recounts the night of the murder
The alleged trigger: Towser's claim of consensual contact
Conclusion: Hillis's sentence and Towser's legacy
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