Cold Case Files Cold Case Files

Cowboys on the Case / Office Politics

Sep 8, 2026 · 46m

Summary

This episode details two cold cases: the 1974 rape and robbery in Looking Glass, Oregon, where a volunteer squad solved the 1975 murder of suspect Benny King, and the 1989 disappearance of Sharon Bloom in Minnesota. In Oregon, retired officers known as the “Cold Case Cowboys” identified the killer through a confession and corroborating evidence. In Minnesota, investigators initially failed to prosecute a suspect due to suppressed evidence, but later secured a conviction using advanced DNA testing on bloody carpeting.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Lowe's Labor Day paint deals Introduction to the Looking Glass, Oregon case Details of the 1974 robbery and victim clues Kenneth Nail's confession and identification of Benny King Nail's account of the robbery and Benny King's disappearance The legend of Benny King and the search for his remains Discovery of Benny King's bones in the Callahan Mountains Formation of the Douglas County Cold Case Squad Introduction of the Cold Case Cowboys team members Reviewing conflicting witness statements on Benny King Identifying Lewis Clark as a key suspect Verifying Clark's story with physical evidence Linking Kenneth Nail and Carlos Tinker in jail Investigating Tinker's alibi and potential motive Tinker's prison rumors and decision to confess Interrogation of Carlos Tinker in Salem Tinker's confession to the murder of Benny King Sponsor: Rosetta Stone Sapphire language learning Sponsor: Figs scrubs for healthcare professionals Sponsor: Figs scrubs promotion details Tinker's account of the jailhouse encounter Tinker's motive and plan to kill Benny King The drive to the Callahan Mountains The shooting and Benny King's escape attempt Final shots and the aftermath of the murder Tinker's relief and Lewis Clark's corroborating statement Resolution of the Benny King case and squad's success Impact of the cold case squad on other jurisdictions Introduction to the Sharon Bloom missing person case Initial investigation and missing persons report Workplace harassment and suspicion of a stalker Interviewing suspect Stephen Xanter Bureau of Criminal Apprehension joins investigation Interrogation of Xanter and discovery of new evidence Discovery of Sharon Bloom's body in a cornfield Xanter's reaction to the news and forensic findings Investigation stalls and Barbara Xanter's suspicious behavior Sponsor: Shopify website building services Sponsor: Mint Mobile summer sale Sponsor: Progressive Insurance Revisiting the Sharon Bloom case and suspect profile Reopening the case and focusing on Barbara Xanter Gathering testimony from Barbara's friends Friends' guilt and concerns for Barbara's safety Barbara's denial and explanation for blood stains Forensic search of the Xanter home Discovery of blood evidence and direct link to victim Legal challenges and suppression of key evidence Case goes cold and the advent of STR DNA testing DNA analysis of carpet fibers confirms Xanter's guilt Victim's family reaction to the resolution Sponsor: Alinia Invest automated investing app
Listen ad-free on Castria

Episode summaries and topics are generated from the audio by Castria — a free podcast app that skips ads automatically. IP Geolocation by DB-IP