Detective Aubrey St Angelo tells Shrabasti Mallik what it is like to open a cold case, bring the homicide victim to justice and what it takes to become a good sleuth
It was in 1997 when a homicide case in louisiana was shut due to lack of resources and pieces of evidence. Nineteen years later, detective Aubrey St Angelo opened the cold case because he felt that the victim and her family, needed to get justice. Investigative Discovery tracked Angelo in the case and turned it into a series titled Killing Fields.
Excerpts from the interaction with the detective
What is the series Killing Fields all aboutIJ How is it different from other crime seriesIJ
Killing Fields is a true-crime documentary series which follows homicide detectives as they reopen the case of a young woman found in the louisiana swamplands, a body dump site, where the forces of nature often erase evidence of a crime. It’s an intriguing look into what goes on beside the 9-to-5 job. This case is different for the obvious reason it’s a cold case and that’s the biggest difference.
How difficult is it to work on a cold caseIJ
Working a cold case is a lot different. It’s definitely difficult because you don’t have the current technology pieces. Time was a beast in this cold case the time that passed wiped away all the evidence that would have been useful.
Why couldn’t this case be solved in 1997IJ
In 1997, I was just thinking on the basis of what I was learning from the older detectives. There, manpower was an issue and they were overwhelmed with an influx of investigations. As their leads ran out, the case went cold and that’s why it wasn’t solved in 1997.
What was your first impression of making Killing FieldsIJ
I was very reluctant to be a part of an entertainment series and I didn’t know what it would entail and what it would be about. Initially, I did not want to be a part of this show at all. If you give me an assignment, I will always give you 100 per cent but I don’t like working in front of cameras.
As an investigator and a public servant, I have learnt that you need to just accept whatever comes your way. Therefore, I worked with cameras without noticing them at all.
Tell us about the family of the victim and their reaction to reopen the caseIJ
They were very cooperative in revisiting the case and devoting attention to it. They were very helpful to an extent as they were answering everything we should know regarding victimology or persons possibly involved in Eugenie Boisfontaine’s (victim) life.
How different is shooting and working on a case from your daily routineIJ
Sometimes you are somewhere and your mind is somewhere else. There are times when you have your alone times without anyone else. For example, you may wake up in the middle of the night for a glass of water but when you try to go back to bed and you lie there, those thoughts run through your mind. You can visualise the crime scenes and photos but I think that’s what actually sets a true investigator or detective apart from somebody who just holds a title.
How was your experience of working with detective Rodie SanchezIJ
Working with detective Sanchez was a very vital part of this show as he is a very experienced and knowledgeable person. His personal life never affected the case. We need to understand that detectives also have their personal life but professional and personal life should always be separated.
What drove you to become a detectiveIJ
I wasn’t driven to become a detective. I signed up thinking of becoming a patrol officer. My aggressive nature and accomplishments just led me to different promotions and I’ve had different opportunities to take upon different endeavours within the department and that has led me to investigations as of today.
What kind of skills would you say are needed to be a good detectiveIJ
I would definitely think that you would need to have a keen sense of observation, some social skills and great communication power so that you can relate to them. Don’t be afraid to show emotion. Try not to be arrogant so you wouldn’t be intimidated by tough attorneys or tough witnesses or tough offenders. Those types of skills are definitely beneficial to being a good investigator.
How long does it usually take to solve a homicideIJ
Time is the biggest issue in a cold case because, with the passage of time, evidences are washed away.
What did you learn from SanchezIJ
As people, we differ and he has a different appetite preference and different hobbies but I’m always intrigued by learning about what he likes. Rodie brings a lot of experience to the table as far as when technology is not available.
The show will air every Sunday at 8pm April 17 onward