Brenda Sue Schaefer was 36, kind, devout, and ready to end her relationship with Mel Ignatow — a controlling, 51-year-old real estate broker from Louisville. On September 23, 1988, she vanished.

For years, Ignatow taunted investigators, manipulating the media while police searched for proof. When her body was finally found, the case still fell apart in court — and Ignatow walked free.

Then, six months later, a man remodeling Ignatow’s home opened a floor vent… and found five undeveloped rolls of film. The photographs showed everything — the torture, the murder, and Ignatow’s face.

But it was too late. He couldn’t be retried.

This is the story of one of America’s most haunting miscarriages of justice — where truth surfaced, but justice never did.

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⚠️ Disclaimer:

This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

📚 Sources:

• The Courier-Journal (Louisville), 1988–2008

• FBI Evidence Archives — Case File “Schaefer, Brenda Sue”

• People v. Ignatow (Jefferson County Circuit Court, 1991)

• ABC Primetime Live — “Justice Too Late” (1993)

• Lee Strobel, Reckless Faith

• The New York Times — “Man Admits Killing Woman He Was Cleared of Slaying” (1992)