“The Code Breakers”: 20/20 Reports on Cathy Swartz & Catherine Edwards Homicides March 7 2025

In this all-new episode of 20/20, co-anchor David Muir reports from Texas on how cutting-edge forensic DNA technology has finally brought long-awaited justice to the families of two murder victims. With the help of Othram, a forensic laboratory specializing in solving cold cases, investigators were able to close two cases that had remained unsolved for decades.

The episode focuses on the murders of Cathy Swartz and Catherine Edwards, two women whose killers left behind DNA evidence that went unmatched for years. Despite initial investigative efforts, both cases went cold—until forensic genealogy and advanced DNA sequencing reopened them. Muir interviews the families of the victims, law enforcement officials, and the scientists at Othram who made these breakthroughs possible.

The Murder of Cathy Swartz: A Crime That Stunned Three Rivers

On December 2, 1988, 19-year-old Cathy Swartz was brutally murdered in her apartment in Three Rivers, Michigan. A single mother, she was found stabbed and beaten, her body covered in defensive wounds, suggesting she fought desperately for her life. Police discovered bloody handprints and DNA evidence at the crime scene, but despite extensive efforts, they could not match the DNA to any suspect at the time.

One of the most haunting aspects of the crime was that Cathy’s eight-month-old daughter was in the same room during the attack but was left unharmed. Investigators believed Cathy likely knew her attacker, as there were no signs of forced entry. However, without a match for the DNA, the case went cold, and for decades, her family was left without answers.

Forensic Breakthrough: A Match After 35 Years

In 2023, forensic genealogy provided the break investigators had waited decades for. Othram analyzed the DNA found at the crime scene and narrowed the search to four brothers. Investigators eventually honed in on Robert Waters, who had been a childhood friend of Cathy’s. Living in South Carolina at the time, Waters was arrested after his DNA was confirmed to be a match.

Waters’ arrest brought both relief and frustration. Less than a week after being taken into custody, he died by suicide in his jail cell. Though his death meant there would be no trial, Cathy’s family and law enforcement finally had the answer they had long sought—justice had been served, even if it was not in a courtroom.

The Cold Case Program at Western Michigan University played a key role in organizing the massive case file, scanning thousands of documents, and assisting investigators in their research. Their contributions helped detectives efficiently work through the evidence, proving that forensic science combined with new investigative techniques could finally bring resolution to long-forgotten cases.

The Murder of Catherine Edwards: A Texas Town’s Mystery

In January 1995, 31-year-old schoolteacher Mary Catherine Edwards was found murdered in her home in Beaumont, Texas. Her parents made the horrifying discovery when they went to check on her after she failed to appear at a family lunch. She was found in her bathtub, handcuffed, and sexually assaulted. The crime scene showed no signs of forced entry, leading investigators to believe she had known her attacker.

The case quickly went cold. Despite collecting DNA evidence, detectives were unable to match it to any suspect. For years, the only significant clue was the presence of police-grade handcuffs, raising suspicions that the killer may have had law enforcement or security experience. Investigators pursued several leads, including an ex-boyfriend, but nothing yielded a DNA match.

Genealogical DNA Identifies the Killer

In 2020, detectives sent the DNA from Catherine’s case to Othram. Using genealogical research, scientists built an extensive family tree containing over 7,500 names. After months of work, one name stood out—Clayton Foreman. A former high school classmate of Catherine’s, Foreman had a criminal history, including a previous sexual assault conviction.

Investigators tracked him to Reynoldsburg, Ohio, where he was working as an Uber driver. A discarded piece of trash provided the DNA sample needed to confirm their suspicions—it was a match. When confronted by Texas Rangers, Foreman denied knowing Catherine, let alone being involved in her murder. However, when told that his DNA had been found on Catherine and at the crime scene, he fell silent and requested an attorney. He was arrested on April 29, 2021.

The Trial and Conviction of Clayton Foreman

In March 2024, nearly 30 years after Catherine Edwards’ murder, Clayton Foreman stood trial in Beaumont, Texas. Prosecutors laid out the extensive DNA evidence, forensic genealogy research, and a pattern of predatory behavior that linked him to the crime. Former acquaintances testified about his history of sexual violence, including a woman who recounted being bound and assaulted by him in 1981.

Catherine’s twin sister, Allison Edwards Brocato, took the stand, providing emotional testimony about the loss of her sister. Former students of Catherine sat in the courtroom, remembering the teacher who had been taken from them too soon.

After seven days of testimony, the jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Foreman guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison, ensuring that he would never harm another person again. With no possibility of parole until he is over 100 years old, the verdict provided some measure of justice for Catherine’s family and loved ones.

The Legacy of Forensic Science and Cold Case Resolution

The resolution of both Cathy Swartz’s and Catherine Edwards’ cases underscores the power of forensic DNA technology in solving long-unsolved murders. Advances in genetic genealogy have allowed investigators to identify suspects who might otherwise have escaped justice.

For Catherine’s former students, her case served as a lesson in resilience. One student, Heleniah Adams, who was just seven years old when Catherine was murdered, went on to study criminal justice in her honor. For Cathy Swartz’s daughter, Courteney, the resolution brought painful closure—finally knowing the truth about her mother’s murder.

While both killers evaded justice for decades, the persistence of law enforcement, forensic scientists, and genealogists ensured that these women’s stories were not forgotten. The episode of 20/20 highlights the importance of continuing to invest in forensic research, ensuring that no victim is left without justice, no matter how much time has passed.

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