The Brighton Ax Murder | Sneak peek | Forensic Files

[Music] I love his smile he has a beautiful smile and look at his eyes they just Sparkle
my name is Sharon krasnick and I'm Jim's wife I've been his wife for 23 years these were beautiful happy days before
this whole nightmare started nearly 40 years have passed since Brighton resident Kathleen krozenak was
found murdered in her own home now prosecutors say crozinek's then-husband committed the crime that's Jim as a
young man so this is Jim's first wife Kathy yes it is you can see Jim and Kathy so obviously love one another
it was one of the most horrific crimes that we've seen in Rochester she looked like she was just lying there on her
right side sleep and it does not appear that she ever saw this coming that she ever woke up the case is known as the
brain ax murder this is the ax that was found in Kathy's head at the time that Mr Craftsman came home her three and a
half year old daughter was there throughout the day with her mom dead in the bed
how soon did Jim Krause become the suspect in his wife's murder well I think within 24 hours they felt that
there just wasn't enough evidence to charge him at that point they went through the years thinking we're going
to get something it just went cold the case has been unsolved for 40 years I think that people they just want to know
what happened James krausnik will stand trial later this year for the murder of his wife and
their Brighton home nearly 40 years ago no other physical evidence at the scene points to anyone other than James
krausnik basically it became who else could it be they were so focused on Jim if Jim
Krause did not kill his wife who did larabee early on police learned about this fella who was living not far from
the crime scene this evil evil evil man that lived so close to Kathy and Jim he hated women well he was a one-man crime
wave he was a psychopath they ignored him I have absolutely no doubt that James krausnik killed Kathy craftsnake
that morning so you're saying that this man who had never shown any sign of violence before and never shows any
violence after snapped one night one night in his life and puts an ax in his wife's head yep yeah
Jim is a decent loving human being there is no way Jim would ever ever have done
anything like that James Carl's Nick just doesn't look like an Ax Murderer no but Ted Bundy didn't look like a serial
killer I did not murder captain

A young mother is killed in her bed, her toddler unharmed. Unsolved for 40 years, how the unusual crime scene helped close the case. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports Friday, Sept. 8 at 10:17/9:17c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

The episode discusses the 40-year-old murder case of Kathleen Kroznak and the trial of her husband Jim Krausnik, focusing on evidence and suspects.

Key points

The Murder of Kathy Krausnik. Kathy Krausnik was found murdered in her home, leading to a decades-long investigation.
James Krausnik's Trial. James Krausnik will stand trial for the murder of his wife nearly 40 years ago.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I love his smile.

0:04WatchFeb 22, 2023

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