“The Footprint”: 48 Hours Reports on Jeanie Childs Homicide August 23 2025

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 10:00 PM ET/PT, 48 Hours airs The Footprint, a compelling investigation into the 1993 murder of Jeanie Childs, a case that remained unsolved for more than 25 years. The episode, reported by correspondent Erin Moriarty, explores how forensic science, determined investigators, and a bloody footprint helped bring justice for a brutal crime that shocked Minneapolis.

A Grisly Crime Scene in Minneapolis

On June 13, 1993, 35-year-old Jeanie Childs was found murdered in her apartment at the Horn Towers complex in south Minneapolis. Neighbors first noticed bloody water leaking into their unit below, prompting a welfare check. Inside, police discovered Childs’ body in the bathroom. She had been stabbed approximately 65 times, with some wounds inflicted after death. Blood covered much of the apartment, including her bed and the bathroom.

Investigators found that the victim still had socks on her feet, yet there were bare, bloody footprints tracked across the floor—proof that they belonged to her killer. At the time, DNA science was still in its early stages, and though samples were collected, they didn’t yield an immediate match. With no eyewitnesses and few leads, the case quickly went cold.

A Troubled Life Remembered

Jeanie Childs’ life was not without hardship. She began running away from home at 13 and eventually became involved in sex work. Despite the difficulties she faced, her family described her as a kind-hearted and loving person. Her mother, Betty Eakman, and sister, Cindy Blumer, have long fought to preserve her memory as more than just a victim. They emphasize that Jeanie’s struggles never defined her worth as a human being.

The pain of her murder never left the family. For years, Eakman pushed for justice, refusing to let her daughter’s case be forgotten. As time passed, the emotional wounds remained fresh. Blumer acknowledged that while Jeanie’s life was complicated, she did not deserve to be killed, let alone in such a horrific manner.

Cold Case Reopened and New Forensic Tools Deployed

In 2015, Minneapolis cold case investigators reopened Childs’ file, inspired in part by advances in DNA technology and cases like the arrest of the Golden State Killer. By 2018, forensic genealogists were brought in to reexamine the DNA samples collected from the crime scene. This included semen on the victim’s comforter and towel, as well as blood found on a bathroom sink and red shirt.

Investigators began using forensic investigative genetic genealogy—a method that compares crime scene DNA with public ancestry databases. This approach led them to Jerry Westrom, a married father of two from Isanti, Minnesota. Though not previously a suspect, Westrom had lived in the Twin Cities area at the time of the murder and had prior legal run-ins, including arrests for soliciting prostitution.

To confirm their suspicions, investigators followed Westrom to a hockey game in Wisconsin. After he discarded a napkin used during a hot dog meal, agents retrieved it from the trash and extracted DNA. The sample matched the DNA found at Jeanie Childs’ crime scene.

A Footprint, a Napkin, and a Murder Charge

In February 2019, Westrom was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He denied any involvement, claiming he had never been to the Horn Towers or even to Minneapolis for sex-related services. Despite his protests, forensic analysis linked his footprint to the bloody prints left at the scene—reinforcing the DNA evidence already in hand.

Forensic scientist Mark Ulrick conducted the footprint analysis, confirming that the print left in blood closely matched the ridges on Westrom’s foot. According to Ulrick, friction ridge skin is as unique and identifiable as a fingerprint, whether found on a hand or foot. This evidence became one of the most critical elements tying Westrom directly to the crime scene.

As the investigation continued, prosecutors built their case around the combination of DNA and physical trace evidence. A grand jury eventually indicted Westrom for first-degree premeditated murder, and the case went to trial in August 2022.

Trial, Conviction, and Legal Challenges

During the trial, Westrom’s defense team argued that the evidence was circumstantial and that the crime scene had been mishandled. They claimed alternative suspects existed, including a now-deceased roommate of the victim who was allegedly involved in her sex work. They also pointed out that a knife recovered from the scene had never been tested.

Despite these challenges, the jury reached a verdict in just two hours. Westrom was found guilty of first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence. Jurors cited the footprint and the DNA as the decisive factors in their decision. One juror, Derek Fradenburgh, stated that while other DNA could have been explained, the bloody footprint was incontrovertible proof that Westrom was present at the time of the killing.

Westrom later appealed his conviction. The Minnesota Supreme Court upheld the first-degree murder verdict but vacated the second-degree murder conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case. Westrom is eligible for parole in 2052, at which point he will be 86 years old.

A Mother’s Fight for Justice and a Family’s Loss

For Jeanie Childs’ family, the verdict brought a degree of closure but not full healing. Betty Eakman, who remained steadfast through decades of uncertainty, attended the trial and continues to speak out about her daughter’s humanity and the brutality of her murder. She has expressed a desire for Westrom to confront the magnitude of his actions every day.

Cindy Blumer, too, continues to remember Jeanie as more than the headlines and case files. She resists the narrative that Jeanie’s lifestyle led to her death, insisting that no one deserves to be killed in such a violent way. The case remains a reminder of how long justice can take and how vital persistence is in cold case investigations.

Conclusion: The Legacy of “The Footprint”

48 Hours‘ “The Footprint” brings national attention to a Minnesota case that might have remained unresolved without the determination of investigators and the power of forensic science. Through exclusive interviews and a detailed breakdown of events, the episode highlights how a single footprint and a discarded napkin became the foundation of a conviction in one of the state’s most haunting cold cases.

The episode underscores the evolving role of technology in criminal investigations and the emotional toll on families waiting for answers. Jeanie Childs may have lost her life in 1993, but in 2025, her story continues to resonate—as a call for justice, remembrance, and the enduring strength of a mother’s love.