In 1984 her best friend was brutally murdered… 24 years later, she solved the case.

September and October in Texas is known for the state fair, and that’s exactly what 20-year-old Angela Samota, and her friends did the night of October 12th, 1984. After leaving the fair, the group went bar hopping before calling it a night. A classic weekend for college students in Dallas.

Around 1:45am after everyone returned home, Angela’s boyfriend received a call from a hushed and panicked Angela, “Talk to me. There’s a man in here.” But before he could ask questions or get more information, she hung up the phone. By the time he got to her apartment, Angela was already dead—brutally raped and murdered in her own home, the killer’s location unknown.

Some cases aren’t meant to be solved.

That’s what the detective told Sheila Wysocki, whose name was well known around the station for calling about the Angela Samota case. Sheila and Angela (who she called Angie) were roommates in college turned best friends, and their friendship was cut short by tragedy. Sheila was that woman whose calls were ignored more often than not. The one who wouldn’t just let it go. The one who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

But Sheila was tired of being told a case file (with DNA evidence) collecting dust on a shelf was “just the way it was.” The answer to her friend’s murder was out there, and a killer was still walking free. So after a vision of her friend, Sheila knew she needed to take action. She needed to solve the case.

Join me on this special episode of Murder, She Told and hear Sheila Wysocki’s incredible journey to justice, and what made her continue being a private investigator and serving families also seeking answers after cracking her best friend’s cold case.

Special thanks to Sheila Wysocki for participating in this interview and sharing her personal stories with me.

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Media and Credits

Photos of Angie found here and here

Without Warning Podcast

Produced, hosted, researched, and edited by Kristen Seavey