. >> in the small midwestern town of herron, illinois, murder was like a virtual stranger. so rare that police thought this 911 call was a prank. >> 911 emergency. >> there's just been a rape and a murder at the dry cleaning place. >> a rape and a murder? >> yes. >> can you tell me where the body is at? >> it's in the back of the place. >> what is your name, sir? >> i can't tell you. [ beeping ] >> police trace the call to a pay phone near the center of town. just up the street was a dry cleaning store. the front door was open. and no one was there. behind the counter was a purse with its contents scattered all over the floor. >> right at that moment is when we thought there's something serious here. >> in the back room, behind a water heater, police found a woman's body. she had been beaten, apparently with the bloody mop wringer nearby. >> i checked her for her pulse. she did not have one that i could locate. >> the victim was identified as a store employee, 40-year-old cathy woodhaus. she was a married mother of three children. >> she was my mom, and she disciplined me a