When a beautiful co-ed is brutally murdered on a popular hiking trail in Prescott National Forest in the summer of 1987, authorities are stumped on who the killer could be. The investigation drags on for decades until finally advances in DNA technology link a serial predator to multiple cases of sexual assault and murder. This is the second of two episodes covering the murder of Cathy Sposito and the identification of Bryan Scott Bennett.
Cathy Sposito (Photo Source) Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Bryan Scott Bennet in 1992 (Photo Source) Arizona Department of Corrections
Bryan Scott Bennet High School Yearbook Photo (Photo Source) Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Thumb Butte as seen from the city of Prescott, Arizona (Photo Source) Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Episode Source Material
- Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office 1987 Cathy Sposito Case File Police Reports requested via public records office March 3rd, 2024. Hard copy only, no direct link.
- Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office 1990 Sexual Assault Victim #2 Case File Police Reports requested via public records office March 3rd, 2024. Hard copy only, no direct link.
- Yavapai County 1997 – 2019 Cathy Sposito Case File Police Reports requested via public records office March 3rd, 2024. Hard copy only, no direct link.
- Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office 2017 – 2023 Sexual Assault Victim #2 Case File Police Reports requested via public records office March 3rd, 2024. Hard copy only, no direct link.
- Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Bryan Scott Bennett Timeline. Requested via public records office March 3rd, 2024. Hard copy only, no direct link.
- AZ Family: Hikers are on alert after Cathy Sposito was found murdered on a popular hiking trail near Prescott in 1987 via AZ Family Video Vault.
- The Associated Press via Arizona Daily Star: Hikers in Prescott find body of New York woman. By staff via newspapers.com.
- Daily News: Death Notices, Catherine Ann Sposito. By staff via newspapers.com.
- A&E: Cold Case of the Week: The 1987 Murder of Cathy Sposito. By Maria Ricapito.
- Arizona Daily Independent News Network: 30 Year-Anniversary of Yavapai County Homicide, Still Seeking Clues. By staff.
- Great Circle Media: Cold Case Investigators Still Looking For Clues Into The Murder of Cathy Sposito 32 Years Ago. By staff.
- The Daily Courier: Cold Case, Cathy Sposito homicide now 32 years old. By Max Efrein.
- ABC 15 News: Unsolved murder, college student killed by unknown suspect on Prescott hike in 1987. By Ashley Loose.
- Great Circle Media: YCSO Continues To Work On A 33-Year Old Cold Case Of The Murder of A Prescott Woman. By staff.
- Williams-Grand Canyon News: Cold Case, Murder on Prescott’s Thumb Butte trail still a mystery. By staff.
- 12 News: An unsolved murder still haunts Arizona’s high country decades later. By Erica Stapleton.
- Great Circle Media: Yavapai Silent Witness Offering Ten-Thousand Dollars For Information Relating to 35-Year-Old Cold Case. By Paige Daniels.
- All About Arizona News: Arizona Cold Case Investigation Remains Active, Detectives Seeking Information. By staff.
- Medium.com: On the Trail of a Killer: The Murder of Cathy Sposito. By Verity Partington.
- 12 News: DNA could finally solve decades-old Arizona murder. By Erica Stapleton.
- Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Full Press Conference via Fox 10 Phoenix on Youtube.
- AZ Family: Pulled from the grave, man tied to decades-old Prescott college student’s murder. By staff.
- ABC News: Suspected killer identified in 1987 cold case murder of woman on hiking trail. By Meredith Deliso.
- ABC 15 News: 1987 murder of Cathy Sposito solved, linked to other attacks in the Prescott area. By Ashley Loose.
- 12 News: Family finds closure after Cathy Sposito’s alleged killer is identified 36 years later. By staff.
- Great Circle Media: YCSO Identified Likely Killer In A 1987 Murder Case and Solves Another. By Dave Zorn.
- KVOA News: YSCO identified likely murderer in cold case from 1987. By Katie Burkholder.
- The Associated Press via Arizona Daily Star: Police ID killer in 1987 Yavapai County cold case. By staff via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Associated Press via Arizona Daily Star: Police ID killer in 1987 Yavapai County cold case. By staff via newspapers.com. (2)
- Boston 25 News: Suspect’s body exhumed to collect DNA tying him to a cold case from 1987. By Jessica Goodman.
- CBS News: Suspect identified 36 years after college student Cathy Sposito brutally killed on Arizona hiking trail. By staff.
- Sportskeeda.com: What happened to Cathy Sposito? Suspect identified in 1987 murder of 23-year-old college student. By Aaratrika Bal.
- The Prescott Times: Breakthrough in 1987 Murder Case: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office identifies suspected perpetrator, resolving another cold case in the process. By Hannah R.
- The Associated Press via KNAU News Talk – Arizona Public Radio: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office ID killer in 1987 murder on Prescott hiking trail. By staff.
- Arizona Daily Star: Volunteers, DNA testing helped solve Prescott cold case. By Lacey Latch via newspapers.com.
- Medium.com: Cold Case Update, Police Announce Probably Killer of Cathy Sposito. By Verity Partington.
- True Crime Mysteries Blog: Shocking Discovery of High School Student Predator 1987 Murder of Cathy Sposito Solved.