The WORST episodes of On the Case with Paula Zahn
Every episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of On the Case with Paula Zahn!
Led by Emmy Award-winning journalist Paula Zahn, ON THE CASE features in-depth interviews and original reporting that go beyond the headlines in search of fascinating mysteries from within our nation's justice system. Each episode is highlighted by Zahn's riveting exclusive interviews, which draw out different viewpoints from the people personally connected to tragedies that rocked their local community and the investigations that attempted to piece together the truth.
#1 - Through the Smoke
Season 29 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/13/2026
#2 - Fatal Turn
Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/9/2014
A mother on her way home from work vanishes; the police are sent in to the darkest corners of the justice system.
#6 - A Wave Goodbye
Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/20/2015
A 14-year-old girl is discovered murdered at an empty campground, located more than 50 miles from where she was last sighted.
#7 - Unseen Danger
Season 29 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/6/2026
Police watch the disturbing video of a young woman closing up after her shift at a gas station convenience store. Everything seems normal until, in one moment, she is there and, in the next, she is gone, never to be seen again.
#8 - A Father's Quest
Season 10 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/7/2014
After finding his beautiful 19 year old daughter dead, a father launches a relentless pursuit of her killer.
#10 - Unfinished Journey
Season 14 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/4/2016
Jamie Bowie disappears while driving from Phoenix to Los Angeles on Interstate 10, then her body is found near the highway a month later.
#12 - Trail of Betrayal
Season 15 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/23/2017
After missing newlyweds are found murdered, family members and friends point fingers at each other, leading investigators to believe someone close to the victims is responsible for their deaths.
#13 - From Dusk To Darkness
Season 14 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/6/2016
After a young girl mysteriously disappears, her family and the police undergo a tormenting journey to find a lead.
#14 - Campus Killer
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/29/2011
A mother leads the investigation of her daughter who goes missing from her university campus.
#15 - That's Him!
Season 16 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/26/2017
A successful car salesman is killed in a hail of gunfire that erupts on his front porch.
#16 - Caught in a Trap
Season 29 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/29/2026
Recreational hunters find the body of a female naval veteran in a rural campground, leaving police to answer challenging questions. How had the victim gotten there? Why was she drugged, and who wanted her dead?
#19 - She Wasn't Alone
Season 9 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/30/2014
A young woman, just engaged is viciously murdered.
#20 - Footprints And Whispers
Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/16/2014
A killer's own words may hold the key to solving the case of a man and his wife found murdered in their home.
#21 - A Tale Tell Call
Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/23/2012
A dating service receives strange calls that help police solve a murder.
#22 - A Killer Among Friends
Season 14 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/30/2016
When a teenager is found viciously murdered, police must retrace her last steps alive to identify her killer.
#24 - A Bridge to Disaster
Season 28 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/20/2025
Can police ease the fears of a close-knit community following the murder of a beloved restaurant owner?
#25 - An Uninvited Guest
Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/19/2014
A son discovers his mother's violent murder.