After decades without justice, Irene Garza’s case finally moves forward. Now in his 80s, John Feit is living in Arizona but is extradited to Texas when a grand jury indicts him for Irene’s murder. The trial begins in late 2017, and the lead prosecutor on Irene’s case brings witnesses forward to paint a picture of what happened the Holy Saturday evening when Feit heard her confession. After two weeks, the jury deliberates for more than seven hours before finding Feit guilty. Snow falls in McAllen, a rare occurrence, as Feit faces his sentencing.

McAllen police chief Victor Rodriguez recounts when he first met a key witness in Irene’s case, Father O’Brien in an unlikely place – a state prison in Huntsville, Texas. After submitting their discoveries to the DA’s office, Rudy and Victor feel hopeless because of comments made by the district attorney and his lead prosecutor. By 2003, the grand jury decides not to indict Feit in Irene’s murder, leaving a wave of disappointment again for Irene. A whole decade passes until a new district attorney decides to take on Irene’s case one more time.

In 2002, the Texas Rangers launched the Unsolved Crimes Investigation Team. Ranger Rudy Jaramillo and his partner reopened Irene’s case, finding an unlikely witness to John Feit’s confession–an ex-monk. During the same time as Irene’s second investigation, the Catholic church was under scrutiny. 

After Irene Garza’s body was found, a formal investigation into the murder began. Investigators discovered the priest who killed Irene, John Feit, had previously attacked two other women.  After a letter was sent between the church and investigators, a deal was struck to send Feit away without facing jail time–a common practice for the church. 

On Holy Saturday in 1960, Irene Garza told her parents she was going to an evening confession at their church. But Irene never came home. Her worried parents alerted the police and waited anxiously for five days until Irene’s body was found floating in a canal.

A young high school student from McAllen, Texas, a small border town, went on a date with a guy from her class in early 1952. The two dated until their senior year, when they decided to go their separate ways. The young man went off to law school, not knowing his high school sweetheart, Irene Garza, would soon be murdered.

On the evening of April 16, 1960, a young woman from McAllen, Texas named Irene Garza went to church for confession. She never returned home. A week later, her body was found floating in a canal. Decades would pass before the priest who murdered Irene was brought to justice in a historic case for the church and the Rio Grande Valley.

In Season five of “Darkness,” host Talisa Treviño details the decades-long fight for justice for Irene. Hear from the investigators who tackled the case and Irene’s loved ones, as well as survivors of abuse in the Catholic church.

Introducing a new series from The Drag: "Forsaken."

"Forsaken" is a series that explores the systems that both enhance and oppress the lives of the more than 29 million people living in Texas. Each episode will address issues that Texans face each day – the good and the bad. We’ll explore the criminal justice system, Texas politics, civil rights, social issues and even a little bit of history. Texas is the second-most diverse state in the nation and has equally diverse stories to tell. As the legendary late Texas singer Billy Joe Shaver sings: “You fathers and you mothers / Be good to one another / Please try to raise your children right / Don’t let the darkness take ‘em / Don’t make ‘em feel forsaken / Just lead ‘em safely to the light.”

The first two episodes of "Forsaken" drop Thursday, March 7.

Follow "Forsaken" on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Or your favorite podcasting app!

Fifty years after the shooting, survivors, heroes and their families return to Austin. A committee pushes for a better memorial for the victims. Some testify at the Texas Legislature, trying to stop a law allowing guns on campuses.

College students discuss their experiences growing up with school shooting drills and the constant fear of a shooter. Host Sara Kinney and a March for Our Lives representative go over the state of gun legislation today.

Forty-four years after the Tower shootings, another shooting occurs on the University of Texas campus. Survivors continue their lives while gun violence grows as a hot-button political issue. The physical wounds begin to heal, but the emotional ones remain.