Overview of Trace of Suspicion — Ep. 1: “A Death in the Family”
This premiere episode of NBC News’ Trace of Suspicion tells the story of U.S. Marine Sergeant Todd Sommer (sometimes mis-transcribed as “Summer”), a 23-year-old husband and father who died suddenly at Camp/Miramar Marine Base in San Diego in February 2002. What initially appeared to be a natural death from heart failure later became a long-running murder investigation, driven by unusual circumstances, questions about his wife Cindy’s behavior, and the possibility that Todd may have been poisoned.
What Happened to Todd Sommer
- Todd had been sick for about 10 days before his death, with:
- nausea
- vomiting/diarrhea
- fever
- stomach pain
- chills
- He had recently traveled with other Marines to El Centro and later suspected a gas-station egg roll may have made him ill.
- On the night he died, his wife Cindy Sommer woke to him gasping for breath.
- Cindy called 911, attempted CPR, and first responders rushed him to the hospital.
- Todd was pronounced dead about an hour after Cindy made the emergency call.
Why the Death Became Suspicious
At first, investigators treated the case as a routine military death:
- NCIS investigated.
- The autopsy initially concluded heart failure.
- Standard toxicology showed no illegal drugs or obvious suspicious substances.
- The case was on track to be closed.
But several factors later raised red flags:
- Todd was young and seemingly healthy.
- His death came suddenly after a mysterious illness.
- Cindy’s immediate comments about life insurance and military benefits were later remembered.
- Friends, neighbors, and relatives described Cindy’s post-death behavior as unusual, including:
- going out soon after the funeral
- spending money freely
- having frequent parties
- seeing multiple lovers
Cindy Sommer’s Role and Public Perception
The episode emphasizes how Cindy’s behavior after Todd’s death became part of the suspicion around the case.
What people noticed
- She did not grieve in the way others expected.
- She appeared to move quickly into socializing and dating.
- Neighbors saw lots of activity at the house and men coming and going.
- Some interpreted her behavior as coping; others saw it as incriminating.
Cindy’s explanation
- She says she coped by “compartmentalizing” and acting as if Todd were still deployed.
- She also says she was overwhelmed by:
- grief
- raising four children
- financial fear
- instability after losing the family’s main income
The Investigation Takes a Turn
More than a year after Todd’s death, an NCIS review agent reconsidered the case and decided the original work had been incomplete.
Key turning point
- The original toxicology did not test for many poisons.
- Investigators ordered additional testing of preserved tissue samples.
- Frozen blood, urine, liver, and kidney samples were sent to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.
- That review opened the door to the possibility that Todd may have been killed by a colorless, odorless, tasteless poison.
Main Takeaways
- Todd Sommer’s death was not fully understood at first and was initially ruled natural.
- The case shows how routine death investigations can miss critical evidence if poisoning is not suspected early.
- Cindy Sommer became a central figure in the case because of:
- her financial concerns
- her comments after Todd’s collapse
- her social behavior after his death
- The episode ends by setting up a larger mystery: was Todd Sommer murdered, and if so, how?
Episode Cliffhanger
The episode closes on the revelation that investigators had begun testing Todd’s tissues for poisons/heavy metals, suggesting the case was about to shift from a death investigation into a potential homicide investigation.