Episode 374

Summary of Episode 374

by Sword and Scale

1h 2m•November 2, 2026
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Overview of Episode 374

This episode of Sword and Scale tells the story of the murder of 25-year-old Nathan Dean Anderson in Clackamas County, Oregon, and the chain of events that led to his killing. The episode follows Nathan’s spiral after a breakup and relapse, then traces how a conflict involving his former co-worker Cody Denowitz and Cody’s girlfriend, Dominique Britt, escalated into a premeditated shooting. The investigation ultimately revealed that both Cody and Dominique were deeply involved, and both later accepted plea deals.

Main People Involved

Nathan Dean Anderson

  • A 25-year-old Oregon City musician in recovery who had been rebuilding his life.
  • Known by friends and family as kind, talented, and generous.
  • In early 2024, his life unraveled after a breakup and relapse.

Cody Denowitz

  • Nathan’s former co-worker at Dave’s Killer Bread.
  • In recovery himself, but described as increasingly paranoid and unstable.
  • Became convinced Nathan had sexually been with Dominique and allegedly plotted revenge.

Dominique Britt

  • Cody’s girlfriend and mother of their child.
  • Initially claimed she didn’t know what happened, but later admitted she knew Cody intended to kill Nathan.
  • Ultimately admitted to supplying Cody with the gun used in the murder.

What Happened

Nathan’s downward spiral

  • Friends noticed Nathan acting erratically after a relapse.
  • He had been asking people for money and selling belongings.
  • Brian, one of Nathan’s close friends, described him as lovable and harmless, not someone with enemies.

Tension with Cody and Dominique

  • Cody and Dominique had recently been drinking heavily when police were called to their apartment after a domestic dispute.
  • While Cody was briefly jailed, Nathan came to the apartment, though the details of that encounter were initially unclear.
  • Afterward, Cody believed Nathan had been sexually involved with Dominique and became obsessed with revenge.

The shooting

  • On April 29, 2024, Nathan was shot multiple times in Clackamas County and later died at the hospital.
  • Investigators quickly focused on Cody after surveillance video, vehicle evidence, and phone data linked him to the scene.

Key Evidence Against Cody

Vehicle surveillance

  • Investigators identified a Nissan seen near the scene that matched Cody’s car, including a distinctive sticker.
  • They noted that the car appeared to have no license plates at the time of the killing, which they argued suggested premeditation.

Cell phone data

  • Nathan’s phone was not found with his body and later appeared to move toward the area of Cody and Dominique’s apartment.
  • Investigators also used Cody’s phone records to place him near the scene.

The missing gun

  • Dominique owned two firearms and said one black 9mm had gone missing weeks earlier.
  • Police later learned Cody had asked her to bring him the “toy,” which they understood to mean the gun.
  • Dominique eventually admitted she handed him the weapon in a backpack.

The backpack

  • Dominique’s aunt described a heavy blue backpack that smelled bad and was later thrown into a dumpster.
  • Dominique said the backpack contained Nathan’s belongings and possibly the gun.

Dominique’s Role

The most important reversal in the episode comes from Dominique’s second interview:

  • She admitted Cody had told her days earlier that he was going to shoot Nathan.
  • She acknowledged she knew what he intended to do when she brought him the gun.
  • Her texts to Cody, including messages like “Are you there yet?” and “be safe,” were used to show she was checking in during the killing.

Investigators concluded that Dominique was not just aware of the plan, but likely helped facilitate it.

Legal Outcome

Cody Denowitz

  • Arrested and charged in Nathan’s death.
  • Eventually pleaded guilty to:
    • First-degree manslaughter
    • First-degree assault with a firearm
  • Sentence: 27.5 years

Dominique Britt

  • Also charged in connection with the murder.
  • Later pleaded guilty to:
    • First-degree manslaughter
    • Unlawful use of a weapon
  • Sentence: 12.5 years

Unresolved Core Question

A major unanswered issue remains:

  • What exactly happened between Nathan and Dominique the night Cody was arrested?
  • Dominique said she was too intoxicated to remember clearly.
  • Later prosecutors said Nathan may have sexually assaulted her, but the episode makes clear that no definitive, independent proof established what happened.
  • Because Nathan was killed, his version of events was never known.

Key Takeaways

  • What began as suspicion and jealousy escalated into a calculated murder.
  • The episode argues that Cody decided Nathan had “done something” and took violent revenge rather than seeking the truth.
  • Dominique’s shifting story and her messages made her look less like a bystander and more like an accomplice.
  • The episode ends by emphasizing Nathan’s identity beyond the crime: a young man with music, relationships, and a future, whose life was cut short before he could tell his side.

Themes

  • Addiction and relapse
  • Jealousy and paranoia
  • Domestic conflict
  • Premeditation versus crime of passion
  • Complicity and moral responsibility
  • How violence can permanently erase the truth