Overview of Blood and Water
Blood and Water is a true crime podcast from ABC Audio and 20/20 hosted by ABC News correspondent Stephanie Ramos. The series investigates the murder of Leslie Preer, a suburban Washington, D.C. mother who was found brutally killed in her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. What initially appeared to be a domestic tragedy became a decades-long cold case, with suspicion falling on her husband, Sandy Preer, before advances in forensic DNA technology finally helped identify the real killer and bring justice to Leslie’s family.
Episode 1: “Looking for Leslie” — What Happened
The first episode reconstructs the morning of May 2, 2001, when Leslie didn’t arrive at work on time.
- Leslie worked part-time for an advertising company and was known as quiet, reliable, and beautiful.
- Her boss, Brett Reedy, grew concerned when she missed her usual arrival time and couldn’t be reached.
- After calling Leslie’s home and then her husband Sandy, Brett drove to the house to check on her.
When Brett arrived, he and Sandy entered the house and found:
- A large pool of blood in the foyer
- Blood smears on the floor, walls, and stairs
- Signs that someone may have tried to clean up the scene
- No immediate sign of Leslie
Police were called, and Leslie’s body was eventually found in the upstairs bathroom shower. At first the death was unclear, but the autopsy later confirmed it was homicide.
Key Investigative Details
The episode emphasizes how confusing and suspicious the scene looked from the start:
- There was no obvious forced entry
- Blood was found downstairs, but Leslie’s body was upstairs
- Her body appeared to have been moved after the killing
- Investigators believed the shower may have been used in an attempt to clean up evidence
Authorities quickly began treating the death as a murder, not an accident.
Why the Case Mattered
This story stands out because it unfolded in an affluent, seemingly safe neighborhood where a violent crime like this felt almost unimaginable. The episode highlights:
- How quickly a family’s normal life can unravel
- The emotional impact on Leslie’s daughter, Lauren
- The way investigators initially focused on Sandy as a suspect
- How cold case techniques and DNA science would eventually reopen the case years later
Themes and Takeaways
Loss and family grief
The episode centers on the shock and devastation felt by Leslie’s family, especially her daughter Lauren, who described her mother as her best friend.
Suspicion and uncertainty
Even though Sandy repeatedly claimed Leslie must have fallen or had an accident, the evidence suggested something far more violent and deliberate.
Forensic progress
A major throughline of the series is that modern DNA testing later transformed the investigation and made justice possible after more than two decades.
Series Setup
Stephanie Ramos frames the podcast as a six-week journey through the full case, inviting listeners into the investigation, the family’s ordeal, and the eventual breakthrough that solved the murder.