Dateline: Good & Evil - How did the detectives catch Steven Gordon and Franc Cano? Details of a decade-old serial killing case, explored

Dateline explores the chilling case of Steven Gordon and Franc Cano, a convicted serial killer apprehended after being tracked through GPS tracking bracelets, forensic analysis, and diligent detective work. Their GPS tracking bracelets, which they initially wore to track their activities as registered s** offenders, became the clinching evidence that linked them to numerous disappearances and murders.

The 2014 uncovering of Jarrae Nykkole Estepp's remains initiated a series of events, as detectives pursued the two suspects. "Dateline: Good & Evil" takes a look back at the frightening decade-old case, following along as law enforcement employed fresh technology and relentless investigation to declare them guilty. The case highlights the pivotal presence of electronic tracing in police investigations and law enforcement's unwavering commitment to solving complex cases.

Here's the episode's trailer for your reference:

Dateline reprises the original discovery

The case initially gained nationwide attention on March 14, 2014, upon the discovery of 21-year-old Jarrae Nykkole Estepp's body at a recycling center in Anaheim, California. Identified using tattoos and forensic processes, the murder of Estepp triggered alarm bells within law enforcement.

It was not long before her case was being correlated with missing women in the region, and another, closer investigation of possible serial crime followed. Dateline explores how this initial find was a turning point in cracking the mystery.

Investigating the connection between victims

Police eventually found a pattern of evil—some of the missing women, who were mostly s** workers in Santa Ana and Anaheim, had disappeared under similar circumstances. Police cross-checked missing persons reports, trying to determine if the disappearances were connected.

Dateline illustrates the enormous research and effort law enforcement expended searching for similarities between the victims, showing how detectives linked seemingly unrelated cases to create a bigger picture of a serial killing spree.

Dateline shows how GPS tracking exposed the suspects

The strongest evidence came from the GPS ankle trackers that Steven Gordon and Franc Cano were required to wear. The two men, who were registered s** offenders, were forced to wear the trackers, and it ultimately led to their deaths.

Dateline shows how detectives pieced together tracking data carefully, placing the men at crime scenes and connecting them to missing person cases. The cellphone records, the surveillance videos, and the GPS tracking gave the investigators a timeline strongly incriminating the suspects.

Dateline chronicles the arrest and confessions

After the authorities collected enough evidence, the arrests took place. When Steven Gordon was arrested, he made a stunning confession where he revealed that he and Cano harassed vulnerable women and committed their crimes.

Cano said nothing initially but later pleaded guilty after displaying extensive evidence against him. Dateline depicts the rigorous interrogation process, breakthrough confession, and legal strategies employed to prosecute them.

Trials and sentencing

At the time of the hearing during the trial, the horrible facts relating to the crime came to light. In 2016, the convicted Gordon received the death penalty, while Cano entered a guilty plea in 2022 and received life without parole.

Dateline is walked through a meticulous procedure by which prosecutors constructed the case based on forensic evidence, GPS, and the confession by Gordon to attain convictions. Through the trial, it came out what risks the recidivist carries and what closeness the observation needs.

Deep dive into the larger picture of the case

The case generated severe controversy regarding the effectiveness of electronic monitoring for high-risk offenders. Even though they were under surveillance, Gordon and Cano managed to commit a series of crimes before being apprehended.

Dateline investigates how law enforcement agencies have since re-evaluated their surveillance policies in a bid to avoid such mishaps in the future. The case also implies the need for ongoing innovation in forensic and tracking digital technology.

Justice for the victims.

The conviction was one step towards justice for the families of the victims, although they continue to lament their losses. Dateline explores how the crimes affected the families of the victims and society at large and how the survivors have been impacted.

The series explores the painstaking detective investigation, courtroom battles, and lasting legacy of the case to make sure that hard-learned lessons continue to impact future investigations.

By Dateline's reporting on this case, viewers learn the part that tenacity, forensic science, and technology played in convicting two of California's most prolific serial killers. Viewers are reminded of investigative journalism and how it brings cases to the public forefront, which redefines the justice system.