Seeking ‘Justice’: Missing county man’s cold case goes to TV
The case of a man missing from Charles Town has gotten national attention from the Oxygen network’s show “Cold Justice,” which will air Saturday at 8 p.m.
Norwegian-born Morten Aigeltinger, a Charles Town resident, was last seen on Sept. 8, 2015. His green Ford F-150 was found on Sept. 14, 2015, abandoned less than two miles from his Cattail Run home.
The trail goes cold there.
With no new leads in the case, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office turned to Kelly Siegler and the “Cold Justice” crew, hoping that some “fresh eyes” on the case would help shed new light.
Siegler, a veteran prosecutor, and Johnny Bonds, retired homicide investigator, dig into their freshest cold case yet as they interview and re-interview people who knew and worked with Aigeltinger. After investigating cellphone records and other suspicious activity, the show indicates that there are two main suspects in the case.
Extensive searches were previously conducted by the sheriff’s office, the West Virginia State Police, local fire companies and others after Aigeltinger’s vehicle was discovered. Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dougherty said that the banks of the Shenandoah River were searched – boats searched in the water, cadaver dogs and helicopters were engaged to assist. No sign of Aigeltinger or any of his personal belongings have ever been found. Dougherty had previously stated that he suspected foul play.
Aigeltinger lived and worked on Rainbow Hill Farm, as well as being an international photographer who loved his work. His friends and co-workers thought him to be too responsible to disappear of his own volition.
Seigler’s main objective is to help bring justice to grieving families, even though it doesn’t always happen.
“Our goal is always to try and make as compelling and strong a case as possible for local law to present to their prosecutor when the evidence leads everyone and everything to a suspect,” said Seigler.
The evidence she collects aids a prosecutor to make a decision as to whether or not to pursue a criminal case.
“I started working on mostly cold cases at the Harris County DA’s office in 1999 and fell in love with them, with the challenge, with the intricacies, with the details, with the beauty of circumstantial evidence. Can I say that again? With the beauty of circumstantial evidence,” said Seigler.
She and her crew have helped bring 30 arrests and 16 convictions to date.
There currently remains a $10,000 reward for anyone having information pertaining to Aigeltinger’s disappearance.
Sheriff Pete Dougherty was not available for comment prior to press time.