Cathy Krauseneck cold case: Jim Krauseneck, husband of woman murdered with an ax, convicted 40 years after her death

This story originally aired on Feb. 25. It was updated on Sept. 8.

On a wintery night near Rochester, New York, retired Detective Marc Liberatore shows “48 Hours” how he helped bring one of the coldest cases in America to trial. On Feb. 19, 1982, police officers arrived at the Brighton home of Jim and Cathy Krauseneck and encountered a horrific scene.

The body of a 29-year-old mother Cathy Krauseneck dead in bed with an ax lodged in her head.

Det. Mark Libertore: It was a single blow to the head. And she died instantly according to the medical examiner. 

Jim Krauseneck told police he arrived home from work and found his wife’s body. His 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter Sara was there and unharmed. Minutes later, he showed up at his neighbor’s house —…