On the night of December 27, 1986, tragedy struck when 20-year-old Cara Knott disappeared on her way home in San Diego. Her body was later found dumped from a bridge, with signs of strangulation and assault. The murder of Cara Knott has haunted her family for years, and now her case is being reexamined in a new true-crime series called “Good Cop, Bad Cop” on Investigation Discovery (ID).
The series, hosted by Garry McFadden, a retired detective with a 90% success rate in solving homicide cases, delves into cases across the country where the perpetrator is a member of law enforcement. In the episode featuring Cara Knott’s case, her family shares their belief that her father died of a broken heart after losing his daughter.
During the investigation, an unlikely suspect, Craig Allen Peyer, a former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer, drew attention with his unusual interest in Knott’s case. It was discovered that Peyer had a dark side, stopping young women at night for minor traffic violations at the same location where Knott was killed. Many women came forward to describe his behavior as “creepy.”
Blood and fiber evidence found at the crime scene linked Peyer to the murder, and a witness saw Knott getting pulled over by him. According to court documents, Peyer ordered Knott to exit the freeway and drove her to a dark and isolated location where an altercation occurred, resulting in her strangulation and subsequent disposal of her body from a nearby bridge.
Peyer was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. However, he is up for a parole hearing in January 2027. Knott’s family has written to Governor Gavin Newsom, urging him to keep Peyer behind bars.
The “Good Cop, Bad Cop” series aims to shed light on cases like Knott’s, where law enforcement officers commit heinous crimes. While McFadden emphasizes that the majority of law enforcement officers are law-abiding and honorable, he acknowledges that there are a few individuals with hidden dark desires.
The reexamination of Cara Knott’s case serves as a reminder of the dedication and determination of investigators to bring justice to victims and their families. It is a tragic story that highlights the need for vigilance and accountability within law enforcement.
“Good Cop, Bad Cop” airs on Investigation Discovery (ID) on Sunday, November 12 at 10 p.m.
