Detective Tom Hovigum

Yeah, I didn't think they were killers. We have a woman. A socialite goes missing.

Yeah, I didn't think they were killers. We have a woman. A socialite goes missing.

Yeah, the city was empty, Fourth of July weekend. So we expected a slow day. Then we received a call. from a patrol officer. I picked up the phone. We have a woman, elderly woman, that is missing. Her staff reported her missing.

Yeah, the city was empty, Fourth of July weekend. So we expected a slow day. Then we received a call. from a patrol officer. I picked up the phone. We have a woman, elderly woman, that is missing. Her staff reported her missing.

I was the junior detective. I just had gotten promoted in January.

I was the junior detective. I just had gotten promoted in January.

So the other two guys were pretty senior to me, and they said, well, kid, this is yours, because no one really wants a missing person case. It's very tedious work.

So the other two guys were pretty senior to me, and they said, well, kid, this is yours, because no one really wants a missing person case. It's very tedious work.

It was actually beautiful. Beautiful artwork, beautiful furniture. The night before she disappeared, she had a great party. American flags, hats, you know, the whole bit.

It was actually beautiful. Beautiful artwork, beautiful furniture. The night before she disappeared, she had a great party. American flags, hats, you know, the whole bit.

Absolutely. 100%.

Absolutely. 100%.

We did the preliminary investigation, searched the townhouse, searched the surrounding areas, looked for video cameras, interviewed neighbors.

We did the preliminary investigation, searched the townhouse, searched the surrounding areas, looked for video cameras, interviewed neighbors.

We couldn't find one of the staff members. When we went up to his apartment, he wasn't there. So that was a little suspicious. The other missing person was a young man who was renting a room on the first floor. We couldn't find the person in 1B. He disappeared the same time she did. You know, that raised our suspicion, of course, yes.

We couldn't find one of the staff members. When we went up to his apartment, he wasn't there. So that was a little suspicious. The other missing person was a young man who was renting a room on the first floor. We couldn't find the person in 1B. He disappeared the same time she did. You know, that raised our suspicion, of course, yes.

When you get a person on the Upper East Side like Irene Silverman, it becomes very special. The whole city takes an interest.

When you get a person on the Upper East Side like Irene Silverman, it becomes very special. The whole city takes an interest.

The boss who was running the investigation dubbed us the Silver Task Force. Because we all had an affection for Irene because it could have been our grandmother. Could have been our mother.

The boss who was running the investigation dubbed us the Silver Task Force. Because we all had an affection for Irene because it could have been our grandmother. Could have been our mother.