FLAGSTAFF, AZ — Arizona Crime Uncovered is an extension of the ABC15 series that works to bring awareness to victims still awaiting justice and provides an in-depth look at cases still pending.

Each episode of Arizona Crime Uncovered details a timeline of the case, where it is now, and whether help is needed from the community.

Our final episode examines the murder of 16-year-old Eric Kane in 1986. The teenager was killed by his roommate, Jacob Wideman, at a Flagstaff hotel. It was a murder without motive and a story that made national headlines. The decades-old case comes back into focus as Eric’s killer pushes for release on house arrest. With a hearing just weeks away, ABC15’s Ashley Holden spoke with the teenage victim’s father in his first interview.

ABC15 began following Wideman’s case in 2016, when lead investigator Dave Biscobing reported that the convicted felon married two of his prison psychologists. Eight years ago, his wife, Dr. Marta DeSoto, had a lucrative contract with the Arizona Department of Child Safety to evaluate parents. After ABC15’s story, her contract was terminated.

A controversial vote by the Clemency Executive Council, also in 2016, released Wideman to house arrest. But less than a year later, it was sent back behind bars after failing to make an appointment with a psychologist by a set date. Since then, Wideman and his legal team have filed several special actions, also saying that the revocation process that followed did not follow due process. That battle took Wideman and his attorney before the board and several Superior Court judges.

In the fall of 2024, a new possible path for Wideman was revealed.

Eric’s father, Sandy Kane, was sent a settlement agreement that the board will consider on Dec. 3. If the board agrees, the attorney general’s office told ABC15 a judge would still have to approve it.

The deal would put the convicted killer, now 50, back under house arrest.

“So, I’m terrified of that possibility,” said Eric’s father, Sandy Kane. “I take comfort in the fact that the board has the right to turn them down, and I hope they do. But I will be worried. I’ll be honest and say I’m worried about December 3.”

RELATED: Victim’s family questions legitimacy, circumstances of convicted murderer’s release

ABC15 spent weeks contacting the Department of Corrections, the State Attorney General’s Office, the Executive Board of Clemency and those who played a role in the case.

Watch the first part of this episode of Arizona Crime Uncovered in the player above. Catch the full episode on your ABC15 TV streaming app at 8.30pm on Friday and throughout the weekend.

Watch recent episodes of our crime series in the player below: