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Detective Kenneth Mains leads the cold case investigation unit in the county district attorney’s office, but that’s not the only place Mains has employed his investigative work.
The detective filmed a TV pilot for a show looking into cold cases from all over the country with the Investigation Discovery team. The network features shows that take a closer look at interesting crime stories from across the nation.
Mains’ pilot, which was filmed in February of last year after Jupiter Entertainment contacted him and asked him to host a cold case show, is being shopped between the network and the Lifetime Movie network, looking for a permanent TV home. If it is picked up, Mains will go to the location of cold cases, both infamous and local, to meet with investigators and recreate the crimes through dramatic representation.
“By recreating the scene, hopefully we’ll generate some new leads,” Mains said.
The show will bring in different professionals to help analyze the case, including a blood stain analyst, forensic pathologist and local law enforcement.
Before the possible show pickup, Mains already was familiar with another Jupiter Entertainment host who landed a show on Investigation Discovery: Lt. Joe Kenda of “Homicide Hunter.”
Kenda and Mains met through an organization founded by Mains, the American Investigative Society of Cold Cases. The organization is made of up investigative experts, such as Kenda, who voluntarily examine cold cases submitted by detectives from all over the country who may benefit from having another pair of eyes on their case.
Other prominent members of the review board include Dr. Henry Lee, a forensic scientist who testified during the OJ Simpson trial; Jim Clemente, a former FBI profiler who serves as a consultant for the TV show “Criminal Minds” and Bob Keppel, best known for his role in the Ted Bundy homicide investigations.
“It’s the best experts in the world, and you get it all for free,” Mains said of the organization.
The past few years have been a whirlwind for Mains, who began working on cold cases in 2007 when he was working undercover for the FBI on a safe streets task force with city police. At that time, Mains heard about the 1992 disappearance and murder of Dawn Miller. He asked permission from his captain to work on the case, and was allowed to do so, as long as he did it on his own time. Mains ended up getting a confession from a man who was present during the murder and was able to solve the case.
After that, he had his first contact with the Gail Matthews and Tamara Berkheiser double homicide case from 1994. Mains again asked permission to investigate the case, but this time was denied, not even permitted to look into it on his own time. Around the same time, District Attorney Eric Lindhardt approached Mains and asked if he could look into the case as a detective for the county.
The mother-daughter slaying has been a central focus in Mains’ career. His connections through the investigative society have brought new eyes to the case, and Mains was able to consult with Kenda on it.
Even with the possibility of a TV show looming on the horizon and the growing success of the investigative society, Mains keeps his focus where it counts.
“It’s not about me. It’s about helping other people, especially the victims of these homicides and their families,” he said.