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When it comes to putting bad guys away, most people assume that police officers are the ones most likely to be hurt or killed in the line of duty. But being a prosecutor comes with risks as well. The Feb. 1 episode of Oxygen True Crime’s Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler takes a close look at a 2013 crime spree that left two DAs dead and a small town with some big questions.  

Kelly Siegler reflects on the risks of a prosecutor’s job

“Before 2013, only 11 prosecutors in history had ever been killed in the line of duty. This case changed that number to 13,” Siegler explains in a sneak peek at “Murdered in the Line of Duty.” 

“Prosecutors are aware of the risk that comes with the job. But I think that the general public doesn’t really think that a prosecutor’s job is that risky,” she adds. 

In this case, the victims were two district attorneys from rural Kaufman, Texas. The brutal killings stoked fear in the community on the outskirts of Dallas. And when the truth about the slayings was revealed, it hit much closer to home than anyone expected.  

The ‘Prosecuting Evil’ host recalls the case that had her ‘scared’ for her safety

Texas state flag at half-mast next to a highway
The Texas state flag flying at half staff on April 4, 2013, in honor of murdered Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia | Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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The average person might not understand that prosecutors are putting their lives on the line. But Siegler knows exactly what is at stake. Before hosting programs like Prosecuting Evil and Cold Justice, she was the chief of special crimes for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, working out of the busiest courthouse in Texas. 

In the clip, she recalls the moment she realized she could be targeted by the criminals she was trying to bring to justice. 

“I remember one time I was working on a case where I was leaving the courthouse late at night by myself,” she says. “And that particular case involved a defendant who was in a gang, and the gang members were all outside the courthouse cussin’ me and callin’ names. And I thought, they could shoot me here, they could follow me home. And I was scared that night.” 

Prosecuting Evil With Kelly Siegler airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT) on Oxygen True Crime. 

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