Reality show 'Cold Justice' gets murder confession

TNT's reality series "Cold Justice" has led to a real murder confession and prosecution.

While shooting the series pilot in fall 2012, former Texas prosecutor Kelly Siegler and her co-star, a former Las Vegas police detective, found evidence that a suicide 12 years ago wasn't a suicide at all.

The 2001 shooting of Pamela Shelly had been ruled a suicide until Siegler found evidence implicating Shelly's then-boyfriend, Joe Hendrick.

Attention surrounding the show's premiere Sept. 3 prompted a mistrial, but Hendrick, 41, confessed to the killing and changed his plea to guilty Sept. 10, and received a 22-year prison sentence.

The unscripted series premiered to 2.9 million viewers, putting it in the top 10 unscripted premieres in 2013, a much-needed turnaround for TNT, which recently flopped "72 Hours," "The Hero" and "The Great Escape"

Though "Cold Justice" has not yet been renewed for a second season, producers are scouting cases. Lipsitz says viewers close to unsolved crimes have flooded the show with requests.