On the afternoon of October 24, 2011, 12-year-old Garrett Phillips is found mysteriously strangled in his home in Potsdam, New York. Police quickly zeroed in on a suspect in this unthinkable crime: Oral "Nick" Hillary, the ex-boyfriend of Garrett's mother, Tandy Cyrus.

With the new DA making it her mission to put Garrett's murderer behind bars, Nick is charged with second degree murder based on testimony given during his civil case. Despite holes in the prosecution's case, both sides prepare for a bench trial without a jury.