5 chilling details about Sarah Greenhalgh's murder 

Sarah Greenhalgh, a prize-winning Virginia reporter, died in a cottage fire in Upperville, Virginia, on July 9, 2012. The investigation, however, showed that the reporter was not killed by the fire, but had been shot and died from the bullet wound. When Sarah failed to appear for work at The Winchester Star, her colleagues raised alarms and reported her missing.

She was found dead inside her cottage amid the fire. Police investigations later disclosed that the fire was deliberately lit to hide the crime. Greenhalgh's murder is featured on the latest episode of People Magazine Investigates, titled A Story to Die For, which premiered on Monday, October 28, at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery, and is available to stream on Max.

The episode delves into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Sarah's death, exploring the cryptic Facebook post she made hours before her murder and the intense investigation that followed. Viewers will get an in-depth look at the challenges faced by the detectives, as they pieced together the clues to uncover the truth behind this mysterious case.

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Five unforgettable details about Sarah Greenhalgh's murder

1. A fatal fire hid the truth

On July 9th, the morning of that day, firefighters came to a small Virginia cottage with a fire, to extinguish it. They ended up finding Greenhalgh's body within. A further inspection by the medical examiner concluded that she died from a gunshot and not the fire. A change of circumstances made the tragic accident a murder case, where the authorities were now in pursuit of a killer.

2. Her last mysterious social media post

Hours before she died, Sarah Greenhalgh had posted a message on Facebook that gave the mystery a twist. In the post, she wrote she would be sleeping with her window wide open, then complained about a "bat-sh** crazy boy" and how she would get some much-needed rest for the workweek ahead if he would just leave her alone.

The investigators were left wondering who this "crazy boy" was, and whether he had something to do with her murder. This message became a very crucial clue, leaving them questioning her relationship with the person she was talking about and whether or not they were a legitimate threat.

3. A boyfriend with a violent history

During the investigation, the police focused on John Kearns, one of Sarah Greenhalgh's latest boyfriends, who was reportedly seen fighting with her the night before she died. As reported by People Magazine, Kearns had "significant injuries" on his fists, which he claimed to be from martial arts practice.

He was also accused of deleting emails that were exchanged between him and Sarah Greenhalgh. Although he was included as a suspect, he was not proven to have had any involvement in the case and was acquitted.

4) Lack of physical evidence

Suspicions against Kearns, then 50, were high, however, the police could not find any evidence of a possible fight from his body or find any traces of arson from his car or dress. This meant that there was no definite tangible evidence that the investigators needed to pin him down for the murder of Sarah Greenhalgh.

Kearns, now 62, of Virginia, was never charged. Further, he declined to make any comments to People Magazine regarding the case.

Sarah Greenhalgh was murdered (Image via Facebook/Fauquier County Sheriff's Office)

5) An enigma lingered in Upperville, Virginia

Sarah Greenhalgh's murder was a shock for her 95-year-old mother, Sara Lee Greenhalgh, as she couldn't understand who would do so. As Sarah's life was tragically cut short, her mother continues to live with an unsolved case and with the shocking reality that her daughter was murdered.

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Sarah's death remains a mystery to this day, as do the questions about the final post she left behind and her potential killer. The People Magazine Investigates episode featuring Sarah's case, titled "A Story to Die For," is now available to stream on Max.