48 Hours - Who Killed the Prosecutor?

Prosecutor Steve Tauzer was found brutally murdered in his Bakersfield, California garage. At first, investigators suspected a revenge killing by drug dealers. But as they dug deeper, they turned their focus to Chris Hillis, a former police officer, colleague and friend of Steve Tauzer. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 8/11/2004. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays and stream on demand on Paramount+.

Duration: 37m
Broadcast on: 16 Sep 2026
Audio Format: other

[music] It was an extraordinary guy. Steve Tauser was a prosecutor with a heart. It was really brilliant. He had like a mandate to become a savior in the world almost. His vicious murder stung law enforcement and the whole community. Whoever committed this crime had something personal against Mr. Tauser. Investigators suspected revenge, an enemy he'd made fighting crime. Possibly a mad man that was full of hate. But that's not where the evidence would lead them. The DNA indicates to us quite clearly. Aaron Moriarty asks a difficult question. Was the prosecutor hiding a secret? He was completely obsessed with my side. Was Steve Tauser just trying to save a life, and in the end it cost him his own? He was convinced there was no one he couldn't save. A 48 hours mystery, who killed the prosecutor? [music] 911, what's your emergency? I have to support somebody, maybe dead, maybe a homicide. The convoys on the phone that Sunday afternoon. I just see a man landing on a harp. Gave no hint of what Bakersfield, California investigators were about to encounter. In Bakersfield, a veteran prosecutor has been found murdered. In September the 15th, 2002, assistant district attorney Steve Tauser was found dead. Sheriff Carl Sparks, as well as the entire legal community, was stunned by the murder of Steve Tauser. The Kern County assistant district attorney for almost 20 years. Steve had a lot of friends in this community, and I count myself as one of those friends. Mr. Steven Tauser was a very influential individual. When homicide detective John Solis arrived on the scene. This is the point of entry. He knew this was no ordinary investigation. What we found was we made entry inside the garage was Steven Tauser's body, and he was line faced down. Steve Tauser had been stabbed repeatedly in the head. Whoever killed Mr. Tauser was possibly a mad man that was full of hate. Well, of course I was shocked and very saddened. He was an extraordinary guy. District attorney Ed Jaggles was both Tauser's boss and a longtime friend. He was always loaning or giving money to family members and other people. He was interested in salvaging people. He was just that kind of guy. In a way, he was more like an uncle, and we looked up to him and just thought he was the greatest. Growing up in Northern California, Steve Tauser was the oldest of 14 children, a role model for his sisters. He liked to play with my kids. Tauser, a lifelong bachelor, was Uncle Steve to over 25 nieces and nephews. It's been really hard on the kids. After Steve died, he was a big part of the whole ranch up there. He had like this mandate to become a savior in the world almost to do something really good and helpful to people. That's why he became the prosecutor known for his big heart. Tauser was as much in every man as he was really brilliant. Janet Crosby was Steve Tauser's assistant for six years. Every time before he went off to handle a huge case, you'd have to make sure he tucked in his shirt and we'd straighten his collar.

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