Sherry wanted Krystal's money and pressured the devoted, yet weak-willed, James to help her get rid of the elderly woman.
Sherry eventually left James for a wealthy doctor, while James remained trapped by his guilt and his lingering obsession with her for over a decade. The Resolution Cold_Case_1x09
Lilly Rush eventually tracks down the caller, who is revealed to be the older James Hogan. Even after 14 years, he is still willing to take the fall to protect Sherry. However, the detectives uncover that Sherry had been forging Krystal’s checks for years after the murder. While James faces the consequences for his part in the cover-up, the truth about Sherry’s role finally comes to light. "Cold Case" Sherry Darlin' (TV Episode 2003) - IMDb Sherry wanted Krystal's money and pressured the devoted,
The team looks back at the life of Krystal Hogan, an 81-year-old woman who lived with her 19-year-old orphaned step-grandson, . In 1989, James was struggling financially and living a lifestyle that his grandmother strongly disapproved of. The investigation reveals a central figure in his life at the time: his manipulative and gold-digging girlfriend, Sherry . The Betrayal Even after 14 years, he is still willing
In the Cold Case episode (Season 1, Episode 9), Detective Lilly Rush receives a chilling anonymous phone call that reopens a 14-year-old mystery. Here is the story of that case as detailed on Cold Case Wiki and IMDb : The Anonymous Confession
While James hesitated to follow through with the murder, Sherry took matters into her own hands and killed Krystal herself. Together, they buried her in the basement to hide the evidence.