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48 HOURS: “Trail of Tears” was Saturday’s #1 10:00 PM broadcast with viewers and adults 25-54, and posted year-to-year growth, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for March 5.

48 HOURS (10:00-11:00 PM) delivered 4.93 million viewers and a 1.3/04 with adults 25-54. Compared to the same night last year, 48 HOURS was up +18% in adults 25-54 and +5% in viewers. Compared to last week, 48 HOURS was up +8% in adults 25-54 (from 1.2/04).

Saturday’s broadcast featured Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS’ investigation into the death of Rhonda Casto, who died during a hike with her boyfriend Stephen Nichols in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge. At the time of her death in 2009, Casto was a 23-year-old mother of a 9-month-old girl. Somewhere along the trail she slipped or fell, falling 150 feet before hitting solid ground – or, as investigators later claimed, Nichols allegedly pushed Rhonda to her death.

The police investigation into what happened raised questions about the couple’s relationship, allegations of a love triangle and strained family dynamics.

Nichols said it was a tragic accident and that Casto slipped. Her mother believes otherwise. Initially, Nichols wasn’t charged with a crime and went about starting a new life. The investigation went quiet until 2014, when a secret grand jury heard evidence and indicted Nichols for murder. He was arrested in San Francisco on a trip home from China. He pleaded not guilty and is in jail awaiting trial.

48 HOURS: “Trail of Tears” is produced by Susan Mallie and Leslie Neigher. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Michelle Fanucci is the field producer. Mike Baluzy and Michael Mongulla are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Susan Zirinsky is the senior executive producer.

Chat with members of the 48 HOURS team during the broadcast on Twitter and Facebook. Follow 48 HOURS on Instagram. Listen to 48HOURS podcasts at Play.it.

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Press Contact:  Richard Huff      212-975-3328    huffr@cbsnews.com