Police increasingly utilize scientific laboratory analysis to solve crimes. This program reviews and re-enacts dramatic cases from around the world in which forensic scientists find and examine previously undetectable evidence. Through their hard work, criminals are brought to justice and the innocent are set free.
30 Folgen
- Missing in Time
F1Missing in TimeA young woman was reported missing after a fight with her husband. She was presumed to be dead and her husband was the prime suspect. Police were suspicious of a secondary suspect when he reported a suspicious fire in his car. Two tiny drops of blood were found in the burned interior. Traditional DNA testing was difficult, since there was no body for DNA comparison. But a tiny clue inside the suspect's watchband and a popular television show helped solve the case. - Missing Pearl
F2Missing PearlIn 1991, Maine resident Pearl Smith is missing after an argument with her husband, Bill Bruns. Despite pleas from her children, police treat it as a routine missing person's case. But, when an investigation turns up a blood trail that leads to the couple's basement, police are certain they'll finally find the victim's body. - Man's Best Friend?
F3Man's Best Friend?In 1989, 4-year-old April Loveless was found dead in the backyard of her Texas home. Her mother Debbie Loveless and step-father John Miller told police that she was attacked and killed by neighborhood dogs, but the injuries on her body didn't match their account of what happened. Investigators believed April's wounds were slashing injuries, consistent with a knife wound. John and Debbie were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Five years later, the parent's prayers were answered when a forensic scientist saw something in the crime scene photographs that had been missed the first time around. - Hand Delivered
F4Hand DeliveredIn 1995, police in San Diego, CA, are baffled by a pair of hands found in a dumpster. Through further investigation, they determine that the hands are those of missing person Don Hardin. With this knowledge, the police focus on local homeless man Dale Whitmer, whom had lived with Hardin around the time of his disappearance. However, they can find no solid, forensic evidence on Whitmer and the case goes cold. About a year later, investigators receive an anonymous letter with information about the crime that had been withheld from the press – information only the killer (or someone close to the killer) would know. Laser technology helps to identify the state, city, street address and even the office number from where the anonymous letter was mailed. - Death Play
F5Death PlayIn 1993, 16-year-old Marie Robards suffered the devastating loss of her father Steve Robards. The death was ruled the result of cardiac arrest. One year later, she won a part in her high school production of Shakespeare's Hamlet. The lines she was required to recite onstage were more than the thoughts and feelings of her character; they struck a chord, and hinted at her own inner turmoil, from the secret she had been hiding. - Fire Dot Com
F6Fire Dot ComIn 1996, 17-month-old Josh Hinson died in a fire in his North Carolina home. A federal agency ruled that a fire was intentionally set and Josh's mother Terri Strickland was charged with murder. Using the then-emerging resources of the Internet, Terri Strickland undertook her own investigation. An independent fire investigator was able to poke enough holes in the government's scientific conclusions to raise serious questions about whether the fire was intentionally set. - Mistaken for Dead
F7Mistaken for DeadIn 1988, when a patient, later identified as Gene Hanson, dies unexpectedly in the office of California neurologist Richard Boggs, police begin what they think will be a routine investigation. What they find throws doubt on the time of death, the identity of Hanson and raises questions about the doctor's role in his death. Soon they uncover a bizarre story of corpse stealing, fake identities and sexual perversion – all part of an elaborate insurance case that will center on what actually caused the victim's death: a sex act gone wrong or premeditated murder? - Frozen Evidence
F8Frozen EvidenceIn 1992, two masked gunmen enter the Canadian home of Ward and Diana Maracle to rob them, but Ward was shot in the head. If a perpetrator leaves a shoe print in the mud, investigators use established techniques to make a mold of the shoe impression for later identification. In this case, the impression is left in the snow. Here's the story of one investigator, whose quick thinking and knowledge of science enabled him to capture a shoe impression made in snow, before the evidence melted away. - Soft Touch
F9Soft TouchIn 1992, 22-year-old Dawn Bruce was brutally raped and murdered in her Virginia apartment. The killer left very little evidence, but investigators did notice a blood smear on a pillow case that appeared to have been made by one of the killer's fingers. New technology enabled investigators to identify a fingerprint from the cloth surface of the pillow case. - Church Disappearance
F10Church DisappearanceIn 1981, six-year-old Cassie Hansen disappeared from her St. Paul, Minnesota church during a Sunday evening service. After a tip from a witness that an older man was seen carrying a small body, Cassie's body was found in a dumpster. The FBI created a psychological profile of the perpetrator, but are still unable to find the killer. - Rendezvous mit dem Tod
F11Rendezvous mit dem TodLinda Sobek ist die Verkörperung des typischen 'California Girl'. Die 27-Jährige war Cheerleader bei den Los Angeles Raiders und arbeitete oft als Model für Werbefotos in der Automobilbranche. Doch von ihrem letzten Modelauftrag kehrt Linda nicht zurück. Da Linda ein beliebtes Model war, nehmen Medien und Leser regen Anteil an ihrem Fall. Die Polizei befragt Exfreunde, Kollegen und auch die Schreiber von Fanbriefen. Doch es findet sich keine heiße Spur. Dann meldet sich ein Mann, der auf einer Müllhalde Fotos des Models und einen Terminkalender fand. Die Spur führt zu dem Fotografen Charles Rathburn, der auf Automobilfotografie spezialisiert ist. Rathburn sagt aus, dass er mit Linda für Fotos in die Mojave Wüste gefahren sei. Dort habe er den neuen Lexus Probe gefahren. Dabei sei Linda durch einen Unfall ums Leben gekommen. Er sei in Panik geraten und habe sie in einem ausgetrockneten Flussbett begraben. Er könne sich an den genauen Standort nicht erinnern, wäre aber bereit, die Beamten bei der Suche zu unterstützen. Tage später findet man die Leiche. Der Körper ist mit einem Ganzkörperanzug bekleidet - eine ungewöhnliche Bekleidung für ein Bikinimodel. Außerdem stellen die Mediziner bei der Analyse einen extrem hohen Alkoholpegel fest, was den Gewohnheiten Lindas völlig widerspricht. Die Polizei misstraute Rathburns Geschichte von Anfang an und wird bestärkt, als der Gerichtsmediziner feststellt, dass Linda nicht durch einen Unfall starb, sondern erstickt und sexuell missbraucht wurde. Mit einigen Fotos versucht Rathburn zu beweisen, dass Linda mit seinen ungewöhnlichen Sexualpraktiken einverstanden war. Doch dank einer genauen Analyse der Fotos kommt die Polizei Rathburn auf die Schliche... - Whodunit
F12WhodunitIn 1998, an evening out at a Maryland murder mystery theatre performance turns into a real life whodunit when the badly burned body of Stephen Hricko is found in his hotel room after a fire. Upon initial investigation, it appeared to be an accidental fire. Lies, greed and medical trickery can't match the skills of forensic scientists, who pull the curtain down on the real killer. - Tod im Rotlichtmilieu
F14Tod im RotlichtmilieuMonatelang hält ein Serienkiller Florida in Atem. Er stranguliert Prostituierte und lässt die Leichen weithin sichtbar liegen. Die einzigen Hinweise auf seine Identität sind: ein Reifenabdruck und Stofffäden. Erst durch die vierte Leiche kommt die Polizei dem Täter auf die Spur. Auf dem Körper befinden sich die gleichen pinkfarbenen Stofffasern und braunen Tierhaare wie auf einem der anderen Opfer. Zudem finden die Beamten neben Cynthia Zigarettenblättchen, diese Fundstücke landen beim FBI. Dort stellt sich heraus, dass es sich um Hundehaare handelt, und dass am Zigarettenpapier noch eine Spur menschlicher DNA hängt. Die Analyse der Reifenabdrücke hat inzwischen ergeben, dass der Reifen kaum gefahren ist. Schnell landen die Beamten daraufhin bei Terry Jo Howard, die für ihren Pick up jüngst einen Reifensatz gekauft hatte. Ist ihr Freund James Randall der gesuchte Serienkiller? Er besitzt einen braunen Hund und im Wohnzimmer der beiden liegt eine pinkfarbene Decke... - Skin of Her Teeth
F16Skin of Her TeethIn 1994, a human skull found in an Ohio pond uncovers a ghastly crime. Markings on the skull indicate that the victim had been stabbed many times and that the teeth had been removed with needle-nose pliers in an attempt to keep the victim's identity a secret. Forensic scientists use DNA matches to indentify the skull. - Line of Fire
F17Line of FireIn 1996, when a fundamentalist group is accused of robbing banks in the Spokane, WA area, authorities know immediately they are dealing with experienced criminals. A tip leads them to the alleged perpetrators and the evidence found at their homes is extensive. But in court, this wealth of evidence must withstand a well-funded defense. - Bad Blood
F18Bad BloodIn 1992, in a rural Canadian community, Dr. John Schneeberger is accused of sedating and sexually assaulting two of his female patients. DNA tests show him to be innocent, but the women persist with their claims; 7 years later, a private investigation leads to a surprising discovery. - Pure Evil
F19Pure EvilCreating a “profile” of a serial killer is part science and part intuition. The science involves studying criminals who have committed similar crimes, to see what characteristics they have in common. In a search for the killer of two teenagers in Texas, a behavioral profile led to a possible suspect - and hard science proved the profile was correct; it shows a behavioral study on how most serial killers also have a history of abusing animals. - Root of All Evil
F20Root of All EvilIn 1981, Charlotte Grabbe, the estranged wife of prominent Illinois farmer Fred Grabbe, disappeared from her farm without a trace. His former lover comes forward with an outlandish tale of rage, murder, mutilation and cremation. The tests of a plant pathologist and a dendrochronologist lead to a surprising revelation. - Punch Line
F22Punch LineIn 1994, 67-year-old grandmother Rhoda Nathan was found murdered in a Cincinnati hotel room. When a patient in a hospital emergency room said he cut his hand on a dumpster, the doctor treating the injury recognizes it as something else -- and soon because the chief witness and a murder case. - Pastoral Care
F24Pastoral CareIn 1981, New York correctional officer Donna Payant disappeared and her body was later found in a landfill; investigators suspect the prisoners in the facility where she worked. The medical examiner uses a "signature" clue to link her death to a murder the same examiner investigated 10 years earlier. - Tödliche Familienbande
F25Tödliche FamilienbandeSpokane, Washington: Kurz nach ihrem neunten Geburtstag verschwindet die kleine Valiree Jackson spurlos. Ihr Vater Brad hatte sie am Morgen noch in die Schule bringen wollen, doch alles, was er fand, war Valirees Rucksack an der Eingangstür des Hauses, in dem er zusammen mit seinen Eltern und seiner Tochter lebt. Brad durchkämmt die ganze Nachbarschaft und mobilisiert auch die Nachbarn, ihm zu helfen, doch die Suche bleibt erfolglos. Die Polizei wird eingeschaltet. Die Ermittler durchsuchen noch einmal die ganze Gegend und hängen überall Fotos des Mädchens auf ohne Erfolg. Mittlerweile verdächtigt man Valirees Mutter Roseanne der Entführung. Vor sieben Jahren hatte sie aufgrund von Prostitution und Drogenabhängigkeit das Sorgerecht an Brad verloren und die Stadt verlassen. Doch außer Gerüchten gibt es keinerlei Hinweise darauf, dass sie in ihre Heimatstadt zurückgekehrt ist. Unterdessen finden die Ermittler heraus, dass Brad seine Freundin Dannette heiraten wollte, sie jedoch nicht mit seiner Tochter klargekommen ist. Die Polizei durchsucht noch einmal Haus und Autos von Brad. Was Brad nicht weiß: Die Ermittler installieren in seinem Wagen ein GPS System, durch das sie ihn jederzeit orten können. Beim anschließenden Lügendetektortest wird Brad eine Falle gestellt: Detective Madsen behauptet zu wissen, dass Brad der Mörder ist und dass er seine tote Tochter nicht tief genug begraben hat. Die Leiche würde schnell wieder an die Oberfläche kommen. Das scheint zu wirken: Kurz darauf fährt Brad in einen nahegelegenen Wald und bleibt dort lange genug, um ein Grab auszuheben. Hat er, alarmiert von den Worten des Detectives, dort Valirees Leiche umgebettet? Und welches Motiv hatte er, seine eigene Tochter umzubringen? - Bis dass der Tod uns scheidet
F27Bis dass der Tod uns scheidetAls Lori Auker nicht zur Arbeit in der Tierhandlung erscheint, alarmiert ihr Chef ihre Eltern. Kurze Zeit später sind Richard und Ruth Auman vor Ort, wo sie in der Tiefgarage Loris verschlossenes Auto finden. Davon überzeugt, dass Lori sich nicht einfach aus dem Staub gemacht hat, melden sie ihre Tochter als vermisst. 19 Tage später wird Loris Leiche gefunden. Die Autopsie ergibt, dass 17 Mal mit einem spitzen Gegenstand auf sie eingestochen wurde. Anhand der Insekten auf und in der Leiche kann man außerdem feststellen, dass Lori noch am Tag ihres Verschwindens ermordet wurde. Hauptverdächtiger ist Loris Mann Robert Auker, mit dem Lori einen erbitterten Streit um das Sorgerecht für ihren Sohn geführt hatte. Die Polizei findet zudem heraus, dass Robert noch vor kurzem eine Lebensversicherung für seine Frau abgeschlossen hatte. Doch diese Indizien reichen nicht aus, ihn des Mordes an seiner Frau anzuklagen. - Naked Justice
F28Naked JusticeIn 1999, expectant mother Leann Fletcher is reported dead in her Michigan home of an accidental gunshot wound to the head. Was the wound self-inflicted, and if it was, why would this young mother, with so much to live for, kill herself? Forensic computer analysis, blood spatter analysis and a painstaking investigation leads police to the truth. - Treading Not So Lightly
F29Treading Not So LightlyIn 1980, 4-year-old Vicky Lyons is found unconscious in a parking lot with severe head trauma. Police concluded it was a hit-and-run vehicle accident and closed the case. But Vicky's mother, Crystal, suspected there was more to the story and was determined to find out exactly what had happened. - Shopping Spree
F30Shopping SpreeLisa Manderach and her daughter Devon left their home to go shopping, but didn't come back home at the expected time. Lisa's husband Jimmy called police in a panic to report their disappearance and directed them to a nearby shopping center. Later that day, Devon's body was found dumped off the side of the road, but there was no sign of Lisa.
