Forensic Files

The Common Thread

The year was 1984, and a serial killer was on the loose in Florida. Eight women had been found dead. At each crime sce

The Dirty Deed

In this classic episode of Forensic Files, the longest running true crime series in television history, Eileen and Derri

Killer Fog

It was the single, most deadly automobile accident in American history. Almost a hundred vehicles were involved, twelve

Sex, Lies & DNA

While Earl Morris was vacationing in California, he learned his wife had gone missing from their home in Arizona. The s

Bitter Potion

The flu-like symptoms of a mother and her children proved to be indicative something much more serious: thallium poison

The Blood Trail

Fatal Fungus

An infant was rushed to a Cleveland emergency room with serious breathing problems. The baby’s lungs were bleeding, a

Charred Remains

Shortly after daybreak in Vancouver, British Columbia, a fire was set in a dumpster. No one saw either the arsonist or

Something's Fishy

Two people in Seattle, Washington died after taking an over-the-counter pain reliever; lab analysis of the pills showed

Sealed with a Kiss

For more than a year, angry, hateful letters were sent to a first grade school teacher in a small town in Pennsylvania.

Postal Mortem

On October 15, 1985, two bomb explosions rocked Salt Lake City and resulted in two deaths. A third explosion occurred t

Micro-Clues

After a day of fishing in a small, quiet village in Switzerland, a teenage boy did not return home as planned. The inve

Deadly Parasites

In the spring of 1993, an unexplained illness struck the residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Four hundred thousand peopl

Without a Trace

In Omaha, the deaths of a child and a truck driver in the same hospital on the same day are investigated to see if there

Knot for Everyone

In the mid-1980s, bodies of nude woman were found in remote hill of California. The killer gags and molests prostitutes,

The Talking Skull

In 1987, a human skull and some bones were discovered at a Boy Scout Camp near Farmington, Missouri. A facial reconstruc

Foreign Body

Between 1986 and 1989, a disease swept through British cattle herds, which came to be known as Mad Cow disease. Scientis

Deadly Delivery

A serial bomber was waging a vendetta against the legal profession: a judge, two attorneys, and even a courthouse had be

'Sim'ilar Circumstances

Robert Sims returned home after working the night shift, and found his wife, Paula, unconscious on the kitchen floor. Th

Grave Evidence

The shooting of a man during a hunting trip is reopened years after the incident, and the victim's hunting partner becom

Deadly Formula

A possible case of Munchhausen syndrome is investigated after an infant dies of what appears to be toxic levels of antif

Beaten by a Hair

Early one fall morning, Laura Houghteling left her Bethesda home and walked to the station to take a train to work. She

Crime Seen

Edward Honaker was convicted of rape, sodomy and aggravated sexual battery; he was sentenced to three life terms in pris

Speck of Evidence

On September 17, 1984, in a suburb of Tucson, Arizona, eight-year-old Vicki Hoskins left home on her pink bicycle to mai

Broken Bond

When a two-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital suffering from brain seizures and breathing difficulties, doctors cou

Out of the Ashes

On a cold December night in 1993, Rose Larner stopped in a convenience store on her way to her boyfriend’s house. She

Invisible Intruder

In 1996, police received a call from Darlie Routier telling them of her two sons' murders. However, investigators were n

The Killing Room

Scott Dunn was missing and when the police sprayed his bedroom with Luminol, a scene of horrific violence emerged. Now i

Ultimate Betrayal

A 1995 fire razes the mansion of Kansas doctor Debora Green, killing two of her three children; disturbing accounts from

Cement the Case

In 1990, Shirley Andronowich's body was found one morning after she was murdered and mutilated. Eyewitnesses told police

Innocence Lost

Sometime during a neighborhood Christmas party, five-year-old Melissa Brannen disappeared. No one saw where she went or

Til Death Do Us Part

When a Pennsylvania man checks into a hospital for leg pain and later dies of thallium poisoning, police investigate his

Ties That Bind

When a sexual predator murders two young boys in Nebraska within three months of each other, an obscure style of rope an

Body of Evidence

Mark Fair left for work and his fiancée Karla Brown stayed home. Later, Mark found Karla dead. Karla's body told police

Accident or Murder?

Clayton Johnson, a Nova Scotia schoolteacher, left for work on the morning of February 20, 1989. At 7.40 AM, the school

Core Evidence

In 1996, more than a dozen children in Seattle, Washington, were fighting for their lives. Each one of them had contract

Haunting Vision

Lori Keidel, her two sisters and her brother were left home alone while their father went to a nearby laundromat. Sudden

With Every Breath

Young Navajos on a reservation in the Southwest were dying at an alarming rate. CDC officials had never seen anything li

Slippery Motives

Edward Post left the Omni Hotel and went for a forty minute run. Before leaving, he said that he drew a bath for his wif

Badge of Deceit

For more than a decade, women in a small Louisiana city lived in fear of a serial rapist. Fortunately, computer technol

Dew Process

When the wife of a well-known dentist is found dead, police are unsure who killed her. Some fibers and a study of the w

A Woman Scorned

When a young mother and her infant son are found dead in a cornfield, the obvious suspect is the husband and father of t

A Voice from Beyond

When a decomposed body is discovered inside a barrel, police immediately suspect foul play. But the body had been place

Burning Ambition

In this classic episode of Forensic Files, the longest running true crime series in television history, a Seattle police

Memories

Dianna Green was just 20 years-old and pregnant when she was brutally raped and beaten in her apartment. The assault ca

Trail of Truth

A mother and her two young daughters are found brutally murdered. The crime scene yielded a good deal of evidence, but n

Material Evidence

A young girl is found dead, the victim of an apparent sex-killer. Authorities are intrigued by unusual orange fibers em

Kill'igraphy

In the back woods of Georgia, in a dilapidated house, a 49 year old recluse named Virginia Ridley was found dead. A med

Nursery Crimes

Why do children at a Texas hospital seem to be dying at a higher rate than at any other hospital in the country? Medica

Lasting Impression

When the decomposed body of a young girl is discovered, police have no clues to her identity. But days earlier, a stabb

Foundation of Lies

At the age of 12, a boy's testimony helped convict the man who murdered his mother. Five years later, discrepancies in

Unholy Vows

Deadly Knowledge

When 23-year-old college co-ed Tina Biggar goes missing, her boyfriend and family fear she has been murdered. A police i

Broken Promises

When Russ Stager, a popular gym teacher, is found dead of what appears to be an accidental gunshot wound, his family bec

Time Will Tell

A Canadian financier assumed the name of a co-worker as part of a money-laundering scheme. The man turned up dead in th

Second Shot at Love

Cincinnati heart surgeon Dr. Darryl Sutorius had a second chance at love when he married a pretty, young divorcee, but h

Journey to Justice

When a prosecutor discovers evidence linking a habitual drunk driver to a hit-and-run in which a child is killed, he com

Video Diary

In 1998, a convience store clerk in Lansing, Michigan, was shot to death during a robbery. No one else was in the store

Missing in Time

A young woman was reported missing after a fight with her husband. She was presumed to be dead and her husband was the p

Missing Pearl

In 1991, Maine resident Pearl Smith is missing after an argument with her husband, Bill Bruns. Despite pleas from her ch

Man'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

Hand Delivered

In 1995, police in San Diego, CA, are baffled by a pair of hands found in a dumpster. Through further investigation, the

Death Play

In 1993, 16-year-old Marie Robards suffered the devastating loss of her father Steve Robards. The death was ruled the re

Fire Dot Com

In 1996, 17-month-old Josh Hinson died in a fire in his North Carolina home. A federal agency ruled that a fire was inte

Mistaken for Dead

In 1988, when a patient, later identified as Gene Hanson, dies unexpectedly in the office of California neurologist Rich

Frozen Evidence

In 1992, two masked gunmen enter the Canadian home of Ward and Diana Maracle to rob them, but Ward was shot in the head.

Soft Touch

In 1992, 22-year-old Dawn Bruce was brutally raped and murdered in her Virginia apartment. The killer left very little e

Church Disappearance

In 1981, six-year-old Cassie Hansen disappeared from her St. Paul, Minnesota church during a Sunday evening service. Aft

Photo Finish

In 1995, California model Linda Sobek goes missing. A park employee discovers photographs and some vital pieces of infor

Whodunit

In 1998, an evening out at a Maryland murder mystery theatre performance turns into a real life whodunit when the badly

Horse Play

In 1980, Michigan resident Shannon Mohr died tragically in what was reported by her new husband, David Davis, as a horse

Treads and Threads

For 15 months, a serial killer in Tampa, FL, taunts police by strangling prostitutes and leaving their bodies in plain s

Killer's 'Cattle' Log

When Missouri police in the Great Plains were called to retrieve a dead body, they did a background check on the victim.

Skin of Her Teeth

In 1994, a human skull found in an Ohio pond uncovers a ghastly crime. Markings on the skull indicate that the victim ha

Line of Fire

In 1996, when a fundamentalist group is accused of robbing banks in the Spokane, WA area, authorities know immediately t

Bad Blood

In 1992, in a rural Canadian community, Dr. John Schneeberger is accused of sedating and sexually assaulting two of his

Pure Evil

Creating a “profile” of a serial killer is part science and part intuition. The science involves studying criminals

Root of All Evil

In 1981, Charlotte Grabbe, the estranged wife of prominent Illinois farmer Fred Grabbe, disappeared from her farm withou

Where the Blood Drops

In 1987, Susie Mowbray was charged for her husband Bill Mowbray's death, which had the appearance of suicide. Her son wa

Punch Line

In 1994, 67-year-old grandmother Rhoda Nathan was found murdered in a Cincinnati hotel room. When a patient in a hospita

Sibling Rivalry

In 1991, San Francisco pornographer Artie Mitchell was murdered in his home. His brother and business partner Jim is fou

Pastoral Care

In 1981, New York correctional officer Donna Payant disappeared and her body was later found in a landfill; investigator

Bagging a Killer

In 1999, 9-year-old Valiree Jackson vanishes on her way to school near Spokane, WA. The entire community helps with the

Double Trouble

The investigation of a murder case in New Jersey is stalled until a strikingly similar attack occurs in 1995, to off-dut

Cats, Flies, and Snapshots

In 1989, 19-year-old mother Lori Auker left her Pennsylvania home for work, but never arrived. It takes space-age techno

Naked Justice

In 1999, expectant mother Leann Fletcher is reported dead in her Michigan home of an accidental gunshot wound to the hea

Treading Not So Lightly

In 1980, 4-year-old Vicky Lyons is found unconscious in a parking lot with severe head trauma. Police concluded it was a

Shopping Spree

Lisa Manderach and her daughter Devon left their home to go shopping, but didn't come back home at the expected time. Li

The Cheater

Exploring how an American hit single from 1966 -- the cheater by Bob Kuban And The In-man -- foreshadowed the demise of

Forever Hold Your Peace

In Texas 1988, Nancy DePriest was raped and murdered while working at Pizza Hut. After a suspect confessed and implicate

Reel Danger

Although a group of teenage thugs are suspected of attacking two boys on a fishing trip, there is no solid evidence unti

Who's Your Daddy

In 1988, when a young prostitute's body turns up in an Ohio waterway under ice, authorities have one tiny clue which cou

The Alibi

In a small South Carolina town in 1991, 17-year-old Crystal Faye Todd, a popular high school student, is raped, murdered

A Bite Out of Crime

In 1997, two years after a series of unsolved kidnappings and sexual assaults in California. One of the victims suddenly

Purr-fect Match

In 1994, on Canada's Prince Edward Island, the body of Douglas Beamish's estranged wife, Shirley Duguay, was discovered.

Bio-Attack

A look into the 1984 Oregon food poisonings, we're detectives track down the outbreak to a cult which aims to use germ w

A Shot in the Dark

A woman is found dead from a gunshot wound and police suspect her husband; however, forensic teams prove what really hap

Without a Prayer

In 1995, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the founder of American Atheists, disappears along with one of her sons, her granddaught

A Clutch of Witnesses

In January 2001, in Duluth, MN, two people witness a truck driving over an unconscious man twice, and they flee into a n

Scout's Honor

In Pennsylvania 1984, a passer-by finds the torso of a woman in a cardboard box. Investigators rely on insect activity a

A Touching Recollection

An 18-year-old Ohio woman, who is abducted and then released soon afterwards, uses her knowledge of forensics to lead po

A Leg to Stand On

The police investigate when a severed leg is discovered in the garbage. Conventional means of identifying the victim are

Partners in Crime

How Illinois scientists solved a 1992 murder case involving cremation. It takes a long time and a very hot fire to crema

Within a Hair

A look back at the case of the River Park Rapist, who sexually assaulted four women in South Bend, IN, during 1996. Law

Chief Evidence

The 1996 Seattle murder of suburban couple Raquel Rivera and Jay Johnson is detailed. Investigators first believe the sl

A Bitter Pill to Swallow

Firefighter Michelle Baker became pregnant by her lover, Dr. Maynard Muntzing. After this news, she was ill whenever the

Sip of Sins

A look back at a trio of unsolved murders that occurred in Wichita Falls, Texas during the 1980s, details how a fourth m

Telltale Tracks

The disappearance of Philadelphia college athlete Aimee Willard is investigated after her car was found, still running o

Ghost in the Machine

The investigation into the apparent overdose suicide of Reverend Bill Guthrie's wife Sharon. Detectives suspect foul pla

Frozen in Time

The 1991 disappearance of Newport Beach, CA, resident Denise Huber stumps investigators. Three years later, Arizona resi

Cold Storage

The 1987 disappearance of Houston resident Tracy Jo Shine is recalled. The investigation went cold until 2000, when a "c

The Metal Business

When a 62-year-old man opens a car restoration business and becomes seriously ill, his doctors cannot find the cause, bu

Dressed to Kill

The disappearance of 6-year-old Michelle Lee Dorr is detailed. Although her father confessed to murdering her, the polic

Palm Print Conviction

The 1996 investigation into 48-year-old Martha Hansen's murder in Anchorage is helped by a legal requirement that bars h

A Vow of Silence

n 1994, friends reported that Jack Reeves' mail-order bride Emelita Villa had disappeared. The police centered their sus

Elephant Tracks

The murders of an elderly couple, Edward Kowalzck and Gertrude Thompson, leave detectives stumped until, two years later

A Bag of Evidence

The tragic murder of 9-year-old Jessica Knott is investigated; a garbage bag leads investigators to her killer. [also ma

Tooth or Consequences

An investigation into the disappearance of Katie Poirier is stymied, but they find a few charred remains including a too

The Sniffing Revenge

The investigation into a suspicious death hits a dead end when the autopsy indicates that no foul play was involved. But

Sleight of Hand

On March 13, 1981, 86-year-old Enid Whittlesey is found murdered in her Los Angeles home. The suspect eludes arrest for

Scratching the Surface

Forensic scientists work with the only clue recovered from a multiple-victim shooting: a 12-gauge shotgun. Scientists us

Fire Proof

A serial arsonist is responsible for numerous fires that caused millions of dollars worth of property damage and the dea

X Marks the Spot

The use of the computers by law enforcement is detailed in this look at a series of crimes in St. Louis that stumped the

All Charged Up

Using an anonymous letter and geographic profiling, investigators in Philadelphia close in on a serial rapist who attack

Breaking the Mold

In Dripping Springs, TX, March 1999, a 3-year-old boy develops serious respiratory problems and then his father later sh

House Call

A murder investigation in St. Petersburg, Florida, crosses jurisdictions from New York to Jamaica. The police use cell p

Marathon Man

After a man's body is discovered a few miles from his home, authorities trace the crime back to his house and question h

The Sniper's Trail

Details the case of the Beltway sniper attacks, a 3-week shooting spree which left 10 people dead in the Washington, D.C

Plastic Fire

Georgia resident Sheila Bryan, who was convicted of killing her mother in a car fire, is granted a new trial. An expert

Last Will

Authorities are able to apprehend a kidnapper because he allowed his victim, 17-year-old Shari Smith, to write a will on

Dessert Served Cold

A man died in his home after a long history of heart disease. It was assumed that this was the cause of his death. A few

The Music Case

In 1999, a 12-year-old was found murdered in her home and it changed the feeling of security residents had in the small

Paintball

In 1962, the people of the small town of Hanford, CA lost their sense of peace when one of their own, 15-year-old Marlen

Sign Here

A mother of two vanishes after a shopping trip. Her body is discovered a month later. Witnesses say they saw the victim

Shadow of a Doubt

A woman is shot to death in her store just one day before she is to testify against the man accused of robbing her. The

Tourist Trap

In 1993, the state of Florida was known for more than just Disney World. Worldwide attention focused on a rash of robber

Once Bitten

At a murder scene, investigators find a shoe-print, several foreign hairs, and unknown fingerprints. But they believe th

All Wet

A woman's death in Pennsylvania triggers a homicide investigation into another woman's death in North Carolina. The simi

Shot of Vengeance

A 34-year-old nurse experiences a variety of flu-like symptoms. None of her doctors are able to discover the cause, unti

Dinner and a Movie

Time of death becomes pivotal after a pregnant woman is found murdered in her air-conditioned bedroom. A striking simila

A Wrong Foot

Police were puzzled by an obscure print found at a crime scene where one man had been killed and two teenage girls were

Order Up

A man is found dead in his home, and his ex-wife has a perfect alibi. To determine time of death, investigators need to

When the Dust Settled

A union official is executed in his home not long after a strike by the union membership. Neither his wife nor anyone in

A Welcome Intrusion

A man tells police he shot an intruder who had attacked and murdered his wife. The husband paints a tragic picture and i

Within Arm's Reach

Private Thoughts

When Firefighters found an entire family dead, inside their home, it looked like a murder-suicide, but there were severa

Brotherhoods

Two men were murdered, while sleeping in their bed. One night later, an arson fire destroyed a family planning clinic. I

Hair of the Dog

With no forensic evidence inside a murder scene, investigators were baffled. But they suspected that the victim's dog ha

Breaking News

A young TV news producer is raped and murdered in her apartment. Police identify two suspects, but both are cleared of a

All the World's a Stage

Police are dispatched to the scene of a shooting, and discover the victim's husband is one of their own: a homicide dete

The Big Chill

For years, a woman suffered from what appeared to be the unpleasant side effects of lithium, a drug prescribed to treat

Bound for Jail

A woman is found dead in a ravine, but crucial crime scene evidence had been washed away by severe thunderstorms. Twice,

Sphere of Influence

When an 11-year-old girl disappeared from a small town in a remote area of Alaska, investigators wondered if she'd been

Nailed

Just weeks before a witness is to testify against the man accused of sexually assaulting her, she is murdered in the fro

Sign of the Zodiac

For six years, a serial killer prowled the streets of New York City. He wrote letters to police and The New York Post, i

Letter Perfect

A healthy young man dies mysteriously in his sleep. There are no signs of trauma or injury, but toxicology tests reveal

True Lies

In the summer of 1986, Kathleen Lipscomb's body was found on a deserted road outside of San Antonio. Months passed, then

Bed of Deceit

A retired police officer is discovered in his bed, dead of a single gunshot wound to the head. His wife first says the m

Smoke in Your Eyes

A suspicious fire swept through an apartment killing two young women. The cause of the fire and the identity of the vict

Flower Power

Two different men called police to report the same murder. Apparently, neither one knew that the other had called. The i

Past Lives

The body of a wealthy American businessman was found in his rental car. Teeth and bone fragments were the only remains.

Over and Out

A pipe bomb rips through a rural home killing a young man and seriously injuring his mother. A lot number on a 9-volt ba

Death by a Salesman

No one in a quiet residential community saw or heard anything unusual the day one of their elderly neighbors was brutall

Web of Seduction

On November 8, 1999, Bruce Miller was found shot to death in the office of the Michigan auto-salvage shop he owned. Ther

Grounds for Indictment

A drive-by shooting leaves one man dead and another seriously wounded. Cell phone calls and shell casings point to a sus

Dueling Confessions

When teenager Rosemary Anderson is found dead on the side of the road, her boyfriend eventually confesses to her murder,

Traces of Truth

A high school gym teacher mysteriously left town, without saying goodbye to anyone. He later sent letters to explain why

Honor Thy Father

A sixteen-year-old girl is killed in her own home by her mother and father. Her parents said they acted in self-defense,

Hack Attack

A mysterious computer crash pushed a thriving manufacturing company to the brink of collapse, jeopardizing the jobs of h

Deadly Curve

It was supposed to be a routine motorcade for the Queen of England. But on the way to Yosemite National Park, a car carr

Visibility Zero

In 1993, the Amtrak Railroad experienced the deadliest train crash in United States history when the Sunset Limited dera

Flashover

A fire erupted in Kings Cross Station in London, killing 31 people and injuring dozens more. Investigators pinpointed th

Road Rage

The investigation of a discarded sleeping bag, containing bloody sneakers and a purse, leads police to the body of a you

Hunter or Hunted

On the last day of deer hunting season, a woman is killed while walking her dogs in the woods. The victim has no enemies

In Harm's Way

An Alaskan police officer found a woman's body while on routine patrol of a public park. The victim had been stabbed to

No Corpus Delicti

A woman disappears without a trace; even though foul play is suspected, the leads don't pan out and the trail turns cold

News at 11

A talented television news anchor was shot to death outside her home; it appeared to be a crime of passion, perpetrated

Burning Desire

Investigators sifted through the ashes of a fire, which had killed a 40-year-old woman, the estranged wife of a police o

Cloak of Deceit

For seven years, a trio of men robbed one bank after another leaving no evidence behind. But forensic scientists help ca

Bad Medicine

A young woman suddenly becomes critically ill; her symptoms worsen over time, eventually leaving her unable to walk. The

Stick 'em Up

Residents of Noel, Missouri were stunned to learn that their bank had been robbed and the bank president was missing. Hi

Head Games

A young couple decided to celebrate their first wedding anniversary with a camping trip to Mount Hood. During the trip,

Making the Collar

The body of 16-year-old Leanne Tiernan is discovered nine months after she disappeared. Forensic scientists find clues t

Financial Downfall

A vibrant young woman falls to her death from a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean In what appears to be a tragic accid

A Daughter's Journey

Haunted by the disappearance of her mother some twenty years earlier, a young woman undertook an investigation of her ow

Over a Barrel

California police had several suspects in the robbery and brutal murder of an elderly couple. Unfortunately, the forensi

Pinned by the Evidence

After a street fight took the life of a national wrestling champion, police had to determine if he was killed in cold bl

Cries Unheard

A 19-year-old woman was found dead in her car; the scene had been staged to appear to be suicide. During their investiga

Buried Treasure

A man disappears one year to the day after beginning an affair with his friend's wife. 15 years later, with the help of

Badge of Betrayal

The body of a young California co-ed was found under an isolated ramp of the Interstate, and San Diego police had no ide

Deadly Matrimony

A go-go dancer told her family she needed to get away for a while, and then she simply disappeared. Investigators were s

Muddy Waters

A Colorado hunter who'd been shot three times and killed was the victim of a well planned crime, not an accidental shoot

Point of Origin

In 1984, California firefighters had battled ten arson fires in three weeks. When cigarettes and a scrap of paper connec

Seeds for Doubt

In 2002, a small community in upstate New York was devastated when Patty Wlasiuk died when their truck went into a lake,

Saving Face

When a woman disappeared without a trace, there were two possible explanations: kidnapping or murder. Concern was height

Northern Exposure

Hikers near Anchorage, Alaska discovered a body wrapped in sheets edged in orange stitching. Authorities hydrated the fi

Silk Stalkings

The news of a flight attendant's brutal murder prompted the son of a victim who had been killed five years earlier to co

Fishing for the Truth

A two-man shrimp boat sank when a fast-moving, violent storm struck the Louisiana coast. The captain drowned, and the de

For Love or Money

When a wealthy real estate tycoon went missing, it appeared to be foul play. He had been aware that he was in danger. In

South of the Border

The cold-blooded murder of an American tourist in a Mexican resort focused law enforcement resources on both sides of th

The Stake-Out

The investigation of the kidnapping of a prominent banker's wife led police on a wild goose chase, tracking down disgrun

Walking Terror

In the middle of the night, a neighbor watched in horror as a man stabbed his wife, pushed her into the swimming pool, a

Trial by Fire

A house erupted in flames on a cold January night, killing one person and injuring another. The survivor blamed a kerose

Marked for Life

In 1957, California police searched for a man who had committed several crimes in one night – including murder, but af

Plastic Puzzle

A man riding a bicycle was fatally injured, the victim of a hit-and-run accident. Tiny clues found at the scene created

Up in Smoke

When an elderly couple died in a suspicious house fire, their son became the prime suspect. The son insisted he was inno

Soiled Plan

A mother of two young children went missing and, less than a day later, her body was found. The evidence was little bett

Headquarters

When hunters reported finding a skull in a Texas canyon, police find bits of clothing, a woman's shoe, some small bones

One for the Road

A married couple decided to escape the cold of winter with a mini-vacation in Key West. The wife went missing, and polic

Army of Evidence

A mother of two young children was found dead in her bedroom. It appeared she had killed herself: There were suicide not

Shear Luck

In 1991, when the wife of a serviceman was brutally murdered in the Philippines, the Air Force Office of Special Investi

Tagging a Suspect

Bombings are difficult to solve, because the perpetrator isn't usually at the scene, and the evidence goes up in smoke.

Strong Impressions

The wife of an Air Force officer was found dead in her bed, with a plastic laundry bag near her face. At first glance, i

Cereal Killer

When a fire destroyed most of a home and a young boy went missing, police organized the largest search in the history of

Crash Course

A highway patrolman was dispatched to what he thought would be a routine traffic accident until he looked in the car. Wh

A Leg Up on Crime

The decomposed body of a young woman was discovered in a Bakersfield irrigation canal. If there was trace evidence, it h

Tight-Fitting Genes

A behavioral profile is helpful in a murder investigation, but it's not a road map to the killer. One such profile cause

Deadly Valentine

An obstetrician returned home from the hospital and found his wife on the floor of the bathroom. She was covered with bl

Picture This

A Modesto, CA, teenager went missing. There was no sign of a struggle in her home, and police suspected she'd simply run

Oily in the Morning

When police recovered the submerged car of a man reported missing, they expected to find his body – but it wasn't ther

Gold Rush

Emergency dispatch received a call from a man who said his girlfriend shot and killed herself. Police found the victim i

Four on the Floor

A Native American woman was brutally killed in the desert of New Mexico, and the crime scene was rich in forensic eviden

Writer's Block

A brilliant young architect became ill and died just before she was to testify in a criminal trial. The autopsy revealed

A Clean Getaway

An employee of a dry cleaner was raped and murdered in the store, and investigators thought themselves fortunate to have

Prints Among Thieves

The murder of an eccentric millionaire was not entirely unexpected; he flaunted his wealth and cared little for personal

Unholy Alliance

When a young woman disappeared, police feared she was the latest victim in a string of similar crimes but the MO wasn't

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Two men were convicted of intentionally shooting and killing a passenger in a moving car, their friend was granted immun

Cop Out

Police initially suspect that the death of a gay student is a hate crime, until just three strands of hair and some micr

Summer Obsession

In an affluent suburb of Philadelphia, police were called to the scene of what appeared to be an accidental drowning. Th

Enemy Within

Kansas City attorney Richard Armitage was brutally murdered in his office in broad daylight. The first prime suspect was

Elemental Clue

When two women from the same town were murdered in the same way, police feared a serial killer was on the loose. At firs

Moss, Not Grass

A young woman was found dead on a golf course in the Bahamas. The grass on that course was so distinctive, it had eviden

Material Witness

A teenager went missing after an evening of horseback riding. Her body was found a month later, three miles from her hom

Garden of Evil

When a popular disc jockey was found murdered in a community garden, police swung into action. A sniffer dog and a blood

Sunday School Ambush

When a woman's husband was gunned down in his own garage by intruders, investigators worked tirelessly to find the assas

Penchant for Poison

Three seemingly unrelated deaths proved to be serial murders. The killer had been careful – he used poison which had n

Bump in the Night

The crime scene was awash with blood. The victim had been brutally murdered as he slept in his own bed. There were no fo

Sole Searching

Now it's not only a fingerprint which can link a killer to a crime; a shoe print can be just as telling. Armed with litt

Murder on the Menu

When the head chef of a historic Philadelphia restaurant was found dead, investigators interviewed the usual suspects: f

Hot on the Trail

A serial arsonist was on the loose in Washington, DC. Each of the fires was started with the same type of incendiary dev

High 'n Dry

When Genell Plude was found dead in her bathroom, the scene pointed to suicide. But a coroner's inquest and a unique app

To the Viktor

Three homicides on two continents looked like professional executions. Investigators on both sides of the Atlantic neede

Wired for Disaster

A 29-year-old woman was killed instantly when a bomb exploded in her home. The device was so powerful that shrapnel was

Wood-be Killer

A killer tried to incinerate and destroy everything that could link him to his crime. But in doing so, he inadvertently

Naughty or Nyce

The woman could have lost control of her SUV on the icy road, and plunged down an embankment into a shallow creek. But t

Going for Broke

A successful stockbroker told his wife he'd be working late, and when he didn't come home, she reported him missing. Inv

Just Desserts

The prime suspect had a criminal record, and his driver's license was found at the scene of a brutal, double homicide. T

Sunday's Wake

When a little girl got sick and died, investigators were stumped. Was it an accident, an unexplained illness, or murder?

Shattered Dreams

A car was found in a drainage ditch and the bodies of a man and woman were inside; both had been shot to death. The car

Dockter Visit

A World War II veteran was found dead in his home, and the investigation ground to a halt when the prime suspect had a s

Murder, She Wrote

A woman who was known to have suffered from depression apparently took her own life. But her sister told police that, a

Concrete Alibi

An aspiring model turned up dead, and the prime suspect was her boyfriend. When he was eventually cleared, investigators

Key Evidence

When an off-duty policeman was shot dead, his fellow officers were determined to solve the crime. They needed clues to f

The Gambler

One warm summer afternoon, the town of Verona, Wisconsin, faced its first triple homicide. To solve the case, investigat

Weakest Link

The body of a young girl was discovered on isolated farmland near Delano, California. She had no ID, but police found ma

Capitol Crimes

The driver said he couldn't have hit and killed a pedestrian on a Harrisburg street. The Jeep Grand Cherokee he was leas

Undertaken

The medical examiner ruled the death an accident, but the detectives investigating the case thought the evidence at the

Dark Waters

When a hit-and-run boating accident caused the death of a popular young man, investigators faced the daunting task of se

Nice Threads

A woman was found dead on the bedroom floor of her apartment. The crime scene yielded little of value, and investigators

Grave Danger

A young man was killed in a mysterious car crash, but the evidence at the scene led investigators to believe it was not

Internal Affair

When a woman went missing, friends and family were determined to find her. Their worst fears were confirmed weeks later

A Case of the Flue

In 1993, 82-year-old Kathryn Bishop was found dead in her Pennsylvania home. The evidence at the scene indicated that th

No Safe Place

A wealthy man and his wife were attacked by three men outside their luxurious Louisiana home. He was shot dead and she w

Live Wire

The bomb was constructed to cause as much damage as possible..and it did, killing the victim with deadly force and flame

Van-ished

A twelve-year-old girl claimed she had been abducted and sexually assaulted. She recounted what happened in such a flat,

A Novel Idea

In 2001, paramedics in Durham, NC received a frantic call from Michael Peterson who said his wife Kathleen had fallen do

Chief Suspect

The wife of a respected police officer was murdered in her own home. The crime went unsolved for more than a decade, and

Water Hazard

The victim had ingested a massive amount of cyanide. An unlikely clue – a flaw on a mailing envelope – exposed a mur

Shell Game

They thought the fire would cover their crime. But one tiny clue, no bigger than a thumbtack, remained. It held all the

Ring Him Up

In 1994, 19-year-old college co-ed Shannon Melendi disappeared while at Emory University in Atlanta. For ten years, her

Killer Impression

In 1987, the death of Crystal Purcell was considered an accident. Then in 2001, Barbara Purcell called police to suggest

If I Were You

In 1994, Paul Gruber's daughter suspected something was wrong when she received birthday cards addressed from Gruber, on

As the Tide Turns

The woman was dead. The man had been shot four times but he survived. When the man's version of events was at variance w

A Tight Leash

How did a stalker obtain the security system code for his victim's home? How did he steal her personal photographs? Poli

Muffled Cries

After inspecting storm damage to a home in Tampa, FL, the insurance assessor simply disappeared. Thirty hours later, her

Critical Maneuver

When a hit-and-run accident claimed the life of a high school athlete, everyone in town mourned his passing. Finding the

Skirting the Evidence

In 1996, Shannon Sanderson goes the casino without her husband Robert and wins $5,000 at the Blackjack tables. Three hou

Small Town Terror

In 1991, Grand Junction, Colorado is on edge after a series of deadly bombings which has killed 2 and injured one more a

Fresh Heir

Lives changed in the 20 years following an unsolved murder, and so did forensic science. In time, a high-powered microsc

Ticker Tape

A lifelong resident of the tiny town of Lefroy, Tasmania was murdered outside his own home. Robbery appeared to be the m

Step by Step

When a wealthy socialite died after falling down the stairs, the eye witnesses said one thing and the evidence seemed to

Blanket of Evidence

In 1997, Kelly Eckart's car was found with her belongings still in it, after working the late shift in Franklin, Indiana

Fired-Up

In 1996, when Derrick Duehren returned to his Oregon home, it had burned to the ground and his wife Roxanne's charred re

Two in a Million

A millionaire and his family were executed in their own home. For three years, the murders went unsolved and then a 30-y

Bitter Brew

It was one of the most brazen crimes of the 20th century. Adolph Coors, chairman of the Coors Brewing Company, was kidna

Message in a Bottle

For twelve years, the murder of a young woman went unsolved, but with the passage of time came the development of techno

Sharper Image

When a young girl was found dead, police quickly arrested the most likely suspect. But cutting-edge technology from NASA

Insulated Evidence

It's usually easy to determine how a criminal entered the crime scene. But in this case, it was far from clear. It looke

Cold Hearted

When a young fireman died from what appeared to be serious but undiagnosed heart disease, his family and friends were de

Wheel of Misfortune

Security cameras in a casino tracked a young woman's movements until shortly before she disappeared. She was never seen

Quite a Spectacle

It was one of the most unusual cases in forensic history. Investigators had to find a way to solve a murder case with ev

Transaction Failed

When a dedicated, well-respected teacher disappeared, police had to determine if she'd gone on vacation without telling

The Day the Music Died

Seattle police had no suspects in the violent murder of post-grunge singer, Mia Zapata. More than a decade would pass be

Sole Survivor

A Michigan State University grad student disappeared and was presumed dead. With the help of a professor of geological s

Insignificant Others

How unlucky could one man be? His wife had taken her own life, and his college sweetheart had killed herself in much the

Catch 22

In 1996, 54-year-old Gayle Isleib was ambushed in her Manchester, Connecticut driveway and shot to death. During their i

A Cinderella Story

The victim had been sexually assaulted and stabbed to death on the beach, just ten yards from the hotel where she was st

Screen Pass

A 13-year-old girl went missing from her Colorado home, and the only evidence the kidnapper left behind was three finger

Pressed for Crime

A brutal murder, lots of suspects, and conflicting evidence but the forensics were clear on one thing - the killer knew

Finger Pane

A serial killer was on the loose and police had to find him before he struck again. Their most promising lead was an unu

Good as Gold

On Halloween night 2004, Adriane Insogna and Leslie Mazzara were brutally murdered in their Napa, CA, home. The killer w

Freedom Fighter

After the suspect was convicted of arson and murder, he steadfastly maintained he did not commit the crimes, but he was

Dog Day Afternoon

A woman was brutally murdered in her home, and the only witnesses to the crime were the family dogs. An expert in canine

Shattered Innocence

The killer probably hoped to cover his tracks by staging the crime scene. But investigators saw through the attempt almo

All Butt Certain

A 6-year-old girl ran and hid when she saw her grandmother being beaten to death, but the man followed her, beat her and

Jean Pool

In 1984, the body of college co-ed Laura Salmon was found on a Georgia farm, covered with her own denim jeans as well as

Traffic Violations

The body of an attractive young woman was found a mile from her abandoned car. Police were especially concerned when the

Brotherly Love

In 1969, 25-year-old phone operator Diane Maxwell is raped and murdered by a black man. Her brother promised he'd find o

Disrobed

The crime scene was especially violent: A husband and wife had been shot to death in their bedroom. At first, investigat

Driven to Silence

A young, attractive hairdresser was sexually assaulted and murdered in her own beauty salon. The evidence at the crime s

Printed Proof

When two women went missing and were later found brutally murdered, police wondered if they were victims of a hate crime

About Face

A human skeleton was discovered in the North Carolina marshlands and, when investigators learned she'd been dead for 18

In the Bag

After shooting his victims in the head, the killer staged the scene, placed the incriminating evidence into a plastic ba

Yes, in Deed

In a tragic twist of fate, just days after the woman sold her home and moved to a modest trailer, a fire took both the t

Guarded Secrets

A security guard disappeared from his post without a trace; his remains were found a year later in a remote camp site. M

Smoking Out a Killer

A college senior was found raped and murdered near an unpaved footpath used by students to walk from one side of campus

Frozen Assets

In 2004, Mary Ann Clibbery was found brutally murdered in her Illinois business and investigators had to determine if th

House Hunting

In 2006, Texas real estate agent Sarah Anne Walker was found brutally murdered in a model home. Weeks later, a witness c

Shoot to Thrill

In 2003, St. Cloud teenager Jason MacLennan returned home after a night out with friends and discovered his father Ken's

Political Thriller

In 2006, Nevada politician Kathy Augustine died mysteriously during a hard-fought re-election campaign and the medical e

Double Cross

In 1996, Virginia Beach police arrive at the Makdessi apartment to find Elise Makdessi and her lover Quincy Brown dead.

Dancing with the Devil

In 1999, Patrick McRae was found dead in his Des Moines home and the crime scene was awash with blood. Analysis showed i

Last Dance

In 2000, the body of exotic dancer Rachel Siani was found beneath a New Jersey bridge and investigators wondered if she

Constructive Criticism

In 2000, construction manager Darrell North was found dead in his work trailer in Ft. Worth, Texas. When investigators a

Home Evasion

In 2000, Judy Southern arrived home from work and was shot by a gunman waiting within. Her husband Allen arrived shortly

Window Watcher

In 1986, Gary Dale Larson was stabbed to death in his Edmond, OK, home and then the killer sexually assaulted Larson's g

Stranger in the Night

In 1991, Dorothy Donovan was murdered in her Dover, DE home and police are skeptical when her son Charles Holden stated

Kidnapping

In 2001, Ginger Hayes and her infant son Nicholas were abducted during a carjacking and the crime had been reported by a

Sands of Crime

In the early hours of a morning just before Christmas, a college co-ed was abducted from the parking lot of her apartmen

Calculated Coincidence

A young woman is found dead in her apartment. There's little evidence at the scene, leads don't pan out and the case tur

Sworded Scheme

When a college student is reported missing, police believe their investigation will be like countless others, and she'd

Unmasked

A serial rapist is on the loose in a Texas town. No one knew where he'd strike next, but the audacity of his attacks and

Fashion Police

The victim has been stabbed more than thirty times, and the crime scene is awash with her blood. Near her head, police d

Church Dis-service

A young woman attends evening church services... then disappears. When her abandoned car is found, the tank is empty and

Seedy Intentions

When a nine-year-old girl goes missing, police and volunteers spend weeks searching for her. A psychic's vision leads to

DNA Dragnet

Digital enhancement of security camera video shows that what appears to be a casual encounter is actually a forced abduc

Smiley Face

The woman had been sexually assaulted, stabbed repeatedly, and left for dead. She survived, and gave police a detailed d

Dirty Laundry

The victim was a self-made man who never minced words. Perhaps he was murdered by a disgruntled client or employee. Perh

Drowning Sorrows

A family vacation turns into a nightmare when the wife is found face-down in the lake. There are no witnesses and little

As Fault

The woman in the back of the truck was flailing her arms, screaming. They thought she was doing something dangerous for

Family Ties

When court clerk Peter Porco doesn't report to his work in November 2004, a courts officer is ordered to the Porcos' fam

Trouble Brewing

Detectives think they've solved a murder when they find the weapon and victim's blood in a man's flat, but the evidence

Holy Terror

A serial bomber was on the loose in Illinois. Two churches had been bombed and one person was killed. Investigators had

Needle in a Haystack

There was no clear reason for a young, healthy college student to be dead. But when the medical examiner discovered the

Room with a View

The victim had been stabbed more than a hundred times, leaving her bedroom soaked with blood. Even though her body was p

Dollars and Sense

On Christmas eve 2005, the corpse of a black male is found burning near Baltimore. He's eventually identified as 26-year

Hair Line

Doctors don't know why a young scientist is gravely ill. When tests finally reveal the cause, it's too late to save him.

All That Glitters Is Gold

A bullet-riddled car, a missing driver, and no witnesses. Was this an ambush or a random attack? Had the victim been abd

Deadly Rebellion

Even though their daughter had run away before, she'd always come back. Her parents were sure this time would be no diff

Sign of the Crime

In little more than a month, two women who lived in the same apartment complex were brutally murdered. The similarities

Covet Thy Neighbor

When a college co-ed vanished without a trace, her fellow students were concerned about her safety and their own. Weeks

Writing on the Wall

The victim was well liked and successful, which made the brutality of the crime even harder to understand. In the final

Hundreds of Reasons

An assistant manager of a Florida steakhouse is stabbed to death. It appears to be a robbery gone wrong, but a bloody fi

Cold Feet

In 1985, Julie Estes, then 21, was abducted from her late-night job at the Southside convenience store. Her body was fou

Separation Anxiety

In April 2002, a wild fire in a secluded parking lot leads police to discover the dreadful homicide of David Nixon, with

Office Visit

Respected surgeon Brian Stidham was stabbed to death in the parking lot next to his office. The most likely suspect is s

Palm Saturday

In 2007, Brian & Beverly Mauck were found dead in their Graham, WA home. The killer obviously spent a great deal of time

Shoe-In for Murder

Terrified, the young girl hid in her bedroom while her mother, Crystal Perry, was attacked and stabbed to death in her h

Family Interrupted

On December 10, 2003, a gunman opened fire as a family of four entered their home, killing two and wounding the others.

Runaway Love

It was classic “overkill.” Barbara Mullenix, found floating in the harbor of an upscale yacht club in Newport Bay on

Watchful Eye

On May 20, 2001, 20-year-old state park employee Carrie Nelson was beaten to death in the park office while working alon

Waste Mis-Management

Foul play is suspected when Fort Worth factory worker Glenda Furch disappears in September 2007 after completing her shi

Dirty Little Secret

Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley spent Memorial Day weekend at the beach, and then they simply vanished. A week later, p

Lights Out

Whoever stabbed a young Texas mother to death had also savagely beaten her 4-year-old daughter. Police had a suspect, bu

Pet Rock

In 1995, Palm Beach waitress Denise O'Neill is abducted and murdered. Her neighbor, Luis Caballero, arouses suspicions b

Best Foot Forward

In 2007, Shamaia Smith disappeared from the strip club she worked at in East Hartford, CT. Police look at various custom

Purebread Murder

A young mother is murdered after years of domestic abuse. There are clues at the scene: bloody footprints and DNA from t

Hear No Evil

Threatening emails, a missing person and an abandoned truck lead police to a home where they believe a murder was commit

Hell's Kitchen

In 2000, Kristine Fitzhugh failed to show up for her music class and her husband Ken found her dead at the bottom of t

Three's a Crowd

As she left choir practice, a woman was gunned down in the church parking lot. Her husband became the prime suspect –

A Squire's Riches

In 2008, Illinois emergency response came upon a garage fire and a man was found crushed beneath a truck. Upon first gla

Home of the Brave

In 2007, the Florida mobile home of Effie and Michael Ratley catches fire and Michael heroically rescues his wife and in

Freeze Framed

In 2005, David Castor suffered a slow, agonizing death over a period of days. His wife Stacey maintained it was suicide,

Touch of Evil

In the 1990s, a dismembered body is dumped on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike and before police realize it, bodies a

Textbook Murder

In 2006, Jackson, MS, resident Avis Banks and her unborn child were brutally murdered in her garage and discovered by he

Filtered Out

In 2000, when teenager Tara Munsey goes missing after a work shift at a Virginia restaurant, it is unknown if she ran aw

Water Logged

In 1989, the bodies of Joan Rogers and her two teenage daughters were found floating in Tampa Bay. The water washed away

Social Circle

In 2003, Tiffany Rowell and three of her friends were brutally murdered in their affluent Clear Lake, TX, neighborhood a

Low Maintenance

In 2008, college co-ed Jenna Verhaalen was found dead in her Bryan, Texas apartment and petechial hemorrhages in her eye

Fate Date

In 2003, Rebecca Barney and her soon-to-be ex-husband Fred were found shot to death in their Tulsa, OK, home, which had

Trail of a Killer

In 2003, Kathy Lorick was raped and murdered on a Concord, California jogging trail in the middle of the day while talki

Gone Ballistic

In 2008, Colorado real estate developer Alan Helmick was found shot to death at home. His wife Miriam became the prime s

Seeing Red

In 2005, the body of young mother Summer Baldwin was found in a suitcase in a Texas landfill. The suitcase leads investi

Auto-Motive

In 2001, Michelle Harris went missing from her Owego, NY home. Since they were going through a contentious divorce, her

Skeleton Key

In 2004, nursing student Tamika Huston went missing from her Spartanburg, SC home. A tip led detectives to her car and t

Funeral Services

In 2002, funeral director Lonnie Turner, Sr. was found shot to death in his Navasota, TX home. His son Lonnie Jr. became

Expert Witness

In 1993, young mother Tammy Tatum was found sexually assaulted and murdered in her Longmont, CO apartment. Police initia