Forensic Files
Upcoming episodes
Jun 16th
1200p
Private Thoughts
Firefighters find an entire family dead inside their burned-out home, and at first glance, it appears to be a case of murder-suicide. But clues found at the scene soon lead investigators to believe otherwise.
Jun 16th
1230p
Brotherhoods
The double homicide of a gay couple leads investigators into the twisted world of White Supremacists. Shell casings, paint chips and an analysis of glass shards help authorities link their prime suspects to a string of hate crimes in California.
Jun 17th
1100a
Hair of the Dog
Police discover a man shot dead in his home after they receive a call from his worried mother. The search for the killer would lead them on a two-year investigation spanning several states. Because many of the witnesses were admitted drug users, investigators would need hard physical evidence to prove their case; it came in the form of a rare gun and the victim’s beloved dog.
Jun 17th
1130a
Breaking News
A young TV news producer is raped and murdered in her apartment. Police identify two suspects, but both are cleared of any wrongdoing. The case stalls for more than a year, and then investigators turn to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s DNA Databank which houses profiles of more than 8,000 convicted felons, and is the first of its kind in the nation. A comparison of the crime scene evidence with the Databank profiles results in Virginia’s first “cold hit” in a homicide investigation, and reveals the identity of the killer.
Jun 17th
1200p
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 detective who says his wife accidentally shot herself in the head. The detective maintains he called 911 immediately, but the evidence seems to indicate otherwise. Investigators turn to a forensic scientist and a ballistics expert to learn what really happened, and who was responsible.
Jun 17th
1230p
The Big Chill
For years, a woman suffered from what appeared to be the unpleasant side effects of lithium, a drug prescribed to treat bipolar disorder. Her search for help led her to numerous doctors and hospitals, and resulted in a 4,000-page medical file. When she died, investigators had to determine if her death was due to natural causes, suicide, or murder.
Jun 18th
1100a
Bound for Jail
A woman is found dead in a ravine near a jogging path. Crucial crime scene evidence had been washed away by severe thunderstorms. Twice, the trail turned cold. Then, almost 20 years later, an old hat and a chip of stainless steel no longer than a fingernail brought the killer to justice.
Jun 18th
1130a
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 attacked by a bear or become lost in the dense woods. It turned out neither was true. Her body was discovered 10 days later; she’d been shot twice at close range, and sexually assaulted. A tip from an eyewitness led police to a suspect, and trace evidence found at the crime scene convinced a jury of his guilt.
Jun 18th
1200p
Nailed
Just weeks before a witness is to testify against the man accused of sexually assaulting her, she is murdered in the front yard of her own home. Investigators immediately suspect her attacker, but they don’t have enough evidence to prove his guilt. It would take fifteen years, and the remarkable advances in forensic science and DNA testing which occurred during that time, to enable police to nail the killer.
Jun 18th
1230p
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,” indicating he would kill twelve people, one for each astrological sign. Forensic astronomy, handwriting analysis, and DNA extracted from the flap of an envelope gave investigators a profile of the killer, and a stroke of luck enabled them to find him.