Forensic Files
Upcoming episodes
Jan 29th
900a
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 mail a letter for her mother. She never returned, but her slightly damaged bicycle was found nearby. Investigators turned to forensic science, in the hope it would tell them not only what happened to Vicki, but also who was responsible.
Jan 29th
930a
Broken Bond
When a two-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital suffering from brain seizures and breathing difficulties, doctors could not find the cause of his illness. Then the boy’s sister provided an important clue, and raised the possibility of a syndrome of which few had ever heard.
Jan 29th
1000a
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 was never seen or heard from again. Rose’s disappearance remained a mystery, until a tiny clue found years later revealed a tragic tale of drugs, romance and revenge.
Jan 29th
1030a
Invisible Intruder
The crime scene was awash with blood, bespeaking the horror of the attack, the death of two young boys and the stabbing of their mother. The blood evidence was carefully analyzed by forensic scientists. It told a story quite different from that of the mother, and pointed to an assailant who had gone to great lengths to stage the scene after committing the crimes.
Jan 29th
500p
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.
Jan 29th
530p
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.
Jan 29th
600p
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.
Jan 29th
630p
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.
Jan 30th
900a
The Killing Room
Scott Dunn was missing and, at first glance, nothing seemed out of place in his apartment. Then police found faint blood spatters on the ceiling and walls, and a bloody carpet pad underneath a new piece of carpeting. When they sprayed the bedroom with Luminol, a scene of horrific violence emerged. Now investigators faced a daunting task: to prove Scott Dunn had been murdered, even though they had no body, no weapon, and no witnesses.
Jan 30th
930a
Ultimate Betrayal
On a windy October night in 1995, a mysterious fire swept through the home of a doctor and his family. Two of the family members made it out alive; two did not. In the debris, investigators found evidence which told them much more than how the fire started.