Forensic Files

It's usually easy to determine how a criminal entered a crime scene. But in this case, it was far from clear. It looked like the killer vanished into thin air... and perhaps he had. via Knit

Twenty-four years after the death of a 15-year old in California, forensic scientists discover enough microscopic evidence to finally bring the killer to justice. via Knit

The media dubbed him the "Last Call Killer" because he targeted men in gay bars who were obviously intoxicated. His MO involved dismembering the bodies and wrapping the parts in plastic bags, which he then carefully washed to remove all incriminating evidence. He eluded capture for almost ten years... and then new technology revealed fingerprints no one knew were there. via Knit

Bruce Miller was shot to death in the office of the business he owned. When a computer expert examined the computers owned by the victim's wife and by her lover, he found the evidence needed to convict the person responsible for the crime. via Knit

A serial killer in Arlington, VA. leaves the same clues behind at each crime scene. via Knit

A young mother is murdered after years of domestic abuse. There are clues at the scene: bloody footprints and DNA from the victim's rape kit. But the evidence which will conclusively tie the killer to the crime is on a freshly baked hamburger bun. via Knit

One warm summer afternoon, the town of Verona, Wisconsin, faced its first triple homicide. To solve the case, investigators had to delve into the world of high rollers and offshore betting. With the help of forensics, they were able to bring down a killer who gambled, and lost. via Knit

A little girl disappears from a Christmas party. via Knit

Women in a small Louisiana city live in fear of a rapist who leaves no clues to his identity. But computer technology and behavioral science combine to give police a new forensic tool: geographical profiling. via Knit

When a woman is found murdered in a bar, investigators believe the best evidence is the bite mark found on the victim. A postman is convicted of murder, but he maintains his innocence. Ten years later, improved technology yields new information. via Knit

Children at a Texas hospital seem to be dying at a higher rate than at any other US hospital. Investigators look to a suspicious nurse. via Knit

A girl was found dead in her backyard. Her parents claimed she was attacked and killed by the family dogs, but police disagreed. via Knit

When a mother and her child are abducted during a carjacking, the crime is reported within minutes. Police know they have a small window of opportunity to find them... and the clock is ticking. via Knit

Arson is suspected when a Seattle policeman's house burns down. via Knit

When a young mother and her infant son are found dead in a cornfield, the obvious suspect is the husband and father of the victims. But some insects found on the bodies reveal a vital clue, as does a long, blonde hair found on the victims. via Knit

A talented television news anchor was shot to death outsider her home; it appeared to be a crime of passion, perpetrated by an obsessed fan. A police dog tracked the scent of the killer through the adjacent woods and back to the crime scene. Could the murderer be one of the onlookers, watching the police conduct their investigation? via Knit

When their trailer catches fire, the young husband heroically rescues his wife and infant son. A month later, his wife is beaten to death in a bedroom of his parents' home. The cut window screen points to an intruder, but the lack of supporting evidence compels investigators to look beyond the obvious. via Knit

Two years after a girl was murdered, a tiny drop of blood and burned bones lead police to her murderers. via Knit

Several high-powered legal officials are victims of mail bombs. via Knit

When a hit-and-run boating accident caused the death of a popular young man, investigators faced the the daunting task of searching for one boat among 1,200 others. They asked anyone who had seen the accident to come forward. The man who responded did much more than witness the crash; he was a passenger in that other boat. via Knit