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S9 E14 Over a Barrel

Documentary

14+

21 minutes

Aug 22, 2004

California police had several suspects in the robbery and brutal murder of an elderly couple. Ten years later, a determined forensic scientist used material from a dentist's office to uncover ballistic evidence that had been overlooked.Starring: Peter Thomas

Season 9, 29 Episodes

Police investigate a discarded sleeping bag containing bloody sneakers and a purse, which eventually leads to the body of a young woman. A mark found on the victim's body enables police to track the killer.

Hunter or Hunted,

A woman is killed while walking her dogs in the woods. Since she has no enemies and her husband has an alibi, police assume it's a hunting accident — until they find a strange letter, allegedly written by the woman before her death.

An Alaskan police officer finds a woman's body while on routine patrol of a public park. During the autopsy, the medical examiner preserves the portion of her rib cage which sustained the fatal wound.

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. Twenty years would pass before police are able to link a clump of hair discovered in an isolated area with the missing woman.

When a talented television news anchor is shot to death outside her home, it appears to be a crime of passion perpetrated by an obsessed fan.

Burning Desire,

Investigators sift through the ashes of a fire which killed a 40-year-old woman. The fire appears to have been started by an unattended cigarette. On closer look, forensic scientists discover the cause was far more complicated.

Cloak of Deceit,

For seven years, a trio of men robbed one bank after another. They always got away before the police arrived and they left no evidence behind. But the way they stood and the clothes they wore told a story that could be read by forensic scientists.

A young woman suddenly becomes critically ill, eventually leaving her unable to walk. A bone marrow test reveals the cause: arsenic poisoning. Investigators must determine if the poisoning was caused by groundwater contamination or something sinister.

Residents of Noel, Missouri were stunned to learn that their bank had been robbed and the bank president was missing. His body was later found floating in a lake, securely bound to a chair with duct tape.

A young couple decided to celebrate their first wedding anniversary with a camping trip to Mount Hood. During the trip, the husband was shot and killed. Later, his wife told two different versions of the events which led to his death.

Making the Collar,

The body of 16-year-old Leanne Tiernan was discovered nine months after she disappeared. Forensic scientists found clues that painted a virtual portrait of her killer.

The Financial Downfall,

A beautiful young woman falls to her death from a cliff overlooking the ocean. Initially, investigators think it was a tragic accident. But after a forensic examination, police uncover a very different picture of what happened.

A Daughter's Journey,

Haunted by the disappearance of her mother, a young woman undertakes an investigation of her own. In her mother's diary, she discovers a dark family secret that might explain the disappearance.

California police had several suspects in the robbery and brutal murder of an elderly couple. Ten years later, a determined forensic scientist used material from a dentist's office to uncover ballistic evidence that had been overlooked.

Pinned by the Evidence,

After a street fight takes the life of a national wrestling champion, police must determine if he was killed in cold blood or in self-defense.

A 19-year-old woman was found dead in her car; the scene had been staged to make murder appear to be suicide. During their investigation, police discovered the victim was involved in a love quadrangle, giving several people a motive to kill her.

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 a metal detector, police find evidence that would prove what had happened and who was responsible.

Badge of Betrayal,

When the body of a young woman is found under an isolated highway ramp, a unique fiber on the victim's clothing leads San Diego police straight to the most unlikely of killers.

Deadly Matrimony,

A go-go dancer told her family she needed to get away for a while and then she simply disappeared. Investigators were suspicious, because she took neither her car nor her clothes. 20 years later, her family received a call that changed everything.

A Colorado hunter is the victim of a well-planned crime. Investigators suspect two weapons and two killers. But forensic evidence points them in a different direction — one much closer to home.

Point of Origin,

In 1984, California firefighters battled ten arson fires in three weeks. When cigarettes and a scrap of paper connected the case to similar fires further north, the hunt was on for a dangerous pyromaniac.

Seeds for Doubt,

In 2002, a small community in upstate New York was devastated when Patty Wlasiuk died in a truck accident. But burdock seed pods found in her hair and on her clothes indicated that this was no accident — it was cold-blooded murder.

When a woman disappeared without a trace, there were two possible explanations: kidnapping or murder. Careful investigation, a forensic artist and DNA profiling enabled police to find a single suspect, who was known to prey upon vulnerable women.

Silk Stalkings,

Prompted by news of a flight attendant's brutal murder, the son of a previous victim contacts police. Both murders have similar MOs, and biological evidence proves that these were serial killings.

Fishing for the Truth,

A two-man shrimp boat sinks when a fast-moving, violent storm strikes the Louisiana coast. The captain drowns, but the deckhand is rescued fourteen hours later. The crewman is hailed as a hero — until the captain's body is discovered.

For Love or Money,

When a wealthy real estate tycoon goes missing, it appears to be foul play. In his will, he leaves instructions in case he should die under violent circumstances — which were carried out after a hiker comes across his bullet-ridden skull.

South of the Border,

The murder of an American tourist in a Mexican resort draws law enforcement resources on both sides of the border. At first glance, the motive appears to be robbery, but careful analysis of the forensic evidence points to something more sinister.

Police are led on a wild goose chase when the wife of a prominent banker is kidnapped. An entomologist's unexpected discovery leads to a new suspect — and the realization that ordinary office equipment can leave extraordinary clues.

Walking Terror,

A neighbor watched as a man stabbed his wife, pushed her into the swimming pool and held her head under water. The husband, however, had no recollection of the crime. A jury would have to decide between evidence and the mysteries of the mind.

Details

Forensic Files

Crime

14+

14 Seasons

23 minutes

Forensic Files is the longest-running true crime series in television history. Evidence and interviews with experts help solve real crimes, disease outbreaks and accidents around the world.

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