Forensic Files

In this classic episode of Forensic Files, the longest running true crime series in television history, an anonymous “tip” referring to unpublicized aspects of an unsolved case, leads police on a hunt for a killer. Investigators use laser technology to identify the location from where the anonymous letter was mailed. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 4.

When a man dies unexpectedly in the office of a noted doctor, police begin what they think will be a routine investigation. What they find throws doubt on the identity of the dead man and raises questions about the doctor’s role in his death. Soon they uncover a bizarre story of corpse stealing, faked identities, and sexual perversion. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 7.

Investigators use established techniques to make molds of shoe impressions found at crime scenes for later identification. But what happens if the impression is left in the snow? Here’s the story of one investigator, whose quick thinking and knowledge of science enabled him to capture a shoe impression before the evidence melted away. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 8.

When a six-year-old girl disappeared from church during a Sunday service, investigators feared a stalker was preying on children. A psychological profile of the perpetrator leads investigators to a taxi cab driver who was in the vicinity of the church at the time of the disappearance. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 10.

When a fundamentalist group starts attacking and robbing banks in the Pacific Northwest, authorities know immediately that they are dealing with experienced criminals. A tip leads them to the alleged perpetrators and the evidence found at their homes is extensive. But in court, this wealth of evidence must withstand a well-funded defense. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 17.

Creating a “profile” of a serial killer is part science and part intuition. The science involves studying criminals who have committed similar crimes, to see what characteristics they have in common. In a search for the killer of two teenagers in Texas, a behavioral profile led to a possible suspect - and hard science proved the profile was correct. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 19.

When a patient in a hospital emergency room said he cut his hand on a dumpster, the doctor recognized the injury as something else. That doctor became the chief witness in a crime involving the murder of a 67-year-old grandmother. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 22.

Two of America’s premier pornographers happen to be brothers. When one turns up dead, his brother confesses to shooting him. The question for investigators is whether the shooting was pre-meditated. A 911 call in which the fatal shots can be heard, and a computer reconstruction of the crime scene, provide the answer. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 23.

When a nine-year-old girl vanishes from her quiet suburban neighborhood, an entire community searches for her abductor. Investigators wonder if her long-lost mother might be connected to the disappearance. Finally, police use satellites surveillance to trace the perpetrator. Originally aired as Season 6, Episode 25.