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S7 E16 Within a Hair

Documentary

22m

Aug 30, 2002

In 1996, Indiana police identified Richard Alexander as the “River Park Rapist” who assaulted four women that year. Later, DNA analysis casts doubt on his conviction.

Full Episodes

Season 7, 37 Episodes

Explore how a hit single from 1966 foreshadowed the demise of the group's lead singer, Walter Scott.

23m Oct 11, 2002

Forever Hold Your Peace,

When Chris Ochoa confessed to the 1988 rape and murder of Nancy DePriest, the case was closed. 8 years later, Achim Marino confessed to the same crime. Can DNA evidence identify the real perpetrator?

22m Jan 7, 2002

When two boys are brutally attacked, investigators rely on evidence fished out of a nearby pond. It became the first case where diatom analysis was used to place a suspect at the scene of the crime.

22m Jan 14, 2002

Who's Your Daddy,

In 1988, the body of a young woman was discovered in an Ohio river. Most of the evidence had been washed away, but the victim's 6-year-old son unwittingly told investigators all they needed to know — without saying a word. The clue was in his genes.

22m Nov 1, 2002

In 1991, a high school girl vanished after attending a party. The prime suspect had two alibi witnesses for the night she disappeared. A solid alibi can often overcome circumstantial evidence, but forensic evidence is another matter.

23m Jan 28, 2002

Purr-fect Match,

When police discovered the body of Douglas Beamish's estranged wife, authorities linked 20 cat hairs found on her jacket to a cat owned by Beamish's parents. It was the first time animal DNA was used to solve a criminal case.

22m Feb 11, 2002

When more than 700 Oregonians contracted food poisoning from a unique strain of salmonella in 1984, investigators uncovered a secret plot to influence local elections.

22m Nov 29, 2002

A Shot in the Dark,

Two sets of scientists probe a woman's death.

22m Dec 6, 2002

Without a Prayer,

In 1995, the founder of American Atheists disappeared with one of her sons, her granddaughter and $500,000 in gold coins. The police investigated several suspects, including David R. Waters, who worked for American Atheists.

22m Dec 13, 2002

A Clutch of Witnesses,

Two eyewitnesses may hold the key to the death of a motorcycle gang member.

23m Dec 20, 2002

In 1984, a passerby finds the torso of a woman in a cardboard box. A forensic entomologist analyzes nearby insect activity to determine when the victim was killed.

22m Mar 18, 2003

A Touching Recollection,

The investigation into the kidnapping and rape of an 18-year-old Ohio woman is aided when the victim returns hours after the incident occurred. With her help, the police are able to track the assailant to his front door.

22m Mar 25, 2003

A Leg to Stand On,

The police investigate when a severed leg is discovered among garbage. Conventional means of identifying the victim are impossible, leading investigators to rely on DNA, forensic anthropology and toxicology.

22m Jan 10, 2003

Partners in Crime,

In a 1992 murder case, the autopsy of a cremated body turns up telltale clues of foul play.

22m Jan 17, 2003

In 1996, Indiana police identified Richard Alexander as the “River Park Rapist” who assaulted four women that year. Later, DNA analysis casts doubt on his conviction.

22m Aug 30, 2002

Chief Evidence,

After the 1996 murder of Seattle residents Raquel Rivera and Jay Johnson, evidence from the couple's dog eventually ties one of the murderers to the scene.

22m Jul 23, 2002

A Bitter Pill to Swallow,

Soon after becoming pregnant by Dr. Maynard Muntzing, firefighter Michelle Baker's health quickly deteriorates. Eventually, she raises suspicions that Muntzing is doing her harm.

22m Sep 11, 2002

In the 1980s, a trio of unsolved murders occurred in Wichita Falls, Texas. Later, a fourth murder from the same time period provided the police with far more than they realized.

22m Feb 14, 2003

Telltale Tracks,

The disappearance of Philadelphia college athlete Aimee Willard is investigated after her car is found on the roadside. When her body is found, the police find unusual marks and DNA evidence that eventually lead to her killer.

22m Aug 26, 2002

Ghost in the Machine,

While investigating the apparent overdose suicide of Reverend Bill Guthrie's wife, detectives recover incriminating files from Bill's computer and learn of his infidelity.

22m Feb 28, 2003

Frozen in Time,

A suspicious neighbor gives police a break in a cold case.

23m Mar 7, 2003

The 1987 disappearance of Houston resident Tracy Jo Shine is recalled. The investigation went cold until 2000 when a "cold case squad" learned that the woman's ex-boyfriend Michael Neal had bragged about killing her.

22m Mar 14, 2003

The Metal Business,

Doctors cannot pinpoint the source of a businessman's illness.

22m Sep 25, 2002

Dressed to Kill,

After 6-year-old Michelle Lee Dorr went missing, her father confessed to murdering her. But investigators soon poked holes in his story, leaving the case unsolved for 14 years.

22m Mar 28, 2003

Palm Print Conviction,

The 1996 investigation into 48-year-old Martha Hansen's murder is helped by a legal requirement that bars have video cameras installed on the premises.

22m Jun 24, 2002

A Vow of Silence,

The mail-order bride of an army sergeant disappears and the deaths of the man's previous wives come to light.

23m Oct 9, 2002

Elephant Tracks,

The murders of an elderly couple leave police stumped until, two years later, they receive a major break. A jeweler looking through old newspaper clippings recognizes a necklace the female victim wore as having been pawned in her own shop.

22m Oct 16, 2002

A Bag of Evidence,

While investigating the murder of 9-year-old Jessica Knott, police use a garbage bag to connect suspect James Edward Crow, Jr. to the crime.

22m Apr 25, 2003

Tooth or Consequences,

An investigation into the murder of Katie Poirier is stymied by the lack of a body. Finally, investigators use a single tooth found among some charred remains to identify her.

22m May 2, 2003

Sniffing Revenge,

The sensitive nose of a forensic examiner sniffs out murder.

23m May 9, 2003

Scratching The Surface,

The only clue recovered from a shooting is a twelve-guage shotgun. Scientists use unique methods to lift the serial number from the weapon to trace it to its owner

22m May 2, 2003

A serial arsonist starts several fires that cause millions of dollars worth of damage and the deaths of three people. He is discovered, partly through the use of forensic hypnosis.

22m May 2, 2003

Breaking the Mold,

A three-year-old develops a respiratory condition. His father has Alzheimers. An investigator reveals that their ill health is due to mold in their modern home.

22m May 2, 2003

A murder investigation in Florida crosses jurisdictions from New York and Jamaica. The police rely on cell phone mapping, wiretapping and a host of forensic evidence to link a suspect to a murder.

22m May 2, 2003

The Sniper's Trail,

An examination of the 2002 DC area shooting spree that resulted in ten murders.

22m Jul 11, 2003

A woman convicted of killing her mother in a car fire is granted a new trial. An expert witness has a different opinion as to how the fire started and, if proven, would clear the woman of any culpability.

22m May 2, 2003

Authorities track a kidnapper who let his victim write a last will and informed the family of her murder. A phone number written on a previous page left a lasting impression, which helped to convict.

22m May 2, 2003