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Best Of Season 4 | TRIPLE EPISODE | The New Detectives

The New Detectives・94 minutes read

Forensic science is crucial in solving complex murder cases by identifying minute details that lead to convictions, as seen in various cases such as Catherine Powell's murder in Reno, Nevada, and Blanche Moore's poisoning cases, highlighting the importance of preserving and analyzing evidence for justice. Tire tracks, trace evidence, ballistics testing, and meticulous forensic analysis play key roles in uncovering the truth behind crimes, ultimately leading to the conviction of perpetrators through the careful examination of every detail and piece of evidence available.

Insights

  • Forensic science is instrumental in solving complex murder cases by revealing minute details that may lead to convictions.
  • Trace evidence, such as fibers and tire tracks, plays a crucial role in identifying suspects and linking them to crime scenes.
  • Meticulous forensic analysis, including tire track casting and ballistics testing, can provide concrete evidence for convicting suspects in murder cases.
  • The preservation and analysis of even the smallest forensic details, like tire marks and blood stains, are essential in building strong cases against perpetrators and securing convictions.

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Recent questions

  • How did forensic evidence help solve the murder of Catherine Powell?

    Forensic evidence played a crucial role in solving the murder of Catherine Powell. Trace evidence, including fibers and a metal shaving, found on the victim's body suggested a meticulous killer. David Middleton, a cable television installer and convicted felon, became a prime suspect due to compelling trace and fiber evidence. Middleton was eventually convicted of two counts of first-degree murder based on this evidence, leading to two death sentences. The meticulous analysis of trace evidence by investigators was instrumental in identifying and convicting the killer.

  • What was the key clue that led to the arrest of Gregory Coco in the murder case?

    The key clue that led to the arrest of Gregory Coco in the murder case was a tire track found at the scene of the crime. Ernest Hamm, a forensic criminalist, meticulously created a plaster cast of the tire track, which ultimately matched a tire on Coco's truck. This crucial piece of evidence, along with other clues, helped investigators focus on preserving and analyzing even the smallest details in forensic investigations, leading to Coco's arrest and conviction.

  • How was Blanche Moore linked to the murders she committed?

    Blanche Moore was linked to the murders she committed through forensic evidence. In the case of Reverend Dwight Moore, his symptoms suggested arsenic poisoning, leading to tests revealing a shocking level of arsenic in his system. Blanche's past revealed a suspicious pattern of poisoning, with her previous boyfriend Raymond Reed dying from similar symptoms. Hair samples showed long-term arsenic exposure, confirming her poisoning of Reverend Moore. This forensic evidence, along with other details, led to her conviction for murder.

  • What role did Lynnwood Taylor play in the murder of Billy White?

    Lynnwood Taylor played a significant role in the murder of Billy White. Taylor was hired by Sylvia White to kill her husband, Billy White. Forensic evidence linked Taylor's car to the crime scene, and spent shotgun shells were found at his house. Additionally, Sylvia White's palm print in a book on poisonous plants connected her to the murder. Taylor's confession and the forensic evidence presented in the case ultimately led to the conviction of Sylvia White for her involvement in her husband's murder.

  • How was Joyce Cohen linked to the murder she was involved in?

    Joyce Cohen was linked to the murder she was involved in through forensic evidence. Residue tests on Cohen's hands showed gunpowder contact, and a gun found in the garden was identified as the murder weapon, wiped clean with facial tissue residue suggesting Cohen's involvement. A career burglar named Frank Maglione confessed to assisting in the murder, providing details only someone involved could know. Maglione's testimony, along with forensic evidence, led to Joyce Cohen's conviction for murder and conspiracy. The forensic evidence, including facial tissue residue and lividity marks, played a crucial role in linking Cohen to the crime.

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Summary

00:00

"Murder Cases Solved Through Forensic Evidence"

  • In Reno, Nevada, two unidentified women are found dead, with tiny fibers potentially linking them to their killer.
  • Investigators have only a skeleton, a shopping bag, and a single button as clues to identify a woman and her killer.
  • A sailor is killed on a Florida beach, with only a tire track in the sand leading to justice.
  • Forensic science plays a crucial role in solving murders, revealing minute clues that can lead to convictions.
  • The body of an unidentified woman is found camouflaged in a dumpster in Reno, Nevada, in 1995.
  • The victim, identified as Catherine Powell, was a popular elementary school teacher who disappeared before her body was discovered.
  • Detective Jenkins notes the elaborate packaging of the body, indicating significant preparation and time involved.
  • Trace evidence, including fibers and a metal shaving, is found on the victim's body, suggesting a meticulous killer.
  • David Middleton, a cable television installer and convicted felon, becomes a prime suspect in Catherine Powell's murder.
  • Middleton is convicted of two counts of first-degree murder based on compelling trace and fiber evidence, leading to two death sentences.

24:11

"Forensic Investigation Solves Murders with Tire Tracks"

  • March 22, 1988, a baffling case involving human skeletal remains was discovered in a forest south of Saint Louis by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
  • The investigation began after a surveyor found the remains four months earlier, with tooth marks indicating animal chewing and a plastic shopping bag from 1979-1985 found in the shallow grave.
  • Forensic anthropologist Michael Charney identified the victim as an Asian woman in her mid to late twenties, a mother of two or more children, through specialized skills in reconstructing faces from fragmentary skeletons.
  • The victim was identified as Bunchee Naihouse, a native of Thailand, through facial reconstruction and matching photographs, leading to her husband, Richard Naihouse, as the primary suspect.
  • Richard Naihouse confessed to murdering Bunchee by suffocating her after a domestic dispute, keeping her body in a freezer for three months before burying her at a Boy Scout camp where he was involved.
  • Tire tracks found at the scene of a man's body discovered near Jacksonville, Florida, led investigators to focus on preserving and casting the tracks as a crucial clue.
  • The victim was identified as Jeffrey Michael Russell, a sailor from the Mayport Naval Air Station, who had been beaten, shot, and left at the beach.
  • Ernest Hamm, a forensic criminalist, meticulously created a plaster cast of the tire track, which ultimately matched a tire on a suspect's truck, leading to the arrest of Gregory Coco.
  • Gregory Coco, a previous suspect in a murder case, was apprehended after a lucky break during a robbery call, with a 357 revolver found in his truck matching the caliber used to kill Jeffrey Michael Russell.
  • The tire track evidence, along with other clues, helped solve the case, highlighting the importance of preserving and analyzing even the smallest details in forensic investigations.

45:12

Tire marks crucial in solving murder case.

  • The officer noticed that the tires resembled those involved in Russell's murder, potentially solving the case.
  • To convict the prime suspect, police needed to link him to the crime scene, focusing on the tires.
  • Comparison of Coco's truck tire to a photograph from the tread guide revealed a match, but certainty was lacking.
  • Further scrutiny was required to find the exact section of the tire's tread that left a mark at the crime scene.
  • Wear marks on the tire could alter, making a perfect match challenging due to miles driven since the murder.
  • Marks in Gregory Coco's tire matched those at the crime scene, but proving his presence was crucial.
  • Tests were conducted on Coco's gun to link it to the crime, starting with a visual examination and fingerprint analysis.
  • A ballistics test confirmed that the gun fired the fatal bullet, providing concrete evidence against Coco.
  • Forensic analysis pieced together the events of Russell's final night, revealing the sequence of events leading to his murder.
  • The solid case against Coco was built on forensic evidence, leading to his conviction and sentencing to death.

01:08:33

"Fatal Poisoning: Blanche Moore's Deadly Secrets"

  • Bullet casings ejected at least three and a half feet from the gun in test firing, indicating the victim's head was too close for it to have landed naturally.
  • Similar suspicions arose during the investigation of Barbara's first husband's death a decade earlier.
  • Police noted the suspicious position of the shell casing in the first husband's death but lacked documentation for a homicide case.
  • An audio cassette found by a former student of Russell Stagger in a high school gym contained his apprehensions about Barbara, providing crucial evidence.
  • Barbara Stagger faced financial problems leading to her husband's murder, supported by forensic evidence contradicting her story and the haunting tape of Russell's suspicions.
  • Reverend Dwight Moore fell gravely ill after his honeymoon, with Blanche attempting to nurse him back to health through her cooking.
  • Moore's symptoms suggested arsenic poisoning, leading to tests revealing a shocking level of arsenic in his system.
  • Blanche's past revealed a suspicious pattern of poisoning, with her previous boyfriend Raymond Reed dying from similar symptoms.
  • Blanche's poisoning of Reverend Moore was confirmed through hair samples showing long-term arsenic exposure, leading to her conviction for murder.
  • Blanche Moore was convicted of poisoning Raymond Reed and indicted for assaulting Reverend Moore, ultimately receiving a death sentence for her crimes.

01:29:35

Murder investigation reveals wife's deadly plot

  • Investigators photographed the crime scene from all angles for comparison.
  • Victim's wife, Sylvia White, believed her husband was killed on his way to meet a new client.
  • Sylvia sometimes worked as her husband's secretary and referred a man named Timmy Connors to buy an insurance policy.
  • Billy White was known to drive anywhere to meet clients, which might have led to his death.
  • Co-workers and clients of the victim had no contact with Timmy Connors, the mysterious client.
  • An anonymous informant tipped the police about a carpenter soliciting to murder Billy White.
  • Lynnwood Taylor, hired by Sylvia White, confessed to being hired to kill Billy White.
  • Sylvia White allegedly offered Taylor money to kill her husband and admitted to killing her stepson.
  • Forensic evidence linked Taylor's car to the crime scene, and spent shotgun shells were found at his house.
  • Sylvia White's palm print in a book on poisonous plants connected her to the murder, leading to her conviction.

01:50:54

"Joyce Cohen's Murder Conviction: The Investigation"

  • Detective Speer noticed Joyce Cohen's uncooperative behavior during the investigation, suspecting she knew more than she revealed.
  • Investigators were initially denied access to Cohen's house until a warrant was issued, allowing them to enter and dust for fingerprints.
  • Residue tests on Cohen's hands showed gunpowder contact, with her explanation being that she moved her husband's body after finding him dead.
  • Cohen's story changed slightly in subsequent interviews, raising suspicions among investigators.
  • A gun found in the garden was identified as the murder weapon, wiped clean and with facial tissue residue suggesting Cohen's involvement.
  • A career burglar named Frank Maglione confessed to assisting in the murder, revealing details that only someone involved could know.
  • Maglione's testimony, along with forensic evidence, led to Joyce Cohen's conviction for murder and conspiracy.
  • The time of the murder was crucial, with discrepancies in Joyce Cohen's alibi and witness reports helping establish her guilt.
  • Forensic evidence, including facial tissue residue and lividity marks, further linked Cohen to the crime.
  • Joyce Cohen received a 40-year sentence for murder and conspiracy, while Maglione and other co-conspirators also faced lengthy prison terms.

02:12:44

Blood stain detection and murder investigation details.

  • Cold running water is best for removing blood stains from clothing.
  • Luminol was used by Gilchrist to detect blood stains on jeans.
  • Luminol solution must be mixed just before use and applied immediately.
  • Blood stains on the jeans glowed in the dark under luminol.
  • Blood type A was identified on the evidence using absorption illusion technique.
  • Blood samples were tested for enzymes specific to the victim's blood.
  • Proteins were added to samples and drawn across by an electric current to match the victim's blood.
  • Marilyn Plants purchased an area rug from Walmart on the day of the murder.
  • Marilyn Plants and Clifton Bryson were sentenced to death for the murder.
  • Steve Hammack was suspected of hiring Robert Hammack to kill Gerald and Vera Woodman.

02:33:04

Bolt cutter links crime to murder plot

  • The clerk at the hardware store confirmed that the bolt cutter sold to Hammick could easily cut chain links, matching the tool used in the crime scene. Receipts showed the purchase of the cutter, which was sent to forensics for analysis.
  • Bill Lewellen, a detective, used microscopic analysis to identify unique markings on the bolt cutter, establishing it as the tool used in the crime. By comparing scrapings from the cutter to those on the chain link, the connection was indisputably proven.
  • The motive behind the murder plot emerged as financial desperation drove the Woodman brothers to orchestrate the killings. With evidence from phone records, confessions, and forensic analysis, the case was built, leading to life sentences for the culprits.
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