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Deadly Smile & Patterns of Guilt | DOUBLE EPISODE | The New Detectives

The New Detectives・60 minutes read

Prominent D.C attorneys brutally murdered, killer linked through ATM transactions and surveillance footage, convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Victim's estranged husband initially suspected, but forensic odontologists play crucial role in identifying killer through bite mark analysis, leading to convictions based on forensic evidence.

Insights

Scotland Williams was identified as the killer of two prominent attorneys through ATM transactions and surveillance footage, denying involvement initially but later being convicted based on shoe prints and fibers from the crime scene.
Forensic odontology played a pivotal role in multiple cases, including linking Terry Driver to Tracy Sawyer's murder, Stephen Fortin to Melissa Padilla's murder, and John Del Carr to Shirley Sturgill's murder, showcasing the importance of dental evidence in solving crimes.

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How were the victims in the Maryland suburb murder case identified?
Through ATM transactions and surveillance footage.

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Summary

00:00

Shocking Double Murder and Brutal Slaying

A quiet Maryland suburb is shocked by a brutal double murder of prominent D.C attorneys Gene Gamble and Joseph Thomas on May 16, 1994.
The victims were found murdered in their bed with single gunshot wounds to the back of the head, indicating a contact execution.
Investigators found potential clues like missing cash and credit cards, a sneaker print, and tiny brown fibers from the adhesive tape on the note left by the killer.
The killer was identified as Scotland Williams through ATM transactions and surveillance footage, linking him to the victims' stolen vehicle and bank cards.
Williams denied involvement in the murders but was arrested after evidence linked his shoes to the crime scene shoe print and fibers from the adhesive tape.
Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole plus 70 years for the brutal killings.
In a separate case, the body of 20-year-old Carrie Love was found partially buried at an Oregon highway rest area after blood-stained items led investigators to her location.
Love, an employee of a Seattle trucking company, had been traveling with her boss, Jesse Pratt, who was suspected of her murder due to the evidence found.
Love had been asphyxiated, stabbed 12 times with an ice pick or knitting needle, and run over by a large vehicle, indicating a brutal death.
Detective Kenneth Cooper was determined to seek justice for Love, ensuring meticulous evidence collection and documentation to secure a conviction for her killer.

22:28

"Murder Conviction Based on Tire Marks"

Victim was raped, but no biological evidence found, only tread impressions and red cotton fibers in her hands.
Boyfriend suspected victim's boss, Jesse Pratt, due to his fixation on her and strange behavior.
Pratt claimed he and victim left Seattle together, but she decided to fly to Los Angeles instead.
Pratt was located in Arizona, arrested for not having a valid Trucker's license, and his truck was impounded.
Scratches on Pratt's ribs observed during police examination, suspicious items found in his truck.
Gas receipt found from a truck stop near Seattle Airport, where Pratt claimed to have dropped victim.
Pratt's red t-shirt fibers matched those found on the victim, leading to his conviction of first-degree murder.
Pratt's conviction overturned on appeal, new trial ordered, Oregon State Police aimed to prove tire marks on victim's arm matched Pratt's truck.
Tire tread expert confirmed tire marks on victim's arm matched Pratt's truck, leading to his conviction of aggravated murder.
Staged crime scene in another case led to suspicions on victim's estranged husband, but evidence pointed to another suspect, Quan Tran, who was eventually cleared due to lack of conclusive evidence.

44:28

"Forensic Evidence Leads to Murder Conviction"

Police visited the facility where Brown worked as an alarm technician for the Saint Paul school system.
Investigators asked Brown's supervisor to inspect his workstation and collected pens and a yellow writing pack resembling the note attached to a brick thrown through a victim's window.
A detective found a broken piece of a brick used as a paperweight and took it, discovering it matched the brick thrown through the victim's window.
Brown tried to frame another person but lacked hard evidence linking him to the murder scene.
A warrant was obtained to search Brown's house, where detectives found bloodstained clothing and leg braces.
Evidence was forwarded to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner, Dr. Michael McGee, who identified the source of bruises on the victim's leg as crucial.
Dr. McGee matched a knee support with an L-shaped hinge from Brown's bedroom to the injury on the victim's leg, leading to Brown's arrest.
Brown was charged with his wife's murder after forensic analysis linked the leg brace to the injury.
Brown was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison based on the forensic evidence.
Forensic odontologists played a crucial role in linking Stephen Fortin to Melissa Padilla's murder through bite mark analysis, leading to his arrest and conviction.

01:06:31

Multiple Murders Solved Through DNA and Bite Marks

Stephen Fortin murdered Melissa Padilla in February 2001 after brutally beating, biting, sexually assaulting, and strangling her.
Fortin was sentenced to death in New Jersey for Melissa Padilla's murder and sexual assault, as well as for assaulting a State Trooper.
In Canada, Melissa Connor survived a brutal beating in Abbotsford, British Columbia, in October 1995.
Melissa and her friend Tracy Sawyer were attacked by a man with a baseball bat, leading to Tracy's disappearance.
Tracy's body was found by the Vedder River, showing signs of rape and blunt force trauma, with drowning as the cause of death.
Bite marks on Tracy's body were examined by Dr. David Sweet using a double swabbing technique to extract DNA evidence.
Terry Driver was identified as the killer through DNA analysis and bite mark comparisons, leading to his arrest for Tracy Sawyer's murder.
Driver's unique dental features matched the bite marks on Tracy's body, confirming his guilt.
Terry Driver was convicted of Tracy Sawyer's murder and sentenced to life in prison in October 1997.
In Indiana, Shirley Sturgill was found strangled and sexually assaulted in a fire, with bite marks on her body as crucial evidence in the investigation.

01:28:28

DNA Match Solves Murder Mystery Case

Jerry Donaldson was brought in for questioning regarding the murder of Shirley Sturgill after his DNA matched DNA found on a cigarette butt at the crime scene.
Despite suspicions, Donaldson was released due to discrepancies in forensic odontology evidence, preventing him from standing trial for the murder.
The investigation into Shirley Sturgill's murder hit a standstill, with no clear suspects, until Captain Bill Dwenger noticed comments about Shirley's strained relationship with her son-in-law, John Del Carr.
John Del Carr, initially a suspect due to his strained relationship with Shirley, was later arrested for a similar murder in a neighboring county, where his DNA matched evidence found at Shirley's apartment.
Angie Carr's testimony, revealing John Del Carr's threats and confession to murdering Shirley, led to his conviction for first-degree murder, with forensic odontology confirming his teeth matched the bite marks on Shirley's body.

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