Forensic Files - Season 8, Episode 5 - Shadow of a Doubt - Full Episode

FilmRise True Crime・2 minutes read

An unknown assailant fatally shot Jennifer Myers, the owner of Gray Fox Gallery, in broad daylight, leaving police suspicious of suspect Kevin Dowling despite his alibi and evidence. Dr. Robert Boyle's analysis of the video using astronomical data raises doubts about the authenticity of Dowling's alibi, pointing towards potential inconsistencies in the evidence provided.

Insights

  • Despite an airtight alibi, suspicions lingered around Kevin Dowling due to inconsistencies in the video of him fishing during the time of the murder, leading to doubts about the authenticity of his alibi.
  • Dr. Robert Boyle's analysis using astronomical data revealed discrepancies in the time stamps on the video, highlighting the potential manipulation of evidence and raising questions about the accuracy of the alibi provided by Kevin Dowling.

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Recent questions

  • Who was the victim of the shooting?

    Jennifer Myers

  • What was the murder weapon identified as?

    .357 or .38-caliber revolver

  • Who was suspected due to a previous robbery accusation?

    Kevin Dowling

  • What did Corp. Mowrey note about the video tape?

    Manipulation of time-and-date stamps

  • Who was consulted regarding using shadows to determine time of day?

    NASA scientists

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Unsolved Murder of Jennifer Myers in Pennsylvania

  • An unknown assailant entered a retail store and fatally shot the owner, Jennifer Myers, behind the counter.
  • Jennifer Myers, a well-known picture framer, was killed in broad daylight at the Gray Fox Gallery in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania.
  • Jennifer's husband, Steve, found her shot to death on October 20, 1997, with no money missing from the store.
  • Witnesses heard popping noises around 1:00 p.m., suspecting gunfire, and saw a man with long, black hair fleeing the scene.
  • Ballistic examination identified the murder weapon as a .357 or .38-caliber revolver, which Steve Myers owned but was not a match for the bullets recovered from the victim.
  • Kevin Dowling, a suspect due to a previous robbery accusation by Jennifer, had an alibi of fishing on the day of the murder, supported by a time-stamped video and receipts.
  • Despite Dowling's airtight alibi, police were suspicious due to inconsistencies in the video, like the lack of fish shown and Dowling's repeated glances at his watch.
  • Investigators tried to enhance the watch on the video to determine the exact time of filming, but poor quality hindered their efforts.
  • The tape showed Dowling fishing from 10:46 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., covering the time of Jennifer's murder at 1:00 p.m., raising doubts about its authenticity.
  • Police remained skeptical of Dowling's innocence, considering the discrepancies in the video and his behavior, despite his alibi and evidence provided.

11:18

Investigation reveals discrepancies in video timestamps

  • Corp. Mowrey notes the manipulation of time-and-date stamps on the tape.
  • NASA scientists are consulted regarding using shadows to determine time of day.
  • Dr. Robert Boyle, an astrophysicist, is identified to assist in the investigation.
  • Dr. Boyle analyzes the tape but faces challenges due to the moving boat.
  • The position of the sun changes with Earth's rotation, affecting shadows.
  • Dr. Boyle requires scientific data, including boat and person measurements.
  • The boat's magnetic north compass heading is crucial for the study.
  • Dr. Boyle uses a model, light bulb, and protractor to calculate the sun's position.
  • Dr. Boyle discovers inconsistencies in the time stamps on the video using astronomical data.
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