Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts

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Ruthless murderers like the BTK Strangler and Dr. Death were brought down by revolutionary forensic techniques that pushed the boundaries of detective work.

Jun 23, 2012 LATEST EPISODE
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Latest episodes from Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts

The Bones Under Gacy's House

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2012 3:12

Identifying all of the skeletons found under Gacy's house will take years, but by reading the clues in the bones, forensic anthropologists can tell what kind of person the Killer Clown targeted.

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Behind the Scenes: Recreating the 80s

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2012 3:14

Join executive producer Annie Paterno and director Jay Dahl on the set of Catching Killers to see how recreating an investigation is all about the details - right down to the clunky computers and office supplies.

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Investigating Insects and Alibis

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2012 3:11

With only tiny insect fragments from the radiator in Vincent Brothers' car, bug experts can prove his alibi is a lie.

science nature murder crime investigation gross bugs investigating insects forensics alibis vincent brothers

Where Do Fingerprints Come From?

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2012 2:25

From cradle to grave, no matter how much fingers grow, everyone's fingerprints are unique and unchanging.

science nature crime investigation fingerprints forensics human body

All Signs Point to Innocent

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2012 3:15

In 1983, police in Leicestershire, England struggle to make their case - until they join forces with scientists, who are just discovering the potential of DNA profiling.

science england nature dna signs crime investigation innocent forensics leicestershire

Measuring Time with Maggots

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2012 3:38

In 1935, when decomposing body parts were found under a bridge, maggots were used to determine time-of-death and bugs became evidence for the first time.

science nature murder crime investigation gross measuring bugs insects forensics maggots

An Innocent Man on Death Row

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2012 3:12

In the first case using ballistic evidence, the validity of ballistics as a forensic science was called into question when an "expert witness" lied on the stand and sent an innocent man to death row.

science nature guns crime weapons investigation death row forensics ballistics innocent man

The Sniper's Bullets

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2012 2:53

After multiple shootings, the only evidence in the DC Sniper case are bullet fragments pulled from the victims. Luckily, scientists can use those to answer vital questions about the killer's weapon.

science nature guns crime weapons investigation bullets sniper forensics ballistics dc sniper

Skeletons in the Smithsonian Collection

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2012 3:01

Forensic investigation is nothing new to Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Their collection of donated human skeletons has been used to solve crimes.

science nature crime bones collection investigation anthropology smithsonian national museum natural history forensic skeletons forensics human body

Murder or Cholera?

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2012 3:14

In 1840, a murder case hinges on whether a man died of cholera or arsenic-poisoning, and for the first time ever, scientists are called in to test his remains.

science nature murder medicine crime investigation poison forensics cholera arsenic

Behind the Scenes: How to Play Dead

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2012 1:35

Playing a corpse isn't easy, but Hannah Sarrouy, who played a dead girl in Catching Killers, is now a master of the "dead face."

science nature playing crime acting behind the scenes investigation forensics playdead

Shining Light on the Evidence

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2012 3:15

The Night Stalker investigation was blown wide open when - for the first time ever - a laser was used to illuminate latent fingerprints.

science nature crime investigation fingerprints night stalker forensics human body shining light

Traces of a Serial Killer

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2012 2:46

When BTK started killing, using DNA evidence wasn't the norm. But 20 years later, tiny traces of DNA left on his first victims could be enough to bring him to justice.

science nature dna crime investigation serial killers forensics traces

Dr. Death's Invisible Poison

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2012 3:23

With Michael Swango in custody for fraud, it's up to the scientists to figure out how he killed his patients - before his sentence is up and he gets another chance to escape.

death science doctors nature medicine crime invisible investigation poison forensics dr. death swango

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