PODCAST · tv
Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts
by Smithsonian Channel
Ruthless murderers like the BTK Strangler and Dr. Death were brought down by revolutionary forensic techniques that pushed the boundaries of detective work.
Episodes
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The Bones Under Gacy's House
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
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
With only tiny insect fragments from the radiator in Vincent Brothers' car, bug experts can prove his alibi is a lie.
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Where Do Fingerprints Come From?
From cradle to grave, no matter how much fingers grow, everyone's fingerprints are unique and unchanging.
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All Signs Point to Innocent
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.
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Measuring Time with Maggots
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.
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An Innocent Man on Death Row
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.
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The Sniper's Bullets
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.
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Skeletons in the Smithsonian Collection
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.
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Murder or Cholera?
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.
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Behind the Scenes: How to Play Dead
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."
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Shining Light on the Evidence
The Night Stalker investigation was blown wide open when - for the first time ever - a laser was used to illuminate latent fingerprints.
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Traces of a Serial Killer
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.
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Dr. Death's Invisible Poison
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts have?
Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts currently has 14 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts about?
Ruthless murderers like the BTK Strangler and Dr. Death were brought down by revolutionary forensic techniques that pushed the boundaries of detective work.
How often does Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts release new episodes?
Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts has 14 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts?
You can listen to Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts?
Smithsonian Channel Presents Forensic Firsts is created and hosted by Smithsonian Channel.
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