Ep 13. Grave Justice

The episode "Grave Justice," which is the 13th episode of the second season of Forensic Files II, explores a case in which a woman named Elizabeth Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her home in Germany in 1985. Ratliff, a military spouse, had been living in Germany with her family, including her two young daughters. Her death was initially ruled an accident, but nearly 20 years later, her body was exhumed and new forensic evidence suggested otherwise.

As investigators began to re-examine the case, they discovered that Ratliff's death bore certain similarities to another mysterious death that occurred in the United States several years later. In this case, a woman named Kathleen Peterson was also found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her home in North Carolina, and her husband Michael Peterson came under suspicion when it was revealed that he had been the last person to see her alive. Like Elizabeth Ratliff's death, Kathleen Peterson's death was initially ruled an accident, but new evidence suggested otherwise.

The episode explores both of these cases and the ways in which forensic experts were able to use new technology to uncover evidence that had been missed or overlooked during the initial investigations. This includes the use of blood spatter analysis, which allowed investigators to reconstruct how each of the women had died and make determinations about whether their deaths were accidental or the result of foul play. Forensic experts also used computer modeling to recreate the crime scenes and explore different scenarios.

As the episode goes on, viewers learn more about both women and the families they left behind. Elizabeth Ratliff was a respected writer and editor who had been living in Germany with her two young daughters when she died. After her death, her daughters were taken in by their godfather, Michael Peterson, who later became a suspect in the death of his own wife, Kathleen.

Kathleen Peterson, who was 48 years old when she died, was a successful businesswoman and mother of two. Her marriage to Michael had been happy for many years, but after her death, rumors began to circulate about potential infidelity and financial trouble in the relationship.

Throughout the episode, viewers are presented with evidence and analysis from forensic experts, as well as interviews with family members and friends of the two women. The story is presented chronologically, with each new piece of evidence building on what was revealed before to create a more complete picture of what happened.

Ultimately, the episode leaves viewers with a sense of closure and justice served, as both cases are resolved and the families of the victims are able to find some measure of peace. However, it also raises important questions about the ways in which forensic science continues to evolve and the role that technology plays in uncovering the truth about crimes that were committed years, or even decades, ago.