Ep 2. Sole Mate
- TV14
- February 27, 2022
- 21 min
-
(18)
Forensic Files II is back with another intriguing episode named Sole Mate. In this episode, we follow the fascinating case of a young woman who had just started a life with her fiancé when she went missing under suspicious circumstances.
Faith Hedgepeth was a student at the University of North Carolina. She had a bright future ahead of her, and everyone who knew her described her as hardworking and full of life. However, on the morning of September 7, 2012, Faith's roommate found her brutally beaten to death in their apartment.
The police investigation revealed that Faith had been beaten with a blunt object and sexually assaulted before she died. The murder weapon -- a Bacardi bottle and a small DNA fragment found under Faith's fingernails – were key pieces of evidence needed to find her killer.
The police quickly identified a suspect, Faith's ex-boyfriend. He had allegedly sent her a series of angry text messages the night before her death. However, a DNA test proved that the suspect's DNA did not match the trace of DNA found under Faith's fingernails.
As the investigation continued, the police discovered crucial evidence in the form of a pair of shoes. The shoes, which were found at the crime scene, belonged to a friend of Faith's. The friend, who had been out partying with Faith the night before, was one of the last people to see her alive.
The shoes became the centerpiece of the forensic investigation. The forensic team analyzed every aspect of the shoes, from the rubber sole to the stitching, to try and find any clues that could lead them to the killer. They discovered a tiny drop of blood on the heel of one of the shoes that matched Faith's DNA.
Using this evidence, the detectives were able to build a timeline of events that led to Faith's death. They were able to piece together that the killer had grabbed a bottle of Bacardi from the apartment, which eventually became the murder weapon, and that the killer had been wearing the same size 9 ½ sneakers as Faith's friend.
With the DNA found on the shoes, detectives were also able to identify the killer - a man who completely denied any involvement in Faith's death. This led to a criminal investigation that eventually resulted in an arrest and a trial.
The Sole Mate episode of Forensic Files II is a captivating look at the many forensic techniques used to solve a complex murder investigation. From analyzing DNA to studying the patterns of shoe soles, it sheds light on the innovative ways forensic science is used to bring killers to justice.
Overall, Sole Mate is a must-watch episode for anyone interested in crime investigations, forensic science, and the modern criminal justice system. It’s a haunting reminder that even the tiniest details can help solve a crime and bring justice to the victim.