Ep 2. Unraveled

Forensic Files II season 4 episode 2, titled "Unraveled," follows the investigation of a brutal murder in a small town in Connecticut. The victim, a young woman named Janet Downing, was found dead in her home, brutally beaten and sexually assaulted. The police were baffled by the crime, with no clear suspects or leads to follow.

The episode starts with the discovery of Janet Downing's body and the initial investigation by the local police force. The scene is chaotic, with neighbors and friends gathering outside as the police examine the crime scene. The detectives on the case are overwhelmed by the brutality of the murder, and the lack of any obvious clues or motives. The only thing they know for sure is that Janet lived alone and appeared to have struggled with her attacker.

The investigation stalls for several months until a new lead emerges. A neighbor of Janet's, a man named Michael Skakel, becomes a suspect when police discover that he had been in the area on the night of the murder. Skakel is the nephew of Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Senator Robert Kennedy, and the case quickly becomes a media sensation. Skakel denies any involvement in the murder and maintains his innocence throughout the investigation and trial.

The episode then delves into the forensic evidence used to convict Skakel of the murder. The prosecution had no eyewitnesses or DNA evidence, but they were able to use circumstantial evidence to build a case against him. The most compelling evidence came from a diary that Skakel kept as a teenager, in which he confessed to killing Janet Downing. The prosecution used handwriting analysis and other forensic techniques to authenticate the diary and to show that Skakel's writing matched the entries in the diary.

The defense team, however, argues that the diary was a fabrication and that Skakel was coerced into writing the false confession. They also challenge the validity of the forensic evidence used against him, arguing that the prosecution's experts were biased and not qualified to testify about handwriting analysis.

The episode concludes with Skakel's conviction and the aftermath of the trial. Skakel was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison, but he continued to maintain his innocence. Later developments and appeals in the case will shape the way our justice system investigates and views circumstantial evidence.

Overall, Forensic Files II season 4 episode 2 "Unraveled," is a gripping and complex true-crime story that delves into the forensic science and circumstantial evidence used to solve a brutal murder. The episode will appeal to fans of true-crime shows, forensic science enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intricacies of the justice system.