Ep 77. Scratching the Surface

Forensic Files is a television series that explores the intricate world of forensic science. Each episode delves into the mysteries behind some of the most complex crimes and the methods forensic scientists use to solve them. In season 1, episode 77 titled "Scratching the Surface," viewers are taken on an investigation that centers around a murder case that seemed impossible to solve.

On a cold December morning in 1990, the body of a young woman was found in the car park of a popular shopping center in Augusta, Georgia. The police identified the victim as a 23-year-old beauty queen named Julie Heath. Her body was badly beaten and there were signs of sexual assault. The initial investigation pointed towards the victim's ex-boyfriend, Ron Weston, as the prime suspect. However, there was not enough evidence to charge him with the crime.

The investigation stalled for several years until new evidence came to light. A forensic scientist, Dr. Michael Sikirica, developed an innovative technique that could detect skin cells left behind by a perpetrator during a sexual assault. The technique was still in its experimental phase, but it showed promise. Dr. Sikirica worked with the police to test his technique on the evidence that had been collected from the victim's body.

The results were astounding. Skin cells that did not belong to the victim were found under her fingernails, on her clothing, and on her body. DNA testing revealed that the skin cells belonged to an unknown male. The DNA profile was entered into a national database, but there was no match. The police released a composite sketch of the suspect to the public, hoping to generate leads.

Months went by without any breakthroughs, until a young woman contacted the police with information that would change the course of the investigation. She claimed that a man she had dated briefly named Joel Kirkpatrick resembled the suspect in the composite sketch. The police followed up on the lead and obtained a DNA sample from Kirkpatrick. To their shock, the DNA matched that of the unknown male from the crime scene.

Kirkpatrick was arrested and charged with Julie Heath's murder. He claimed that he had never met the victim and that his DNA must have been transferred to the crime scene through secondary transfer. The prosecutors argued that the DNA evidence placed him at the scene of the crime and that he had motive, opportunity, and means to commit the murder.

The trial was a highly publicized affair, with the media focusing on the use of the experimental technique in the forensic investigation. The defense argued that the technique was untested and unreliable. They also claimed that the DNA evidence was contaminated and that the police had failed to follow proper forensic procedures.

However, the jury was convinced by the prosecution's case and found Kirkpatrick guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The use of the innovative forensic technique proved to be a game-changer in the case, setting a precedent for future investigations.

In "Scratching the Surface," viewers get to see the painstaking investigative work that goes into solving a complex murder case. The episode highlights the importance of forensic techniques in modern-day criminal investigations and how they are constantly evolving to keep pace with the ever-changing world of crime. It also shows the impact that new technologies have in overturning old assumptions and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in forensic science.