Ep 25. Catch 22

Forensic Files is a documentary series that investigates criminal cases from a forensic science perspective. In season 12, episode 25, titled "Catch 22," viewers follow the investigation of a murder that remained unsolved for over two decades.

The episode begins by introducing viewers to the victim, Christina Sanoubane. Christina was a vivacious 18-year-old who loved to dance. She was a recent high school graduate who was working at a department store in Orlando, Florida. On the night of June 24th, 1987, Christina headed out to a party with a group of friends. She never returned home. Her family reported her missing, and a search began.

Days later, Christina's body was discovered in a wooded area near her home. She had been strangled and her body abandoned in a shallow grave. The community was shocked and frightened, and the police immediately began investigating the crime.

Despite their best efforts, the police were unable to find any leads in the case. The investigation stalled, and the families and friends of the victim were left without any answers. For over two decades, the murder remained unsolved.

That was until a new detective was assigned to the case. Detective Joel Wright began reviewing the evidence with fresh eyes and discovered a crucial piece of evidence that had been overlooked for years. It was a cigarette butt found near the scene of the crime. The DNA from the cigarette did not match Christina, her friends, or any of the known suspects at the time of the murder. Wright knew it was a long shot, but he decided to submit the DNA sample to the national DNA database.

Years went by, and the case went cold once again. Then, in 2004, Wright got a hit on the DNA sample he had submitted years before. It was a match to a man named Luis Hernandez, who had a prior arrest for burglary. Wright tracked Hernandez down and brought him in for questioning.

What followed was a twisty and confusing set of events, which earned this episode its title "Catch 22." Hernandez initially denied knowing anything about Christina's murder, but the DNA evidence was too strong. Hernandez eventually confessed to the crime, but he had a bizarre story to tell.

Hernandez claimed that he and Christina had consensual sex in the woods that night. According to him, he had an asthma attack and asked Christina to get him his inhaler from his car. When Christina returned with the inhaler, Hernandez claimed that he was in a state of delirium and believed that Christina was trying to steal his car. He said that he grabbed her and choked her, but he did not intend to kill her.

Hernandez's story did not add up. Why would Christina steal his car? Why would he leave her body in the woods and not report the incident to the police or anyone else? Wright suspected that Hernandez was lying and continued to press him for the truth.

Thanks to the forensic evidence and Wright's persistence, Hernandez eventually admitted to the murder. He said that he had lied about the circumstances of Christina's death because he was ashamed of what he had done.

The episode ends with the families and friends of Christina finally getting the closure they had been waiting for. With the help of forensic science and the dedication of Detective Wright, Luis Hernandez was brought to justice for his horrific crime.