Ep 22. Kidnapping

Forensic Files season 13 episode 22, titled "Kidnapping," focuses on a case where an 18-year-old college student named Brooke Wilberger goes missing while on summer break in Oregon. Her disappearance is reported by her colleagues at the apartment complex she was working at, as she failed to show up for her shift.

The investigation into her disappearance immediately gets underway, with law enforcement officials racing against the clock to find her before it's too late. Several days pass without any solid leads, until a janitor working at the same apartment complex reports overhearing an altercation between Brooke and an unidentified man several days before her disappearance.

This information ends up providing a crucial clue in the case, as it leads investigators to a surveillance camera located on the complex's premises that captures footage of the suspect's vehicle leaving the area around the time of Brooke's disappearance.

From there, investigators use forensic science to analyze the vehicle and the apartment complex where Brooke was last seen. They discover several pieces of physical evidence—such as bloodstains on the exterior of the suspect's car—that lead them closer to identifying the perpetrator.

After a few suspects are ruled out, including a former tenant of the apartment complex, the investigators eventually home in on a man named Joel Courtney. Courtney was already on parole for a previous criminal offense, and after authorities search his home and find additional evidence tying him to Brooke's disappearance, he is arrested and charged with kidnapping, rape, and murder.

Throughout the episode, viewers are taken through the forensic science techniques used in the investigation, including DNA analysis, fingerprint analysis, and fiber analysis. Additionally, interviews with law enforcement officials involved in the case provide insight into the thought process and tactics used to catch Courtney.

Overall, "Kidnapping" is a gripping episode that highlights the importance of forensic science in solving cases of violent crime. By using forensic techniques to analyze physical evidence, law enforcement officials were able to bring Brooke's kidnapper to justice and provide some much-needed closure for her family and friends.