Ep 8. When the Dust Settled

When the Dust Settled, the eighth episode of the thirteenth season of Forensic Files, is a gripping tale of murder and arson. The episode explores the case of fire investigator Captain John Orr, who was convicted of setting over a hundred fires in California during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The show begins by introducing Captain Orr, an experienced fire investigator who had been praised for his work in solving previous arson cases. However, in 1991, a fire broke out at the South Pasadena Public Library, which killed two people and caused extensive damage. Orr was called in to investigate.

Despite the initial assessment of the fire pointing to arson, Orr's investigation concluded that the fire was accidental. The evidence, however, soon began to point in a different direction. When Orr was removed from the investigation, a new team of arson investigators reviewed the evidence and determined that the fire was set intentionally.

The subsequent investigation led detectives to investigate Orr's history and find that he had mysteriously been present at a number of fires that broke out during that time. The detectives began to suspect that Orr might be the arsonist but lacked concrete evidence to prove it.

However, after two more fires were set, investigators found a number of matchbooks and a cigarette butt at the scene. When they compared the DNA on the cigarette to Orr's, a match was found – 99.9 percent of the DNA at the scene was a match. The detectives finally had the concrete proof they needed to arrest Orr and charge him with arson.

The show then delves into the subsequent trial and how the evidence was presented in court. Orr's defense argued that the DNA evidence was unreliable, but the overwhelming amount of circumstantial evidence against Orr, combined with the DNA evidence, was enough for the jury to find him guilty.

The episode ends with Orr being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It is a haunting story of a man who was tasked with investigating fires but instead used his knowledge to start them, causing extensive damage and lost lives. When the Dust Settled is a powerful episode that showcases the skill of forensic investigators and the justice system.