Ep 12. The Stake-Out

In the Forensic Files season 4 episode 12, titled "The Stake-Out," viewers follow the investigation into the murder of a 21-year-old woman named Debra Sue Carter. In 1982, Debra was found raped and shot in her home in Ada, Oklahoma. The case went cold until 1984 when a man named Tommy Ward and his friend, Karl Fontenot, were arrested for her murder.

The episode starts with the prosecution's case, laying out the evidence against Ward and Fontenot. They were accused of breaking into Debra's home, assaulting her, and then shooting her in the head with a .38 caliber gun. The prosecution's strongest evidence was testimony from Ward's cousin, who claimed he heard Ward and Fontenot discussing the murder.

However, the defense argues that Ward and Fontenot were coerced into giving false confessions by police officers who were desperate to solve the case. The defense team points to inconsistencies in the confessions, such as the fact that Ward's story changed several times throughout the investigation.

To get to the bottom of the case, forensic experts were brought in to examine the physical evidence. One of the most important pieces of evidence was a hair found at the crime scene. In 1984, hair analysis was a new and revolutionary tool in forensic science. The hair found at the scene of the crime was nearly identical to Ward's hair, leading the prosecution to argue that he was present at the scene of the murder.

However, the defense team argues that hair analysis is unreliable and that the hair could have come from multiple sources. They also point out that there were other suspects in the investigation who were never pursued due to the focus on Ward and Fontenot.

In the end, the case was decided by a jury, who found Ward and Fontenot guilty of murder. However, the case continued to be a controversial one, with many believing that the two men were innocent and had been wrongfully convicted. In 2016, the case was reopened and DNA evidence was tested. The tests showed that none of the DNA found at the scene matched Ward or Fontenot, leading to their eventual release from prison.

Overall, "The Stake-Out" is a fascinating episode that shows how advances in forensic science can both solve cases and lead to wrongful convictions. It also highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the dangers of relying solely on eyewitness testimony.