Ep 15. News at 11

Forensic Files season 4 episode 15, titled "News at 11," delves into the murder of a young news anchor, Tammy Faye Zywicki. Tammy was a 21-year-old student at Grinnell College who had landed an internship at Springfield, Missouri's KY3-TV news station. She was on her way back to school after spending the summer with her family in Illinois when she disappeared on August 23, 1992.

Tammy's vehicle was found abandoned on the side of Interstate 44 in Missouri, but there was no sign of her. The next day, a truck driver found her belongings scattered on the side of the road near the vehicle. Investigators were baffled by the disappearance and were unsure if she had been kidnapped or had simply run away.

Two weeks after Tammy's disappearance, police found her body in a ditch off the same highway, about 500 miles away in Lawrence County, Missouri. The investigation into her death began with few leads, but eventually brought to light a startling discovery. Tammy's murder wasn't an isolated incident – other murders along the same stretch of road had been occurring for years.

The episode reveals the forensic investigation that ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of a truck driver named Lonnie Bierbrodt, who was a serial killer. The police worked tirelessly to build a case against him, gathering evidence from his truck, clothes, and the murder scene, as well as conducting a thorough investigation of his background.

The forensic evidence proved crucial in identifying Bierbrodt as the killer. In particular, the thread from the duct tape used to bind Tammy's wrists was shown to have come from a specific brand of duct tape – one that just happened to be in Bierbrodt's truck. In addition, fibers from Tammy's clothing were found in Bierbrodt's truck, and his fingerprints were found on her car.

The episode goes on to explain how the investigation into Tammy's murder led officials to look into other murders that occurred along highways that Bierbrodt frequented. They discovered that he was responsible for the murders of eight other women over a period of several years. He was ultimately convicted for Tammy's murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"News at 11" serves as an important reminder of the role forensic science can play in solving even the most complex of crimes. The episode showcases the perseverance and dedication of law enforcement officials, as well as the crucial role of forensic evidence in bringing criminals to justice. It's a chilling reminder that serial killers can live among us undetected for years before being brought to justice.