Ep 7. Grounds for Indictment

In season 4 episode 7 of Forensic Files, titled "Grounds for Indictment," viewers are taken through the perplexing case of a small town coffee shop owner, Michael Partain. Partain was found beaten to death in his apartment, and the cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma. The investigation led to a dead end until a small particle, found on Partain's shirt, was identified as pepper. The discovery led the investigators to Partain's employee, Brian Gene Nichols, who had a history of violent outbursts and had been fired by Partain the day before the murder.

The episode explores Nichols' background and his penchant for violent behavior. His former coworkers describe him as shady and unpredictable, and he had a record of assault charges. From there, the detective on the case sets out to gather evidence to build a case against Nichols. This includes tracing Nichols' movements on the night of the murder and finding evidence of his whereabouts.

The story is pieced together with the help of forensic analysis, including analysis of the pepper particle, as well as the victim's apartment and the murder weapon. The crime scene itself proved vital in the investigation, providing ammunition and an empty shell casing that pointed to Nichols.

As the episode progresses, viewers watch as Nichols' trial unfolds. The detectives on the case testify as expert witnesses, detailing the evidence and their findings. The trial has a twist, however, when the defense introduces a new suspect, a man who had recently been released from prison. The man was found to have a history of violent crimes, and some witnesses claim to have seen him near Partain's apartment on the day of the murder.

The evidence against the alternative suspect, however, was weak, and the jury ultimately found Nichols guilty. The episode closes with the conclusion of the trial, and Nichols' sentencing for his heinous crime.

"Grounds for Indictment" is a prime example of Forensic Files' ability to take a complex case and boil it down to its essential components, relying on scientific analysis and expert testimony to build a compelling narrative. The episode serves as a testament to the invaluable role forensic science plays in criminal investigations.