Ep 20. All The World's A Stage

In the Forensic Files season 8 episode 20 titled "All The World's A Stage," viewers are taken through a complex and intriguing case of arson and murder. The episode follows the story of Walter Smith, a successful businessman who owns several adult bookstores and movie theaters in Long Beach, California.

Tragically, Smith's body was discovered in his office after a suspicious fire broke out at one of his movie theaters in 1983. Investigators immediately suspected foul play because of the way Smith's body was positioned and the fact that the only things that burned in the fire were the papers on his desk. It was clear that someone had set the fire to cover up a murder.

Detectives launched an investigation into Smith's murder, but many potential suspects emerged. Smith's business dealings were not always ethical, and there were several people who had motives to want him dead. One of the first people investigators looked into was Smith's business partner, Jack Smith. The two were constantly bickering and fighting over finances, and Jack had even threatened to kill Walter before. However, he had a solid alibi for the night of the crime.

The investigation continued, leading detectives to a shifty group of characters with connections to drugs and organized crime. One of these men had a record of arson and was seen near the scene of the fire on the night in question. Another had a history of violent behavior and was also suspected of having a motive to kill Walter Smith.

As detectives dug deeper into their investigation, they looked into the possibility that Smith may have been involved in insurance fraud. The theory was that he had set the fire himself and then made it look like a murder to cover his tracks. However, the autopsy report confirmed that Walter Smith had died before the fire started, so this theory was quickly dismissed.

It wasn't until a key piece of evidence was discovered that the investigation took a major turn. A witness came forward claiming to have seen a suspicious man leaving the scene of the crime on the night of the murder. This witness was able to provide a sketch of the man, and it was identical to a sketch of a man that had been seen in the area around the same time as a recent burglary.

Detectives were able to track down this man, and he was brought in for questioning. He quickly confessed to the murder and arson, giving detectives all the information they needed to piece together the crime scene. It was revealed that he had been hired by someone else to kill Walter Smith, but he refused to give up the identity of his employer. The case remains unsolved to this day.

Overall, the Forensic Files season 8 episode 20 "All The World's A Stage" provides a captivating look into the world of arson and murder investigations. The viewer is taken through a complex web of suspects and motives, leading up to a shocking confession. The episode demonstrates the importance of following leads and leaving no stone unturned to solve these types of heinous crimes.