Ep 33. Death By A Salesman

The Forensic Files season 8 episode 33, titled "Death By A Salesman," delves into the murder of a successful car salesman, who was found dead in a seemingly random hotel room. The victim, Frank Black, was a widely known member of his community for his job and had no known enemies.

The prosecution believed that Black was killed by a man named Randy Brown, who was also a car salesman. According to the prosecution, Brown had recently been fired by Black's dealership and had a motive for revenge. Additionally, several witnesses claimed to have seen Brown near the hotel on the night of the murder.

However, the defense argued that there was no physical evidence linking Brown to the crime. They suggested that Black's death may have been the result of a botched robbery, as his wallet was missing from the scene.

The episode follows the forensic investigation, which identified hairs found at the crime scene as a key piece of evidence. Analysis of the hairs revealed that they matched the victim's and contained foreign DNA, indicating that another person was present at the time of the murder.

Through additional DNA analysis, the investigators were able to identify the foreign DNA as belonging to a woman named Renee Smith. Smith had no known connection to either Black or Brown but was eventually linked to the murder through her fingerprints, which were found on a plastic bag near the crime scene.

The episode explores how the forensic evidence eventually led to Smith's confession of the crime. She admitted to having met Black at a bar and luring him back to the hotel room before robbing and killing him. Smith claimed that she was high on drugs at the time and did not intend to harm him.

Overall, Forensic Files season 8 episode 33 presents a compelling case of forensic investigation that ultimately solved a seemingly unsolvable murder. The use of DNA analysis and hair evidence demonstrates the critical role that forensic science can play in solving crimes. The episode also highlights how forensic evidence can be used to overcome misconceptions and biases in a criminal investigation - in this case, the initial focus on Brown as a suspect due to his connection to the victim's workplace.