Ep 8. Stick 'em Up

In the Season 9 episode 8 of Forensic Files, titled "Stick 'em Up", viewers follow the investigation into the murder of a 25-year-old convenience store clerk named Herman Edwards. On the night of February 21, 1997, Herman was working the late shift at a convenience store in Birmingham, Alabama, when he was shot in cold blood during a robbery.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Herman lying on the floor behind the counter, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest. The only witness to the crime was another convenience store employee who was working with Herman that night; she told police that two men had come into the store just before closing time, wearing ski masks and carrying handguns. They demanded money from Herman, who complied with their demands. But as they were leaving, one of the men turned around and shot Herman.

Despite the eyewitness testimony, the police had a difficult time finding any leads in the case. They collected evidence from the crime scene, including the ski masks and guns used by the robbers. After months of investigating, the case went cold.

Years later, a new detective took on the case and reopened it. With the help of advanced forensic technology, including DNA analysis, the detective was able to identify a suspect in the case: a man named Cortez Deon Barber. Barber was a convicted felon who had been in and out of prison for various crimes, including armed robbery.

Through extensive interviews with Barber and his associates, the detective was able to piece together the events of the night of the murder. Barber and his friend had planned the robbery for weeks, and had even practiced their heist on other convenience stores beforehand. On the night of Herman Edwards's murder, Barber and his friend had gone into the store with the intention of robbing it. When Herman complied with their demands, Barber's friend panicked and shot him.

Using DNA evidence, the detective was able to link Barber to the crime scene. He was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Overall, "Stick 'em Up" is an intense episode of Forensic Files that highlights the power of modern forensic technology in solving cold cases. Viewers are taken on a journey through the investigation as police piece together the events leading up to the murder and finally bring the killer to justice. The episode also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of armed robbery and the devastating impact that violent crime can have on a community.