Ep 8. After the First: Burden of Proof/Last Ride

After the First: Burden of Proof/Last Ride is the eighth episode of the tenth season of The First 48, a popular crime documentary show which follows real-life homicide investigations during the crucial first two days after a murder has been committed. In this episode, which is part of a special season featuring updates on previous cases, the focus is on two separate stories that took place in Dallas, Texas and Cleveland, Ohio.

The first segment, Burden of Proof, revisits the investigation into the murder of a 35-year-old woman named Clara Contreras, who was found strangled to death in a park in February of 2009. Homicide detectives David Grubbs and Eric Barnes were called to the scene and immediately began searching for any clues that could lead them to the killer. They talked to witnesses and neighbors, combed the area for evidence, and eventually identified a suspect: 27-year-old Jose Hernandez. Hernandez, who had a previous criminal record, was arrested and charged with capital murder, but during his trial he maintained his innocence. In this episode, viewers get to see the courtroom drama unfold and hear from the detectives and prosecutors who worked on the case as they explain how they built their case against Hernandez and secured a guilty verdict.

The second segment, Last Ride, focuses on the investigation into the shooting death of 23-year-old Lamar Matthews in May of 2009. Matthews was sitting in his car outside a club in Cleveland when someone opened fire, hitting him several times. Homicide detectives Tom Armelli and Dave Emerman were called to the scene and began gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. As they pieced together the events of the night, they realized that Matthews had been targeted because he was mistaken for someone else who had gotten into a fight inside the club. The detectives eventually identified two suspects, and in this episode viewers get to see the tense moments leading up to their arrest and hear from the detectives and victim's family members as they reflect on the impact of the crime.

Throughout both segments, viewers are immersed in the intense world of homicide investigations and get to see first-hand how detectives work tirelessly to uncover the truth and bring justice to the families of murder victims. They witness the highs and lows of the investigations, from moments of breakthrough to moments of frustration and sadness, and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of the criminal justice system. With its gripping storytelling and real-life drama, After the First: Burden of Proof/Last Ride is a must-watch for fans of true crime and those interested in the inner workings of police investigations.