Ep 4. Tripped Out

In the intense true crime series "The First 48," detectives race against time to solve murders in the critical first two days following a homicide. Season 23, episode 4, titled "Tripped Out," follows the investigation into the murder of a young man in Memphis, Tennessee.

The episode opens with detectives arriving at the crime scene, where they discover the victim, 23-year-old Reese Forrest, lying dead in a pool of blood on the front porch of his home. As they begin to gather evidence and interview witnesses, they learn that Reese was a beloved member of his community, known for his positivity and his involvement in local youth programs.

Detectives quickly identify a person of interest in the case: a local drug dealer named Dejuan Flowers. When they track him down and bring him in for questioning, he denies any involvement in Reese's murder. However, as detectives continue to poke holes in his story and gather more evidence, they eventually get Flowers to confess to the crime.

But as the case moves forward, the focus shifts to another potential suspect: a close friend of Reese's named Marlon. According to witness statements and cellphone records, Marlon was with Reese in the hours leading up to his death and was the last person to see him alive. Detectives bring Marlon in for questioning, but he is uncooperative and refuses to answer their questions.

As the investigation unfolds, detectives face a number of challenges and setbacks. They struggle to get witnesses to come forward, and they're stymied by the fact that both Marlon and Flowers have extensive criminal histories that make it difficult to untangle the truth.

Despite the obstacles, detectives are ultimately able to piece together a timeline of events that implicates Marlon in Reese's murder. They discover that Marlon was jealous of Reese's success and popularity, and that he lashed out in a fit of rage and shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene.

In the end, both Marlon and Dejuan Flowers are arrested and charged with murder. Throughout the episode, viewers get an up-close look at the challenges faced by homicide detectives as they work tirelessly to bring killers to justice in the critical first 48 hours after a crime.

Overall, "Tripped Out" is a gripping and suspenseful episode of "The First 48" that demonstrates the difficult and oftentimes frustrating nature of homicide investigations. It's a must-watch for true crime fans and anyone interested in the inner workings of law enforcement and criminal justice.