Forensic Files (1996–2011) is an American documentary-style series which reveal how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The original show is broadcast in syndication on multiple networks, is narrated by Peter Thomas, and is produced by Medstar Television. It has broadcast 406 episodes[1] since its debut on TLC in 1996 as Medical Detectives.
Following the move of the show from TLC to CourtTV in 2000, TLC managed to produce four hour-long specials, "Payback", "The Buddhist Monk Murders", "Eight Men Out", and "See No Evil", but under the original Medical Detectives title. The first four specials do not feature narration by Peter Thomas due to a contract negotiation that wouldn't allow him to record episodes for TLC anymore. Instead, they were narrated by Peter Dean. Following their original broadcasts, three of these episodes did not air again until 2016, when they were broadcast on the HLN Network under the Forensic Files title. The last two specials, "JFK Assassination" and "The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping" aired on CourtTV with Peter Thomas narrating under the title: Forensic Files Special.
Special
Title
Original air date
1
"Payback"
May 31, 2001 (2001-05-31) (TLC)[2] February 27, 2016 (2016-02-27) (HLN)
This episode covers the 1993 disappearance and murder of twenty-year-old Bobby Kent in Weston, Florida, whose death was the work of seven people. The case, which became well known, is also the subject of a book and a movie.
2
"Eight Men Out"
June 7, 2001 (2001-06-07) (TLC)
A young sailor named Billy Bosko married his high school sweetheart, Michelle Moore Bosko. When he returns to his home port of Norfolk, Virginia on July 8, 1997, he finds his 19-year-old bride lying on the floor in a pool of blood. She had been raped and murdered. The police investigation focuses on a neighbor, who confesses. But his DNA does not match the killer's. That begins a series of police interrogations and 'confessions', all of which are in conflict with the forensic evidence. Four men are eventually sent to prison. Three others are accused. Finally, an eighth man confesses in a letter, and his is the only DNA that matches. Defense investigators and others wonder why were the other men accused and sent to prison.
3
"See No Evil"
June 14, 2001 (2001-06-14) (TLC) May 21, 2016 (2016-05-21) (HLN)
Beginning in December 1990, police uncover a string of murdered prostitutes. Each victim has had her eyes carved out. Charles Albright was eventually convicted of murder in 1991.
4
"The Buddhist Monk Murders"
October 22, 2001 (2001-10-22) (TLC) September 17, 2016 (2016-09-17) (HLN)
Several monks are massacred at a Buddhist temple in Arizona in 1991. Four men from Tucson, referred to as the "Tucson Four", were initially charged with the crime and gave confessions under controversial conditions, including the actual murder weapon – connected to unassociated individuals who were ignored by authorities – being left untested by the sheriff's department. However, the "Tucson Four" later recanted the confessions and were released when investigators finally confirmed that they had nothing to do with the murders. Local teenagers Johnathan Doody and Allessandro Garcia were arrested and imprisoned.
