Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds and Scandals

Forensic knowledge and the media; studying the Jack the Ripper murders from the late 1880s, considered a landmark case for crime reporting; investigating the continuous interplay between forensic advances and larger societal changes.

Exploring the special forensic category known as lust murder with the 1947 murder-mutilation of the Black Dahlia; how law enforcement ultimately uncovered the young woman's true identity; what makes her case different from other lust murders.

Looking at how crime scene investigation and autopsy results are crucial in assessing and solving various types of deaths; analyzing the examples of Superman actor George Reeves, "Hogan's Heroes" actor Bob Crane and kung fu legend Bruce Lee.

How cutting-edge research and technology can be applied to old cases and result in fresh conclusions; studying mysteries that illustrate the importance of taphonomy, the study of what happens to living organisms once they die.

How an unknown person becomes infamous; how someone can plead not guilty at trial despite a mountain of evidence; comparing the murder of Lizzie Borden's parents in the 1880s with the case of the Menendez brothers a little over 100 years later.

Studying a case in 1982 where seven people in Chicago were killed with cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules in three days; following forensic scientists and investigators as they mobilized in a massive effort to protect consumers and find the culprit.