Ep 19. Wood-be Killer

In the Forensic Files season 10 episode 19, titled "Wood-be Killer," viewers are taken inside the investigation of a gruesome murder case that rocked a small town in Colorado. The episode starts with the disappearance of 53-year-old Peggy Hettrick, who was last seen walking home from a bar in Fort Collins.

Three days later, Hettrick's mutilated body was found in a field near a local bike path. She had been stabbed multiple times, and her genitals had been mutilated with a precision that suggested the killer was skilled with a knife.

Police quickly launched an investigation, but despite their efforts, they were unable to identify a suspect. The case went cold for over a year until a local man named Timothy Masters became the prime suspect.

Masters was a troubled teenager who had been obsessed with violence and death. He attended a school for troubled youth in the same neighborhood where Hettrick's body had been found. Masters had also been caught peeping on women in the neighborhood, which made him a strong suspect in Hettrick's murder.

However, the prosecution's case against Masters was weak—there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime, and many of the key witnesses against him were unreliable.

That's where forensic science came in. The prosecution enlisted the help of forensic experts who were able to link Masters to the crime scene. They found a sketchbook in Masters' possession that contained drawings of the crime scene that Masters claimed he had never seen before. However, forensic experts were able to prove that the sketches were in fact based on a crime scene that had been hidden from public view.

Forensic science played a huge role in the trial that followed. Experts were called to testify about the precision of the knife wounds on Hettrick's body, the likelihood of Masters' sketchbook being linked to the crime scene, and the presence of DNA on a piece of evidence that was found near the crime scene.

In the end, Masters was found guilty of Hettrick's murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, forensic experts continued to investigate the case, uncovering evidence that pointed to another suspect—one who had been overlooked during the original investigation.

The episode concludes with a surprising twist that is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats. "Wood-be Killer" is a gripping episode that showcases the power of forensic science in solving even the most complex crimes.