Bloodline Detectives Season 1 Episode 10 Sheeps Flat Murder Mystery
- January 7, 2021
- 42 min
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(8)
Bloodline Detectives is a true crime series that delves into the investigative work of forensic genealogists. In the season 1 episode 10, titled "Sheeps Flat Murder Mystery," the team investigates a cold case from the 1970s that has stumped law enforcement for decades.
The episode begins with retired detective Jerry Walker recounting the case to the Bloodline Detectives team. On August 8, 1977, the body of a young woman was discovered near Sheeps Flat in rural Nevada. She had been shot multiple times and left to die in the desert heat. The victim was eventually identified as 18-year-old Jerilyn Towers, a recent high school graduate who had been traveling from her hometown of Sacramento to Las Vegas to visit family.
Despite an extensive investigation, the case went cold and remained unsolved for over 40 years. However, advancements in forensic genealogy have given new hope to the case, and the Bloodline Detectives team takes on the challenge of identifying Jerilyn's killer.
The team begins by reviewing the original police reports and evidence from the crime scene. They gather DNA from the victim's remains and use genealogy databases to create a family tree. Through this process, they discover a potential suspect who had connections to the same area where Jerilyn was found.
Next, the team conducts interviews with family members and acquaintances of the suspect in order to gather more information. They discover that the suspect had a history of violence and had been seen in possession of a gun around the time of Jerilyn's murder.
The team also reviews the original autopsy report and discovers that Jerilyn had been shot with a .38 caliber revolver. They conduct ballistics tests on the gun owned by the suspect's family and find that it matches the bullet casings found at the scene of the crime.
With this evidence, the team presents their findings to law enforcement and the district attorney's office. The suspect is arrested and charged with Jerilyn's murder.
The episode ends with an emotional interview with Jerilyn's brother, who expresses his gratitude to the Bloodline Detectives team for bringing closure to their family after all these years.
In "Sheeps Flat Murder Mystery," the Bloodline Detectives team showcases the power of forensic genealogy in solving cold cases. Through tireless research and investigation, they were able to identify a suspect and bring justice to a victim and her family.