Cold Case Files Classic Season 1 Episode 15 The Missing Informant / Man's Best Friend
- February 18, 2001
The episode titled "The Missing Informant / Man's Best Friend" delves into two different cases, both featuring incredibly unusual circumstances. The first case, "The Missing Informant," centers around the mystery of a confidential informant that went missing in the early 80s. The informant had been providing information to the police about organized crime, but suddenly disappeared without a trace. Years later, a man came forward claiming to have information about the missing informant that could help solve the case.
This man's story was particularly intriguing because he claimed that the informant had been murdered and buried in an unusual location - beneath the foundation of a newly built building. The police were initially skeptical of this claim, but upon further investigation, they discovered that the area where the informant was supposedly buried had, in fact, been dug up and paved over shortly after his disappearance. The police quickly realized that they needed to excavate the site in order to uncover any evidence that might confirm the informant's murder.
The excavation process was long and difficult, but eventually, the police discovered several bones that they believed to be those of the missing informant. The case finally seemed to be getting some traction. However, things took a shocking turn when the informant's own sister confessed to killing him after she discovered that he had been providing information to the police about her husband's involvement in organized crime.
The second case, "Man's Best Friend," is just as unusual as the first. In this case, a woman was murdered in her home, and the only witness to the crime was her pet parrot. The parrot was known for being particularly talkative and had a wide vocabulary, which led many to believe that it might have overheard the killer's voice and been able to provide crucial evidence.
However, things were not quite that simple. The parrot's owner, the murder victim, was known for being a bit eccentric and would often teach her parrot unusual phrases and words. This made it difficult for the police to determine which phrases the parrot had learned from the killer and which phrases were simply part of its normal vocabulary.
Despite the challenges, the police were determined to use the parrot's testimony to help catch the killer. They brought the parrot to the crime scene and placed it in a room where it could potentially overhear the killer's voice. Although the parrot remained mostly silent, it did let out a few unusual phrases that caught the attention of the police.
With the help of the parrot's testimony, the police were able to identify a suspect, who was ultimately convicted of the murder. The case made headlines around the world, and the parrot became somewhat of a media sensation.
Overall, "The Missing Informant / Man's Best Friend" is a fascinating episode that highlights how even the most unusual and seemingly insignificant details can end up being crucial in solving a case. It also underscores how important it is for law enforcement officials to be creative, persistent, and resourceful in their investigations.