Ep 40. Frozen In Time

Frozen in Time is the 40th episode of season 1 of Forensic Files. This episode follows the case of Marlys Wohlenhaus, a woman who went missing in 1983 in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. At the time, Marlys was a 43-year-old mother of three who was going through a divorce. She had been out with friends on the night of her disappearance and was last seen leaving a bar with a man.

Marlys was reported missing by her family the next day, and the investigation into her disappearance began. However, despite extensive searches of the area and interviewing multiple witnesses, no trace of Marlys was found. The case went cold for many years.

In 1992, a couple who were out snowmobiling in a remote area found a body frozen in the ice. The body was believed to be that of a man, and the case was initially treated as a homicide. It wasn't until six years later, when a forensic technician working on the case discovered that the remains were actually those of Marlys Wohlenhaus.

Forensic investigators were able to determine that Marlys had died of a gunshot wound to the head. They also discovered that the man she was seen leaving the bar with on the night of her disappearance had died in a car accident just a few months later. However, his death was considered suspicious, and there were some indications that he may have been involved in Marlys' murder.

The investigators in this case faced a variety of challenges, including the fact that Marlys' body was frozen and had been exposed to the elements for many years. Nonetheless, they persisted in their efforts and were eventually able to identify her body and determine the cause of death.

One key piece of evidence in the case was a pair of gloves found near Marlys' body. The gloves had fibers on them that were consistent with fibers found in the man's car who was last seen with Marlys. This provided strong evidence linking him to the crime.

Another crucial piece of evidence was the bullet that was recovered from Marlys' skull. Forensic tests were able to confirm that the bullet was fired from the same gun that was found in the man's car, further bolstering the evidence against him.

Throughout the case, the investigators worked tirelessly to gather and analyze evidence, and their efforts ultimately paid off when Marlys' killer was brought to justice. Frozen in Time provides a gripping look at the challenges faced by forensic investigators in solving crimes that have gone cold for many years. The episode highlights the value of forensic science in helping to bring closure to families and justice to victims of crime.