Forensic Files Season 1 Episode 64 Palm Print Conviction

Forensic Files season 1 episode 64, titled "Palm Print Conviction," delves into the case of a woman named Jane Mixer who was brutally murdered in her car in 1969. Despite intensive investigation, the case went cold for over a decade until DNA technology advanced and new leads emerged. The episode follows the forensic evidence that led to the conviction of the murderer, a man named Gary Leiterman, in 2005.

The episode begins with an overview of the case, including footage of the crime scene and interviews with investigators who worked on the case from the beginning. Jane Mixer was a law student at the University of Michigan and was last seen leaving a speech tournament in 1969. Her body was found several hours later in her car, which was parked by the side of the road. She had been shot multiple times and there were signs of a struggle in the car.

Despite an intensive investigation, the case went cold for over a decade. It wasn't until the 1980s that new leads emerged, including a palm print that was found on the car. The print didn't match anyone in the database at the time, but it was stored in the hope that one day it would yield a match.

In the meantime, advances in DNA technology were being made. The episode explains how DNA evidence can be used to link suspects to crime scenes, and how it can also be used to exclude suspects who may have been wrongly accused. The importance of accurately collecting and analyzing DNA evidence is emphasized, as even small mistakes can lead to unreliable results.

The episode explores several false leads and suspects in the case, including a man who had made a false confession and a police officer who had allegedly been seen with Jane Mixer before her murder. However, none of these leads panned out and the case remained unsolved.

It wasn't until 2001 that a match was found for the palm print. The print belonged to a man named Gary Leiterman, who had a history of violent crimes including rape and kidnapping. When investigators looked closer at Leiterman, they found that he had also been a suspect in several other murders around the same time and in the same area as Jane Mixer's murder.

The episode goes into detail about the forensic evidence that was used to convict Leiterman. DNA evidence was collected from the crime scene and from Leiterman himself, and a match was found. Additionally, evidence was presented that Leiterman had been in the area at the time of the murder and had owned a gun that was consistent with the type of gun used in the murder.

The episode also explores the legal strategies used by the prosecution and defense. The defense argued that Leiterman's palm print could have been on the car for reasons unrelated to the murder and that the DNA evidence was unreliable. However, the prosecution presented a convincing case that Leiterman was indeed the killer, and the jury found him guilty.

Overall, Forensic Files season 1 episode 64 is a fascinating look at the use of forensic evidence to solve a decades-old murder case. It highlights the importance of persistence in investigations and the advancements in technology that have allowed law enforcement to solve cases that would have otherwise gone unsolved. The episode is engaging and highlights the hard work and dedication of investigators and forensic analysts who work tirelessly to bring justice to victims and their families.